bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analisis Sosiologi Problem Rumah Tangga dalam Novel Istana Kedua Karya Asma Nadia
Authors: Lismayanti Heppy , Hasuna Kamal
Published: February 2019

Penelitian ini berkenaan dengan problem rumah tangga yang terdapat dalam novel Istana Kedua. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk (1) Mendeskripsikan bentuk problem yang terdapat pada novel Istana Kedua Karya Asma Nadia. (2) Mendeskripsikan faktor apa saja  penyebab timbulnya problem pada novel Istana Kedua Karya Asma Nadia.

Pendekatan yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah pendekatan sosiologis.Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode deskriptif analisis.Teknik pengumpulan data pada penelitian ini adalah teknik analisis teks dan teknik dokumentasi, dan teknik untuk menganalisis data adalah teknik deskriptif interpretatif.Sumber data yang dijadikan objek penelitian yaitu novel Istana Kedua Karya Asma Nadia yang diterbitkan oleh PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama, Oktober 2007.

Berdasarkan hasil penelitian diperoleh simpulan sebagai berikut: (1) Problem rumah tangga yang terjadi : (a) selingkuh: Pras telah menjalin hubungan dengan perempuan lain, suami telah menjalin hubungan dengan perempuan lain, suami Ratih telah berselingkuh dua kali, suami Lia    berselingkuh di rumahnya sendiri, suami Ibu Arini berselingkuh dengan seorang perempuan malam. (b) poligami: Pras telah menikah lagi, Mas Yadi suami mbak Pur memiliki dua orang istri, suami Ina menikah lagi, pengorbanan seorang istri, karena suaminya menikah lagi, bapak Pras menikah lagi, suami Ibu Arini telah menikah lagi dengan teman sekolahnya. (c) perceraian: Lia dan suaminya bercerai. (2) Faktor penyebab timbulnya problem: (a) Fakor dari suami istri: Adanya masalah yang tersembunyi di antara suami istri, adanya masalah yang tersembunyi di antara suami istri, adanya masalah yang disembunyikan oleh suaminya kepada Ratih, kurangnya frekuensi pertemuan antara suami istri dapat mengakibatkan suami berselingkuh, istri tidak bisa merawat diri, kesalahan cara berpikir istri, istri yang tidak bisa memasak. (b) Faktor dari keluarga: Ibu mertua juga ikut diam dan tidak memberitahu bahwa suaminya berselingkuh. (c) Faktor dari orang luar: Adanya sosok perempuan yang mengaku sebagai istri Pras, seorang perempuan telah menaksir suaminya, kelalaian seorang istri dalam memperhatikan suaminya, sehingga perempuan lain masuk dalam rumah tangga, ada sosok anak kecil hasil dari pernikahan Bapaknya yang kedua, ada sosok perempuan yang menemui suaminya
Infleksi dalam Bahasa Banjar
Authors: Humaidi Akhmad , Kamariah Kamariah , Harpriyanti Haswinda
Published: February 2019

Penelitian mengenai infleksi dalam kepustakaan modern telah dilakukan pada berbagai bahasa. Bahasa Banjar sebagai lingua franca di sebagian besar wilayah Kalimantan perlu mendapat perhatian yang sama di bidang ini. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mendeskripsikan infleksi bahasa Banjar dalam lingkup verba, nomina, dan adjektiva. Metode yang digunakan ialah observasi. Sumber data utama penelitian ini berbentuk tulisan yang diambil dari berbagai sumber dokumen berbahasa Banjar. Penelitian ini menemukan dalam bahasa Banjar pada lingkup verba, prefiks infleksi berjumlah 5 buah, yaitu ma-, di-, ba-, ta-, dan sa-, infiks 4 buah, yaitu –ar-, -ur-, -al-, dan –ul-, sufiks 1 buah, yaitu –akan, sedangkan konfiks berjumlah 6 buah, yaitu ma-an, ma-i, ma-akan, ta-an, ta-i, dan ta-akan, serta imbuhan gabung 2 buah, yaitu mai-i-akan dan ta-i-akan. Pada lingkup nomina, prefiks infleksi berjumlah 2 buah, yaitu pa- dan sa-, sedangkan konfiks berjumlah 3 buah, yaitu sa-an, ka-an, dan pa-an, sedangkan imbuhan gabung 1 buah, yaitu sa-an-nya. Pada lingkup adjektiva, prefiks infleksi berjumlah 3 buah, yaitu ma-, ta-, dan pa-, sufiks 1 buah, yaitu –an, dan konfiks berjumlah 4 buah, yaitu sa-an, pa-an, pa-nya, dan ka-an
Efektivitas Kantor Pelayanan, Perizinan, dan Penanaman Modal Kabupaten Solok dalam Pelayanan Izin Mendirikan Bangunan (IMB)
Authors: Candra Gerry , Martius Endry , Tanjung Faidil
Published: February 2019

Pelayanan perizinan khususnya Izin Mendirikan Bangunan (IMB), pemerintah berusaha menciptakan suatu sistem pelayanan yang optimal. Untuk mewujudkan tertib penyelenggaraan bangunan, menjamin keandalan teknis bangunan serta terwujudnya kepastian hukum dalam penyelenggaraan bangunan, maka setiap pendirian bangunan harus berdasarkan Izin Mendirikan Bangunan (IMB).Penelitian ini dilatarbelakangi oleh Seringnya masyarakat mengajukan permohonan IMB dengan keadaan sudah terbangun terlebih dahulu. Hal ini sangat bertentangan dengan ketentuan yang ada karena pada dasarnya IMB diberikan untuk bangunan yang belum berdiri atau hendak mendirikan bangunan. Tidak teraturnya pembangunan Jarak dari jalan ke bangunan, luas ruang terbuka, dan lain-lain. Tanpa pengaturan, bangunan-bangunan akan semakin semrawut dan tidak memperhatikan kaidah-kaidah yang berlaku, dengan tidak melapor IMB dapat juga menyebabkan Pembangunan yang tidak terkendalikan bisa muncul dimana-mana seperti jamur tanpa memperhatikan peraturan yang berlaku. Lahan yang dimaksudkan menjadi taman bisa saja diubah menjadi rumah tanpa pengendalian. Selain itu laju pembangunan perlu diperhatikan. Pembangunan yang begitu pesat juga bisa membawa dampak buruk bagi lingkungan.
Critically Engineered Wireless Politics
Authors: Parikka Jussi
Published: February 2019

Article published in Culture Machine journal, vol 14, 2013. Peer reviewed.
Optimized Deep Convolutional Neural Networks for Identification of Macular Diseases from Optical Coherence Tomography Images
Authors: Ji Qingge , Huang Jie , He Wenjie , Sun Yankui
Published: February 2019

Finetuning pre-trained deep neural networks (DNN) delicately designed for large-scale natural images may not be suitable for medical images due to the intrinsic difference between the datasets. We propose a strategy to modify DNNs, which improves their performance on retinal optical coherence tomography (OCT) images. Deep features of pre-trained DNN are high-level features of natural images. These features harm the training of transfer learning. Our strategy is to remove some deep convolutional layers of the state-of-the-art pre-trained networks: GoogLeNet, ResNet and DenseNet. We try to find the optimized deep neural networks on small-scale and large-scale OCT datasets, respectively, in our experiments. Results show that optimized deep neural networks not only reduce computational burden, but also improve classification accuracy.
Nitrogen Utilization in a Cereal-Legume Rotation Managed with Sustainable Agricultural Practices
Authors: Diacono Mariangela , Baldivieso-Freitas Paola , Sans Serra Francisco Xavier
Published: February 2019

Optimization of the nitrogen (N) inputs and minimization of nutrient losses strongly affect yields in crop rotations. The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of agricultural practices on yield and N use in a 4-year cereal-legume rotation in organic farming and to identify the best combination of these practices. The following treatments were compared: conventional plough (P) vs. reduced chisel (RC) tillage; composted farmyard manure (F) vs. unfertilized control (NF); and green manure (GM) vs. no green manure (NoM). No significant differences were found for N use efficiency between P and RC in each crop. The results suggested that legumes in the tested rotation do not need supplemental N fertilization, particularly if combining GM and F. The use of composted farmyard manure should be considered in a long-term fertilization plan for cereals, to allow a higher efficiency in N use. The residual effect of fertilization over time, along with the site-specific pedo-climatic conditions, should also be considered. In both tested tillage approaches, soil N surplus was the highest in plots combining GM and F (i.e., more than 680 kg N ha−1 in combination with RC vs. about 140 kg N ha−1 for RC without fertilization), with a risk of N losses by leaching. The N deficit in NoM–NF both combined with P and RC would indicate that these treatment combinations are not sustainable for the utilized crops in the field experiment. Therefore, the combination of the tested practices should be carefully assessed to sustain soil fertility and crop production.
Dietary β-Sitosterol Improves Growth Performance, Meat Quality, Antioxidant Status, and Mitochondrial Biogenesis of Breast Muscle in Broilers
Authors: Cheng Yefei , Chen Yueping , Li Jun , Qu Hengman , Zhao Yurui , Wen Chao , Zhou Yanmin
Published: February 2019

The present study evaluated effects of β-sitosterol on growth performance, meat quality, oxidative status, and mitochondrial biogenesis of breast muscle in broilers. One-day-old chicks were allocated to five treatments of six replicates. Broilers were fed a basal diet supplemented either with 0 (control), 40, 60, 80, or 100 mg/kg β-sitosterol for 42 days. β-sitosterol linearly and quadratically reduced feed/gain ratio, lightness24h and cooking loss24h in breast muscle, whereas 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity of breast muscle followed an opposite trend. β-sitosterol linearly decreased drip loss24h and malondialdehyde content, whereas linearly increased pH24h, superoxide dismutase activity, and mRNA abundances of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PCG-1α) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) in breast muscle. Compared with control, levels of β-sitosterol higher than 40 mg/kg reduced feed/gain ratio, muscular lightness24h, cooking loss24h, and malondialdehyde level, whereas increased muscular 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity, and mRNA abundances (except 60 mg/kg) of PCG-1α and TFAM. Eighty milligram/kilogram β-sitosterol increased muscular pH24h and superoxide dismutase activity, but decreased its drip loss24h. Therefore, β-sitosterol could improve growth performance and meat quality, oxidative status, and mitochondrial biogenesis of breast muscle in broilers. Furthermore, supplementation level of 80 mg/kg β-sitosterol is recommended for broiler diets.
Health and Body Conditions of Riding School Horses Housed in Groups or Kept in Conventional Tie-Stall/Box Housing
Authors: Yngvesson Jenny , Rey Torres Juan Carlos , Lindholm Jasmine , Pättiniemi Annika , Andersson Petra , Sassner Hanna
Published: February 2019

We compared welfare measures of horses among Swedish riding schools (RS) during winter where horses were kept either in group housing (n = 8) or in tie-stalls/boxes (n = 8), Health data for six previous months were obtained for all horses at each RS from their records. Ten horses per RS were examined, with the exception of one where only 8 horses were examined. Health conditions and body condition score (BCS) using the Henneke scale were recorded and management factors were quantified (health check routines, feeding, housing-related risk factors, time outside). RS-recorded health data (for 327 horses in total) revealed that lameness was the most common issue in both systems. Respiratory problems and colic were significantly more common in tie-stall/box horses. The percentage of horses with respiratory problems (mean ± SEM) was 5.8 ± 1.4 in tie-stall/box systems and 1.1 ± 0.8 in group housing (F = 8.65, p = 0.01). The percentage with colic was 2.38 ± 0.62 in tie-stall/box systems and 0.38 ± 0.26 in group housing (F = 8.62, p = 0.01). Clinical examination of 158 horses revealed 207 conditions in these horses, the most common being minor skin injuries in areas affected by tack (i.e., saddle and bridle, including bit). Such injuries tended to be more prevalent in horses housed in tie-stalls/boxes (1.8 ± 0.6) than in group housing (0.5 ± 0.3) (F=3.14, p = 0.01). BCS was similar between systems (tie-stall/box 6.2 ± 0.1, group 6.3 ± 0.1), but the average BCS exceeded the level that is considered optimal (BCS 4–6). In conclusion, we found that Swedish RS horses are generally in good health, particularly when group-housed. However, 25%–32% were overweight. Riding schools would thus benefit from having an independent feeding expert performing regular body condition scoring of all horses and advising on feeding regimens.
Users Empowered in Smart Grid Development? Assumptions and Up-To-Date Knowledge
Authors: van Mierlo Barbara
Published: February 2019

Active involvement of users in smart grids is often seen as key to beneficial development of smart grids. In this paper, we investigate the diverse assumptions about how and why users should be active and to what extent these assumptions are supported by experiences in practice. We present the findings of a systematic literature review on four distinctive forms of user involvement in actual smart grid projects: demand shifting, energy saving, co-design, and co-provision. The state-of-the-art knowledge reflects the preoccupation with demand shifting in the actual smart grid development. Little is known about the other user roles. More diversity in types of projects regarding user roles would improve the knowledge base for important decisions defining the future of smart grids.
New Insights in Potato Leaf Freezing by Infrared Thermography
Authors: Stegner Matthias , Schäfernolte Tanja , Neuner Gilbert
Published: February 2019

Infrared thermography has been widely used to study freezing processes in freezing resistant plants but hardly in freezing susceptible species. Solanum tuberosum leaves get frost killed at −3 °C and are unable to frost harden. The basic nature of frost injury to potato leaves is not clear. By employment of infrared differential thermal analysis (IDTA) in combination with viability assessment, we aimed to clarify the mechanistic relationship between ice formation and frost injury. During controlled freezing of potato leaves two distinct freezing events were detected by IDTA. During the first freezing event, the ice wave propagated via the xylem and spread out within 60 s throughout the whole leaf. When leaves were rewarmed after this freezing event, they did not show any frost injury symptoms. We suggest that this non-lethal first ice wave is restricted to the extracellular space. When leaves remained exposed after this exotherm, a second freezing event with a diffuse freezing pattern without a distinct starting point was recorded. When thawed after this second freezing event, leaves always showed frost damage suggesting intracellular freezing. The freezing behavior of potato leaves and its relation to frost damage corroborates that control of ice nucleation is a key for frost protection.
Rapid and Nondestructive Classification of Cantonese Sausage Degree Using Hyperspectral Images
Authors: Wang Qi , He Yong
Published: February 2019

Hyperspectral images are widely used in the food industry as a fast and non-destructive analytical technique. Cantonese sausage has a long history and is a very old food production and meat preservation technology. According to the physical and chemical characteristics of the sausage, the Chinese business industry standard SB/t10003-92 divides the sausage into three grades, which are called excellent grade, level 1, and level 2. In this paper, k-means is adopted first to separate two parts of the meat adaptively to improve the discriminant rate. The hyperspectral information of the near-infrared band is extracted by successive projections algorithm (SPA). The multiple linear regression (MLR) and partial least squares regression (PLSR) algorithms are used to classify the sausage grade. The experimental results show that the lean meat and fat of the sausage have different characteristics in the near-infrared band, and the modeling results have higher accuracy and anti-interference after separating lean meat and fat meat. The best model of sausage classification is using SPA-MLR method to model the fat region of Cantonese sausage; the prediction accuracy of which is 100%. It was found that the modeling results of fat were better than lean meat in both PLSR and SPA-MLR, which indicated that there were obvious differences in fat composition among different grades of sausage, and the fat of sausage was more suitable for classification.
Laser Sintering of TiO2 Films for Flexible Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells
Authors: Yang Huan , Liu Wenwen , Xu Changwen , Fan Dianyuan , Cao Yu , Xue Wei
Published: February 2019

In this study, laser sintering of TiO2 nanoparticle films on plastic substrates was conducted in order to improve the incident photon-to-electron conversion efficiency (IPCE) of flexible dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Lasers with different wavelengths (355 nm and 1064 nm) were used to process the TiO2 electrodes. With an optimized processing parameter combination, the 1064 nm laser can sinter 13 μm thick TiO2 films uniformly, but the uniform sintering cannot be achieved by the 355nm ultraviolet (UV) laser, since the films possess a high absorption ratio at 355 nm. The experimental results demonstrate that the near-infrared laser sintering can enhance the electrical connection between TiO2 nanoparticles without destroying the flexible plastic substrate, reduce the transmission impedance of electrons and increase the absorption rate of incident light. Furthermore, the charge collection efficiency, fill factor, and short-circuit current have all been improved to some extent, and the solar conversion efficiency increased from 4.6% to 5.7%, with an efficiency enhancement reaching 23.9%.
A New Multi-Objective Unit Commitment Model Solved by Decomposition-Coordination
Authors: Zhai Shaopeng , Wang Zhihua , Cao Jia , He Guangyu
Published: February 2019

Multi-objective unit commitment (MOUC) considers concurrently both economic and environmental objectives, then finds the best trade-off with respect to these objectives. This paper proposes a novel model for MOUC, and a decomposition coordination approach is presented to solve the model. The economic objective is to reduce the fuel cost while the environmental objective is to reduce the CO 2 emission. The MOUC model considers these objectives by minimizing the distance to the Utopian point, which avoids generating Pareto optimal solutions. The model is solved by a decomposition coordination approach, which decomposes the whole system into subsystems and performs an iterative process. During each iteration step, the tie-line power flow is updated based on the margin price in connected subsystems, then, each subsystem is solved by branch and bound method, and the result is improved during iterations as shown in case studies. Besides, as the process does not require uploading units parameters, it protects the privacy of generating companies. Numerical case studies conducted using the proposed multi-objective model are applied to illustrate the performance of the approach.
A Low-Complexity Ordered Statistics Decoding Algorithm for Short Polar Codes
Authors: Xing Yusheng , Tu Guofang
Published: February 2019

In this paper, we propose a low-complexity ordered statistics decoding (OSD) algorithm called threshold-based OSD (TH-OSD) that uses a threshold on the discrepancy of the candidate codewords to speed up the decoding of short polar codes. To determine the threshold, we use the probability distribution of the discrepancy value of the maximal likelihood codeword with a predefined parameter controlling the trade-off between the error correction performance and the decoding complexity. We also derive an upper-bound of the word error rate (WER) for the proposed algorithm. The complexity analysis shows that our algorithm is faster than the conventional successive cancellation (SC) decoding algorithm in mid-to-high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) situations and much faster than the SC list (SCL) decoding algorithm. Our addition of a list approach to our proposed algorithm further narrows the error correction performance gap between our TH-OSD and OSD. Our simulation results show that, with appropriate thresholds, our proposed algorithm achieves performance close to OSD’s while testing significantly fewer codewords than OSD, especially with low SNR values. Even a small list is sufficient for TH-OSD to match OSD’s error rate in short-code scenarios. The algorithm can be easily extended to longer code lengths.
Study of Passive Adjustment Performance of Tubular Space in Subway Station Building Complexes
Authors: Li Junjie , Lu Shuai , Wang Qingguo , Tian Shuo , Jin Yichun
Published: February 2019

The stereo integration of subway transportation with urban functions has promoted the transformation of urban space via extensive two-dimensional plans to intensive three-dimensional development. As sustainable development aspect, it has posed new challenges for the design of architectural space to be better environmental quality and low energy consumption. Therefore, subway station building complexes with high-performance designs should be a primary focus. Tubular space is a very common spatial form in subway station building complexes; it is an important space carrier for transmitting airflow and natural light. As such, it embodies the advantages of effectively utilizing natural resources, improving the indoor thermal and light environments, refining the air quality, and reducing energy consumption. This research took tubular space, which has a passive regulation function in subway station building complexes as its research object. It firstly established a scientific and logical method for verifying the value of tubular space by searching causal relationships among the parameterized building space information factors, occupancy satisfaction elements, physical environment comfort aspects, and climate conditions. Secondly, based on the actual field investigation, a database of physical environment performance data and users’ subjective satisfaction information was collected. Through the fieldwork results and analysis, the research thirdly concluded that the potential passive utilization of tubular space in subway station building complexes can be divided into two aspects: improvement in comfort level itself and utilization of climate between natural or artificial. Finally, three typical integrated design method for tubular spaces exhibiting high levels of performance and low amounts of energy consumption in subway station building complexes was put forward. This interdisciplinary research provides a design basis for subway station building complexes seeking to achieve high levels of performance and low amounts of energy consumption.
Turbocharger Axial Turbines for High Transient Response, Part 1: A Preliminary Design Methodology
Authors: Walsh Glen , Berchiolli Marco , Guarda Gregory , Pesyridis Apostolos
Published: February 2019

This paper proposes a preliminary design algorithm for application of a turbocharger axial turbine, based on turbine thermodynamic analysis and the Ainley-Mathieson performance model that converges to the optimal design based on a set of input parameters and engine boundary conditions. A design space sweep was conducted, and a preliminary design was generated with a predicted total to static efficiency of 74.94%. CFD (computational fluid dynamics) was used to successfully validate the algorithm and show the preliminary design had a total to static efficiency of 73.98%. The design also produces the required power to support steady-state operation of the compressor in both free flow conditions and with a constrained pressure outlet.
Relationship between Particulate Matter Pollution and Acute Coronary Syndrome Incidence
Authors: Ravljen Mirjam , Hovelja Tomaž , Vavpotič Damjan
Published: February 2019

(1) Background: In recent decades, studies have reported on the increased cardiovascular risk associated with increased levels of air pollutants, especially particulate matters (PM). It remains unclear whether the specific subgroups share the same involvement and whether the effect is delayed. (2) Methods: Data for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) incidences from 2008 to 2011 were gathered in two major medical centres in Slovenia. A time series analysis was conducted in which daily ACS incidence data were linked with daily concentrations of PM10 (PM with a median aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm) using a well-established generalized linear model with a log link function and a Poisson distribution of ACS. We specifically focused on groups based simultaneously on age and gender. (3) Results: On the basis of the presented models, it appears that daily average concentrations of PM10 have a significant impact on ACS incidence for the entire population, with a higher impact on older populations and the highest impact on older men. The analysis of the delayed effect in PM10-related ACS incidences observed the strongest effect at a one day lag. (4) Conclusions: Our study detected the presence of a “rise and fall” lag pattern observed in three aforementioned population groups; however, no significant association was detected for women and younger populations.
Introducing the Language of “Relativity” for New Scaffold Categorization
Authors: Yuan Haobo
Published: February 2019

Research related with scaffold engineering tends to be cross-domain and miscellaneous. Several realms may need to be focused simultaneously, including biomedicine for cell culture and 3D scaffold, physics for dynamics, manufacturing for technologies like 3D printing, chemistry for material composition, as well as architecture for scaffold’s geometric control. As a result, researchers with different backgrounds sometimes could have different understanding towards the product described as ‘Scaffold’. After reviewing the literature, numerous studies termed their developed scaffold as ‘novel’, compared with scaffolds previously designed by others using comparing criterion like ‘research time’, ‘manufacturing method’, ‘geometry’, and so on. While it may have been convenient a decade ago to, for example, categorize scaffold with ‘Dualistic Thinking’ logic into ‘simple-complicated’ or ‘traditional-novel’, this method for categorizing ‘novelty’ and distinguishing scaffold is insufficiently persuasive and precise when it comes to modern or future scaffold. From this departure of philosophical language, namely the language of ‘relativity’, it is important to distinguish between different scaffolds. Other than attempting to avoid ambiguity in perceiving scaffold, this language also provides clarity regarding the ‘evolution stage’ where the focused scaffolds currently stand, where they have been developed, and where in future they could possibly evolve.
Active Navigation in Virtual Environments Benefits Spatial Memory in Older Adults
Authors: Meade Melissa , Meade John , Sauzeon Hélène , Fernandes Myra
Published: February 2019

We investigated age differences in memory for spatial routes that were either actively or passively encoded. A series of virtual environments were created and presented to 20 younger (Mean age = 19.71) and 20 older (Mean age = 74.55) adults, through a cardboard viewer. During encoding, participants explored routes presented within city, park, and mall virtual environments, and were later asked to re-trace their travelled routes. Critically, participants encoded half the virtual environments by passively viewing a guided tour along a pre-selected route, and half through active exploration with volitional control of their movements by using a button press on the viewer. During retrieval, participants were placed in the same starting location and asked to retrace the previously traveled route. We calculated the percentage overlap in the paths travelled at encoding and retrieval, as an indicator of spatial memory accuracy, and examined various measures indexing individual differences in their cognitive approach and visuo-spatial processing abilities. Results showed that active navigation, compared to passive viewing during encoding, resulted in a higher accuracy in spatial memory, with the magnitude of this memory enhancement being significantly larger in older than in younger adults. Regression analyses showed that age and score on the Hooper Visual Organizational test predicted spatial memory accuracy, following the passive and active encoding of routes. The model predicting accuracy following active encoding additionally included the distance of stops from an intersection as a significant predictor, illuminating a cognitive approach that specifically contributes to memory benefits in following active navigation. Results suggest that age-related deficits in spatial memory can be reduced by active encoding.
Inhibition of NK Reactivity Against Solid Tumors by Platelet-Derived RANKL
Authors: Clar Kim L. , Hinterleitner Clemens , Schneider Pascal , Salih Helmut R. , Maurer Stefanie
Published: February 2019

NK cells play an important role in tumor immunosurveillance. Their reactivity is governed by various activating and inhibitory surface receptors, which include several members of the TNF/TNF receptor family. For more than 50 years, it has been recognized that tumor immunosurveillance and in particular NK cell antitumor reactivity is largely influenced by platelets, but the underlying mechanisms remain to be fully elucidated. Here we report that upon activation, which reportedly occurs following interaction with cancer cells, platelets upregulate the TNF family member RANKL. Comparative analysis of the expression of RANK among different NK cell subsets and RANKL on platelets in cancer patients and healthy volunteers revealed a distinct malignant phenotype, and platelet-derived RANKL was found to inhibit the activity of normal NK cells against cancer cells. Notably, NK cell antitumor reactivity could be partially restored by application of denosumab, a RANKL-neutralizing antibody approved for treatment of benign and malignant osteolysis. Together, our data not only unravel a novel mechanism of tumor immune evasion mediated by platelets, but they also provide a functional explanation for the clinical observation that denosumab, beyond protecting from bone loss, may prolong disease-free survival in patients with solid tumors.
Clinical Outcomes of Conversion Surgery after Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients with Borderline Resectable and Locally Advanced Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer: A Single-Center, Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Yoo Changhoon , Shin Sang Hyun , Kim Kyu-pyo , Jeong Jae Ho , Chang Heung-Moon , Kang Jun Ho , Lee Sang Soo , Park Do Hyun , Song Tae Jun , Seo Dong Wan , Lee Sung Koo , Kim Myung-Hwan , Park Jin-hong , Hwang Dae Wook , Song Ki Byung , Lee Jae Hoon , Ryoo Baek-Yeol , Kim Song Cheol
Published: February 2019

The clinical benefit and potential risks of conversion surgery after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) have not been fully investigated in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC) and locally advanced unresectable pancreatic cancer (LAPC). Therefore, this has been evaluated in a retrospective, prospective cohort-based analysis. Between October 2005 and April 2017, 135 patients (65 with BRPC and 70 with LAPC) received conversion surgery after NACT. Exploratory analysis to assess clinical outcomes in comparison with patients who underwent upfront surgery in the same time period (n = 359) was also conducted. NACT with gemcitabine-based regimens (including gemcitabine monotherapy, gemcitabine-capecitabine combination, and gemcitabine-erlotinib combination) was used in 69 patients (51%) and FOLFIRINOX in 66 patients (49%). The median overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) from the time of surgery was 25.4 months (95% CI, 18.6–32.2 months) and 9.0 months (95% CI, 6.8–11.2 months), respectively. The median OS and progression-free survival from the initiation of NACT was 29.7 months (95% CI, 22.5–36.8 months) and 13.4 months (95% CI, 12.5–14.4 months), respectively. In the exploratory analysis, conversion surgery after NACT was associated with a better median OS and DFS than upfront surgery (vs. 17.1 months; 95% CI, 15.5–18.7 months; p = 0.001 and vs. 7.1 months; 95% CI, 6.4–7.8 months; p = 0.005, respectively). There was no difference in length of hospital stay between the two groups, and conversion surgery after NACT showed a significantly lower incidence of postoperative complications than upfront surgery (38% vs. 27%, p = 0.03). Conversion surgery after NACT is a feasible and effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of patients with BRPC and LAPC. Further clinical trials investigating optimal therapeutic strategies for BRPC and LAPC are warranted.
Radiation Increases Functional KCa3.1 Expression and Invasiveness in Glioblastoma
Authors: D’Alessandro Giuseppina , Monaco Lucia , Catacuzzeno Luigi , Antonangeli Fabrizio , Santoro Antonio , Esposito Vincenzo , Franciolini Fabio , Wulff Heike , Limatola Cristina
Published: February 2019

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a deadly brain tumor, with fast recurrence even after surgical intervention, radio- and chemotherapies. One of the reasons for relapse is the early invasion of surrounding brain parenchyma by GBM, rendering tumor eradication difficult. Recent studies demonstrate that, in addition to eliminate possible residual tumoral cells after surgery, radiation stimulates the infiltrative behavior of GBM cells. The intermediate conductance of Ca2+-activated potassium channels (KCa3.1) play an important role in regulating the migration of GBM. Here, we show that high dose radiation of patient-derived GBM cells increases their invasion, and induces the transcription of key genes related to these functions, including the IL-4/IL-4R pair. In addition, we demonstrate that radiation increases the expression of KCa3.1 channels, and that their pharmacological inhibition counteracts the pro-invasive phenotype induced by radiation in tumor cells. Our data describe a possible approach to treat tumor resistance that follows radiation therapy in GBM patients.
Observed Survival Interval: A Supplement to TCGA Pan-Cancer Clinical Data Resource
Authors: Xiong Jie , Bing Zhitong , Guo Shengyu
Published: February 2019

To drive high-quality omics translational research using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data, a TCGA Pan-Cancer Clinical Data Resource was proposed. However, there is an out-of-step issue between clinical outcomes and the omics data of TCGA for skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM), due to the majority of metastatic samples. In clinical cases, the survival time started from the initial SKCM diagnosis, while the omics data were characterized at TCGA sampling. This study aimed to address this issue by proposing an observed survival interval (OBS), which was defined as the time interval from TCGA sampling to patient death or last follow-up. We compared the OBS with the usual recommended overall survival (OS) by associating them with both clinical data and microRNA sequencing data of TCGA-SKCM. We found that the OS of primary SKCM was significantly shorter than that of metastatic SKCM, while the opposite happened if OBS was compared. OS was associated with the pathological stage of both primary and metastatic SKCM, while OBS was associated with the pathological stage of primary SKCM but not that of metastatic SKCM. Five previously cross-validated survival-associated microRNAs were found to be associated with the OBS rather than OS in metastatic SKCM. Thus, the OBS was more appropriate for associating microRNA-omics data of TCGA-SKCM than OS, and it is a timely supplement to TCGA Pan-Cancer Clinical Data Resource.
Synthetic Biomimetic Coenzymes and Alcohol Dehydrogenases for Asymmetric Catalysis
Authors: Josa-Culleré Laia , Lahdenperä Antti S. K. , Ribaucourt Aubert , Höfler Georg T. , Gargiulo Serena , Liu Yuan-Yang , Xu Jian-He , Cassidy Jennifer , Paradisi Francesca , Opperman Diederik J. , Hollmann Frank , Paul Caroline E.
Published: February 2019

Redox reactions catalyzed by highly selective nicotinamide-dependent oxidoreductases are rising to prominence in industry. The cost of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide coenzymes has led to the use of well-established elaborate regeneration systems and more recently alternative synthetic biomimetic cofactors. These biomimetics are highly attractive to use with ketoreductases for asymmetric catalysis. In this work, we show that the commonly studied cofactor analogue 1-benzyl-1,4-dihydronicotinamide (BNAH) can be used with alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) under certain conditions. First, we carried out the rhodium-catalyzed recycling of BNAH with horse liver ADH (HLADH), observing enantioenriched product only with unpurified enzyme. Then, a series of cell-free extracts and purified ketoreductases were screened with BNAH. The use of unpurified enzyme led to product formation, whereas upon dialysis or further purification no product was observed. Several other biomimetics were screened with various ADHs and showed no or very low activity, but also no inhibition. BNAH as a hydride source was shown to directly reduce nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) to NADH. A formate dehydrogenase could also mediate the reduction of NAD from BNAH. BNAH was established to show no or very low activity with ADHs and could be used as a hydride donor to recycle NADH.
Heterometallic CoIIIZnII Schiff Base Catalyst for Mild Hydroxylation of C(sp3)–H Bonds of Unactivated Alkanes: Evidence for Dual Mechanism Controlled by the Promoter
Authors: Nesterova Oksana V. , Kasyanova Katerina V. , Buvaylo Elena A. , Vassilyeva Olga Yu. , Skelton Brian W. , Nesterov Dmytro S. , Pombeiro Armando J.L.
Published: February 2019

The novel Schiff base complex [CoIIIZnIIL3Cl2]·CH3OH (1) was synthesized by interaction of zinc powder, cobalt(II) chloride and methanol solution of the pre-formed HL in air (HL is the product of condensation of o-vanillin and methylamine) and characterized by IR, UV-Vis and NMR spectroscopy, ESI-MS and single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. In the heterometallic core of 1 the two metal centers are bridged by deprotonated phenoxy groups of the L− ligands with the cobalt-zinc separation of 3.123 Å. Catalytic investigations demonstrated a pronounced activity of 1 towards mild alkane oxidation with m-chloroperbenzoic acid (m-CPBA) as an oxidant and cis-1,2-dimethylcyclohexane (cis-1,2-DMCH) as the model substrate. The influence of the nature of different promoting agents of various acidities (from HOTf to pyridine) on the catalytic process was studied in detail and a pronounced activity of 1 in the presence of nitric acid promoter was found, also showing a high retention of stereoconfiguration of the substrate (>99% for cis-1,2-DMCH). The best achieved yield of tertiary cis-alcohol based on the oxidant was 61%, with a turnover number (TON) of 198 for nitric acid as promoter. The 18O-incorporations into the alcohols when the reactions were performed under 18O2 atmosphere using acetic and nitric acid promoters, suggest that the cis-1,2-DMCH hydroxylation proceeds by two distinct pathways, a non-stereoselective and a stereoselective one (with and without involvement of a long-lived free carbon radical, respectively). The former dominates in the case of acetic acid promoter and the latter is realized in the case of HNO3 promoter.
Developing Nickel–Zirconia Co-Precipitated Catalysts for Production of Green Diesel
Authors: Zafeiropoulos Georgios , Nikolopoulos Nikolaos , Kordouli Eleana , Sygellou Labrini , Bourikas Kyriakos , Kordulis Christos , Lycourghiotis Alexis
Published: February 2019

The transformation of sunflower oil (SO) and waste cooking oil (WCO) into green diesel over co-precipitated nickel–zirconia catalysts was studied. Two series of catalysts were prepared. The first series included catalysts with various Ni loadings prepared using zirconium oxy-chloride, whereas the second series included catalysts with 60–80 wt % Ni loading prepared using zirconium oxy-nitrate as zirconium source. The catalysts were characterized and evaluated in the transformation of SO into green diesel. The best catalysts were also evaluated for green diesel production using waste cooking oil. The catalysts performance for green diesel production is mainly governed by the Ni surface exposed, their acidity, and the reducibility of the ZrO2. These characteristics depend on the preparation method and the Zr salt used. The presence of chlorine in the catalysts drawn from the zirconium oxy-chloride results to catalysts with relatively low Ni surface, high acidity and hardly reduced ZrO2 phase. These characteristics lead to relatively low activity for green diesel production, whereas they favor high yields of wax esters. Ni-ZrO2 catalysts with Ni loading in the range 60–80 wt %, prepared by urea hydrothermal co-precipitation method using zirconium oxy-nitrate as ZrO2 precursor salt exhibited higher Ni surface, moderate acidity, and higher reducibility of ZrO2 phase. The latter catalysts were proved to be very promising for green diesel production.
Selective Conversion of Phenol in a Subcritical Water Medium Using γ-Al2O3 Supported Ni–Co Bimetallic Catalyst
Authors: Shi Yuzhen , Chen Shanshuai , He Liang , Ning Ping , Guan Qingqing
Published: February 2019

The selective conversion of phenolic materials is a well-adopted solution to upgrade lignin-based bioresources into high-value bio-oil in biomass refinery industries. This study focused on four main aspects: characterization, selection of catalysts, reaction dynamics behaviors, and mathematical modelling. A model lignin, that is, phenol, was selectively transformed into cyclohexanol by using the prepared Ni–xCo/γ-Al2O3 catalysts in a subcritical water medium. The hydrogenation results showed that when using 15 wt% of Ni–3Co/γ-Al2O3 particles, both total mole yield and selectivity of cyclohexanol could reach approximately 80%, which further indicated that the particles are suitable for catalytic hydrogenation of phenol in subcritical water. Moreover, a reaction kinetics model was developed by chemical reaction kinetics and least squares regression analysis, the robustness and predictability of which were also verified.
Recent Developments in the Suzuki–Miyaura Reaction Using Nitroarenes as Electrophilic Coupling Reagents
Authors: Rocard Lou , Hudhomme Piétrick
Published: February 2019

Palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions are nowadays essential in organic synthesis for the construction of C–C, C–N, C–O, and other C-heteroatom bonds. The 2010 Nobel Prize in Chemistry to Richard F. Heck, Ei-ichi Negishi, and Akira Suzuki was awarded for the discovery of these reactions. These great advances for organic chemists stimulated intense research efforts worldwide dedicated to studying these reactions. Among them, the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling (SMC) reaction, which usually involves an organoboron reagent and an organic halide or triflate in the presence of a base and a palladium catalyst, has become, in the last few decades, one of the most popular tools for the creation of C–C bonds. In this review, we present recent progress concerning the SMC reaction with the original use of nitroarenes as electrophilic coupling partners reacting with the organoboron reagent.
Preparation and Characterization of Rh/MgSNTs Catalyst for Hydroformylation of Vinyl Acetate: The Rh0 was Obtained by Calcination
Authors: Su Penghe , Chen Ya , Liu Xiaotong , Chuai Hongyuan , Liu Hongchi , Zhu Baolin , Zhang Shoumin , Huang Weiping
Published: February 2019

A simple and practical Rh-catalyzed hydroformylation of vinyl acetate has been synthesized via impregnation-calcination method using silicate nanotubes (MgSNTs) as the supporter. The Rh0 (zero valent state of rhodium) was obtained by calcination. The influence of calcination temperature on catalytic performance of the catalysts was investigated in detail. The catalysts were characterized in detail by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), atomic emission spectrometer (ICP), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface-area analyzers. The Rh/MgSNTs(a2) catalyst shows excellent catalytic activity, selectivity and superior cyclicity. The catalyst could be easily recovered by phase separation and was used up to four times.
Gynecological Cancers Translational, Research Implementation, and Harmonization: Gynecologic Cancer InterGroup Consensus and Still Open Questions
Authors: Bagnoli Marina , Shi Ting Yan , Gourley Charlie , Speiser Paul , Reuss Alexander , Nijman Hans W. , Creutzberg Carien L. , Scholl Suzy , Negrouk Anastassia , Brady Mark F. , Hasegawa Kosei , Oda Katsutoshi , McNeish Iain A. , Kohn Elise C. , Oza Amit M. , MacKay Helen , Millan David , Bennett Katherine , Scott Clare , Mezzanzanica Delia
Published: February 2019

In the era of personalized medicine, the introduction of translational studies in clinical trials has substantially increased their costs, but provides the possibility of improving the productivity of trials with a better selection of recruited patients. With the overall goal of creating a roadmap to improve translational design for future gynecological cancer trials and of defining translational goals, a main discussion was held during a brainstorming day of the Gynecologic Cancer InterGroup (GCIG) Translational Research Committee and overall conclusions are here reported. A particular emphasis was dedicated to the new frontier of the immunoprofiling of gynecological cancers. The discussion pointed out that to maximize patients’ benefit, translational studies should be integral to clinical trial design with standardization and optimization of procedures including a harmonization program of Standard Operating Procedures. Pathology-reviewed sample collection should be mandatory and ensured by dedicated funding. Biomarker validation and development should be made public and transparent to ensure rapid progresses with positive outcomes for patients. Guidelines/templates for patients’ informed consent are needed. Importantly for the public, recognized goals are to increase the involvement of advocates and to improve the reporting of translational data in a forum accessible to patients.
Fracture Mechanics Solutions for Interfacial Cracks between Compressible Thin Layers and Substrates
Authors: Massabò Roberta , Ustinov Konstantin , Barbieri Luca , Berggreen Christian
Published: February 2019

The decohesion of coatings, thin films, or layers used to protect or strengthen technological and structural components causes the loss of their functions. In this paper, analytical, computational, and semi-analytical 2D solutions are derived for the energy release rate and mode-mixity phase angle of an edge-delamination crack between a thin layer and an infinitely deep substrate. The thin layer is subjected to general edge loading: axial and shear forces and bending moment. The solutions are presented in terms of elementary crack tip loads and apply to a wide range of material combinations, with a large mismatch of the elastic constants (isotropic materials with Dundurs’ parameters − 1 ≤ α ≤ 1 and − 0.4 ≤ β ≤ 0.4 ). Results show that for stiff layers over soft substrates ( α → 1 ), the effects of material compressibility are weak, and the assumption of substrate incompressibility is accurate; for other combinations, including soft layers over stiff substrates ( α → − 1 ), the effects may be relevant and problem specific. The solutions are applicable to edge- and buckling-delamination of thin layers bonded to thick substrates, to mixed-mode fracture characterization test methods, and as benchmark cases.
Elastic Wave Propagation of Two-Dimensional Metamaterials Composed of Auxetic Star-Shaped Honeycomb Structures
Authors: Chang Shu-Yeh , Chen Chung-De , Yeh Jia-Yi , Chen Lien-Wen
Published: February 2019

In this paper, the wave propagation in phononic crystal composed of auxetic star-shaped honeycomb matrix with negative Poisson’s ratio is presented. Two types of inclusions with circular and rectangular cross sections are considered and the band structures of the phononic crystals are also obtained by the finite element method. The band structure of the phononic crystal is affected significantly by the auxeticity of the star-shaped honeycomb. Some other interesting findings are also presented, such as the negative refraction and the self-collimation. The present study demonstrates the potential applications of the star-shaped honeycomb in phononic crystals, such as vibration isolation and the elastic waveguide.