bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the Analytical Importance of the National Interest in Theoretical Exploration of the European Integration Process
Authors: Strzyczkowski Franciszek
Published: August 2019

This article seeks to elaborate the theoretical discourse on different, competing explanations of the European integration, invoking the notion of the national interest that plays an essential role in the process. Despite increasing integration, the European interest remains quite different from the sum of the national interests of all Member States, and different theories, by presenting explanations of the integration process, raise or diminish its importance. The major premise of the intergovernmental theory is that the integration progress can be analyzed as an intergovernmental regime designed to coordinate the economic and political interdependence negotiated through bargaining. This implies that Member States’ behavior reflects actions taken by their governments based on rational choice, limited only by the domestic social demands and external strategic international environment. According to intergovernmentalism this process, within which states’ preferences are shaped, is in fact the process of national interest formation. In contrast, a second school of thought on integration, affiliated with supranationalism, has a more normative ambition, providing not only a description of the role of the national interest, but also bringing the ideas of its limitation, proposing changes on the mode of European governance aimed at shaping Europe in a more republican manner. Despite the dominant position of the national agents at almost every level of the European governance, for the supranational approaches, due to the multi-level structure of the European Union, controversy between national interest and European common good is rarely invoked. The assumption that one theoretical understanding and the assessment of the level of influence of the national interest as applied to the European integration can have profound legal and political implications, leads us to the conclusion that depicting the five most prominent attempts at capturing it theoretically remains essential for further analysis of the European structure and European legal order. Paradoxically, an unstable economic situation and its overreaching and predominant negative influence on all the Member States, might catalyze a redefinition of Europe and reinvigorate the discourse on both European common good and national interests.
On Social Rights from an Analytical and Philosophical Perspective
Authors: Załuski Wojciech
Published: August 2019

The paper examines the concept of social rights from both the analytical and philosophical perspective. In the first part of the paper a distinction is made between social rights in the strict sense (called in the paper “Type 1 social rights”), which can be decomposed into the Hohfeldian incidents, and social rights which resemble norm-goals and therefore cannot be decomposed into the Hohfeldian incidents (these rights are called in the paper “Type 2 social rights”). It is argued that even though Type 1 social rights are rights in the strict sense, they exhibit certain idiosyncrasies distinguishing them from “classical” rights, among which the most striking idiosyncrasy is their double correlation to duties. The second, philosophical part presents various ways in which social rights can be justified. A special emphasis is laid on the justification appealing to the concept of autonomy. Some standard criticisms of social rights are also evaluated.
JARINGAN SYARAF TIRUAN ALGORITMA BACKPROPAGATION DALAM MEMPREDIKSI KETERSEDIAAN KOMODITI PANGAN PROVINSI RIAU
Authors: Edi Ismanto Eka Pandu Cynthia,
Published: August 2019

A system for predicting the availability of food commodities can help in making decisions. Artificial Neural Network is a method that is able to carry out mathematical processes for predicting the availability of food commodities. With the Backpropagation algorithm, the previous data processing is used as input to predict the availability of food commodities. Data processed as input variables are Area of ​​Harvest, Productivity Level, Number of Production and Number of Consumption Needs. While the processed food commodities are types of Rice, Corn, Soybeans, Peanuts, Green Beans, Cassava and Sweet Potatoes. The data was taken from 2006 to 2013. The years 2006 to 2012 were used as input data, while for 2013 they were targeted data. Some stages of Backpropagation are initializing weights, activating, calculating input weights and output biases and changing weights and biases. This stage will obtain the output to be achieved with the smallest error approach so that the predicted results of the availability of food commodities are obtained. The training process uses Matlab software tools 6.1. The result is a prediction of the amount of food commodity availability by the training and testing process producing actual output as the target achieved.
ANALISA BANDWIDTH MENGGUNAKAN METODE ANTRIAN Per Connection Queue
Authors: Jumiati Sukri,
Published: August 2019

The existing internet network in several places such as internet cafes (internet cafes), often there is a dominance of bandwidth between clients caused by one or several clients to download so that it will interfere with other clients. To overcome the problem of bandwidth domination between clients, a division of bandwidth is carried out. By utilizing a network router, network administrators can easily manage bandwidth on client computers connected to the network. The technology used to implement it is based on an approach called QoS (Quality of Service) and adjusted to the TIPHON standard. The way it works is by identifying data traffic through the network, then implementing a QoS policy that is used to protect and prioritize it. The goal to be achieved by the author is to balance the bandwidth allocation according to user needs, apply queue rules to data traffic so that queues do not occur. The queuing method used in this study is to use the Per Connection Queue and winbox methods as software for remote routers.
Analisa Penilaian Kinerja Terbaik Finantial Ratio Profitability Bank dengan Menggunakan Metode AHP
Authors: Warmansyah Julio
Published: August 2019

Penilaian kinerja terbaik bank dengan menggunkan variabel Return of Asset (ROA), Return of Equity (ROE), Net Interest Margin (NIM), Oprerating Expenses to Operating income (BOPO) yang merupakan bagian pernilaian dari Financial Ratio Profitability pada berapa bank diantaranya BANK NEGARA INDONESIA (BNI), BANK RAKYAT INDONESIA (BRI), BANK TABUNGAN NEGARA (BTN), Mandiri pada tahun 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 dengan menggunakan metode Analityc Hierachy Process . AHP memilik beberapa aspek yang perlu diperhatikan diantaranya, Reciprocal Comparison, Homogenity , Independence, Expectations untuk mendapatkan nilai dari berbagai kriteria diantaranya ROA (0,239608), ROE (0,355203), NIM (0,057798), BOPO (0,347392) untuk menghasilkan rangking  dari alternatif BANK dengan perinkat Profitability Ratio.
Dust Transport and Processing in Centrifugally Driven Protoplanetary Disk Winds
Authors: Giacalone Steven , Teitler Seth , Königl Arieh , Krijt Sebastiaan , Ciesla Fred J.
Published: August 2019

There is evidence that protoplanetary disks—including the protosolar one—contain crystalline dust grains on spatial scales where the dust temperature is lower than the threshold value for their formation through thermal annealing of amorphous interstellar silicates. We interpret these observations in terms of an extended, magnetocentrifugally driven disk wind that transports grains from the inner disk—where they are thermally processed by the stellar radiation after being uplifted from the disk surfaces—to the outer disk regions. For any disk radius r, there is a maximum grain size a
max(r) that can be uplifted from that location: grains of size a ≪ a
max are carried away by the wind, whereas those with a ≲ a
max reenter the disk at larger radii. A significant portion of the reentering grains converge to—and subsequently accumulate in—a narrow region just beyond r
max(a), the maximum radius from which grains of size a can be uplifted. We show that this model can account for the inferred crystallinity fractions in classical T Tauri and Herbig Ae disks and for their indicated near constancy after being established early in the disk evolution. It is also consistent with the reported radial gradients in the mean grain size, crystallinity, and crystal composition. In addition, this model yields the properties of the grains that remain embedded in the outflows from protoplanetary disks and naturally explains the inferred persistence of small grains in the surface layers of these disks.
Partially Ionized Solar Atmosphere: Two-fluid Waves and Their Cutoffs
Authors: Wójcik D. , Murawski K. , Musielak Z. E.
Published: August 2019

A novel model of the solar atmosphere that accounts for partially ionized plasma is developed and used to study the propagation of magnetoacoustic-gravity waves, which are generated by solar granulation. The model includes neutrals in otherwise ionized plasma and therefore the considered waves are two-fluid waves. Numerical simulations of these waves allow computing their cutoff period and its variations in the solar atmosphere. The results of these computations are compared to the observational data collected by Wiśniewska et al. and Kayshap et al., and a good agreement between the theory and observations is obtained. This first theoretical confirmation of the observational data profoundly shows the importance of effects caused by partially ionized plasma on the behavior of waves in the solar atmosphere, and on the origin of solar chromospheric oscillations. It is also suggested that theoretically predicted differences between the behavior of ions and neutrals can be verified by some currently operating solar missions.
Organizing Peer Correction in Tertiary STEM Education: An Approach and its Evaluation
Authors: Heller Niels , Bry Francois
Published: August 2019

This article reports on a novel higher-education course format exploiting choreographed peer reviews and self-corrections using an online learning platform. The novel course format aims to reduce teachers' workload as it was motivated by the necessity to run examinations for all courses during all terms, even though almost all courses can only be offered every second term. As a consequence, and because of a very high students-to-teacher ratio, many students have to prepare for examinations without sufficient assistance. This article describes the novel course format and reports on its evaluation in a case study. The evaluation indicates that most students benefit from the novel course format but that it is less efficient than traditional formats based on a higher teachers' involvement. The major weakness of the novel format is the insufficient participation of some students to their peer-reviewing. The article suggests and discusses possible measures to address that weakness. This article extends previous work by the same authors by providing an extended evaluation of the students' attitudes towards the course format, their behavior on the platform and their peer reviews. The course format and the learning platform are described in greater detail and the integration into related work has been expanded.
Web Based and Online Applications in STEM Education
Authors: Kefalis Chrysovalantis , Drigas Athanasios
Published: August 2019

Abstract— STEM is an educational approach to the integration of science, mathematics, engineering and technology which are taught as nunnery through real life-inspired activities. In this paper we present the latest trends in web-based and online STEM education. Βy exploiting connectivity, increasing the means that can be shared online and developing cooperation between people from dis-tance, new educational paradigms are immerging. We chose to present applica-tions from 2013 onwards in order to highlight the latest trends in STEM online education and have categorize them according the technologies used in their im-plementation.
Knowledge Management and Reuse in Virtual Learning Communities
Authors: Sekkal Houda , Amrous Naila , Bennani Samir
Published: August 2019

One of the main sources of knowledge in the web is the social networks and especially online communitie because they contain human experiences which are considered as a rich source of information. This knowledge is in the most cases unstructured and is in the form of discussions organized generally by topics. The aim of this paper is to propose a process of knowledge extraction and Management in Online or Virtual Communities. With the widespread of communities in social media due to the services provided by those technologies, many of those communities are in the form of Learning communities created by expert to share knowledge about a topic of their interest. The knowledge shared by members in the online communities is unfortunately not structured and not capitalized. Many members try to access and learn from the shared knowledge in the community but cannot benefit from it due to its unstructured form. If that knowledge could be represented and stored in order to be reused, it would facilitate the knowledge acquisition by members. For this purpose, the present paper try to analyze the studies that treat the question of extracting and managing knowledge in Online Learning Communities based on several criteria exposed all along this paper. Then we propose a framework for managing knowledge in Virtual Learning communities inspired from the different previous frameworks presented in the analyzed studies, and try to propose and approach to overpass the different challenges present in the actual knowledge Management processes of Virtual Communities.
New Tools for the Immersive Narrative Experience
Authors: Hanssen Sarah K.
Published: August 2019

As a result of Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, the way the audi-ence experiences the written word has completely changed. New genera-tions of readers are facing multimedia interaction as a part of the long format narrative. These technologies represent burgeoning strategies to spark and capture readers’ interests. Partnerships between tech companies and tradi-tional publishers are yielding breakthroughs in trans-media storytelling, and, as a consequence, offering new avenues for filmmakers. For example, romance novels read on smart phones now include videos and photos of the hunky love interest, voice messages amongst characters, and even short films accompanying the reading experience. As publishers and authors forge these new avenues for long form storytelling, do these multimedia elements dumb down fiction for readers with already shrinking attention spans? Will saving books undermine reading in general? Or, are the bonds readers feel with fictional characters so strong, that they will thrive in the digital realm. The future of the immersive narrative might not be just the massive specta-cle of IMAX, but, more likely, an intimate experience in the palm of your hand.
IMS Compliant Ontological Learner Model for Adaptive E-Learning Environments
Authors: Zine Othmane , Derouich Aziz , Talbi Abdennebi
Published: August 2019

It has been proven that adopting the “one size fits one” approach has better learning outcomes than the “one size fits all” one. A customized learning experience is attainable with the use of learner models, the main source of variability, in adaptive educational hypermedia systems or any intelligent learning environment. While such a model includes a large number of characteristics which can be difficult to incorporate and use, several standards that were developed to overcome these complexities.
In this paper, the proposed work intents to improve learner’s model representation to meet the requirements and needs of adaptation. We took IMS-LIP, IMS-ACCLIP and IMS-RDCEO standards into consideration and incorporated their characteristics to our proposed learner model so that it conforms to international standards. Moreover, the suggested learner model takes advantage of the semantic web technologies that offer a better data organization, indexing and management and ensures the reusability, the interoperability and the extensibility of this model. Furthermore, due to the use of ontologies, the metadata about a learner can be used by a wide range of personalization techniques to provide more accurate customization.
Adaptive Navigation Support: A Literature Review of Its Application and Implication in Learning Process
Authors: Hamzah Almed , Irianto Kurniawan Dwi
Published: August 2019

The use of technology has been widely used for many people in every aspect of life and become part of daily activities in recent years. One of technology application is in the learning and education process. Adaptive Navigation Support (ANS) is a method and part of a hypermedia study that can boost the performance of students by using the benefit of technology. With ANS, students are able to make the learning process more interesting as the learning material relatively corresponds to their knowledge and preferences. Furthermore, ANS can guide students in finding their paths and ways in hyperspace based on student requirements, goals, and characteristics. Therefore, ANS has caught many researchers attention in their studies to improve student skills and performance in the learning process. Many papers, discussed in ANS, have been published over the last decade, however, no one has studied the ANS in a comprehensive way. This paper is a literature review in ANS and its application as well as its implication in the learning process. There are fourty-nine papers as its source of analysis. Our findings show that the applications of ANS can be classified into four dimensions, such as platform, use case, impact, and process. These classifications are based on the study of ANS applications and implications over the last decade.
Evaluation of Wind Resources Potential and Economic Analysis of Wind Power Generation in South Africa
Authors: Adefarati Temitope , Obikoya G.D.
Published: August 2019

The presence of adequate renewable energy resources and the rapid development of wind projects in South Africa have led to mapping out of the country’s wind capability. In view of this, the economic prospects of utilizing wind energy as a potential energy alternative in South Africa are examined and discussed from the perspectives of green energy strategies for sustainable energy development. This research work is designed to investigate the economic effects of using the wind turbine (WT) in ten locations in South Africa based on the grid planning and power sector reform. The HOMER application software is utilized in this study to assess the wind resources on provincial and national scales, along with estimating the annual energy generation of the selected locations. The wind energy potential of South Africa is analysed by utilizing the capacity factor (CF), wind penetration and mean output of the WT for various locations in South Africa. The results obtained from the study indicate that the selected sites fall within the range of Class 1V of IEC wind classifications with the annual average wind speed of 4.04 m/s for Pretoria and 6.39 m/s for Cape Town at 50m hub heights. The economic assessment of the WT for electric power generation is carried out by using some key performance indicators (KPIs) such as net energy purchased, energy sold, revenue, grid energy purchased, annual utility bill savings, net present cost (NPC) and cost of energy (COE). It is established from the study that Cape Town is the most suitable location for installation of the WT by utilizing the same load profile and system configuration. The output of this research work can be used by the renewable energy development agencies as inputs to harness the potential of wind resources for strategic planning of the power sector reform and industrial development.
Development of New Approach in Reliability Analysis for Excellent Predictive Quality of the Approximation Using Adaptive Kriging
Authors: Kernou Nassim , Bouafia Youcef
Published: August 2019

This study presents the results of a new approach for structural reliability analyses using adaptive kriging, confirmation simulation, and the pilot point method. Its main objective is to develop an efficient and accurate global approximation while controlling the computational cost and accuracy of prediction. The main contribution of research is to reduce computation time and successfully analyze complex problems with accurate results while ensuring excellent predictive quality of the approximation. For an excellent predictability of the kriging approximation, pilot point method and confirmation simulation are proposed. Simply, the predictive quality of the initial kriging approximation is improved by adding adaptive information, and the points are referred to as “pilot points” in areas where the kriging variance is maximized. Outcomes are confirmed with numerical simulations. The purpose is to select the minimum number of design experiments to ensure a good relative accuracy of the predictors with respect to the original models. Numerical examples show the efficiency of the proposed method compared to other structural reliability approaches.
Assessment of Mine Tailing and Quarry Dust as Joint Concrete Aggregates
Authors: Mbereyaho Leopold , Kwizera Paul Claudel , Munyampundu Tudor Bigabo , Mutwarasibo Abdoul Karim
Published: August 2019

The consumption of natural resources like sand and stones for concrete production has resulted not only in their scarcity but also in environmental degradation associated with their extraction, and air pollution due to the generated quarry dust as result of the rock crushing. Also, with increase of mining sites in Rwanda, the amount of mine tailings has extremely increased, and their dumping is becoming a big challenge. The purpose of this study was to search for an engineering solution to the above dual problem, analyzing the performance of both mine-tailings and quarry dust as potential replacements for ordinary aggregates in concrete. The methodology consisted of evaluating the properties of the two materials, and then the analysis of strength characteristics for the new concrete manufactured using the two new aggregates. Concrete preparation was done by keeping constant the mine tailings portion as coarse aggregate, while partially replacing river sand by quarry dust at different fractions as 0%, 10%, 30% and 50%. It was established that, comparatively to normal concrete at 28 days, the compressive and tensile strengths of concrete with mine-tailings and river sand increased from 27MPA to 37.5 MPA, and from 1.9 to 3.1 MPA respectively on one hand, and on the other hand the compressive and tensile strengths decreased with partial replacement of river sand by quarry dust from 37.5 to 27.9MPA and from 3.1 to 2.3 MPA at replacements from 0% to 50% respectively. It was concluded that mine tailings and quarry dusty can be used together as concrete new aggregates in replacement of ordinary aggregates, with a due attention to concrete workability and its area of application.
Advective Transport Modeling for Spatial Analysis of Atmospheric Aerosols over Lagos Area of South Western Nigeria
Authors: Lala Mayowa Adeoye , Adesina Olusola Adedayo , Igbafe Anselm
Published: August 2019

In this study atmospheric aerosols distribution over Lagos area of southwestern part of Nigeria was analyzed using backward air mass trajectory model. GPS information of the study region was used to simulate meteorological variables and aerosol data that have been stored by satellite imagery from the National Oceanography and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Air Resource Laboratory (ARL). Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectories HYSPLIT was used to determine the wind-field information and also to obtain the backward air mass trajectory for atmospheric aerosols transport pattern at heights 0, 1000m and 2000m above ground level. The result showed that aerosols of sea-salt origin evolved from Atlantic ocean and spread over Lagos during the period under consideration. The average wind speed observed within the period ranged between 4 and 7m/s in south westerly direction which is attributed to the influence Atlantic Ocean. The results also showed that aerosol traversing Lagos area are mainly sea salts
Petro-Mineralogical and Geochemical Characterization of the Banded Irons Formations BIFs of the Nimba Range and its Western Extension (Nimba Region)
Authors: Conté Mohamed Samuel Moriah , Boushaba Abdellah , Moukadiri Ali
Published: August 2019

The Nimba Range and its western extension are located in the Nimba region on the borders of the Republic of Guinea, Liberia and Côte d'Ivoire. It is a mountainous region made up of metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks. Metavolcanic rocks are gneisses, granites, amphibolites and quartzites, which constitute the lower part of Archean age. The upper part consists of Proterozoic rocks of metasedimentary origin. It contains important deposits of itabirites which occupy the top of the mountains and hills of the region. The petrographic study of the banded iron formations reveals the existence of silicate banded iron formations (SIF) and oxidized banded iron formations (OIF). The results of the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and metallogenic analyzes show the presence of iron minerals (magnetites, hematites, pyrites, goethites, martites and siderites). These analyzes also reveal the presence of the metamorphic index minerals associated with the banded iron formations, hence the existence of several types of ferriferous formations (silicate (SIF) and oxidized (OIF) banded iron formations). Overall, there is an increase in the degree of regional metamorphism from east to west of the Nimba region. The geochemical analysis of the banded iron formations reveals that with the exception of Na2O, all the major elements have a negative linear correlation although dispersed with Fe2O3. This correlation is explained by a decrease in quartz, garnet, micas (muscovite and biotite), amphibole, pyroxene, plagioclase, titanium and phosphorus contents. Conversely, there is an increase in iron ore content: magnetites, pyrites, hematites, goethite. But the alkali content remains constant in these banded iron formations. Then, the lower the Fe2O3 content, the higher the FeO content, while those of SiO2 and Al2O3 are constant in all of these formations in the Nimba region except in the chlorite banded iron formation where both are anticorelated. Finally, the ratio SiO2 / Fe2O3 vs MgO + CaO + MnO / Fe2O3 of the banded iron formations of the Nimba region compared to the same formations of the whole world allows to give them Proterozoic age. Some itabirites have high levels of magnetite, hematite, and goethite (same feature as itabirites of Lac supérieur and Pic de fon) and only chlorite itabirite has a low to medium Mg-Si-BIF content.
Development of Thai Gac Fruit Extraction as a Multifunctional Cosmeceutical Ingredient for Antioxidant, Melanogenesis and Collagen Stimulating Activities
Authors: Reungpatthanaphong Sareeya , Chawananorasest Khanittha , Kirdin Thanagon , Bamrungchai Monchanok , Reungpatthanaphong Paiboon
Published: August 2019

Gac fruit (Momordica cochinchinensisSpreng) is mostly found in southeast Asian countries. Previous studies have demonstrated that gac fruit is a major source of β-carotene, lycopene, and α-tocopherol. This study aimed to develop the extraction of Thai gac fruit as a potential active ingredient for antioxidant, melanogenesis, and collagen stimulating activities. In the present study, different parts of ripe Thai gac fruit, the peel, pulp, and seed membrane, were extracted using the accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) technique, an innovative plant extraction method. DPPH radical-scavenging activity, ABTS radical scavenging activity, and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assay were performed to compare the antioxidant activity derived from each part of the fruit. The effect of Thai gac fruit on melanogenesis and collagen stimulating activities was investigated using B16F1 and human fibroblast cell lines, respectively. The results demonstrate that the pulp (EC50value of 7.42 ± 0.81 mg/mL) and the seed membrane (EC50value of 76.43 ± 2.66 μg/mL) showed the strongest antioxidant activities in DPPH and ABTS assay, respectively. The peel clearly displayed the strongest antioxidant activity and significantly increased the FRAP value (247.67 ± 19.73 μM/mg). Furthermore, the peel showed the lowest melanin content (76.56 ± 7.13 % of control) in the B16F1 cell line, and clearly increased the most amount of collagen (21.87 ± 3.12%) in the human fibroblast cell line in comparison to the other fractions. Therefore, Thai gac fruit peel revealed the biological effects, including antioxidant, melanogenesis, and collagen stimulating activities. In conclusion, Thai gac fruit extracted using the ASE technique exhibited several effects that could be used as a potential active ingredient for cosmeceutical products, due to its antioxidant, melanogenesis, and collagen stimulating activities. Our findings provide potential uses of Thai gac fruit as a multifunctional cosmeceutical ingredient to be further explored in future studies.
PEGylated Plier-Like Cationic Niosomes on Gene Delivery in HeLa Cells
Authors: Pengnam Supusson , Plianwong Samarwadee , Singpanna Kanokwan , Ni-yomtham Nattisa , Radchatawedchakoon Widchaya , Yingyongnarongkul Boon Ek , Opanasopit Praneet
Published: August 2019

Lipid-based formulations have been used as a widespread carrier to improve gene delivery. Niosomes, one type of lipid-based vesicular systems are produced from non-ionic surfactants which are generally inexpensive and potentially more stable than phospholipids. This article was to develop PEGylated cationic niosomes for DNA delivery. Thin film hydration and sonication method were applied for cationic niosomes. The niosome formulations were composed of Span 20, cholesterol (Chol) and plier-like cationic lipid B (PCL-B) with or without cholesterol-polyethylene glycol 2000 (Chol-PEG). The physicochemical properties of cationic niosomes and nioplexes were evaluated including particle size, zeta potential, DNA condensation and serum protection. The transfection efficiency and cell viability were examined in HeLa cells. The particle size and surface charge of PEGylated cationic niosome containing Span 20: Chol: PCL-B: Chol-PEG at the molar ratio of 2.5: 2.5: 1.5: 0.14 (N-PEG2) were 129.47 ± 2.15 nm and 25.93 ± 4.18 mV, respectively. These PEGylated cationic niosomes could condense pDNA into the nanosize particles and also enhance the serum protection ability for at least 6 h. Moreover, N-PEG2 exhibited high transfection efficiency in comparison with lipofectamine® 2000 and low cytotoxicity. Therefore, the novel PEGylated cationic niosomes have the capability to develop as a promising potential carrier for DNA delivery.
Alpha-Mangostin Phase Inversion Induced In Situ Forming Gel
Authors: Senarat Setthapong , Chantadee Takorn , Santimaleeworagun Wichai , Phorom Yaowaruk , Phaechamud Thawatchai
Published: August 2019

Alpha-mangostin (aMG) phase inversion induced in situ forming gel (ISG) was prepared by dissolving matrix formers including palmitic acid (P) and lauric acid (L) in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP). The pH and density values were in range of 4.42-6.22 and 0.9731-1.0943 g.cm-3, respectively. The prepared formulas have low viscosity and high injectability which were suitable for injection. The gel formation behavior was affected by type of fatty acid and solvent. P dissolved in DMSO showed a rapid transformation into matrix at initial time. The extended release of aMG was attained in P-based ISG. aMG phase inversion induced ISG improved microbial inhibition.
Catechol-Functionalized Succinyl Chitosan for Novel Mucoadhesive Drug Delivery
Authors: Sahatsapan Nitjawan , Rojanarata Theerasak , Ngawhirunpat Tanasait , Opanasopit Praneet , Patrojanasophon Prasopchai
Published: August 2019

The objective of this research was to synthesized and evaluated a mucoadhesive catechol-bearing succinyl chitosan (Cat-SCS) as an innovative mucoadhesive substance for a mucoadhesive drug delivery system. Succinyl chitosan (SCS) was synthesized via ring-opening reactions with succinic anhydride. The Cat-SCS was then synthesized by reacting SCS with dopamine with the existence of N-(3-Dimethylaminopropyl)-N′-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDAC) and N-hydroxysulfosuccinimide (NHS). The successful functionalization of catechol onto chitosan backbone was verified using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Mucoadhesion studies were performed using rheology measurement and ex-vivo mucoadhesion test. The findings exposed that the synthesized Cat-SCS exhibited excellent mucoadhesive properties which was better than the intact CS. Further indirect studies verified the occurrence of polymer-mucin glycoproteins interactions. The catechol content of catechol moiety on the Cat-SCS was determined to be 0.377 using the 1H NMR. The cytotoxicity test indicated the biocompatibility of the obtained polymer on human gingival fibroblast cells (HGF cells). Therefore, these results could advocate the capacity to use of Cat-SCS as an innovative mucoadhesive platform for mucoadhesive drug delivery.
Matrix Forming Behavior of Doxycycline Hyclate-Loaded Beta-Cyclodextrin In Situ Forming Matrix and Microparticle
Authors: Lertsuphotvanit Nutdanai , Chaiya Pornsit , Phaechamud Thawatchai
Published: August 2019

In situ forming microparticle (ISM) is an injectable emulsion drug delivery system comprising drug loaded in polymeric solution as internal phase and oil combined with emulsifier as external phase. This emulsion transforms into microparticle after contact an aqueous environment by solvent exchange mechanism. This study developed ISM using internal phase comprising 5% w/w doxycycline hyclate (DH) loaded with various concentrations of beta-cyclodextrin (β-CD) using N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) as a solvent and external phase containing olive oil combined with glyceryl monostearate (GMS). High concentrated β-CD solutions in NMP are used as the internal phase of ISM. Matrix forming behavior is evaluated for their particle size, transformation to microparticle, pH, rate of matrix formation, contact angle and surface tension. Each emulsion had similar pH values about 3.5-4.1 and transformed into microparticles (particle size about 60 μm) after contact with phosphate buffer pH 6.8. The particle sizes of each preparation decreased significantly after transformed into microparticles and the more microparticles were evident with time. The rate of matrix formation of ISM was apparent slower than its internal phase and was slower with time. Contact angle of ISM and its internal phase showed good wetting which the surface tension of 35% w/w β-CD ISM was 44.19 mN/m. The β-CD ISM exhibited as the potential delivery system for incorporation of active compounds.
Optimization of Boesenbergia rotunda Extract-Loaded Polyvinyl Alcohol Hydrogel Wound Dressing by Box-Behnken Design
Authors: Eakwaropas Pattaranut , Myat Yin Yin , Ngawhirunpat Tanasait , Rojanarata Theerasak , Patrojanasophon Prasopchai , Akkaramongkolporn Prasert , Opanasopit Praneet
Published: August 2019

The objective of this study was to optimize fabrication variables that affected desirable properties of dressings. Boesenbergia rotunda extract incorporated PVA hydrogels for wound dressings were fabricated by freeze-thaw method. The fabrication variables including PVA concentration (15, 17.5 and 20 % w/w), freeze-thaw cycle (2, 3 and 4 cycles) and extract loading (30, 40 and 50 % w/w) were studied and optimized. Effects of variables on the hydrogel wound dressing properties were determined by using Box-Behnken design and response surface method. Hydrogel properties such as tensile strength, elongation at break, Young’s Modulus, water content, swelling and erosion were measured and used as the designed responses. From statistical data analysis (p <0.05), the polynomial quadratic equation which indicated the significant effects of fabrication variables on the hydrogel properties was generated. In conclusion, desirable B. rotunda extract loaded PVA hydrogel dressing was favorably designed. The optimized PVA concentration, freeze-thaw cycle and extract loading were 17.07 % w/w, 3.86 cycles and 50 % w/w, respectively.
Natural Furanocoumarin as Potential Oral Absorption Enhancer
Authors: Maw May Phyu Thein , Phattanawasin Panadda , Sotanaphun Uthai , Piyapolrungroj Nusara
Published: August 2019

Bioavailability of orally administered drugs can be influenced by many factors. Poor drug absorption across the intestinal membrane is one of the factors that contribute to low bioavailability of drugs. It has been suggested that the metabolism/active efflux in the small intestine is involved in the poor absorption of many drugs. Intestinal CYP3A4 and P-gp work coordinately to reduce the intracellular concentration of drugs. Recently, bioenhancers have been identified and extensively studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate natural furanocoumarins found in juices of common lime and kaffir lime as the potential enhancers for oral delivery by means of modulating CYP3A4 and/or P-gp activities. The role of isolated furanocoumarins on CYP3A4 was assessed by testosterone 6β-hydroxylation reaction, while the effect on P-gp was investigated using R123 and CAM uptake studies in Caco-2, as well as LLC-PK1and LLC-GA5-Col300. In the present study, we demonstrated that isopimpinellin isolated from common lime is the best CYP3A4 inhibitor among 4 isolated furanocoumarins, implying that isopimpinellin would possibly act as a bioenhancer by inhibiting pre-systemic metabolism. 6’,7’-Dihydroxybergamottin found in kaffir lime is a dual inhibitor of CYP3A4 and P-gp, suggest that it could potentially be used as a bioenhancer by inhibiting both pre-systemic metabolism and efflux mechanism. However,in vivostudy should be further conducted to confirm these effects in the body.
Sardostygia (gen. n.) cogonii sp. n., nuovo genere e nuova specie di Coleotteri ipogei di Sardegna (Coleoptera leiodidae Cholevinae: leptodirini)
Authors: Casale Achille
Published: August 2019

Sardostygia (gen. n.) cogonii sp. n., nuovo genere e nuova specie di Coleotteri ipogei di Sardegna (Coleoptera, leiodidae, Cholevinae: leptodirini). l’autore descrive una nuova specie di Coleoptera leptodirini, reperita in una grotta della Sardegna occidentale, altamente modificata e specializzata all’ambiente sotterraneo e appartenente ad un genere inedito: Sardostygia (gen. nov.) cogonii sp. n. Il nuovo taxon è particolarmente distinto da tutte le specie ipogee sarde della linea filetica di Ovobathysciola per numerosi caratteri, quali il tegumento dorsale glabro, il capo privo di carena occipitale, i tarsi anteriori nei maschi non dilatati e l’endofallo privo di strutture sclerificate. le affinità del nuovo taxon, che in base a un’analisi molecolare risulta affine al genere Ovobathysciola, sono ampiamente discusse.
Sensitive clay landslide inventory map and database for Ottawa, Ontario
Authors: Brooks G R
Published: August 2019

This report presents a retrogressive, sensitive clay landslide inventory map and database compiled for the area bound approximately by the City of Ottawa, derived from a high-resolution, bare earth DEM derived from a LiDAR survey. The main map is supplemented by
20 inset maps that are enlargements of the isolated or groups of landslides. The inventory map depicts eighty-nine landslide features categorized as seventy-three landslides, seven probable landslides, four possible landslides, and five former landslides sites. Most are located in distinct clusters
along the Mississippi River, the Mer Bleue paleochannel, and along a scarp slope that forms the edge of a river terrace in the Rockcliffe-Gloucester-Orleans-Cumberland area. The landslide database lists for each identified landslide its general location, site code, geographical coordinates, feature
interpretation, feature morphology, landslide source area (km2), feature age (if known) and comments. The inventory map and database represent a demonstration of derivative products obtained using a high-resolution, bare earth DEM, and are intended to promote or foster additional sensitive clay
landslide mapping in the Ottawa Valley.
A Large Undulating Left Ventricular Apical Thrombus Encroaching up to Aortic Valve
Authors: Sanghvi Sanjeev , Mahajan Swati
Published: August 2019

Left ventricular (LV) thrombus is a serious complication of acute myocardial infarction (MI) with the risk of systemic thromboembolism. Two-dimensional echocardiography (2D-Echo) allows detection and is an important tool for the follow-up of such cases. Our patient had suffered from an acute ischemic stroke and was referred by the treating neurologist for changes in the electrocardiogram. The patient had anterior wall MI, and 2D-echo showed a large LV thrombus. He was started on anticoagulants to prevent future thromboembolic events.
Двуграничная задача для случайного блуждания с ограничением на максимальное приращение
Authors: Afanasyev Valeriy Ivanovich
Published: August 2019

Рассматривается случайное блуждание с нулевым сносом и конечной положительной дисперсией $\sigma ^{2}$. Для положительных чисел $y,z$ находится предел при $n\rightarrow \infty $ вероятности того, что первый выход рассматриваемого блуждания из интервала $( -z\sigma \sqrt{n},y\sigma \sqrt{n}) $ происходит через левую границу, при этом максимальное приращение блуждания до момента этого выхода будет меньше $x\sigma \sqrt{n}$, где $x $ - положительное число. Установлена предельная теорема для момента первого выхода блуждания из указанного интервала при условии, что этот выход произойдет через левую границу и выполнено ограничение на величину максимального приращения блуждания.
Многотипные слабо докритические ветвящиеся процессы в случайной среде
Authors: Vatutin Vladimir Alekseevich , Dyakonova Elena Evgen'evna
Published: August 2019

Рассматривается многотипный ветвящийся процесс Гальтона-Ватсона в случайной среде, задаваемой последовательностью независимых одинаково распределенных случайных величин. В предположении, что приращение $X$ сопровождающего случайного блуждания, порожденного логарифмами перроновых корней матриц средних этого процесса, удовлетворяет условиям $\mathbf{E}X<0$ и $\mathbf{E}Xe^{X}>0,$ а матрицы средних процесса имеют общий неслучайный левый собственный вектор, найдена асимптотика вероятности невырождения процесса в далекий момент времени.
Aerosol radiative effects with MACv2
Authors: Kinne Stefan
Published: August 2019

Abstract. Monthly global maps for aerosol properties of the Max Planck Aerosol Climatology version 2 (MACv2) are
applied in an offline radiative transfer model to determine aerosol
radiative effects. This model setup cannot address rapid adjustments by
clouds, but current evidence suggests their contribution to be small when
compared to the instantaneous radiative forcing. Global maps are presented
to detail the regional and seasonal variability associated with (annual)
global averages. Radiative effects caused by the aerosol presence (direct
effects) and by aerosol modified clouds (indirect effects) are examined.
Direct effects are determined for total aerosol, anthropogenic aerosol and
extracted individual aerosol components. Indirect effects cover the impact
of reduced cloud drop sizes by anthropogenic aerosol. Present-day global annual radiative effects for anthropogenic aerosol yield
(1) a climate cooling of −1.0 W m−2 at the top of the atmosphere (TOA); (2) a
surface net-flux reduction of −2.1 W m−2; and, by difference; (3) an
atmospheric effect of +1.1 W m−2. This atmospheric solar heating is
almost entirely a direct effect. On a global basis, indirect effects (−0.65 W m−2) dominate direct effects
(−0.35 W m−2) for the present-day climate
response at the TOA, whereas the present-day surface radiative budget is
more strongly reduced by direct effects (−1.45 W m−2) than by indirect effects
(−0.65 W m−2). Natural aerosols are on average less absorbing and larger in size. However,
their stronger solar TOA cooling efficiency is offset by a non-negligible
infrared (IR) greenhouse warming efficiency. In the sum the global average
annual direct forcing efficiencies (per unit AOD) for natural and
anthropogenic aerosol are similar: −12 W m−2 per unit AOD for all-sky conditions and
−24 W m−2 per unit AOD for clear-sky conditions. The present-day direct TOA impact by all soot (BC) is
+0.55 W m−2, when globally and annually averaged. Between +0.25 and +0.45 W m−2 of that can be attributed to
anthropogenic sources, depending on assumptions for the preindustrial BC
reference state. Similarly, the preindustrial fine-mode reference
uncertainty has a strong influence not just on the direct effect but even more on the indirect effect. Present-day aerosol TOA forcing is estimated to stay
within the −0.7 to −1.6 W m−2 range (with the best estimate at −1.0 W m−2). Calculations with scaled temporal changes to anthropogenic AOD from global
modeling indicate that the global annual aerosol forcing has not changed
much over the last decades, despite strong shifts in regional maxima for
anthropogenic AOD. These regional shifts explain most solar insolation
(brightening or dimming) trends that have been observed by ground-based
radiation data.
Comparison of two automated aerosol typing methods and their application to an EARLINET station
Authors: Voudouri Kalliopi Artemis , Siomos Nikolaos , Michailidis Konstantinos , Papagiannopoulos Nikolaos , Mona Lucia , Cornacchia Carmela , Nicolae Doina , Balis Dimitris
Published: August 2019

Abstract. In this study we apply and compare two algorithms for the automated aerosol-type characterization
of the aerosol layers derived from Raman lidar measurements
over the EARLINET station of Thessaloniki, Greece.
Both automated aerosol-type characterization methods
base their typing on lidar-derived aerosol-intensive properties. The methodologies are briefly described and their application to three distinct cases is demonstrated and evaluated.
Then the two classification schemes were applied in the automatic mode to a more extensive dataset.
The dataset analyzed corresponds to ACTRIS/EARLINET (European Aerosol Research Lidar NETwork)
Thessaloniki data acquired during the period
2012–2015. Seventy-one layers out of 110 (percentage of 65 %) were typed by both techniques, and 56 of these 71 layers (percentage of 79 %) were attributed to the same aerosol type. However, as shown, the identification rate of both typing algorithms can be changed regarding the selection of appropriate threshold criteria. Four major types of aerosols are considered in this study:
Dust, Maritime, PollutedSmoke and CleanContinental.
The analysis showed
that the two algorithms, when applied to real atmospheric conditions, provide
typing results that are in good agreement regarding the automatic
characterization of PollutedSmoke, while there are some differences between
the two methods regarding the characterization of Dust and CleanContinental.
These disagreements are mainly attributed to differences in the definitions
of the aerosol types between the two
methods, regarding the intensive properties used and their range.