bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Primjena šume slučajnih
stabala za predviđanje ishoda šahovske partije
reprezentirane
kompleksnom mrežom
Authors: Jokić Jovan , Martinčić-Ipšić Sandra
Published: June 2019

Cilj je ovog rada izgraditi model vrednovanja šahovskih pozicija koji se temelji na informacijama dobivenima iz mrežnih značajki
pozicija šahovskih figura na ploči. Međusobni odnosi figura, kao i odnosi figura i polja koja zauzimaju, a koji opisuju određene taktičke i
strateške elemente šahovske partije, mogu se modelirati kompleksnom mrežom. Ovim je radom pokazano kako upotrebom samo određenih mjera koje opisuju strukturu kompleksne mreže možemo naučiti klasifikator pozicija koji može predvidjeti krajnji ishod partije bolje od klasične Shannonove evaluacijske funkcije. Shannonova evaluacijska funkcija kvantificira materijalno stanje na ploči obiju strana u šahovskoj igri, mobilnost figura, sigurnost kralja te kvalitetu pješačke strukture. Računalni model koji klasificira na ulazu ima vektore značajki određene iz četiri vrste mreža (mreža podrške, mreža mobilnosti, pozicijska mreža, mreža praćenja) konstruiranih iz baze majstorskih partija, od kojih svaka modelira određeni aspekt šahovske igre. Vektor značajki sadrži značajke dobivene izračunom različitih mjera strukture mreže. Za određivanje značajki prema važnosti, kao i klasifikacijski postupak ishoda igre, upotrebljava se šuma slučajnih stabla. Nadalje, eksperimentalno se određuju osnovne evaluacije statičkih pozicija u šahovskim partijama pomoću Stockfish šahovskog programa. Nakon toga, značajke te pripadne evaluacijske ciljne klase (pobjeda bijelog, pobjeda
crnog igrača ili remi) udružuju se u ulazne vektore za učenje modela klasifikacije pozicija, čiji se rezultati uspoređuju sa Shannonovom evaluacijskom funkcijom. Pokazano je kako predložena metoda vrednovanja temeljena na informacijama o strukturi mreže daje bolje rezultate (75 % točnosti) od klasične Shannonove evaluacijske funkcije (52 % točnosti) za testnu bazu partija.
The impact of ethical
ideologies on the judgment of online marketing
communications ethics in
the tourism market
Authors: Lončarić Dina , Balent Mateja
Published: June 2019

The purpose of this paper is to study the relationship between ethical ideologies and the judgment of online marketing communications ethics in
the tourism market. The aim of the research is also to establish a relationship between the judgement of online communications ethics and behavioural intentions. The paper is based on empirical research conducted using the scenario method and survey method. The Ethics Position Questionnaire (EPQ) was used to measure ethical ideology along two dimensions, relativism and idealism. Five scenarios were designed, describing potentially ethically ambiguous situations. A relationship was established between ethical ideologies and ethical judgements of online marketing communications. The study proved that respondents who scored higher on the idealism scale have more rigid criteria with regard
to online communications ethics and were better at recognising ethically ambiguous situations. A relationship between the ethical judgements of the described situations and behavioural intention was also established. Although topics relating to online communications on the tourism market are extensively researched, there are few studies dealing with ethical judgement of such communications. The special contribution of this paper is in the fact that research includes students of tourism and hospitality who will, in the near future, find themselves in situations where they will need to make, and take moral responsibility for, decisions regarding communications in the tourism market. Therefore, this research contributes both to theory and practice.
The importance of
understanding the connection between the characteristics and motivation of
visitors
Authors: Milohnić Ines , Licul Ivana , Predović Ivona
Published: June 2019

The purpose of this paper is to examine the characteristics and motivations of event visitors. The goals are to systematically identify socio-demographic characteristics of visitors to tourist events and identify key motivation for visiting tourist events. In addition, the research aims to investigate the correlation between the socio-demographic characteristics of visitors and their motivations for visiting a tourist event. The research was conducted among the visitors of a tourist event (103 respondents), using the survey method and a pre-designed structured questionnaire. The survey was conducted in April
2017, during the duration of an event which is held every year in the city of Zagreb in the Republic of Croatia. The results of the conducted research have shown significant differences between the different socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents and their motivations. Thus, women are more highly motivated by a desire for cultural experiences (34%), while men are motivated the most by curiosity/desire for new experiences (45%). Furthermore, correlation analysis has led to the conclusion that there is a significant correlation between motivation domains and the socio-demographic characteristics of respondents (gender, age and education). Understanding the visitors’ characteristics and event motivations could serve as a useful tool for event managers. It could help them to develop and manage events, with the aim of improving the event offering to meet the needs and demands of different visitors. Given the growing importance of events as an enrichment element of the tourism offering, this research can contribute to the advancement of knowledge in this field.
Queryng data in NoSQL databases
Authors: Babić Andrea , Jakšić Danijela , Poščić Patrizia
Published: June 2019

The goal of this paper is to give an overview of fundamental concepts and types of NoSQL databases, to show some examples of database queries,
some related research, and the implementation of those queries in an original practical example. The introduction is a brief representation and description of the NoSQL database. There are also several comparisons of NoSQL database with the relational database. The next chapter contains a review of the basic NoSQL databases and their prototypes. In each of the following subchapters, the types of NoSQL databases are described in more detail and various queries which can be performed over them are presented. In the last chapter there is also a practical example of querying one of these databases.
Development of the collaborative economy in Ecuador
Authors: Sanchez Ruiz Jefferson , Moreno Salazar Yenny
Published: June 2019

Introduction.The collaborative economy is a new trend that generates sources of sustainable and sustainable work through digital platforms that operate in the sectors of space utilization. Objectivediagnose scientific production in Ecuador in relation to the collaborative economy Materials and methodsWe used a blibliometric review of scientific articles that speak of collaborative economics at an international level, from Latin America and Ecuador in Scielo, Scopus and other bibliographic documents. Results I can show that the participation of the sectors of the collaborative economy at the international level are in transportation. DiscussionThe most developed market is Brazil, with a very specific language and market size context that makes it interesting even for local initiatives. Conclusions It is determined that Ecuador is still in an incipient state and has not yet taken full advantage of its use of resources of the productive matrix for the development of the collaborative economy.
Nutritional assessment of Nursing in pregnant adolescents
Authors: Franco Poveda Kristy , Holguín Jiménez Martha , Rivera Salazar Geny , Gordillo Ojeda Mercy
Published: June 2019

Introductionthe stage of adolescence is a vital process to become adults, where physiologically many changes are going to occur and eating habits will significantly influence this process. Pregnant women should maintain a balanced, varied and sufficient diet to avoid future nutritional complications related to inadequate intake, producing imperfections in fetal growth and development. Objectiveto assess the nutritional status of pregnant adolescents and identify the socio-psycho-cultural and intrafamilial factors that influence it. Materials and methodsQuantitative, descriptive and transversal. Technique: Observation and Direct Survey. Instrument: Questions questionnaire and direct observation matrix directed to pregnant teenagers. Resultspregnant adolescents between 17 to 19 years of age who were in the second trimester of pregnancy, with complications characterized by low weight, anemia, preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. Discussionthey live in precarious conditions or in an environment of violence, so that the maintenance of pregnancy or the growth of the infant will become difficult.Conclusions The pregnant adolescent is considered high risk due to the complications involved from the anato-physiological structure.
Determinants of the wage gap in Ecuador: analysis under a minceriano model related to dummy aggregate variables
Authors: López Lapo Jorge Luis , Sarmiento Castillo Germania
Published: June 2019

Introduction The Human Capital Theory exposes that inequality in labor income is due to different factors, including productivity and education. Objectiveanalyze income inequality in the Ecuadorian labor market. The research takes data from the National Employment, Unemployment and Underemployment Survey of INEC estimating the Mincerian equation (1974) by adding dummy variables.Materials and methods The research takes data of secondary information that rests in the ENEMDU survey updated to December 2018 that includes the characteristics of the EAP in Ecuador. Resultscharacterization of the gender variable, schooling positively influences their hourly wages. Discussion Regarding the gender variable, this long term of not correcting the salary differences may have an impact on old age. ConclusionsWhen there is gender discrimination, it is imperative to identify and quantify the jobs and professions to which women have access in a lesser proportion.
Bibliometric analysis as a tool for monitoring scientific production in Rural Psychology
Authors: Camargo Barrero José Antonio , Castañeda Polanco Juan Gabriel
Published: June 2019

Introduction.Rurality is a very topical issue in a country like Colombia, due to its demographic and psychosocial conditions; however, little is known about the research development of rural psychology. Objective.Identify the current state of scientific production around rural psychology in the Scopus, Scielo, Dialnet and Redalyc databases in the last 10 years. Materials and methods. It is a bibliometric, descriptive and introspective study, with a final sample of 46 articles published in the last 10 years in journals indexed in the databases. Results It was identified that the country that publishes the most topics related to rural psychology is Brazil and 2016-2017 were the years with the highest scientific production registered in the last 10 years. Discussionof the direct relationship of education with the level of wages, great care should be taken when referencing this result. Conclusion.Rural psychology is a field of research that requires greater attention on the part of Latin American researchers.
Resilience in drug-dependent patients of the Therapeutic Community "Camino a La Paz"
Authors: Tarazona Meza Anicia Katherine , Sierra Delgado José Javier
Published: June 2019

Introduction. The present investigation was carried out in the therapeutic community "Camino a la Paz" that provides professional services of psychological care for the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of alcohol and drug addictions. Objectiveto determine the levels of resilience in the treatment and rehabilitation of drug-dependent patients. Materials and methodsthe research was developed in a sample of 60 patients and 4 professionals from the "Camino a la Paz" Therapeutic Community, using the SV-RES test (Saavedra, 2008) as a tool, patients and a survey of professionals. who work in the area. The study is of an exploratory-descriptive nature and its inductive-deductive method. ResultsThe results obtained indicate that the resilience is fostered and develops during the time determined by the psychotherapeutic process. Discussionthe results of the study determine that the levels of resilience in the patients of the Therapeutic Community "Camino a la Paz" are mostly in the average level. ConclusionsThe analysis obtained in the verbalization I can, indicate that the values of the affectivity and self-efficacy factors stand out with a high level of resilience.
Model for strategic alignment in educational organizations
Authors: Salgado García Lorenzo , Calvillo Barrios Juan , Hernández de la Rosa Eduardo
Published: June 2019

Introduction.The strategic alignment is an added value to the content presented by the organizations as it goes beyond planning and penetrates all the managerial functions demanding an integrating view of the entire process. Objective. We propose to apply the proposal of strategic alignment to the Mexican educational organizations Materials and methods. Using quantitative research, the hard data that support the application of strategic alignment as a mechanism to transform education in Mexico are presented. ResultsIt was possible to determine which are the concrete manifestations of alignment as a process in Mexican companies. DiscussionStrategic alignment is a planned process through which management achieves superior results. Conclusion. The identification of alignment factors is a necessary condition for the organization to be able to use them effectively to obtain additional value.
Simulation of quasi spherical gravitational waves in the characteristic formulation
Authors: Suárez Carreño Franyelit María , Dionisio Rosales Luis
Published: June 2019

Introduction :A review is made of gravitational waves, their simulation and the methods used for their definitive detection in 2015. A comparison of electromagnetic waves with gravitational waves and the main technological efforts made over decades for their detection is presented. Objective:is to detect OG from massive black holes and galactic and extragalactic binary stars in a frequency range of 10-4 to 10-1 Hz. Materials and methods: Numerical methods used in its simulation are specified, emphasizing computational techniques used in recent years. Results:The boundary is placed at x = 2/3 and the parameters are used for the simulations shown in figures 3 and 4: number of points of the angular mesh Nq = Np = Nξ = 45, and for the radial mesh Nx = 100 , A = 10-3, Ra = 4, Rb = 7. Discussion:The simulations were carried out with a code programmed in FORTRAN 90 and run under the LINUX free software platform. The figures were generated with the Dx plotter under LINUX environment, allowed to evaluate the respective equations and give a satisfactory answer to the proposed objectives. Conclusions:it was possible to conclude that the detection of gravitational waves is possible, however it is necessary to improve the sensitivity, which will allow the detection of new events collecting information about sources three times more distant, and increasing the probability of detection.
Assessing the organizational readiness for implementing BI systems in ERP environment
Authors: Kim Phung Thai , Phu Hai Doan
Published: June 2019

BI (Business Intelligence) is considered as a top priority of enterprises in investment decisions on information systems. Deploying a BI system is very complex, not just installing software and hardware, its success depends on assessing the current situation, planning, analyzing and improving business processes. This study was conducted to identify the factors influence the readiness of deploying BI in enterprises using ERP systems. Base on that, we suggest some solutions to increase the readiness and availability to better support enterprises in preparing for BI system deployment in the future. We surveyed participants in the process of deploying and using ERP system in theirs companies at Ho Chi Minh City. The research uses a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to propose a research model, test model, discuss results and propose solutions. The experimental research results show that the readiness factors that enterprises need to pay attention to when deploying BI systems, in the order: Organization, Technology, Process and People.
ASSESSMENT OF ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF AZADIRACHTA INDICA FROM MAHALAPURAM, JAIPUR
Authors: Mishra Sweta , Sharma Vishnu , Yesudas Rincy , Rajput Ritu Singh
Published: June 2019

The medicinal plants have been used for years in daily life to treat infections all over the world. Azadirachta indica is a very valuable traditional therapeutic plant in the sub-continent regions. Each part of the tree has remarkable medicinal properties. In the present study, Phytochemical study yielded positive results for tannins, cardiac glycosides, anthraquinones, and saponins. The terpenoids was found to be missing. In antimicrobial studies, the organic and aqueous Leaf extract of Azadirachta indica found to show inhibitory action against the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli that reveal the presence of pharmacologically bioactive constituents in Azadirachta indica.

Key words: Nature; Azadirachta indica; Ayurveda; antimicrobial activity
Applying of green building standards for implementation of the city development strategies in Kyiv.
Authors: Varavin Dmytro , Kryvomaz Tetiana
Published: June 2019

The main tasks of the "Kyiv City Development Strategy until 2025" are in development and reconstruction of the city, improvement of its infrastructure and environmental protection, which perfectly correlates with the basic principles of green building. This is the modern practice in construction, reconstruction and the exploitation of buildings, in which they im-plement optimal architectural solutions, advanced engineering systems and materials for re-ducing of energy consumption and material resources, it is the process of improving the qual-ity of buildings and the comfort of their internal environment, improving of impact of build-ings on the health of people by minimizing the negative impact on the environment at all stag-es of life cycle of building structures. The practice of the tasks outlined in the Strategy will significantly contribute to the implementation of international environmental standards and to the application of constructive solutions of green building technologies. In particular it ap-peals to such urban development sectors as city development and land relations, housing and communal services, transport and urban mobility, environmental policy and environmental protection, public space, security and civil protection, historical and architectural heritage.
Professional aspects of the market of Ukraine.
Authors: Bielova Alla , Koval Svetlana
Published: June 2019

The subject of the article is the study of specific problems of professional suitability of the labor force to the needs of the labor market in Ukraine by statistical estimation of the dynamics and structure of some indicators in 2015 and 2017. The study used general scientific and special statistical methods: analysis of dynamics and synthesis, analogy and comparison, expert assessments, etc. On the basis of the study of the numerical characteristics of the main indicators of the labor market, an analysis of certain professional aspects of the problems in the field of employment and unemployment in Ukraine was conducted, and the main prospects for their possible future development in the modern conditions were investigated. It has been determined that the professional training of specialists and their formation as an integral personal formation necessitates a comprehensive and systematic study of the essence of this phenomenon, and should meet the requirements of the labor market and the tasks of progressive dynamic development of the country.
Length Effect on Load Bearing Capacities of Friction Rock Bolts
Authors: Komurlu Eren , Demir Serhat
Published: June 2019

Change in the load bearing capacity of the split set type friction rock bolts with variations of bolt lengths was investigated within this study. To determine a relation between the load bearing capacity and bolt length parameters, different friction bolt models with various lengths were analyzed with a numerical modelling study. In addition, a series of pull-out tests was carried out to evaluate the load bearing capacities of the split set type friction rock bolts with different lengths. The load bearing capacity of the bolts was found to decreasingly increase with the increase in the bolt length. As an outcome of this study, a relation between the load bearing capacity and rock bolt length parameters is suggested in accordance with the results obtained from both numerical and experimental studies.
Desafíos en psicoterapia: trauma complejo, apego y disociación
Authors: Morales Aguilar Diana Patricia
Published: June 2019

En el siglo XXI la Psicoterapia sigue dando pasos agigantados con una perspectiva integradora. El tema de los actuales desafíos que tiene la Psicoterapia son muchos, el presente artículo muestra solo uno de ellos, el estudio de la relación entre el Trauma complejo, el Apego y la Disociación. Muchos colegas a nivel internacional como Van der Hart O, Nijenhuis E, Steele K., Van der Kolk B., Pelcovitz D., Roth S., Mandel F., McFarlane A., Herman, J., entre otros, han dado una gran contribución científica que nos ayuda a generar un mejor diagnóstico dimensional y categorial siguiendo las nuevas indicaciones del DSMV, pero lo más importante, es que nos indican que el camino para resolver el problema que nos trae un paciente no es solo uno, eso quiere decir que hay una mayor exigencia para los que trabajan en el área clínica y sobre todo en la Psicoterapia, una actualización y estudio constante de nuevos abordajes de intervención.
A Review of Geometry, Construction and Modelling for Carbon Nanotori
Authors: Sarapat Pakhapoom , Hill James , Baowan Duangkamon
Published: June 2019

After the discovery of circular formations of single walled carbon nanotubes called fullerene crop circles, their structure has become one of the most researched amongst carbon nanostructures due to their particular interesting physical properties. Several experiments and simulations have been conducted to understand these intriguing objects, including their formation and their hidden characteristics. It is scientifically conceivable that these crop circles, nowadays referred to as carbon nanotori, can be formed by experimentally bending carbon nanotubes into ring shaped structures or by connecting several sections of carbon nanotubes. Toroidal carbon nanotubes are likely to have many applications, especially in electricity and magnetism. In this review, geometry, construction, modelling and possible applications are discussed and the existing known analytical expressions, as obtained from the Lennard-Jones potential and the continuum approximation, for their interaction energies with other nanostructures are summarised.
Mapping Modeled Exposure of Wildland Fire Smoke for Human Health Studies in California
Authors: Koman Patricia D. , Billmire Michael , Baker Kirk R. , de Majo Ricardo , Anderson Frank J. , Hoshiko Sumi , Thelen Brian J. , French Nancy H.F.
Published: June 2019

Wildland fire smoke exposure affects a broad proportion of the U.S. population and is increasing due to climate change, settlement patterns and fire seclusion. Significant public health questions surrounding its effects remain, including the impact on cardiovascular disease and maternal health. Using atmospheric chemical transport modeling, we examined general air quality with and without wildland fire smoke PM2.5. The 24-h average concentration of PM2.5 from all sources in 12-km gridded output from all sources in California (2007–2013) was 4.91 μg/m3. The average concentration of fire-PM2.5 in California by year was 1.22 μg/m3 (~25% of total PM2.5). The fire-PM2.5 daily mean was estimated at 4.40 μg/m3 in a high fire year (2008). Based on the model-derived fire-PM2.5 data, 97.4% of California’s population lived in a county that experienced at least one episode of high smoke exposure (“smokewave”) from 2007–2013. Photochemical model predictions of wildfire impacts on daily average PM2.5 carbon (organic and elemental) compared to rural monitors in California compared well for most years but tended to over-estimate wildfire impacts for 2008 (2.0 µg/m3 bias) and 2013 (1.6 µg/m3 bias) while underestimating for 2009 (−2.1 µg/m3 bias). The modeling system isolated wildfire and PM2.5 from other sources at monitored and unmonitored locations, which is important for understanding population exposure in health studies. Further work is needed to refine model predictions of wildland fire impacts on air quality in order to increase confidence in the model for future assessments. Atmospheric modeling can be a useful tool to assess broad geographic scale exposure for epidemiologic studies and to examine scenario-based health impacts.
Analytical Solution of the Hanle Effect in View of CLASP and Future Polarimetric Solar Studies
Authors: Goto Motoshi , Ishikawa Ryohko , Iida Yusuke , Tsuneta Saku
Published: June 2019

We have solved a problem of the Hanle effect for the hydrogen Lyman- α line in an intuitive and straightforward way. The Stokes parameters amid an anisotropic radiation field and a magnetic field are derived as an analytical formula which enables us to conduct immediate analyses of observation data taken by spectro-polarimetry. The derived formula is, in particular, supposed to be used for the analysis of the data taken by CLASP (Chromospheric Lyman-Alpha Spectro-Polarimeter), which has aimed at measuring the linear polarization in the hydrogen Lyman- α line (121.6 nm) and then evaluating the magnetic field in the upper chromosphere and the transition region. The dependence of the Stokes parameters on the strength and direction of the magnetic field and on the observation angle is derived with our analytical model. The results show a satisfactory agreement with those of a more rigorous numerical calculation where the radiative transfer is taken into account and the consistency is assured between the anisotropic randiation field and the polarized atomic state.
Biogenic Amines Determination in “Plant Milks”
Authors: Gobbi Laura , Ciano Salvatore , Rapa Mattia , Ruggieri Roberto
Published: June 2019

“Plant milks” are water-based beverages, such as, extracts from cereals, pseudo-cereals, oil seeds, legumes or fruits. Plant milk consumption is rising in European and North American markets due to problems related to cow milk allergies, intolerances, but also because of vegan diets and sensitivity to environmental issues. There is no specific regulation for these beverages, therefore their composition can vary considerably, even in the same category. The aim of this study is to characterize the main categories of cereal and pseudo-cereal milks on the market by studying the profile of 8 biogenic amines (histamine, serotonin, spermine, spermidine, putrescine, β-phenylethylamine, cadaverine, tyramine) through a RP-HPLC/FD method with a pre-column derivatization. Biogenic amines are ubiquitous compounds, produced by the decarboxylation of the respective amino acids and they have been proposed as quality and safety markers of different foods and beverages. In the analyzed samples, the total biogenic amines content ranged from a minimum of 1.92 mg/L, to a maximum of 9.27 mg/L. The main biogenic amine found in the samples was histamine. The results show a low content of biogenic amines in all types of analyzed products. This ensures the quality and safety of cereal and pseudo-cereal milk samples.
A Review of the Role of Wnt in Cancer Immunomodulation
Authors: Goldsberry Whitney N. , Londoño Angelina , Randall Troy D. , Norian Lyse A. , Arend Rebecca C.
Published: June 2019

Alterations in the Wnt signaling pathway are associated with the advancement of cancers; however, the exact mechanisms responsible remain largely unknown. It has recently been established that heightened intratumoral Wnt signaling correlates with tumor immunomodulation and immune suppression, which likely contribute to the decreased efficacy of multiple cancer therapeutics. Here, we review available literature pertaining to connections between Wnt pathway activation in the tumor microenvironment and local immunomodulation. We focus specifically on preclinical and clinical data supporting the hypothesis that strategies targeting Wnt signaling could act as adjuncts for cancer therapy, either in combination with chemotherapy or immunotherapy, in a variety of tumor types.
Non-Invasive Monitoring of Stromal Biophysics with Targeted Depletion of Hyaluronan in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Maloney Ezekiel , DuFort Christopher C. , Provenzano Paolo P. , Farr Navid , Carlson Markus A. , Vohra Ravneet , Park Joshua , Hingorani Sunil R. , Lee Donghoon
Published: June 2019

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is characterized by a pronounced fibroinflammatory stromal reaction consisting of inordinate levels of hyaluronan (HA), collagen, immune cells, and activated fibroblasts that work in concert to generate a robust physical barrier to the perfusion and diffusion of small molecule therapeutics. The targeted depletion of hyaluronan with a PEGylated recombinant human hyaluronidase (PEGPH20) lowers interstitial gel–fluid pressures and re-expands collapsed intratumoral vasculature, improving the delivery of concurrently administered agents. Here we report a non-invasive means of assessing biophysical responses to stromal intervention with quantitative multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 14 Tesla (T). We found that spin-spin relaxation time T2 values and glycosaminoglycan chemical exchange saturation transfer (GagCEST) values decreased at 24 h, reflecting depletion of intratumoral HA content, and that these parameters recovered at 7 days concurrent with replenishment of intratumoral HA. This was also reflected in an increase in low-b apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) at 24 h, consistent with improved tumor perfusion that again normalized at 7 days after treatment. Phantom imaging suggests that the GagCEST signal is driven by changes in HA versus other glycosaminoglycans. Thus, multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can be used as a non-invasive tool to assess therapeutic responses to targeted stromal therapy in PDA and likely other stroma-rich solid tumors that have high levels of hyaluronan and collagen.
Mechanisms behind Temsirolimus Resistance Causing Reactivated Growth and Invasive Behavior of Bladder Cancer Cells In Vitro
Authors: Juengel Eva , Natsheh Iyad , Najafi Ramin , Rutz Jochen , Tsaur Igor , Haferkamp Axel , Chun Felix K.-H. , Blaheta Roman A.
Published: June 2019

Background: Although mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors, such as temsirolimus, show promise in treating bladder cancer, acquired resistance often hampers efficacy. This study evaluates mechanisms leading to resistance. Methods: Cell growth, proliferation, cell cycle phases, and cell cycle regulating proteins were compared in temsirolimus resistant (res) and sensitive (parental—par) RT112 and UMUC3 bladder cancer cells. To evaluate invasive behavior, adhesion to vascular endothelium or to immobilized extracellular matrix proteins and chemotactic activity were examined. Integrin α and β subtypes were analyzed and blocking was done to evaluate physiologic integrin relevance. Results: Growth of RT112res could no longer be restrained by temsirolimus and was even enhanced in UMUC3res, accompanied by accumulation in the S- and G2/M-phase. Proteins of the cdk-cyclin and Akt-mTOR axis increased, whereas p19, p27, p53, and p73 decreased in resistant cells treated with low-dosed temsirolimus. Chemotactic activity of RT112res/UMUC3res was elevated following temsirolimus re-exposure, along with significant integrin α2, α3, and β1 alterations. Blocking revealed a functional switch of the integrins, driving the resistant cells from being adhesive to being highly motile. Conclusion: Temsirolimus resistance is associated with reactivation of bladder cancer growth and invasive behavior. The α2, α3, and β1 integrins could be attractive treatment targets to hinder temsirolimus resistance.
FGF19–FGFR4 Signaling in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Raja Aroosha , Park Inkeun , Haq Farhan , Ahn Sung-Min
Published: June 2019

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common type of cancer, with an increasing mortality rate. Aberrant expression of fibroblast growth factor 19–fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGF19–FGFR4) is reported to be an oncogenic-driver pathway for HCC patients. Thus, the FGF19–FGFR4 signaling pathway is a promising target for the treatment of HCC. Several pan-FGFR (1–4) and FGFR4-specific inhibitors are in different phases of clinical trials. In this review, we summarize the information, recent developments, binding modes, selectivity, and clinical trial phases of different available FGFR4/pan-FGF inhibitors. We also discuss future perspectives and highlight the points that should be addressed to improve the efficacy of these inhibitors.
Seasonal Entropy, Diversity and Inequality Measures of Submitted and Accepted Papers Distributions in Peer-Reviewed Journals
Authors: Ausloos Marcel , Nedic Olgica , Dekanski Aleksandar
Published: June 2019

This paper presents a novel method for finding features in the analysis of variable distributions stemming from time series. We apply the methodology to the case of submitted and accepted papers in peer-reviewed journals. We provide a comparative study of editorial decisions for papers submitted to two peer-reviewed journals: the Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society (JSCS) and this MDPI Entropy journal. We cover three recent years for which the fate of submitted papers—about 600 papers to JSCS and 2500 to Entropy—is completely determined. Instead of comparing the number distributions of these papers as a function of time with respect to a uniform distribution, we analyze the relevant probabilities, from which we derive the information entropy. It is argued that such probabilities are indeed more relevant for authors than the actual number of submissions. We tie this entropy analysis to the so called diversity of the variable distributions. Furthermore, we emphasize the correspondence between the entropy and the diversity with inequality measures, like the Herfindahl-Hirschman index and the Theil index, itself being in the class of entropy measures; the Gini coefficient which also measures the diversity in ranking is calculated for further discussion. In this sample, the seasonal aspects of the peer review process are outlined. It is found that the use of such indices, non linear transformations of the data distributions, allow us to distinguish features and evolutions of the peer review process as a function of time as well as comparing the non-uniformity of distributions. Furthermore, t- and z-statistical tests are applied in order to measure the significance (p-level) of the findings, that is, whether papers are more likely to be accepted if they are submitted during a few specific months or during a particular “season”; the predictability strength depends on the journal.
Evaluation of a Straight-Ray Forward Model for Bayesian Inversion of Crosshole Ground Penetrating Radar Data
Authors: Qin Hui , Xie Xiongyao , Tang Yu
Published: June 2019

Bayesian inversion of crosshole ground penetrating radar (GPR) data is capable of characterizing the subsurface dielectric properties and qualifying the associated uncertainties. Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulations within the Bayesian inversion usually require thousands to millions of forward model evaluations for the parameters to hit their posterior distributions. Therefore, the CPU cost of the forward model is a key issue that influences the efficiency of the Bayesian inversion method. In this paper we implement a widely used straight-ray forward model within our Bayesian inversion framework. Based on a synthetic unit square relative permittivity model, we simulate the crosshole GPR first-arrival traveltime data using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) and straight-ray solver, respectively, and find that the straight-ray simulator runs 450 times faster than its FDTD counterpart, yet suffers from a modeling error that is more than 7 times larger. We also perform a series of numerical experiments to evaluate the performance of the straight-ray model within the Bayesian inversion framework. With modeling error disregarded, the inverted posterior models fit the measurement data nicely, yet converge to the wrong set of parameters at the expense of unreasonably large number of iterations. When the modeling error is accounted for, with a quarter of the computational burden, the main features of the true model can be identified from the posterior realizations although there still exist some unwanted artifacts. Finally, a smooth constraint on the model structure improves the inversion results considerably, to the extent that it enhances the inversion accuracy approximating to those of the FDTD model, and further reduces the CPU demand. Our results demonstrate that the use of the straight-ray forward model in the Bayesian inversion saves computational cost tremendously, and the modeling error correction together with the model structure constraint are the necessary amendments that ensure that the model parameters converge correctly.
Comprehensive Electric Arc Furnace Electric Energy Consumption Modeling: A Pilot Study
Authors: Kovačič Miha , Stopar Klemen , Vertnik Robert , Šarler Božidar
Published: June 2019

The electric arc furnace operation at the Štore Steel company, one of the largest flat spring steel producers in Europe, consists of charging, melting, refining the chemical composition, adjusting the temperature, and tapping. Knowledge of the consumed energy within the individual electric arc operation steps is essential. The electric energy consumption during melting and refining was analyzed including the maintenance and technological delays. In modeling the electric energy consumption, 25 parameters were considered during melting (e.g., coke, dolomite, quantity), refining and tapping (e.g., injected oxygen, carbon, and limestone quantity) that were selected from 3248 consecutively produced batches in 2018. Two approaches were employed for the data analysis: linear regression and genetic programming model. The linear regression model was used in the first randomly generated generations of each of the 100 independent developed civilizations. More accurate models were subsequently obtained during the simulated evolution. The average relative deviation of the linear regression and the genetic programming model predictions from the experimental data were 3.60% and 3.31%, respectively. Both models were subsequently validated by using data from 278 batches produced in 2019, where the maintenance and the technological delays were below 20 minutes per batch. It was possible, based on the linear regression and the genetically developed model, to calculate that the average electric energy consumption could be reduced by up to 1.04% and 1.16%, respectively, in the case of maintenance and other technological delays.
Investigation and Evaluation of Primary Energy from Wind Turbines for a Nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB)
Authors: Tamašauskas Rokas , Šadauskienė Jolanta , Bruzgevičius Patrikas , Krawczyk Dorota Anna
Published: June 2019

In order to fulfill the European Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) requirements regarding the reduction of energy consumption in buildings, great attention is paid to primary energy consumption. Wind energy is considered a type of primary energy. The analysis of the literature has revealed that wind energy is evaluated by different methods. Therefore, the aim of this article is to calculate the effect of the parameters of wind sources and wind speed on the primary energy factor of wind turbines. In order to achieve this aim, the primary energy factor of investigated 100 wind turbines and 11 wind farms operating in Lithuania was calculated. The results of the investigation show that the difference in the non-renewable primary energy factors between wind turbines with regard to their capacity is 35%. In addition, primary energy factor (PEF) values depend on geographic location and climate conditions. This paper provides a recommendation that the EU energy efficiency and renewable energy directives and regulations of all EU member states should use the same or, at least, a very similar methodology for the calculation of the primary energy factors of renewable and non-renewable energy sources.
Estimating High-Resolution Groundwater Storage from GRACE: A Random Forest Approach
Authors: Rahaman Md , Thakur Balbhadra , Kalra Ajay , Li Ruopu , Maheshwari Pankaj
Published: June 2019

Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) data have become a widely used global dataset for evaluating the variability in groundwater storage for the different major aquifers. Moreover, the application of GRACE has been constrained to the local scale due to lower spatial resolution. The current study proposes Random Forest (RF), a recently developed unsupervised machine learning method, to downscale a GRACE-derived groundwater storage anomaly (GWSA) from 1° × 1° to 0.25° × 0.25° in the Northern High Plains aquifer. The RF algorithm integrated GRACE to other satellite-based geospatial and hydro-climatological variables, obtained from the Noah land surface model, to generate a high-resolution GWSA map for the period 2009 to 2016. This RF approach replicates local groundwater variability (the combined effect of climatic and human impacts) with acceptable Pearson correlation (0.58 ~ 0.84), percentage bias (−14.67 ~ 2.85), root mean square error (15.53 ~ 46.69 mm), and Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (0.58 ~ 0.84). This developed RF model has significant potential to generate finer scale GWSA maps for managing groundwater at both local and regional scales, especially for areas with sparse groundwater monitoring wells.
Cyber-Storms Come from Clouds: Security of Cloud Computing in the IoT Era
Authors: De Donno Michele , Giaretta Alberto , Dragoni Nicola , Bucchiarone Antonio , Mazzara Manuel
Published: June 2019

The Internet of Things (IoT) is rapidly changing our society to a world where every “thing” is connected to the Internet, making computing pervasive like never before. This tsunami of connectivity and data collection relies more and more on the Cloud, where data analytics and intelligence actually reside. Cloud computing has indeed revolutionized the way computational resources and services can be used and accessed, implementing the concept of utility computing whose advantages are undeniable for every business. However, despite the benefits in terms of flexibility, economic savings, and support of new services, its widespread adoption is hindered by the security issues arising with its usage. From a security perspective, the technological revolution introduced by IoT and Cloud computing can represent a disaster, as each object might become inherently remotely hackable and, as a consequence, controllable by malicious actors. While the literature mostly focuses on the security of IoT and Cloud computing as separate entities, in this article we provide an up-to-date and well-structured survey of the security issues of cloud computing in the IoT era. We give a clear picture of where security issues occur and what their potential impact is. As a result, we claim that it is not enough to secure IoT devices, as cyber-storms come from Clouds.
Distributed Edge Computing to Assist Ultra-Low-Latency VANET Applications
Authors: Vladyko Andrei , Khakimov Abdukodir , Muthanna Ammar , Ateya Abdelhamied A. , Koucheryavy Andrey
Published: June 2019

Vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) are a recent class of peer-to-peer wireless networks that are used to organize the communication and interaction between cars (V2V), between cars and infrastructure (V2I), and between cars and other types of nodes (V2X). These networks are based on the dedicated short-range communication (DSRC) IEEE 802.11 standards and are mainly intended to organize the exchange of various types of messages, mainly emergency ones, to prevent road accidents, alert when a road accident occurs, or control the priority of the roadway. Initially, it was assumed that cars would only interact with each other, but later, with the advent of the concept of the Internet of things (IoT), interactions with surrounding devices became a demand. However, there are many challenges associated with the interaction of vehicles and the interaction with the road infrastructure. Among the main challenge is the high density and the dramatic increase of the vehicles’ traffic. To this end, this work provides a novel system based on mobile edge computing (MEC) to solve the problem of high traffic density and provides and offloading path to vehicle’s traffic. The proposed system also reduces the total latency of data communicated between vehicles and stationary roadside units (RSUs). Moreover, a latency-aware offloading algorithm is developed for managing and controlling data offloading from vehicles to edge servers. The system was simulated over a reliable environment for performance evaluation, and a real experiment was conducted to validate the proposed system and the developed offloading method.
Bacterial Cellulose Production Using the Corinthian Currant Finishing Side-Stream and Cheese Whey: Process Optimization and Textural Characterization
Authors: Bekatorou Argyro , Plioni Iris , Sparou Konstantina , Maroutsiou Renia , Tsafrakidou Panagiota , Petsi Theano , Kordouli Eleana
Published: June 2019

The aim of this work was to develop bioprocesses to produce a high-value microbial product, bacterial cellulose (BC), utilizing the industrial side-stream of Corinthian currants finishing (CFS), with/without the addition of N-sources and cheese whey, and at various process conditions (temperature, pH level, and sugar concentration). For the optimization of BC production, the response surface methodology based on the central composite design was applied. Among the possible retrieved combinations, the most ideal conditions for BC in CFS extracts supplemented with N-source were 28 °C, pH 6.42, and 46.24 g/L concentration of sugars. In a similar manner, the best conditions for BC production in CFS/whey mixtures were pH 6.36, 50.4% whey percentage in the mixture, and 1.7% yeast extract. The textural characteristics of the produced BC, at different times of production and using different drying methods, were studied by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, porosimetry, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis, revealing increased porosity of BC compared with delignified cellulosic materials of plant origin, and a level of crystallinity that depended on the BC production time. The proposed methodology can be used to produce foods with potential prebiotic properties, using the highly nutritious CFS and the abundant cheese whey effluent as raw materials.
Remnants of Galactic Subhalos and Their Impact on Indirect Dark-Matter Searches
Authors: Stref Martin , Lacroix Thomas , Lavalle Julien
Published: June 2019

Dark-matter subhalos, predicted in large numbers in the cold-dark-matter scenario, should have an impact on dark-matter-particle searches. Recent results show that tidal disruption of these objects in computer simulations is overefficient due to numerical artifacts and resolution effects. Accounting for these results, we re-estimated the subhalo abundance in the Milky Way using semianalytical techniques. In particular, we showed that the boost factor for gamma rays and cosmic-ray antiprotons is increased by roughly a factor of two.