bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Smartphone-Based Platform for Secure Multi-Hop Message Dissemination in VANETs
Authors: Galeana-Zapién Hiram , Morales-Sandoval Miguel , Leyva-Vázquez Carlos A. , Rubio-Loyola Javier
Published: January 2020

Vehicular ad-hoc Networks (VANETs) are recognized as a cornerstone of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) to enable the exchange of information among vehicles, which is crucial for the provision of safety-related and entertainment applications. However, practical useful realizations of VANETs are still missing, mainly because of the elevated costs and the lack of a final standardization. In this regard, the feasibility of using smartphones as nodes in VANETs has been explored focusing on small-scale deployments to mainly validate single-hop communication capabilities. Moreover, existing smartphone-based platforms do not consider two crucial requirements in VANETs, namely, multi-hop communication and the provision of security services in the message dissemination process. Furthermore, the problem of securing message dissemination in VANETs is generally analyzed through simulation tools, while performance evaluations on smart devices have not been reported so far. In this paper, we aim to fill this void by designing a fully on-device platform for secure multi-hop message dissemination. We address the multi-hop nature of message dissemination in VANETs by integrating a location-based protocol that enables the selection of relay nodes and retransmissions criteria. As a main distinction, the platform incorporates a novel certificateless cryptographic scheme for ensuring data integrity and nodes’ authentication, suitable for VANETs lacking of infrastructure.
Ball Tracking and Trajectory Prediction for Table-Tennis Robots
Authors: Lin Hsien-I , Yu Zhangguo , Huang Yi-Chen
Published: January 2020

Sports robots have become a popular research topic in recent years. For table-tennis robots, ball tracking and trajectory prediction are the most important technologies. Several methods were developed in previous research efforts, and they can be divided into two categories: physical models and machine learning. The former use algorithms that consider gravity, air resistance, the Magnus effect, and elastic collision. However, estimating these external forces require high sampling frequencies that can only be achieved with high-efficiency imaging equipment. This study thus employed machine learning to learn the flight trajectories of ping-pong balls, which consist of two parabolic trajectories: one beginning at the serving point and ending at the landing point on the table, and the other beginning at the landing point and ending at the striking point of the robot. We established two artificial neural networks to learn these two trajectories. We conducted a simulation experiment using 200 real-world trajectories as training data. The mean errors of the proposed dual-network method and a single-network model were 39.6 mm and 42.9 mm, respectively. The results indicate that the prediction performance of the proposed dual-network method is better than that of the single-network approach. We also used the physical model to generate 330 trajectories for training and the simulation test results show that the trained model achieved a success rate of 97% out of 30 attempts, which was higher than the success rate of 70% obtained by the physical model. A physical experiment presented a mean error and standard deviation of 36.6 mm and 18.8 mm, respectively. The results also show that even without the time stamps, the proposed method maintains its prediction performance with the additional advantages of 15% fewer parameters in the overall network and 54% shorter training time.
Evaluation of Recent Advanced Soft Computing Techniques for Gully Erosion Susceptibility Mapping: A Comparative Study
Authors: Arabameri Alireza , Blaschke Thomas , Pradhan Biswajeet , Pourghasemi Hamid Reza , Tiefenbacher John P. , Bui Dieu Tien
Published: January 2020

Gully erosion is a problem; therefore, it must be predicted using highly accurate predictive models to avoid losses caused by gully development and to guarantee sustainable development. This research investigates the predictive performance of seven multiple-criteria decision-making (MCDM), statistical, and machine learning (ML)-based models and their ensembles for gully erosion susceptibility mapping (GESM). A case study of the Dasjard River watershed, Iran uses a database of 306 gully head cuts and 15 conditioning factors. The database was divided 70:30 to train and verify the models. Their performance was assessed with the area under prediction rate curve (AUPRC), the area under success rate curve (AUSRC), accuracy, and kappa. Results show that slope is key to gully formation. The maximum entropy (ME) ML model has the best performance (AUSRC = 0.947, AUPRC = 0.948, accuracy = 0.849 and kappa = 0.699). The second best is the random forest (RF) model (AUSRC = 0.965, AUPRC = 0.932, accuracy = 0.812 and kappa = 0.624). By contrast, the TOPSIS (Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) model was the least effective (AUSRC = 0.871, AUPRC = 0.867, accuracy = 0.758 and kappa = 0.516). RF increased the performance of statistical index (SI) and frequency ratio (FR) statistical models. Furthermore, the combination of a generalized linear model (GLM), and functional data analysis (FDA) improved their performances. The results demonstrate that a combination of geographic information systems (GIS) with remote sensing (RS)-based ML models can successfully map gully erosion susceptibility, particularly in low-income and developing regions. This method can aid the analyses and decisions of natural resources managers and local planners to reduce damages by focusing attention and resources on areas prone to the worst and most damaging gully erosion.
Design of an Integrated Remote and Ground Sensing Monitor System for Assessing Farmland Quality
Authors: Zhang Feiyang , Wang Guangxing , Hu Yueming , Chen Liancheng , Zhu A-xing
Published: January 2020

Quality monitoring is important for farmland protection. Here, high-resolution remote sensing data obtained by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and long-term ground sensing data, obtained by wireless sensor networks (WSNs), are uniquely suited for assessing spatial and temporal changes in farmland quality. However, existing UAV-WSN systems are unable to fully integrate the data obtained from these two monitoring systems. This work addresses this problem by designing an improved UAV-WSN monitoring system that can collect both high-resolution UAV images and long-term WSN data during a single-flight mission. This is facilitated by a newly proposed data transmission optimization routing protocol (DTORP) that selects the communication node within a cluster of the WSN to maximize the quantity of data that can be efficiently transmitted, additionally combining individual scheduling algorithms and routing algorithms appropriate for three different distance scales to reduce the energy consumption incurred during data transmission between the nodes in a cluster. The performance of the proposed system is evaluated based on Monte Carlo simulations by comparisons with that obtained by a conventional system using the low-energy adaptive clustering hierarchy (LEACH) protocol. The results demonstrate that the proposed system provides a greater total volume of transmitted data, greater energy utilization efficiency, and a larger maximum revisit period than the conventional system. This implies that the proposed UAV-WSN monitoring system offers better overall performance and enhanced potential for conducting long-term farmland quality data collection over large areas in comparison to existing systems.
Evaluation of the Trend of Deformation around the Kanto Region Estimated Using the Time Series of PALSAR-2 Data
Authors: Nonaka Takashi , Asaka Tomohito , Iwashita Keishi , Ogushi Fumitaka
Published: January 2020

In the Kanto region of Japan, a large quantity of natural gas is dissolved in brine. The large-scale production of gas and iodine in the region has caused large-scale land subsidence in the past. Therefore, continuous and accurate monitoring for subsidence using satellite remote sensing is essential to prevent extreme subsidence and ensure the safety of residences. This study focused on the small baseline subset (SBAS) method to assess ground deformation trends around the Kanto region. Data for the SBAS method was acquired by the Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS)-2 Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR)-2 from 2015 to 2019. A comparison of our results with reference levelling data shows that the SBAS method underestimates displacement. We corrected our results using linear regression and determined the maximum displacement around the Kujyukuri area to be approximately 20 mm/year; the mean displacement rate for 2015–2019 was −7.9 ± 2.9 mm/year. These values exceed those obtained using past PALSAR observations owing to the horizontal displacement after the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011. Moreover, fewer points were acquired, and the root mean-squared error of each time-series displacement value was larger in our results. Further analysis is needed to address these bias errors.
Face Recognition Systems: A Survey
Authors: Kortli Yassin , Jridi Maher , Al Falou Ayman , Atri Mohamed
Published: January 2020

Over the past few decades, interest in theories and algorithms for face recognition has been growing rapidly. Video surveillance, criminal identification, building access control, and unmanned and autonomous vehicles are just a few examples of concrete applications that are gaining attraction among industries. Various techniques are being developed including local, holistic, and hybrid approaches, which provide a face image description using only a few face image features or the whole facial features. The main contribution of this survey is to review some well-known techniques for each approach and to give the taxonomy of their categories. In the paper, a detailed comparison between these techniques is exposed by listing the advantages and the disadvantages of their schemes in terms of robustness, accuracy, complexity, and discrimination. One interesting feature mentioned in the paper is about the database used for face recognition. An overview of the most commonly used databases, including those of supervised and unsupervised learning, is given. Numerical results of the most interesting techniques are given along with the context of experiments and challenges handled by these techniques. Finally, a solid discussion is given in the paper about future directions in terms of techniques to be used for face recognition.
RETRACTED: Pavarin R.M. Alcohol Misuse Among Young Adults in Northern Italy. Safety 2019, 5, 31
Authors:   Safety Editorial Office
Published: January 2020

Since publication, we have investigated more closely the ethical procedures associated with the title article [...]
Organo-Mineral Interactions Are More Important for Organic Matter Retention in Subsoil Than Topsoil
Authors: Poirier Vincent , Basile-Doelsch Isabelle , Balesdent Jérôme , Borschneck Daniel , Whalen Joann K. , Angers Denis A.
Published: January 2020

Decomposing crop residues contribute to soil organic matter (SOM) accrual; however, the factors driving the fate of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) in soil fractions are still largely unknown, especially the influence of soil mineralogy and autochthonous organic matter concentration. The objectives of this work were (1) to evaluate the retention of C and N from crop residue in the form of occluded and mineral-associated SOM in topsoil (0–20 cm) and subsoil (30–70 cm) previously incubated for 51 days with 13C-15N-labelled corn residues, and (2) to explore if specific minerals preferentially control the retention of residue-derived C and N in topsoil and subsoil. We used topsoil and subsoil having similar texture and mineralogy as proxies for soils being rich (i.e., topsoil) and poor (i.e., subsoil) in autochthonous organic matter. We performed a sequential density fractionation procedure and measured residue-derived C and N in occluded and mineral-associated SOM fractions, and used X-ray diffraction analysis of soil density fractions to investigate their mineralogy. In accordance with our hypothesis, the retention of C and N from crop residue through organo-mineral interactions was greater in subsoil than topsoil. The same minerals were involved in the retention of residue-derived organic matter in topsoil and subsoil, but the residue-derived organic matter was associated with a denser fraction in the subsoil (i.e., 2.5–2.6 g cm−3) than in the topsoil (i.e., 2.3–2.5 g cm−3). In soils and soil horizons with high clay content and reactive minerals, we find that a low SOM concentration leads to the rapid stabilization of C and N from newly added crop residues.
Investigation of the Relationships between Individual Innovation and Sustainable Education Beliefs
Authors: Ada Sukru
Published: January 2020

The concept of sustainable education has seven main features: being holistic and interdisciplinary, focusing on values, directing to critical thinking and problem solving, requiring the use of multiple teaching methods, encouraging participatory decision-making, highlighting applicability and locality. The knowledge and beliefs of the people, who will start teaching as a vocation, have an important role for both teachers and students in terms of being in an innovative understanding and attitude. Describing the attitudes of prospective teachers with the potential to raise future generations is important for reviewing teacher training policies. For this purpose, two scales were used in the study. The first one, “The Beliefs for Sustainable Development Education Scale”, consists of 32 items and three sub-factors. The other is the “Individual Innovation Scale”; this 20-item 5-point Likert scale has five sub-dimensions as Innovative, Pioneer, Questioner, Sceptic, and Traditionalist. The data obtained were subjected to correlation and regression statistics and discussed in the light of literature. All in all, it can be seen that there are significant relationships between personal innovativeness and the dimensions of sustainable development education. According to findings, it was observed that as long as the willingness and openness-to-experience of teacher candidates’ taking risk increases in the context of personal innovativeness, their beliefs regarding sustainable development increase concordantly. Teacher candidates can resist change with the concern over whether the current knowledge and efforts will be valuable in the new situation afterwards.
Comparative Analysis of Urban Development Trends of Beijing and Karachi Metropolitan Areas
Authors: Mangi Muhammad Yousif , Yue Zhang , Kalwar Saima , Ali Lashari Zulfiqar
Published: January 2020

Urban sustainability has become a significant challenge globally due to rapidly growing urbanization and industrialization. Hence, this study was conducted to examine the existing urban development trends of metropolitan cities (i.e., Beijing and Karachi) of China and Pakistan in the context of urban sustainability. The development progress in both cities was examined through urban sustainability indices individually and compared with each other. An index system considering 36 indicators was developed based on social, economic, and environmental aspects. The six years (2012–2017) of data used in this study, were obtained from various governmental websites. Furthermore, the Urban Sustainability Index (USI) was evaluated using the statistical standard equal-weighted method. Results revealed that Beijing’s developmental progress is much better than Karachi in terms of socio-economic and environmental development, but there is still a need for improvement. While Karachi faces problems in all three sectors, each indicator of these sectors requires considerable improvement for attaining the top level of the Urban Sustainability Index. However, this study recommends that much attention is needed in the case of Karachi city, whereas Beijing also needs quality advancement in urban development.
Sustainability Practices of Higher Education Institutions in Hong Kong: A Case Study of a Sustainable Campus Consortium
Authors: Xiong Weiyan , Mok Ka Ho
Published: January 2020

Eight University Grant Committee (UGC)-funded public universities in Hong Kong positively and successfully responded to the global call for sustainability efforts in higher education institutions (HEIs). Various initiatives are transpiring within these eight campuses. The Hong Kong Sustainable Campus Consortium (HKSCC) was co-established by eight UGC-funded universities, which is an excellent example of integrating resources and efforts to achieve sustainable development goals and exert positive social impacts. Through interviews with HKSCC administrators and members and reviewing relevant documents, this study aims to examine the roles and challenges of HKSCC toward Hong Kong HEIs’ sustainability efforts, and present the good practices and achievements of HKSCC. Findings of this study reveal that although HKSCC and each UGC-funded university contribute in reaching the sustainability goals, they should pay considerable attention to the external impact of sustainability practices on communities and society. Moreover, we propose that the sustainable development of public universities in Hong Kong should look beyond the narrowed definition of sustainable development and broaden their roles to exert a social impact by addressing the negative consequences of the massification, privatization, and internationalization of higher education.
Geochemical Distribution Characteristics of Rare Earth Elements in Different Soil Profiles in Mun River Basin, Northeast Thailand
Authors: Zhou Wenxiang , Han Guilin , Liu Man , Song Chao , Li Xiaoqiang
Published: January 2020

Exploring the distributions of rare earth elements (REEs) in soil profiles is essential to understanding how natural and anthropogenic factors influence the geochemical behaviors of REEs. This study aimed to learn about the distribution characteristics of REEs in soils, including their fractionation and enrichment, and to explore the influence of soil pH and soil organic carbon (SOC) on REEs. One hundred and three samples were collected from six soil profiles under different land uses (paddy field: T1, T3; forest land: T2, T6; wasteland: T4; building site: T5) in the Mun River Basin, Northeast Thailand. The average total REE contents (∑REE) are much lower (<80 mg kg−1) than that of Earth’s crust (153.80 mg kg−1) in soil profiles T2, T3, T4, and T6. The contents of REEs tend to increase slightly with depth in all soil profiles. The ratios of (La/Yb)N range from 0.35 to 0.96 in most samples, indicating that the enrichment of heavy REEs (HREEs) relative to light REEs (LREEs) is the main fractionation pattern. Samples from profile T2 show relatively obvious negative Ce anomalies (0.55–0.78) and positive Eu anomalies (1.41–1.56), but there are almost no anomalies of Ce and Eu in other soil profiles. Enrichment factors of LREEs (EFLREEs) range from 0.23 to 1.54 and EFHREEs range from 0.34 to 2.27, which demonstrates that all soil samples show no LREE enrichment and only parts of samples show minor HREE enrichment. Soil organic carbon (SOC) contents positively correlate with the enrichment factors of REEs (EFREE) in soil profiles T1 (R = 0.56, p < 0.01) and T6 (R = 0.71), while soil pH values correlate well with EFREE in soil profiles T2 (R = 0.75) and T4 (R = −0.66, p < 0.01), indicating the important influence of soil pH and SOC on the mobility of REEs in some soil profiles.
Does Population Mobility Contribute to Urbanization Convergence? Empirical Evidence from Three Major Urban Agglomerations in China
Authors: Wang Feng , Fan Wenna , Lin Xiangyan , Liu Juan , Ye Xin
Published: January 2020

Population mobility accelerates urbanization convergence and mitigates the negative impact of the spatial agglomeration effect on urbanization convergence, which is the most important conclusion in this paper. Taking 38 cities in China’s three urban agglomerations (the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, and the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region) from 2005 to 2016 as research subjects, the study first shows that there is a large gap in the level of urbanization between the three major urban agglomerations, but the gap has been constantly narrowed and presents a trend of absolute convergence and conditional convergence. Furthermore, without adding a population mobility variable, the combination of the diffusion effect of high-urbanization cities and the high growth rate of low-urbanization cities causes the inter-regional urbanization level to be continuously convergent in the Yangtze River Delta region; however, the combination of the agglomeration effect of high-urbanization cities and the high growth rate of low-urbanization cities causes the inter-regional urbanization to be divergent in the Pearl River Delta and the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region. Under the influence of population mobility, the “catch-up” effect in low-urbanization regions is greater than the agglomeration effect in high-urbanization regions, which promotes the continuous convergence of inter-regional urbanization.
Assessing Learners’ Perceptions of Graduate Employability
Authors: Thirunavukarasu Gokul , Chandrasekaran Siva , Subhash Betageri Varsha , Long John
Published: January 2020

The rapid advancement of technology, including the internet of things (IoT), industry 4.0, and smart cities, revealed an excess need for career-ready graduates. It is expected that a career-ready graduate is technically competent and possess professional skills acquired via the experiential learning incorporated into the curriculum. But the gap exists with the learners understanding of requirements and opportunities associated with graduate employability. In this research, we focus on evaluating the learners’ experiences, expectations, and perceptions of graduate employability in an engineering curriculum. In this research, the interpretations of students on the graduate employability and the extent of influence that exists based on the learning outcomes of the graduate course are examined. The gaps between the academic environment and graduate employability awareness are highlighted. Later, a national language processing-based sentiment analyzer is used to evaluate the student’s perceptions. Results from the analysis portrayed that the different levels of expectation and experiences that prevailed in the graduate course based on the conceptual idea of graduate employability need substantial focus in future curriculum development.
Platform, Participation, and Power: How Dominant and Minority Stakeholders Shape Agricultural Innovation
Authors: Eidt Colleen M. , Pant Laxmi P. , Hickey Gordon M.
Published: January 2020

Within agricultural innovation systems (AIS), various stakeholder groups inevitably interpret ‘innovation’ from their own vantage point of privilege and power. In rural developing areas where small-scale and subsistence farming systems support livelihoods, dominant policy actors often focus heavily on participatory modernization and commercialization initiatives to enhance productivity, access, and quality. However, existing social hierarchies may undermine the potential of such initiatives to promote inclusive and sustainable farmer-driven innovation. Focusing on the chronically food insecure smallholder agricultural systems operating in Yatta Sub-county, Eastern Kenya, this paper explores how power dynamics between stakeholders can influence, and can be influenced by, participatory agricultural innovation initiatives. Findings suggest that there are often significant disparities in access to, and control over, platform resources between smallholder farmers and other stakeholder groups, resulting in large asymmetries. We discuss how these power dynamics may increase the risk of agricultural intervention, further marginalizing already disempowered groups and reinforcing power hierarchies to the detriment of smallholders. This study highlights the need for a deeper understanding of the institutional contexts that facilitate and maintain relationships of power within agricultural innovation systems, as well as the complexities associated with promoting transformational agricultural innovation.
Comparison of Combustion and Pyrolysis Behavior of the Peanut Shells in Air and N2: Kinetics, Thermodynamics and Gas Emissions
Authors: Xu Zhenghui , Xiao Xiang , Fang Ping , Ye Lyumeng , Huang Jianhang , Wu Haiwen , Tang Zijun , Chen Dongyao
Published: January 2020

The influences of four heating rates on the combustion and pyrolysis behavior in the N2 and air atmosphere were investigated by the Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. the distributed activation energy model (DEAM) and Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO) were used to estimate Ea and A, ΔH, ΔG and ΔS. Experimental results showed that the similar thermal behavior emerged, but the temperatures in the air and N2 atmospheres representing the end of the reaction were about 500 °C and 550 °C, respectively. The results of FTIR showed the peak positions were basically the same, but the concentrations of aromatics, aldehydes and ketones produced by pyrolysis in the N2 atmosphere were higher. When the heating rate was 20 K/min, the comprehensive combustion parameters were 56.442 and 6.871 × 10−7%2/(min2• K3) in the air and N2 atmospheres, respectively, indicating that the peanut shells had great potential to become bioenergy.
Ecosystem Service Response to Human Disturbance in the Yangtze River Economic Belt: A Case of Western Hunan, China
Authors: Chen Yizhu , Xu Nuanyin , Yu Qianru , Guo Luo
Published: January 2020

Ecosystem conservation is one of the core elements of sustainable development. Studying the relationship between human disturbance and the ecosystem service value (ESV) change is an urgent need for the future. The Yangtze River Economic Belt is one of the key economic strategies implemented by the Chinese government and is also a demonstration zone for ecological conservation. Western Hunan is an important ecological barrier in the Yangtze basin where different ethnic groups live together and various cultures coexist. In this study, using land-use data and spatial analysis modeling, the changes in the ecosystem service value at five topographic gradients were evaluated. Human disturbance and its spatial correlation with the ecosystem service value from 1990 to 2015 were also investigated. The results demonstrated the following: (1) the proportional area of forestland and grassland increased as the topographic gradient index increased and other types of land-use gradually decreased; (2) The ecosystem service value at middle gradients increased over the study period; but ESV of the lowest topographic gradient showed a significant decline and a substantial decrease, as well as a terrain index under 0.7970; (3) The spatial analysis of human disturbance showed that more than 90% of intense human disturbance was distributed in the area of the lowest topographic gradient where topographic features were low-altitude and low-slope, and little human disturbance was scattered at other gradients; (4) There was a significant spatial aggregation distribution between the ecosystem service value and human disturbance in western Hunan, the high disturbance and low ESV aggregation was mainly distributed in Loudi City, the area east of Shaoyang City and Zhangjiajie City all belonged to the lowest topographic gradient, and the low–high and high–high aggregations were mainly distributed in Huaihua City and Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture. Population density and gross domestic product were the main driving factors, while topography was the main ecological factor. This study could provide additional spatial information and theoretical guidance for ecosystem service management for sustainable development in western Hunan, China.
Controller for the Grid-Connected Microinverter Output Current Tracking
Authors: Bielskis Edvardas , Baskys Algirdas , Valiulis Gediminas
Published: January 2020

The modification of the proportional–integral (PI) controller with the variable proportional constant for tracking of the grid-connected photovoltaic microinverter output current has been proposed. The obtained results show that in the case when the proportional constant of the PI controller varies in time according to the appropriate law, the microinverter output current sinus shape distortions decrease as compared to the case when the ordinary PI controller is used. The operation of the microinverter with the proposed controller was investigated for the cases when the electrical grid voltage sinus shape is not distorted and when it is distorted by the higher harmonics.
Comprehensive Evaluation of the Efficiency of Yeast Cell Wall Extract to Adsorb Ochratoxin A and Mitigate Accumulation of the Toxin in Broiler Chickens
Authors: Vartiainen Suvi , Yiannikouris Alexandros , Apajalahti Juha , Moran Colm A.
Published: January 2020

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a common mycotoxin contaminant in animal feed. When absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, OTA has a propensity for pathological effects on animal health and deposition in animal tissues. In this study, the potential of yeast cell wall extracts (YCWE) to adsorb OTA was evaluated using an in vitro method in which consecutive animal digestion events were simulated. Low pH markedly increased OTA binding to YCWE, which was reversed with a pH increased to 6.5. Overall, in vitro analysis revealed that 30% of OTA was adsorbed to YCWE. Additional computational molecular modelling revealed that change in pH alters the OTA charge and modulates the interaction with the YCWE β-d-glucans. The effectiveness of YCWE was tested in a 14-day broiler chicken trial. Birds were subjected to five dietary treatments; with and without OTA, and OTA combined with YCWE at three dosages. At the end of the trial, liver OTA deposition was evaluated. Data showed a decrease of up to 30% in OTA deposits in the liver of broilers fed both OTA and YCWE. In the case of OTA, a tight correlation between the mitigation efficacy of YCWE between in vitro and in vivo model could be observed.
An Inducible Cre-lox System to Analyze the Role of LLO in Listeria monocytogenes Pathogenesis
Authors: Nguyen Brittney N. , Portnoy Daniel A.
Published: January 2020

Listeriolysin O (LLO) is a pore-forming cytolysin that allows Listeria monocytogenes to escape from phagocytic vacuoles and enter the host cell cytosol. LLO is expressed continuously during infection, but it has been a challenge to evaluate the importance of LLO secreted in the host cell cytosol because deletion of the gene encoding LLO (hly) prevents localization of L. monocytogenes to the cytosol. Here, we describe a L. monocytogenes strain (hlyfl) in which hly is flanked by loxP sites and Cre recombinase is under the transcriptional control of the L. monocytogenes actA promoter, which is highly induced in the host cell cytosol. In less than 2 h after infection of bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs), bacteria were 100% non-hemolytic. hlyfl grew intracellularly to levels 10-fold greater than wildtype L. monocytogenes and was less cytotoxic. In an intravenous mouse model, 90% of bacteria were non-hemolytic within three hours in the spleen and eight hours in the liver. The loss of LLO led to a 2-log virulence defect in the spleen and a 4-log virulence defect in the liver compared to WT L. monocytogenes. Thus, the production of LLO in the cytosol has significant impact on the pathogenicity of L. monocytogenes.
Factors That Govern the Induction of Long-Lived Antibody Responses
Authors: Chackerian Bryce , Peabody David S.
Published: January 2020

The induction of long-lasting, high-titer antibody responses is critical to the efficacy of many vaccines. The ability to produce durable antibody responses is governed by the generation of the terminally differentiated antibody-secreting B cells known as long-lived plasma cells (LLPCs). Once induced, LLPCs likely persist for decades, providing long-term protection against infection. The factors that control the generation of this important class of B cells are beginning to emerge. In particular, antigens with highly dense, multivalent structures are especially effective. Here we describe some pathogens for which the induction of long-lived antibodies is particularly important, and discuss the basis for the extraordinary ability of multivalent antigens to drive differentiation of naïve B cells to LLPCs.
Performance and Kinetics of a Pond-Constructed Wetland System Treating Beef Manure Pile and Exercise Yard Runoff in Eastern Ontario
Authors: Mejia-Franco Juliana , Kinsley Chris , Delatolla Robert
Published: January 2020

Runoff from manure piles and permanent outdoor confinement areas are common sources of pollution from livestock operations, which must be properly managed in accordance with local environmental regulations. Seven months of performance data from a pond-free water surface constructed wetland system receiving cattle feedlot runoff in Eastern Ontario, Canada, were used to evaluate performance and quantify first-order reaction rate constants (k) for organic matter and nutrients. Kinetic values were shown to be strongly temperature dependent and to adequately represent average treatment over the operating season; however, k values varied significantly on shorter time scales due to the event-based nature of the treatment system. Plant (duckweed) uptake of soluble phosphorus and ammonia in the pond was shown to be a predominant mechanism of nutrient removal. The pond-wetland system was effective at reducing biological oxygen demand (BOD5) by 67%, total phosphorus (TP) by 45%, and total nitrogen (TN) by 64%, providing a cost-effective and appropriate solution for beef producers.
Research Trends in the Use of Remote Sensing for Inland Water Quality Science: Moving Towards Multidisciplinary Applications
Authors: Topp Simon N. , Pavelsky Tamlin M. , Jensen Daniel , Simard Marc , Ross Matthew R. V.
Published: January 2020

Remote sensing approaches to measuring inland water quality date back nearly 50 years to the beginning of the satellite era. Over this time span, hundreds of peer-reviewed publications have demonstrated promising remote sensing models to estimate biological, chemical, and physical properties of inland waterbodies. Until recently, most of these publications focused largely on algorithm development as opposed to implementation of those algorithms to address specific science questions. This slow evolution contrasts with terrestrial and oceanic remote sensing, where methods development in the 1970s led to publications focused on understanding spatially expansive, complex processes as early as the mid-1980s. This review explores the progression of inland water quality remote sensing from methodological development to scientific applications. We use bibliometric analysis to assess overall patterns in the field and subsequently examine 236 key papers to identify trends in research focus and scale. The results highlight an initial 30 year period where the majority of publications focused on model development and validation followed by a spike in publications, beginning in the early-2000s, applying remote sensing models to analyze spatiotemporal trends, drivers, and impacts of changing water quality on ecosystems and human populations. Recent and emerging resources, including improved data availability and enhanced processing platforms, are enabling researchers to address challenging science questions and model spatiotemporally explicit patterns in water quality. Examination of the literature shows that the past 10–15 years has brought about a focal shift within the field, where researchers are using improved computing resources, datasets, and operational remote sensing algorithms to better understand complex inland water systems. Future satellite missions promise to continue these improvements by providing observational continuity with spatial/spectral resolutions ideal for inland waters.
HUBUNGAN USIA, JENIS KELAMIN DAN INDEKS MASSA TUBUH DENGAN KADAR GULA DARAH PUASA PADA PASIEN DIABETES MELITUS TIPE 2 DI KLINIK PRATAMA RAWAT JALAN PROKLAMASI, DEPOK, JAWA BARAT
Authors: Komariah K , Rahayu Sri
Published: January 2020

Diabetes melitus biasa disebut “the silent killer” karena penyakit ini dapat menimbulkan dampak pada semua organ tubuh dan berbagai macam keluhan. Data World Health Organization (WHO) memprediksi kenaikan jumlah pasien diabetes melitus di Indonesia dari 8,43 juta jiwa pada tahun 2000 menjadi 21,257 juta jiwa pada tahun 2030. Peningkatan kejadian kasus diabetes melitus dipengaruhi berbagai faktor seperti perubahan pola gaya hidup, perubahan usia, dan kultur. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui hubungan usia, jenis kelamin dan indeks massa tubuh dengan kadar gula darah puasa pada pasien diabetes melitus tipe 2. Metode penelitian ini menggunakan desain penelitian cross-sectional study. Penelitian ini dilakukan di Klinik Pratama Rawat Jalan Proklamasi, Depok, Jawa Barat dengan jumlah sampel sebanyak 134 responden. Pengambilan sampel pada penelitian ini menggunakan metode purposive sampling. Analisa data menggunakan uji Chi Square. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa yang berhubungan dengan kadar gula darah puasa adalah usia (p-value=0,004). Pada variabel yang tidak memiliki hubungan dengan kadar gula darah puasa adalah jenis kelamin (p-value=0,331), dan dan indeks massa tubuh (p-value=0,502). Jadi, dapat disimpulkan bahwa usia perlu diperhatikan dalam melakukan perawatan diabetes melitus tipe 2.
 
Diabetes mellitus is commonly called “the silent killer” because this disease can have an impact on all organs of the body and various complaints. The World Health Organization (WHO) predicts an increase in the number of diabetes mellitus patients in Indonesia from 8.43 million in 2000 to 21.257 million in 2030. Increased incidence of diabetes mellitus cases is influenced by various factors such as changes in lifestyle patterns, age changes, and culture. This study aimed to determine the relationship of age, sex and body mass index with fasting blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The method of this study used a cross-sectional study design. This research was conducted at the Klinik Pratama Rawat Jalan Proklamasi, Depok, West Java with a total sample of 134 respondents. Sampling in this study used a purposive sampling method. Data analysis using the Chi-Square test. The results showed that age-related blood fasting blood sugar levels (p-value=0,004). The variables that have no relationship with fasting blood sugar levels are gender (p-value=0,331) and body mass index (p-value=0,502). It can be concluded that age has to be considered in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Ultrasonic welding of polymer fi lms
Authors: Volkov S. S. , Nerovny V. M. , Bigus G. A.
Published: January 2020

The choice of the method of ultrasonic welding of polymer fi lms is substantiated, its advantages over other welding methods are noted.

It is shown that the parameters determining the performance of seam ultrasonic welding process for polymer fi lms are the amplitude of the waveguide oscillations, the welding static pressure and the speed of welding with a fi xed gap on a rotating support roller with self-stabilization of the welding seam thickness.
STRATEGI PEMBELAJARAN MATEMATIKA MENYENANGKAN SISWA (MMS) BERBASIS METODE PERMAINAN MATHEMAGIC, TEKA-TEKI DAN CERITA MATEMATIS
Authors: Maswar Maswar
Published: January 2020

Until now there are still many students who consider aboaut metematics as a school subject that is considered scary and boring. Because it contains many difficult and meticulous formulas. Though mathematics is a very important subject to be learned along with the progress of Science and Technology increasingly sophisticated in Era 4.0. Through Mathematics with all its applications, it creates many kinds of increasingly sophisticated contemporary technologies. Mathematics can be said to be the mother of all sciences. Therefore, mathematics is very important to be taught to students and must be able to be well received and enjoyable. Therefore it is necessary to look for a development of mathematical learning concepts that are in accordance with the characteristics of students namely fun mathematics learning strategies that can make students happy when studying, both at school and at private institutions. In this paper discusses focused for fun learning strategies based on mathematical game methods, Mathematical Puzzles, and Mathematical Stories.
APLIKASI STANDAR AKUNTANSI KEUANGAN ENTITAS MIKRO KECIL DAN MENENGAH (SAK-EMKM) PADA UMKM DI KECAMATAN TALANG KELAPA KABUPATEN BANYUASIN
Authors: Junaidi Junaidi
Published: January 2020

This study aims to determine the application of accounting to MSMEs and analyze financial statement reporting using the SAK-EMKM approach. The sample used was 35 MSME food traders in Talang Kelapa District, Banyuasin Regency. The data used are primary data with data collection techniques using questionnaires and interviews. The analysis technique used is quantitative descriptive. The estimation results conclude that the application of accounting to UMKM food traders in Talang Kelapa still uses a simple method. MSMEs have not been able to apply the accounting cycle correctly. Of the 35 food traders who were sampled, there were only 2 traders who had applied accounting standards well. An understanding of the application of accounting standards needs to be socialized intensively to MSME traders in Talang Kelapa District.
"Ministrice, borke, ambasadorke, policistke …"
Authors: Zalta Anja , Ben Jomaa Mourad
Published: January 2020

Prispevek, ki je nastal na podlagi terenskih raziskav oz. obiska zahodnosaharskega begunskega taborišča Awsarda blizu Tindoufa v Alžiriji, obravnava primer Saharske arabske demokratične republike (SADR) in njenih prebivalk, zahodnosaharskih žensk, ki v izjemno težkih družbenih okoliščinah oblikujejo modele za izgradnjo miru in prispevajo k novim oblikam razumevanja odnosov med spoli. SADR, bolj znana pod imenom Zahodna Sahara, je danes edinstven primer zmerne islamske demokracije, ki spodbuja opolnomočenje žensk. Prispevek na kratko predstavi Saharsko arabsko demokratično republiko in njeno zgodovino, razišče vzroke in posledice pri organiziranosti zahodnosaharskih žensk, poda nekaj razmislekov o tradicionalni konstrukciji spolov v Zahodni Sahari ter o vlogi religije (islama) in pri tej konstrukciji. Ključni poudarek pa ostaja vpliv fronte Polisario na vlogo zahodnosaharskih žensk ter vloga, ki jo imajo te pri demokratizaciji družbe in izgradnji miru. Iz pridobljenih odgovorov je razvidno, da je prav ideologija fronte Polisario, ki črpa iz socialističnih modelov, ključna za to, da imajo zahodnosaharske ženske moč v družbi sredi regije, v kateri imajo ženske na splošno malo pravic.
Pojav in razvoj feminističnih gibanj v Egiptu
Authors: Lamberger Khatib Maja
Published: January 2020

Prispevek pojasnjuje družbenopolitično dogajanje v Egiptu ob pojavu feminističnega gibanja.Feminizem predstavljam kot individualno ali kolektivno zavedanje, da so ženske bile in so pod pritiski družbe na različnih področjih in zaradi različnih razlogov. Premiki proti liberalizaciji vključujejo enakopravnejšo družbo ter izboljšanje odnosa med žensko in moškim. V sodobnih arabskih družbah je značilna pluralnost in heterogenost feminizmov, saj lahko najdemo veliko različnih tipov, kot so sekularni feminizem, islamski feminizem in islamistični feminizem, ki pokrivajo široke politične spektre in prikažejo različnost glasov, ki jih govorijo ženske. Tudi tam, kjer ženske termin feminizem zavračajo, ne pomeni, da ni feministične zavesti. V Egiptu sta dve glavni feministični paradigmi. Sekularni feminizem, ki se je pojavil konec 19. stoletja, in islamski/islamistični feminizem, ki je postal očiten v poznem 20. stoletju. V nadaljevanju se osredinjam ter podrobneje razložim razmere in družbenopolitične okoliščine, ki so vplivale na začetke oblikovanja feministične zavesti v Egiptu vse do revolucije 2011.
CO-MOVEMENT AND CAUSAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STOCK MARKET AND MACROECONOMIC VARIABLES:	LATEST EVIDENCE FROM MALAYSIA
Authors: Md Isa Mohamad Azwan , Ismail Norashikin , A Latif Ruziah , Abd Rahman Nor Hadaliza , Mazlan Nurul Farhana
Published: January 2020

Previous studies pertaining to the co-movement and causal relationship between Malaysian stock markets and domestic macroeconomic variables are by now quite well documented. Nonetheless, to the best of authors’ knowledge, there is a void in the literature about foreign macroeconomic variables. Therefore, this paper aims to examine co-movement and causal relationship between FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (FBMKLCI) with foreign macroeconomic variables namely world crude oil price, gold price, and five world major stock market indices; Singapore’s Straits Times Index (STI), Chinese Shanghai A-Share Index (SHAI), the US’s Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index (HSI) and Japanese Nikkei 225 Index (NIK). We also include domestic macroeconomic variables namely private sector domestic credit, gross international reserves and foreign currency assets, and an exchange rate of Malaysian ringgit (MYR) to the US dollar (USD) in this study. Using 9-year monthly data series from 2010 to 2018, the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) test reveals that data series have unit root in level order, but become integrated when converted into the first difference. The t-statistics of the Trace test suggests that FBMKLCI co-moves with Malaysian gross international reserves and foreign currency assets, world gold price and STI in the long run, respectively. Further, the VECM notes the absence of long-run or short runs causal relationships except Singapore’s STI to FBMKLCI in the short run. The pairwise Granger causality test indicates a one-way causal relationship running from FBMKLCI to gross international reserves and foreign currency assets. The findings benefit stock market investors, diversified portfolio fund managers, market regulators, and policymakers besides enriching the existing literature.
EXPRESSION OF EMOTIONS AND COURTESY OF YOUTH IN ONLINE INTERACTION
Authors: Ramli Romlah
Published: January 2020

Social media development allows users to use it in all fields, purposes, and times. Changes in media usage and exposure greatly influence the process of user interaction. Emotion and communication are the main aspects of this study. Issues such as how users interact with the polite aspects while using media should be interesting to discuss. This study identifies the level of social media use with youth emotions as well as their polite expressions. This study used a quantitative approach through a survey of 395 youths in Penang. The method of data analysis is using descriptive and bivariate. Findings indicate that the aspect of politeness is a consideration in expressing emotions with the emoticons selected by the respondents. For this paper, the findings show that there is a relationship between youth’s positive emotions in using social media and the level of ‘budi bahasa’ shown. The findings of this study suggest that adolescent emotions are an attractive branch to explore for the purpose of exploring online communication research.