bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Faktor Internal dan Eksternal Sebagai Determinan Peningkatan Penyaluran Kredit Bank Umum di Indonesia
Authors: Pratiwi Ririh Dian , Prajanto Agung
Published: March 2020

This study aims to examine whether CAR, DPK, ROA, BIRate and Economic Growth affect the increase in lending to commercial banks in Indonesia. The population used is conventional commercial banks located in Indonesia and registered with OJK. Samples were obtained by purposive sampling method, with criteria (1) Conventional Commercial Banks in Indonesia which are found in the OJK in 2015-2018, (2) Publishes its financial statements, (3) Banks of all shares owned by Indonesian citizens, (4) Banks that experience credit score increases every Quarter of 2015-2018. The data analysis method used is quantitative statistics. The analysis conducted is multiple linear regression analysis. In addition to descriptive statistical testing, in multiple linear regression contains several tests, namely the classical assumption test, testing the regression model using the Statistical F-test, and testing the hypothesis using the Statistical t-test. The results obtained are that CAR and DPK do not affect the increase in lending. While the ROA, BIRate and Economic Growth variables proved to have an effect on the increase in lending to commercial banks in Indonesia in 2015-2018.Keywords: Internal Factors; External Factors; CreditPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk menguji apakah CAR, DPK, ROA, BIRate dan Pertumbuhan Ekonomi berpengaruh terhadap Peningkatan Penyaluran Kredit pada Bank Umum di Indonesia. Populasi yang digunakan adalah Bank Umum Konvensional yang terdapat di Indonesia dan terdaftar pada OJK. Sampel diperoleh dengan metode purposive sampling, dengan kriteria (1) Bank Umum Konvensional di Indonesia yang terdapat di OJK tahun 2015-2018, (2) Mempublikasikan laporan keuangannya, (3) Bank seluruh sahamnya dimiliki Warga Negara Indonesia, (4) Bank yang mengalami kenaikan nilai kredit setiap Triwulan tahun 2015-2018. Metode analisis data yang digunakan adalah statistik kuantitatif. Analisis yang dilakukan adalah analisis regresi linier berganda. Selain pengujian statistik deskriptif, dalam regresi linier berganda memuat beberapa pengujian yaitu uji asumsi klasik, pengujian model regresi dengan menggunakan uji Statistik F, serta pengujian hipotesis dengan menggunakan uji Statistik t. Hasil penelitian yang diperoleh adalah CAR dan DPK tidak berpengaruh terhadap peningkatan penyaluran kredit. Sedangkan variabel ROA, BI Rate dan Pertumbuhan Ekonomi terbukti berpengaruh terhadap peningkatan penyaluran kredit pada Bank Umum di Indonesia tahun 2015-2018.Kata Kunci: Faktor Internal ; Faktor Eksternal; Kredit
Plato's Phaedo on Disagreement and Its Role in Epistemic Improvement
Authors: Seferoglu Tonguc
Published: March 2020

Recent studies suggest that the form and style of Plato's dialogues have significant associations with their philosophical contents. Few scholars, however, have focused on the role of disagreements in epistemic improvement within the context of Plato's Phaedo. This paper seeks to unearth a ‘theory of disagreement’ underpinning the Phaedo by examining the conversation between Socrates and his interlocutors. In doing so, I will highlight the epistemic importance of recognizing disagreements. It is shown that there is a positive relationship between the correct method of philosophical argument and epistemic modesty, which plays a crucial role in solving disagreements and facilitating epistemic improvement.
‘Dead as the wooden battleship’: The Fate of Silent British Features in the Transition to Sound
Authors: Brown Geoff
Published: March 2020

Dead as the wooden battleship, dead as the magic lantern: such were the similes used in 1929 by some in the British film industry to describe the fate of silent cinema in the new talkie era. Other voices predicted a lingering half-life. Either way, most film companies faced a common problem: what to do in 1929 with their stock of silent films which were completed but unreleased. Foregrounding the activities of British International Pictures, Gainsborough Pictures and the distributors Equity British, this article explores the aesthetic, practical and technical problems in exhibiting and sonically titivating silent product as the industry adjusted to sound technology. Topics include the problems generated by the Cinematograph Films Act 1927; the damage caused by awkwardly dubbed voices; the perils of management divisions; the re-release of older silent films; audience and critical dissatisfaction; and the output of young film-makers such as John F. Argyle, who made his last silent feature, The Final Reckoning, in September 1931. British silent cinema's death, it turns out, was neither quick nor painless.
OK for Sound? The Reception of the Talkies in Britain, 1928–32
Authors: Porter Laraine
Published: March 2020

The arrival of the talkies in Britain evoked mixed responses. While popular audiences enthusiastically embraced Hollywood musicals like the Al Jolson hit The Singing Fool (1928), the literati were often scathing of ‘mechanical’ music and dialogue. Hollywood dictated the speed of change and economics and public demand soon forced the British film industry to convert to sound, but critics, intellectuals, educators, artists, literary figures and musicians were openly hostile to the new art form, opening a chasm between popular taste and intellectual response. The cacophony of dissenting voices was joined by various official reports from bodies like the Trades Union Congress and the Federation of British Industries who predicted the deleterious effect of the talkies on everything from British jobs in manufacturing to diminishing Britain's influence across its colonies and dominions. This article will map these discourses and examine attitudes to the introduction of the talkies in Britain between 1929 and 1932 as the new technology gathered momentum across the UK and film criticism developed as a distinct discipline.
HuangqiGuizhiWuwu Decoction Prevents Vascular Dysfunction in Diabetes via Inhibition of Endothelial Arginase 1
Authors: Cheng Hong , Lu Tian , Wang Jingya , Xia Yucen , Chai Xiaoshu , Zhang Minyi , Yao Yutong , Zhou Na , Zhou Sisi , Chen Xinyi , Su Weiwei , Liu Cunzhi , Yi Wei , Chen Yongjun , Yao Lin
Published: March 2020

Hyperglycemia induces vascular endothelial dysfunction, which contributes to the development of vascular complication of diabetes. A classic prescription of traditional medicine, HuangqiGuizhiWuwu Decoction (HGWWD) has been used for the treatment of various cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, which all are related with vascular pathology. The present study investigated the effect of HGWWD treatment in streptozocin (STZ)-induced vascular dysfunction in mouse models. In vivo studies were performed using wild type mice as well as arginase 1 knockout specific in endothelial cells (EC-A1–/–) of control mice, diabetes mice and diabetes mice treated with HGWWD (60 g crude drugs/kg/d) for 2 weeks. For in vitro studies, aortic tissues were treated with mice serum containing HGWWD with or without adenoviral arginase 1 (Ad-A1) transduction in high glucose (HG) medium. We found that HGWWD treatment restored STZ-induced impaired mean velocity and pulsatility index of mouse left femoral arteries, aortic pulse wave velocity and vascular endothelial relaxation accompanied by elevated NO production in the aorta and plasma, as well as reduced endothelial arginase activity and aortic arginase 1 expression. The protective effect of HGWWD is reversed by an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis. Meanwhile, the preventive effect of serum containing HGWWD in endothelial vascular dysfunction is completely blocked by Ad-A1 transduction in HG incubated aortas. HGWWD treatment further improved endothelial vascular dysfunction in STZ induced EC-A1–/– mice. This study demonstrates that HGWWD improved STZ-induced vascular dysfunction through arginase 1 – NO signaling, specifically targeting endothelial arginase 1.
Addendum: Lehmann, T. et al. Cluster Policy in the Light of Institutional Context—A Comparative Study of Transition Countries. Adm. Sci. 2015, 5, 188–212
Authors: Lehmann Tine , Benner Maximilian
Published: March 2020

The authors would like to make the following corrections to the published paper (Lehmann and Benner 2015) [...]
Fruit Morphological Measurement Based on Three-Dimensional Reconstruction
Authors: Wang Yawei , Chen Yifei
Published: March 2020

Three-dimensional (3D) shape information is valuable for fruit quality evaluation. Grading of the fruits is one of the important postharvest tasks that the fruit processing agro-industries do. Although the internal quality of the fruit is important, the external quality of the fruit influences the consumers and the market price significantly. To solve the problem of feature size extraction in 3D fruit scanning, this paper proposes an automatic fruit measurement scheme based on a 2.5-dimensional point cloud with a Kinect depth camera. For getting a complete fruit model, not only the surface point cloud is obtained, but also the bottom point cloud is rotated to the same coordinate system, and the whole fruit model is obtained by iterative closest point algorithm. According to the centroid and principal direction of the fruit, the cut plane of the fruit is made in the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis respectively to obtain the contour line of the fruit. The experiment is divided into two groups, the first group is various sizes of pears to get the morphological parameters; the second group is the various colors, shapes, and textures of many fruits to get the morphological parameters. Comparing the predicted value with the actual value shows that the automatic extraction scheme of the size information is effective and the methods are universal and provide a reference for the development of the related application.
Supplementation of Lactobacillus plantarum or Macleaya cordata Extract Alleviates Oxidative Damage Induced by Weaning in the Lower Gut of Young Goats
Authors: Chen Kai , Liu Yong , Cheng Yan , Yan Qiongxian , Zhou Chuanshe , He Zhixiong , Zeng Jianguo , He Jianhua , Tan Zhiliang
Published: March 2020

Weaning usually leads to stress in livestock, which has a negative impact on their growth and development. Research on oxidative stress and inflammation induced by weaning has not been reported in goats. Here, we focused on oxidative stress profile and inflammation status of the lower gut (jejunum, ileum, and colon) of goats. First, we illustrated the status of antioxidant activity and inflammation in the intestine of young goats on pre-(2 weeks postnatal, 2 wkpn) or post-(11 wkpn, weaning at day 45 postnatal)-weaned period of young goats. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was higher (p < 0.0001) in jejunum and ileum of the young goats in 11 wkpn than that in 2 wkpn, whereas superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was lower (p = 0.012) in the lower gut of the young goats with 11 wkpn than that in 2 wkpn. Furthermore, we intended to explore the protective influence of a probiotic additive (Lactobacillus plantarum (LAC) P-8, 10 g/d) and a prebiotic additive (Sangrovit®, Macleaya cordata (MAC) extract 3.75% w/w premix, 0.3 g/d) on intestinal oxidative stress and inflammation status of early-weaned young goats (average weights of 5.63 ± 0.30 kg, weaned on d 45 postnatal). We observed that LAC reduced MDA in jejunum and ileum (p < 0.0001), increased SOD activity in ileum (p < 0.01), and increased glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in jejunum (p < 0.05). Similarly, MAC reduced MDA contents (p < 0.0001), increased SOD activities (p < 0.01) in both of ileum and jejunum, and increased GSH-Px activity (p < 0.05) in jejunum. However, there were no differences in feed intake, average daily gain, inflammation parameters (interleukin 2 and interleukin 6), and colon oxidative stress profile (MDA, SOD, or GSH-Px) among treatments. These results provide evidence that weaning induces oxidative damage in the lower gut of young goats, and the oxidative damage in the small intestine can be reduced by adding the addition of LAC or MAC in diets depending on the region of the lower gut.
Performance, Behavior, and Welfare Status of Six Different Organically Reared Poultry Genotypes
Authors: Cartoni Mancinelli Alice , Mattioli Simona , Dal Bosco Alessandro , Aliberti Andrea , Guarino Amato Monica , Castellini Cesare
Published: March 2020

In alterative rearing systems, the use of outdoor space has a crucial role. It is well known that only some commercial poultry genotypes are suitable to be reared in these systems. It is necessary to find a balance between productive performance and adaptability. The aim of this study was to evaluate the productive performance, behavior, and welfare status of six poultry genotypes reared in an organic system. One hundred males/genotype (Hubbard RedJA (A), CY5XJA87 (CY), M22XJA87 (M), Ranger Classic (R1), Ranger Gold (R2), and Rowan Ranger (R3)) were reared from 1 to 81 days of age. The number of culled birds was recorded daily, whereas live weight and feed consumption were recorded weekly. Behavior evaluation was undertaken through a computerized system one week before slaughtering; the breast yield and muscle/bone ratio of the drumstick was also evaluated in refrigerated carcasses. The results showed that A and R3 had good adaptability, showing active behaviors and satisfactory productive performance 3083.6 g and 3022.1 g, respectively. Although CY and M achieved the best productive performance, they did not appear adapted to the organic system due to a higher frequency of static behaviors (rest and roost), mortality, footpad dermatitis, breast blisters, and poor feather condition.
Diagnosis and Management of Cervicofacial Actinomycosis: Lessons from Two Distinct Clinical Cases
Authors: Stájer Anette , Ibrahim Barrak , Gajdács Márió , Urbán Edit , Baráth Zoltán
Published: March 2020

Members of the Actinomyces genus are non-spore-forming, anaerobic, and aerotolerant Gram-positive bacteria that are abundantly found in the oropharynx. They are the causative agents of actinomycosis, a slowly progressing (indolent) infection with non-specific symptoms in its initial phase, and a clinical course of extensive tissue destruction if left untreated. Actinomycoses are considered to be rare; however, reliable epidemiological data on their prevalence is lacking. Herein, we describe two representative and contrasting cases of cervicofacial actinomycosis, where the affected patients had distinctively different backgrounds and medical histories. Identification of the relevant isolates was carried out using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry; antimicrobial susceptibility was performed using E-tests. Cervicofacial actinomycoses are the most frequent form of the disease; isolation and identification of these microorganisms from relevant clinical samples (with or without histological examination) is the gold standard for diagnosis. The therapy of these infections includes surgical debridement and antibiotic therapy, mainly with a penicillin-derivative or clindamycin.
A Melanin-Related Phenolic Polymer with Potent Photoprotective and Antioxidant Activities for Dermo-Cosmetic Applications
Authors: Liberti Davide , Alfieri Maria Laura , Monti Daria Maria , Panzella Lucia , Napolitano Alessandra
Published: March 2020

Eumelanins, the dark variant of skin pigments, are endowed with a remarkable antioxidant activity and well-recognized photoprotective properties that have been ascribed to pigment components derived from the biosynthetic precursor 5,6-dihydroxyindole-2-carboxylic acid (DHICA). Herein, we report the protective effect of a polymer obtained starting from the methyl ester of DHICA (MeDHICA-melanin) against Ultraviolet A (UVA)-induced oxidative stress in immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT). MeDHICA-melanin was prepared by aerial oxidation of MeDHICA. At concentrations as low as 10 µg/mL, MeDHICA-melanin prevented reactive oxygen species accumulation and partially reduced glutathione oxidation in UVA-irradiated keratinocytes. Western blot experiments revealed that the polymer is able to induce the translocation of nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf-2) to the nucleus with the activation of the transcription of antioxidant enzymes, such as heme-oxygenase 1. Spectrophotometric and HPLC analysis of cell lysate allowed to conclude that a significant fraction (ca. 7%), consisting mainly of the 4,4′-dimer of MeDHICA (ca. 2 μM), was internalized in the cells. Overall these data point to the potential use of MeDHICA-melanin as an antioxidant for the treatment of skin damage, photoaging and skin cancers.
The Peroxidatic Thiol of Peroxiredoxin 1 is Nitrosated by Nitrosoglutathione but Coordinates to the Dinitrosyl Iron Complex of Glutathione
Authors: Truzzi Daniela R. , Alves Simone V. , Netto Luis E. S. , Augusto Ohara
Published: March 2020

Protein S-nitrosation is an important consequence of NO●·metabolism with implications in physiology and pathology. The mechanisms responsible for S-nitrosation in vivo remain debatable and kinetic data on protein S-nitrosation by different agents are limited. 2-Cys peroxiredoxins, in particular Prx1 and Prx2, were detected as being S-nitrosated in multiple mammalian cells under a variety of conditions. Here, we investigated the kinetics of Prx1 S-nitrosation by nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), a recognized biological nitrosating agent, and by the dinitrosyl-iron complex of glutathione (DNIC-GS; [Fe(NO)2(GS)2]−), a hypothetical nitrosating agent. Kinetics studies following the intrinsic fluorescence of Prx1 and its mutants (C83SC173S and C52S) were complemented by product analysis; all experiments were performed at pH 7.4 and 25 ℃. The results show GSNO-mediated nitrosation of Prx1 peroxidatic residue ( k + N O C y s 52 = 15.4 ± 0.4 M−1. s−1) and of Prx1 Cys83 residue ( k + N O C y s 83 = 1.7 ± 0.4 M−1. s−1). The reaction of nitrosated Prx1 with GSH was also monitored and provided a second-order rate constant for Prx1Cys52NO denitrosation of k − N O C y s 52 = 14.4 ± 0.3 M−1. s−1. In contrast, the reaction of DNIC-GS with Prx1 did not nitrosate the enzyme but formed DNIC-Prx1 complexes. The peroxidatic Prx1 Cys was identified as the residue that more rapidly replaces the GS ligand from DNIC-GS ( k D N I C C y s 52 = 7.0 ± 0.4 M−1. s−1) to produce DNIC-Prx1 ([Fe(NO)2(GS)(Cys52-Prx1)]−). Altogether, the data showed that in addition to S-nitrosation, the Prx1 peroxidatic residue can replace the GS ligand from DNIC-GS, forming stable DNIC-Prx1, and both modifications disrupt important redox switches.
Effects of Irrigation with Desalinated Water on Lettuce Grown under Greenhouse in South Korea
Authors: Kim Hakkwan , Kim Soojin , Jeon Jihye , Jeong Hanseok
Published: March 2020

This study assessed the effects of irrigation with desalinated water on the growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Two experiments, the first using saline and the second desalinated irrigation water, respectively, were designed to grow lettuce in plots (22 m × 0.4 m × 0.4 m) under controlled greenhouse conditions. Three levels of saline irrigation water and tap water (control) were used for the first experiment. In the second experiment, the three saline levels underwent a desalination process. Each experiment was carried out twice, in succession, with two replications. The results from the first experiment showed that the use of saline irrigation water caused an increase in the salinity level of soil and, consequently, adversely affected lettuce growth and yields. The results from the second experiment showed that the use of desalinated irrigation water does not negatively affect soil salinity and lettuce growth and yield. However, the need for additional application of the elements such as Ca2+ and Mg2+ was also identified since continued use of desalinated water irrigation correlated with a decrease in the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), leading to increased risk of soil sodicity. This is due to the elimination of nutrients during the desalination process.
Out-of-Plane Bending of Functionally Graded Thin Plates with a Circular Hole
Authors: Yang Quanquan , Cao He , Tang Youcheng , Yang Bo
Published: March 2020

The out-of-plane bending problems of functionally graded thin plates with a circular hole are studied for two-dimensional deformations. The thin plates have arbitrary variations of elastic properties along the radial direction. The general solutions of the stresses and moments are presented for the plates subjected to remote bending moments based on the theory of complex variable functions. Two different cases—a whole functionally graded plate with a circular hole and a functionally graded ring reinforced in a homogeneous perforated plate—are considered by numerical examples. The influence of parameters like Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio, function types of these elastic properties, and width of the reinforcing ring on the moments around the hole is presented. It is shown that the moment concentration, caused by the geometric discontinuity of the hole in the traditional homogeneous plate, can be well relieved or even eliminated by careful selection of the above parameters. The results for some special cases are compared with previous literatures and are found in good agreement.
Role of Multi-Scale Microstructure in the Degradation of Al Wire for Power Transmission
Authors: Li Rui , Liu Hanzhong , Ma Heng , Hou Jiapeng , Qian Liqun , Wang Qiang , Li Xiaowu , Zhang Zhefeng
Published: March 2020

As common conductive materials, Al wires are used on overhead transmission lines under long-term heating conditions. In this study, the strength degradation behavior and the strength-electrical conductivity relation of the commercially pure Al wires (CPAWs) and the Al-Fe wires (AFWs) annealed at various temperatures were investigated based on the microstructure evolution. The strength degradation rate of the AFW is always higher than that of the CPAW. A linear trade-off relation between strength and electrical conductivity for the annealed Al wires are clarified. The results reveal that the mechanisms behind the trade-off relation between the strength and the electrical conductivity for the annealed CPAWs and the annealed AFWs are the recovery of dislocations and the obvious increase of grain width, which leads to the decrease of strength and the increase of electrical conductivity. The coalescence of precipitate in the AFW leads to the obvious decrease of strength, which results in the higher strength degradation rate for the AFW as compared with that for the CPAW. Consequently, the principle of microstructure design for anti-degradation of Al wire is presented.
Voting-Based Document Image Skew Detection
Authors: Boiangiu Costin-Anton , Dinu Ovidiu-Alexandru , Popescu Cornel , Constantin Nicolae , Petrescu Cătălin
Published: March 2020

Optical Character Recognition (OCR) is an indispensable tool for technology users nowadays, as our natural language is presented through text. We live under the need of having information at hand in every circumstance and, at the same time, having machines understand visual content and thus enable the user to be able to search through large quantities of text. To detect textual information and page layout in an image page, the latter must be properly oriented. This is the problem of the so-called document deskew, i.e., finding the skew angle and rotating by its opposite. This paper presents an original approach which combines various algorithms that solve the skew detection problem, with the purpose of always having at least one to compensate for the others’ shortcomings, so that any type of input document can be processed with good precision and solid confidence in the output result. The tests performed proved that the proposed solution is very robust and accurate, thus being suitable for large scale digitization projects.
Functional Factors of Biomass Burning Contribution to Spring Aerosol Composition in a Megacity: Combined FTIR-PCA Analyses
Authors: Popovicheva Olga , Ivanov Alexey , Vojtisek Michal
Published: March 2020

Whether the spring season brings additional pollution to the urban environment remains questionable for a megacity. Aerosol sampling and characterization was performed in the urban background of the Moscow megacity in spring 2017, in a period of a significant impact of mass advection from surrounding fire regions. Parametrization of Angstrom absorption exponent (AAE) on low and high values provides periods dominated by fossil fuel (FF) combustion and affected by biomass burning (BB), respectively. The period identification is supported by air mass transportation from the south of Russia through the regions where a number of fires were observed. Functionalities in entire aerosol composition, assigned to classes of organic, ionic compounds, and dust, are inferred by diffusion refection infrared Fourier transmission (FTIR) spectroscopy. Functional markers of urban transport emissions relate to modern engine technology and driving cycles. Regional BB functionalities indicate the fire impacts to the spring aerosol composition. The development of the advanced source apportionment for a megacity is performed by means of combined ambient FTIR data and statistical PCA analysis. PCA of FTIR spectral data differentiate daily aerosol chemistry by low and high AAE values, related to FF- and BB-affected spectral features. PC loadings of 58%, 21%, and 11% of variability reveal the functional factors of transport, biomass burning, biogenic, dust, and secondary aerosol spring source impacts.
Dermal Targeting Delivery of Terbinafine Hydrochloride Using Novel Multi-Ethosomes: A New Approach to Fungal Infection Treatment
Authors: Zhang Lijun , Li Xue , Zhu Shunyao , Zhang Ting , Maimaiti Aikebaier , Ding Meihong , Shi Senlin
Published: March 2020

This research aimed to develop and evaluate a novel multi-ethosome (ME) system for the dermal delivery of terbinafine hydrochloride (TH) as a new approach to fungal infection treatment. TH-loaded MEs were successfully prepared using cinnamaldehyde as a penetration enhancer. Mean diameter of ME was found as ~100 nm with monodispersed size distribution. Drug entrapment efficiency reached up to 86% ± 1.4%. MEs exhibited excellent colloid stability and no drug leakage after 2 months of storage. In contrast to a commercial Lamisil® cream, ME significantly improved the targeting efficiency by increasing the fluidity of stratum corneum layer, revealed by attenuated total reflection Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The dermal targeting effect was visualized using confocal microscopy. Moreover, skin irritation and allergy tests showed that ME was not irritating to the skin. The improved antifungal activity of ME was proved in vitro on Candida albicans strains by minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay. This study paves the way towards design of MEs for dermal fungal infection treatment.
Characterization of AlCrN and AlCrON Coatings Deposited on Plasma Nitrided AISI H13 Steels Using Ion-Source-Enhanced Arc Ion Plating
Authors: Ahmad Farooq , Zhang Lin , Zheng Jun , Sidra Iram , Zhang Shihong
Published: March 2020

The AlCrN and AlCrON coatings were deposited on plasma nitrided H13 steels through ion-source-enhanced arc ion plating, and their structures, mechanical properties, thermal stabilities, and tribological properties were investigated. Structural analysis showed that the monolayer AlCrN and AlCrON bilayered coatings were mainly composed of fcc-AlCrN and fcc-AlCrON solid solution phases respectively. Upon the addition of thin AlCrON layer, the hardness of AlCrN/AlCrON coating slightly decreased from about 30.5 GPa to 28.6 GPa, and the thermal stability was improved after annealing at 700 °C. Both coatings exhibited excellent wear resistance at room temperature, while all wear process involved a combination of wear mechanisms, including severe abrasion and oxidation at an evaluated temperature. The AlCrON bilayered coating showed better wear resistance than that of AlCrN coating due to a dense anti-oxidation layer and better adhesion at a high temperature, making it suitable for die tool protection coatings.
One-Step Synthesis of Graphene, Copper and Zinc Oxide Graphene Hybrids via Arc Discharge: Experiments and Modeling
Authors: Kane Aichata , Hinkov Ivaylo , Brinza Ovidiu , Hosni Mongia , Barry Aliou Hamady , Cherif Salim Mourad , Farhat Samir
Published: March 2020

In this paper, we report on a modified arc process to synthetize graphene, copper and zinc oxide graphene hybrids. The anode was made of pure graphite or graphite mixed with metals or metal oxides. After applying a controlled direct current, plasma is created in the interelectrode region and the anode is consumed by eroding. Continuous and abundant flux of small carbon, zinc or copper species, issued from the anode at a relatively high temperature, flows through the plasma and condenses in the vicinity of a water-cooled cathode leading to few-layered graphene sheets and highly ordered carbon structures. When the graphite rod is filled with copper or zinc oxide nanoparticles, few layers of curved graphene films were anchored with spherical Cu and ZnO nanoparticles leading to a one-step process synthesis of graphene hybrids, which combine the synergetic properties of graphene along with nanostructured metals or semiconducting materials. The as-prepared samples were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), spatially resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), energy filtered elemental mapping and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In addition to the experimental study, numerical simulations were performed to determine the velocity, temperature and chemical species distributions in the arc plasma under specific graphene synthesis conditions, thereby providing valuable insight into growth mechanisms.
Enhancement in Nanomechanical, Thermal, and Abrasion Properties of SiO2 Nanoparticle-Modified Epoxy Coatings
Authors: Alam Mohammad Asif , Abdus Samad Ubair , Alam Manawwer , Anis Arfat , Al-Zahrani Saeed M.
Published: March 2020

Epoxy formulations containing 1%, 3%, and 5% SiO2 nanoparticles (SNPs) were produced and applied to mild steel substrates in order to improve their thermal, nanomechanical, and abrasion resistance. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) was used to analyze the dispersion of nanoparticles in the final coating samples, and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) was used to confirm the presence of nanoparticles. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was employed to measure the thermal resistance of the prepared coatings. Conventional techniques were used to measure the impact and scratch resistance. For nanomechanical testing, nanoindentation was performed using a Berkovich-type indenter. Using a taber abraser, the abrasion properties of the coatings were measured. The FE-SEM images indicated good dispersion of the nanoparticles at all three different loading levels. The scratch, impact, and hardness of coatings improved with the addition of the SNPs. Nanomechanical properties, such as hardness and elastic modulus, improved when compared to the unmodified coatings. The thermal and abrasion resistances of the coatings improved with the increase in the SNPs content of the coatings. The highest mechanical, thermal, and abrasion properties were obtained for the coatings with 5% SNP content.
Microstructural Stability and Softening Resistance of a Novel Hot-Work Die Steel
Authors: Du Ningyu , Liu Hongwei , Fu Paixian , Liu Hanghang , Sun Chen , Cao Yanfei , Li Dianzhong
Published: March 2020

A novel hot-work die steel, named 5Cr5Mo2, was designed to obtain superior thermal stability. The proposed alloy is evaluated in terms of its hardness, microstructure, and tempering kinetics. Compared with the commonly used H13 steel, the softening resistance of the designed steel is superior. Based on SEM and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations, a higher abundance of fine molybdenum carbides precipitate in 5Cr5Mo2 steel. Strikingly, the coarseness rate of the carbides is also relatively low during the tempering treatment. Moreover, owing to their pinning effect on dislocation slip, the dislocation density of the 5Cr5Mo2 steel decreases more slowly than that of the H13 steel. Furthermore, a mathematical softening model was successfully deduced and verified by analyzing the tempering kinetics. This model can be used to predict the hardness evolution of the die steels during the service period at high temperature.
Effects of Upwelling Intensity on Nitrogen and Carbon Fluxes through the Planktonic Food Web off A Coruña (Galicia, NW Spain) Assessed with Stable Isotopes
Authors: Bode Antonio , Lamas Angel F. , Mompeán Carmen
Published: March 2020

The input of new nutrients by upwelling in shelf waters, and the associated carbon and nitrogen fluxes, can be traced by their stable isotope signatures in organic matter. Here, we analyze the relationships between upwelling intensity and natural abundance of stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes in seston, sedimented particles, and four plankton size fractions (200 to 5000 µm) sampled monthly during 2010 and 2011 in a seasonal upwelling ecosystem. Upwelling modified the seasonal warming stratification by introducing cold and nutrient-rich waters in subsurface layers, enhancing chlorophyll-a and diatom abundance. Seston and sedimented particles were enriched in heavy nitrogen (but not carbon) isotopes linearly with upwelling intensity, indicating a primary effect of upwelling on phytoplankton production. In contrast, all plankton fractions were enriched in heavy carbon isotopes with upwelling, mainly due to the consumption of diatoms. These results confirm the differential effect of upwelling on nitrogen and carbon fluxes in the plankton food web. Direct effects of the new nitrogen inputs on phytoplankton are less evident with the increase of plankton size as nitrogen is repeatedly recycled, while the enriched carbon of plankton suggests the consumption of diatoms during upwelling. We provide linear equations to assess the influence of changes in upwelling intensity on nitrogen and carbon fluxes in seston and plankton in this ecosystem, as well as to estimate reference baseline values for food web studies.
The Performance of a Calcaneal Quantitative Ultrasound Device, CM-200, in Stratifying Osteoporosis Risk among Malaysian Population Aged 40 Years and Above
Authors: Subramaniam Shaanthana , Chan Chin-Yi , Soelaiman Ima Nirwana , Mohamed Norazlina , Muhammad Norliza , Ahmad Fairus , Ng Pei-Yuen , Jamil Nor Aini , Abd Aziz Noorazah , Chin Kok-Yong
Published: March 2020

Background: Calcaneal quantitative ultrasound (QUS) is widely used in osteoporosis screening, but the cut-off values for risk stratification remain unclear. This study validates the performance of a calcaneal QUS device (CM-200) using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) as the reference and establishes a new set of cut-off values for CM-200 in identifying subjects with osteoporosis. Methods: The bone health status of Malaysians aged ≥40 years was assessed using CM-200 and DXA. Sensitivity, specificity, area under the curve (AUC) and the optimal cut-off values for risk stratification of CM-200 were determined using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and Youden’s index (J). Results: From the data of 786 subjects, CM-200 (QUS T-score <−1) showed a sensitivity of 82.1% (95% CI: 77.9–85.7%), specificity of 51.5% (95% CI: 46.5–56.6%) and AUC of 0.668 (95% CI: 0.630–0.706) in identifying subjects with suboptimal bone health (DXA T-score <−1) (p < 0.001). At QUS T-score ≤−2.5, CM-200 was ineffective in identifying subjects with osteoporosis (DXA T-score ≤−2.5) (sensitivity 14.4% (95% CI: 8.1–23.0%); specificity 96.1% (95% CI: 94.4–97.4%); AUC 0.553 (95% CI: 0.488–0.617); p > 0.05). Modified cut-off values for the QUS T-score improved the performance of CM-200 in identifying subjects with osteopenia (sensitivity 67.7% (95% CI: 62.8–72.3%); specificity 72.8% (95% CI: 68.1–77.2%); J = 0.405; AUC 0.702 (95% CI: 0.666–0.739); p < 0.001) and osteoporosis (sensitivity 79.4% (95% CI: 70.0–86.9%); specificity 61.8% (95% CI: 58.1–65.5%); J = 0.412; AUC 0.706 (95% CI: 0.654–0.758); p < 0.001). Conclusion: The modified cut-off values significantly improved the performance of CM-200 in identifying individuals with osteoporosis. Since these values are device-specific, optimization is necessary for accurate detection of individuals at risk for osteoporosis using QUS.
Feasibility of Strip Meniscometry for Tear Volume Evaluation in Lacrimal Passage Obstruction
Authors: Osawa Ikubun , Esaka Yuri , Kojima Takashi , Simsek Cem , Kudo Haruka , Dogru Murat
Published: March 2020

Strip meniscometry tube (SMTube) is useful for assessing tear volume in dry eye disease. We performed an in vitro and a clinical study to examine whether the SMTube can also be used to evaluate tear quantity in lacrimal passage obstruction (LPO). In vitro experiments showed that the SMTube value and the amount of water absorption were significantly correlated (R2 = 0.816, p = 0.0008), but the measured value peaked when 4 μL was absorbed. In the clinical study, 12 eyes of 9 LPO patients and 17 eyes of 17 healthy control subjects were included. The patients’ SMTube values were significantly higher than those of the control subjects (p < 0.05). The SMTube value significantly decreased after silicon tube intubation (p < 0.05). Tear meniscus height (TMH) and area (TMA), measured by anterior segment optical coherence tomography, exhibited a significant positive correlation with the SMTube value (TMH, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.396; TMA, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.366). Moreover, the SMTube value significantly correlated positively with the subjective symptom of epiphora (p = 0.012, R2 = 0.255). Thus, SMTube was useful for evaluating the tear volume and therapeutic effects in patients with LPO.
Fault Diagnosis of a Rolling Bearing Based on Adaptive Sparest Narrow-Band Decomposition and RefinedComposite Multiscale Dispersion Entropy
Authors: Luo Songrong , Yang Wenxian , Luo Youxin
Published: March 2020

Condition monitoring and fault diagnosis of a rolling bearing is crucial to ensure the reliability and safety of a mechanical system. When local faults happen in a rolling bearing, the complexity of intrinsic oscillations of the vibration signals will change. Refined composite multiscale dispersion entropy (RCMDE) can quantify the complexity of time series quickly and effectively. To measure the complexity of intrinsic oscillations at different time scales, adaptive sparest narrow-band decomposition (ASNBD), as an improved adaptive sparest time frequency analysis (ASTFA), is introduced in this paper. Integrated, the ASNBD and RCMDE, a novel-fault diagnosis-model is proposed for a rolling bearing. Firstly, a vibration signal collected is decomposed into a number of intrinsic narrow-band components (INBCs) by the ASNBD to present the intrinsic modes of a vibration signal, and several relevant INBCs are prepared for feature extraction. Secondly, the RCMDE values are calculated as nonlinear measures to reveal the hidden fault-sensitive information. Thirdly, a basic Multi-Class Support Vector Machine (multiSVM) serves as a classifier to automatically identify the fault type and fault location. Finally, experimental analysis and comparison are made to verify the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed model. The results show that the RCMDE value lead to a larger difference between various states and the proposed model can achieve reliable and accurate fault diagnosis for a rolling bearing.
Impact of Interparticle Interaction on Thermodynamics of Nano-Channel Transport of Two Species
Authors: Bauer Wolfgang Rudolf
Published: March 2020

Understanding the function and control of channel transport is of paramount importance for cell physiology and nanotechnology. In particular, if several species are involved, the mechanisms of selectivity, competition, cooperation, pumping, and its modulation need to be understood. What lacks is a rigorous mathematical approach within the framework of stochastic thermodynamics, which explains the impact of interparticle in-channel interactions on the transport properties of the respective species. To achieve this, stochastic channel transport of two species is considered in a model, which different from mean field approaches, explicitly conserves the spatial correlation of the species within the channel by analysis of the stochastic dynamics within a state space, the elements of which are the channel’s spatial occupation states. The interparticle interactions determine the stochastic transitions between these states. Local flow and entropy production in this state space reveal the respective particle flows through the channel and the intensity of the Brownian ratchet like rectifying forces, which these species exert mutually on each other, together with its thermodynamic effectiveness and costs. Perfect coupling of transport of the two species is realized by an attractive empty channel and strong repulsive forces between particles of the same species. This confines the state space to a subspace with circular topology, in which the concentration gradients as thermodynamic driving forces act in series, and channel flow of both species becomes equivalent. For opposing concentration gradients, this makes the species with the stronger gradient the driving, positive entropy producing one; the other is driven and produces negative entropy. Gradients equal in magnitude make all flows vanish, and thermodynamic equilibrium occurs. A differential interparticle interaction with less repulsive forces within particles of one species but maintenance of this interaction for the other species adds a bypass path to this circular subspace. On this path, which is not involved in coupling of the two species, a leak flow of the species with less repulsive interparticle interaction emerges, which is directed parallel to its concentration gradient and, hence, produces positive entropy here. Different from the situation with perfect coupling, appropriate strong opposing concentration gradients may simultaneously parallelize the flow of their respective species, which makes each species produce positive entropy. The rectifying potential of the species with the bypass option is diminished. This implies the existence of a gradient of the other species, above which its flow and gradient are parallel for any gradient of the less coupled species. The opposite holds for the less coupled species. Its flow may always be rectified and turned anti-parallel to its gradient by a sufficiently strong opposing gradient of the other one.
Are Active Teaching Methods Suitable for All Generation Y students?—Creativity as a Needed Ingredient and the Role of Learning Style
Authors: Pološki Vokić Nina , Aleksić Ana
Published: March 2020

Active teaching methods are emphasized as an important part of an effective teaching process for Generation Y students. Still, some individual characteristics, such as creativity and learning style, need to be considered as they can affect outcomes of the learning process. Empirical research on the students’ preferences for various active and passive teaching methods was done on a sample of graduate students from the Faculty of Economics and Business in Zagreb. Perceptions of students regarding 52 individual teaching methods, and teaching methods bundles were investigated. Findings reveal that more creative students, as well as activists and pragmatists, and especially reflectors while learning, do exhibit the greater inclination towards active teaching methods.
Design and Power Management of a Secured Wireless Sensor System for Salton Sea Environmental Monitoring
Authors: Diaz Kristian , Teh Ying-Khai
Published: March 2020

An embedded system composed of commercial off the shelf (COTS) peripherals and microcontroller. The system will collect environmental data for Salton Sea, Imperial Valley, California in order to understand the development of environmental and health hazards. Power analysis of each system features (i.e. Central Processing Unit (CPU) core, Input/Output (I/O) buses, and peripheral (temperature, humidity, and optical dust sensor) are studied. Software-based power optimization utilizes the power information with hardware-assisted power gating to control system features. The control of these features extends system uptime in a field deployed finite energy scenario. The proposed power optimization algorithm can collect more data by increasing system up time when compared to a Low Power Energy Aware Processing (LEAP) approach. Lastly, the 128 bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm is applied on the collected data using various parameters. A hidden peripheral requirement that must be considered during design are also noted to impact the efficacy of this method.
Differential Bi-Level Microstrip Directional Coupler with Equalized Coupling Coefficients for Directivity Improvement
Authors: Gruszczynski Slawomir , Smolarz Robert , Wincza Krzysztof
Published: March 2020

In this paper, a bi-level microstrip differential directional coupler has been investigated. It has been shown that the equalization of coupling coefficients can be successfully made with the use of appropriate dielectric stack-up and conductor geometry. The application of additional top dielectric layer can ensure proper equalization of coupling coefficients by lowering the value of capacitive coupling coefficient to the value of the inductive one. The theoretically investigated coupled-line section has been used for the design of a 3-dB differential directional coupler. The measurement results are compared with the theoretical ones.
Ruthenium (Ru) Doped Titanium Dioxide (P25) Electrode for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Rajaramanan Tharmakularasa , Natarajan Muthukumarasamy , Ravirajan Punniamoorthy , Senthilnanthanan Meena , Velauthapillai Dhayalan
Published: March 2020

In this study, P25-titanium dioxide (TiO2) was doped with ruthenium (Ru) by systematically varying the Ru content at 0.15, 0.30, 0.45 and 0.6 mol%. The synthesized Ru-doped TiO2 nanomaterials have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, UV-visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, and electrochemical impedance (EIS) spectroscopy. The XRD patterns of undoped and Ru-doped TiO2 nanomaterials confirm the presence of mixed anatase and rutile phases of TiO2 while EDX spectrum confirms the presence of Ti, O and Ru. Further, UV-visible absorption spectra of doped TiO2 nanomaterial reveal a slight red shift on Ru-doping. The short circuit current density (JSC) of the cells fabricated using the Ru-doped TiO2 photoanode was found to be dependent on the amount of Ru present in TiO2. Optimized cells with 0.3 mol% Ru-doped TiO2 electrodes showed efficiency which is 20% more than the efficiency of the control cell (η = 5.8%) under stimulated illumination (100 mWcm−2, 1 sun) with AM 1.5 filter. The increase in JSC resulted from the reduced rate of recombination upon doping of Ru and this was confirmed by EIS analysis.
Emission Characteristics of Ammonia at Bituminous Coal Power Plant
Authors: Kang Seongmin , Kim Seong-Dong , Jeon Eui-Chan
Published: March 2020

This study developed a NH3 emission factor for bituminous coal power plants in South Korea in order to investigate the NH3 emission characteristics. The NH3 concentration analysis results showed that emissions from the selected bituminous coal power plants were in the range of 0.21–0.99 ppm, and that the difference in NH3 concentration was affected by NOx concentration. The NH3 emission factor was found to be 0.0029 kg NH3/ton, which demonstrated that the difference in the values obtained from the research conducted in South Korea was lower than the difference in the emission factor provided by the U.S. EPA, which is currently applied in the statistics of South Korea. NH3 emissions were compared by using the NH3 emission factor developed in this study alongside the EPA’s NH3 emission factor that is currently applied in South Korea’s statistics; the difference was found to be 206 NH3 ton/year. This implies that an emission factor that reflects the national characteristics of South Korea needs to be developed. The uncertainty range of the NH3 emission factor developed in this study was between −6.9% and +10.34% at a 95% confidence level.