bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
USO DE SÉRIES TEMPORAIS EM ANÁLISE DA VARIAÇÃO DO pH DO SOLO
Authors: Chig Léo Adriano , Espinosa Mariano Martínez , Couto Eduardo Guimarães , Amorim Ricardo Santos Silva
Published: July 2018

Sendo o pH da solução do solo um índice que determina a acidez e alcalinidade do solo e sabendo que as plantas se desenvolvem melhor em determinados pH’s, o conhecimento da variação temporal no solo desse índice pode colaborar para adequação de estratégias de manejo da fertilidade. O objetivo deste estudo foi ajustar um modelo de séries temporais com o intuito de conhecer a variação temporal dos valores de pH do solo, em áreas de cultivo comercial sob Latossolo Vermelho distrófico. Foi possível estimar o pH do solo utilizando a técnica de análise de series temporais, considerando o modelo de suavização exponencial de Holt-Winters (HW), obtendo o melhor ajuste pelo aditivo de HW, e para solo de textura argilosa foi o modelo multiplicativo, ambos por apresentarem menores valores de erro médio absoluto(EMA)e erro quadrático médio(EQM). Os solos de textura arenosa afetaram mais a variação temporal dos valores de pH, influenciados pela precipitação do que os de textura argilosa.Palavras-chave: modelo aditivo, argila, modelagem. USE OF TIME-SERIES TECHNIQUES IN ANALYSIS OF SOIL pH CHANGES ABSTRACT:Being the pH of the soil solution, an index that determines the acidity and alkalinity of the soil, and knowing that the plants develop in certain pH's, knowledge of the temporal variation in the soil of this index can contribute to the adequacy of fertility management strategies. The objective of this study was to adjust a time series model with the purpose of knowing the temporal variation of soil pH values in commercial cultivated areas under Latosol Red dystrophic. It was possible to estimate the pH of the soil using the technique of time series analysis, considering the HW model. The model that best fit with the observed values of the pH of the soil was sandy texture of the additive model HW, and clayey soil was the multiplicative model, both because of the lower values of mean absolute error (MPE) and mean squared error (MSE). The sandy soils affected more temporal variation in pH, influenced by rainfall than clayey.Keywords: additive model, clay, modeling.
AJUSTE E CLASSIFICAÇÃO DO POTENCIAL VOLUMÉTRICO DE Lecythis lurida (MIERS) MORI, FLONA DO TAPAJÓS
Authors: Corrêa Kleyton Kleber dos Santos , Gama João Ricardo Vasconcelos , Silva-Ribeiro Renato Bezerra da , Ximenes Lucas Cunha
Published: July 2018

Objetivou-se ajustar modelos volumétricos e classificar o potencial volumétrico de madeira de Lecythis lurida (Miers) Mori na Floresta Nacional do Tapajós. Os dados são oriundos de duas Unidades de Produção Anual (UPAs) da área de manejo florestal da Cooperativa Mista da FLONA do Tapajós (COOMFLONA). Foram ajustados modelos volumétricos e escolhido o melhor com base no R²aj., Syx%, significância dos parâmetros e análise gráfica de resíduos. Para a classificação do potencial volumétrico pela estratificação volumétrica, usou-se a distância euclidiana simples como medida de dissimilaridade e o método Ward como algoritmo de agrupamento. A análise discriminante foi aplicada para verificar a veracidade da distinção e da classificação das Unidades de Trabalho (UTs) em classes homogêneas de estoque volumétrico. Os modelos de dupla entrada foram estatisticamente superiores aos de simples entrada, sendo o de Schumacher-Hall o melhor modelo, com R²aj. de 81,62% e Syx% de 16,91%. A análise discriminante indicou que a classificação das UTs nas classes de estoque volumétrico foi 100% correta em que a análise multivariada possibilitou a estratificação da área de exploração em três classes de produtividade para L. lurida, contribuindo para melhor planejamento das atividades florestais que envolvam esta espécie.Palavras-chave: manejo florestal comunitário, estoque produtivo, análise multivariada. FITTING AND CLASSIFICATION OF VOLUMETRIC POTENTIAL FOR Lecythis lurida (MIERS) MORI, TAPAJÓS NATIONAL FOREST ABSTRACT:It was aimed to fit volumetric models and classify the volumetric potential of Lecythis lurida (Miers) Mori in Tapajós National Forest. The data come from two Annual Production Units (UPAs) of the forest management area of Mixed Cooperative of FLONA Tapajós (COOMFLONA). Volumetric models were fitted and the best one was chosen based on R²aj., Syx%, significance of the parameters and graphical analysis of residues. For the classification volumetric potential, the simple Euclidean distance was used as a measure of dissimilarity and the Ward method as clustering algorithm. The discriminant analysis was applied  to verify veracity of the distinction and classification of  Work Units (UTs) in homogeneous classes of volumetric stock. The double-entry models were statistically superior to the single-entry, with the Schumacher-Hall model resulting as the best, with R²aj. of 81.62% and Syx% of 16.91%. The discriminant analysis indicated that the classification of UTs in the volumetric stock classes was 100% correct, in which the multivariate analysis allowed the stratification of the exploitation area in three classes of productive capacity for L. lurida, contributing to the better planning the forest activities involving this species.Keywords: Community forest management, productive stock, multivariate analysis.
POTENCIAL DE CLONES EXPERIMENTAIS DE BATATA-DOCE PARA PRODUÇÃO DE ETANOL
Authors: Lourenço Adriano Mendes , Tavares Aline Torquato , Ferreira Tiago Alves , Lopes Danilo Alves da Silva Porto , Carline João Victor Gonçalves , Momenté Valéria Gomes , Do Nascimento Ildon Rodrigues
Published: July 2018

A batata-doce (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) tem sido reportada como uma das espécies de planta com grande capacidade de converter biomassa em matéria prima para produção de etanol. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o potencial de clones de batata-doce para produção de etanol. Foram avaliados 60 clones de batata-doce para produtividade de raízes, teor de amido nas raízes, produtividade de amido, coloração da casca e da polpa e o rendimento de etanol. O clone BDTO#122,32 e as cultivares Ana Clara e Carolina Vitória com média de 46,77; 42,75 e 41,25 t ha-¹, respectivamente, foram os que mais conseguiram acumular biomassa na forma de raiz. Os clones que apresentam as maiores médias de produtividade de amido por hectare foram BDTO#144.22 e BDTO#100.23, com valores de 15,46 e 14,16% t ha-1, com rendimentos de etanol de 8,33 e 7,63 m³ ha-¹. Os clones BDTO#144.22 e BDTO#100.23 apresentaram as maiores médias de produtividade de amido por hectare e rendimento de etanol, sendo, portanto, os mais promissores para a produção de etanol.Palavras-chave: Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam, melhoramento genético, seleção, biocombustível. POTENTIAL OF EXPERIMENTAL CLONES OF SWEET POTATO FOR ETHANOL PRODUCTION ABSTRACT:Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) Has been reported as one of the plant species with great ability to convert biomass into feedstock for ethanol production. The objective of this work was to evaluate the potential of sweet potato clones for ethanol production. Twenty-six sweet potato clones were evaluated for root productivity, root starch content, starch yield, bark and pulp color, and ethanol yield. Clone BDTO # 122.32 and cultivars Ana Clara and Carolina Vitória averaging 46.77; 42.75 and 41.25 t ha-1, respectively, were the ones that were able to accumulate biomass in the root form. The clones presenting the highest starch productivity per hectare were BDTO # 144.22 and BDTO # 100.23, with values of 15.46 and 14.16% t ha-1, with ethanol yields of 8.33 and 7.63 m³ ha-¹. The clones BDTO # 144.22 and BDTO # 100.23 showed the highest averages of starch productivity per hectare and yield of ethanol, thus being the most promising for the production of ethanol.Keywords: Ipomoea potatoes (L.) Lam, breeding, selection, biofuel.
A NOVEL APPROACH FOR WATER TREATMENT BY USING ACTIVATED CARBON: APRICOT KERNEL SHELL
Authors: ADHAMİ Sadaf , GHORBANPOOR Hamed , AZAK Berat , KAPUCU Serkan , NURBAS Macid , AVCI Hüseyin
Published: July 2018

The rapid growth of industry with increasing environmental pollution and abnormal climate changes caused by global warming leading to reduce water resources. It has encouragedstrengthening the science and research to protect and clean drinking water resources since the last 40 years. As a result, many different technologies and researches such as biologicaltreatment and oxidation techniques related to water treatment are being carried out. In this study, the color removal of water containing methylene blue (MB) by using activated carbon was performed. The activated carbon, which was obtained from the apricot kernel shell, has one of the world's highest surface areas. As a result of the analysis with UV-Vis spectrophotometer,approximately 95% dye removal was obtained within the first half hour. We have also observed that the apricot kernel activated shell gives much better results when we compare thecolor removal results obtained using TiO2 nanoparticles under UV light. It can be concluded that our country, which is the first in the world for apricot production, can supply the apricotkernel shell with a very low cost can have a great potential to treat water which is one of the most important problems of our lives.
PENDAYAGUNAAN TEKNOLOGI INFORMASI DAN KOMUNIKASI (TIK) DALAM PENGEMBANGAN PEMBELAJARAN DAN MANAJEMEN SEKOLAH RINTISAN PENERAPAN KURIKULUM 2013
Authors: Widyastono Herry
Published: July 2018

The rapid advancement of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has affected the livelihood of the people and the nation of Indonesia. In 2006 , the Ministry of Education and Culture has responded ICT developments by incorporating the subjects of ICT into curriculum. ICT subjects was abolished from curriculum 2013. The purpose of this study is to find solutions for the utilization of ICT in the development of learning and school management pilot for the implementation of Curriculum 2013. Results of analyzes and studies note that although ICT is not a stand-alone subject, but ICT is expected to be utilized in the development of learning and pilot school management for implementation of Curriculum 2013. Forms of utilization of ICT among others: computer-based learning, blended e-learning, web-based learning, assessment of information and communication technology-based, digital libraries, and school database applications. The pilot school for the implementation of Curriculum 2013, which have adequate educational resources recommended that ICT teacher gives training and guidance and facilitation to other teachers and other eductors and learners to be able to utilize ICT in learning and school management optimally. AbstrakPesatnya kemajuan Teknologi Informasi dan Komunikasi (TIK) telah memengaruhi tatanan kehidupan masyarakat dan bangsa Indonesia. Tahun 2006, Departemen Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan telah merespon perkembangan TIK dengan memasukkan mata pelajaran TIK ke dalam Kurikulum. Pada Kurikulum 2013, mata pelajaran TIK tersebut ditiadakan. Tujuan kajian ini untuk mencarikan solusi pendayagunaan TIK dalam pengembangan pembelajaran dan pengelolaan manajemen sekolah rintisan penerapan Kurikulum 2013. Hasil analisis dan kajian diketahui bahwa meskipun TIK tidak merupakan mata pelajaran yang berdiri sendiri, namun TIK diharapkan dapat didayagunakan pemanfaatannya dalam pengembangan pembelajaran dan manajemen sekolah rintisan penerapan Kurikulum 2013. Bentuk-bentuk pendayagunaan TIK tersebut antara lain: pembelajaran berbasis komputer, blended e-learning, pembelajaran berbasis web, penilaian berbasis TIK, perpustakaan digital, dan aplikasi database sekolah. Bagi sekolah rintisan penerapan Kurikulum 2013 yang memiliki sumber daya pendidikan memadai direkomendasikan agar guru TIK memberi pelatihan dan bimbingan serta fasilitasi kepada para guru lainnya dan tenaga kependidikan serta peserta didik agar mampu mendayagunakan TIK dalam pembelajaran dan manajemen sekolah secara optimal.
ANALISIS KEBUTUHAN LEMBAR KERJA AUDIO SISWA (LKAS) UNTUK SISWA TUNANETRA
Authors: Innayah NFN
Published: July 2018

Visually impaired disabilities have requiring an appropriate medium for learning. Audio student worksheet (LKS) is one of the media for persons with disabilities are being developed. The aim of the study was to determine the subjects that require media audio LKS, format of audio LKS, player tool for audio LKS program and accompanying materials required as supporting audio LKS. This research was conducted by the method of research and development. The results of this study showed subjects that require audio LKS is a national examination subjects such as Indonesian language, English language, science and mathematics. Form of audio LKS for visually impaired disabilities is a summary with multiple choice questions. Instruments of audio LKS that suitable for visually impaired disabilities are laptop and an MP3 player. The understanding of the audio LKS for visually impaired disabilities should be complemented with an accompanying material in the form of Braille. AbstrakSiswa tunanetra membutuhkan media pembelajaran yang tepat. Lembar kerja audio siswa (LKAS) merupakan salah satu media yang dikembangkan bagi siswa tunanetra. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui mata pelajaran yang membutuhkan media LKAS, format LKAS, alat pemutar program untuk LKAS dan bahan penyerta yang dibutuhkan sebagai penunjang LKAS. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian dan pengembangan (R and D). Hasil penelitian mengungkapkan bahwa mata pelajaran yang membutuhkan media LKAS adalah mata pelajaran ujian nasional seperti Bahasa Indonesia, Bahasa Ingggris, IPA dan matematika. Format LKAS bagi siswa tunanetra adalah ringkasan materi dengan bentuk soal pilihan ganda. Alat pemutar program yang sesuai bagi siswa tunanetra adalah laptop dan MP3 player. Pemahaman terhadap LKAS perlu dilengkapi dengan bahan penyerta dalam bentuk Braille.
MENINGKATKAN LITERASI MEMBACA DAN MENULIS DENGAN TEKNOLOGI INFORMASI DAN KOMUNIKASI (TIK)
Authors: Warsihna Jaka
Published: July 2018

This study aims to determine how the presence of ICT can be used to improve the literacy of reading and writing, as well as the types of ICT can be used to improve literacy reading and writing? With this method of study or literature review, data obtained from various sources kamudian analysis and descriptive exploratory discussion. From the data can be obtained that there are various types of ICT that can be used to improve literacy reading and writing of television, internet, e-book and audio book. Television can be used to improve literacy read by integrating the content of television by publication or otherwise. Internet can be used improve the literacy of reading and writing for anyone, anytime can search for a preferred reading and can write and publish with ease. E-book encourages people to easily get a reading that is cheap and easy and can be read anytime and anywhere without depending on a network (internet). e-book encourages authors to publish their own books without publishers. While audiobook easier fopr people with a variethy of conditions to be able to listen to their favourite books. In addition, it also books can be read out with music and illustrations that support that understanding becomes easier. thus it can be concluded that there are various types of ICT can be used to improve reading and writing literacy by integrating ICTwith reading and writing. AbstrakPenelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui bagaimana kehadiran TIK dapat digunakan untuk meningkatkan literasi membaca dan menulis, serta jenis TIK yang dapat digunakan untuk meningkatkan literasi membaca dan menulis? Dengan metode studi atau kajian pustaka, data yang diperoleh dari berbagai sumber kamudian dilakukan analisis dan pembahasan secara deskriptif eksploratif. Dari data diperoleh informasi bahwa ada berbagai jenisTIK yang dapat digunakan untuk meningkatkan literasi membaca dan menulis yaitu televisi, internet, e-book, dan audio book. Televisi dapat dimanfaatkan untuk meningkatkan literasi membaca dengan cara mengintegrasikan materi tayangan televisi dengan penerbitan buku atau sebaliknya. Internet dapat dimanfaatkan meningkatkan literasi membaca dan menulis karena siapa saja dan kapan saja dapat mencari bacaan yang disukai serta dapat menulis dan mempublikasikan tulisannya dengan mudah. E-book mendorong orang dengan mudah untuk mendapatkan bacaan yang murah dan mudah serta dapat dibaca kapan saja dan di mana saja tanpa tergantung dengan jaringan (internet). Dengan e-book mendorong penulis buku dapat mempublikasikan tulisannya sendiri tanpa penerbit. Sedangkan audio book memudahkan orang dengan kondisi apapun dapat mendengarkan buku yang disukai. Di samping itu juga buku dapat dibacakan dengan iringan musik dan ilustrasi yang mendukung agar pemahaman menjadi lebih mudah. Dengan demikian dapat disimpulkan bahwa ada berbagai jenis TIK yang dapat digunakan untuk meningkatkan literasi membaca dan menulis dengan cara mengintegrasikan TIK dengan kegiatan membaca dan menulis.
PENGEMBANGAN BAHAN BELAJAR KOSAKATA BAHASA INDONESIA BERBASIS PENDIDIKAN NILAI-NILAI PANCASILA DI FACEBOOK
Authors: Paryono Yani
Published: July 2018

Good Indonesian language learning materials are not only taken from textbooks but they can also be taken from various sources such as newspaper, outdoor media, nature, television, and social media. The research entitled ‘The Development of Indonesian Language Vocabulary Learning Materials Based on the Education of Pancasila Values on Facebook’ aims at producing Indonesian learning materials based on the education of Pancasila values. The problem discussed in this article is that there hasn’t been any Indonesian vocabulary learning material based on the education of Pancasila values developed by teachers and published on Facebook. The method used in this research is a Four-D Model consisting of some stages, such as: defining, planning, developing, and presenting on a seminar. This research involves an expert of Indonesian language education, six Indonesian language teachers, and twenty Senior High School students. Indonesian language learning materials on Facebook can be used to instill the values of Pancasila. The development of these learning materials is based on the principles of relevance, consistency, sufficiency properness of content, language, presentation, and graph. It has been proven through this research that the Indonesian subject learning achievement of Senior Secondary students through the use of facebook containing Pancasila values as learning content is higher compared to those students using different learning materials. AbstrakBahan belajar bahasa Indonesia yang baik tidak harus bersumber pada buku-buku pelajaran saja, tetapi dapat juga memanfaatkan berbagai sumber, seperti: media cetak koran, media luar ruang, alam sekitar, televisi, dan media sosial. Penelitian dengan judul Pengembangan Bahan Belajar Kosakata Bahasa Indonesia Berbasis Pendidikan Nilai-Nilai Pancasila di Facebook bertujuan untuk menghasilkan bahan belajar bahasa Indonesia berbasis pendidikan nilai-nilai Pancasila yang dapat diakses melalui facebook. Masalah yang dibahas di dalam artikel ini adalah belum adanya materi pelajaran kosakata bahasa Indonesia berbasis pendidikan nilai-nilai Pancasila yang dikembangkan guru dan di-publish di facebook. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah Four-D Model yang meliputi tahap pendefinisian, perancangan, pengembangan,dan tahap pendiseminasian. Penelitian ini melibatkan seorang ahli pendidikan bahasa Indonesia, 6 guru bahasa Indonesia, dan 20 siswa SMA. Bahan belajar bahasa Indonesia yang disajikan di media sosial facebook dapat dimanfaatkan untuk menanamkan nilai-nilai Pancasila. Bahan belajar bahasa Indonesia ini dikembangkan dengan memperhatikan prinsip relevansi, konsistensi, ketercukupan, kelayakan isi, kebahasaan, penyajian, dan kegrafikaan. Hasil belajar bahasa Indonesia siswa SMA melalui bahan belajar yang menggunakan kosakata bahasa Indonesia berbasis nilainilai Pancasila di media sosial facebook terbukti lebih tinggi dan lebih baik dibandingkan hasil belajar siswa yang menggunakan bahan belajar yang tidak sama.
Towards a Philosophical Qur'anology: Structure and Meaning in the Qur'an
Authors: Campanini Massimo
Published: July 2018

The idea developed in this paper is that of a philosophical Qur'anology, or al-falsafiyya al-Qurʾāniyya. It builds on the ideas elaborated in my most recent book, Philosophical Perspectives on Modern Qur'anic Exegesis, which set out to devise a systematic approach to a philosophical Qur'anology. In Philosophical Perspectives I argued that truth is manifestation or disclosure (a-letheia) in the Greek and Heideggerian sense, and I stressed that disclosure is not simply ostensio (‘showing’) and kashf (‘unveiling’), but also orientation of the text (I use ‘orientation’ here with the sense of ‘producing meaning’). With respect to the Qur'an, the a-letheia means that the essence of truth consists in bringing to light the evidence of the text in its Ẓāhirī dimension (from the perspective of Ibn Ḥazm al-Qurṭubī (d. 456/1064)), a topic which deserves further study.

The approach taken in this article is, then, philosophical and theoretical. Although philosophy has been widely used to interpret the Qur'an, what I am proposing is a modern philosophical approach to the Qur'an as philosophy. Thus, in the same way that the Qur'an has been studied as a revealed, or literary, text, I propose that we also read it as a philosophical text.
Reconsidering Qur'anic Genre
Authors: Flowers Adam
Published: July 2018

The Qur'an's employment of diverse modes of discourse is, perhaps, the text's defining literary feature. These discourses, ranging from apocalyptic, to narrative, to legal, have long been observed by Western scholars. Genre studies of the Qur'an, however, have largely stagnated, and little progress has been made beyond cursory classifications. This stagnation is particularly stunting to the study of the textual history of the Qur'an, as vital questions concerning the development of individual genres and the relationship between Qur'anic genre and the unit of the sura remain unanswered. This article marks a first attempt at formulating a literary framework for approaching Qur'anic genre. It will synthesise existing conceptions of Qur'anic genre into a common interpretative framework: individual Qur'anic genres exist as thematically and syntactically demarcated literary units. The article will then propose a novel, literary approach that utilises a comparative thematic and syntactic structural analysis of the Qur'an text to uncover the original, communicated pieces of Qur'anic revelation from the Prophet to an audience in time, or ‘Qur'anic utterances'. This literary analysis is applied to Sūrat Āl ʿImrān and will demonstrate that it is constructed of 34 individual utterances and nine distinct literary genres.
Validation of a Wearable IMU System for Gait Analysis: Protocol and Application to a New System
Authors: Fusca Marcello , Negrini Francesco , Perego Paolo , Magoni Luciana , Molteni Franco , Andreoni Giuseppe
Published: July 2018

Miniaturized wearable Inertial Measurement Units (IMU) offer new opportunities for the functional assessment of motor functions for medicine, sport, and ergonomics. Sparse reliability validation studies have been conducted without a common specific approach and protocol. A set of guidelines to design validation protocol for these systems is proposed hereafter. They are based on the comparison between video analysis and the gold standard optoelectronic motion capture system for Gait Analysis (GA). A setup of the protocol has been applied to a wearable device implementing an inertial measurement unit and a dedicated harmonic oscillator kinematic model of the center of mass. In total, 10 healthy volunteers took part in the study, and four trials of walking at a self-selected speed and step length have been simultaneously recorded by the two systems, analyzed, and compared blindly (40 datasets). The model detects the steps and the foot which supports body weight. The stride time and the cadence have a mean absolute percentage error of 5.7% and 4.9%, respectively. The mean absolute percentage error in the measurement of step’s length and step’s speed is 5.6% and 13.5%, respectively. Results confirm that the proposed methodology is complete and effective. It is demonstrated that the developed wearable system allows for a reliable assessment of human gait spatio-temporal parameters. Therefore, the goal of this paper is threefold. The first goal is to present and define structured Protocol Design Guidelines, where the related setup is implemented for the validation of wearable IMU systems particularly dedicated to GA and gait monitoring. The second goal is to apply these Protocol Design Guidelines to a case study in order to verify their feasibility, user-friendliness, and efficacy. The third goal is the validation of our biomechanical kinematic model with the gold standard reference.
Real-Time Swarm Search Method for Real-World Quadcopter Drones
Authors: Lee Ki-Baek , Kim Young-Joo , Hong Young-Dae
Published: July 2018

This paper proposes a novel search method for a swarm of quadcopter drones. In the proposed method, inspired by the phenomena of swarms in nature, drones effectively look for the search target by investigating the evidence from the surroundings and communicating with each other. The position update mechanism is implemented using the particle swarm optimization algorithm as the swarm intelligence (a well-known swarm-based optimization algorithm), as well as a dynamic model for the drones to take the real-world environment into account. In addition, the mechanism is processed in real-time along with the movements of the drones. The effectiveness of the proposed method was verified through repeated test simulations, including a benchmark function optimization and air pollutant search problems. The results show that the proposed method is highly practical, accurate, and robust.
Refractive Index Sensing through Surface Plasmon Resonance in Light-Diffusing Fibers
Authors: Cennamo Nunzio , Zeni Luigi , Catalano Ester , Arcadio Francesco , Minardo Aldo
Published: July 2018

In this paper, we show that light-diffusing fibers (LDF) can be efficiently used as host material for surface plasmon resonance (SPR)-based refractive index sensing. This novel platform does not require a chemical procedure to remove the cladding or enhance the evanescent field, which is expected to give better reproducibility of the sensing interface. The SPR sensor has been realized by first removing the cladding with a simple mechanical stripper, and then covering the unclad fiber surface with a thin gold film. The tests have been carried out using water–glycerin mixtures with refractive indices ranging from 1.332 to 1.394. The experimental results reveal a high sensitivity of the SPR wavelength to the outer medium’s refractive index, with values ranging from ~1500 to ~4000 nm/RIU in the analyzed range. The results suggest that the proposed optical fiber sensor platform could be used in biochemical applications.
Gelatin-Methacryloyl (GelMA) Hydrogels with Defined Degree of Functionalization as a Versatile Toolkit for 3D Cell Culture and Extrusion Bioprinting
Authors: Pepelanova Iliyana , Kruppa Katharina , Scheper Thomas , Lavrentieva Antonina
Published: July 2018

Gelatin-methacryloyl (GelMA) is a semi-synthetic hydrogel which consists of gelatin derivatized with methacrylamide and methacrylate groups. These hydrogels provide cells with an optimal biological environment (e.g., RGD motifs for adhesion) and can be quickly photo-crosslinked, which provides shape fidelity and stability at physiological temperature. In the present work, we demonstrated how GelMA hydrogels can be synthesized with a specific degree of functionalization (DoF) and adjusted to the intended application as a three-dimensional (3D) cell culture platform. The focus of this work lays on producing hydrogel scaffolds which provide a cell promoting microenvironment for human adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAD-MSCs) and are conductive to their adhesion, spreading, and proliferation. The control of mechanical GelMA properties by variation of concentration, DoF, and ultraviolet (UV) polymerization conditions is described. Moreover, hAD-MSC cell viability and morphology in GelMA of different stiffness was evaluated and compared. Polymerized hydrogels with and without cells could be digested in order to release encapsulated cells without loss of viability. We also demonstrated how hydrogel viscosity can be increased by the use of biocompatible additives, in order to enable the extrusion bioprinting of these materials. Taken together, we demonstrated how GelMA hydrogels can be used as a versatile tool for 3D cell cultivation.
Hydrophobic Forces Are Relevant to Bacteria-Nanoparticle Interactions: Pseudomonas putida Capture Efficiency by Using Arginine, Cysteine or Oxalate Wrapped Magnetic Nanoparticles
Authors: Figueredo Federico , Saavedra Albert , Cortón Eduardo , Diz Virginia E.
Published: July 2018

Size, shape and surface characteristics strongly affect interfacial interactions, as the presented among iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) aqueous colloids and bacteria. In other to find the forces among this interaction, we compare three types of surface modified NPs (exposing oxalate, arginine or cysteine residues), based on a simple synthesis and derivation procedure, that allows us to obtain very similar NPs (size and shape of the magnetic core). In this way, we assure that the main difference in the synthesized NPs are the oxalate or amino acid residue exposed, an ideal situation to compare their bacterial capture performance, and so too the interactions among them. Field emission scanning electron microscopy showed homogeneous distribution of particle sizes for all systems synthesized, close to 10 nm. Magnetization, zeta potential, Fourier transformed infrared spectrometry and other studies allow us further characterization. Capture experiments of Pseudomonas putida bacterial strain showed a high level of efficiency, independently of the amino acid used to wrap the NP, when compared with oxalate. We show that bacterial capture efficiency cannot be related mostly to the bacterial and NP superficial charge relationship (as determined by z potential), but instead capture can be correlated with hydrophobic and hydrophilic forces among them.
Deposition Technologies of High-Efficiency CIGS Solar Cells: Development of Two-Step and Co-Evaporation Processes
Authors: Huang Chia-Hua , Chuang Wen-Jie , Lin Chun-Ping , Jan Yueh-Lin , Shih Yu-Chiu
Published: July 2018

The two-step process including the deposition of the metal precursors followed by heating the metal precursors in a vacuum environment of Se overpressure was employed for the preparation of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) films. The CIGS films selenized at the relatively high Se flow rate of 25 Å/s exhibited improved surface morphologies. The correlations among the two-step process parameters, film properties, and cell performance were studied. With the given selenization conditions, the efficiency of 12.5% for the fabricated CIGS solar cells was achieved. The features of co-evaporation processes including the single-stage, bi-layer, and three-stage process were discussed. The characteristics of the co-evaporated CIGS solar cells were presented. Not only the surface morphologies but also the grading bandgap structures were crucial to the improvement of the open-circuit voltage of the CIGS solar cells. Efficiencies of over 17% for the co-evaporated CIGS solar cells have been achieved. Furthermore, the critical factors and the mechanisms governing the performance of the CIGS solar cells were addressed.
A Simple Chaotic Map-Based Image Encryption System Using Both Plaintext Related Permutation and Diffusion
Authors: Huang Linqing , Cai Shuting , Xiao Mingqing , Xiong Xiaoming
Published: July 2018

Recently, to conquer most non-plain related chaos-based image cryptosystems’ security flaws that cannot resist the powerful chosen/knownn plain-text attacks or differential attacks efficiently for less plaintext sensitivity, many plain related chaos-based image cryptosystems have been developed. Most cryptosystems that have adopted the traditional permutation–diffusion structure still have some drawbacks and security flaws: (1) most plaintext related image encryption schemes using only plaintext related confusion operation or only plaintext related diffusion operation relate to plaintext inadequately that cannot achieve high plaintext sensitivity; (2) in some algorithms, the generation of security key that needs to be sent to the receiver is determined by the original image, so these algorithms may not applicable to real-time image encryption; (3) most plaintext related image encryption schemes have less efficiency because more than one round permutation–diffusion operation is required to achieve high security. To obtain high security and efficiency, a simple chaotic based color image encryption system by using both plaintext related permutation and diffusion is presented in this paper. In our cryptosystem, the values of the parameters of cat map used in permutation stage are related to plain image and the parameters of cat map are also influenced by the diffusion operation. Thus, both the permutation stage and diffusion stage are related to plain images, which can obtain high key sensitivity and plaintext sensitivity to resist chosen/known plaintext attacks or differential attacks efficiently. Furthermore, only one round of plaintext related permutation and diffusion operation is performed to process the original image to obtain cipher image. Thus, the proposed scheme has high efficiency. Complete simulations are given and the simulation results prove the excellent security and efficiency of the proposed scheme.
Attacks against a Simplified Experimentally Feasible Semiquantum Key Distribution Protocol
Authors: Boyer Michel , Liss Rotem , Mor Tal
Published: July 2018

A semiquantum key distribution (SQKD) protocol makes it possible for a quantum party and a classical party to generate a secret shared key. However, many existing SQKD protocols are not experimentally feasible in a secure way using current technology. An experimentally feasible SQKD protocol, “classical Alice with a controllable mirror” (the “Mirror protocol”), has recently been presented and proved completely robust, but it is more complicated than other SQKD protocols. Here we prove a simpler variant of the Mirror protocol (the “simplified Mirror protocol”) to be completely non-robust by presenting two possible attacks against it. Our results show that the complexity of the Mirror protocol is at least partly necessary for achieving robustness.
Closing the Wearable Gap: Mobile Systems for Kinematic Signal Monitoring of the Foot and Ankle
Authors: Luczak Tony , Saucier David , Burch V. Reuben F. , Ball John E. , Chander Harish , Knight Adam , Wei Pan , Iftekhar Tashfin
Published: July 2018

Interviews from strength and conditioning coaches across all levels of athletic competition identified their two biggest concerns with the current state of wearable technology: (a) the lack of solutions that accurately capture data “from the ground up” and (b) the lack of trust due to inconsistent measurements. The purpose of this research is to investigate the use of liquid metal sensors, specifically Liquid Wire sensors, as a potential solution for accurately capturing ankle complex movements such as plantar flexion, dorsiflexion, inversion, and eversion. Sensor stretch linearity was validated using a Micro-Ohm Meter and a Wheatstone bridge circuit. Sensors made from different substrates were also tested and discovered to be linear at multiple temperatures. An ankle complex model and computing unit for measuring resistance values were developed to determine sensor output based on simulated plantar flexion movement. The sensors were found to have a significant relationship between the positional change and the resistance values for plantar flexion movement. The results of the study ultimately confirm the researchers’ hypothesis that liquid metal sensors, and Liquid Wire sensors specifically, can serve as a mitigating substitute for inertial measurement unit (IMU) based solutions that attempt to capture specific joint angles and movements.
Derivative Method Based Orientation Detection of Substation Grounding Grid
Authors: Qamar Aamir , Umair Muhammad , Yang Fan , Uzair Muhammad , Kaleem Zeeshan
Published: July 2018

The grounding grid is a key part of substation protection, which provides safety to personnel and equipment under normal as well as fault conditions. Currently, the topology of a grounding grid is determined by assuming that its orientation is parallel to the plane of earth. However, in practical scenarios, the assumed orientation may not coincide with the actual orientation of the grounding grid. Hence, currently employed methods for topology detection fails to produce the desired results. Therefore, accurate detection of grounding grid orientation is mandatory for measuring its topology accurately. In this paper, we propose a derivative method for orientation detection of grounding grid in high voltage substations. The proposed method is applicable to both equally and unequally spaced grounding grids. Furthermore, our method can also determine the orientation of grounding grid in the challenging case when a diagonal branch is present in the mesh. The proposed method is based on the fact that the distribution of magnetic flux density is perpendicular to the surface of the earth when a current is injected into the grid through a vertical conductor. Taking the third order derivative of the magnetic flux density, the main peak coinciding with the position of underground conductor is accurately obtained. Thus, the main peak describes the orientation of buried conductor of grounding grid. Simulations are performed using Comsol Multiphysics 5.0 to demonstrate the accuracy of the proposed method. Our results demonstrate that the proposed method calculate the orientation of grounding grid with high accuracy. We also investigate the effect of varying critical parameters of our method.
A Hybrid Analytics Paradigm Combining Physics-Based Modeling and Data-Driven Modeling to Accelerate Incompressible Flow Solvers
Authors: Rahman Sk. Mashfiqur , Rasheed Adil , San Omer
Published: July 2018

Numerical solution of the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations poses a significant computational challenge due to the solenoidal velocity field constraint. In most computational modeling frameworks, this divergence-free constraint requires the solution of a Poisson equation at every step of the underlying time integration algorithm, which constitutes the major component of the computational expense. In this study, we propose a hybrid analytics procedure combining a data-driven approach with a physics-based simulation technique to accelerate the computation of incompressible flows. In our approach, proper orthogonal basis functions are generated to be used in solving the Poisson equation in a reduced order space. Since the time integration of the advection–diffusion equation part of the physics-based model is computationally inexpensive in a typical incompressible flow solver, it is retained in the full order space to represent the dynamics more accurately. Encoder and decoder interface conditions are provided by incorporating the elliptic constraint along with the data exchange between the full order and reduced order spaces. We investigate the feasibility of the proposed method by solving the Taylor–Green vortex decaying problem, and it is found that a remarkable speed-up can be achieved while retaining a similar accuracy with respect to the full order model.
Differences of Four Work-Related Behavior and Experience Patterns in Work Ability and Other Work-Related Perceptions in a Finance Company
Authors: Voltmer Jan-Bennet , Voltmer Edgar , Deller Jürgen
Published: July 2018

The present study applies a salutogenetic approach to psycho-social stress and wellbeing at work and for the first time analyzes the relation of an extended model of four work-related behavior and experience patterns to work related perceptions, like work ability, job satisfaction and turnover intention, or engagement. Employees of an international financial services company (N = 182) completed the questionnaire Work-related behavior and experience pattern (Arbeitsbezogenes Verhaltens- und Erlebensmuster; AVEM). The AVEM has oftentimes been used for research in helping professions, but research in non-helping professions is scarce. In addition to the AVEM, measures of job satisfaction, work ability, work engagement, presenteeism, and turnover intention were included in this study. Almost half (46.2%) of the sample showed a rather unambitious attitude towards work, followed by a burnout-related risk pattern (22.0%), a healthy pattern (19.8%), and a pattern at risk for overexertion (12.1%). Significantly more favorable scores were found for all work-related perceptions in participants with the healthy pattern compared to those with the burnout-related risk pattern, except for turnover intention where no significant differences were found. For work ability and vigor, those with a healthy pattern also had significantly higher scores than those with an unambitious pattern and a pattern at risk for overexertion. Being at risk for burnout not only affects job-related wellbeing and coping resources, but also work ability and work engagement. A need for personnel and organizational development and health promotion is indicated by a high number of individuals with reduced working motivation and risk patterns for overexertion or burnout.
Gene Level Regulation of Na,K-ATPase in the Renal Proximal Tubule Is Controlled by Two Independent but Interacting Regulatory Mechanisms Involving Salt Inducible Kinase 1 and CREB-Regulated Transcriptional Coactivators
Authors: Taub Mary
Published: July 2018

For many years, studies concerning the regulation of Na,K-ATPase were restricted to acute regulatory mechanisms, which affected the phosphorylation of Na,K-ATPase, and thus its retention on the plasma membrane. However, in recent years, this focus has changed. Na,K-ATPase has been established as a signal transducer, which becomes part of a signaling complex as a consequence of ouabain binding. Na,K-ATPase within this signaling complex is localized in caveolae, where Na,K-ATPase has also been observed to regulate Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptor (IP3R)-mediated calcium release. This latter association has been implicated as playing a role in signaling by G Protein Coupled Receptors (GPCRs). Here, the consequences of signaling by renal effectors that act via such GPCRs are reviewed, including their regulatory effects on Na,K-ATPase gene expression in the renal proximal tubule (RPT). Two major types of gene regulation entail signaling by Salt Inducible Kinase 1 (SIK1). On one hand, SIK1 acts so as to block signaling via cAMP Response Element (CRE) Binding Protein (CREB) Regulated Transcriptional Coactivators (CRTCs) and on the other hand, SIK1 acts so as to stimulate signaling via the Myocyte Enhancer Factor 2 (MEF2)/nuclear factor of activated T cell (NFAT) regulated genes. Ultimate consequences of these pathways include regulatory effects which alter the rate of transcription of the Na,K-ATPase β1 subunit gene atp1b1 by CREB, as well as by MEF2/NFAT.
Transcriptome Analyses from Mutant Salvia miltiorrhiza Reveals Important Roles for SmGASA4 during Plant Development
Authors: Wang Hongbin , Wei Tao , Wang Xia , Zhang Lipeng , Yang Meiling , Chen Li , Song Wenqin , Wang Chunguo , Chen Chengbin
Published: July 2018

Salvia miltiorrhiza (S. miltiorrhiza) is an important Chinese herb that is derived from the perennial plant of Lamiaceae, which has been used to treat neurasthenic insomnia and cardiovascular disease. We produced a mutant S. miltiorrhiza (MT), from breeding experiments, that possessed a large taproot, reduced lateral roots, and defective flowering. We performed transcriptome profiling of wild type (WT) and MT S. miltiorrhiza using second-generation Illumina sequencing to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that could account for these phenotypical differences. Of the DEGs identified, we investigated the role of SmGASA4, the expression of which was down-regulated in MT plants. SmGASA4 was introduced into Arobidopsis and S. militiorrhiza under the control of a CaMV35S promoter to verify its influence on abiotic stress and S. miltiorrhiza secondary metabolism biosynthesis. SmGASA4 was found to promote flower and root development in Arobidopsis. SmGASA4 was also found to be positively regulated by Gibberellin (GA) and significantly enhanced plant resistance to salt, drought, and paclobutrazol (PBZ) stress. SmGASA4 also led to the up-regulation of the genes involved in salvianolic acid biosynthesis, but inhibited the expression of the genes involved in tanshinone biosynthesis. Taken together, our results reveal SmGASA4 as a promising candidate gene to promote S. miltiorrhiza development.
Effects of Solidification Cooling Rate on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of a Cast Al-Si-Cu-Mg-Ni Piston Alloy
Authors: Tian Lusha , Guo Yongchun , Li Jianping , Xia Feng , Liang Minxian , Bai Yaping
Published: July 2018

The effects of cooling rate 0.15, 1.5, 15, 150, and 1.5 × 105 °C/s on the microstructures and mechanical properties of Al-13Si-4Cu-1Mg-2Ni cast piston alloy were investigated. The results show that with an increase of solidification cooling rate, the secondary dendrite arm spacing (SDAS) of this model alloy can be calculated using the formula D = 47.126v − 1/3. The phases formed during the solidification with lower cooling rates primarily consist of eutectic silicon, M-Mg2Si phase, γ-Al7Cu4Ni phase, δ-Al3CuNi phase, ε-Al3Ni phase, and Q-Al5Cu2Mg8Si6 phase. With the increase in the solidification cooling rate from 0.15 to 15 °C/s, the hardness increased from 80.9 to 125.7 HB, the room temperature tensile strength enhanced from 189.3 to 282.5 MPa, and the elongation at break increased from 1.6% to 2.8%. The ε -Al3Ni phase disappears in the alloy and the Q phase emerges. The δ phase and the γ phase change from large-sized meshes and clusters to smaller meshes and Chinese script patterns. Further increase in the cooling rate leads to the micro hardness increasing gradually from 131.2 to 195.6 HV and the alloy solidifying into a uniform structure and forming nanocrystals.
Microstructure and Corrosion Behavior of Composite Coating on Pure Mg Acquired by Sliding Friction Treatment and Micro-Arc Oxidation
Authors: Cao Huihui , Huo Wangtu , Ma Shufang , Zhang Yusheng , Zhou Lian
Published: July 2018

For the purpose of detecting the influence of grain structure of a Mg matrix on the microstructure and corrosion resistance of micro-arc oxidation (MAO) coating, prior to MAO processing, sliding friction treatment (SFT) was adopted to generate a fine-grained (FG) layer on coarse-grained (CG) pure Mg surface. It showed that the FG layer had superior corrosion resistance, as compared to the CG matrix, owing to the grain refinement; furthermore, it successfully survived after MAO treatment. Thus, an excellent FG-MAO coating was gained by combining SFT and MAO. The surface morphology and element composition of FG-MAO and CG-MAO samples did not show significant changes. However, the FG layer favorably facilitated the formation of an excellent MAO coating, which possessed a superior bonding property and greater thickness. Consequently, the modified FG-MAO sample possessed enhanced corrosion resistance, since a lower hydrogen evolution rate, a larger impedance modulus and a lower corrosion current were observed on the FG-MAO sample.