bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Compost Application in the Silvofishery Pond with Different Mangrove Species on the Phytoplankton Community
Authors: Hastuti E D , Hastuti R B , Hariyati R
Published: June 2019

The effort in improving water quality of fishponds could be conducted with various methods, including the integration of mangrove trees known as silvofishery. However, an additional method could be applied by deploying compost. This research aimed to study the distribution of phytoplankton community in the silvofishery pond and to analyze the impact of compost application in the silvofishery pond planted with different mangrove species. The research was conducted in September 2017. Three silvofishery ponds planted with mangrove speciesAvicennia marina, Rhizophora mucronataand mixed of both and one control pond were utilized. Compost was deployed in the silvofishery pond as much as 2 kg for 25 m2 area. The sampling of phytoplankton was conducted one week after the compost deployment. Data analysis was conducted for diversity index, while statistical analysis was conducted by chi-square. The result showed that the deployment of compost could slightly improve water quality. There were only five phytoplankton species with total density of 85 ind.l−1in the control pond, while ponds withA. marina, R. mucronataand mixed of mangrove consisted of 7 species (155 ind.l−1), 7 species (119 ind.l−1) and 5 species (103 ind.l−1) respectively. Diversity index showed medium values (1.56-1.95) with high evenness values (0.97 – 1.0). Chi-square analysis showed that each treatment has a significantly different composition of phytoplankton.
Allelochemical effects of Chromolaena odorata L. against photosynthetic pigments and stomata of Ageratum conyzoides l. leaves
Authors: Yuliyani E D , Darmanti S , Hastuti E D
Published: June 2019

The siam (Chromolaena odorataL.) and babandotan (Ageratum conyzoidesL.) is weeds that often grow on cultivated land. Therefore it reduces crop productivity. Weeds are generally invasive because of an allelochemical compound that can inhibit the growth of existing plants around it. It is potential to be used as a bioherbicide to control weeds. This study aims to examine the allelochemical effects of different organs (leaf, stem, and root) ofChromolaena odorataL. at different concentrations on photosynthetic pigments and number of stomata on leavesAgeratum conyzoidesL. The study used a Completely Randomized Design (RAL) and factorial pattern with two factors (3X5). The first factor is the type of organ siam, i.e., leaf, stem, and root and the second factor is the concentration of the extract, i.e., 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40%. Each treatment, replicated five times. The parameters measured were the concentration of photosynthetic pigments, i.e., chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and carotenoids and the number of stomata. Results data were analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at the test level of 95%. The results showed that root extract is more effective in reducing photosynthetic pigments and the number of stomata. LeavesAgeratum conyzoidesL. than leaf and stem extracts, the higher concentration of the Siam weed extract, the greater inhibition was resulted
In vitro, antioxidant activity and cream formulation of alkaloid extracts Perna viridis
Authors: Franyoto Y D , Kusmita L , Mutmainah  , Pertiwi Y P
Published: June 2019

Photoaging is a common problem that occurs in our community due to ongoing exposure to ultraviolet rays. The use of antioxidants is an effective approach to prevent symptoms related to photo-induced aging of the skin. The objective of this study was to purification alkaloid and to formulate antioxidant cream extract Perna viridis. Thus, the present study was to prepare and evaluate the antioxidant cream extracts of Perna viridis for their radical scavenging activity. Perna viridis is one of the economically important biotas. This biota is diverse in Indonesia waters and occurred in coastal, mangrove area and estuarine. Initially, the material was macerated gradually with ethanol. The extract obtained was filtered and evaporated. The extracts were fractionated and analyzed by Thin-layer Chromatography. The extracts were examined for DPPH (2, 2 - diphenyl - 1- picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity with reference standard ascorbic acid through in vitro models. The ethanolic extract Perna viridis was found to act in scavenging DPPH radicals with ascorbic acid used as the reference standard, and an IC50 value was found to be 90.17 μg/mL. The results showed that these extracts of Perna viridis could be considered as natural antioxidants and may be useful for curing diseases arising from oxidative deterioration.
Antioxidant activity, phenol and flavonoid content, and formulation cream of Stevia rebaudiana Bert
Authors: Mutmainah  , Kusmita L , Martono Y , Franyoto Y D , Wulandari R P , Kusumaningrum T D
Published: June 2019

The presented study aimed to characterize the content, biological activity and formulation of extracts prepared from dried Stevia rebaudiana Bert leaves. Stevia rebaudiana Bert is the leaves that have antioxidant activity. The leaves, stems and flowers of stevia contain a complex mixture of sweet diterpene glycosides, including isosteviol, stevioside, rebaudioside (A, B, C, D, E, and F), steviolbioside and dulcoside A. In addition to glycosides, the leaves of stevia also contain other phytoconstituents, such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, fatty acids, proteins, and vitamins. These compounds can prevent and retain free radicals substitution, which can cause aging and chronic diseases. The extract obtained was filtered and evaporated — determination of total phenolics and total flavonoid using spectrophotometric methods. The antioxidant potential of this extract was evaluated by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. In the DPPH radical-scavenging activities, the extract had the antioxidant activity (IC50 = 48.18 μg / ml). The results showed that these extracts of Stevia rebaudiana Bert could be considered as natural antioxidants. The evaluation of the formulated cream showed good results and can be good potential for cosmetic product development.
The comparison of chlorophyll a, b, and the total of maize (Zea mays saccharata sturt l) var p-21 by applying fertilizers of nanosilica-npk and nanosilica-manure
Authors: Prihastanti E , Subagio A. , Ngadiwiyana
Published: June 2019

The productivity of corn field’s crops must be increased in order to supply the market’s demands. This study aims to increase the productivity of corn plants by using the proper fertilizers. Fertilizing using silica can increase the resistance of corn plants toward drought pressure, while nitrogen fertilizing can increase the amount of chlorophyll. This study compares the effect of nano silica-NPK fertilizer and manure-nano silica toward the chlorophyll a, b, and to the total amount of chlorophyll consisted in sweet corn plants at the age of 10, 40 and 60 days. The nanosilica-NPK ratio is 100%: 0%, 75%: 25%, 50%: 50%, 25%: 75%, and 0%: 100%, as well as the ratio of nano silica-manure. The total amount of chlorophyll contained in the fertilizers of nano silica-manure tends to be the same as nano silica-NPK fertilization at the age of 10, 40 and 60 days. The amount of Chlorophyll a is higher than the amount of chlorophyll b in all fertilizers. Chlorophyll a, b, and the total amount of chlorophyll tends to decrease in nano silica-manure fertilizer, but in nano silica-NPK fertilizer, the chlorophyll has increased from the 10th to 60th days.
Potency of mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) pericarp on seminiferous tubules testes streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats
Authors: Primiani C N , Lestari U
Published: June 2019

The diversity of compounds in mangosteen peel (Garciniamangostana L.) is suspected to have hypoglycemic activity. The objective of this study to analyze the blood glucose level and seminiferous testicular tubules tissue structure of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The experiment animals were twelve male wistar strain white rats (Rattus norvegicus), 2-3 months old, weighing 120-150 g, put into four different groups i.e. (1) negative control treatment (P0), (2) streptozotocin (STZ) induced intraperitoneal as much as 80 mg/kg in 0.1 M buffer citrate with positive control pH 4.5 (P1), (3) 83.3 mg/kg mangosteen pericarp powder (P2), and (4) 0.09 mg/kg glibenclamide (P3) for 36 days. The analysis of the blood glucose levels and seminiferous testicular tubules tissue structure using HE staining, identification with the optilab microscope. The study found that diabetic tubules testes structure experienced degeneration, the spermatogenic cells were not much identified, lumen tubules testes diameter 703,25 μm (P1), spermatogonia cells were identified, the spermatogenesis developed, lumen tubules testes diameter 570,53 μm (P2). The mangosteen solution and glibenclamide could lower the blood glucose level and improve the spermatogenesis of the diabetic rats. The mangosteen pericarp solution did not damage the renal tissue structure, unlike the glibenclamide. It was concluded that the mangosteen solution has the potential as natural anti-diabetic substance.
Alternatif Main Food from Dioscorea alata: Its Potency from Central Java, Indonesia
Authors: Jumari  , Soeprobowati T R , Nafisa A R
Published: June 2019

Dioscorea alata, (local name ‘uwi’), is one of the potential local food sources in Central Java, Indonesia. Tubers are still found in several locations in Central Java. This study aimed to characterize the morphology of D. alata, to analyze the antioxidants, starch, amylose, amylopectin, and its potential as a functional food source. The materials for this research were seven variants of D. alata collected from Boyolali, Semarang and Kudus, Central Java. Morphological characterization was approached base on the tuber characteristics. The antioxidant analysis was done by Diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method whereas amylum and amylose analysis were done by spectrophotometry method. There are variations of tuber characters, especially in its shape, exoderm character, flesh color, and texture. D. alata has high antioxidant activity. The comparison of amylose towards amylum is 7.541 – 26.735%, however, the comparison of amylopectin towards amylum is around 73.265 – 92.469%. Uwi ungu Kudus is the best Dioscorea alata variety for diabetics.
Development and experiments of a bio-inspired robot with multi-mode in aerial and terrestrial locomotion
Authors: Shin Won Dong , Park Jaejun , Park Hae-Won
Published: June 2019

This paper introduces a new multi-modal robot capable of terrestrial and aerial locomotion, aiming to operate in a wider range of environments. The robot was built to achieve two locomotion modes of walking and gliding while preventing one modality hindering the other. To achieve this goal, we found the solution from Pteromyini, commonly known as the flying squirrel. Pteromyini utilizes its flexible membrane to glide in the air, and it shows agile movements on the ground. We studied Pteromyini to mimic the key features that allow Pteromyini to perform aerial and terrestrial locomotion. We adopted the flexible membrane and gliding strategy of Pteromyini to the robot. Through dynamics analysis and simulations, the overall design was determined. The flexibility of the membrane was also chosen considering the robot’s performance in the air and on the ground. The leg was optimized to perform with regulated motor torques in both walking and gliding. From gliding tests, the robot showed an average gliding ratio of 1.88. Inspired by Pteromyini, controlling the robot’s angle of attack with leg and tail movement was also adopted and tested. Different gait patterns and changing walking directions were tested to demonstrate the robot’s terrestrial performance. The average walking speed was 13.38 cm s−1. The experimental results demonstrated the robot’s functionality in aerial and terrestrial locomotion.
Management of development of basic structures of technological systems of machine-building production
Authors: Nazarevich S A , Urentsev A V , Kurlov V V , Balashov V M , Rozhkov N N
Published: June 2019

The organization of production is based on technological preparation processes and subsequent tests for certification of a new product line. The existing methodology for organizing production is based on the basic structures of production technologies that include heterogeneous technological systems with a control superstructure and pronounced standard group elements that make up the integrity of any technology: personnel, equipment, materials and processes. Changing the standard element will change the state of the technological system; therefore, the introduction of the SMED methodology for the technological preparation processes of organizing new production or the optimization of existing production cycles will lead to a reduction in typical losses and a decrease in production cycle costs.
Legislation mechanism of auditing machine-building enterprises in the Russian Federation
Authors: Kim N V
Published: June 2019

The main goal of machine building enterprises’ audit is to protect the interests of its owners and society in general, to give a sense of confidence to users that financial reporting is authentic, due to objective and independent assessment of information about the activity of economic subject. Such confirmation can be got in auditor’s report, where he gives the assessments about authenticity of financial reporting, conforming to legislation the accounting record-keeping. Most theoretical-methodological and sector-scientific problems of audit are connected with uncertainty of its legal aspect. Priority of stated problems, its theoretical, methodological and practical meaning and argumentative issues defined the choice of the research topic, its goal and tasks. The goal of research is to prove the mechanism of realization of legislation about audit of economic entities, including machine building enterprises, to define the reasons of cooperation of its structured elements and to show up problems and argumentative issues in issues of legal assessment of mechanism of realization of legislation about audit. Research is based on general-purpose method, application-specific and social methods. Method of structural-functional analysis was used to study mechanism of realization of legislation about audit as economic-legal event allowed to define each of its elements from the point of view of definite functional assignment. The legal mechanism of audit is defined in this study, including its components. Method of legal regulation as institutional aspect of audit, which are regulated by audit, techniques and methods of establishment of rights and duties of subjects of regulating economic-legal relations.
Training technologies for Industry 4.0 experts: updated andragogical model
Authors: Shumakova N A , Savelyeva M V
Published: June 2019

The article concerns the experience in training useful academic competences to industry 4.0 experts. The developed English course being an example of the internet thing for adult experts is based both on the current technical resources and andragogical principles of selecting education technologies. The research materials emphasize the renewed forms of training content, and demonstrate interactive essence enlarging. We have created a formula to “calculate” the expertise achievability and highlighted the necessary conditions based on polyparadigm approach and the andragogical principles.
Control and preprocessing of graphic data for effective dynamic object recognition
Authors: Pakhomova O A , Kravets O Ja
Published: June 2019

The features of detecting static objects are considered. The methods of Sparse Feature Propagation and Dense Feature Aggregation based on the neural network approach of multi-frame end-to-end learning are described. The methods are designed to increase the efficiency of dynamic object recognition. The general structure of the video analytics system is presented. The method of increasing the accuracy of the obtained recognition results and increasing the probability of detecting high-speed objects by the built-in motion detection module is proposed.
A cooperative game in Asian international electric power integration
Authors: Minarchenko Ilya
Published: June 2019

The paper examines effects of long-term international integration in the field of electric power industry. An advantage of integration is provoked by the fact that the cost of introducing new generation capacities significantly exceeds the cost of new power lines and transmission of the energy from existing power station of another country. When countries form a coalition, the problem is to allocate the coalition’s surplus over its participants. It can be solved by notions of cooperative game theory. The present investigation is based on the real data on six countries of the Northeast Asian region: Russia, Mongolia, China, North Korea, South Korea and Japan. Electric power system is described by the ORIRES model. This model optimizes power generation, power flows, and the development of generation capacities and power lines of the system. We formulate corresponding cooperative game in characteristic function form, and specify the Core and the Shapley value. Effects of international integration are discussed.
Mathematical models of magnetic circuits of sensors of functional diagnostic systems of electric carriers
Authors: Juraeva K K , Fayzullayev J S
Published: June 2019

The article discusses the magnetic circuit of the developed magnetoelastic sensors of mechanical forces used in the systems of functional diagnostics of electric locomotives is investigated, taking into account the distribution of the magnetic resistance of coaxially arranged ring cores, the magnetic capacitance of the ring gap between them, the section of magnetizing and measuring windings. It is shown that the magnetic voltage along the sensor magnetic circuit is nonlinearly distributed and changes its sign at the magnetic neutral point, and the magnetic flux is non-constant and has a minimum value at the magnetic neutral point, and with an increase in the magnetic flux attenuation coefficient in the magnetic conductor magnetic flux along the length of the magnetic circuit increases.
Algorithmic procedures for selection control options for electric power systems
Authors: Lvovich I , Lvovich Y , Preobrazhenskiy A , Choporov O
Published: June 2019

The paper presents algorithmic procedures for selecting control options for electric power systems. The decision-making algorithm for choosing a strategy for the development of electric power systems for variable boundary conditions is given. The decision-making algorithm in the selection of promising areas of development of electric power systems is shown. The procedure of multi-alternative selection of boundary conditions for the development of the developing electric power system is presented. An example of estimation of characteristics of the distributed electric power distributed system is given.
Analysis of landfill gas thermo-physical properties for communal services
Authors: Prohorov V , Razakov M , Chernova R
Published: June 2019

In this paper, we analyzed the thermo-physical properties of landfill gas, which can be used in the system of communal services of the city from specialized landfills for collecting municipal solid waste. Authors do not yet consider ways of delivering this type of fuel to subscribers, but imply as an option of possible technologies that there is a storage facility and an industrial factory for cleaning and condensation landfill gas for further use in the communal system of the city. There are Graphs of changes in various indicators of landfill gas in this article. This study can be used to predict energy conservation not only of large cities, but also of small settlements from the use of an alternative energy source - landfill gas. Its main characteristic (in terms of thermal physics) is the lower calorific value of the fuel. It depends on the composition and moisture of the gas. The report discusses the methodology for studying the lower calorific value of landfill gas, based on the chemical balance of this fuel. Another important characteristic is the environmental effect. Reducing emissions of landfill gas decrease the greenhouse effect, which has a negative impact on the Earth’s atmosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere. It could be provided for the production of electrical energy, as well as a combination of electric and thermal. There is the possibility of producing hydrogen for a fuel cell. However, this requires independent economic, environmental and energy comparison of various technologies for using of landfill gas in the engineering infrastructure of the city, as well as different methods of transporting and producing energy-efficient condensate compressed landfill gas (the best option when the methane content in this fuel is like natural gas).
FIS model for optimization of hydro resources of hydroelectric reservoirs by the criterion of electrical energy maximum generation
Authors: Platonova E V , Chistyakov G N , Toropov A S , Tulikov A N , Panteleev V I
Published: June 2019

The authors propose a model of fuzzy inference system (FIS) to determine the optimal consumption of hydro resources of hydroelectric reservoirs by the criterion of maximum generation of electrical energy. It is proposed to use a fuzzy controller that allows to develop optimal strategies to ensure the maximum energy output of hydroelectric power stations and passes to the downstream, to formulate proposals for creating a subsystem for calculating the regimes, schedules of drawdown and filling of reservoirs by the criterion of maximum generation of electrical energy. The use of fuzzy controllers and submission to their inputs of data on changes in the regimes of a cascade of hydroelectric stations in real time allows us to obtain a FIS system that will be an assistant for the operational management of hydroelectric reservoirs.
Determination of electrical parameters for the electrochemical treatment of soils contaminated with oil
Authors: Meshalkin V P , Shulaev N S , Chelnokov V V , Pryanichnikova V V , Kadyrov R R
Published: June 2019

The electrochemical method of soil cleaning by passing small amperage has rather high efficiency for oil products, phenols, salts, heavy metals, and other chemicals pollution. Cleaning can be realized through a whole complex of physical, chemical and biological processes. The most important are the electrokinetic movement of the pollutant, the oxidation and evaporation of the components. The arrangement of anodes and cathodes that reduces the resistance between the electrodes by creating in the interelectrode space an electric field close to homogeneous is considered. This calculation allows to determine the number of electrodes, the amperage between them, the voltage depending on the properties of the soil, the area, the depth of contamination of the treated area, the geometric parameters of the electrodes and the required degree of cleaning.
About the assessment of the chrisothal asbestos dust slip into the atmosphere as a random function
Authors: Burkhanova R A , Ostaali M , Nikolenko M A , Lupinogin V V , Azarov V N
Published: June 2019

The paper presents the study of the fractional efficiency of asbestos-cement dust slip from the aspiration system as a random function. Total slip was considered as a random variable. Also dispersed analysis of dust from the aspiration systems serving the process equipment and processes was performed. Examples of the function of the dust passage in the production of asbestos-cement products before cleaning in the CSF apparatus and after cleaning showed that the total dust slip in CSF apparatuses as a random value corresponds to the normal distribution law. The density characteristics and the distribution function for the total asbestos cement dust slip penetration are determined. The range of variation of the random dust slip function for CSF-150 and CSF-300 apparatuses is presented. Recommendations are given to reduce the negative impact of the dust factor in the air of enterprise working areas.
Construction-technical inspection of cemetery church of St. Peter and Paul in Želiv
Authors: Daňková J , Mec P , Majstríková T , Škopcová M
Published: June 2019

This article deals with the construction-technical inspection of Cemetery Church of St. Peter and Paul in Želiv. The church is a cultural heritage and its history dates back almost for 900 years. The construction-technical inspection was performed with the goals to survey construction structures and define their major defects and failures before the commencement of constructional renovation. The survey also included measuring humidity of masonry and wooden parts of the structure.
Crystallization process in the preparation of the tetracalcium ferroaluminate
Authors: Ravaszová S , Dvořák K
Published: June 2019

The study of the origin, stability and properties of various calcium silicate polymorphs is important for a better understanding of the processes involved in the production of Portland clinker. At the same time, the synthetic pure clinker phases can serve in further investigations, such as hydration or the effects of plasticisers. The aim of this article is to prepare the pure phase of tetracalcium ferroaluminate and to observe the crystallization process based on the calculation of the size of the crystallite using the simplest method, the Scherrer’s equation. Based on the results of the X-Ray analysis, the temperature of 1350 °C with a soaking time of 3 hours is sufficient to produce the tetracalcium ferroaluminate pure phase. This firing mode is also characterized by a very good development of the crystalline structure.
Electronic waste as a filler in concrete
Authors: Junak J , Junakova N , Csiszar V
Published: June 2019

Electrical appliances are becoming an everyday part of our lives. The more we use them, the more we contribute to the emergence of new waste - electronic waste (WEEE). E-waste is a significant source of plastics, metals and others. Electronic waste (cables) as a volume substitute for natural aggregates (5, 10 and 20%) in our experimental work was used. Flexural and compression was observed on prepared samples, beams 100x100x400 mm. The use of electrical waste as a filler has resulted in a slight reduction in the resulting strengths (about 10%), but the properties of the concrete with dispersed reinforcement have been founded. Flexural strengths ranged from 3.5 to 5.1 MPa and compressive strengths were in the range of 15.2 to 28.2 MPa after 28/60 days of curing.
Alternative reuse of bottom sediments in construction materials: overview
Authors: Junakova N , Junak J
Published: June 2019

In this paper, the paths of management of the dredged bottom sediments are discussed. Focus is made on the possibility of a recycling method, which consists of the reuse of sediments as a raw material in constructions. The results of selected studies concentrated on the sustainable sediment reuse as a raw material to manufacture lightweight aggregates, bricks and concrete are summarized.
Influence of type and composition of aggregate on mechanical parameters of concrete
Authors: Tazky M , Osuska L , Bodnarova L
Published: June 2019

The paper deals with a thorough analysis of the influence of the type of aggregate and its resulting grain size curve on the basic strength parameters of concrete. From the point of view of the type, natural crushed aggregate of amphibolitic type, natural crushed aggregate of granodioritic type and natural mined sedimentary aggregate of the psammitic type were monitored. The same concrete strength class was proposed for the analysis of the impact of individual types of aggregates. In one case it was a concrete mixture with a maximum aggregate grain size Dmax 16 mm with a continuous grain size curve and in the second case a concrete mixture with a maximum grain size Dmax of 22 mm with a discontinuous grain size curve, in the absence of a 4-8 mm fiction. In both cases, the mixture of individual aggregate fractions was determined so that the resulting grain size curve of the mixture was the same for all aggregate types. Thanks to this approach it was possible to directly monitor the influence of the type of aggregate and the grain size curves on the resulting concrete parameters. The results of the experiment show that a significant impact while maintaining the same grain size curves of the resulting aggregate mixture can be seen mainly in the type of aggregate. The absence of a 4-8 mm fraction when designing a concrete mixture with a Dmax of 22 mm proves to be completely problem-free from the point of view of concrete parameters in both fresh and hardened condition. A part of the research was also verification of the possibility of using natural crushed sand of fraction 0-4 mm for production of high-strength situ ready-mixed concretes.
Evaluation of the South Korean national long-term care insurance-funded cognitive function training programme for older people with mild dementia
Authors: Ju Yeong Jun , Nam Chung Mo , Lee Sang Gyu , Park Sohee , Hahm Myung-Il , Park Eun-Cheol
Published: June 2019

Objectives

despite the extensive literature on the effectiveness of cognitive training, its effectiveness has not been demonstrated within a population-based long-term care system. To provide cognitive training services to older people with mild dementia, Korea introduced a special dementia rating, as a long-term care grades, in the national long-term care insurance in July 2014. These services are only offered to those with the special dementia rating. This study evaluated the national long-term care insurance-funded cognitive function training programme for older people with mild dementia.

Methods

data were derived from the Korean National Health Insurance Elderly Cohort database between 2008 and 2015. We compared changes in function between the intervention (n = 352) and control (n = 1952) groups before (2014) and after (2015) introduction of the cognitive function training programme. Difference-in-differences analysis was performed, to compare changes in each score between the intervention and control groups before and after introduction of the cognitive function training programme.

Results

introduction of the cognitive function training programme was associated with significantly less cognitive function decline in the intervention group than in the control groups (β = –3.39; standard errors [SE] = 1.14; P = 0.003). A subgroup analysis revealed that this effect increased in subjects in the youngest group, low income bracket, who had a primary caregiver, who were supported in multiple activities of daily living by the primary caregiver, or who were not living alone.

Conclusions

introduction of the cognitive function training programme was associated with positive effects on cognitive function.
New horizons in radiotherapy for older people
Authors: Cree Anthea , O’Donovan Anita , O’Hanlon Shane
Published: June 2019

Radiotherapy is an effective, albeit underutilised, treatment for cancer in older adults, especially for those who are surgically inoperable or for whom chemotherapy poses too great a risk. It is estimated that approximately half of patients with cancer could benefit from radiotherapeutic management. This article synthesises the basics of how radiotherapy works, recent developments in the field and considers how this treatment modality may be adapted in an older patient population or may evolve in the future.

Technological advances of relevance include Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT), Volumetric Modulated Arc therapy (VMAT), Stereotactic Ablative Body Radiotherapy (SABR), proton therapy, MR guided radiotherapy, as well as better image guidance during irradiation in order to improve precision and accuracy.

New approaches for better integration of geriatric medicine principles into the oncologic assessment and workup will also be considered, in order to provide more age attuned care. For more informed decision making, a baseline assessment of older radiotherapy patients should encompass some form of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment. This can facilitate the optimal radiotherapy regime to be selected, to avoid overly toxic regimes in patients with frailty.

The review discusses how these new initiatives and technologies have potential for effective oncologic management and can help to reduce the toxicity of treatment for older adults. It concludes by highlighting the need for more evidence in this patient population including better patient selection and support for treatment to enhance person-centred care.
Anticipating Armageddon: Nuclear Risk and the Neoliberal Sensibility in Thatcher’s Britain
Authors: Boucher Ellen
Published: June 2019

At the height of the “Second Cold War” of the early 1980s, Britons from all walks of life engaged in a wide-ranging public discussion about the likelihood of nuclear Armageddon. Historians have generally understood this cultural conversation as having been motivated by deeply seated fears of nuclear war. This article, however, shifts the focus from fear to risk. It traces the precise ways that British men, women, and children conceptualized the nature of nuclear warfare and debated how its associated risks could be managed. While left-wing activists espoused unilateral disarmament as the best way to alleviate the nuclear threat, a wide swath of the British public turned instead to “self-help” strategies that aligned with the neoliberal ideals of personal autonomy, self-reliance, and individualism. The nuclear risk debate thus reveals the contours of an emerging “neoliberal sensibility” of the period. It also illuminates how the prospect of nuclear war offered Britons a means to articulate and define their expectations of the state amidst Thatcher’s broader prioritization of individual accountability over governmental responsibility.
Embolism resistance in petioles and leaflets of palms
Authors: Emilio Thaise , Lamarque Laurent J , Torres-Ruiz José M , King Andrew , Charrier Guillaume , Burlett Régis , Conejero Maria , Rudall Paula J , Baker William J , Delzon Sylvain
Published: June 2019

Background and aims

Hydraulic studies are currently biased towards conifers and dicotyledonous angiosperms; responses of arborescent monocots to increasing temperature and drought remain poorly known. This study aims to assess xylem resistance to drought-induced embolism in palms.

Methods

We quantified embolism resistance via P50 (xylem pressure inducing 50 % embolism or loss of hydraulic conductivity) in petioles and leaflets of six palm species differing in habitat and phylogenetic relatedness using three techniques: in vivo X-ray-based microcomputed tomography, the in situ flow centrifuge technique and the optical vulnerability method.

Key results

Our results show that P50 of petioles varies greatly in the palm family, from −2.2 ± 0.4 MPa in Dypsis baronii to −5.8 ± 0.3 MPa in Rhapis excelsa (mean ± s.e.). No difference or weak differences were found between petioles and leaf blades within species. Surprisingly, where differences occurred, leaflets were less vulnerable to embolism than petioles. Embolism resistance was not correlated with conduit size (r = 0.37, P = 0.11).

Conclusions

This study represents the first estimate of drought-induced xylem embolism in palms across biomes and provides the first step towards understanding hydraulic adaptations in long-lived arborescent monocots. It showed an almost 3-fold range of embolism resistance between palm species, as large as that reported in all angiosperms. We found little evidence for hydraulic segmentation between leaflets and petioles in palms, suggesting that when it happens, hydraulic segregation may lack a clear relationship with organ cost or replaceability.
MutEx: a multifaceted gateway for exploring integrative pan-cancer genomic data
Authors: Ping Jie , Oyebamiji Olufunmilola , Yu Hui , Ness Scott , Chien Jeremy , Ye Fei , Kang Huining , Samuels David , Ivanov Sergey , Chen Danqian , Zhao Ying-yong , Guo Yan
Published: June 2019

Somatic mutation and gene expression dysregulation are considered two major tumorigenesis factors. While independent investigations of either factor pervade, studies of associations between somatic mutations and gene expression changes have been sporadic and nonsystematic. Utilizing genomic data collected from 11 315 subjects of 33 distinct cancer types, we constructed MutEx, a pan-cancer integrative genomic database. This database records the relationships among gene expression, somatic mutation and survival data for cancer patients. MutEx can be used to swiftly explore the relationship between these genomic/clinic features within and across cancer types and, more importantly, search for corroborating evidence for hypothesis inception. Our database also incorporated Gene Ontology and several pathway databases to enhance functional annotation, and elastic net and a gene expression composite score to aid in survival analysis. To demonstrate the usability of MutEx, we provide several application examples, including top somatic mutations associated with the most extensive expression dysregulation in breast cancer, differential mutational burden downstream of DNA mismatch repair gene mutations and composite gene expression score-based survival difference in breast cancer. MutEx can be accessed at http://www.innovebioinfo.com/Databases/Mutationdb_About.php.
DEUS: an R package for accurate small RNA profiling based on differential expression of unique sequences
Authors: Jeske Tim , Huypens Peter , Stirm Laura , Höckele Selina , Wurmser Christine M , Böhm Anja , Weigert Cora , Staiger Harald , Klein Christoph , Beckers Johannes , Hastreiter Maximilian
Published: June 2019

Despite their fundamental role in various biological processes, the analysis of small RNA sequencing data remains a challenging task. Major obstacles arise when short RNA sequences map to multiple locations in the genome, align to regions that are not annotated or underwent post-transcriptional changes which hamper accurate mapping. In order to tackle these issues, we present a novel profiling strategy that circumvents the need for read mapping to a reference genome by utilizing the actual read sequences to determine expression intensities. After differential expression analysis of individual sequence counts, significant sequences are annotated against user defined feature databases and clustered by sequence similarity. This strategy enables a more comprehensive and concise representation of small RNA populations without any data loss or data distortion.

Availability and implementation

Code and documentation of our R package at http://ibis.helmholtz-muenchen.de/deus/.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
CaPSSA: visual evaluation of cancer biomarker genes for patient stratification and survival analysis using mutation and expression data
Authors: Jang Yeongjun , Seo Jihae , Jang Insu , Lee Byungwook , Kim Sun , Lee Sanghyuk
Published: June 2019

Predictive biomarkers for patient stratification play critical roles in realizing the paradigm of precision medicine. Molecular characteristics such as somatic mutations and expression signatures represent the primary source of putative biomarker genes for patient stratification. However, evaluation of such candidate biomarkers is still cumbersome and requires multistep procedures especially when using massive public omics data. Here, we present an interactive web application that divides patients from large cohorts (e.g. The Cancer Genome Atlas, TCGA) dynamically into two groups according to the mutation, copy number variation or gene expression of query genes. It further supports users to examine the prognostic value of resulting patient groups based on survival analysis and their association with the clinical features as well as the previously annotated molecular subtypes, facilitated with a rich and interactive visualization. Importantly, we also support custom omics data with clinical information.

Availability and implementation

CaPSSA (Cancer Patient Stratification and Survival Analysis) runs on a web-browser and is freely available without restrictions at http://www.kobic.re.kr/capssa/. The source code is available on https://github.com/yjjang/capssa.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Bayesian GWAS with Structured and Non-Local Priors
Authors: Kaplan Adam , Lock Eric F , Fiecas Mark ,   for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: June 2019

Motivation

The flexibility of a Bayesian framework is promising for GWAS, but current approaches can benefit from more informative prior models. We introduce a novel Bayesian approach to GWAS, called Structured and Non-Local Priors (SNLPs) GWAS, that improves over existing methods in two important ways. First, we describe a model that allows for a marker’s gene-parent membership and other characteristics to influence its probability of association with an outcome. Second, we describe a non-local alternative model for differential minor allele rates at each marker, in which the null and alternative hypotheses have no common support.

Results

We employ a non-parametric model that allows for clustering of the genes in tandem with a regression model for marker-level covariates, and demonstrate how incorporating these additional characteristics can improve power. We further demonstrate that our non-local alternative model gives symmetric rates of convergence for the null and alternative hypotheses, whereas commonly used local alternative models have asymptotic rates that favor the alternative hypothesis over the null. We demonstrate the robustness and flexibility of our structured and non-local model for different data generating scenarios and signal-to-noise ratios. We apply our Bayesian GWAS method to single nucleotide polymorphisms data collected from a pool of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitively normal patients from the Alzheimer’s Database Neuroimaging Initiative.

Availability and implementation

R code to perform the SNLPs method is available at https://github.com/lockEF/BayesianScreening.
Economics and ‘bad’ management: the limits to performativity
Authors: Spencer David A
Published: June 2019

The performative power of mainstream economic theories (notably agency theory and transaction cost economics) has been criticised by researchers within management studies. The latter blame these theories for creating ‘bad’ management in real-world organisations and call for their removal from business schools. This paper questions this line of criticism. It argues that mainstream economic theories have condoned more than created ‘bad’ management. It also questions whether ‘bad’ management can be negated by ousting these theories from business schools. Rather it is argued that ‘bad’ management has deep roots within organisations—specifically, it reflects on how organisations are run by and in the interests of capital owners. The possibilities for securing comparatively enlightened or ‘good’ forms of management are seen as necessarily limited by capitalist ownership relations. The paper argues that the transformation of management will require wider reforms in—and importantly beyond—business schools.
Effect of hyperglycaemic conditions on the response of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts to mechanical stretching
Authors: Papadopoulou Adamantia , Todaro Alexia , Eliades Theodore , Kletsas Dimitris
Published: June 2019

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to investigate the impact of high glucose concentration on the response of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLFs) to cyclic tensile strain.

Materials and Methods

Human PDLFs were incubated under normal or high glucose conditions, and then were subjected to cyclic tensile stretching (8 per cent extension, 1 Hz). Gene expression was determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined by the 2’,7’-dichlorofluorescein-diacetate assay, activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was monitored by western analysis and osteoblastic differentiation was estimated with Alizarin Red-S staining.

Results

Cyclic tensile stretching of PDLF leads to an immediate activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), as well as to the increased expression of the transcription factor c-fos, known to regulate many osteogenesis-related genes. At later time points, the alkaline phosphatase and osteopontin genes were also upregulated. Hyperglycaemic conditions inhibited these effects. High glucose conditions were unable to increase ROS levels, but they increased the medium’s osmolality. Finally, increase of osmolality mimics the inhibitory effect of hyperglycaemia on MAPK activation, c-fos and osteoblast-specific gene markers’ upregulation, as well as osteogenic differentiation capacity.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that under high glucose conditions, human PDLFs fail to adequately respond to mechanical deformation, while their strain-elicited osteoblast differentiation ability is deteriorated. The aforementioned effects are most probably mediated by the increased osmolality under hyperglycaemic conditions.
Perceived quality of HIV care and client satisfaction across different service providers in Ukraine
Authors: Hailemeskal Meklit Berhan , Sereda Yuliia , Latypov Alisher , Kiriazova Tetiana , Avaliani Nata
Published: June 2019

Background

Prior studies have shown that high client satisfaction and quality of services are important drivers of uptake and retention in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care. Study objectives were to assess the perceived quality of HIV services, satisfaction and associated factors across different types of health facilities in Ukraine.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study among 649 individuals receiving HIV services across 47 health facilities in three regions of Ukraine. Primary outcomes were satisfaction and perceived quality of services measured along five dimensions: accessibility, user-friendliness, privacy and confidentiality, comprehensiveness (separately for testing and treatment services). Quality dimensions were constructed by confirmatory factor analysis. Links between quality dimensions, satisfaction and related factors were measured by structural equation modelling.

Results

Median scores for accessibility, user-friendliness, privacy and confidentiality, comprehensiveness of services and overall satisfaction ranged from 0.75 to 1 out of 1. User-friendliness was the main determinant associated with satisfaction (total effect: β = 0.515, P < 0.001). Satisfaction was higher at primary healthcare centres (direct effect: β = 0.145, P < 0.001; indirect effect through accessibility: β = 0.060, P < 0.001), narcological/tuberculosis dispensaries (direct effect: β = 0.105, P = 0.006; indirect effect through accessibility: β = 0.060, P < 0.001) and hospitals (indirect effects through user-friendliness and accessibility: β = 0.180, P < 0.001) when compared to acquired immune deficiency syndrome centres.

Conclusions

User-friendliness is a key driver of client satisfaction with HIV services in Ukraine. Decentralization of services, together with improved training and supervision for provider–client interactions may provide important levers to improve client satisfaction with HIV services and enrolment and retention in the cascade of HIV services.