bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wewenang Jaksa sebagai Pelaksana Putusan Eksekutorial Putusan Pengadilan yang Telah Mempunyai Kekuatan Hukum Tetap
Authors: Wardhana Daniar Rasyid Setya , Firmansyah Dicky Andi , Wijaya Er Handaya Artha , Susandi Yugo
Published: September 2020

Putusan pengadilan dapat dieksekusi apabila putusan telah berkekuatan hukum tetap. Secara hukum, pelaksanaan putusan tersebut dilakukan oleh penegak hukum, yakni jaksa yang berada di bawah naungan lembaga Kejaksaan Republik Indonesia. Adapun wewenang jaksa sebagai pelaksana putusan pengadilan yang telah mempunyai kekuatan hukum tetap berdasarkan pada Pasal 270 KUHAP, yang menyatakan bahwa pelaksanaan putusan pengadilan yang telah memperoleh kekuatan hukum tetap dilakukan oleh jaksa, yang untuk itu panitera mengirimkan salinan surat putusan kepadanya; Pasal 30 ayat (3) huruf (b) Undan-Undang Nomor 16 Tahun 2004 tentang Kejaksaan Republik Indonesia, yang menyebutkan bahwa dibidang pidana, kejaksaan mempunyai tugas dan wewenang melaksanakan penetapan hakim dan putusan pengadilan yang memperoleh kekuatan hukum tetap; serta Pasal 54 ayat (1) Undang-Undang Nomor 48 Tahun 2009 tentang Kekuasaan Kehakiman, yang menyebutkan bahwa pelaksanaan putusan pengadilan dalam perkara pidana dilakukan oleh jaksa. Dalam melakukan pelaksanaan putusan atau eksekusi jaksa harus memperhatikan nilai kemanusiaan dan keadilan serta harus dapat memosisikan kedudukannya sebagai lembaga independen yang bebas dari campur tangan pihak mana pun.
Real-time on-farm N loss measurement
Authors: Dennis Samuel J.
Published: September 2020

Empirical measurements of nutrient-leaching losses on farms are required in order to allow validation of models used to assess nutrient losses from New Zealand farmland. However such on-farm measurements have, to date, been generally impractical.

A new in-field leaching loss measurement system has been developed, based on well-established research methodologies. This system combines large strip lysimeters (10–20 m long) with largely automated, real-time leachate monitoring, which allows measurements to be taken over much larger areas for greatly reduced costs compared with other systems currently on the market.

A spatial computer modelling simulation showed that one such lysimeter can generate results of equivalent accuracy to an array of 12 fluxmeters, three lysimeters are equivalent to an array of 64 suction cups, and a larger number of lysimeters can be used to obtain more accurate results.

Nutrient loss is measured using off-site chemical analysis of flow-proportional subsamples of drainage water. In addition, electrical conductivity (EC) of the drainage water is measured continuously and correlated with past chemical analyses to provide real-time estimates of nutrient loss. Real-time EC measurements were strongly correlated with Total N concentration determined off site (R2 = 0.89), which suggests that EC can be used as a proxy for Total N. However, a site-specific regression of EC and N should be used for any actual estimation of N from EC.
Factors influencing fertiliser and lime decisions on South Island high- and hill-country farms
Authors: Lucock Xiaomeng K. S. , Moir Jim L.
Published: September 2020

Highlights• Fertiliser and lime decisions by high- and hill-country farmers directly impact on their farm performance, but the factors influencing these decisions are not well understood.

• Factors influencing South Island high- and hill-country farmers’ fertiliser and lime decisions are a complex matrix of both biophysical and socio-economic components, such as costs, location, soil conditions and public perception.

• Factors influencing these farmers’ fertiliser and lime decisions reflect the complex farm systems and the wider socio-economic environment that they operate within. A greater empathy between the farming and non-farming communities will help alleviate some of the challenges faced by these farmers.
SYNTHETIC APPROACHES TO HYDROGENIZED PYRIDYL[b]AZEPINE AND THEIR BENZENELYLATED ANALOGUES
Authors: Danyliuk Ivanna , Vovk Mykhailo
Published: September 2020

Pyrido[b]azepines are represented in the literature by four types of isomeric structures: pyrido[3,2-b] azepines, pyrido[2,3-b]azepines, pyrido[3,4-b] azepines and pyrido[4,3-b ]azepines. They belong to the structural analogues of 1-benzazepine - an attractive class of heterocycles with a strong pharmacological profile. They are also used as important molecular platforms in the construction of bioactive compounds. Analysis of the literature has shown that compounds that contain the pyrido[b]azepine fragment demonstrate antiviral, antimicrobial, and antitumor activity. They are knownas effective inhibitors of R1P1 kinase, ubiquitin- specific proteases (USPS), cyclin-dependent kinase (CDKS), and glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3), TRPM8 protein, and angiotensin I type 2 (AT2) receptors. Over the last decade, promising pharmacological properties of pyrido[b]azepine derivatives stimulated the development of fundamentally new methods of their synthesis as well as the improvement of known synthetic approaches. In general, among the various methods for the synthesis of hydrogenated pyrido[b] azepines and their benzanelated analogues, priority is currently given to approaches that include the formation of an azepine cycle via the intermolecular formation of C-N and C-C bonds. These mainly include catalytic cyclizations using cobalt, palladium, and rhodium compounds. Reactions of intramolecular radical difluoromethylarylation and diauryl peroxide-initiated radical azepine analelenization of the pyridine fragment are also of great importance. An interesting method for the synthesis of pyrido [2,3-b] azepin-5-one derivatives was developed on the basis of the Friedel-Crafts intramolecular cycloalkylations reaction.
ABOUT POSSIBILITIES OF THE SECONDARY WASTEWATER USING OF THE BIOENERGETIC COMPLEX
Authors: Boychuk Oleksandr , Pershina Katherine , Bystryk Olga , Gayday Olga , Lyashevsky Oleksandr , Koval Larisa , Perynska Natalia
Published: September 2020

The analysis of the general physical and chemical indicators and the maintenance of heavy metals of sewage of a bioenergy complex is carried out. It is established that the sedimentation rate of suspended particles in wastewater depends on the location of filtration fields with wastewater from the source of contamination. At the source, there is a maximum excess of the number of suspended particles with a minimum deposition rate. In all wastewater samples, the indicators of chemical and biological oxygen consumption exceeded the permissible standards by three orders of magnitude for reservoirs for recreational water use and those located within the settlements. Thus, this water cannot be discharged into any natural water basin and requires additional purification from organic matter. Also for this water, the use of biological treatment methods without additional chemicals is ineffective. The presence of a complex of macro- and microelements in wastewater in combination with a high content of organic matter (humus and sulfonic acids) may be the basis for their use as raw material for fertilizer production.
MAPPING KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT DALAM MENINGKATKAN KAPABILITAS PERGURUAN TINGGI
Authors: Fauzi Farid
Published: September 2020

This study aims to analyze the mapping of several supporting and inhibiting factors of knowledge management process in increasing the higher education capabilities of STAIN Gajah Putih. This study used case study as methodological approach by collecting data with interviews, observation, and documentation. The objects of this study are lecturer, staf and students. The result showed that; 1) The formation of a culture of knowledge sharing; 2) Facilities and infrastructure in supporting the process of knowledge management; 3) Public policy in using knowledge. In establishing capabilities based on the knowledge management process, STAIN Gajah Putih has fixed these deficiencies in terms of the knowledge management process by establishing good information validation, analyzing the needs of knowledge management process, and developing brainware through increasing the quantity and quality of human resources in the field of information technology.
ANALISIS PROBLEMATIKA MUTU PENDIDIKAN TINGKAT DASAR BERDASARKAN HASIL AKREDITASI DI KABUPATEN KUANTAN SINGINGI
Authors: Andriesgo Johan , Riadi Haris , K Joni Hendra
Published: September 2020

This research aims to find out about the problems of education quality faced by SD / MI in Kuantan Singingi Regency based on the results of the 2019 accreditation. The research was revealed in 97 schools/madrasah at SD/MI.  It was designed as a qualitative descriptive research. Data were collected through interview, observation, and documentation. The findings show that the problems faced by schools/madrasah based on the achievements of the accreditation results in 2019 are on fulfilling the standards of educators, education personnel, educational facilities and infrastructure standards. Fulfillment of the standards of educators and educational staff including those related to academic qualifications of educators, educators’ certificates ownership, teachers’ educational suitability background and their teaching staff adequacy. Whereas the standard of facilities and infrastructure are related to the completeness of facilities and infrastructure such as: teacher's room, library, UKS, circulation, canteen ownership, and learning aids.
PELAKSANAAN PEMBELAJARAN BERBASIS TEKNOLOGI INFORMASI DAN KOMUNIKASI DI SEKOLAH MENENGAH KEJURUAN
Authors: Kurniawan Ary , Mahmudah Fitri Nur
Published: September 2020

The learning process is inseperable from the application of information and communication technology in order to maintain the quality of learning. This study aims to describe the implementation of information and communication technology-based learning in the Fine Arts Expertise Program at Vocational Senior High School (Sekolah Menengah Kejuruan/SMK Negeri 5 Yogyakarta. This research use qualitative approach with case study. Data collection is taken through observation, interviews, and documentation. Data were analyzed qualitatively using the interactive analysis techniques of the Miles and Huberman models with the steps of data collection, data reduction, data display and conclution / verification. The data validity technique is triangulation technique. The results figured out that the Fine Arts Expertise Program at SMK Negeri 5 Yogyakarta had implemented Information and Communication Technology (ICT) based learning using multimedia presentations, computer equipment, laptops and LCD projectors, and learning resources from the internet.
Electric vehicles from novelty to controversy: Analyzing environmental and fairness claims in open-ended survey questions
Authors: Tvinnereim Endre , Ferguson-Cradler Gregory
Published: September 2020

We combine open-ended and fixed-response questions to examine common topics mobilized by survey respondents, valence and meanings of particular words within those topics, and how words and topics map onto approval and satisfaction with electric vehicles. Our results show high overall support for electrification of personal cars but notes concerns related to the environment (notably the production and disposal of batteries) and around distributional effects that need to be addressed.
The Political Consequences of Household Wealth Shocks: Evidence from Italy
Authors: Angioni Giovanni , Chwieroth Jeffrey , Hopkin Jonathan , Walter Andrew
Published: September 2020

How do adverse shocks to household wealth influence domestic politics? Household wealth has become increasingly salient because rising financialization has increased risks to many households. Wealth shocks can undermine support for mainstream parties that have converged on policies perceived as contributing to the shocks, compounding rising anxiety in the squeezed middle class. This paper makes use of data on household income and wealth in Italy, assessing how developments in the levels and distribution of household wealth, leverage, and financial vulnerability have promoted voting for populist parties since 1992. Results suggest that financial distress is indeed connected to populist voting. Wealthier parts of the electorate are more invested in the status quo, supporting parties that have demonstrated their commitment to fiscal and monetary orthodoxy. Nonetheless, some exposure to financial risk, such as share ownership or high levels of leverage, seem to push voters towards populist parties.
ЭТИЧЕСКИЕ ПРЕПЯТСТВИЯ ПРИМЕНЕНИЯ КУКЛОТЕРАПИИ ПРИ ДЕМЕНЦИИ И БОЛЕЗНИ АЛЬЦГЕЙМЕРА
Authors: Koldman Severina D.
Published: September 2020

The article raises the question of the effectiveness and ethics of the method of doll therapy for older people suffering from a decrease in cognitive functions. The results of studies by sociologists and medical anthropologists, evidence of caring staff and relatives of people suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease confirm that dolls make medication easier, improve mood and facilitate everyday interaction. The subject of discussion is the question of the ethics of the doll therapy in view of possible humiliation and dehumanization of older people. This study reveals the perception of doll therapy as a method of non-pharmacological treatment in caring for the elderly.
«Эко-территориальный сдвиг» и новые социальные движения Латинской Америки
Authors: Shinkarenko Alexandr A.
Published: September 2020

Considering the questions of Latin-American development is impossible without taking into account the existing environmental problems of the region. The human impact on the environment gave birth to new challenges, which were initially perceived as a local, but later moved to the global level. The so-called «eco-territorial turn» that we can observe in some Latin American countries was a reaction to the expansion of the neoextractivist policy of the authorities, which support the «Consensus of Commodities». The latter brought new forms of inequality and potential conflicts to the Latin American society. In our opinion, these trends can be seen not only as local forms of the mentioned problems, but also as possible ways to resolve them.
The Long-Term Life-Cycle of Nevado de Toluca Volcano (Mexico): Insights Into the Origin of Petrologic Modes
Authors: Weber Gregor , Caricchi Luca , Arce José Luis
Published: September 2020

The petrologic diversity of volcanic rocks reflects the dynamics of magma reservoirs and the temporal evolution of magma chemistry can provide valuable information for hazard assessment. While some stratovolcanoes monotonously produce intermediate magmas (55–68 wt% SiO2), dominantly erupted magma types (e.g., basaltic andesite, andesite or dacite) frequently differ even between neighboring volcanoes. If such differences arise due to thermal maturation processes over time or are predetermined by other properties of magmatic systems remains poorly understood. This study helps to elucidate the underlying factors modulating the chemistry of the magma preferentially erupted by Nevado de Toluca volcano in Central Mexico. We present a new dataset of bulk-rock and mineral chemistry spanning the entire 1.5 Million years of the volcanos’ eruptive history. The results reveal that Nevado de Toluca dacites and minor andesite originate in a stable configuration of pre-eruptive processes and plumbing system architecture by hybridization between an upper crustal silicic mush and deeper sourced basaltic andesite magmas. Yet, a subtle trend toward increasing silica content with time (2 wt% in 1.5 Ma) and episodicity in magma hybridization conditions are observed. We use thermal simulations of pulsed magma injection to probe the controlling variables on the temporal variation and compositional mode of magma geochemistry. The results show that the subtle temporal trend toward increasing bulk-rock SiO2 content is plausibly explained by slightly dropping recharge rates and continued upper crustal reservoir growth. Our modeling also shows that the dominant composition of eruptible magmas (“petrologic mode”) can shift as a function of magma flux, extrusive:intrusive ratio and temperature of the recharge magma. A comparison of SiO2 whole rock distributions for monotonous Mexican stratovolcanoes and their peripheral cones shows that their petrologic modes vary in concert, indicating that the recharge magma chemistry or temperature is a major control on the preferentially erupted magma composition for these volcanoes.
Assessing the Effects of Noise on Sound Identities of Historical Landmarks
Authors: Korkontzila Anastasia , Karapostoli Aimilia , Tsaligopoulos Aggelos , Matsinos Yiannis G.
Published: September 2020

The degradation caused by environmental noise affects the sound identities of several areas, especially at a city level, so there is a need for immediate individual and collective action. This paper focuses on the environmental noise impacts towards the soundscapes of historical landmarks located in the city of Thessaloniki (Greece). Furthermore, it offers an insight regarding a new urban quiet area attribute, since it discovers whether elevation contributes to the formation of their sound identity. The first step of this research utilized the opinion of more than 500 residents of Thessaloniki with the aid of a questionnaire, in order to highlight areas of the city’s historic center with unique soundscapes. The resulted soundscapes were studied and analyzed by gathering both quantitative and qualitative data. Finally, these soundscapes were assessed by sound experts in order to thoroughly describe their sound identities. The Roman and Byzantine landmarks studied, being at lower and higher elevation levels, respectively, presented differentiations regarding noise levels and other soundscape characteristics. This paper proposes a new protocol, according to which the factor of elevation is worth considering during the process of identifying and utilizing urban quiet areas.
Simulation of Internet of Things Water Management for Efficient Rice Irrigation in Rwanda
Authors: Bamurigire Peace , Vodacek Anthony , Valko Andras , Rutabayiro Ngoga Said
Published: September 2020

The central role of water access for agriculture is a clear challenge anywhere in the world and particularly in areas with significant seasonal variation in rainfall such as in Eastern and Central Africa. The combination of modern sensor technologies, the Internet, and advanced irrigation equipment combined in an Internet of Things (IoT) approach allow a relatively precise control of agricultural irrigation and creating the opportunity for high efficiency of water use for agricultural demands. This IoT approach can thereby increase the resilience of agricultural systems in the face of complex demands for water use. Most previous works on agricultural IoT systems are in the context of countries with higher levels of economic development. However, in Rwanda, with a low level of economic development, the advantages of efficient water use from the application of IoT technology requires overcoming constraints such as lack of irrigation control for individual farmers, lack of access to equipment, and low reliability of power and Internet access. In this work, we describe an approach for adapting previous studies to the Rwandan context for rice (Oryza sativa) farming with irrigation. The proposed low cost system would automatically provide irrigation control according to seasonal and daily irrigational needs when the system sensors and communications are operating correctly. In cases of system component failure, the system switches to an alternative prediction mode and messages farmers with information about the faults and realistic irrigation options until the failure is corrected. We use simulations to demonstrate, for the Muvumba Rice Irrigation Project in Northeast Rwanda, how the system would respond to growth stage, effective rainfall, and evapotranspiration for both correct operation and failure scenarios.
Large-Scale and High-Resolution Crop Mapping in China Using Sentinel-2 Satellite Imagery
Authors: Jiang Yulin , Lu Zhou , Li Shuo , Lei Yongdeng , Chu Qingquan , Yin Xiaogang , Chen Fu
Published: September 2020

Large-scale, high-resolution mapping of crop patterns is useful for the assessment of food security and agricultural sustainability but is still limited. This study attempted to establish remote sensing-based crop classification models for specific cropping systems using the decision trees method and monitored the distribution of the major crop species using Sentinel-2 satellites (10 m) in 2017. The results showed that the cropping areas of maize, rice, and soybean on the Northeast China Plain were approximately 12.1, 6.2, and 7.4 million ha, respectively. The cropping areas of winter wheat and summer maize on the North China Plain were 13.4 and 16.9 million ha, respectively. The cropping areas of wheat, rice, and rape on the middle-lower Yangtze River plain were 2.2, 6.4 and 1.3 million ha, respectively. Estimated images agreed well with field survey data (average overall accuracy = 94%) and the national agricultural census data (R2 = 0.78). This indicated the applicability of the Sentinel-2 satellite data for large-scale, high-resolution crop mapping in China. We intend to update the crop mapping datasets annually and hope to guide the adjustment and optimization of the national agricultural structure.
Effects of Salt Stress on Fruit Antioxidant Capacity of Wild (Solanum chilense) and Domesticated (Solanum lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) Tomatoes
Authors: Martínez Juan Pablo , Fuentes Raúl , Farías Karen , Lizana Carolina , Alfaro Juan Felipe , Fuentes Lida , Calabrese Nicola , Bigot Servane , Quinet Muriel , Lutts Stanley
Published: September 2020

The effects of salt on the quality of fruits were investigated in order to compare the impact of salt on key fruit properties of the cultivated domesticated tomato species (Solanum lycopersicum) and its wild halophyte relative Solanum chilense. To this end, cherry tomato plants (S. lycopersicum var. cerasiforme) and from accession LA4107 (S. chilense) were maintained for 112 days in the absence or presence of NaCl (40 and 80 mM) in nutrient solution. Among others, salinity decreased fruit weight and increased total soluble solid (TSS) in S. lycopersicum but not in S. chilense. The fruit antioxidant capacity estimated by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) analysis was higher in S. chilense than in S. lycopersicum and increased in the former while it decreased in the latter in response to NaCl. Salinity increased the lycopene (LYC) content but decreased ß-carotene (b-CAR) concentration in the fruits of S. lycopersicum, while these compounds were not detected in the wild halophyte S. chilense. The oxidative status of salt-treated fruits was more tightly regulated in S. chilense than in S. lycopersicum. The two considered species, however, possess complementary properties and interspecific crosses may therefore be considered as a promising option for the improvement of salt-stress resistance in tomatoes.
Induced Methylation in Plants as a Crop Improvement Tool: Progress and Perspectives
Authors: Mercé Clémentine , Bayer Philipp E. , Tay Fernandez Cassandria , Batley Jacqueline , Edwards David
Published: September 2020

The methylation of gene promoters is an epigenetic process that can have a major impact on plant phenotypes through its control of gene expression. This phenomenon can be observed as a response to stress, such as drought, cold/heat stress or pathogen infection. The transgenerational heritability of DNA methylation marks could enable breeders to fix beneficial methylation patterns in crops over successive generations. These properties of DNA methylation, its impact on the phenotype and its heritability, could be used to support the accelerated breeding of improved crop varieties. Induced DNA methylation has the potential to complement the existing plant breeding process, supporting the introduction of desirable characteristics in crops within a single generation that persist in its progeny. Therefore, it is important to understand the underlying mechanisms involved in the regulation of gene expression through DNA methylation and to develop methods for precisely modulating methylation patterns for crop improvement. Here we describe the currently available epigenetic editing tools and their advantages and limitations in the domain of crop breeding. Finally, we discuss the biological and legislative limitations currently restricting the development of epigenetic modification as a crop improvement tool.
Preliminary Attempt to Predict Risk of Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Patients with Influenza: Decision Trees May Help?
Authors: Bellelli Valeria , Siccardi Guido , Conte Livia , Celani Luigi , Congeduti Elena , Borrazzo Cristian , Santinelli Letizia , Innocenti Giuseppe Pietro , Pinacchio Claudia , Ceccarelli Giancarlo , Venditti Mario , d’Ettorre Gabriella
Published: September 2020

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) is typically considered a disease of immunocompromised patients, but, recently, many cases have been reported in patients without typical risk factors. The aim of our study is to develop a risk predictive model for IPA through machine learning techniques (decision trees) in patients with influenza. We conducted a retrospective observational study analyzing data regarding patients diagnosed with influenza hospitalized at the University Hospital “Umberto I” of Rome during the 2018-2019 season. We collected five IPA cases out of 77 influenza patients. Although the small sample size is a limit, the most vulnerable patients among the influenza-infected population seem to be those with evidence of lymphocytopenia and those that received corticosteroid therapy.
Effect of Antibiotic Susceptibility and CYP3A4/5 and CYP2C19 Genotype on the Outcome of Vonoprazan-Containing Helicobacter pylori Eradication Therapy
Authors: Sugimoto Mitsushige , Hira Daiki , Murata Masaki , Kawai Takashi , Terada Tomohiro
Published: September 2020

Background: Helicobacter pylori eradication containing the potassium-competitive acid blocker, vonoprazan, achieves a higher eradication rate than therapy with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Because vonoprazan is mainly metabolized by CYP3A4/5, CYP genotype may affect the eradication rate. We investigated the influence of antibiotic susceptibility and CYP3A4/5 and CYP2C19 genotypes on the eradication rates. Methods: A total of 307 Japanese who were genotyped for CYP3A4 *1/*22, CYP3A5 *1/*3 and CYP2C19 *1/*2/*3/*17, and investigated for susceptibility to antimicrobial agents, received vonoprazan-containing regimens: (1) With amoxicillin and clarithromycin as the first-line treatment; (2) with amoxicillin and metronidazole as the second-line treatment; or (3) with amoxicillin and sitafloxacin as the third-line treatment. Results: The eradication rate was 84.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 78.9–89.1%) using first-line, 92.6% (95% CI: 82.1–97.9%) using second-line and 87.5% (95% CI: 73.1–95.8%) using third-line treatment. Infection with clarithromycin-resistant strains was a predictive factor for failed eradication (odds ratio: 5.788, 95% CI: 1.916–17.485, p = 0.002) in multivariate analysis. No significant differences were observed in the eradication rate of regimens among CYP3A4, CYP3A5 and CYP2C19 genotypes. Conclusions: Genotyping for CYP3A4 *1/*22, CYP3A5 *1/*3 and CYP2C19 *1/*2/*3/*17 before vonoprazan-containing eradication treatment may not be useful for predicting clinical outcomes.
Benzoxazole-Based Metal Complexes to Reverse Multidrug Resistance in Bacteria
Authors: Kincses Annamária , Szabó Stefánia , Rácz Bálint , Szemerédi Nikoletta , Watanabe Genki , Saijo Ryosuke , Sekiya Hiroshi , Tamai Eiji , Molnár Joseph , Kawase Masami , Spengler Gabriella
Published: September 2020

Bacteria often show resistance against antibiotics due to various mechanisms such as the expression of efflux pumps, biofilm formation, or bacterial quorum sensing (QS) controls. For successful therapy, the discovery of alternative agents is crucial. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efflux pump, anti-biofilm, and QS inhibiting, as well as antibacterial effects of 2-trifluoroacetonylbenzoxazole ligands (1–3) and their metal complexes (4–12) in bacteria. The ligand 2 and its Zn(II) complex 5, and furthermore the Cu(II) complex 7 of ligand 1, exerted remarkable antibacterial activity on the Staphylococcus aureus 272123 (MRSA) strain. In the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) reduction assay the ligand 3, the Zn(II) complex 5 of ligand 2, and the Cu(II), Ni(II), Mg(II), Fe(III) complexes (7, 8, 9, 12) of ligand 1 enhanced the antibacterial activity of ciprofloxacin in MRSA. An increased ethidium bromide accumulation was detected for ligand 3 in MRSA while the Fe(III) complex 12 of ligand 1 decreased the biofilm formation of the reference S. aureus ATCC 25923 strain. The Zn(II) and Ag(II) complexes (3 and 4) of ligand 1 and ligand 3 inhibited the QS. Based on our results, the ligands and their metal complexes could be potential alternative drugs in the treatment of infectious diseases.
An Update on the Role of Dietary Phytochemicals in Human Skin Cancer: New Insights into Molecular Mechanisms
Authors: Islam Salman Ul , Ahmed Muhammad Bilal , Ahsan Haseeb , Islam Mazharul , Shehzad Adeeb , Sonn Jong Kyung , Lee Young Sup
Published: September 2020

Human skin is continuously subjected to environmental stresses, as well as extrinsic and intrinsic noxious agents. Although skin adopts various molecular mechanisms to maintain homeostasis, excessive and repeated stresses can overwhelm these systems, leading to serious cutaneous damage, including both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers. Phytochemicals present in the diet possess the desirable effects of protecting the skin from damaging free radicals as well as other benefits. Dietary phytochemicals appear to be effective in preventing skin cancer and are inexpensive, widely available, and well tolerated. Multiple in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated the significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-angiogenic characteristics of dietary phytochemicals against skin malignancy. Moreover, dietary phytochemicals affect multiple important cellular processes including cell cycle, angiogenesis, and metastasis to control skin cancer progression. Herein, we discuss the advantages of key dietary phytochemicals in whole fruits and vegetables, their bioavailability, and underlying molecular mechanisms for preventing skin cancer. Current challenges and future prospects for research are also reviewed. To date, most of the chemoprevention investigations have been conducted preclinically, and additional clinical trials are required to conform and validate the preclinical results in humans.
Protective Effects and Molecular Signaling of n-3 Fatty Acids on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Retinal Diseases
Authors: Suzumura Ayana , Terao Ryo , Kaneko Hiroki
Published: September 2020

Oxidative stress and inflammation play crucial roles in the development and progression of retinal diseases. Retinal damage by various etiologies can result in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), diabetic retinopathy (DR), and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). n-3 fatty acids are essential fatty acids and are necessary for homeostasis. They are important retinal membrane components and are involved in energy storage. n-3 fatty acids also have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and their suppressive effects against ROP, DR, and AMD have been previously evaluated. α-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and their metabolites have been shown to alleviate retinal oxidative stress and inflammation involving various biological signaling pathways. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the n-3 fatty acids effects on the mechanisms of these retinal diseases and how they exert their therapeutic effects, focusing on ALA, EPA, DHA, and their metabolites. This knowledge may provide new remedial strategies for n-3 fatty acids in the prevention and treatment of retinal diseases associated with oxidative stress and inflammation.
Nigella Sativa’s Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidative Effects in Experimental Inflammation
Authors: Pop Raluca Maria , Sabin Octavia , Suciu Șoimița , Vesa Stefan Cristian , Socaci Sonia Ancuța , Chedea Veronica Sanda , Bocsan Ioana Corina , Buzoianu Anca Dana
Published: September 2020

Nigella sativa (NS) has been used for centuries in various inflammatory conditions because of its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. The study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and antioxidant activity of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) in two models of acute (carrageenan-induced) and sub-acute inflammation (complete Freund’s adjuvant induced) in rats. Materials and Methods: NSO was administered orally 1, 2 and 4 mL/kg in the acute phase. For subacute phase, NSO was administered 4 mL/kg, 7 days before or after inflammation induction, or in association with diclofenac 5 mg/kg. Results: The gas chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis showed that NSO is an important source of bioactive compounds, especially p-cymene and thymoquinone. In the acute phase, 1.5 h after administration, NSO (2 and 4 mL/kg) determined an anti-inflammatory effect comparable with that of diclofenac. In the sub-acute administration, NSO had no anti-inflammatory effect. The analgesic effect of NSO was observed only in the sub-acute inflammation in the analgesy-meter test. NSO as treatment proved its antioxidant effect through the reduction of malondialdehyde (MDA) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and increases in hydrogen donor capacity (DH) compared to the control group, but the effect was not as intense as that of diclofenac. Conclusion: The present study has proven inconstant anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antioxidative properties of NSO.
Antibacterial Effects of MicroRepair®BIOMA-Based Toothpaste and Chewing Gum on Orthodontic Elastics Contaminated In Vitro with Saliva from Healthy Donors: A Pilot Study
Authors: Meto Aida , Colombari Bruna , Odorici Alessandra , Giva Lavinia Beatrice , Pericolini Eva , Regina Annunziata La , Blasi Elisabetta
Published: September 2020

Several new products with innovative formulations are being proposed to facilitate oral care. Here, we evaluated the effects of a commercially available product, a toothpaste and chewing gum named Biorepair Peribioma, on oral microorganisms of healthy subjects. Saliva from six volunteers was collected during 20 min of mastication of a traditional gum (gum A) and the Biorepair Peribioma gum (gum P). Orthodontic elastics (OE) were in vitro contaminated with salivary samples, both A and P, and subsequently exposed or not to a Biorepair Peribioma toothpaste-conditioned supernatant (Tp-SUP). The salivary samples were tested for initial microbial load; hence, the contaminated OE were assessed for microbial growth, adhesion, biofilm formation and persistence; moreover, species identification was assessed. We found that the salivary samples A and P had similar microbial load; upon contamination, microbial adhesion onto the OE was detected to a lower extent when using saliva P with respect to saliva A. Microbial growth and biofilm formation, assessed at 24 h, remained at lower levels in OE exposed to saliva P, compared to saliva A. This difference between salivary samples A and P was confirmed when measuring biofilm persistence (48 h), while it was lost in terms of microbial re-growth (48 h). The Tp-SUP treatment drastically affected microbial load at 24 h and strongly impaired biofilm formation/persistence, in OE exposed to both salivary samples A and P. Finally, such treatment resulted in consistent overgrowth of Lactobacilli, bacterial species originally present both in the Biorepair Peribioma toothpaste and gum. In conclusion, by an in vitro pilot study, we show that the Biorepair Peribioma toothpaste and gum deeply affect oral microorganisms’ behavior, drastically impairing their ability to contaminate and produce plaque onto orthodontic devices.
Basic Analysis of Uncertainty Sources in the CFD Simulation of a Shell-and-Tube Latent Thermal Energy Storage Unit
Authors: König-Haagen Andreas , Mühlbauer Adam , Marquardt Tom , Caron-Soupart Adèle , Fourmigué Jean-François , Brüggemann Dieter
Published: September 2020

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations are increasingly employed in the development of latent thermal energy storage units. Yet there are often strong deviations between the experiments and numerical results. To unveil the sources of the deviations for the CFD simulation of a vertical shell-and-tube latent thermal energy storage unit, a basic analysis of different uncertainties is undertaken in this paper. Consequently, the effect of a variation of 10 material properties, six initial and boundary conditions, as well as a displacement of the temperature measuring points in the simulation, are examined. The results depict that the influence of the substance data depend on the output variable under consideration. Beside material properties, which have almost no influence, there are some properties that influence the power and the global liquid phase fraction over time, and a third group, which also has an influence on the mean power. Partly in contrast to results found in literature, the highest influence on the mean power occurs for the heat losses (which are varied in an on/off manner), the density, and the melting enthalpy (both varied by ±10%).
Classification of Rice and Starch Flours by Using Multiple Hyperspectral Imaging Systems and Chemometric Methods
Authors: Seo Youngwook , Lee Ahyeong , Kim Balgeum , Lim Jongguk
Published: September 2020

(1) Background: The general use of food-processing facilities in the agro-food industry has increased the risk of unexpected material contamination. For instance, grain flours have similar colors and shapes, making their detection and isolation from each other difficult. Therefore, this study is aimed at verifying the feasibility of detecting and isolating grain flours by using hyperspectral imaging technology and developing a classification model of grain flours. (2) Methods: Multiple hyperspectral images were acquired through line scanning methods from reflectance of visible and near-infrared wavelength (400–1000 nm), reflectance of shortwave infrared wavelength (900–1700 nm), and fluorescence (400–700 nm) by 365 nm ultraviolet (UV) excitation. Eight varieties of grain flours were prepared (rice: 4, starch: 4), and the particle size and starch damage content were measured. To develop the classification model, four multivariate analysis methods (linear discriminant analysis (LDA), partial least-square discriminant analysis, support vector machine, and classification and regression tree) were implemented with several pre-processing methods, and their classification results were compared with respect to accuracy and Cohen’s kappa coefficient obtained from confusion matrices. (3) Results: The highest accuracy was achieved as 97.43% through short-wavelength infrared with normalization in the spectral domain. The submission of the developed classification model to the hyperspectral images showed that the fluorescence method achieves the highest accuracy of 81% using LDA. (4) Conclusions: In this study, the potential of non-destructive classification of rice and starch flours using multiple hyperspectral modalities and chemometric methods were demonstrated.
A Real-Time Safety Helmet Wearing Detection Approach Based on CSYOLOv3
Authors: Wang Haikuan , Hu Zhaoyan , Guo Yuanjun , Yang Zhile , Zhou Feixiang , Xu Peng
Published: September 2020

In the practical scenario of construction sites with extremely complicated working environment and numerous personnel, it is challenging to detect safety helmet wearing (SHW) in real time on the premise of ensuring high precision performance. In this paper, a novel SHW detection model on the basis of improved YOLOv3 (named CSYOLOv3) is presented to heighten the capability of target detection on the construction site. Firstly, the backbone network of darknet53 is improved by applying the cross stage partial network (CSPNet), which reduces the calculation cost and improves the training speed. Secondly, the spatial pyramid pooling (SPP) structure is employed in the YOLOv3 model, and the multi-scale prediction network is improved by combining the top-down and bottom-up feature fusion strategies to realize the feature enhancement. Finally, the safety helmet wearing detection dataset containing 10,000 images is established using the construction site cameras, and the manual annotation is required for the model training. Experimental data and contrastive curves demonstrate that, compared with YOLOv3, the novel method can largely ameliorate mAP by 28% and speed is improved by 6 fps.
Application of the Incremental Modal Pushover Analysis to Bridges Subjected to Near-Fault Ground Motions
Authors: Bergami Alessandro Vittorio , Fiorentino Gabriele , Lavorato Davide , Briseghella Bruno , Nuti Camillo
Published: September 2020

Near-fault events can cause severe damage to civil structures, including bridges. Many studies have demonstrated that the seismic assessment is not straightforward. Usually, dealing with near-fault ground motion, the structural analysis is performed using Nonlinear Response-History Analysis (NRHA) but in the last years, many authors have tested existing pushover-based procedures originally developed and validated using far-field events. Between those procedures, the Incremental Modal Pushover Analysis (IMPAβ) is a pushover-based procedure specifically developed for bridges that, in this work, was applied to a case study considering near-fault pulse-like ground motion records. The records were analyzed and selected from the European Strong Motion Database. In the paper the results obtained with IMPAβ together with other standard pushover procedures, are compared with NRHA and incremental dynamic analyses; the vertical component of the motion has been also considered. Results obtained with the bridge case study demonstrate that the vertical seismic action has a minor influence on the structural response and that IMPAβ is confirmed as a very effective pushover-based method that can be applied also for near-fault events.
A Split Ring Resonator-Based Metamaterial for Microwave Impedance Matching with Biological Tissue
Authors: Portosi Vincenza , Loconsole Antonella Maria , Prudenzano Francesco
Published: September 2020

A metamaterial lens based on a split ring resonator (SRR) array has been designed and optimized to improve the focusing and the penetration depth in human biological tissue of a microwave beam irradiated by a substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) cavity backed patch antenna. The impedance matching of the antenna loaded with human tissue is strongly improved. The simulations have been performed by using CST Microwave Studio®. A prototype of the device has been fabricated with the printed board circuits (PCB) process and has been characterized using a Network Analyzer and an antenna measurement system in anechoic chamber. A novel microwave applicator for hyperthermia therapy of skin cancer could be developed. The performances of the proposed applicator have been evaluated in terms of measured S11 scattering parameter modulus and simulated power loss density. The obtained results indicate that an SRR-based metamaterial is a promising solution for external microwave applicators to employ in dermatology.
Numerical and Experimental Studies of the ŁK Type Shaped Charge
Authors: Pyka Dariusz , Kurzawa Adam , Bocian Miroslaw , Bajkowski Marcin , Magier Mariusz , Sliwinski Janusz , Jamroziak Krzysztof
Published: September 2020

In this paper, the authors presented an analysis of the strengthening of the cumulative jet by the appropriate formation of the detonation wave front acting under the influence of high pressure on the liner. The analysis of the Polish ŁK cumulative charge was carried out using numerical methods in the ABAQUS program. Simulation studies were carried out on axial and peripheral initiations of the explosive cumulative liner. For this purpose, two types of cumulative charges were made with the same design parameters, differing only in the explosive detonation-initiation system. The impact of the elastomer insert on the focusing of the cumulative jet was verified. The influence of peripheral and axial initiation on a cumulative jet’s velocity was investigated. The authors proposed a new conical insert placed in the explosive between the pocket for the detonator and the liner, also changing the material of the cumulative liner. The smoothed-particle hydrodynamics method was used to describe the formation of a cumulative jet. The obtained results were verified experimentally, and they show that modification of the ŁK charge has a positive effect on jet amplification, with an inevitable collapse in the final stage of formation. The obtained results correlate with the literature’s data.
Simulation-Based Assessment of the Operational Performance of the Finnish–Swedish Winter Navigation System
Authors: Bergström Martin , Kujala Pentti
Published: September 2020

This article presents a discrete event simulation-based approach for assessing the operating performance of the Finnish–Swedish Winter Navigation System (FSWNS) under different operating scenarios. Different operating scenarios are specified in terms of ice conditions, the volume of maritime traffic, number of icebreakers (IBs), and regulations such as the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI). Considered performance indicators include transport capacity, number of instances of icebreaker (IB) assistance, and IB waiting times. The approach is validated against real-world data on maritime traffic in the Bothnian Bay. In terms of the number of ship arrivals per port, indicating the transport capacity of the FSWNS, the simulation agrees well with the data. In terms of the number of instances of IB assistance and IB waiting times per port, the standard deviations between the mean of 35 independent simulation runs and the data are 13% and 18%, respectively. A sensitivity analysis indicates that the simulated number of instances of IB assistance and IB waiting times is particularly sensitive to assumptions concerning the presence of brash ice channels. Case studies indicate that, unless the number of IBs is increased, the EEDI regulations may result in a significant increase in both the number of instances of IB assistance and the cumulated IB waiting times.
Blockchain and IoT Convergence—A Systematic Survey on Technologies, Protocols and Security
Authors: Pieroni Alessandra , Scarpato Noemi , Felli Lorenzo
Published: September 2020

The Internet of Things (IoT) as a concept is fascinating and exciting, with an exponential growth just beginning. The IoT global market is expected to grow from 170 billion USD in 2017 to 560 billion USD by 2022. Though many experts have pegged IoT as the next industrial revolution, two of the major challenging aspects of IoT since the early days are having a secure privacy-safe ecosystem encompassing all building blocks of IoT architecture and solve the scalability problem as the number of devices increases. In recent years, Distributed Ledgers have often been referred to as the solution for both privacy and security problems. One form of distributed ledger is the Blockchain system. The aim of this paper consists of reviewing the most recent Blockchain architectures, comparing the most interesting and popular consensus algorithms, and evaluating the convergence between Blockchain and IoT by illustrating some of the main interesting projects in this research field. Furthermore, the paper provides a vision of a disruptive research topic that the authors are investigating: the use of AI algorithms to be applied to IoT devices belonging to a Blockchain architecture. This obviously requires that the devices be provided with adequate computational capacity and that can efficiently optimize their energy consumption.