bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Невизначеність vs визначеність кримінального законодавства України
Authors: ЗАГИНЕЙ-ЗАБОЛОТЕНКО ЗОЯ
Published: March 2020

Визначеність vs невизначеність кримінального закону України є важливою проблемою сьогодення. Одним із завдань оновлення кримінального законодавства України є з’ясування оптимального рівня визначеного та невизначеного контенту у тексті Кримінального кодексу України (КК України). Метою статті є встановлення співвідношення невизначених і визначених формулювань у тексті КК України та обґрунтування того, які з них доцільно використовувати у ньому. Для досягнення цієї мети поставлено такі завдання: 1) охарактеризувати основні проблеми встановлення співвідношення між визначеним і невизначеним у тексті нормативно-правових актів у наукових підходах, зокрема й зарубіжної правової доктрини, а також у практиці Європейського суду з прав людини (ЄСПЛ); 2) виокремити об’єктивні та суб’єктивні причини існування невизна чених формулювань у тексті КК України, навести конкретні приклади невизна ченого контенту у чинному КК України; 3) дослідити можливість існування невизначеного контенту у тексті КК України. Основні наукові результати полягають у такому: погляди у зарубіжній правовій доктрині відносно співвідношення визначеного та невизначеного у законодавстві здебільшого полягають у розумному балансі між вказаним вище контентом; в окремих рішеннях ЄСПЛ міститься вказівка на пропорційність визначеного та невизначеного у будь-якому законі; встановлюючи співвідношення невизначеного та визначеного у тексті КК України, доцільно вести мову не про усунення, а про оптимізацію невизначеності; правова невизначеність кримінально-правових норм обумовлюється як об’єктивними, так і суб’єктивними причинами; виокремлено таку якісну характеристику кримінально-правових норм, як ступінь їхньої визначеності; до невизначеного контенту віднесено оцінні поняття, відкриті переліки, дискреційні повноваження органів держави у кримінально-правових відносинах, латентність тексту КК України, юридичні фікції, юридичні презумпції; досліджено, що невизначеність можуть породжувати й формалізовані положення КК України, наприклад, казуїстичні переліки. КЛЮЧОВІ СЛОВА: невизначеність; невизначений контент; визначеність; Кримінальний кодекс України; тлумачення; реалізація правових норм.
Щодо поняття водного шляху у праві внутрішнього судноплавства придунайських країн
Authors: МОШАК ГРИГОРІЙ
Published: March 2020

Розвиток внутрішнього водного транспорту до 2030 р. передбачає його побудову на ґрунтовній політичній стратегії, яка підтримується достатніми та ефективними інструментами реалізації – координацією, інвестиціями, законодавством.
Із аналізу результатів зарубіжних досліджень, зокрема права придунайських країн, випливає необхідність подальшої розробки поняття внутрішнього водного шляху та його нормативного вираження як важливої складової розвитку водного транспорту. Постановою Кабінету Міністрів України “Про затвердження переліку внутрішніх водних шляхів, що належать до категорії судноплавних” на українську частину річки Дунай (від міста Рені до міста Вилкове, а також каналу Дунай–Чорне море на баровій частині гирла Новостамбульське) поширено статус внутрішнього водного морського шляху, що увійшло у протиріччя з Європейською угодою про найважливіші внутрішні водні шляхи міжнародного значення. Зазначена невідповідність є наслідком недостатнього наукового та законодавчого визначення поняття внутрішнього водного шляху.
Термін “внутрішній водний шлях” використовувався у працях дореволюційного вченого П. Казанського, у працях сучасників, таких як А. Кулько, А. Єфіменко, Г. Самойленко, Є. Самойленко, однак без його аналізу, поза зазначеним контекстом і без порівняння із правом придунайських країн – Румунії, Молдови, Німеччини.
Метою статті є порівняльний аналіз поняття водного шляху у праві внутрішнього судноплавства за матеріалами України та окремих придунайських країн, вивчення практики його застосування та питань вдосконалення у контексті економічної ситуації. Це дасть змогу сформулювати висновки щодо поняття внутрішнього вод-ного шляху та пропозиції для його вдосконалення.
Частка вантажів, що перевозяться внутрішніми водними шляхами, у структурі перевезень всіма видами транспорту в Україні досягає близько 1 %, тоді як у Європейському Союзі вона становить 7 %, у Німеччині – 12 %, у Румунії – 22 %.
Існування у Німеччині численних джерел – ґрунтовних законів і великих за обсягом коментарів, монографій та написаних за матеріалами судових справ наукових статей відкриває перспективу запозичення позитивного досвіду визначення основних понять права внутрішнього судноплавства.
Порівняльний розгляд поняття “внутрішній водний шлях” виявив існування факторів, які не сприяють його науковому та законодавчому визначенню, зростанню показників внутрішнього судноплавства. Вони розмивають межу між правом внутрішнього судноплавства та морським правом і реальну питому вагу перевезень, які здійснюються окремими видами транспорту. Україна, Молдова і Румунія як учасники низки багатосторонніх і двосторонніх міжнародних конвенцій, договорів, програм мають широкі можливості спільної розробки єдиного підходу і критеріїв щодо визначення поняття внутрішнього водного шляху.
Ukrainian-Swedish Relations and Treaties of the XVII–XVIII Centuries
Authors: KRESIN OLEKSIY
Published: March 2020

It can be said that Sweden’s appeal to Ukraine during the Thirty Years War (1618–1648) and the formation of an imperial state was quite understandable: Ukraine was the enemy of Sweden’s enemies. But the peculiarities of political and economic development of Sweden and its allies caused their claims to the West Ukrainian and Belarus lands. This made it impossible to conclude a full-fledged political treaty. The like situation is with Ukrainian-Swedish relations in 1708–1709, when Sweden was a guarantor of possession of West Ukrainian lands by Polish-Lithuanian state. Ukrainian-Swedish treaties of the XVII – early XVIII centuries had only a military-tactical character and a short-lived action.
Only a crisis after Swedish-Ukrainian forces defeat and prolonged living hand-by-hand in the Ottoman Empire (1709–1714) gradually brought royal Swedish protectorate as a form of military alliance to full-fledged recognition of Ukraine as the state and concluding treaty of political nature. Unfortunately, its implementation was very limited. In addition, the close encounter with foreign legal culture and other circumstances of UkrainianSwedish relations gave the impetus to reviewing the grounds of state and law of Ukraine and the emergence of the “Pacts and Resolutions of the Rights and Privileges of the Viysko Zaporozke”, known as the Constitution of Ukraine of 1710. We argue that this document together with confirmation and assecuration charters by Karl XII is not only a monument of Ukrainian constitutionalism, but also a treaty between Ukraine and its protector, the king of Sweden.
Genetic evidence for allopatric speciation of the Siberian ibex Capra sibirica in India
Authors: Dutt Joshi B , Jabin G , Sharief A , Kumar V , Mukherjee T , Kumar M , Singh A , Kumar Singh S , Chandra K , Sharma LK , Thakur M
Published: March 2020

Montane systems, formed by a series of climatic oscillations and temporal topographic metamorphoses, have broken up the contiguous distribution of widespread species and accelerated allopatric speciation. We used a partial fragment of the mitochondrial cytochromeb(cytb) gene to address speciation across the entire range of the Siberian ibexCapra sibirica. We demonstrated that the Siberian ibex is a polytypic species, plausibly formed by a combination of at least 2 species and/or 3 to 4 sub-species. Bayesian phylogeny showed that the Indian-Tajikistan (I-T) clade is adequately diverged from the other clades based on the mean intra-specific distance criterion, and warrants recognition as a distinct species. We provide pragmatic evidence for the endorsement of the I-T clade as a distinct species of Siberian ibex and urge prioritization of the conservation of this species at global and regional scales.
Why Romantic Poetry Still Matters
Authors: Thomson Heidi
Published: March 2020

‘Why Romantic Poetry Still Matters’ argues for the importance of reading and interpreting Romantic poetry for a better life in the twenty-first century. The more literate and articulate we are, the better our chances for survival as citizens and inhabitants of the earth. Studying Romantic poetry can improve our empathy and resilience, our sense of categorization and understanding, our ability to accommodate uncertainty, and our powers of decision-making. Examples of Romantic poetry are drawn from the works of Wordsworth (‘We Are Seven’ and ‘The Intimations Ode’) and Keats (‘On First Looking into Chapman's Homer’, ‘To John Hamilton Reynolds’, ‘This Living Hand’), emphasizing the role of memory, the imagination, and interactive dynamics within their texts. The essay concludes by emphasizing the importance of the Humanities in the University curriculum.
Looking at Sympathy in Wordsworth's Disability Poetry
Authors: Beenstock Zoe
Published: March 2020

Wordsworth's poems about disability – ‘The Idiot Boy’ and ‘The Blind Highland Boy’ and other long poems in which disability plays a tangential yet pivotal role like The Prelude and, less obviously, ‘The Ruined Cottage’ – posit the encounter with impairment as central to feelings of sympathy. Consequently, these poems are usually read as advocating the inclusion of people with disabilities. This article argues that Wordsworth's poems about disability reify a pattern of liberal identity that posits impairment as an obstacle to subjecthood reflecting Wordsworth's misreading of Adam Smith's moral theory. Departing from Smith's argument that disability is socially constructed, Wordsworth separates disabled and able-bodied lives into separate spheres, mediated by a voyeuristic aesthetic. As a result, characters with disabilities arouse intense curiosity and yearning in Wordsworth's poems, but also remain a spectacle of dependence and an adjunct to able identity.
Crescimento econômico com restrição externa: uma análise da Lei de Thirwall para os períodos FHC e Lula
Authors: Marques Erica Mendonça , Rodrigues Rodrigo Vilela
Published: March 2020

Este artigo buscou avaliar os períodos dos governos FHC e Lula, bem como o período completo de 1995 a 2010, com objetivo de investigar em que medida o Brasil teve seu potencial de crescimento econômico limitado por restrições no balanço de pagamentos e quais diferenças observáveis entre os períodos. Para a análise empírica, adotou-se o procedimento econométrico de cointegração, empregado para estimativas de elasticidades-preço e renda da demanda por importação dos períodos, tendo como resultado um relaxamento na restrição externa no período Lula comparativamente ao governo FHC. Os resultados indicam que embora as restrições externas tenham reduzido durante o governo Lula em relação ao governo FHC, há evidências de que continuaram desempenhando papel relevante sobre a taxa de crescimento de longo prazo do Brasil.
Brazilian co-authorship overseas: the Journal of Post Keynesian Economics and related journals
Authors: Matteucci de Andrade Lopes Caio , De Lacerda Antunes Borges Lopes Renata
Published: March 2020

The purpose of this article is to evaluate the importance of post-Keynesianism ideas for international scientific production of Brazilian researchers. The methodology employed uses an econometric technique in order to analyze the Brazilian participation in nine scientific journals in the course of twenty years: 1997-2016. The probability of a Brazilian co-author being greater for The Journal of Post Keynesian Economics (hereinafter JPKE) - in relation to the other journals - was evaluated by means of a logit, in which the dependent variable assumes value one when at least one co-author of the given article is Brazilian and zero otherwise. The results show that the probability of Brazilian co-authorship is greater for heterodox journals, especially JPKE.
RETRACTED: NF-κB Inhibitors Attenuate MCAO Induced Neurodegeneration and Oxidative Stress—A Reprofiling Approach
Authors: Ali Awais , Shah Fawad Ali , Zeb Alam , Malik Imran , Alvi Arooj Mohsin , Alkury Lina Tariq , Rashid Sajid , Hussain Ishtiaq , Ullah Najeb , Khan ArifUllah , Koh Phil Ok , Li Shupeng
Published: March 2020

Stroke is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. About 87% of stroke cases are ischemic, which disrupt the physiological activity of the brain, thus leading to a series of complex pathophysiological events. Despite decades of research on neuroprotectants to probe for suitable therapies against ischemic stroke, no successful results have been obtained, and new alternative approaches are urgently required in order to combat this pathological torment. To address these problems, drug repositioning/reprofiling is explored extensively. Drug repurposing aims to identify new uses for already established drugs, and this makes it an attractive commercial strategy. Nuclear factor-kappa beta (NF-κB) is reported to be involved in many physiological and pathological conditions, such as neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, and ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. In this study, we examined the neuroprotective effects of atorvastatin, cephalexin, and mycophenolate against the NF-κB in ischemic stroke, as compared to the standard NF-κB inhibitor caeffic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE). An in-silico docking analysis was performed and their potential neuroprotective activities in the in vivo transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (t-MCAO) rat model was examined. The percent (%) infarct area and 28-point composite neuro score were examined, and an immunohistochemical analysis (IHC) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were further performed to validate the neuroprotective role of these compounds in stroke as well as their potential as antioxidants. Our results demonstrated that these novels NF-κB inhibitors could attenuate ischemic stroke-induced neuronal toxicity by targeting NF-κB, a potential therapeutic approach in ischemic stroke.
Nitrogen Rate Increase Not Required for No-Till Wheat in Cool and Humid Conditions
Authors: Herrera Juan Manuel , Noulas Christos , Stamp Peter , Levy-Häner Lilia , Pellet Didier , Qin Ruijun
Published: March 2020

An increased nitrogen (N) supply was proposed to avoid grain yield (GY) reductions and successfully implement conservation agriculture (CA). We investigated interactions effects of tillage system and N supply on winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) at two sites in the Swiss midlands with no (0 kg N ha−1) and high (150–160 kg N ha−1) N supply using 15N-labelled ammonium nitrate in selected treatments. Wheat’s GY, yield components, N related traits and soil mineral N content (Nmin) under conventional tillage (CT), minimum tillage (MT), and no-tillage (NT) were studied following two preceding crops: oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) and maize (Zea mays L.). Wheat after oilseed rape had significantly higher GY and biomass than after maize while a yield decrease under NT compared with CT and MT was observed regardless of N supply level. Differences in soil Nmin among tillage systems were seldom found and were inconsistent. No differences in 15N fertilizer recovery were found between NT and CT while residual Nmin after harvest was lower under NT than CT or MT. In conclusion, we did not found consistent reductions in soil N availability and N uptake under NT that would justify an increased N supply for wheat under CA.
Durum Wheat Breeding in the Mediterranean Region: Current Status and Future Prospects
Authors: Xynias Ioannis N. , Mylonas Ioannis , Korpetis Evangelos G. , Ninou Elissavet , Tsaballa Aphrodite , Avdikos Ilias D. , Mavromatis Athanasios G.
Published: March 2020

This brief historical review focuses on durum wheat domestication and breeding in the Mediterranean region. Important milestones in durum wheat breeding programs across the countries of the Mediterranean basin before and after the Green Revolution are discussed. Additionally, the main achievements of the classical breeding methodology are presented using a comparison of old and new cultivars. Furthermore, current breeding goals and challenges are analyzed. An overview of classical breeding methods in combination with current molecular techniques and tools for cultivar development is presented. Important issues of seed quality are outlined, focusing on protein and characteristics that affect human health and are connected with the consumption of wheat end-products.
Correction: Plant Biostimulants: Importance of the Quality and Yield of Horticultural Crops—A Review: Agronomy 2019, 9, 335
Authors: Drobek Magdalena , Frąc Magdalena , Cybulska Justyna
Published: March 2020

In Drobek at al [...]
Determination of Praziquantel in Sparus aurata L. after Administration of Medicated Animal Feed
Authors: Baralla Elena , Varoni Maria Vittoria , Nieddu Maria , Demontis Maria Piera , Merella Paolo , Burreddu Caterina , Garippa Giovanni , Boatto Gianpiero
Published: March 2020

Praziquantel (PZQ) is an anthelmintic drug used in humans and animals against Platyhelminthes and in aquaculture in the Far East. Medicated feed is one of the most convenient forms of oral administration of drugs in aquaculture because it allows to treat a large population of fish in an easy way. However, this treatment may lead to residues in fish intended for human consumption. In this study, a liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed in order to verify the presence of PZQ in samples of Sparus aurata after oral administration of feed treated with PZQ. The method was validated according to international guidelines. It showed good recoveries, selectivity and sensitivity (LOD and LOQ were 3.0 and 9.3 ng/g, respectively), with precision and matrix effect values ≤ 15%. This method could also be applied to determine PZQ residue in other fish species and thus to evaluate the appropriate withdrawal time in treated fish intended for human consumption.
Cats Have Increased Protein Digestibility as Compared to Dogs and Improve Their Ability to Absorb Protein as Dietary Protein Intake Shifts from Animal to Plant Sources
Authors: Golder Christina , Weemhoff James L. , Jewell Dennis E.
Published: March 2020

This retrospective study used 226 dogs and 296 cats to evaluate whether protein absorption was influenced by species, and within species, what influence increasing the percentage of total dietary protein, as plant protein, had on protein absorption. Each food was evaluated by at least one study with a minimum of six dogs or cats assigned to each study. Dietary inclusion of animal and plant based protein was calculated by analysis of ingredients and dietary inclusion level. Both dogs and cats were able to digest dietary plant protein, with protein digestibility in dogs unchanged as plant protein increased, while in cats, eating dry food, an increase in plant protein, was associated with increased protein digestibility. When individual plant high-concentration protein sources (excluding the protein from whole grains) were evaluated (i.e., soybean meal, soybean protein isolate, corn gluten meal, and rice protein concentrate) there was no response to increasing protein from these sources in the dog. In the cat, there was a significant positive effect on protein digestibility associated with an increasing concentration of corn gluten meal. In summary, as the dietary protein shifted from striated muscle and other animal proteins to plant based proteins, there was no effect in the dog, while in cats, increasing dietary plant protein was associated with increasing protein digestibility (5.5% increase at 50% protein from plants in dry cat food). Protein digestibility of food in dogs and cats is similar, if not enhanced, when the plant protein sources are concentrated from soybeans (soybean isolate, soybean meal), corn (corn gluten meal), or rice (rice protein concentrate).
New Peptaibiotics and a Cyclodepsipeptide from Ijuhya vitellina: Isolation, Identification, Cytotoxic and Nematicidal Activities
Authors: Moussa Ashaimaa Y. , Lambert Christopher , Stradal Theresia E.B. , Ashrafi Samad , Maier Wolfgang , Stadler Marc , Helaly Soleiman E.
Published: March 2020

Fungal associations with nematodes have attracted scientific attention because of the need to develop new biocontrol agents. In this context, Ijuhya vitellina, an antagonistic fungus previously isolated from the plant parasitic cyst nematode Heterodera filipjevi, was selected to carry out an in-depth metabolomic study for its active metabolites. Herein, three new nonapeptide peptaibols with leucinostatin based sequences were isolated and identified by 1, 2D NMR, and HR-ESI-MS-MS. The absolute configuration was assigned based on Marfay’s analysis and Mosher ester formation. The new leucinostatins manifested moderate nematicidal effect against the plant pathogenic nematode Pratylenchus penetrans with LD90 values ranging from 5 to 7 µg/mL. Furthermore, a cyclodepsipeptide, named arthrichitin D, with five amino acid residues attached to a 3-hydroxy-2,4-dimethylhexadeca-4,6-dienoic fatty acid chain was discovered and showed weak nematicidal effect against Caenorhabditis elegans. Chaetoglobosin B and its 19-O-acetyl derivative were also obtained as minor metabolites, and the activity of chaetoglobosin B on the actin cytoskeleton of mammalian cells was assessed.
Iron and Advanced Glycation End Products: Emerging Role of Iron in Androgen Deficiency in Obesity
Authors: Chen Seu-Hwa , Yuan Kuo-Ching , Lee Yu-Chieh , Shih Chun-Kuang , Tseng Sung-Hui , Tinkov Alexey A. , Skalny Anatoly V. , Chang Jung-Su
Published: March 2020

The literature suggests a bidirectional relationship between testosterone (T) and iron, but mechanisms underlying this relationship remain unclear. We investigated effects of iron on advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in obesity-related androgen deficiency. In total, 111 men were recruited, and iron biomarkers and N(ɛ)-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) were measured. In an animal study, rats were fed a 50% high-fat diet (HFD) with (0.25, 1, and 2 g ferric iron/kg diet) or without ferric citrate for 12 weeks. Obese rats supplemented with >1 g iron/kg diet had decreased testicular total T compared to HFD alone. Immunohistochemical staining showed that >1 g of ferric iron increased iron and AGE retention in testicular interstitial tissues, which is associated with increased expression of the receptor for AGEs (RAGE), tumor necrosis factor-α, and nitric oxide. Compared with normal weight, overweight/obese men had lower T levels and higher rates of hypogonadism (19% vs. 11.3%) and iron overload (29.8% vs.15.9%). A correlation analysis showed serum total T was positively correlated with transferrin saturation (r = 0.242, p = 0.007) and cathepsin D (r = 0.330, p = 0.001), but negatively correlated with red blood cell aggregation (r = −0.419, p<0.0001) and CML (r = −0.209, p < 0.05). In conclusion, AGEs may partially explain the underlying relationship between dysregulated iron and T deficiency.
Effects of Melatonin Administration to Pregnant Ewes under Heat-Stress Conditions, in Redox Status and Reproductive Outcome
Authors: Bouroutzika Efterpi , Kouretas Dimitrios , Papadopoulos Serafeim , Veskoukis Aristidis S. , Theodosiadou Ekaterini , Makri Sotiria , Paliouras Charilaos , Michailidis Marios-Lazaros , Caroprese Mariangela , Valasi Irene
Published: March 2020

Heat stress is a known promoter of reactive oxygen species generation, which may compromise pregnancy and foetal development. Melatonin is a pleiotropic molecule that regulates various processes including pregnancy. Thus, it could be used to ameliorate the redox status of pregnant heat-stressed ewes and the outcome of their pregnancy. Sixty-eight ewes participated in the study, which were allocated into two equal groups, i.e., Melatonin (M) and Control (C) group. All ewes were exposed to heat stress from D0 to D120. In both groups, after oestrus synchronization of ewes, rams were introduced to them for mating (D16). In M group, starting with sponges’ insertion (D0), melatonin implants were administered four-fold every 40 days. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed by means of ultrasonography. Daily evaluation of temperature humidity index (THI), rectal temperature, and breathing rate were performed throughout the study. Blood samples were collected repeatedly from D0 until weaning for assaying redox biomarkers. Milk yield was measured thrice during puerperium. The results showed that melatonin administration throughout pregnancy improved the redox status of heat-stressed ewes and increased the mean number and bodyweight of lambs born per ewe, as well as the milk production. Therefore, melatonin may be used as antioxidant regimen in heat-stressed ewes for improving their reproductive traits.
Nonlinear Lamb Wave Micro-Crack Direction Identification in Plates with Mixed-Frequency Technique
Authors: Guan Liqiang , Zou Mingxia , Wan Xili , Li Yifeng
Published: March 2020

This paper investigates the direction identification of micro-cracks with nonlinear components generated by Lamb wave with frequency-mixing technique. Three-dimensional finite element simulations were carried out to investigate the interaction mechanism between Lamb wave signals and micro-cracks. Upon re-visiting the conventional Lamb wave excitation signal with two kinds of fundamental frequencies (f1 and f2), it was found to be possible to generate new types of frequencies (f1 ± f2) at the sideband if nonlinear sources existed in the plate. A pulse inversion method was used to extract the sideband frequency for nonlinear ultrasonic detection. By arranging piezoelectric chip arrays around the micro-crack, the acoustic nonlinearity parameter β related to the fundamental frequency and the sideband frequency for different micro-crack directions was calibrated. It was shown that β varied for different crack directions, which provides useful information about the scattering features of the nonlinear Lamb wave interacting with the micro-crack to characterize its directivity. Moreover, the scattering degree defined with the relative nonlinear parameter β′ of the micro-crack in different directions was investigated in detail by changing the size of the micro-crack. The outcomes showed that the forward scattering signal of the crack had a greater amplitude, whereas the backscattering signal had a smaller amplitude compared with the scattering signals in other directions from micro-cracks. In addition, the signal scattering degree in the forward direction from micro-cracks increased with the increasing micro-crack length, but decreased with increasing crack width. Furthermore, for the buried crack, the forward scattering degree of Lamb wave from micro-crack decreased as crack was buried deeper in plate. In summary, the findings of this study can help to further advance the use of nonlinear Lamb wave with the frequency-mixing technique for identifying the direction of micro-cracks.
The Firmware Design and Implementation Scheme for C Form-Factor Pluggable Optical Transceiver
Authors: Kim Jae-Woo , Kim Dong-Seong , Kim Seung-Hwan , Shin Sang-Moon
Published: March 2020

The demand for integrated telecommunication network infrastructure has increased, and 100 Gbps optical transceivers are a critical part of this infrastructure. In this paper, an efficient firmware design scheme is proposed for a 100 Gbps C form-factor pluggable (CFP) optical transceiver based on the multi-source agreement standard for optical transceivers. In the proposed method, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) approach is used to integrate the CFP communication interface and register structure, and a micro controller unit (MCU) is employed to implement the operation of the CFP optical transceiver. This paper also proposed monitoring techniques using high-order polynomials for accurate optical power monitoring of CFP optical transceivers. To ensure that the implemented firmware satisfies the proposed design scheme, an actual testbed was constructed and the performance of the firmware was evaluated. The results demonstrate that the proposed design scheme not only satisfies standard items but also achieved an average monitoring accuracy of more than 90%. In addition, the proposed scheme can be applied to 200/400G CFP optical transceivers in the future. By implementing the CFP firmware using the proposed method, manufacturers can ensure quality while reducing cost and development time.
A Design for SDN-Based Identifier–Locator Separation Architecture on IoT Networks
Authors: Lee Chan Haeng , Park Ji Su
Published: March 2020

In upcoming smart urban environments, various things can be interconnected, and the Internet of Things (IoT) can be used to construct a safer and more convenient urban environment. Things in the IoT need an addressing system that can uniquely identify each one; internet protocol (IP) addresses can be used for this purpose. The IP address the two roles of an identifier and a locator. However, this binding has problems related to mobility and multihoming, and it is hard to deploy on a legacy IP system because of some limitations of sensor devices. To solve the problem, we propose a design for software-defined networking (SDN)-based identifier–locator separation architecture on IoT networks. In the proposed scheme, Internet Protocol version 6(IPv6)-based addresses are used for the identifiers and locators. The network is partitioned into a host identity domain for local routing and an IP domain for global routing. The host identity domain operates as an overlaid network over the IP domain, and it makes the unrouteable identifiers routable with a distributed hash table (DHT)-based routing strategy. For the evaluation of the proposed scheme, a packet forwarding cost and signaling cost model is calculated, and the results show that the proposed scheme is conjugable to an IoT network environment.
Current-Assisted Single Photon Avalanche Diode (CASPAD) Fabricated in 350 nm Conventional CMOS
Authors: Jegannathan Gobinath , Ingelberts Hans , Kuijk Maarten
Published: March 2020

A current-assisted single-photon avalanche diode (CASPAD) is presented with a large and deep absorption volume combined with a small p-n junction in its middle to perform avalanche trigger detection. The absorption volume has a drift field that serves as a guiding mechanism to the photo-generated minority carriers by directing them toward the avalanche breakdown region of the p-n junction. This drift field is created by a majority current distribution in the thick (highly-resistive) epi-layer that is present because of an applied voltage bias between the p-anode of the avalanching region and the perimeter of the detector. A first CASPAD device fabricated in 350-nm CMOS shows functional operation for NIR (785-nm) photons; absorbed in a volume of 40 × 40 × 14 μm3. The CASPAD is characterized for its photon-detection probability (PDP), timing jitter, dark-count rate (DCR), and after pulsing.
Thermography of Asteroid and Future Applications in Space Missions
Authors: Okada Tatsuaki
Published: March 2020

The Near-Earth Asteroid 162173 Ryugu is a C-type asteroid which preserves information about the ancient Solar System and is considered enriched in volatiles such as water and organics associated with the building blocks of life, and it is a potentially hazardous object that might impact Earth. Hayabusa2 is the asteroid explorer organized by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency to rendezvous with the asteroid and collect surface materials to return them to Earth. Thermography has been carried out from Hayabusa2 during the asteroid proximity phase, to unveil the thermophysical properties of the primitive Solar System small body, which offered a new insight for understanding the origin and evolution of the Solar System, and demonstrated the technology for future applications in space missions. Global, local, and close-up thermal images taken from various distances from the asteroid strongly contributed to the mission success, including suitable landing site selection, safe assessment during descents into the thermal environments and hazardous boulder abundance, and the detection of deployable devices against the sunlit asteroid surface. Potential applications of thermography in future planetary missions are introduced.
An Interleaved DC/DC Converter with Soft-switching Characteristic and high Step-up Ratio
Authors: Chang Yong-Nong , Cheng Hung-Liang , Yen Hau-Chen , Chang Chien-Hsuan , Huang Wei-Di
Published: March 2020

This study presents a dc/dc converter featuring soft-switching characteristic, high conversion efficiency, and high step-up ratio. The proposed circuit is composed of two parallel-connected boost converters. Only one coupled inductor is used to replace inductors of the boost converters which are interleaved operated at discontinuous-conduction mode (DCM). The current ripples at the input and the output terminals are reduced due to the interleaved operation. By freewheeling the current of the coupled inductor to discharge the stored electric charges in the parasitic capacitors of the active switches, both active switches can fulfill zero-voltage switching on (ZVS). Owing to DCM operation, the freewheeling diodes can fulfill zero-current switching off (ZCS). Therefore, the power conversion efficiency is improved. The operation principle for each operation mode is analyzed in detail and design equations for the component parameters are provided in this report. Finally, a prototype 200 W 48–400 V converter was implemented and measured to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed circuit.
Mechanical Integrity Analysis of a Printed Circuit Heat Exchanger with Channel Misalignment
Authors: Simanjuntak Armanto P. , Lee Jae Young
Published: March 2020

Printed circuit heat exchangers (PCHEs), which are used for thermal heat storage and power generation, are often subject to severe pressure and temperature differences between primary and secondary channels, which causes mechanical integrity problems. PCHE operation may result in discontinuity, such as channel misalignment, due to non-uniform thermal fields in the diffusion bonding process. The present paper analyzes the mechanical integrity, including the utilization factors of stress and deformation under various channel misalignment conditions. The pressure difference of the target PCHE is 19.5 MPa due to the high pressure (19.7 MPa) of the steam channel in the Rankine cycle and the low pressure (0.5 MPa) of molten salt or liquid metal in the primary channel. Additionally, the temperature difference between channels is around 25 °C, however the average temperature is around 500 °C. The PCHE has a relatively large primary channel measuring approximately 3 x 3 mm, and a steam channel measuring 2 x 1.5 mm. The finite element method (FEM) is applied to determine the stress by changing the misalignment to below 30% of the primary channel width. It was found that the current PCHE is operable up to 700 °C in terms of the ASME code under these design conditions. Additionally, the change of utilization factor due to the misalignment increases, but is still under the ASME acceptance criteria of 700 °C; however, it violates the criteria at 725 °C, which is the allowable temperature condition. Therefore, the mechanical integrity of the PCHE with low-pressure molten salt or liquid metal and a high-pressure steam channel is acceptable in terms of utilization factor.
Experimental Study on Stress Corrosion Index Governing Time-Dependent Degradation of Rock Strength
Authors: Ko Tae Young , Lee Sean Seungwon
Published: March 2020

Rock fractures in geological conditions are caused not only by applied stress, but also by stress corrosion. Stress corrosion is an environmentally activated chemical process, associated with the fluid-assisted crack growth. Crack growth due to stress corrosion is related to the time-dependent behaviours of rocks and is a crucial factor in determining the stability of underground structures over the long period of time. In this study, constant stress-rate tests including Brazilian tension and three-point flexural tests for the tensile strength, short-beam compression and single-shear tests for the in-plane shear strength, and a torsion test of rectangular section specimens and a circumferentially notched cylindrical specimen test for the out-of-plane shear strength were conducted at a different loading rate from 0.01 to 10 MPa/s using Coconino sandstone. The results show that the rock strength was proportional to the 1/(n+1)th power of the loading rate, where the parameter n indicates the stress corrosion index. The stress corrosion index (n) ranged from 34 to 38, with an average value of 36. The stress corrosion indices (n) were similar, irrespective of the loading configuration and specimen geometry. The stress corrosion index (n) can, therefore, be regarded as a material constant of rocks.
Remediation of Copper Contaminated Soils Using Water Containing Hydrogen Nanobubbles
Authors: Kim Dongchan , Han Junggeun
Published: March 2020

This basic research study was undertaken to use ecofriendly nanobubbles that can improve the electrokinetic remediation of copper-contaminated soil, as well as to determine that remediation efficiency. The nanobubbles were generated by using pressurized hydrogen gas, and the quantity of hydrogen gas bubble that remained over 14 days was measured. The generated nanobubbles were used as an enhancer to remove a heavy metal on contaminated soil, and their applicability was confirmed. A batch test was used to compare the remediation effects of nanobubbles and distilled water on copper-contaminated soil. The results proved that the nanobubbles are a proper desorption agent for copper-contaminated sand and clay specimens. The solid–liquid ratio and the contact time for desorption of the sand and clay were then respectively determined. A large amount of effluent was obtained from electrokinetic remediation of the sand sample after applying the nanobubbles as an enhancer. The remediation efficiency demonstrated with sand proved to be higher than that for clay. This greater efficiency was attributed to a wider specific surface area, demonstrating the potential use of the nanobubbles as an enhancer for soil contaminated by copper with a large amount of effluent outflow. It was also assumed to be affected by the moving capability of the nanobubbles in the soil layer. Thus, the nanobubbled water can be used to improve the removal of heavy metals from contaminated soils. An ecofriendly enhancer for electrokinetic remediation with a relatively large void ratio and fast flowrate was confirmed by the nanobubbles.
Surface Radiation Balance of Urban Materials and Their Impact on Air Temperature of an Urban Canyon in Lisbon, Portugal
Authors: Matias Márcia , Lopes António
Published: March 2020

Urban climate results from the modifications caused by the characteristics of cities, which modifies the regional climatic conditions of a city. When urban areas are warmer than the surrounding areas, the urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon occurs. Being a major phenomenon and a global topic of interest for all affected cities, there are already numerous studies that address this subject. However, most studies are only focused on the macro and mesoscales. This study looks at the micrometeorological scale in a neighborhood of Lisbon (Telheiras). Having as a main objective to evaluate how the radiation balance of urban materials influences air temperature in an urban canyon, thermal images of different urban materials were obtained using infrared thermography, a technique that allowed understanding how the temperatures registered in the facades and other urban surfaces can affect the air temperature of the urban canyon. The components of the radiation budget were obtained by using a pyranometer and a pyrgeometer. Moreover, a microclimatic network to monitor air temperature and relative humidity was installed in the study area. The results show that, when the streets are less exposed to the prevailing wind direction in Lisbon (north and northwest), air temperatures are slightly higher than those found in opposite conditions. Both the temperature and the radiative balance of the facades and other surfaces (asphalt, light Portuguese sidewalk, and tile floor) respond directly to incident solar radiation. As expected, it was found that south facades have the highest temperatures of the four exposures under study (>4 °C when compared to the opposite facade), and the highest radiative balance was always registered on asphalt when compared to the sidewalk (at 9:00 a.m. + 30 W∙m−2, at 1:00 p.m. + 149 W∙m−2, and at 7:00 p.m. + 66 W∙m−2).
A Corrected Adaptive Balancing Approach of Motorized Spindle Considering Air Gap Unbalance
Authors: Fan Hongwei , Wang Jin , Shao Sijie , Jing Minqing , Liu Heng , Zhang Xuhui
Published: March 2020

Motorized spindles widely used for high-speed precision machine tools are very sensitive to the mass unbalance of rotors; thus, their balancing problem is always a research hotspot. Although many significant studies were done regarding the theory and application of various rotor balancing technologies for motorized spindles, the particularity of motorized spindles is not carefully considered in the existing balancing approaches. When the rotor unbalance of a motorized spindle occurs in operation, it is subject to both the mass unbalance-induced inertia force and air gap unbalance-induced electromagnetic force, which is an important feature that distinguishes the motorized spindle from a mechanical spindle. This paper describes an investigation into the corrected adaptive balancing approach of a motorized spindle by newly introducing a coefficient representing the removing effect of the air gap unbalance of the motor on the balancing capacity into the balancing formula. The determination of the newly defined coefficient refers to the calculation of electromagnetic force caused by the dynamic air gap eccentricity of motor; thus, much attention is paid to the analytical derivation of the unbalanced magnetic pull (UMP). Finally, a motorized spindle with an electromagnetic ring balancer was developed; then, the balancing tests and vibration signal analysis were done to validate the effectiveness of the newly proposed balancing approach in residual vibration reduction. It can be seen from the test results under different cases that the proposed balancing approach is effective.
The Role of Nicotinamide in Cancer Chemoprevention and Therapy
Authors: Nikas Ilias P. , Paschou Stavroula A. , Ryu Han Suk
Published: March 2020

Nicotinamide (NAM) is a water-soluble form of Vitamin B3 (niacin) and a precursor of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) which regulates cellular energy metabolism. Except for its role in the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), NAD+ acts as a substrate for several enzymes including sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and poly ADP-ribose polymerase 1 (PARP1). Notably, NAM is an inhibitor of both SIRT1 and PARP1. Accumulating evidence suggests that NAM plays a role in cancer prevention and therapy. Phase III clinical trials have confirmed its clinical efficacy for non-melanoma skin cancer chemoprevention or as an adjunct to radiotherapy against head and neck, laryngeal, and urinary bladder cancers. Evidence for other cancers has mostly been collected through preclinical research and, in its majority, is not yet evidence-based. NAM has potential as a safe, well-tolerated, and cost-effective agent to be used in cancer chemoprevention and therapy. However, more preclinical studies and clinical trials are needed to fully unravel its value.
Ginsenoside Compound K Induces Adult Hippocampal Proliferation and Survival of Newly Generated Cells in Young and Elderly Mice
Authors: Oh Jung-Mi , Jeong Jae Hoon , Park Sun Young , Chun Sungkun
Published: March 2020

Cognitive impairment can be associated with reduced adult hippocampal neurogenesis, and it may contribute to age-associated neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s (AD). Compound K (CK) is produced from the protopanaxadiol (PPD)-type ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, and Rc by intestinal microbial conversion. Although CK has been reported as an inducing effector for neuroprotection and improved cognition in hippocampus, its effect on adult neurogenesis has not been explored yet. Here, we investigated the effect of CK on hippocampal neurogenesis in both young (2 months) and elderly (24 months) mice. CK treatment increased the number of cells co-labeled with 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA); also, Ki67, specific markers for progenitor cells, was more expressed, thus enhancing the generation of new cells and progenitor cells in the dentate gyrus of both young and elderly mice. Moreover, CK treatment increased the number of cells co-labeled with EdU and NeuN, a specific marker for mature neuron in the dentate gyrus, suggesting that newly generated cells survived and differentiated into mature neurons at both ages. These findings demonstrate that CK increases adult hippocampal neurogenesis, which may be beneficial against neurodegenerative disorders such as AD.
Notch3 in Development, Health and Disease
Authors: Hosseini-Alghaderi Samira , Baron Martin
Published: March 2020

Notch3 is one of four mammalian Notch proteins, which act as signalling receptors to control cell fate in many developmental and adult tissue contexts. Notch signalling continues to be important in the adult organism for tissue maintenance and renewal and mis-regulation of Notch is involved in many diseases. Genetic studies have shown that Notch3 gene knockouts are viable and have limited developmental defects, focussed mostly on defects in the arterial smooth muscle cell lineage. Additional studies have revealed overlapping roles for Notch3 with other Notch proteins, which widen the range of developmental functions. In the adult, Notch3, in collaboration with other Notch proteins, is involved in stem cell regulation in different tissues in stem cell regulation in different tissues, and it also controls the plasticity of the vascular smooth muscle phenotype involved in arterial vessel remodelling. Overexpression, gene amplification and mis-activation of Notch3 are associated with different cancers, in particular triple negative breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Mutations of Notch3 are associated with a dominantly inherited disease CADASIL (cerebral autosomal-dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy), and there is further evidence linking Notch3 misregulation to hypertensive disease. Here we discuss the distinctive roles of Notch3 in development, health and disease, different views as to the underlying mechanisms of its activation and misregulation in different contexts and potential for therapeutic intervention.