bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FIKIH ZAKAT SIMPANAN DI BANK DAN HUKUM-HUKUMNYA
Authors: Waluya Atep Hendang
Published: November 2017

The potential of zakah of savings on Banks in Indonesia in 2011 reached 17 T. According to the jumhur (konsensus) of contemporary fuqaha (jurist), saving in banks, essentially, are accounts receivable (qardh). There is a difference of opinion among the fuqaha about the zakah on accounts receivable. However, a strong opinion is that saving in banks is accounts receivable to mali badzil (people who can afford to pay debts and not delay payments) therefore deposits in banks both conventional and sharia are obliged to be paid the zakah when they reach nishab and haul. The nishab is the same as gold or silver. The size is 2,5%. If follow the gold nishab, then saving about Rp. 45.132.620,00 then must pay zakah about Rp. 1.128.315,00. If follow silver nishab, then the savings in the bank about Rp. 6.515.250,00 are required to pay zakah about Rp. 162.881,25. It is possible to combine banknotes, gold, silver and merchandise (‘urudh tijarah) in determining nishab deposits in banks. If there any profits on saving that invested (deposits) then the saving and profits must be paid the zakah, if the investment is on the halal and not contrary to syara. There is no zakah on the profits from saving invested (deposits) on the forbidden enterprises or from the interest of savings in a conventional bank
Efektivitas Starter Experiment Approach (SEA) Terhadap Kemampuan Berpikir Tingkat Tinggi Peserta Didik Pada Pelajaran Fisika Kelas XI
Authors: Purwanto Joko , Hasanah Daimul , Syafaat Firda Yanuar
Published: November 2017

The aims of this research to know “the efectiveness starter experiment approach (SEA) toward high-order thinking skill of students.” This research is a Quasi Experiment with Nonequivalent Control Group Design. We used XI IPA as population. We used simple random sampling. We used pretest and posttest as instrument to gain/obtain our main data. T-test and Normalized-gain (N-gain) are used to analyze those data.  We obtain score sig.(2-Tailed) = 0,041 < α = 0,05,the percentage increase in students in the high is 8%, moderate is 38%, and low is 54%, experiment class N-gain = 0,33 > control class N-gain = 0,20 These result show that experiment class has more effective than control class. It means starter experiment approach (SEA) proven to effective toward high-order thinking skill of students in physics.
Pengaruh Pembelajaran Blended Learning Berbantukan Media Aplikasi Quipper School terhadap Minat, Kemandirian, dan Hasil Belajar pada Materi Gelombang Mekanik Siswa Kelas XI SMA Negeri 1 Cawas
Authors: Marini Marini , Sulisworo Dwi , Ishafit Ishafit
Published: November 2017

The aims of this study are to determine the differences in students’  learning interest, to know the differences in the level of students’ learning independence,  to know the  differences in achievements of cognitive learning outcomes of students who learn conventionally and those who  learn  using  blended learning method. The type of this research is quasi experiment with pretest-posttest controlled group design. Control class learn conventionally while experimental classes learn in blended learning, which is a conventional learning process combined with online learning, by utilizing the application of Quipper school. Students’ learning interest in control class before the learning process gets an average value of 118.74 while after the learning process gets an average value of 123.78. As for the experimental class, before the learning process gets an average value of 119.89 while after the learning process gets an average score of 131.21. For the level of students’ learning independence of the control class during the learning process gets an average score of 28.5 while for the experimental class during the learning process gets an average score of 35.1. So there is a difference of 6.6 between the control class and the experimental class. The students’ cognitive learning outcomes of the control class before the learning process gets an average score of 40.3, while after the learning process gets an average score of 58.67. As for the experimental class, before the learning process gets an average score of 42.29 while after the learning process gets an average score of 76.71. So the increase of control class is 18,37 while experiment class is 34,43.
Penggunaan Alat Peraga Musschenbroek Bimetal terhadap Keterampilan Proses Sains
Authors: Rohmah Khozinatur , Susilawati Susilawati , Saptaningrum Ernawati
Published: November 2017

The aim of the research is to know the effect of using bimetal Musschenbroek Bimetal to the skill science processes this type of research conducted by researcher is Quasi Experimental with Non equivalent Control Group Desaign. This population of this research is all of students in Miftahul Falah Junior High school VII 2017/2018 school year which consist of thirty five until forty students. Devided seven classes are VII A, VII B, VII C, VII D, VII E, VII F, VII G, sampling technique in this research using cluster sampling technique. The experimental class was not choosen randomly but determined by the teacher and this taking sampling technique becouse the population is assismed to be normally distributed and in a homogenitas state so that selected VII A class as a contol class and VII D class as experiment class.Technique of data collection is done by using observation sheet method data collection technique were conducted using the observation sheet method skill science processes and documentation. Testing research hypotheseses show. There is significant influence  using Musschenbroek Bimetal to the students science prosess skills, in the test of the hypotheseses the researcher using taster hypothesis t right side from the result of post test show that value  tcount > ttableis  4,35 > 1,67 becouse tcount> ttable so H0  Rejected, Ha is received, so there is a difference influence on the leaning that carred on in the experimental class and control class.
Pengembangan Instrumen Keterampilan Komunikasi Ilmiah dalam Pembelajaran Fisika
Authors: Fenti Susi , Patonah Siti , Nuroso Harto
Published: November 2017

This aims of this research is to develop and produce assessment  scientific communication skills instruments in physics learning of X grade senior high school is valid so it can be used to measure the scientific communication skills possessed and controlled by the students.This research is development of research use 4D model. This research is done through 4 stages, which are (1) analysis stage, (2) planning stage, (3) development stage, and (4) spread stage.This instrument assessment contains a descriptiontheory,concept definition, operationaldefinition, the latice instrument assessment scientific communication skill, assessment sheets of scientific communication skill, rubric assessment,scoring, and recapitulation score of scientific communication skill than have been validated by experts and tested.From the results of expert validation obtained an average 75,55% percentage which show the criteria of scientific communication skill assessment instrument is very valid. This instrument is tried of 32 students of class X MIA 1 in SMA N 3 Demak and done by conducted by 1 physics teacher. The results of trial shown that percentage of products developed base on response obtained average percentage of 88,83% with very valid criteria. While, the result of validity analysis show that there are 4 (9,3%) item statement is not valid because rxy <0,35, whereas 39 (90,7%) Other statement items are valid with rxy> 0,35. Invalid statements include item number 24, 29, 36, and 43. In the reliability analysis obtain value result rcritic = 0,84432, while rtable = 0,35. From the analysis of the reliability values obtained rcritic > rtable it can be concluded that the assessment instruments already reliable scientific communication skills.
Producción de genotipos de frijol negro en condiciones de humedad residual y sequía terminal.
Authors: Tosquy Valle Oscar Hugo , López Salinas Ernesto , Zetina Lezama Rigoberto , Villar Sánchez Bernardo , Rodríguez Rodríguez José Raúl
Published: November 2017

En Veracruz y Chiapas, el cultivo de frijol del ciclo otoño-invierno, sufre periodos de sequía durante la etapa reproductiva, lo que causa bajos rendimientos. El objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar el rendimiento de genotipos de frijol, evaluados bajo condiciones de humedad residual y de sequía terminal durante el ciclo otoño-invierno de 2013-2014, en las localidades de La Candelaria, Medellín, Veracruz, Campo Experimental Ixtacuaco (CEIXTA), municipio de Martínez de la Torre, Veracruz, y Campo Experimental Centro de Chiapas (CECECH), municipio de Ocozocoautla, Chiapas. Se evaluaron 11 líneas avanzadas de frijol, comparadas con las variedades Negro Tacaná y Negro Jamapa, en diseño experimental bloques al azar con tres repeticiones. Las variables de respuesta fueron: días a floración media, días a madurez f isiológica, peso de 100 semillas y rendimiento de grano. En la Candelaria y el CECECH, ambas con ocurrencia de sequía terminal, se obtuvieron valores signif icativamente inferiores en las cuatro variables de respuesta, con respecto a los obtenidos en el CEIXTA, sin estrés por sequía. Las líneas SEN-56, SCN-2, SEN-70 y NCB-229 fueron las más precoces en alcanzar su floración media en las tres localidades de prueba, la cual en promedio ocurrió antes de 35 días después de la siembra. Las tres primeras líneas también mostraron menor tiempo a la madurez f isiológica, en promedio antes de los 71 días. La línea SCN-2 obtuvo en promedio el mayor peso de 100 semillas (27 g), el cual fue signif icativamente superior a los obtenidos por el resto de los genotipos, que registraron pesos menores a 25 g. Así mismo SEN-70, NGO-17-99 y Jamapa Plus, junto con otras cuatro líneas obtuvieron un rendimiento promedio mayor a 1000 kg ha-1, signif icativamente superior al de las variedades Negro Jamapa y Negro Tacaná. SEN-70 fue la de mayor rendimiento con y sin sequía terminal.
Agricultura familiar para el desarrollo rural incluyente
Authors: Laksmi Reddiar Krishnamurthy , Krishnamurthy Sumithra , Rajagopal Indumathi , Peralta Solares Arturo
Published: November 2017

Las comunidades indígenas Mayas de la península de Yucatán han practicado la antigua tradición de agricultura familiar, en particular los huertos caseros, para garantizar su seguridad alimentaria. Con el objetivo de mejorar la práctica tradicional considerando paradigmas de la ciencia moderna, por una parte, se colectaron datos para def inir la complejidad estructural y diversidad funcional a partir de 20 huertos familiares en cinco comunidades: X - Maben, X - Pichil, X - Yatil, San José II y Melchor Ocampo; y por otra, se organizaron grupos de discusión para dilucidar la estrategia de gestión practicada por las comunidades nativas. Los resultados mostraron que los huertos son manejados principalmente por las mujeres. También mostraron que el propósito principal del crecimiento y mantenimiento de los huertos familiares es garantizar la producción de alimentos nutritivos durante todo el año. Y, por último que los huertos caseros también sirven para propósitos secundarios tales como la provisión de productos y servicios para la medicina tradicional. El estudio sugiere que se debe de promover e invertir en huertos caseros para mejorar las estrategias de desarrollo incluyente en ambientes socio-culturales y biofísicos similares.
Calidad de Andosols en sistemas forestal, agroforestal y agrícola con diferentes manejos en Zacatlán, Puebla
Authors: Hernández Ordoñez Jonathan Omar , Gutiérrez-Castorena Ma del Carmen , Ortiz Solorio Carlos Alberto , Sánchez Guzman Patricio , Angeles Cervantes Efrain Reyes
Published: November 2017

Los estudios de suelos en sistemas agroforestales relacionados con bosques mesóf ilos de montaña han sido poco abordados en nuestro país, especialmente los desarrollados en Andosols, los cuales son susceptibles a los procesos de degradación por el cambio de uso del suelo. El presente estudio se realizó en el municipio de Zacatlán, Puebla con el objetivo de caracterizar la calidad de los Andosols bajo diferentes sistemas de manejo. Los métodos que se emplearon fueron: entrevistas a productores para identif icar los sistemas, descripción de perf iles de suelos, análisis de laboratorio y análisis de similaridad  de los diferentes manejos. Los resultados indicaron que la zona de estudio está integrada por tres sistemas: bosque mesóf ilo de Montaña (BMM), agroforestal (asociaciones manzana-maíz-calabaza-arándanos) y agrícola, con adición de abonos orgánicos (FO) o fertilización inorgánica (FI). En los Andosols con BMM, la estructura biológica domina (agregados migajosos y granulares hasta los 55 cm  de profundidad), presentan alto contenido de materia orgánica del suelo (MOS) (31%), alta retención de humedad (194.5%) y baja densidad aparente (Da) (0.49 g cm-3). Con el cambio de uso de suelo (de bosque a agroforestal o agrícola), la estructura biológica se reduce en espesor o desaparece y dominan los bloques sub-angulares, debido a la disminución drástica del contenido de MOS (a 16.3 o a 6.3%), y retención de humedad (de 97 y a 47%). Además, la Da aumentó hasta 1 g cm-3 en el sistema agrícola. Por el contrario, en tierras degradadas, el sistema agroforestal con manejo orgánico ha mejorado la calidad del horizonte superf icial en menos de seis años y con la FO o FI algunos sistemas agroforestales aumentaron los contenidos de Ntot y P. Los índices que mejor caracterizaron la calidad de los Andosols bajo diferentes sistemas fueron: estructura del suelo, MOS, Ntot, P y retención de humedad.
Erosión y pérdida de nutrientes en diferentes sistemas agrícolas de una microcuenca en la zona periurbana de la ciudad de Puebla, México.
Authors: Castelán Vega Rosalía Del Carmen , López Teloxa Leticia Citlaly , Tamariz Flores José Víctor , Linares Fleites Gladys , Cruz Montalvo Abel
Published: November 2017

El suelo es un componente natural de gran importancia en la sostenibilidad de los ecosistemas, su degradación se debe, en la mayoría de los casos, al mal manejo bajo condiciones de ladera, lo que disminuye su productividad y su capacidad para sostener la vida humana. Se evaluó la producción de sedimentos y la pérdida de nutrientes durante el año 2013 en sistemas agrícolas representativos de la zona periurbana de la ciudad de Puebla, México; con el objetivo de ponderar el coef iciente de enriquecimiento de dichos sedimentos, y así identif icar el sistema agrícola que menor perdida de fertilidad genera. Se instalaron parcelas delimitadas con dimensiones de 3 m de ancho y 9 m de largo con pendiente homogénea de 9% de inclinación, en los sistemas: maíz, maíz-calabaza y maíz-avena. Se recolectaron los sedimentos, a los cuales se les determinó la concentración de materia orgánica, nitrógeno y fósforo, según lo marca la NOM-021-SEMARNAT-2000. La producción de sedimentos y escorrentía fue signif icativamente mayor en el sistema agrícola de maíz (54.6 mm y 37.9 Mg ha‑1, respectivamente) y menor en maíz-calabaza. Los coef icientes de enriquecimiento de los sedimentos erosionados fueron en su mayoría, superiores a la unidad, destacando la materia orgánica con los coef icientes más altos. Se observó una fuerte correlación entre la producción de sedimentos y las pérdidas de materia orgánica, nitrógeno y fósforo, en los sistemas agrícolas. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran que el actual manejo de los cultivos agrícolas en la zona de estudio, favorecen la degradación de los suelos. De igual forma, los resultados generados son una base importante para establecer estrategias agrícolas y disminuir áreas degradadas en los espacios rurales de la zona periurbana de la ciudad de Puebla, México.
Clasificación digital de suelos a través de covariables ambientales de la cuenca del río Mixteco.
Authors: Martínez Menez Mario Roberto , Colín García Gerardo , Fernández Reynoso Demetrio Salvador , Ríos Berber José Donaldo , Sánchez Guzmán Patricio , Rubio Granados Erasmo , Ibáñez Castillo Laura Alicia
Published: November 2017

La escasez de mapas con una distribución detallada de las unidades de suelo representa una limitante frecuente para la toma de decisiones, el modelado hidrológico y determinación del potencial productivo de un área. En este trabajo se aplicó la técnica de Mapeo Digital de Suelos (MDS), a través del Análisis de Componentes Principales (ACP), para obtener la distribución espacial de las unidades de suelo. El área de estudio corresponde a la cuenca del río Mixteco, con una superf icie de 655 903 ha, que se ubica en el estado de Oaxaca. Para el MDS se emplearon covariables ambientales del tipo topográf icas, hidrológicas, climáticas y geológicas. Las covariables ambientales de mayor impacto, en la distribución espacial de las unidades de suelo, en orden de importancia fueron las geológicas, topográf icas y climáticas. La clasif icación digital se basó en 142 áreas de entrenamiento y 60 sitios para la validación de resultados, distribuidos aleatoriamente. En la cuenca, de acuerdo al Sistema de Clasif icación WRB de la FAO (2014), a través del MDS se identif icaron de manera satisfactoria (precisión global de 76.67% y un Índice Kappa de 71.20) los siguientes grupos de suelos Cambisoles (35.8%), Fluvisoles (7.16%), Leptosoles (48.25%), Regosoles (8.00%) y Vertisoles (0.79%). El MDS determinó satisfactoriamente la distribución espacial de las unidades de suelo en la cuenca e identificó las covariables ambientales de mayor influencia.
Effect of Solvent Volatility on Diameter Selection of Bicomponent Nanofibers Produced by Gas Jet Fiber Process Test
Authors: Rajgarhia S. S. , Jana S. C.
Published: November 2017

This paper addresses the role of solvent volatility on diameter selection of bicomponent polymer nanofibers produced via gas jet fibers (GJF) process whereby an axisymmetric turbulent gas jet is used for liquid jet initiation, liquid jet stretching, and solvent evaporation. Several morphological forms, such as interpenetrating network (IPN), bi-lobal, and core-shell are obtained by spinning homogeneous solutions of two immiscible polymers in two mutually miscible solvents. The diameter selection of fibers of the same morphology, e. g., bi-lobal, is achieved by spinning polymer solutions of two sets of solvents of different volatility. The results show that fiber diameter is strongly dependent on the value of vapor pressure of the solvents while the morphology is strongly dependent on the vapor pressure difference of the two respective solvents. The diameter selection by GJF process is most prominent for IPN nanofibers, moderately prominent for core-shell fibers, and almost indifferent for bi-lobal nanofibers. The relative rates of solvent evaporation are useful in interpreting the experimental trend.
Identifying the Bias: Evaluating Effectiveness of Automatic Data Collection Methods in Estimating Details of Bus Dwell Time
Authors: Grisé Emily , El-Geneidy Ahmed
Published: November 2017

Data from automated vehicle location (AVL) systems, automatic passenger counter (APC) systems, and fare box payments have been heavily used to generate dwell time models with the goal of recommending improvements in efficiency and reliability of bus transit systems. However, automatic data collection methods may result in a loss of detail with regard to the dynamics of passenger activity, which may bias the estimates associated with dwell or passenger activity time. The purpose of this study is to understand better any biases that might exist from using data from AVL–APC systems or fare box payments when estimating dwell time. Manually collected data from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, are used to estimate detailed dwell time models. This study compared those estimates to models generated by using data similar to what was reported by AVL–APC systems and fare boxes. The results reveal an overestimation in the passenger activity component of dwell time, which is mainly attributed to excess dwell time that AVL–APC data and fare box payments generally do not capture. While AVL–APC and fare box technologies provide transit agencies with rich data for analysis, adjustments to such data collection methods are warranted to reduce the overestimation of dwell time and to provide a more accurate picture of what is happening on the ground to generate better interventions that can reduce dwell times.
Profile of Patients Attending at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in a Specialized Hospital of Bangladesh
Authors: Chakraborty Prasanta Kumar , Hossain Md Shahadat , Islam Md Jahidul , Hossain Md Shahadat , Ahmed Monzur , Amin Md Ruhul , Jamal Dilir
Published: November 2017

Physician’s documentation has become the critical component in rehabilitation of patients. The scope of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) encompasses more than a single organ system. Attention to the whole person is paramount. The aim of the study was to appraise the disease pattern and demographic information of the patients received outpatient rehabilitation services at the department of PMR, National Institution of Neuroscience and Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh. This is a retrospective study carried out for the period of two years July 2013 to June 2015. Total number of patients was 29678, among them 57.02% were male and 42.98% were female. Maximum patients (26.15%) were in age group 41-50 years and in housewife (37.76%) in occupation, where majority (56.33%) of them came from Dhaka city. Regarding disease pattern, 56.32% was neurological, 33.46% was musculoskeletal and 7.25% of patients were suffering from rheumatologic problem. Among leading diseases, largest disease group was stroke (20.02%), 10.48% was non-specific low back pain, 9.92% was Bell’s palsy, 5.35% was lumbar spondylosis, 5.13% was carpal tunnel syndrome, 4.11% was prolapsed lumber inter-vertebral disk (PLID), 3.72% was cerebral palsy. Knowledge about the existing disease pattern and health seeking behavior is essential to provide need based health care delivery to any population.Bangladesh Med J. 2017 Jan; 46 (1): 15-19
Correlation of Estrogen with Serum Insulin and Blood Glucose Levels in Post-menopausal Women
Authors: Yeasmin Nahid , Akhter Qazi Shamima , Mahmuda Sayeeda , Hasan Mahmudul , Rabbani Rukhshana , Afroz Rumana
Published: November 2017

Hyperglycemia is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in postmenopausal women. Increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases in postmenopausal women may be due to hyperglycemia caused by lower level of estrogen hormone. This cross sectional study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period of January to December 2011 to observe the correlation of estrogen with fasting serum insulin (FSI) and fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels in postmenopausal women. A total of 90 women were selected from different areas of Dhaka city, among them, 60 postmenopausal women of age group 50 to 60 years were taken as study group and 30 apparently healthy premenopausal women of age group 20 to 30 years were included as comparison group. The study parameters fasting blood glucose level was estimated by enzymatic method in both groups. Serum insulin level was estimated by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and serum estrogen level by RIA method in order to assess the hormonal level of both groups. Data was analyzed by Unpaired Student’s‘t’ test and Pearson's correlation co-effcient (r) test as applicable. Mean serum fasting insulin level and mean blood glucose level was higher in postmenopausal women than premenopausal and result was statistically significant. In postmenopausal women serum estrogen level was lower than premenopausal and serum estrogen level showed negative correlation with serum fasting insulin level. Blood glucose level also showed negative correlation with serum estrogen level. All these correlation were statistically non-significant. It may be concluded that the serum fasting insulin and blood glucose levels are significantly higher in postmenopausal women that may be due to low level of estrogen.Bangladesh Med J. 2017 Jan; 46 (1): 32-37
Pedicled Extended Late ral Arm Fasciocutaneous Flap: Our Experience in BIRDEM
Authors: Islam Mohammed Rashedul , Deb Anjan Kumar , Ibrahim Farzana B , Anwar Raihan , Islam Md Anwarul , Akand Md Morshed Uddin
Published: November 2017

The aim of this study is to assess the outcome of Pedicled extended Lateral arm flaps (PELAF) for coverage of defects of the hand and forearm. 09 patients were included in this study from January, 2005 to February 2009. Patients with hand defects with or without extension up to the forearm, resurfaced with this flap, were reviewed for this case series. Eight flaps were cross arm, i.e. for defects in the contra lateral hand and 01 was used to cover the cubital fossa of the same limb. Ages of the patients ranged from 23-46 years, 01 female and 08 male. 08 patients were diabetic while 01 was non diabetic. Nine cases were managed by extended lateral arm flap or a standard lateral forearm flap. Postoperative periods of all the patients were uneventful. Then pedicle was divided after 3 weeks for the cross arm flap group. For patients with wounds on the hand, wrist and forearm pedicled lateral and extended lateral arm flap provides an excellent thin, supple and reliable option for coverage. Cross Lateral arm flap is one of the few local options available with good colour and contour match and requires no sacrifice of major blood vessel.Medicine Today 2017 Vol.29(2): 9-12
How Are We to Read Beyond the Pleasure Principle?
Authors: David-Ménard Monique
Published: November 2017

This paper considers Freud's 1920 text, Beyond the Pleasure Principle, in light of Jacques Derrida's critical commentary on it in The Post Card. Against the deconstructive reading that highlights the performative aspects of Freud's speculative remarks, David-Ménard reads Freud's theory of the death drive as an epistemological and experimental hypothesis necessary for giving an account of the complexity and diversity of the clinical phenomenon of repetition in psychoanalysis. Though the death drive never appears locatable as such in the various examples given by Freud, it is nonetheless accessible in the constellation of differences produced by traumatic dreams, children's games, etc.
The World after the End of the World
Authors: Saghafi Kas
Published: November 2017

In several late texts, Derrida meditated on Paul Celan's poem ‘Grosse, Glühende Wölbung’, in which the departure of the world is announced. Delving into the ‘origin’ and ‘history’ of the ‘conception’ of the world, this paper suggests that, for Derrida, the end of the world is determined by and from death—the death of the other. The death of the other marks, each and every time, the absolute end of the world.
Truss Structure Optimization with Subset Simulation and Augmented Lagrangian Multiplier Method
Authors: Du Feng , Dong Qiao-Yue , Li Hong-Shuang
Published: November 2017

This paper presents a global optimization method for structural design optimization, which integrates subset simulation optimization (SSO) and the dynamic augmented Lagrangian multiplier method (DALMM). The proposed method formulates the structural design optimization as a series of unconstrained optimization sub-problems using DALMM and makes use of SSO to find the global optimum. The combined strategy guarantees that the proposed method can automatically detect active constraints and provide global optimal solutions with finite penalty parameters. The accuracy and robustness of the proposed method are demonstrated by four classical truss sizing problems. The results are compared with those reported in the literature, and show a remarkable statistical performance based on 30 independent runs.
Parent Cardiac Response in the Context of Their Child’s Completion of the Cold Pressor Task: A Pilot Study
Authors: Constantin Kaytlin , Moline Rachel , McMurtry C. , Bailey Heidi
Published: November 2017

Parents’ ability to regulate their emotions is essential to providing supportive caregiving behaviours when their child is in pain. Extant research focuses on parent self-reported experience or observable behavioural responses. Physiological responding, such as heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV), is critical to the experience and regulation of emotions and provides a complementary perspective on parent experience; yet, it is scarcely assessed. This pilot study examined parent (n = 25) cardiac response (HR, HRV) at rest (neutral film clip), immediately before the cold pressor task (pre-CPT), and following the CPT (post-CPT). Further, variables that may influence changes in HR and HRV in the context of pediatric pain were investigated, including (1) initial HRV, and (2) parent perception of their child’s typical response to needle procedures. Time-domain (root mean square of successive differences; RMSSD) and frequency-domain (high-frequency heart rate variability; HF-HRV) parameters of HRV were computed. HR and HF-HRV varied as a function of time block. Typical negative responses to needle pain related to higher parental HR and lower HRV at rest. Parents with higher HRV at baseline experienced the greatest decreases in HRV after the CPT. Consequently, considering previous experience with pain and resting HRV levels are relevant to understanding parent physiological responses before and after child pain.
Antibody Exchange: Information Extraction of Biological Antibody Donation and a Web-Portal to Find Donors and Seekers
Authors: Subramanian Sandeep , Ganapathiraju Madhavi
Published: November 2017

Bio-molecular reagents, like antibodies that are required in experimental biology are expensive and their effectiveness, among other things, is critical to the success of the experiment. Although such resources are sometimes donated by one investigator to another through personal communication between the two, there is no previous study to our knowledge on the extent of such donations, nor a central platform that directs resource seekers to donors. In this paper, we describe, to our knowledge, a first attempt at building a web-portal titled Antibody Exchange (or more general ‘Bio-Resource Exchange’) that attempts to bridge this gap between resource seekers and donors in the domain of experimental biology. Users on this portal can request for or donate antibodies, cell-lines, and DNA Constructs. This resource could also serve as a crowd-sourced database of resources for experimental biology. Further, we also studied the extent of antibody donations by mining the acknowledgement sections of scientific articles. Specifically, we extracted the name of the donor, his/her affiliation, and the name of the antibody for every donation by parsing the acknowledgements sections of articles. To extract annotations at this level, we adopted two approaches—a rule based algorithm and a bootstrapped pattern learning algorithm. The algorithms extracted donor names, affiliations, and antibody names with average accuracies of 57% and 62%, respectively. We also created a dataset of 50 expert-annotated acknowledgements sections that will serve as a gold standard dataset to evaluate extraction algorithms in the future.
The Techno-Economics of Small-Scale Residential Heating in Low Carbon Futures
Authors: Vijay Avinash , Hawkes Adam
Published: November 2017

Existing studies that consider the techno-economics of residential heating systems typically focus on their performance within present-day energy systems. However, the energy system within which these technologies operate will need to change radically if climate change mitigation is to be achieved. This article addresses this problem by modelling small-scale heating techno-economics in the context of significant electricity system decarbonisation. The current electricity market price regime based on short run marginal costs is seen to provide a very weak investment signal for electricity system investors, so an electricity price regime based on long run marginal energy costs is also considered, using a case study of the UK in 2035. The economic case for conventional boilers remains stronger in most dwelling types. The exception to this is for dwellings with high annual heat demand. Sensitivity studies demonstrate the impact of factors such as price of natural gas, carbon intensity of the central grid and thermodynamic performance. Fuel cell micro combined heat and power shows most potential under the long run electricity price regime, and heat pumps under the short run electricity price regime. This difference highlights the importance of future electricity market structure on consumer choice of heating systems in the future.
Aging Cost Optimization for Planning and Management of Energy Storage Systems
Authors: Korjani Saman , Mureddu Mario , Facchini Angelo , Damiano Alfonso
Published: November 2017

In recent years, many studies have proposed the use of energy storage systems (ESSs) for the mitigation of renewable energy source (RES) intermittent power output. However, the correct estimation of the ESS degradation costs is still an open issue, due to the difficult estimation of their aging in the presence of intermittent power inputs. This is particularly true for battery ESSs (BESSs), which have been proven to exhibit complex aging functions. Unfortunately, this collides with considering aging costs when performing ESS planning and management procedures, which are crucial for the exploitation of this technology. In order to overcome this issue, this paper presents the genetic algorithm-based multi-period optimal power flow (GA-MPOPF) procedure, which aims to economically optimize the management of ESSs by taking into account their degradation costs. The proposed methodology has been tested in two different applications: the planning of the correct positioning of a Li-ion BESS in the PG& E 69 bus network in the presence of high RES penetration, and the definition of its management strategy. Simulation results show that GA-MPOPF is able to optimize the ESS usage for time scales of up to one month, even for complex operative costs functions, showing at the same time excellent convergence properties.
The Jets of Microquasars during Giant Flares and Quiet State
Authors: Trushkin Sergei , Nizhelskij Nikolaj , Tsybulev Peter , Zhekanis Gennadij
Published: November 2017

We report on the radio properties of jets of the following microquasars, as determined from daily multi-frequency monitoring observations with the RATAN-600 radio telescope during 2010–2017: V404 Cyg, SS433, Cyg X-1, GRS1915+105 and LSI+61 ∘ 303. We have detected many giant flares from SS433, a powerful flare from V404 Cyg in June 2015, an active state of Cyg X-1 in 2017 and fifty periodic flares from LSI+61 ∘ 303. We describe the properties of massive ejections based on multi-band (radio, X-ray and γ -ray) studies. The general properties of the light curves are closely connected with the processes of jet formation in microquasars.
The Need for Geoethics Awareness from a Canadian Perspective
Authors: Ryan Anne Marie , Bank Carl-Georg
Published: November 2017

An online survey of Canadian Earth scientists on geoethics—defined as the interconnection between humanity and Earth sciences—asked participants to (1) rate the importance of issues around scientific integrity, social responsibility, aboriginal concerns, corporate ethics, and fieldwork; (2) identify ethical considerations they had observed; and (3) tell us how they were introduced to ethical viewpoints and whether their undergraduate programs had prepared them for ethical decision-making. Despite a small sample size (123 responded to our survey) we observe that most respondents deemed all criteria we listed as important or very important, with the strongest support for health/safety and honest reporting, and the least, but still significant support for criteria linked to aboriginal issues and fieldwork. Many respondents had observed ethical considerations, particularly lack of giving credit and biased representation of information. We find that informal activities like reading and discussions with peers are the most frequent avenues into geoethics, while undergraduate education is not a significant contributor to current geoethics understandings. Although the survey was restricted to Canada, we perceive our survey as providing a glimpse into the larger geoscience community and offer various recommendations on how the geoscience community and public must be made aware of geoethics, not just in Canada.
Physical Fighting and Associated Factors among Adolescents Aged 13–15 Years in Six Western Pacific Countries
Authors: Yang Lili , Zhang Yuanyuan , Xi Bo , Bovet Pascal
Published: November 2017

Youth violence is an important public health challenge around the world, yet the literature on this problem in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has been limited. The present study aims to examine the prevalence of adolescent physical fighting (defined as having been involved in at least one physical fight during the past 12 months) in selected LMICs, and its relations with potential risk factors. We included 6377 school-going adolescents aged 13–15 years from six Western Pacific (WP) countries that had recently conducted a Global School-based Student Health Survey. Information was gathered through a self-administered anonymous closed-ended questionnaire. The prevalence of adolescent physical fighting varied across countries, ranging from 34.5% in Kiribati to 63.3% in Samoa. The prevalence was higher in boys than in girls, and lower at age 15 than 13–14 years. Physical fighting was significantly associated (pooled odds ratios (ORs), 95% confidence intervals (CIs)) with smoking (1.78, 1.53–2.06), drinking (1.57, 1.33–1.85), drug use (1.72, 1.33–2.23), and missing school (1.72, 1.51–1.95). The association with physical fighting increased with increasing number of joint adverse behaviors (increased from 1.99 (1.73–2.29) for one risk behavior to 4.95 (4.03–6.07) for at least 3 risk behaviors, versus having none of the 4 risk behaviors). The high prevalence of physical fighting and the associations with risk behaviors emphasize the need for comprehensive prevention programs to reduce youth violence and associated risk behaviors.
Indole-3-Butyric Acid Induces Ectopic Formation of Metaxylem in the Hypocotyl of Arabidopsis thaliana without Conversion into Indole-3-Acetic Acid and with a Positive Interaction with Ethylene
Authors: Fattorini Laura , Della Rovere Federica , Andreini Eleonora , Ronzan Marilena , Falasca Giuseppina , Altamura Maria
Published: November 2017

The role of the auxins indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and of the auxin-interacting phytohormone ethylene, on the ectopic formation of primary xylem (xylogenesis in planta) is still little known. In particular, auxin/ethylene-target tissue(s), modality of the xylary process (trans-differentiation vs. de novo formation), and the kind of ectopic elements formed (metaxylem vs. protoxylem) are currently unknown. It is also unclear whether IBA may act on the process independently of conversion into IAA. To investigate these topics, histological analyses were carried out in the hypocotyls of Arabidopsis wild type seedlings and ech2ibr10 and ein3eil1 mutants, which are blocked in IBA-to-IAA conversion and ethylene signalling, respectively. The seedlings were grown under darkness with either IAA or IBA, combined or not with the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid. Adventitious root formation was also investigated because this process may compete with xylogenesis. Our results show that ectopic formation of protoxylem and metaxylem occurred as an indirect process starting from the pericycle periclinal derivatives of the hypocotyl basal part. IAA favoured protoxylem formation, whereas IBA induced ectopic metaxylem with ethylene cooperation through the EIN3EIL1 network. Ectopic metaxylem differentiation occurred independently of IBA-to-IAA conversion as mediated by ECH2 and IBR10, and in the place of IBA-induced adventitious root formation.
Effects of Red Palm Oil on Myocardial Antioxidant Enzymes, Nitric Oxide Synthase and Heart Function in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Katengua-Thamahane Emma , Szeiffova Bacova Barbara , Bernatova Iveta , Sykora Matus , Knezl Vladimir , Van Rooyen Jacques , Tribulova Narcis
Published: November 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of antioxidants rich red palm oil (RPO) supplementation on cardiac oxidative stress known as crucial factor deteriorating heart function in hypertension. 3-month-old, male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) were fed standard rat chow without or with RPO (0.2 mL/day/5 weeks). General characteristic of rats were registered. Left ventricular tissue (LV) was used to determine expression of superoxide dismutases (SOD1, SOD2) and glutathione peroxidases (Gpx) as well as activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Functional parameters of the heart were examined during basal conditions and at the early-phase of post-ischemic reperfusion using Langendorff-perfused system. RPO intake significantly reduced elevated blood pressure and total NOS activity as well as increased lowered expression of mitochondrial SOD2 in SHR hearts during basal condition. Moreover, RPO supplementation resulted in suppression of elevated heart rate, increase of reduced coronary flow and enhancement of systolic and diastolic heart function at the early-phase of post-ischemic reperfusion. It is concluded that SHR benefit from RPO intake due to decrease of blood pressure, amelioration of oxidative stress and protection of heart function that was deteriorated by post-ischemic reperfusion.
Vitamin D and Neurological Diseases: An Endocrine View
Authors: Di Somma Carolina , Scarano Elisabetta , Barrea Luigi , Zhukouskaya Volha V. , Savastano Silvia , Mele Chiara , Scacchi Massimo , Aimaretti Gianluca , Colao Annamaria , Marzullo Paolo
Published: November 2017

Vitamin D system comprises hormone precursors, active metabolites, carriers, enzymes, and receptors involved in genomic and non-genomic effects. In addition to classical bone-related effects, this system has also been shown to activate multiple molecular mediators and elicit many physiological functions. In vitro and in vivo studies have, in fact, increasingly focused on the “non-calcemic” actions of vitamin D, which are associated with the maintenance of glucose homeostasis, cardiovascular morbidity, autoimmunity, inflammation, and cancer. In parallel, growing evidence has recognized that a multimodal association links vitamin D system to brain development, functions and diseases. With vitamin D deficiency reaching epidemic proportions worldwide, there is now concern that optimal levels of vitamin D in the bloodstream are also necessary to preserve the neurological development and protect the adult brain. The aim of this review is to highlight the relationship between vitamin D and neurological diseases.
Development of An Impedimetric Aptasensor for the Detection of Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Reich Peggy , Stoltenburg Regina , Strehlitz Beate , Frense Dieter , Beckmann Dieter
Published: November 2017

In combination with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, aptamer-based biosensors are a powerful tool for fast analytical devices. Herein, we present an impedimetric aptasensor for the detection of the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. The used aptamer targets protein A, a surface bound virulence factor of S. aureus. The thiol-modified protein A-binding aptamer was co-immobilized with 6-mercapto-1-hexanol onto gold electrodes by self-assembly. Optimization of the ratio of aptamer to 6-mercapto-1-hexanol resulted in an average density of 1.01 ± 0.44 × 1013 aptamer molecules per cm2. As shown with quartz crystal microbalance experiments, the immobilized aptamer retained its functionality to bind recombinant protein A. Our impedimetric biosensor is based on the principle that binding of target molecules to the immobilized aptamer decreases the electron transfer between electrode and ferri-/ferrocyanide in solution, which is measured as an increase of impedance. Microscale thermophoresis measurements showed that addition of the redox probe ferri-/ferrocyanide has no influence on the binding of aptamer and its target. We demonstrated that upon incubation with various concentrations of S. aureus, the charge-transfer resistance increased proportionally. The developed biosensor showed a limit of detection of 10 CFU·mL−1 and results were available within 10 minutes. The biosensor is highly selective, distinguishing non-target bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis. This work highlights the immense potential of impedimetric aptasensors for future biosensing applications.
Soil Moisture Retrieval and Spatiotemporal Pattern Analysis Using Sentinel-1 Data of Dahra, Senegal
Authors: Liu Zhiqu , Li Pingxiang , Yang Jie
Published: November 2017

The spatiotemporal pattern of soil moisture is of great significance for the understanding of the water exchange between the land surface and the atmosphere. The two-satellite constellation of the Sentinel-1 mission provides C-band synthetic aperture radar (SAR) observations with high spatial and temporal resolutions, which are suitable for soil moisture monitoring. In this paper, we aim to assess the capability of pattern analysis based on the soil moisture retrieved from Sentinel-1 time-series data of Dahra in Senegal. The look-up table (LUT) method is used in the retrieval with the backscattering coefficients that are simulated by the advanced integrated equation Model (AIEM) for the soil layer and the Michigan microwave canopy scattering (MIMICS) model for the vegetation layer. The temporal trend of Sentinel-1A soil moisture is evaluated by the ground measurements from the site at Dahra, with an unbiased root-mean-squared deviation (ubRMSD) of 0.053 m3/m3, a mean average deviation (MAD) of 0.034 m3/m3, and an R value of 0.62. The spatial variation is also compared with the existing microwave products at a coarse scale, which confirms the reliability of the Sentinel-1A soil moisture. The spatiotemporal patterns are analyzed by empirical orthogonal functions (EOF), and the geophysical factors that are affecting soil moisture are discussed. The first four EOFs of soil moisture explain 77.2% of the variance in total and the primary EOF explains 66.2%, which shows the dominant pattern at the study site. Soil texture and the normalized difference vegetation index are more closely correlated with the primary pattern than the topography and temperature in the study area. The investigation confirms the potential for soil moisture retrieval and spatiotemporal pattern analysis using Sentinel-1 images.
A Portable Stiffness Measurement System
Authors: Sul Onejae , Choi Eunsuk , Lee Seung-Beck
Published: November 2017

A new stiffness measurement method is proposed that utilizes the lateral deformation profile of an object under indentation. The system consists of a force measurement module between a pair of equidistant touch sensing modules. Unique feature of the method is that by adjusting the touch module separation, indenter protrusion, and spring constant of the force sensing module, one can choose a desired sensing range for the force module. This feature helps to enhance the stiffness differentiation between objects of similar hardness and avoids measurement saturation. We devised a portable measurement system based on the method, and tested its performance with several materials including polymer foams and human skin.