bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anestesi Tumescent di Bidang Dermatologi
Authors: Trisnarizki Leonardo , Soenardi Ancella , Julianto Indah , Mochtar Moerbono , Dharmawan Nugrohoaji
Published: May 2019

Anestesi tumescent adalah anestesi lokal dengan cara infiltrasi lidokain dan epinefrin yang diencerkansehingga area pembedahan menjadi sembab, tegang, dan bengkak. Pada awalnya anestesi ini dikembangkanuntuk bedah sedot lemak yang terdiri dari 4 komponen utama yaitu zat anestesi, epinefrin, larutan fisiologisnatrirum klorida 0,9% dan Natrium bikarbonat. Dengan anestesi ini dosis lidokain dapat ditingkatkan beberapakali lipat sampai dengan 35mg/kg dari dosis maksimal sebelumnya yaitu 5mg/kg sehingga didapatkan areatindakan yang lebih luas. Selain itu didapatkan area operasi yang bersih karena perdarahan minimal, keamananyang tinggi, risiko infeksi yang rendah, pasien dalam kondisi sadar sehingga memungkinkan perubahanposisi pasien intraoperasi, serta efek hidrodiseksi jaringan yang memudahkan penyedotan lemak. Keuntunganlain cara anestesi ini yaitu mencegah kehilangan serta menjaga keseimbangan cairan tubuh karena normalsalin yang digunakan sebagai pengencer dapat sebagai hidrasi pasca-operasi. Anestesi ini dapat digunakanpada berbagai tindakan non dermatologi maupun dermatologi yaitu pada bedah sedot lemak, dermabrasi,kuretase kelenjar minyak aksila pada bromhidrosis, eksisi tumor, blok anastesi, dan beberapa tindakan lainnya.Kata kunci: anestesi, tumescent, bedah sedot lemak.
Peran Radiasi Pada Tata Laksana Keloid
Authors: Gozal Fenny , Sekarutami Sri Mutya
Published: May 2019

Keloid merupakan salah satu lesi jinak pada kulit yang timbul akibat respons penyembuhan luka yangabnormal. Meskipun bersifat jinak, namun keloid dapat menimbulkan gejala klinis yang mengganggu. Terdapatbanyak pilihan terapi untuk keloid yang bersifat invasif maupun non-invasif. Pembedahan merupakan modalitasinvasif yang paling umum digunakan, meskipun angka rekurensi pasca terapi tunggal dengan pembedahandinilai cukup tinggi yakni mencapai 50-100% dalam 5 tahun. Radioterapi dapat dilakukan sebagai monoterapimaupun sebagai terapi adjuvan pasca bedah dalam tata laksana keloid. Terapi keloid dengan pembedahandiikuti dengan radiasi menghasilkan angka rekurensi kurang dari 10% pada 1 tahun pertama pascaterapi.Radioterapi yang dilakukan dapat berupa brakiterapi maupun radiasi eksterna. Radiasi dapat menurunkanproliferasi fibroblas dan sel endotel yang selanjutnya mengurangi produksi kolagen. Radioterapi pascabedahdianjurkan untuk dimulai dalam waktu kurang dari 48 jam dengan total dosis yang masih menjadi perdebatan.Kaitan antara dosis dan efek radiasi dengan biologically equivalent dose (BED) menjadi dasar pembuatanpedoman. BED lebih dari 30 Gy dianggap efektif untuk menurunkan angka rekurensi keloid.Kata kunci: keloid, terapi, pascabedah, radiasi, rekurensi
Genetic Diversity of Lowbush Blueberry throughout the United States in Managed and Non-Managed Populations
Authors: Beers Lee , Rowland Lisa J. , Drummond Francis
Published: May 2019

Expressed sequenced tagged-polymerase chain reaction (EST-PCR) molecular markers were used to evaluate the genetic diversity of lowbush blueberry across its geographic range and to compare diversity among four paired managed/non-managed populations. Seventeen populations were sampled in a north–south transect throughout the eastern United States with 27 km to 1600 km separating populations. The majority of genetic variation was found within populations (75%) with each population genetically unique (p ≤ 0.0001) with the exception of the Jonesboro, ME, and Lubec, ME, populations. The effects of management for commercial fruit harvesting on genetic diversity were investigated in four locations in Maine with paired managed and non-managed populations. Significant differences were found between the populations indicating that commercial management for fruit production influences the diversity of lowbush blueberries in the landscape, even though planting does not occur. Forests are harvested and the existing understory blueberry plants become established.
Protective Effects of Selenium on Wheat Seedlings under Salt Stress
Authors: Lan Chiu-Yueh , Lin Kuan-Hung , Huang Wen-Dar , Chen Chang-Chang
Published: May 2019

Wheat is a staple food worldwide, but its productivity is reduced by salt stress. In this study, the mitigative effects of 22 μM selenium (Se) on seedlings of the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar Taichung SEL. 2 were investigated under different salt stress levels (0, 100, 200, 300, and 400 mM NaCl). Results of the antioxidative capacity showed that catalase (CAT) activity, non-enzymatic antioxidants (total phenols, total flavonoids, and anthocyanins), 1,1-Diphenyl-2-Picryl-Hydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity, and the reducing power of Se-treated seedlings were enhanced under saline conditions. The more-stabilized chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (maximal quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), minimal chlorophyll fluorescence (F0), effective quantum yield of photosystem II (ΦPSII), quantum yield of regulated energy dissipation of photosystem II (Y(NPQ)), and quantum yield of non-regulated energy dissipation of photosystem II (Y(NO)) and the less-extensive degradation of photosynthetic pigments (total chlorophyll and carotenoids) in Se-treated seedlings were also observed under salt stress. The elongation of shoots and roots of Se-treated seedling was also preserved under salt stress. Protection of these physiological traits in Se-treated seedlings might have contributed to stable growth observed under salt stress. The present study showed the protective effect of Se on the growth and physiological traits of wheat seedlings under salt stress.
Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) Productivity and Raw Material Quality from Organic Cultivation
Authors: Bączek Katarzyna , Kosakowska Olga , Gniewosz Małgorzata , Gientka Iwona , Węglarz Zenon
Published: May 2019

Sweet basil is one of the most important culinary herbs. Currently, its production is carried out mainly in accordance with conventional agriculture. However, its cultivation in organic systems seems to be better adjusted to consumer demands connected with the lack of pesticide residues in foods and their safety. In the present study, two methods of basil cultivation in organic farming system were applied, i.e., in the open air and under foil tunnels. During the experiment, in central European climatic conditions, it was possible to obtain four successive cuts of herb. The herb was subjected to chemical analysis, including determination of the content of essential oil, phenolic compounds, and chlorophylls. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and flame ionization detector (GC-FID) analysis of the essential oil was performed, whereas the fresh herb was subjected to sensory analysis. The cumulative mass of fresh herb was distinctly higher in the cultivation under foil tunnels (44.7 kg∙10 m−2) in comparison to the open field (24.7 kg∙10 m−2). The content of essential oil, flavonoids, and phenolic acids was also higher in the raw material collected from plants grown under foil tunnels (0.81, 0.36, and 0.78 g·100g−1 DW, respectively) than from the open field (0.48, 0.29, and 0.59g·100g−1 DW, respectively). In turn, the dominant compound of the essential oil, i.e., linalool, was present in higher amounts in the essential oil obtained from plants cultivated in the open field. The sensory and microbiological quality of herb was comparable for both methods of cultivation. The obtained results indicate that, in central European climatic conditions, it is possible to obtain good-quality yield of basil herb. However, for its better productivity, it seems that cultivation under foil tunnels is preferable.
Expression Analysis of IZUMO1 Gene during Testicular Development of Datong Yak (Bos Grunniens)
Authors: Kalwar Qudratullah , Ding Xuezhi , Ahmad Anum Ali , Chu Min , Wu Xiaoyun , Bao Pengjia , Yan Ping
Published: May 2019

The IZUMO1 gene has promising benefits for the national development of novel non-hormonal contraceptives and in the treatments of fertility. Understanding the function of IZUMO1, its mRNA, and protein expression is critical to gain insight into spermatogenesis and promote sperm-egg fusion during reproduction of Datong yak. Therefore, we estimated the IZUMO1 gene expression in different ages of Datong yak by using semi quantitative PCR, qPCR, and western blotting. The results of the qPCR, semi-quantitative PCR and western blotting revealed that the expression level of IZUMO1 mRNA was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the testis of 30 months and 6 years old followed by 18 and 6 months old Datong yak, respectively. We also predicted secondary and tertiary protein structure of IZUMO1 by using bioinformatics software that the revealed presence of a signal peptide, Izumo domain, immunoglobulin (Ig) like domain, and transmembrane region. Moreover, immunostaining analysis also elucidated that IZUMO1 was more prominent in the testis of 30 months and 6 years old yak, which represented that the IZUMO1 gene expression might be higher during the peak breeding ages (6 to 7 years) of the yak, and play a potential role in spermatogenesis, fertility, and testicular development.
Kinetics and Thermodynamics of Efficient Phosphorus Removal by a Composite Fiber
Authors: Liu Yan , Hu Xiao
Published: May 2019

In the current study, we investigated the kinetics and thermodynamics of phosphorus removal by zeolite/steel slag/fly ash/basalt (ZSFB) composite fiber. Kinetic analysis indicated that the adsorption of phosphorus is best fitted with the pseudo-second-order model. The maximum adsorption capacity of the fiber calculated by the Langmuir model was found to be 4.18 mg/g and the partition coefficient was 1.49 mg/g/µM. Thermodynamics results revealed that the Gibbs free energy ΔG0 of the composite fiber was negative, indicating that the adsorption is a spontaneous process; the standard enthalpy of reaction ΔH0 was positive, indicating that the adsorption is endothermic. Adsorption under different influencing factors and desorption experiments were conducted to investigate the phosphorus removal characteristics of ZSFB composite fiber. Dynamic adsorption and the phosphorus removal experiment were also conducted in a fixed-bed reactor to study factors affecting the time of breakthrough. Results indicate that the performance of ZSFB composite fiber was not relatively outstanding compared with nanomaterials and magnetic composites. However, its performance has already met the class A demands of “discharge standard of pollutants for municipal wastewater treatment plant” (GB18918-2002) which means it can be applied to remove phosphorus from real wastewater in a cost-effective way with low-priced raw materials.
Longitudinal Displacement Behavior and Girder End Reliability of a Jointless Steel-Truss Arch Railway Bridge during Operation
Authors: Zhao Hanwei , Ding Youliang , Nagarajaiah Satish , Li Aiqun
Published: May 2019

The long length and complex service load form conflicts with the low limits of longitudinal and transverse displacements of jointless bridge design. The longitudinal displacements of the Nanjing Dashengguan Yangtze River Bridge, a jointless steel-truss arch railway bridge, and its girder end reliability are investigated in this article. The time–frequency characteristics of the longitudinal displacements of bearings and expansion joints are analyzed using the empirical wavelet transform. The long-term characteristics of the longitudinal displacements of bearings and expansion joints in the operation period are explored. Furthermore, the relative transverse displacements of the bridge girder end are calculated using longitudinal displacement monitoring data. The mechanical behaviors of the expansion device under relative transverse displacements are studied. The reliability of expansion devices and crossing trains under the effects of relative transverse displacements is studied using kernel density estimation. The main results demonstrate that: (1) The longitudinal displacements of bearings and expansion joints are mainly influenced by environmental temperature. (2) The maximum relative transverse displacement of the expansion joint is close to 1 mm in long-term bridge operation, with the transverse rail deflection at the expansion device approaching 1 mm, which reduces the stability of cross high-speed trains.
Enhancing Absorption Bandwidth through Vertically Oriented Metamaterials
Authors: Pung Aaron J. , Goldflam Michael D. , Burckel D. Bruce , Brener Igal , Sinclair Michael B. , Campione Salvatore
Published: May 2019

Metamaterials research has developed perfect absorbers from microwave to optical frequencies, mainly featuring planar metamaterials, also referred to as metasurfaces. In this study, we investigated vertically oriented metamaterials, which make use of the entire three-dimensional space, as a new avenue to widen the spectral absorption band in the infrared regime between 20 and 40 THz. Vertically oriented metamaterials, such as those simulated in this work, can be experimentally realized through membrane projection lithography, which allows a single unit cell to be decorated with multiple resonators by exploiting the vertical dimension. In particular, we analyzed the cases of a unit cell containing a single vertical split-ring resonator (VSRR), a single planar split-ring resonator (PSRR), and both a VSRR and PSRR to explore intra-cell coupling between resonators. We show that the additional degrees of freedom enabled by placing multiple resonators in a unit cell lead to novel ways of achieving omnidirectional super absorption. Our results provide an innovative approach for controlling and designing engineered nanostructures.
Bio-Inspired Aerodynamic Noise Control: A Bibliographic Review
Authors: Wang Yong , Zhao Kun , Lu Xiang-Yu , Song Yu-Bao , Bennett Gareth J.
Published: May 2019

It is well-known that many species of owl have the unique ability to fly silently, which can be attributed to their distinctive and special feather adaptations. Inspired by the owls, researchers attempted to reduce the aerodynamic noise of aircraft and other structures by learning their noise reduction features from different viewpoints and then using the gained knowledge to develop a number of innovative noise reduction solutions. Although fruitful results have been achieved in the bio-inspired aerodynamic noise control, as far as the authors know, comparatively little work has been done to summarize the main findings and progresses in this area. In this bibliographic survey, we systematically review the progresses and trends of the bio-inspired aerodynamic noise control, including the macroscopic and microscopic morphological characteristics of the owl wing feathers, the noise measurements on both flying birds in the field and prepared wings in the wind tunnel, as well as theoretical, numerical and experimental studies that explored the feasibility, parameter influence, aerodynamic effects and underlying mechanisms of the four main bio-inspired noise reduction techniques, i.e., leading edge serrations, trailing edge serrations, fringe-type trailing edge extensions and porous material inspired noise reduction. Finally, we also give some suggestions for future work.
Real Time Shadow Mapping for Augmented Reality Photorealistic Rendering
Authors: Osti Francesco , Santi Gian Maria , Caligiana Gianni
Published: May 2019

In this paper, we present a solution for the photorealistic ambient light render of holograms into dynamic real scenes, in augmented reality applications. Based on Microsoft HoloLens, we achieved this result with an Image Base Lighting (IBL) approach. The real-time image capturing that has been designed is able to automatically locate and position directional lights providing the right illumination to the holograms. We also implemented a negative “shadow drawing” shader that contributes to the final photorealistic and immersive effect of holograms in real life. The main focus of this research was to achieve a superior photorealism through the combination of real-time lights placement and negative “shadow drawing” shader. The solution was evaluated in various Augmented Reality case studies, from classical ones (using Vuforia Toolkit) to innovative applications (using HoloLens).
Application of Extension Neural Network with Discrete Wavelet Transform and Parseval’s Theorem for Power Quality Analysis
Authors: Lu Shiue-Der , Sian Hong-Wei , Wang Meng-Hui , Liao Rui-Min
Published: May 2019

The development of renewable energy and the increase of intermittent fluctuating loads have affected the power quality of power systems, and in the long run, damage the power equipment. In order to effectively analyze the quality of power signals, this paper proposes a method of signal feature capture and fault identification, as based on the extension neural network (ENN) algorithm combined with discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and Parseval’s theorem. First, the original power quality disturbance (PQD) transient signal was subjected to DWT, and its spectrum energy was calculated for each order of wavelet coefficients through Parseval’s theorem, in order to effectively intercept the eigenvalues of the original signal. Based on the features, the extension neural algorithm was used to establish a matter-element model of power quality disturbance identification. In addition, the correlation degree between the identification data and disturbance types was calculated to accurately identify the types of power failure. To verify the accuracy of the proposed method, five common power quality disturbances were analyzed, including voltage sag, voltage swell, power interruption, voltage flicker, and power harmonics. The results were then compared with those obtained from the back-propagation network (BPN), probabilistic neural network (PNN), extension method and a learning vector quantization network (LVQ). The results showed that the proposed method has shorter computation time (0.06 s), as well as higher identification accuracy at 99.62%, which is higher than the accuracy rates of the other four types.
Development of A Loss Minimization Based Operation Strategy for Embedded BTB VSC HVDC
Authors: Lee Jaehyeong , Yoon Minhan , Hwang Sungchul , Jeong Soseul , Jung Seungmin , Jang Gilsoo
Published: May 2019

Recently, there have been many cases in which direct current (DC) facilities have been placed in alternating current (AC) systems for various reasons. In particular, in Korea, studies are being conducted to install a back-to-back (BTB) voltage-sourced converter (VSC) high-voltage direct current (HVDC) to solve the fault current problem of the meshed system, and discussions on how to operate it have been made accordingly. It is possible to provide grid services such as minimizing grid loss by changing the HVDC operating point, but it also may violate reliability standards without proper HVDC operation according to the system condition. Especially, unlike the AC system, DC may adversely affect the AC system because the operating point does not change even after a disturbance has occurred, so strategies to change the operating point after the contingency are required. In this paper, a method for finding the operating point of embedded HVDC that minimizes losses within the range of compliance with the reliability criterion is proposed. We use the Power Transfer Distribution Factor (PTDF) to reduce the number of buses to be monitored during HVDC control, reduce unnecessary checks, and determine the setpoints for the active/reactive power of the HVDC through system total loss minimization (STLM) control to search for the minimum loss point using Powell’s direct set. We also propose an algorithm to search for the operating point that minimizes the loss automatically and solves the overload occurring in an emergency through security-constrained loss minimization (SCLM) control. To verify the feasibility of the algorithm, we conducted a case study using an actual Korean power system and verified the effect of systematic loss reduction and overload relief in a contingency. The simulations are conducted by a commercial power system analysis tool, Power System Simulator for Engineering (PSS/E).
Research on Application of Uplift-Restricted Slip-Permitted (URSP) Connectors in Steel-Concrete Composite Frames
Authors: Duan Linli , Nie Xin , Ding Ran , Zhuang Liangdong
Published: May 2019

Tensile stresses and cracks in concrete slabs induced by a hogging moment have always been a disadvantage of steel-concrete composite structures and key issue of concern in the design of such structures. To reduce the tensile stress and control the crack width of the reinforced concrete (RC) slab, a new type of connector, called the uplift-restricted and slip-permitted (URSP) connector has been proposed and successfully applied in the area subjected to a negative bending moment in steel-concrete composite bridges. The feasibility of the URSP connector in steel-concrete composite frame buildings is investigated in this study based on a comprehensive parametric analysis. The effects of URSP connectors on the cracking behavior, as well as the stiffness and strength of composite frames, are systematically analyzed using an elaborate finite element model, which resembles a typical composite beam-column joint subjected to both lateral loads and vertical loads. In addition, an optimized arrangement length of URSP connectors is proposed for practical design. The research findings indicate that the application of URSP connectors greatly improves the crack resistance of RC slabs without an obvious reduction of the ultimate capacity and lateral stiffness of the composite frame. It is recommended that the distribution length of URSP connectors at each beam end should be 20–25% of the frame beam length.
A Novel Neural Network-Based Method for Decoding and Detecting of the DS8-PSK Scheme in an OCC System
Authors: Pham Tung Lam , Nguyen Huy , Nguyen Trang , Jang Yeong Min
Published: May 2019

This paper proposes a novel method of training and applying a neural network to act as an adaptive decoder for a modulation scheme used in optical camera communication (OCC). We present a brief discussion on trending artificial intelligence applications, the contemporary ways of applying them in a wireless communication field, such as visible light communication (VLC), optical wireless communication (OWC) and OCC, and its potential contribution in the development of this research area. Furthermore, we proposed an OCC vehicular system architecture with artificial intelligence (AI) functionalities, where dimmable spatial 8-phase shift keying (DS8-PSK) is employed as one out of two modulation schemes to form a hybrid waveform. Further demonstration of simulating the blurring process on a transmitter image, as well as our proposed method of using a neural network as a decoder for DS8-PSK, is provided in detail. Finally, experimental results are given to prove the effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed method over an investigating channel condition.
Spatial Dimensions in Roman Wall Painting and the Interplay of Enclosing and Enclosed Space: A New Perspective on Second Style
Authors: Dietrich Nikolaus
Published: May 2019

This article engages with the interplay of two-dimensional and three-dimensional wall decoration in Roman wall decoration of the so-called four Pompeian styles. Instead of describing the rapid changes in the use (or non-use) of techniques for creating perspectival depth in August Mau’s four styles within an autonomous development of decorative principles, either favoring surface over depth, or vice versa, this article will discuss the imaginary space/surface on the walls in relation to the ‘real’ space enclosed by the decorated walls and—foremost—their inhabitants as the actual referent of the decoration. The discussion will focus on second-style wall decoration, with glimpses on the earlier first and later third and fourth styles in a final section.
Flavin Oxidase-Induced ROS Generation Modulates PKC Biphasic Effect of Resveratrol on Endothelial Cell Survival
Authors: Posadino Anna Maria , Giordo Roberta , Cossu Annalisa , Nasrallah Gheyath K. , Shaito Abdullah , Abou-Saleh Haissam , Eid Ali H. , Pintus Gianfranco
Published: May 2019

Background: Dietary intake of natural antioxidants is thought to impart protection against oxidative-associated cardiovascular diseases. Despite many in vivo studies and clinical trials, this issue has not been conclusively resolved. Resveratrol (RES) is one of the most extensively studied dietary polyphenolic antioxidants. Paradoxically, we have previously demonstrated that high RES concentrations exert a pro-oxidant effect eventually elevating ROS levels leading to cell death. Here, we further elucidate the molecular determinants underpinning RES-induced oxidative cell death. Methods: Using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), the effect of increasing concentrations of RES on DNA synthesis and apoptosis was studied. In addition, mRNA and protein levels of cell survival or apoptosis genes, as well as protein kinase C (PKC) activity were determined. Results: While high concentrations of RES reduce PKC activity, inhibit DNA synthesis and induce apoptosis, low RES concentrations elicit an opposite effect. This biphasic concentration-dependent effect (BCDE) of RES on PKC activity is mirrored at the molecular level. Indeed, high RES concentrations upregulate the proapoptotic Bax, while downregulating the antiapoptotic Bcl-2, at both mRNA and protein levels. Similarly, high RES concentrations downregulate the cell cycle progression genes, c-myc, ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and cyclin D1 protein levels, while low RES concentrations display an increasing trend. The BCDE of RES on PKC activity is abrogated by the ROS scavenger Tempol, indicating that this enzyme acts downstream of the RES-elicited ROS signaling. The RES-induced BCDE on HUVEC cell cycle machinery was also blunted by the flavin inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), implicating flavin oxidase-generated ROS as the mechanistic link in the cellular response to different RES concentrations. Finally, PKC inhibition abrogates the BCDE elicited by RES on both cell cycle progression and pro-apoptotic gene expression in HUVECs, mechanistically implicating PKC in the cellular response to different RES concentrations. Conclusions: Our results provide new molecular insight into the impact of RES on endothelial function/dysfunction, further confirming that obtaining an optimal benefit of RES is concentration-dependent. Importantly, the BCDE of RES could explain why other studies failed to establish the cardio-protective effects mediated by natural antioxidants, thus providing a guide for future investigation looking at cardio-protection by natural antioxidants.
Graphene Oxide-Based Nanostructured DNA Sensor
Authors: Balaji Aditya , Yang Songlin , Wang Jeslyn , Zhang Jin
Published: May 2019

Quick detection of DNA sequence is vital for many fields, especially, early-stage diagnosis. Here, we develop a graphene oxide-based fluorescence quenching sensor to quickly and accurately detect small amounts of a single strand of DNA. In this paper, fluorescent magnetic nanoparticles (FMNPs) modified with target DNA sequence (DNA-t) were bound onto the modified graphene oxide acting as the fluorescence quenching element. FMNPs are made of iron oxide (Fe3O4) core and fluorescent silica (SiO2) shell. The average particle size of FMNPs was 74 ± 6 nm and the average thickness of the silica shell, estimated from TEM results, was 30 ± 4 nm. The photoluminescence and magnetic properties of FMNPs have been investigated. Target oligonucleotide (DNA-t) was conjugated onto FMNPs through glutaraldehyde crosslinking. Meanwhile, graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets were produced by a modified Hummers method. A complementary oligonucleotide (DNA-c) was designed to interact with GO. In the presence of GO-modified with DNA-c, the fluorescence intensity of FMNPs modified with DNA-t was quenched through a FRET quenching mechanism. Our study indicates that FMNPs can not only act as a FRET donor, but also enhance the sensor accuracy by magnetically separating the sensing system from free DNA and non-hybridized GO. Results indicate that this sensing system is ideal to detect small amounts of DNA-t with limitation detection at 0.12 µM.
Embodied Energy and CO2 Emissions of Widely Used Building Materials: The Ethiopian Context
Authors: Taffese Woubishet Zewdu , Abegaz Kassahun Admassu
Published: May 2019

Buildings use a wide range of construction materials, and the manufacturing of each material consumes energy and emits CO2. Several studies have already been conducted to evaluate the embodied energy and the related CO2 emissions of building materials, which are mainly based on case studies from developed countries. There is a considerable gap in cases of developing countries regarding assessment of embodied energy and CO2 emissions of these building materials. This study identified the top five most used construction materials (cement, sand, coarse aggregates, hollow concrete blocks, and reinforcement bars), which are also prime sources of waste generation during construction in the Ethiopian building construction sector. Then, what followed was the evaluation of the embodied energies and CO2 emissions of these materials by examining five commercial and public buildings within the cradle-to-site lifecycle boundary. The evaluation results demonstrated that cement, hollow concrete blocks (HCB), and reinforcement bars (rebars) are the major consumers of energy and major CO2 emitters. Cumulatively, they were responsible for 94% of the embodied energy and 98% of the CO2 emissions. The waste part of the construction materials has inflated the embodied energy and the subsequent CO2 emissions considerably. The study also recommended several strategies for the reduction of embodied energy and the related CO2 emissions. The research delivers critical insights into embodied energy and CO2 emissions of the five most used building materials in the Ethiopian construction industry, as there are no prior studies on this theme. This might be a cause to arouse awareness and interest among the policy makers and the wider public to clearly understand the importance of research on this crucial issue to develop national energy and CO2 descriptors for construction materials, in order to take care of our naturally endowed, but yet fragile, human habitat.
Numerical Analysis of the Creep and Shrinkage Experienced in the Sydney Opera House and the Rise of Digital Twin as Future Monitoring Technology
Authors: Tahmasebinia Faham , Fogerty Daniel , Wu Lang Oliver , Li Zhichao , Sepasgozar Saleh Mohammad Ebrahimzadeh , Zhang Kai , Sepasgozar Samad , Marroquin Fernando Alonso
Published: May 2019

This paper presents a preliminary finite element model in Strand7 software to analyse creep and shrinkage effects on the prestressed concrete ribs of the Sydney Opera House as remarkable heritage. A linear static analysis was performed to investigate the instantaneous impacts of dead and wind loads on the complex concrete structure which was completed in 1973. A quasistatic analysis was performed to predict the effects of creep and shrinkage due to dead load on the structure in 2050 to discern its longevity. In 2050, the Sydney Opera House is expected to experience 0.090% element strain due to creep and shrinkage and therefore suffer prestress losses of 32.59 kN per strand. However, given that the current time after prestress loading is approximately 50 years, the majority of creep and shrinkage effects have already taken place with 0.088% strain and 32.12 kN of prestress losses. The analysis concludes that very minor structural impacts are expected over the next 30 years due to creep and shrinkage, suggesting a change in conservation focus from large structural concerns to inspection and maintenance of minor issues of surface cracking and water ingress. The analysis is the first step in the application of more complex finite element modelling of the structure with the integration of complex building information models. The main motivation to undertake the current numerical simulation is to determine a cost-effective solution when it comes to the long-term time-dependent analysis. The paper also will suggest future directions for monitoring unique historical buildings, including ‘digital twin’.
Pharmacogenetic-Based Interactions between Nutraceuticals and Angiogenesis Inhibitors
Authors: Di Francia Raffaele , Berretta Massimiliano , Benincasa Giulio , D’Avino Alfredo , Facchini Sergio , Costagliola Domenico , Rossi Paola
Published: May 2019

Background: Angiogenesis inhibitors (AIs) have become established as an effective cancer treatment. Whereas their interactions with antineoplastic drugs have extensively been investigated, little is known of the effect of their co-administration with nutraceuticals/dietary supplements (N/DSs), which are often self-prescribed. N/DSs comprise a wide range of products such as herbs, nutrients, vitamins, minerals, and probiotics. Assessment of their interactions with cancer drugs, particularly AIs, is hampered by the difficulty of gauging the amount of active substances patients actually take. Moreover, there is no agreement on which approach should be used to determine which N/DSs are most likely to influence AI treatment efficacy. We present a comprehensive review of the metabolic routes of the major AIs and their possible interactions with N/DSs. Methods: The PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched for papers describing the metabolic routes of the main AIs and N/DSs. Results: Data from the 133 studies thus identified were used to compile a diagnostic table reporting known and expected AI-N/DS interactions based on their metabolization pathways. AIs and N/DSs sharing the cytochrome P450 pathway are at risk of negative interactions. Conclusions: Recent advances in pharmacogenetics offer exceptional opportunities to identify prognostic and predictive markers to enhance the efficacy of individualized AI treatments. The table provides a guide to genotyping patients who are due to receive AIs and is a promising tool to prevent occult AI-N/DS interactions in poor metabolizers. N/DS use by cancer patients receiving AIs is a topical problem requiring urgent attention from the scientific community.
Effects of Selective Laser Modification and Al Deposition on the Hot Corrosion Resistance of Ceria and Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Thermal Barrier Coatings
Authors: Zhang Panpan , Zhang Xiaofeng , Li Fuhai , Zhang Zhihui , Li Hong , Wang Yueliang , Ren Luquan , Liu Min
Published: May 2019

The air-plasma-sprayed ceria and yttria-stabilized zirconia (CYSZ) coating was modified by selective laser remelting and Al deposition to enhance hot corrosion resistance. The dotted coating was obtained after selective laser remelting. Magnetron sputtering was used to deposit an Al film on the dotted coating, and a vacuum heat treatment was subsequently performed to produce a dense α-Al2O3 overlay. Hot corrosion behavior of the following three types of coatings was investigated: plasma-sprayed, dotted, and dotted coatings combined with Al deposition (DA). Hot corrosion behaviors were evaluated in a mixture of 55 wt % V2O5 and 45 wt % Na2SO4 molten salts at 1000 °C for 30 h. The hot corrosion reaction between molten salts and zirconia stabilizers (Y2O3 and CeO2) led to the generation of monoclinic zirconia, YVO4, and CeVO4 plate-shaped crystals, and the mineralization of CeO2. The results indicated that the hot corrosion resistance of the DA coating was the best, and the dotted coating had superior hot corrosion resistance in comparison with the plasma-sprayed coating. The minimal surface roughness and dense dotted units improved the hot corrosion resistance of the dotted coating. The dense α-Al2O3 overlay with chemical inertness effectively inhibited the infiltration of molten salts, which led to the optimal hot corrosion resistance of the DA coating.
Calcium Carbonate Mineralization in a Surface-Tension-Confined Droplets Array
Authors: He Zhong , Xia Zengzilu , Zhang Mengying , Wu Jinbo , Wen Weijia
Published: May 2019

Calcium carbonate biomimetic crystallization remains a topic of interest with respect to biomineralization areas in recent research. It is not easy to conduct high-throughput experiments with only a few macromolecule reagents using conventional experimental methods. However, the emergence of microdroplet array technology provides the possibility to solve these issues efficiently. In this article, surface-tension-confined droplet arrays were used to fabricate calcium carbonate. It was found that calcium carbonate crystallization can be conducted in surface-tension-confined droplets. Defects were found on the surface of some crystals, which were caused by liquid flow inside the droplet and the rapid drop in droplet height during the evaporation. The diameter and number of crystals were related to the droplet diameter. Polyacrylic acid (PAA), added as a modified organic molecule control, changed the CaCO3 morphology from calcite to vaterite. The material products of the above experiments were compared with bulk-synthesized calcium carbonate by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy and other characterization methods. Our work proves the possibility of performing biomimetic crystallization and biomineralization experiments on surface-tension-confined microdroplet arrays.
Cross-Shelf Variation Among Juvenile and Adult Coral Assemblages on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef
Authors: Jonker Michelle J. , Thompson Angus A. , Menéndez Patricia , Osborne Kate
Published: May 2019

Coral reefs are under increasing pressure from a variety of stressors, highlighting the need for information about the status of coral reef communities including the distribution, abundance and composition of juvenile and adult coral assemblages. This information is currently limited for the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and is necessary for understanding the impacts of disturbances and the system’s potential for recovery. This study reports juvenile and adult hard coral abundance and composition from 122 reefs on the GBR during a period of limited acute disturbance. The data represent baseline observations for juvenile hard coral assemblages spanning the longitudinal cross-shelf gradient of the GBR and 12 degrees of latitude and augment reported distribution of adult coral assemblages over the same scale with inclusion of additional reefs. Juvenile and adult coral assemblages reflected broad differences imposed by the gradient of environmental conditions across the GBR. The mean density of juvenile hard corals was lower in the inshore reefs (5.51 m2) than at either the mid-shelf (11.8 m2) or outer shelf reefs (11.2 m2). The composition of juvenile and adult coral assemblages covaried overall, although there were different relationships between these two life stages across the continental shelf and among community types. Dissimilarity between juvenile and adult coral assemblages was greater on inshore and outer shelf reefs than on reefs in the mid-shelf, although, there were differences in community types both within these shelf positions and those that spanned mid- and outer shelf reefs. Dissimilarity was greatest for Inshore branching Acropora and high for Southern Acropora communities, although very high coral cover and very low juvenile densities at these reefs precluded interpretation beyond the clear competitive dominance of Acropora on those reefs. Dissimilarity was also high between juvenile and adult coral assemblages of Turbid inshore communities suggesting water quality pressures, along with synergistic effects of other stressors, pose ongoing selective pressures beyond the juvenile stage. Conversely, relatively low dissimilarity between juvenile and adult coral assemblages on mid-shelf and lower latitude outer shelf reefs suggests pressures beyond those influencing settlement and early post-settlement survival were having less influence on the composition of adult coral assemblages.
Channel Length Biasing for Improving Read Margin of the 8T SRAM at Near Threshold Operation
Authors: Chang Ik Joon , Kang Yesung , Kim Youngmin
Published: May 2019

Reducing a supply voltage in order to minimize power consumption in memory is a major design consideration in this field of study. In static random access memory (SRAM), optimum energy can be achieved by reducing the voltage near the threshold voltage level for near threshold voltage computing (NTC). However, lowering the operational voltage drastically degrades the stability of SRAM. Thus, in conventional 6T SRAM, it is almost impossible to read exact data, even when a small process variation occurs. To address this problem, an 8T SRAM structure is proposed which can be widely used for improving the read stability at lower voltage operation. In this paper, we investigate the channel length biasing effect on the read access transistor of the 8T SRAM in NTC and compare this with 6T SRAM. Read stability can be improved by suppressing the leakage current due to the longer channel length. Simulation results show that, in NTC, up to a 12× read-error reduction can be achieved by the 20 nm channel length biasing in the 8T SRAM compared to 6T SRAM.
A Comprehensive Study on the Serbuoys Offshore Wind Tension Leg Platform Coupling Dynamic Response under Typical Operational Conditions
Authors: Ma Zhe , Ren Nianxin , Wang Yin , Wang Shaoxiong , Shi Wei , Zhai Gangjun
Published: May 2019

A new type of offshore wind tension leg platform (TLP) connected with a series of buoys (Serbuoys-TLP) is proposed. With the consideration of coupling effect, derivations on the stiffness of the Serbuoys-TLP mooring lines are given. The complicated coupling motion characteristics of the TLP with buoys system are investigated by means of experiments and numerical analysis. The suppressive efficiency on the surge under some condition is nearly 68%, when the wave period is the common wave period of the East China Sea (6 s). Namely, the suppressive effect of series buoys on surge motion response of TLP is analyzed. Through several aspects of suppressive effect on the surge including wave properties, submerge volume and position of buoys are investigated. The modal analysis method is also adopted to interpret the coupled motion response. In the end, the responses of TLP and Serbuoys-TLP are simulated under actual sea conditions with the consideration of wind, wave and current. Based on the parametric study using the modal analysis combined with hydrodynamic analysis, the conclusion can be drawn that the surge of TLP can be effectively suppressed by the addition of a series of buoys in the Serbuoys-TLP.
Direct Rebound Effect for Electricity Consumption of Urban Residents in China Based on the Spatial Spillover Effect
Authors: Han Ying , Shi Jianhua , Yang Yuanfan , Wang Yaxin
Published: May 2019

Based on methods of price decomposition and spatial econometrics, this paper improves the model for calculating the direct energy rebound effect employing the panel data of China’s urban residents’ electricity consumption for an empirical analysis. Results show that the global spatial correlation of urban residents’ electricity consumption has a significant positive value. The direct rebound effect and its spillover effects are 37% and 13%, respectively. Due to the spatial spillover effects, the realization of energy-saving targets in the local region depends on the implementation effect of energy efficiency policies in the surrounding areas. However, the spatial spillover effect is low, and the direct rebound effect induced by the local region is still the dominant factor affecting the implementation of energy efficiency. The direct rebound effect for urban residents’ electricity consumption eliminating the spatial spillover effect does not show a significant downward trend. The main reason is that the rapid urbanization process at the current stage has caused a rigid residents’ electricity demand and large-scale marginal consumer groups, which offsets the inhibition effect of income growth on the direct rebound effect.
Multi-Channel-Based Microgrid for Reliable Operation and Load Sharing
Authors: Elrayyah Ali , Bayhan Sertac
Published: May 2019

This paper presents a novel approach to distribute available power among critical and non-critical loads in microgrids. The approach is based on supplying power over a number of channels with distinguishable frequencies where loads could be served by these channels according to their level of importance. The multi-channel scheme not only offers flexibility to supply loads but also to share power among adjacent microgrids. The control system, which can deal with multi-channel scheme, is presented and different applications that can be offered whereby are discussed. The number of channels that can be supplied by any inverter is determined based on the parameters of the used filter. Moreover, the power exchange efficiencies over the active channels at various power levels are determined and approximated formulas for quick evaluation are presented. To verify the proposed solution performance, simulation and experimental studies were performed. The obtained results demonstrate the effectiveness of using multi-channel scheme for power exchange in microgrid and also confirm the accuracy of the provided formula related to power exchange efficiencies.
Enhancement in the Seismic Performance of a Nuclear Piping System using Multiple Tuned Mass Dampers
Authors: Kwag Shinyoung , Kwak Jinsung , Lee Hwanho , Oh Jinho , Koo Gyeong-Hoi
Published: May 2019

In a nuclear power plant, it is essential to improve the seismic safety of the piping system for the coolant transfer to cool the high temperature caused by the nuclear reaction. Under this background, this study makes two major contributions. The first is that though tuned mass dampers (TMDs) were originally used only to reduce the vibration of piping itself, through this research, it was first proved that it had a positive effect on the improvement of the seismic performance of nuclear piping systems. Additionally, this study proposed a design approach that effectively obtains the optimal design values of TMDs associated with seismic performance. In order to effectively derive the TMD optimum design values, we not only utilized the existing TMD optimum design formula, but also additionally proposed a frequency response analysis-based TMD optimal design method. As a result, it was seen that primary responses of system were significantly reduced under the input seismic load due to the use of TMDs for the piping system. It was also confirmed that the use of the existing TMD formula brought about a similar degree of response reduction effect, while it was possible to get the improved effect when using the proposed method.