bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PEMANFAATAN PELAYANAN KESEHATAN DAN PENGGUNAAN AIR SUNGAI DENGAN KELUHAN KESEHATAN KULIT PADA MASYARAKAT
Authors: Riza Yeni , Fahrurazi Fahrurazi , Ernadi Erwin
Published: August 2018

Hasil pemantauan kualitas air sungai oleh Badan Lingkungan Hidup Kota Banjarmasin tahun 2013, 2014, dan 2015 diperoleh hasil bahwa Sungai Martapura dan Sungai Barito termasuk dalam status cemar berat. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui pemanfaatan pelayanan kesehatan dan penggunaan air sungai dengan keluhan kesehatan kulit pada masyarakat sekitar sungai Pangambangan Banjarmasin. Target penelitian ini diharapkan dapat dilakukan pengabdian kepada masyarakat di sekitar sungai pengambangan Banjarmasin agar masyarakat dapat lebih meningkatkan pengetahuan, sikap dan tindakannya terhadap hidup sehat dan mampu memanfaatkan pelayanan kesehatan, khususnya Puskesmas terdekat. Metode penelitian yang digunakan deskriptif dengan pendekatan cross sectional. Sampel dilakukan secara purposive sampling yaitu pengambilan sampel dengan tidak memberikan peluang yang sama dari setiap anggota populasi. Instrumen penelitian ini menggunakan kuesioner dengan teknik wawancara. Analisa data menggunakan uji statistik Chi Square. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa sebagian besar masyarakat tidak menggunakan pelayanan kesehatan yaitu 79 responden (85,87%), sebagian besar masyarakat tidak mengalami keluhan kesehatan kulit yaitu sebesar 89 responden (96,7%). Dalam penggunaan air sungai diperoleh hasil bahwa lebih banyak responden dalam kategori menggunakan air sungai yaitu 76 responden (82,61%). Hasil uji chi square menunjukkan bahwa ada hubungan antara pemanfaatan layanan kesehatan dengan keluhan kesehatan kulit (p-value = 0,000) dan tidak ada hubungan antara penggunaan air sungai dengan keluhan kesehatan kulit p-value = 0,130)Kata Kunci : Pemanfaatan, Pelayanan Kesehatan, Sungai
STRATEGI PROMOSI KESEHATAN TERHADAP UPAYA PENANGGULANGAN PENYALAHGUNAAN NARKOBA
Authors: Kurniawan. K Rama Nur
Published: August 2018

Narkoba merupakan salah satu masalah kesehatan masyarakat Indonesia yang penyalahgunaannya cenderung meningkat. Sementara ada sekitar 200 juta orang meninggal dunia setiap tahunnya disebabkan peyalahgunaan narkoba. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memperoleh informasi tentang bagaimana strategi promosi kesehatan terhadap upaya penanggulangan penyalahgunaan narkoba di Dinas Kesehatan Kabupaten Wajo. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kualitatif yang sifatnya mengeksplorasi informasi dari informan sehubungan dengan strategi promosi kesehatan terhadap upaya penanggulangan penyalahgunaan narkoba di Dinas Kesehatan Kabupaten Wajo. Dari hasil penelitian menunjukkan : (1). Advokasi yang dilakukan Dinas Kesehatan Kabupaten Wajo dengan cara mengusulkan bantuan dana kepada Pemeerintah Daerah, untuk keperluan kegiatan penyuluhan napza di sekolah. (2). Kemitraan yang dilakukan Dinas Kesehatan terhadap upaya penanggulangan narkoba dengan membangun kerjasama  dengan pihak polres, sekolah, puskesmas dan pemda. (3). Pemberdayaan yang dilakukan dinas kesehatan dan puskesmas, dengan membentuk kader kesehatan remaja di sekolah sebagai bentuk keikutsertaan siswa dalam memberantas narkoba di Kabupaten Wajo.Kata Kunci : Strategi promosi kesehatan, penyalahgunaan narkoba
In my model...
Authors: Burton Roger
Published: August 2018

Point of view:  At the time of writing this I am 58 years old--A cis-gender, white male who grew up in the US.  From my point of view, most anything I do or have done in the world can be considered produced by present day, and centuries of, systemic privilege and inequity from which I have and do benefit.  I have lived much of my adult life internationally in countries and cultures other than my own culture of origin.

Value: I cannot really speak to the value of the work.  I wrote this piece as the result of a very specific request from a friend and I feel it may have been valuable in some way in that context.  There is no attempt here to assert some generalized or authorized model or knowledge.  Whatever value this little piece may or may not have will arise between the work and the reader.  It is not for me to assert something about that.  In this way the primary value of the piece might be as a reflective surface that may help reveal, distinguish or elicit the reader’s own models of learning and coaching.

Summary: This piece is the result of a request from a friend.  We use “coaching” in conjunction with work on systems thinking, community, systems leadership, complexity and generative social fields.  It is the process by which we support individuals within their own milieu.  In a certain sense the piece is itself a kind of summary.  I have not footnoted or attributed the work since it is really not meant to be an authorized model or definitive statement in any way.
UniMiB AAL: An Android Sensor Data Acquisition and Labeling Suite
Authors: Ginelli Davide , Micucci Daniela , Mobilio Marco , Napoletano Paolo
Published: August 2018

In recent years, research on techniques to identify and classify activities of daily living (ADLs) has significantly grown. This is justified by the many application domains that benefit from the application of these techniques, which span from entertainment to health support. Usually, human activities are classified by analyzing signals that have been acquired from sensors. Inertial sensors are the most commonly employed, as they are not intrusive, are generally inexpensive and highly accurate, and are already available to the user because they are mounted on widely used devices such as fitness trackers, smartphones, and smartwatches. To be effective, classification techniques should be tested and trained with datasets of samples. However, the availability of publicly available datasets is limited. This implies that it is difficult to make comparative evaluations of the techniques and, in addition, that researchers are required to waste time developing ad hoc applications to sample and label data to be used for the validation of their technique. The aim of our work is to provide the scientific community with a suite of applications that eases both the acquisition of signals from sensors in a controlled environment and the labeling tasks required when building a dataset. The suite includes two Android applications that are able to adapt to both the running environment and the activities the subject wishes to execute. Because of its simplicity and the accuracy of the labeling process, our suite can increase the number of publicly available datasets.
Energy Management Strategy for the Hybrid Energy Storage System of Pure Electric Vehicle Considering Traffic Information
Authors: Hu Jianjun , Jiang Xingyue , Jia Meixia , Zheng Yong
Published: August 2018

The main challenge for the pure electric vehicles (PEVs) with a hybrid energy storage system (HESS), consisting of a battery pack and an ultra-capacitor pack, is to develop a real-time controller that can achieve a significant adaptability to the real road. In this paper, a comprehensive controller considering the traffic information is proposed, which is composed of an adaptive rule-based controller (main controller) and a fuzzy logic controller (auxiliary controller). Through analyzing the dynamic programming (DP) based power allocation of HESS, a general law for the power allocation of HESS is acquired and an adaptive rule-based controller is established. Then, to further enhance the real-time performance of the adaptive rule-based controller, traffic information, which consists of the traffic condition and road grade, is considered, and a novel method combining a K-means clustering algorithm and traffic condition is proposed to predict the future trend of vehicle speed. On the basis of the obtained traffic information, a fuzzy logic controller is constructed to provide the correction for the power allocation in the adaptive rule-based controller. Ultimately, the comparative simulations among the traditional rule-based controller, the adaptive rule-based controller, and the comprehensive controller are conducted, and the results indicate that the proposed adaptive rule-based controller reduces battery life loss by 3.76% and the state of change (SOC) consumption by 3.55% in comparison with the traditional rule-based controller. Furthermore, the comprehensive controller possesses the most excellent performance and reduces the battery life loss by 2.98% and the SOC consumption of the battery by 1.88%, when compared to the adaptive rule-based controller.
Cosmetic Formulation Based on an Açai Extract
Authors: Censi Roberta , Vargas Peregrina Dolores , Lacava Giovanna , Agas Dimitrios , Lupidi Giulio , Sabbieti Maria Giovanna , Di Martino Piera
Published: August 2018

(1) Background: Açai berry extract is known for its high content in polyphenols and thus is a promising ingredient for cosmetic antiaging formulations; (2) Methods: In this study, the açai extract was firstly evaluated for its total phenol content (Folin Ciocalteau essay) and antioxidant activity (radical scavenging activity—DPPH; radical cation scavenging capacity—ABTS; ferric reducing antioxidant capacity—FRAP). Next, the açai extract was included in an O/W formulation and again was evaluated for its polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity. The formulation was tested for general characteristics, physicochemical properties and microbial stability. The proliferative effect on human immortalized fibroblasts was evaluated by the MTT essay, while TAC assay served to confirm that fibroblasts are protected from UV irradiation. The irritant potential was verified on 20 volunteers. The study concluded with the assessment of the sensorial characteristics of the cosmetic formulation; (3) Results: The pure açai extract exhibited high polyphenol content and antioxidant activity, and these characteristics were preserved in the O/W formulation as well. The O/W cosmetic formulation proved to be stable under accelerated and normal conditions, and the preservatives were successful in challenging the resistance against microbial contamination. The mean irritant potential was zero in all volunteers, and the cosmetic formulation showed a good sensorial profile; (4) Conclusions: Açai extract is an interesting ingredient for cosmetic antiaging formulations.
Optimizing the Design of Airfoil and Optical Buffer Problems Using Spotted Hyena Optimizer
Authors: Dhiman Gaurav , Kaur Amandeep
Published: August 2018

This paper presents the contemporary metaheuristic optimization algorithm named the Spotted Hyena Optimizer (SHO). The proposed technique is based on the law of gravitation and simulates the social behavior of spotted hyenas. The three basic steps of SHO, namely, searching for prey, encircling, and attacking prey, are mathematically modelled and discussed. The main concept of this work is to apply the recently developed SHO algorithm to two real-life design problems, namely optical buffer design and airfoil design. Experimental results reveal the supremacy of the SHO algorithm for solving the engineering design problems as compared to other competitor algorithms.
Symbolic Entropy Analysis and Its Applications
Authors: Alcaraz Raúl
Published: August 2018

This editorial explains the scope of the special issue and provides a thematic introduction to the contributed papers.
Distributed Energy Resources Scheduling and Aggregation in the Context of Demand Response Programs
Authors: Faria Pedro , Spínola João , Vale Zita
Published: August 2018

Distributed energy resources can contribute to an improved operation of power systems, improving economic and technical efficiency. However, aggregation of resources is needed to make these resources profitable. The present paper proposes a methodology for distributed resources management by a Virtual Power Player (VPP), addressing the resources scheduling, aggregation and remuneration based on the aggregation made. The aggregation is made using K-means algorithm. The innovative aspect motivating the present paper relies on the remuneration definition considering multiple scenarios of operation, by performing a multi-observation clustering. Resources aggregation and remuneration profiles are obtained for 2592 operation scenarios, considering 548 distributed generators, 20,310 consumers, and 10 suppliers.
Temperature Distribution of HBC Fuses with Asymmetric Electric Current Ratios Through Fuselinks
Authors: Plesca Adrian
Published: August 2018

In many industrial applications high breaking capacity (HBC) fuses are used to protect electrical installations against overcurrents, especially in the power distribution network. At high rated current, HBC fuses have more parallel fuselinks mounted inside. The technological and mounting processes of the fuselinks inside the fuse results in an asymmetrical current distribution through the parallel fuselinks. In this article a model of a high breaking capacity fuse using two parallel fuselinks is proposed. The influence of electric current, cross-section of the notches, distance between notches and current imbalance through fuselinks on the maximum temperature rise of both fuselinks, has been investigated. Also, a 3D thermal model for the same HBC fuse has been developed. The temperature spread into the fuse and its elements has been obtained. In order to prove the validity of the mathematical and 3D model different tests have been considered. The experimental, simulation and computed results give similar values and it results that this model can also be used for fuses with many parallel fuselinks and it permits the design of new fuse elements with optimal thermal distribution.
Assessment and Performance Evaluation of a Wind Turbine Power Output
Authors: Abolude Akintayo Temiloluwa , Zhou Wen
Published: August 2018

Estimation errors have constantly been a technology bother for wind power management, often time with deviations of actual power curve (APC) from the turbine power curve (TPC). Power output dispersion for an operational 800 kW turbine was analyzed using three averaging tine steps of 1-min, 5-min, and 15-min. The error between the APC and TPC in kWh was about 25% on average, irrespective of the time of the day, although higher magnitudes of error were observed during low wind speeds and poor wind conditions. The 15-min averaged time series proved more suitable for grid management and energy load scheduling, but the error margin was still a major concern. An effective power curve (EPC) based on the polynomial parametric wind turbine power curve modeling technique was calibrated using turbine and site-specific performance data. The EPC reduced estimation error to about 3% in the aforementioned time series during very good wind conditions. By integrating statistical wind speed forecasting methods and site-specific EPCs, wind power forecasting and management can be significantly improved without compromising grid stability.
Complex Heat Pump Operational Mode Identification and Comparison for Use in Electric Vehicles
Authors: Jeffs James , McGordon Andrew , Picarelli Alessandro , Robinson Simon , Tripathy Yashraj , Widanage Widanalage
Published: August 2018

Previous research has focused on the use of heat pumps in electric vehicles, with the focus on recuperating heat from, normally, ambient and one thermal source on the vehicle. Here 5 potential thermal sources on a vehicle have been identified and thorough testing on the benefit of each source has been performed. The results presented suggest the motor, a thermal storage device, and cabin exhaust extraction should be used >80% of the time according to the scenarios tested, while battery heating and transmission heat extraction should be used subject to conditions on the ambient temperature and drive cycle.
Data Envelopment Analysis in Energy and Environmental Economics: An Overview of the State-of-the-Art and Recent Development Trends
Authors: Mardani Abbas , Streimikiene Dalia , Balezentis Tomas , Saman Muhamad Zameri Mat , Nor Khalil Md , Khoshnava Seyed Meysam
Published: August 2018

Measurement of environmental and energy economics presents an analytical foundation for environmental decision making and policy analysis. Applications of data envelopment analysis (DEA) models in the assessment of environmental and energy economics are increasing notably. The main objective of this review paper is to provide the comprehensive overview of the application of DEA models in the fields of environmental and energy economics. In this regard, a total 145 articles published in the high-quality international journals extracted from two important databases (Web of Science and Scopus) were selected for review. The 145 selected articles are reviewed and classified based on different criteria including author(s), application scheme, different DEA models, application fields, the name of journals and year of publication. This review article provided insights into the methodological and conceptualization study in the application of DEA models in the environmental and energy economics fields. This study should enable scholars and practitioners to understand the state of art of input and output indicators of DEA in the fields of environmental and energy economics.
Impact of Ageing and Generational Effects on Household Energy Consumption Behavior: Evidence from Pakistan
Authors: Aslam Misbah , Ahmad Eatzaz
Published: August 2018

Demographic shift is a worldwide phenomenon, which is mainly common among industrialized nations. However, in the age of fast technology transfer and globalization policy makers cannot undervalue population aging in developing countries, like Pakistan. The relationship between population aging, combined with joint family system, and energy demand has gained importance in Pakistan during the recent times. On the basis of a detailed analysis of micro data spanning over period of 16 years, this study explores the role of generational behavior towards energy consumption, while considering the effects of cohort and age, along with other determinants of energy demand. The decomposition of energy consumption exhibits significant differences in cohort and age effects. The study concludes that, in addition to aging effects, policy makers cannot ignore the recent generation’s trends of spending increasingly more on energy than previous generations.
Detection, Purity Analysis, and Quality Assurance of Adulterated Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) Oils
Authors: Smithson Shayla , Fakayode Boluwatife , Henderson Siera , Nguyen John , Fakayode Sayo
Published: August 2018

The intake of adulterated and unhealthy oils and trans-fats in the human diet has had negative health repercussions, including cardiovascular disease, causing millions of deaths annually. Sadly, a significant percentage of all consumable products including edible oils are neither screened nor monitored for quality control for various reasons. The prospective intake of adulterated oils and the associated health impacts on consumers is a significant public health safety concern, necessitating the need for quality assurance checks of edible oils. This study reports a simple, fast, sensitive, accurate, and low-cost chemometric approach to the purity analysis of highly refined peanut oils (HRPO) that were adulterated either with vegetable oil (VO), canola oil (CO), or almond oil (AO) for food quality assurance purposes. The Fourier transform infrared spectra of the pure oils and adulterated HRPO samples were measured and subjected to a partial-least-square (PLS) regression analysis. The obtained PLS regression figures-of-merit were incredible, with remarkable linearity (R2 = 0.994191 or better). The results of the score plots of the PLS regressions illustrate pattern recognition of the adulterated HRPO samples. Importantly, the PLS regressions accurately determined percent compositions of adulterated HRPOs, with an overall root-mean-square-relative-percent-error of 5.53% and a limit-of-detection as low as 0.02% (wt/wt). The developed PLS regressions continued to predict the compositions of newly prepared adulterated HRPOs over a period of two months, with incredible accuracy without the need for re-calibration. The accuracy, sensitivity, and robustness of the protocol make it desirable and potentially adoptable by health departments and local enforcement agencies for fast screening and quality assurance of consumable products.
Questionnaires for Lung Health in Africa across the Life Course
Authors: Saleh Sepeedeh , Van Zyl-Smit Richard , Allwood Brian , Lawin Herve , Mbatchou Ngahane Bertrand Hugo , Ayakaka Irene , Moyo Elvis , El-Sony Asma , Mortimer Kevin , Rylance Jamie
Published: August 2018

Respiratory infections remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in many low and middle-income countries but non-communicable disease rates are rising fast. Prevalence studies have been primarily symptom-focused, with tools developed in countries in the Global North such as the United States and the United Kingdom. Systematic study in sub-Saharan African populations is necessary to accurately reflect disease risk factors present in these populations. We present tools for such studies, developed as part of the International Multidisciplinary Programme to Address Lung Health and TB in Africa (‘IMPALA’), which includes lay representatives. At a preliminary meeting, the adequacy and suitability of existing tools was discussed and a new questionnaire set proposed. Individual questionnaires were developed, and an expert panel considered content and criterion validity. Questionnaires underwent a cross-cultural adaptation process, incorporating translation and contextual ‘sense-checking’, through the use of pre-established lay focus groups in Malawi, before consensus-approval by project collaborators. The complete set of research questionnaires, providing information on lung health symptoms and a relevant range of potential risk factors for lung disease, is now available online. In developing the tools, cultural and contextual insights were important, as were translational considerations. The process benefitted from a foundation in expert knowledge, starting with validated tools and internationally respected research groups, and from a coordinated collaborative approach. We present and discuss a newly devised, contextually appropriate set of questionnaires for non-communicable lung disease research in Africa that are now available in open access for all to use.
Ovarian Cancer Incidence in the U.S. and Toxic Emissions from Pulp and Paper Plants: A Geospatial Analysis
Authors: Hanchette Carol , Zhang Charlie H. , Schwartz Gary G.
Published: August 2018

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of female cancer mortality in the U.S. and accounts for five percent of all cancer deaths among women. No environmental risk factors for ovarian cancer have been confirmed. We previously reported that ovarian cancer incidence rates at the state level were significantly correlated with the extent of pulp and paper manufacturing. We evaluated that association using county-level data and advanced geospatial methods. Specifically, we investigated the relationship of spatial patterns of ovarian cancer incidence rates with toxic emissions from pulp and paper facilities using data from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). Geospatial analysis identified clusters of counties with high ovarian cancer incidence rates in south-central Iowa, Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania, Alabama, and Georgia. A bivariate local indicator of spatial autocorrelation (LISA) analysis confirmed that counties with high ovarian cancer rates were associated with counties with large numbers of pulp and paper mills. Regression analysis of state level data indicated a positive correlation between ovarian cancer and water pollutant emissions. A similar relationship was identified from the analysis of county-level data. These data support a possible role of water-borne pollutants from pulp and paper mills in the etiology of ovarian cancer.
Immune Cell Induced Migration of Osteoprogenitor Cells Is Mediated by TGF-β Dependent Upregulation of NOX4 and Activation of Focal Adhesion Kinase
Authors: Ehnert Sabrina , Linnemann Caren , Aspera-Werz Romina H. , Bykova Daria , Biermann Sara , Fecht Leonie , De Zwart Peter M. , Nussler Andreas K. , Stuby Fabian
Published: August 2018

The cytokines secreted by immune cells have a large impact on the tissue, surrounding a fracture, e.g., by attraction of osteoprogenitor cells. However, the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Thus, this study aims at investigating molecular mechanisms of the immune cell-mediated migration of immature primary human osteoblasts (phOBs), with transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 4 (NOX4) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) as possible regulators. Monocyte- and macrophage (THP-1 cells ± phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) treatment)-conditioned media, other than the granulocyte-conditioned medium (HL-60 cells + dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) treatment), induce migration of phOBs. Monocyte- and macrophage (THP-1 cells)-conditioned media activate Smad3-dependent TGF-β signaling in the phOBs. Stimulation with TGF-β promotes migration of phOBs. Furthermore, TGF-β treatment strongly induces NOX4 expression on both mRNA and protein levels. The associated reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation results in phosphorylation (Y397) of FAK. Blocking TGF-β signaling, NOX4 activity and FAK signaling effectively inhibits the migration of phOBs towards TGF-β. In summary, our data suggest that monocytic- and macrophage-like cells induce migration of phOBs in a TGF-β-dependent manner, with TGF-β-dependent induction of NOX4, associated production of ROS and resulting activation of FAK as key mediators.
Exploring the Applicability of Location-Based Services to Delineate the State Public Transport Routes Integratedness within the City of Johannesburg
Authors: Risimati Brightnes , Gumbo Trynos
Published: August 2018

In the past decade, Johannesburg has actively participated in the investment and development of the Gautrain and Rea Vaya public transportation modes. However, the state of route networks connectedness amongst the two public transport modes has not been well documented. Thus, this study aimed to delineate the extent of routes network integration among the two modes. The study adopted a phenomenological case study survey design which applied a mixed-method approach to gather spatial, qualitative and quantitative data. Crowd sourced datasets from Facebook and Twitter were collected, and analyzed using the kriging interpolation method and descriptive statistics. Key informant interviews were also used to unpack the status quo of the two modes. Results indicate that there are limited areas where the route networks between the two modes are currently integrated. Variations in income levels may be a factor currently preventing inter-transfer between the two modes. The Rea Vaya has proven successful in improving accessibility to economic opportunities, with 70% of the social media posts reflecting positive views regarding route and travel timetables. The study recommends conscious efforts in planning and developing integrated rail and road route networks to promote efficiency of public transport systems.
Human Skin-Like Composite Materials for Blast Induced Injury Mitigation
Authors: Chanda Arnab , Graeter Rebecca
Published: August 2018

Armors and military grade personal protection equipment (PPE) materials to date are bulky and are not designed to effectively mitigate blast impacts. In the current work, a human skin-like castable simulant material was developed and its blast mitigation characteristics (in terms of induced stress reduction at the bone and muscles) were characterized in the presence of composite reinforcements. The reinforcement employed was Kevlar 129 (commonly used in advanced combat helmets), which was embedded within the novel skin simulant material as the matrix and used to cover a representative extremity based human skin, muscle and bone section finite element (FE) model. The composite variations tested were continuous and short-fiber types, lay-ups (0/0, 90/0, and 45/45 orientations) and different fiber volume fractions. From the analyses, the 0/0 continuous fiber lay-up with a fiber volume fraction close to 0.1 (or 10%) was found to reduce the blast-induced dynamic stresses at the bone and muscle sections by 78% and 70% respectively. These findings indicate that this novel skin simulant material with Kevlar 129 reinforcement, with further experimental testing, may present future opportunities in blast resistant armor padding designing.
A Misuse of IQ Scores: Using the Dual Discrepancy/Consistency Model for Identifying Specific Learning Disabilities
Authors: Beaujean A. Alexander , Benson Nicholas F. , McGill Ryan J. , Dombrowski Stefan C.
Published: August 2018

The purpose of this article is to describe the origins of patterns of strengths and weaknesses (PSW) methods for identifying specific learning disabilities (SLD) and to provide a comprehensive review of the assumptions and evidence supporting the most commonly-used PSW method in the United States: Dual Discrepancy/Consistency (DD/C). Given their use in determining whether students have access to special education and related services, it is important that any method used to identify SLD have supporting evidence. A review of the DD/C evidence indicates it cannot currently be classified as an evidence-based method for identifying individuals with a SLD. We show that the DD/C method is unsound for three major reasons: (a) it requires test scores have properties that they fundamentally lack, (b) lack of experimental utility evidence supporting its use, and (c) evidence supporting the inability of the method to identify SLD accurately.
A Novel Gesture-Based Language for Underwater Human–Robot Interaction
Authors: Chiarella Davide , Bibuli Marco , Bruzzone Gabriele , Caccia Massimo , Ranieri Andrea , Zereik Enrica , Marconi Lucia , Cutugno Paola
Published: August 2018

The underwater environment is characterized by hazardous conditions that make it difficult to manage and monitor even the simplest human operation. The introduction of a robot companion with the task of supporting and monitoring the divers during their activities and operations underwater can help to solve some of the problems that usually arise in this scenario. In this context, a proper communication between the diver and the robot is imperative for the success of the dive. However, the underwater environment poses a set of technical challenges which are not readily surmountable thus limiting the spectrum from which possibilities can be chosen. This paper presents the design and development of a gesture-based communication language which has been employed for the entire duration of the European project CADDY (Cognitive Autonomous Diving Buddy). This language, the Caddian, was built upon consolidated and standardized underwater gestures that are commonly used in recreational and professional diving. Its use and integration during field tests with a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) is also shown.
Nanotheranostic, Next Generation Prerequisite for Better Health
Authors: Kaushik Ajeet , Nair Madhavan
Published: August 2018

The motivation of this editorial began with a brief introduction of Society for Personalized NanoMedicine [...]
Setting and Implementing Standards for Management of Wild Tigers
Authors: Pasha M. K. S. , Dudley Nigel , Stolton Sue , Baltzer Michael , Long Barney , Roy Sugoto , Belecky Michael , Gopal Rajesh , Yadav S. P.
Published: August 2018

Tiger numbers have collapsed so dramatically that conservationists are adopting a strategy of securing populations in priority conservation landscapes. This includes improving management effectiveness in these sites. The Conservation Assured|Tiger Standards (CA|TS) are designed to help ensure effectiveness and provide a benchmark against which to measure progress. CA|TS is a distillation of best practice and a roadmap to management effectiveness, linking management to expert-driven standards covering all aspects of management, including those which are tiger-specific (monitoring, maintenance of prey, control of poaching). Sites are audited against a set of standards and if met, are accredited as CA|TS Approved. We describe CA|TS in the context of tiger conservation, describe the evolution and philosophy of the system and consider its application across the tiger range, before drawing on lessons learned from 5 years of development. Important benefits include the independence of CA|TS from existing governmental or NGO institutions, the emphasis on regional governance and the existence of active support groups. Conversely, the participatory approach has slowed implementation. CA|TS remains more attractive to well managed sites than to sites that are struggling, although building capacity in the latter is its key aim. The close connections between people working on tiger conservation make some aspects of independent assessment challenging. Finally, if CA|TS is to succeed in its long term aims, it needs to go hand in hand with secure and adequate funding to increase management capacity in many tiger conservation areas.
On the Regulatory Framework for Last-Mile Delivery Robots
Authors: Hoffmann Thomas , Prause Gunnar
Published: August 2018

Autonomously driving delivery robots are developed all around the world, and the first prototypes are tested already in last-mile deliveries of packages. Estonia plays a leading role in this field with its, start-up Starship Technologies, which operates not only in Estonia but also in foreign countries like Germany, Great Britain, and the United States of America (USA), where it seems to provide a promising solution of the last-mile problem. But the more and more frequent appearance of delivery robots in public traffic reveals shortcomings in the regulatory framework of the usage of these autonomous vehicles—despite the maturity of the underlying technology. The related regulatory questions are reaching from data protection over liability for torts performance to such mundane fields as traffic law, which a logistic service provider has to take into account. This paper analyses and further develops the regulatory framework of autonomous delivery robots for packages by highlighting legal implications. Since delivery robots can be understood as cyber-physical systems in the context of Industry 4.0, the research contributes to the related regulatory framework of Industry 4.0 in international terms. Finally, the paper discusses future perspectives and proposes specific modes of compliance.
Inactivation of Venom PLA2 Alleviates Myonecrosis and Facilitates Muscle Regeneration in Envenomed Mice: A Time Course Observation
Authors: Xiao Huixiang , Li Haoran , Zhang Denghong , Li Yuanyuan , Sun Shimin , Huang Chunhong
Published: August 2018

Snake venom is a complex cocktail of toxins which induces a series of clinical and pathophysiological manifestations in victims, including severe local tissue damage and systemic alterations. Deinagkistrodon acutus (D. acutus) ranks among the “big four” life-threatening venomous species in China, whose venom possesses strong myotoxicity and hematotoxicity that often lead to permanent disability or muscle atrophy. Varespladib, an inhibitor of mammalian phospholipase A2 (PLA2), has been recently reproposed as an effective antidote against snakebite envenomation. The present study aimed at evaluating the protective role of varespladib on muscle regeneration in envenomed mice. Mice were grouped and subjected to inoculation with D. acutus venom or a mixture of venom and varespladib or control vehicle in the gastrocnemius muscle. Local injuries including hemorrhage, myonecrosis, ulceration, and systemic damages including general dysfunction, visceral failure, and inflammatory responses were observed at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21 days. The results indicated that most of the muscle myonecrosis and hemorrhage were alleviated by varespladib. Besides, the pretreated mice recovered rapidly with lesser atrophy and muscle fibrosis. In conclusion, the findings of the present study suggested that varespladib is an effective antidote that could neutralize D. acutus venom and allow for earlier and improved rehabilitation outcome.
Pioneer Factors in Animals and Plants—Colonizing Chromatin for Gene Regulation
Authors: Lai Xuelei , Verhage Leonie , Hugouvieux Veronique , Zubieta Chloe
Published: August 2018

Unlike most transcription factors (TF), pioneer TFs have a specialized role in binding closed regions of chromatin and initiating the subsequent opening of these regions. Thus, pioneer TFs are key factors in gene regulation with critical roles in developmental transitions, including organ biogenesis, tissue development, and cellular differentiation. These developmental events involve some major reprogramming of gene expression patterns, specifically the opening and closing of distinct chromatin regions. Here, we discuss how pioneer TFs are identified using biochemical and genome-wide techniques. What is known about pioneer TFs from animals and plants is reviewed, with a focus on the strategies used by pioneer factors in different organisms. Finally, the different molecular mechanisms pioneer factors used are discussed, highlighting the roles that tertiary and quaternary structures play in nucleosome-compatible DNA-binding.
Lignan Glycosides and Flavonoid Glycosides from the Aerial Portion of Lespedeza cuneata and Their Biological Evaluations
Authors: Baek Jiwon , Lee Tae Kyoung , Song Jae-Hyoung , Choi Eunyong , Ko Hyun-Jeong , Lee Sanghyun , Choi Sang Un , Lee Seong , Yoo Sang-Woo , Kim Seon-Hee , Kim Ki Hyun
Published: August 2018

Lespedeza cuneata (Fabaceae), known as Chinese bushclover, has been used in traditional medicines for the treatment of diseases including diabetes, hematuria, and insomnia. As part of a continuing search for bioactive constituents from Korean medicinal plant sources, phytochemical analysis of the aerial portion of L. cuneata led to the isolation of two new lignan glycosides (1,2) along with three known lignan glycosides (3–7) and nine known flavonoid glycosides (8–14). Numerous analysis techniques, including 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, CD spectroscopy, HR-MS, and chemical reactions, were utilized for structural elucidation of the new compounds (1,2). The isolated compounds were evaluated for their applicability in medicinal use using cell-based assays. Compounds 1 and 4–6 exhibited weak cytotoxicity against four human breast cancer cell lines (Bt549, MCF7, MDA-MB-231, and HCC70) (IC50 < 30.0 μM). However, none of the isolated compounds showed significant antiviral activity against PR8, HRV1B, or CVB3. In addition, compound 10 produced fewer lipid droplets in Oil Red O staining of mouse mesenchymal stem cells compared to the untreated negative control without altering the amount of alkaline phosphatase staining.
Inhibitor of CBP Histone Acetyltransferase Downregulates p53 Activation and Facilitates Methylation at Lysine 27 on Histone H3
Authors: Vincek Adam S. , Patel Jigneshkumar , Jaganathan Anbalagan , Green Antonia , Pierre-Louis Valerie , Arora Vimal , Rehmann Jill , Mezei Mihaly , Zhou Ming-Ming , Ohlmeyer Michael , Mujtaba Shiraz
Published: August 2018

Tumor suppressor p53-directed apoptosis triggers loss of normal cells, which contributes to the side-effects from anticancer therapies. Thus, small molecules with potential to downregulate the activation of p53 could minimize pathology emerging from anticancer therapies. Acetylation of p53 by the histone acetyltransferase (HAT) domain is the hallmark of coactivator CREB-binding protein (CBP) epigenetic function. During genotoxic stress, CBP HAT-mediated acetylation is essential for the activation of p53 to transcriptionally govern target genes, which control cellular responses. Here, we present a small molecule, NiCur, which blocks CBP HAT activity and downregulates p53 activation upon genotoxic stress. Computational modeling reveals that NiCur docks into the active site of CBP HAT. On CDKN1A promoter, the recruitment of p53 as well as RNA Polymerase II and levels of acetylation on histone H3 were diminished by NiCur. Specifically, NiCur reduces the levels of acetylation at lysine 27 on histone H3, which concomitantly increases the levels of trimethylation at lysine 27. Finally, NiCur attenuates p53-directed apoptosis by inhibiting the Caspase 3 activity and cleavage of Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in normal gastrointestinal epithelial cells. Collectively, NiCur demonstrates the potential to reprogram the chromatin landscape and modulate biological outcomes of CBP-mediated acetylation under normal and disease conditions.
Establishment of a PCR Assay for the Detection and Discrimination of Authentic Cordyceps and Adulterant Species in Food and Herbal Medicines
Authors: Moon Byeong Cheol , Kim Wook Jin , Park Inkyu , Sung Gi-Ho , Noh Pureum
Published: August 2018

Accurate detection and differentiation of adulterants in food ingredients and herbal medicines are crucial for the safety and basic quality control of these products. Ophiocordyceps sinensis is described as the only fungal source for the authentic medicinal ingredient used in the herbal medicine “Cordyceps”, and two other fungal species, Cordyceps militaris and Isaria tenuipes, are the authentic fungal sources for food ingredients in Korea. However, substitution of these three species, and adulteration of herbal material and dietary supplements originating from Cordyceps pruinosa or Isaria cicadae, seriously affects the safety and reduces the therapeutic efficacy of these products. Distinguishing between these species based on their morphological features is very difficult, especially in commercially processed products. In this study, we employed DNA barcode-based species-specific sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers to discriminate authentic herbal Cordyceps medicines and Cordyceps-derived dietary supplements from related but inauthentic species. The reliable authentication tool exploited the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of a nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nrDNA). We used comparative nrDNA-ITS sequence analysis of the five fungal species to design two sets of SCAR markers. Furthermore, we used a set of species-specific SCAR markers to establish a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the detection of species, contamination, and degree of adulteration. We confirmed the discriminability and reproducibility of the SCAR marker analysis and the real-time PCR assay using commercially processed food ingredients and herbal medicines. The developed SCAR markers may be used to efficiently differentiate authentic material from their related adulterants on a species level. The ITS-based SCAR markers and the real-time PCR assay constitute a useful genetic tool for preventing the adulteration of Cordyceps and Cordyceps-related dietary supplements.
Preparation of Silica Aerogels by Ambient Pressure Drying without Causing Equipment Corrosion
Authors: Zhu Lixiao , Wang Yali , Cui Suping , Yang Feihua , Nie Zuoren , Li Qunyan , Wei Qi
Published: August 2018

The silica aerogels were prepared via a sol-gel technique and ambient pressure drying by using industrial solid wastes, dislodged sludges, as raw materials. A strategy was put forward to reduce the corrosion of equipment during the drying procedure. The pore structure, hydrophobicity, and thermal insulation property of the obtained samples were investigated in detail. The results show that the corrosion can be effectively avoided by using an equimolar mixture of trimethylchlorosilane (TMCS) and hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) as silylation agents. At a Si:TMCS:HMDS molar ratio of 1:0.375:0.375, the silica aerogels possess a desirable pore structure with a pore volume of 3.3 ± 0.1 cm3/g and a most probable pore size of 18.5 nm, a high hydrophobicity with a water contact angle of 144.2 ± 1.1°, and a low thermal conductivity of 0.031 ± 0.001 W/(m∙K).
Determination of Novel Highly Effective Necrostatin Nec-1s in Rat Plasma by High Performance Liquid Chromatography Hyphenated with Quadrupole-Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Mikuš Peter , Pecher Daniel , Rauová Drahomíra , Horváth Csaba , Szobi Adrián , Adameová Adriana
Published: August 2018

Necrostatins have been shown to retard necroptosis, a programmed necrotic-like cell death, which has been shown to underlie pathophysiology of various diseases. Nec-1s, a novel highly effective necrostatin, overcomes some drawbacks of former necrostatin analogues. The determination of Nec-1s in biological system, however, has not been carried out so far. Therefore, this study was undertaken to optimize and validate the HPLC-DAD-Q-TOF method for the assessment of Nec-1s levels in the plasma what is the necessity for designing its proper dosing regimen for in vivo studies. Benefits of the proposed analytical protocol include: (i) simple sample preparation (precipitation of plasma proteins, evaporation of acetonitrile, reconstitution in mobile phase), (ii) fast, selective and sensitive analysis due to a highly orthogonal LC-MS system providing less than 8 min analysis time, (iii) detection of Nec-1s without any matrix interferences, and quantitation of very low concentration levels of Nec-1s (LLOQ ~ 20 ng/mL), (iv) high reliability of Nec-1s determination with precision and accuracy values meeting the FDA criteria for biomedical analysis. The proposed analytical protocol is suitable for routine use in relevant biological studies, and, in this work, it was successfully applied for monitoring of Nec-1s plasma levels in rats providing reproducible and consistent results. Based on pharmacokinetic features, which can also be assessed due to the results of this study, there will be efforts to perform both acute and chronic in vivo studies and potential clinical safety studies first.
Free Space Intra-Datacenter Interconnects Based on 2D Optical Beam Steering Enabled by Photonic Integrated Circuits
Authors: Chaintoutis Charidimos , Shariati Behnam , Bogris Adonis , Dijk Paul V. , Roeloffzen Chris G. H. , Bourderionnet Jerome , Tomkos Ioannis , Syvridis Dimitris
Published: August 2018

Data centers are continuously growing in scale and can contain more than one million servers spreading across thousands of racks; requiring a large-scale switching network to provide broadband and reconfigurable interconnections of low latency. Traditional data center network architectures, through the use of electrical packet switches in a multi-tier topology, has fundamental weaknesses such as oversubscription and cabling complexity. Wireless intra-data center interconnection solutions have been proposed to deal with the cabling problem and can simultaneously address the over-provisioning problem by offering efficient topology re-configurability. In this work we introduce a novel free space optical interconnect solution for intra-data center networks that utilizes 2D optical beam steering for the transmitter, and high bandwidth wide-area photodiode arrays for the receiver. This new breed of free space optical interconnects can be developed on a photonic integrated circuit; offering ns switching at sub-μW consumption. The proposed interconnects together with a networking architecture that is suitable for utilizing those devices could support next generation intra-data center networks, fulfilling the requirements of seamless operation, high connectivity, and agility in terms of the reconfiguration time.