bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hypoglycemic properties of Portulaca oleracea herb in the experimental conditions of dexamethasone diabetes mellitus in rats
Authors: Kinichenko A. O. , Klevanova V. S. , Trzhetsynskiy S. D. , Maletskiy N. N.
Published: October 2018

Nowadays the diabetes mellitus has epidemic character. That’s why searching and creating of new medicines for effective therapy of this pathology are actual.

Phytotherapy is one of the components in the complex treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2. It combines a wide range of pharmacological actions, fewer side effects and toxic reactions on the human body than synthetic drugs. Plants of genus of Portulaca L. can be perspective sources for searching new medicinal plants. Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) is used in folk medicine as hypoglycemic agent.

The aim of the research was to study the hypoglycemic activity of the infusion of Portulaca oleracea herb.

Simulation of insulin resistance was performed with intramuscular injections of glucocorticoids (Dexamethasone, 0.125 mg/kg). Portulaca oleracea infusion administered orally at the dose 10 ml/kg. Gliclazide freshly suspension was used as a reference drug and it was administered orally by 50 mg/kg. Characteristic of glucose homeostasis was carried out using a short insulin test, oral glucose tolerance test. Also assessed the effect of Portulaca oleracea infusion and reference drug on adrenaline hyperglycemia.

Glucose level at 30 minutes after administration of insulin in the group that received Portulaca oleracea infusion reduced on 53.9%. There was a decrease on 37.5% in the group of diabetic control, and in the intact group – on 60.2%.

The result of oral test of glucose tolerance showed that the area under the glycemic curve in groups that received Portulaca oleracea infusion (314.9 mmol/L·min) and reference drug Gliclazide (376.0 mmol/L·min) did not significantly differ from the similar area of the intact group (372.7 mmol/L·min).

The administration of the epinephrine hydrochloride solution caused a sharp and significant increase in the glucose level in the diabetic control group. 90 minutes after the epinephrine injection the glucose level in animals which received Portulaca oleracea infusion increased in 3.15 times, and in the reference-group – in 1.97 times, which significantly differs from the diabetic control group.

The obtained results indicate that the infusion of Portulaca oleracea herb reduce the formation of insulin resistance and glucose tolerance in the conditions of experimental dexamethasone diabetes mellitus in rats.
Historical preconditions of the creation of pharmacovigilance system in
Authors: Sholoiko N. V. , Matvieieva O. V. , Haiduk K. S.
Published: October 2018

The system of pharmacovigilance in the world appeared in response to series of tragedies related to the use of medicines. The largest of these were «sulfanilamide boom», «thalidomide tragedy» and «bomb with time mechanism».

In Ukraine, the pharmacovigilance system has existed since 1996, and since 2002 Ukraine has been a member of the WHO international monitoring program for side effects. In 2000–2001 appeared the first orders of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine that regulated the implementation of pharmacovigilance in Ukraine, and in 2007, when the Order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine № 898 came into force, the legislative framework in the pharmacovigilance system has been radically changed. This is connected with the reflection of the provisions of Directive 2001/83 / EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Community code relating to medicinal products in the order № 898.

Today, the development of pharmacovigilance in Ukraine is carried out through adaptation to European legislation, which is stipulated by the Law of Ukraine «On the National Program of Adaptation of Ukrainian Legislation to the Law of the European Union».

Among the prospects for the development of pharmacovigilance in Ukraine:

introduction of amendments and additions to the legislative base of Ukraine in the context of pharmacovigilance;

introduction of proactive management of the negative consequences of the use of drugs;

introduction of the Automated Information System with the Pharmacovigilance System (AISЗ) into the health care system of Ukraine;

dissemination of necessary knowledge about adverse reactions among the public, establishing the algorithm of action in case of an adverse reaction, the promotion of compliance and trust between the patient and the physician, reasoning of the rational, cautious and correct use of drugs and the prevention of self-treatment of serious conditions.
Study of anti-inflammatory activity and acute toxicity of common pine extracts
Authors: Popadynets O. G. , Grycyk A. R. , Mandzii T. P.
Published: October 2018

For pharmacological correction of inflammation, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are traditionally used. The mechanism of action of most of these drugs is related to the ability to suppress the synthesis of prostaglandins by blockade of cyclooxygenase enzymes. Because the world is saved increased interest in finding new drugs, possibly with unconventional mechanism of action and, of course, with minimal side effects. Perspective in this respect are substances of vegetable origin - pine extracts of ordinary.

Objects of the study: water extract from pine sylvestris, alcohol extract (70%) from pine sylvestris. Acute toxicity of dry extract of common pine was determined according to toxicological classification of Sydorov K. K. (1973). Experimental research of acute toxicity was performed according to the method of Prozorovskii V. К. and co-authors (1983). Nonlinear rats of both sexes were involved in the experiment. Observation of the animals was conducted during 14 days. According to the results of research the extract of common pine is classified as the substance of the 5-th toxic class practically non-toxic. The anti-inflammatory activity of common pine extracts was determined on the model of inflammation of the rat paw. For morphological studies were carried fence organs: heart, liver, kidneys, spleen and lungs. Preparation of organs for the research was performed according to the generally accepted in morphology. Sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Research results were processed using the statistical package of program «STATISTICA®  for Windows 10.0» (StatSoft Inc.). The estimation of authenticity of differences of average value was conducted using the Student’s t- criterion. Changes were considered reliable at р ≤ 0.05. The results of the study of acute toxicity of dry extract of Scots pine (LD50 > 6 000 mg/kg). Allowed to carry this extract, according to the generally accepted classification of K. Sidorov's toxicity to the fifth grade - practically non-toxic. When conducting histological studies it was found that the surface of the liver, kidneys and adrenals is smooth. Color, shape, size of organs is normal. Pancreas is grayish-pink in color. The spleen is full-blooded, supple. Slime shell of the stomach with a pronounced relief of the folds. The intestinal mucosa is unchanged. In the thoracic cavity, all the organs of sowing are anatomically correct. The heart muscle on the incision is dark red, the airway sheets of the pleura are not changed. The highest anti-inflammatory activity was shown is manifested by the water-alcoholic extract of common pine, which suppressed the inflammatory reaction on 6,5% after 5 hours.
Сhronic toxicity testing complex phytopoliextraction of sedative action
Authors: Dyachok I. L. , Pinyazhko O. R. , Ivankiv O. L.
Published: October 2018

Development and introduction in medical practice sedative meals on the base of complex phytopoliextracts from the domestic medical plants permitted for medical application is highly actual because of incrised incidence of abnormal psychology disorders determined by socioeconomical problems, global informative boom, ecological problems, worsening of life quality.

The aim of a study – determination of the sedative phytopoliextraction complex chronic toxicity parameters in experiments after oral administration to laboratory rats.

Standardized phytopoliextraction сomplex which is composed of extracts of medical plants (Valeriana officinalis L., Crataégus, Melissa officinalis L., Hypericum, Mentha piperita L., Húmulus lúpulus, Viburnum).

It was determined that phytopoliextraction complex is non-toxic compound – LD50 drug after a single oral administration to mice is > 5.0 ml/kg, to rats > 10.0 ml/kg. A two-month administration of a phytopolietextraction complex in an effective and sub-toxic dose (1 ml/kg and 5 ml/kg, respectively) does not exert a toxic effect on the general state of the behavior and the increase in the weight of the animals. Phytopolietextraction complex in the subtotoxic dose does not change the functional state of the CNS in male rats, but in the effective state it increases the research activity. At the same time, it exerts a certain stimulating effect on females, due to the content of ethyl alcohol, and in a sub-toxic dose has a hypoglycemic effect largely due to the presence of ethyl alcohol.

Thus, futher experiments have to be provided to learn other chronic toxicity parametres like local localirritating action, embrio- and gonadotoxicity.
Hepatoprotective activity of 1,2,4-triazole-3-thione derivatives, which contains on c5-atomic carbon hydroxy(phenyl)methyl dependent
Authors: Rud A. M. , Kaplaushenko A. G. , Pruglo E. S. , Frolova Yu. S.
Published: October 2018

Relevance of pharmaceuticals with high efficiency and low cost for the prevention and treatment of diseases of the digestive system is unquestionable. It would be appropriate to mention that we carried out an analysis of a number of studies in which hepatoprotective effects of 1,2,4-triazole derivatives were carried out, and showed high hepatoprotective effects. Therefore, the search for hepatoprotectors in the series of 1,2,4-triazole derivatives has not only theoretical but also practical significance.

The aim of our work was to study the first synthesized derivatives of 1,2,4-triazole-3-thione, which was containing substituents on C5 by carbon atom in conditions of tetrachormethane hepatitis.

To model toxic hepatitis, a hepatotoxic xenobiotic, carbon tetrachloride, was used. The study of biochemical indicators of liver status was carried out 24 hours after the last injection of carbon tetrachloride. The ability of the test compounds to restore the integrity of hepatocyte membranes was determined by the anti-cytolytic effect (decrease in the activity of Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST)).

According to the results of the study, it was found that among 43 test compounds, 5 are able to prevent survival at 85.71%.

Thus, among the substances studied, compound 2c, which contributed 85.71% of the survival of the experimental animals and decrease 33.43% in ALT and 34.33% in AST. In this case, a very weak inverse dependence of the above indices was observed (r = -0.31).

Some regularities of the chemical structure of the hepatoprotective action of 1,2,4-triazole derivatives have been established, so the survival of the experimental animals decreased with the introduction of a phenyl substituent of the starting thiones with N4.
“NÃO MORRERAM DE AMOR, MORRERAM DE PROMISCUIDADE, MORRERAM POR DESCUIDO MESMO”: DISCURSOS DE PROFESSORAS SOBRE TENDENCIOSIDADES E VULNERABILIDADES AO HIV/AIDS MEDIADOS POR ARTEFATOS CULTURAIS
Authors: Souza Laís Machado de , Souza Marcos Lopes de
Published: October 2018

Trago nesse artigo uma análise dos principais discursos sobre tendenciosidades e vulnerabilidade são vírus HIV e a Aids construídos por três professoras do componente curricular Educação para a Sexualidade de uma escola dos anos finais de um município no interior baiano. A construção desses discursos se deu durante um encontro formativo realizado com as professoras na escola mediado por artefatos culturais. O encontro fazia parte de uma proposta formativa na área de sexualidade e saúde que foi pensada a partir de uma perspectiva pós – estruturalista e inspirada no saber da experiência de Jorge Larrosa. Chamo atenção nesse estudo para algumas percepções, incômodos e estigmas manifestados diante do tema, especialmente, sobre a suposta banalização do HIV/Aids, a aversão às relações ditas promíscuas e o suposto tendenciamento dos artefatos culturais e sua relação com o aumento da vulnerabilidade dos/as jovens.
FEMINILIDADES E MASCULINIDADES NA PRIMEIRA TEMPORADA DA SÉRIE ANIMADA STEVEN UNIVERSO
Authors: Filha Constantina Xavier , Nascimento Victória Nobica Marques do
Published: October 2018

A pesquisa, que descreveremos neste artigo, teve por objetivo discutir e problematizar as feminilidades e masculinidades veiculadas na primeira temporada da série animada Steven Universo. A problemática que norteou a pesquisa foi: Quais tipos de feminilidades e masculinidades a série animada Steven Universo apresenta? A pesquisa baseou-se nas metodologias pós-críticas em educação e seguiu os preceitos dos Estudos de Gênero e Sexualidades e Educação, fazendo uso do percurso teórico metodológico da etnografia de tela. Utilizamos os conceitos gênero, identidade de gênero e sexual, normalização, feminilidades e masculinidades, pedagogias de gênero e sexualidade e Pedagogias Culturais. Para organizar nossas discussões fizemos dois agrupamentos nas discussões encontradas na análise dos episódios: “Personagens femininas” e “Personagens masculinas”, tendo como critério o gênero com o qual o/a telespectador/a identifica a personagem. Com base nos nossos pressupostos teóricos foi possível pensar nas discussões e problematizações referentes à nossa problemática, compreendendo a necessidade de se entender as formas de educações e pedagogias que ocorrem para além das instituições educativas.
APRESENTAÇÃO DO DOSSIÊ: FEMINISMOS, POLÍTICA E LUTAS CONTEMPORÂNEAS DAS MULHERES
Authors: Ferreira Maria Mary
Published: October 2018

APRESENTAÇÃO DO DOSSIÊ: FEMINISMOS, POLÍTICA E LUTAS CONTEMPORÂNEAS DAS MULHERES
Influence of Nitrogen Deficiency on Ureide Mediated Stress Resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Silzer Talisa K. , Todd Christopher
Published: October 2018

The relationship between nitrogen availability and presence of heavy metal stress appear to affect development and growth of Arabidopsis thaliana plants. In this work, Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings were exposed to media containing varying concentrations of nitrogen in form of NH4NO3 or KNO3 and cadmium in the form of CdCl2. When exposed to increasing cadmium stress, aln mutant lines, lacking a functional allantoinase enzyme, displayed enhanced growth and development when compared to wild type, most likely due to their high allantoin content. Increasing nitrogen concentrations appeared to decrease the amount of senescing tissue caused by exposure to cadmium stress. Growth appeared to be slightly increased in both wild type and aln mutant lines grown in media containing KNO3 as the nitrogen source, thereby supporting the importance of nitrogen source on plant growth.
Review: NMDA Receptor Hypofunction and Its Involvement in Excitotoxicity in Schizophrenia
Authors: Krysak Trevor M.
Published: October 2018

Schizophrenia is a severely debilitating psychiatric condition that has long been associated with altered neurotransmission in the brain, especially in dopaminergic transmission. The dopamine hypothesis of schizophrenia, while it has been the main focus of research in the past decades, fails to explain the underlying pathogenesis. A more recent hypothesis dealing with altered central glutamate signaling in schizophrenia may help to ameliorate the deficit in understanding. Blockade of the glutamatergic NMDA receptors produces schizophrenic behaviours and phenotypes almost indistinguishable from the disease itself in animal and human models. It has been elucidated that hypofunction of NMDA receptors on the parvalbumin-­‐containing interneurons in the cortex and subcortical regions leads to a downstream increase in cortical glutamate release, which may be causing functional connectivity issues through mechanisms of excitotoxicity. A number of studies have pointed to the hypofunction of these NMDA receptors leading to excitotoxicity and cellular degeneration, which may be implicated in the disease pathology. This review will evaluate and highlight this forthcoming evidence.
A Constructivist Perspective of Rape as a Military Strategy: A Comparative Analysis of the Rwandan Genocide and the Bosnian War
Authors: Schoenfeld Jacqueline Ashley
Published: October 2018

This paper explores how the social construction of a peoples’ ethnic or national identity can influence the use of rape as a military strategy. In exploring this concept, the Rwandan genocide and Bosnian War will be used as case studies. It is argued that rape as a military strategy derives coercive power from social constructions of ethnicity, nationality and gender in patriarchal societies. In presenting this argument, the constructivist school of thought is used to analyze the processes that led to social constructions of ethnicity, nationality and gender. This paper considers the subsequent social environment that allowed rape to be used as an effective military strategy in both Rwanda and Bosnia.
Truman's New Deal: Point Four and the Genesis of Modern Global Development
Authors: Winterhalt Kevin Ray
Published: October 2018

This paper examines the geo-political reaction to President Harry S. Truman’s 1949 Inaugural Address, wherein he catalyzed post-war global development in the form of his Point Four program. Truman proposed sharing American scientific and technical expertise, ostensibly aimed at reducing or eliminating poverty in the developing world. Newspaper accounts and analysis of internal CIA documents reveal domestic and international responses to the policy initiative. Predictably, these responses mostly varied along early Cold War ideological lines. Examining Truman’s plan and other anti-communist American policies in the late 1940s reveals that although global development may have been a laudable effect of the plan, the primary aim was to prevent communism from spreading to countries viewed as vulnerable to subversion. The Cold War imperatives behind the plan seem to have been either implicitly assumed or ignored in the historiography. A brief sampling of Cold War historians shows a lack of explicit attention to Truman’s initiative.
Promiscuous versus Romantic Lesbianism in Films
Authors: Sadika Bidushy
Published: October 2018

There is a lack of queer visibility in the mainstream Hollywood films because of the Production Code Administration in October 1961 that prohibited the presentation of “sexual perversion” on screen. However, the amendment of this code and gay liberation movements in 1970s, and the era of “new queer cinema” in the 1990s increased media representations of sexual minorities. Based on this context, the article critically analyzes the depiction of lesbian characters and their romance in the films The Killing of Sister George (1968) and Blue is the Warmest Color (2013). The Killing of Sister George depicts the life story of June Buckridge who loses her career and her relationship due to her sexuality, and Blue is the Warmest Color is a story about Adele, who explores her sexuality as a teenager. Whereas the former film depicts lesbianism from a promiscuous lens, the latter approaches this topic from a realistic and contemporary perspective. Thus, the films represent lesbian sexuality in unique ways that allows us to investigate the progression of queer depiction in the mainstream cinema. The similarities and differences between the queer representation in the films, as well as the way the film portrayal of lesbian romance relate to the current research literature are discussed.
PENDIDIKAN ISLAM DAN KESADARAN PLURALISME
Authors: Mahmudin Afif Syaiful
Published: October 2018

Islam menurut mayoritas pemeluknya adalah agama holistik. Islam tidak hanya diartikan sebagai agama tauhid belaka, melainkan ajaran yang menyangkut semua aspek kehidupan, agama publik, pluralisme agama tidak sekedar persoalan mengakomodasi klaim-klaim kebenaran agama dalam wilayah pribadi, tetapi juga persoalan kebijakan publik di mana pemimpin muslim harus mengakui dan melindungi kebebasan beragama, tidak hanya intra-umat Islam, tetapi antar-agama dan agama penutup yang mengajarkan ketuhanan dan kemanusiaan, termasuk di dalamnya persoalan pluralisme. Pluralisme adalah sesuatu terlahir dari dalil ajaran ketuhanan. Akal menyimpulkan bahwa jika keesaan hanya milik Allah, maka selain-Nya tidak layak untuk menyandangnya yang berarti selain Allah adalah pluralitas. Kemajemukan serta keberagaman dalam hal agama, tradisi, kesenian, kebudayaan, cara hidup, dan pandangan nilai yang di anut oleh kelompok etnis masyarakat Indonesia. Pada satu sisi, keberagaman dan kemajemukan ini bagi Indonesia bisa menjadi kekuatan yang positif dan konstruktif. Pada sisi lain, akan menjadi kekuatan yang negatif dan destruktif apabila tidak di arahkan dengan positif
MEMBINGKAI KEPRIBADIAN ULUL ALBAB GENERASI MILENIAL
Authors: Munir Misbahul
Published: October 2018

Problematika kepribadian yang dihadapi generasi millenial saat ini sangat memprihatinkan, diantaranya adalah persoalan adiksi gadget, tidak fokus pada belajar, emosinya mudah terganggu, pornografi, pergaulan bebas. Sebagai tawaran solusi adalah internalisasi nilai kepribian ulul albab, yaitu melalui pengamalan dzikir, fikir, amal soleh. Internealisasi kepribadian ulul albab memungkinkan bisa mengatasi krisis moral yang sedang terjadi saat ini. Keunikan yang dimiliki generasi millenial ulul albab ialah terampil dalam mengakses teknologi digital, sekaligus mempunyai prinsip nilai agama yang kokoh.
MEMAHAMI BALAGHAH DENGAN MUDAH
Authors: Hafidz Muhammad
Published: October 2018

Balaghah merupakan ilmu yang mengkaji keindahan bahasa al-Qurâ€™an.Â  OlehÂ  pelajar bahasa Arab dianggap materi sulit karena beberapa hal, pertama, balaghah membahas mengenai hubungan kata dan ungkapan dengan situasi, lingkungan, dan makna, dalam balaghah ada makna haqiqi (makna denotatif) dan majazi (makna konotatif), ada hubungan ungkapan dengan perasaan, keindahan, dan imajinasi. Kedua, contoh-contoh yang tersaji dalam buku-buku balaghah diambil dari syair-syair arab, yang bahasanya terasa asing bagi pelajar dan cara memahaminya tidak seperti memahami kalimat biasa. Maka perlu adaÂ  solusi untuk membantu mempermudahnya, diantaranya adalah perubahan metode pengajaran dan penyusunan buku balaghah dengan pendekatan konstraktif, atau dalam pengertian mudah memahami balaghah dengan kaca mata gaya bahasa Indonesia yang sudah dikenal pelajar sejak awal.
Pengeluaran Pemerintah dan Indeks Pembangunan Manusia (IPM) Di Provinsi Bengkulu
Authors: Zulyanto Aan
Published: October 2018

Human Development Index (HDI) is one indicator to evaluate the government performance. This index is consist of several main components such as education, health, and economy. This study aims to see how the effect of government spending on education, health, and infrastructure on the Human Development Index in the province of Bengkulu. It also analyzes the differences of HDI level in main and proliferation region as a response to regional autonomy in Indonesia. This Study uses panel data for kabupaten-kota in Bengkulu province during the period 2007-2013. It uses Random Effect Model (GLS) as estimation technique, based on formal testing against several estimation techniques associated with panel data. The results are the education spending has significant positive effect on the HDI. Substantial budget allocations for education that can improve HDI in Bengkulu province. While health and infrastructure spending are not significant, but it shows a negative relationship. It indicates the inefficiency and inaccuracy targets of the health budget and infrastructure in the Bengkulu province. Meanwhile, the study also finds a significant difference in the level of HDI, where main regions have HDI levels higher than the expansions.
Fractional Order Sliding Mode Control of a Class of Second Order Perturbed Nonlinear Systems: Application to the Trajectory Tracking of a Quadrotor
Authors: Govea-Vargas Arturo , Castro-Linares Rafael , Duarte-Mermoud Manuel A. , Aguila-Camacho Norelys , Ceballos-Benavides Gustavo E.
Published: October 2018

A Fractional Order Sliding Mode Control (FOSMC) is proposed in this paper for an integer second order nonlinear system with an unknown additive perturbation term. A sufficient condition is given to assure the attractiveness to a given sliding surface where trajectory tracking is assured, despite the presence of the perturbation term. The control scheme is applied to the model of a quadrotor vehicle in order to have trajectory tracking in the space. Simulation results are presented to evaluate the performance of the control scheme.
Parameter Estimation of a Class of Neural Systems with Limit Cycles
Authors: Lou Xuyang , Cai Xu , Cui Baotong
Published: October 2018

This work addresses parameter estimation of a class of neural systems with limit cycles. An identification model is formulated based on the discretized neural model. To estimate the parameter vector in the identification model, the recursive least-squares and stochastic gradient algorithms including their multi-innovation versions by introducing an innovation vector are proposed. The simulation results of the FitzHugh–Nagumo model indicate that the proposed algorithms perform according to the expected effectiveness.
Sustainability of Urban Agriculture: Vegetable Production on Green Roofs
Authors: Walters Stuart Alan , Stoelzle Midden Karen
Published: October 2018

The practice of producing vegetables on green roofs has been gaining momentum in recent years as a method to facilitate agricultural sustainability in urban areas. Rooftop gardens are becoming an important part of the recent rejuvenation of urban agriculture, and offers alternative spaces to grow vegetable products for urban markets. Green roofs create spaces for the production of vegetable crops, which then generate opportunities for integrating agriculture into urban communities. However, vegetable production activities on rooftops are currently minimal due to multiple challenges that must be overcome before widespread implementation will occur, and these are presented and discussed herein in great detail. Although intensive green roof systems (>15 cm medium depths) are thought to be most suited for vegetable production, the greatest potential for sustained productivity is probably through extensive systems (<15 cm depths) due to weight load restrictions for most buildings. Thus, shallow-rooted vegetables that include important salad greens crops are thought to be the most suited for extensive systems as they can have high productivity with minimal inputs. Research presented herein agree that crops such as lettuce, kale and radish can be produced effectively in an extensive green roof medium with sufficient nutrient and moisture inputs. Other research has indicated that deeper-root crops like tomato can be produced but they will require constant monitoring of fertility and moisture levels. Vegetable production is a definite possibility in urban areas on retrofitted green roofs using minimal growing substrate depths with intensive seasonal maintenance. Rooftop agriculture can improve various ecosystem services, enrich urban biodiversity and reduce food insecurity. Food production provided by green roofs can help support and sustain food for urban communities, as well as provide a unique opportunity to effectively grow food in spaces that are typically unused. The utilization of alternative agricultural production systems, such as green roof technologies, will increase in importance as human populations become more urbanized and urban consumers become more interested in local foods for their families. Although cultivation of food on buildings is a key component to making cities more sustainable and habitable, green roofs are not the total solution to provide food security to cities. They should be viewed more as a supplement to other sources of food production in urban areas.
Micronutrient Availability in Alternative Foods During Agricultural Catastrophes
Authors: Denkenberger David , Pearce Joshua M.
Published: October 2018

Several catastrophes could block the sun, including asteroid/comet impact, super volcanic eruption, and nuclear war with the burning of cities (nuclear winter). Previous work has analyzed alternate food supplies (e.g., mushrooms growing on dead trees, bacteria growing on natural gas). This was shown to be technically capable of feeding everyone with macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates, and lipids) and minerals, although economics and politics remain uncertain. The present work analyzes vitamin availability in such alternative food scenarios. The vitamin content of various alternate foods is compared to the US recommended daily allowance (RDA) as well as the average requirement defined by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and insufficiencies of single food sources are discussed. Single alternate food sources are always deficient in some vitamins, and the problems associated with this are discussed. To prevent disease in an alternative food scenario a wide range of foods must be consumed, or the diet must be supplemented. Backup plans discussed include chemical synthesis of vitamins, plants grown with artificial light and growing bacteria rich in certain vitamins. Finally, insights from this analysis are provided for combating existing micronutritional deficiencies using alternative foods today.
A Novel Panel of Rabbit Monoclonal Antibodies and Their Diverse Applications Including Inhibition of Clostridium perfringens Epsilon Toxin Oligomerization
Authors: Linden Jennifer R. , Telesford Kiel , Shetty Samantha , Winokour Paige , Haigh Sylvia , Cahir-McFarland Ellen , Antognetti Giovanna , Datta Abhishek , Wang Tao , Meier Werner , Vartanian Timothy
Published: October 2018

The pore-forming epsilon toxin (ETX) produced by Clostridium perfringens is among the most lethal bacterial toxins known. Sensitive antibody-based reagents are needed to detect toxin, distinguish mechanisms of cell death, and prevent ETX toxicity. Using B-cell immuno-panning and cloning techniques, seven ETX-specific monoclonal antibodies were generated from immunized rabbits. ETX specificity and sensitivity were evaluated via western blot, ELISA, immunocytochemistry (ICC), and flow cytometry. ETX-neutralizing function was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. All antibodies recognized both purified ETX and epsilon protoxin via western blot with two capable of detecting the ETX-oligomer complex. Four antibodies detected ETX via ELISA and three detected ETX bound to cells via ICC or flow cytometry. Several antibodies prevented ETX-induced cell death by either preventing ETX binding or by blocking ETX oligomerization. Antibodies that blocked ETX oligomerization inhibited ETX endocytosis and cellular vacuolation. Importantly, one of the oligomerization-blocking antibodies was able to protect against ETX-induced death post-ETX exposure in vitro and in vivo. Here we describe the production of a panel of rabbit monoclonal anti-ETX antibodies and their use in various biological assays. Antibodies possessing differential specificity to ETX in particular conformations will aid in the mechanistic studies of ETX cytotoxicity, while those with ETX-neutralizing function may be useful in preventing ETX-mediated mortality.
Ant Colony Optimization and Genetic Algorithm for Fuzzy Stochastic Production-Distribution Planning
Authors: SAKALLI Umit Sami , ATABAS Irfan
Published: October 2018

In this paper, a tactical Production-Distribution Planning (PDP) has been handled in a fuzzy and stochastic environment for supply chain systems (SCS) which has four echelons (suppliers, plants, warehouses, retailers) with multi-products, multi-transport paths, and multi-time periods. The mathematical model of fuzzy stochastic PDP is a NP-hard problem for large SCS because of the binary variables which determine the transportation paths between echelons of the SCS and cannot be solved by optimization packages. In this study, therefore, two new meta-heuristic algorithms have been developed for solving fuzzy stochastic PDP: Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) and Genetic Algorithm (GA). The proposed meta-heuristic algorithms are designed for route optimization in PDP and integrated with the GAMS optimization package in order to solve the remaining mathematical model which determines the other decisions in SCS, such as procurement decisions, production decisions, etc. The solution procedure in the literature has been extended by aggregating proposed meta-heuristic algorithms. The ACO and GA algorithms have been performed for test problems which are randomly generated. The results of the test problem showed that the both ACO and GA are capable to solve the NP-hard PDP for a big size SCS. However, GA produce better solutions than the ACO.
Speciation Analysis of Selenium in Candida utilis Yeast Cells Using HPLC-ICP-MS and UHPLC-ESI-Orbitrap MS Techniques
Authors: Kieliszek Marek , Błażejak Stanisław
Published: October 2018

Selenium plays a key role in the proper metabolism of living organisms. The search for new selenium compounds opens up new possibilities for understanding selenometabolome in yeast cells. This study was aimed at the identification of compounds containing selenium in the feed yeasts Candida utilis ATCC 9950. Yeast biomass was kept in aqueous solutions enriched with inorganic selenium (20 mg·L−1) for 24 h. Speciation analysis of the element was performed using the HPLC-ICP-MS and UHPLC-ESI-Orbitrap MS techniques. The obtained selenium value in the yeast was 629 μg·g−1, while the selenomethionine value was 31.57 μg·g−1. The UHPLC-ESI-Orbitrap MS analysis conducted allowed for the identification of six selenium compounds: dehydro-selenomethionine-oxide, selenomethionine, selenomethionine-NH3, a Se-S conjugate of selenoglutathione-cysteine, methylthioselenoglutathione, and 2,3-DHP-selenocysteine-cysteine. In order to explain the structure of selenium compounds, the selected ions were subjected to fragmentation. The selenium compounds obtained with a low mass play a significant role in the metabolism of the compound. However, the bioavailability of such components and their properties have not been fully understood. The number of signals indicating the presence of selenium compounds obtained using the UHPLC-ESI-Orbitrap MS method was characterized by higher sensitivity than when using the HPLC-ICP-MS method. The obtained results will expand upon knowledge about the biotransformation of selenium in eukaryotic yeast cells. Future research should focus on understanding the entire selenium metabolism in cells and on the search for new transformation pathways for this element. This opens up new possibilities for obtaining functional food, rich in easily absorbable selenium sources, and constituting an alternative to dietary supplements based on this compound found primarily in inorganic form.
Strain Measurement Distributed on a Ground Anchor Bearing Plate by Fiber Optic OFDR Sensor
Authors: Kwon Yong-Seok , Seo Dae-Cheol , Choi Bo-Hun , Jeon Min Yong , Kwon Il-Bum
Published: October 2018

The safety of soil slopes reinforced by ground anchors can be evaluated by monitoring the tensile force of the anchors. The tensile force of ground anchors can be determined by measuring the strain of the bearing plate that transfers the tensile force of the anchor to the ground. Therefore, in order to investigate the relation between the strain of the bearing plate and the tensile force of a ground anchor, the strain distributed on the bearing plate was measured by a fiber optic OFDR (optical frequency domain reflectometry) sensor, which was fabricated by a tunable laser source, auxiliary interferometer, and main interferometer. This OFDR sensor was operated through a sweep range of 500 GHz with a spatial resolution of 0.2 mm, and a strain accuracy of approximately 4 με, considering the system noise when operating in 5-cm segments. The sensing fiber was circularly bonded onto the bearing plate using epoxy, and the distributed strain was measured on the bearing plate while increasing the load up to 10 tons. From the experimental results, the difference between the strain near the anchor head and the strain at the far site is significant in the region where compression strain is dominant. However, such a tendency did not appear in areas where bending strain dominates. Therefore, in order to monitor an anchor tensile force, it is necessary to carefully study the calibration factor between the anchor tensile force and the strain of the bearing plate.
Effects of Co-Solvents on the Performance of PEDOT:PSS Films and Hybrid Photovoltaic Devices
Authors: Iyer Abhishek , Hack James , Angel Trujillo David Alejandro , Tew Bo , Zide Joshua , Opila Robert
Published: October 2018

Hybrid silicon solar cells have been fabricated by the spin coating of conductive polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as a p-type contact on textured n-type crystalline silicon wafers. The effect of adding co-solvents, ethylene glycol (EG) and dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO), to PEDOT:PSS improves its conductivity which translates to the improved performance of solar cells. Transfer length measurements were conducted to realize optimal contact with minimal losses between the front metal contact (silver) and PEDOT:PSS. From the conductivity and device results, a 7% EG with 0.25 wt% Triton (surfactant) blend of PEDOT:PSS is found to be optimal for these cells. This current approach with a few changes in the device architecture will pave way for the further improvement of PEDOT:PSS based hybrid silicon solar cells.
Influence of Interfacial Intermetallic Growth on the Mechanical Properties of Sn-37Pb Solder Joints under Extreme Temperature Thermal Shock
Authors: Hang Chunjin , Tian Ruyu , Zhao Liyou , Tian Yanhong
Published: October 2018

Solder joints in thermally uncontrolled microelectronic assemblies have to be exposed to extreme temperature environments during deep space exploration. In this study, extreme temperature thermal shock test from −196 °C to 150 °C was performed on quad flat package (QFP) assembled with Sn-37Pb solder joints to investigate the evolution and growth behavior of interfacial intermetallic compounds (IMCs) and their effect on the pull strength and fracture behavior of Sn-37Pb solder joints under extreme temperature environment. Both the scallop-type (Cu, Ni)6Sn5 IMCs at the Cu lead side and the needle-type (Ni, Cu)3Sn4 IMCs at the Ni-P layer side changed to plane-type IMCs during extreme temperature thermal shock. A thin layer of Cu3Sn IMCs was formed between the Cu lead and (Cu, Ni)6Sn5 IMC layer after 150 cycles. The growth of the interfacial IMCs at the lead side and the Ni-P layer side was dominated by bulk diffusion and grain-boundary diffusion, respectively. The pull strength was reduced about 31.54% after 300 cycles. With increasing thermal shock cycles, the fracture mechanism changed from ductile fracture to mixed ductile–brittle fracture, which can be attributed to the thickening of the interfacial IMCs, and the stress concentration near the interface caused by interfacial IMC growth.
Detection of Ventricular Fibrillation Using the Image from Time-Frequency Representation and Combined Classifiers without Feature Extraction
Authors: Mjahad Azeddine , Rosado-Muñoz Alfredo , Guerrero-Martínez Juan F. , Bataller-Mompeán Manuel , Francés-Villora Jose V. , Dutta Malay Kishore
Published: October 2018

Due the fact that the required therapy to treat Ventricular Fibrillation (V F) is aggressive (electric shock), the lack of a proper detection and recovering therapy could cause serious injuries to the patient or trigger a ventricular fibrillation, or even death. This work describes the development of an automatic diagnostic system for the detection of the occurrence of V F in real time by means of the time-frequency representation (T F R) image of the ECG. The main novelties are the use of the T F R image as input for a classification process, as well as the use of combined classifiers. The feature extraction stage is eliminated and, together with the use of specialized binary classifiers, this method improves the results of the classification. To verify the validity of the method, four different classifiers in different combinations are used: Regression Logistic with L2 Regularization (L 2 R L R), adaptive neural network (A N N C), Bagging (B A G G), and K-nearest neighbor (K N N). The Hierarchical Method (HM) and Voting Majority Method (VMM) combinations are used. ECG signals used for evaluation were obtained from the standard MIT-BIH and AHA databases. When the classifiers were combined, it was observed that the combination of B A G G , K N N , and A N N C using the Hierarchical Method (HM) gave the best results, with a sensitivity of 95.58 ± 0.41%, a 99.31 ± 0.08% specificity, a 98.6 ± 0.04% of overall accuracy, and a precision of 98.25 ± 0.29% for V F . Whereas a sensitivity of 94.02 ± 0.58%, a specificity of 99.31 ± 0.08%, an overall accuracy of 99.14 ± 0.43%, and a precision of 98.59 ± 0.09% was obtained for V T with a run time between 0.07 s and 0.12 s. Results show that the use of T F R image data to feed the combined classifiers yields a reduction in execution time with performance values above to those obtained by individual classifiers. This is of special utility for V F detection in real time.
Partition Behavior in Aqueous Two-Phase System and Antioxidant Activity of Flavonoids from Ginkgo biloba
Authors: Liu Can , Liu Shuochen , Zhang Lingli , Wang Xiaoxue , Ma Lanqing
Published: October 2018

In this work, the aqueous two-phase extraction parameters and in vitro antioxidant activity of total flavonoids from Ginkgo biloba were investigated. The partition behavior of the flavonoids in an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) was analyzed, the extraction parameters were optimized using response surface methodology, and the antioxidant activity of the flavonoids was determined by free-radical scavenging tests (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay) and the ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The results showed that the concentration of ammonium sulfate was negatively correlated with the phase-volume ratio, whereas the concentration of polyethylene glycol was positively correlated. The maximum yield of flavonoids (4.11 mg g−1) was obtained under the following optimal extraction conditions: Concentration of polyethylene glycol (PEG)1500 30% and (NH4)2SO4 22% (mass fraction), and liquid/solid ratio 40:1 (mL g−1). The antioxidant activity tests showed that the flavonoids from the G. biloba leaf exhibited free-radical scavenging activity, with an IC50 of 2.66 mg L−1, which was superior to that of vitamin C. The free-radical scavenging ability of the flavonoids was proportional to the flavonoid concentration. The total reducing power of the Ginkgo flavonoids was slightly lower than that of vitamin C. In this study, the distribution of flavonoids in an ATPS was analyzed and a mathematical model for the ATPS extraction of Ginkgo flavonoids was established, which provides a reference for further development and utilization of G. biloba.
A Review on Fault Current Limiting Devices to Enhance the Fault Ride-Through Capability of the Doubly-Fed Induction Generator Based Wind Turbine
Authors: Naderi Seyed Behzad , Davari Pooya , Zhou Dao , Negnevitsky Michael , Blaabjerg Frede
Published: October 2018

The doubly-fed induction generator has significant features compared to the fixed speed wind turbine, which has popularised its application in power systems. Due to partial rated back-to-back converters in the doubly-fed induction generator, fault ride-through capability improvement is one of the important subjects in relation to new grid code requirements. To enhance the fault ride-through capability of the doubly-fed induction generator, many studies have been carried out. Fault current limiting devices are one of the techniques utilised to limit the current level and protect the switches, of the back-to-back converter, from over-current damage. In this paper, a review is carried out based on the fault current limiting characteristic of fault current limiting devices, utilised in the doubly-fed induction generator. Accordingly, fault current limiters and series dynamic braking resistors are mainly considered. Operation of all configurations, including their advantages and disadvantages, is explained. Impedance type and the location of the fault current limiting devices are two important factors, which significantly affect the behaviour of the doubly-fed induction generator in the fault condition. These two factors are studied by way of simulation, basically, and their effects on the key parameters of the doubly-fed induction generator are investigated. Finally, future works, in respect to the application of the fault current limiter for the improvement of the fault ride-through of the doubly-fed induction generator, have also been discussed in the conclusion section.
An IP Multimedia Subsystem Services Proxy Gateway Based on a JAVA Dynamic Module System
Authors: Chang Yi-Chun , Li Jian-Wei , Lv Jing-Hong
Published: October 2018

By virtue of the rapid development of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT), people have owned various devices connected to the Internet to enjoy various emerging application services, such as multimedia related services. IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is the integration platform for multimedia application services and provides a rich feature set of converged services in the Next Generation Network (NGN). IMS services are accessed by a user anytime and anywhere through his/her personal self IMS device, e.g., mobile device, equipped with a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) card. People have owned various devices connected to the Internet at homes or offices. However, some devices can not access IMS services without USIM cards embedded, which is called non-IMS devices. People wish that more devices without USIM cards embedded should be connected to the Internet on which IMS services are accessed in addition to the mobile devices equipped with USIM cards. Accordingly, we propose an Open Service Gateway Initiative (OSGi)-based IMS service gateway, in which OSGi technology is the dynamic module system for JAVA. The proposed gateway is authorized by a personal self IMS device such that IMS services are accessed by non-IMS devices, in this paper. Moreover, these non-IMS devices rely on different networks to access technologies and network protocols and the IMS service gateway proposed here adopts the OSGi framework for no problem of integration.