bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Re-envisioning Innovation: From Vision to Strategy to Plan and Back Again
Authors: Lysek Michal , Palmhager Jörgen , Danilovic Mike
Published: April 2019

HMS is a Swedish company and a global market leader in the industrial communication industry. Initially, HMS was managed with a vision of a connected industry. Gradually, that vision was complemented with strategies on how to reach that vision. In line with the company’s growth and acquisitions, these strategies started to substitute their vision and they began to be supplemented with much more detailed plans. As the company’s offer expanded, these detailed plans began to take over as the company’s primary instrument of guidance. In other words, HMS went through three phases: From a “Market Establishment” phase (with a vision as their primary guideline), to a “Market Development” phase (with strategies as their primary guideline), and finally to a “Market Maturity” phase (with detailed plans their primary guideline). In so doing, their vision became less challenging/ motivating for HMS’ employees. An action research approach was used, influenced by grounded theory. The results showed that people have different mindsets throughout these phases, and going back is challenging because while HMS’ employees need a vision, visions come without detailed plans and will not work unless they are supplemented by inspirational communication and passionate innovation champions who can push forward without any detailed plans.
On chi-square type distributions with geometric degrees of freedom in relation to geometric sums
Authors: Hung Tran Loc
Published: April 2019

The chi-square distribution with degrees of freedom has an important role in probability, statistics and various applied fields as a special probability distribution. This paper concerns the relations between geometric random sums and chi-square type distributions whose degrees of freedom are geometric random variables. Some characterizations of chi-square type random variables with geometric degrees of freedom are calculated. Moreover, several weak limit theorems for the sequences of chi-square type random variables with geometric random degrees of freedom are established via asymptotic behaviors of normalized geometric random sums.
O LÉXICO TOPONÍMICO PELA VIA FILOLÓGICA: O ENTRECRUZAR DE LÍNGUA, CULTURA E HISTÓRIA
Authors: Pereira Bárbara Bezerra de Santana
Published: April 2019

O presente artigo apresenta uma breve reflexão acerca da relação entre língua, cultura e história, a partir da análise de topônimos encontrados em um texto notarial oitocentista. Nos fólios do primeiro livro de atas da câmara de vereadores da cidade baiana de Tucano, datado de 1837 a 1876, estão presentes lexias referentes a rios, fazendas, freguesias, vilas, entre outros acidentes geográficos. A partir de uma análise filológica, mais precisamente de uma edição semidiplomática, destacamos ostopônimos e os analisamos de acordo com os parâmetros metodológicos elaborados por Dick (1990). Sendo assim, com este trabalho, buscamos também destacar as relações, convergências e interseções entre os campos de estudo da Filologia e da Toponímia.Palavras-chave: Filologia. Toponímia. Atas oitocentistas.
The Qualifications of Arbitral Tribunal: Perspectives of Shariah Law and UNCITRAL Model Law
Authors: Abdullah Bawazir Omar Saleh , Azam Hussain Mohammad
Published: April 2019

Arbitration is an alternative mechanism which can be adopted by the parties involved in any legal issues other than the court. Arbitral tribunal plays essential role and has roles and functions similar to the court judges. Only qualified person is eligible to be appointed as arbitrator. From Islamic perspective, the Muslim jurists have laid down several requirements to be fulfilled by such person before the appointment has been made. The UNCITRAL Model Law which is internationally adopted by most of the countries in the world in setting up their arbitration institution also has a provision pertaining to the qualifications of arbitral tribunal. The question arises, what are the qualifications required under Shariah law and prescribed by UNCITRAL Model Law? Is there any similarities? Based on such research questions, this article seeks to analyse the qualifications of the arbitral tribunal from the perspectives of Shariah law and UNCITRAL Model Law. Based on the library data, content analysis method is adopted to compare the qualifications of arbitral tribunal from both perspective. This study found that, the Shariah law and UNCITRAL Model Law have its own requirements for the person to be appointed as arbitrator. The study also found that, Shariah law provides more details in this regard compared to UNCITRAL Model Law which provides only the general principles.
Improving Achievement Motivation for Mentally Disabled Students at School for Exceptional Children (SLB) YPAC Pangkalpinang
Authors: Miftakhi Diah Rina , Ulfah Widati Amalin
Published: April 2019

This research is globally aimed to improve the achivement motivation for the mentally disabled students. The specific objectives of this research are to improve: (1) students learning achievement for the mentally disabled students; (2) learning achievement for the mentally disabled students in SLB YPAC Pangkalpinang. This research desaign was desaigned with research and development desaign which produce development model of group dynamics learning for exceptional students which can increase achievement motivation for students. The final objective of this research development is producing development learning model based on group dynamics so that teaching and learning process can be more effective, eficient, and interesting. This research will produce development model of group dynamics learning for mentally disabled students so that can increase achievement motivation in exceptional school. This development learning model of group dynamics has three activities, there are learning through dream trees, learning through filling students’ identity, and learning through artistic creativity development by drawing and coloring. The result of these three activities of development group dynamics learning model can be used as the source to arrange the learning model especially for mentally disabled students. It can be done so that we can develop the mentally disabled students’ potencies and they can reach good achievements in study. Besides that, it can be the source for the teachers to have innovative learning model in teaching mentally disabled students at exceptional school (SLB) YPAC Pangkalpinang.
Anti-Corruption Education in Milenial Era (Case Study in Poltekes Kemenkes Pangkalpinang)
Authors: Seto Muhammad
Published: April 2019

This research is conducted to describe and analyze student’s understanding of the concept of the notion of corruption, an indication of corruption, the impact and dangers of corruption against themselves, their families and the state, the risk in doing the act of corruption, the notion of anti-corruption, sense of values that indicated the behavior of Anti-corruption, and so on. The research was actualized by the implementing the Anti-corruption Culture Education, including: the implementation of Role Play on internal and external causes based on case scenarios precisely and students understand the internal and external causes. Making anti-corruption media; giving opinion on social media sites, presenting materials of anti-corruption in the Campus Dakwah Institution (LDK), posters, banners, the declaration of honest movement on examination, role plays/drama/short videos on anti-corruption in accordance with the themes were packaged in unique and interesting ways. Doing activities that demonstrated the values ​​and principles of the anti-corruption such as: honesty canteen, daily activities, conducting field surveys on public health services of the ministry of health programs, conducting field survey / visiting the Indonesian Court for Corruption Crimes, and socialization in efforts to prevent corruption. Higher Education played an active role in the anti-corruption movement by giving the anti-corruption culture that handled by educators. The role of educators were to provide the understanding and set an example in the anti-corruption movement to students by utilizing information and communication technologies which are growing increasingly sophisticated in this millennial era. College students were able to perform the anti-corruption action and got involved in supporting anti-corruption movement in the family environment, campus, local and national communities in order to create a clean, corruption-free nation.
Performance of Ultrafiltration–Ozone Combined System for Produced Water Treatment
Authors: Aryanti Nita , Kusworo Tutuk Djoko , Oktiawan Wiharyanto , Wardhani Dyah Hesti
Published: April 2019

Oil exploration waste, also called produced water, contains hazardous pollutants, such as benzene; benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX); naphthalene, phenanthrene, and dibenzothiophene (NDP); polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); and phenol. Produced water is characterized by high chemical oxygen demand (COD) and oil content, which exceed the standard limits of regulation. In this study, the combination of ultrafiltration (UF) and ozone pre-treatment and post-treatment were applied for treatment of produced water to minimize its environmental impact. Produced water and membrane were characterized, and their ultrafiltration performance for removal of oil content, benzene, toluene, xylene, and COD. Two commercial Polyethersulfone membranes, with molecular-weight cut-off values of 10 and 20 kDa, were used. The membrane flux profile illustrated that ozone pre-treatment had higher normalized flux than UF only. Separation performance was evaluated based on flux profile and removal of COD, oil and grease content, toluene, and xylene. Significant finding was found where the combination of UF with ozone pre-treatment and post-treatment could significantly eliminate COD, oil content, toluene, and xylene. The rejection of these components was found higher than conventional process, which was in the range of 80 % to 99 %. In addition, almost oil and grease can be removed by using this combined system. Permeate quality of this system confirmed the acceptable level as water discharge.
Poziom stóp procentowych a wielkość i struktura oszczędności finansowych gospodarstw domowych w Polsce w latach 2000–2013
Authors: Kulpaka Paweł
Published: April 2019

The paper analyzes the size and structure of the households financial savingsin Poland in the years 2000–2013. Throughout the entire analysis period the valueof savings increased significantly. Bank deposits were the basic category in whichthe personal financial surpluses were invested. The share of alternative investments,primarily securities, rose rapidly in the whole structure of households financial savingsbefore the middle of 2007 at the expense of bank deposits. After the outbreakof the financial crisis in the summer of 2007 the share of bank deposits temporaryincreased while the percentage of the alternative investments diminished. Duringentire period the importance of pension products gradually increased.
Kilka uwag o badaniu efektywności banków. Przypadek Polski
Authors: Stępień Kinga
Published: April 2019

The paper addresses impact of application of intermediation and productionapproaches on the technical efficiency of banks measurement result. Placement ofdeposits in both models and the lack of clear decisions as to the nature of banksare important issues. The analysis shows that the level of technical-efficiency estimatedfor the analyzed banks, taking into account production approach, is lowerthan the level of technical efficiency for the intermediation approach.
Rola mediów w kształtowaniu tożsamości współczesnego człowieka
Authors: Molęda-Zdziech Małgorzata
Published: April 2019

The aim of the study is to analyse the role of media in shaping of the modern man identity. I narrow my approach to the postmodern approaches of A. Giddens, M. Castells and M. Maffesoli. Those authors combine in their work changes taking place in the world of media and changes on the level of the individual identity. Based on the work of M. Maffesoli, I reconstruct the ideal type of postmodern individual identity – homo creator. Then, I describe the mediality as postmodern value and a component of postmodern identity. The study presents the results of a 2014 TNS Connected Life research report prepared on a sample of 55,000 Internet users from around the World. The results illustrate the habits in the use of traditional and new media.
Projekty innowacyjne w przedsiębiorstwach jako potencjalne źródło ryzyka finansowego
Authors: Bacior Michał
Published: April 2019

Increase in the value of a company is related to implementation of innovative processes in all functional areas of business. As a result of implemented innovation, the company may offer new products or lower prices. In any case, this leads to improved economic efficiency of the company. The rise in innovation is coupled with an increase in the benefits but is also accompanied by an increase of the risk of failure. This constitutes background against which the article presents the course of innovation processes and possibilities of applying innovation in different market strategies. The article stresses relations between financial risk and the time of innovation. Sources of financial risk and methods of financing innovative investments are also discussed as is the need to take into account the technological environment and market context of innovation
Porcentaje de germinación de la semilla arroz IDIAP 137 en diferentes tipos de suelo
Authors: Frías Crisleys , Ríos Dayana , Rodríguez Rolando , Cedeño Maritza
Published: April 2019

Se tomaron suelos de diferentes lugares de la provincia de Los Santos, República de Panamá, para evaluar el porcentajede germinación de la semilla de arroz IDIAP137, aplicando como tratamiento diferentes tipos de suelo, entre ellos, arena fina, francoarcilloso, arcilloso, franco arenoso. El objetivo de la investigación es brindar información al productor de arroz respecto al tipo desuelo en que es más apropiado sembrar esta clase de semilla. Se toman en cuenta variables que se controlan, tales como la humedad,la luminosidad, la profundidad de siembra, entre otras. El análisis utilizó un diseño completo al azar, y se realizaron cinco medicionespara cada tratamiento (tipos de suelo). El enunciado de la hipótesis nula expresa que no existe diferencia significativa en el porcentajede germinación de la semilla IDIAP 137 para los tipos de suelo analizados y esta hipótesis fue aceptada al 5% de significancia.
Potential of Oil Palm (Elaeisguineensis) Empty Fruit Bunch Fibres Cement Composites for Building Applications
Authors: Omoniyi Temidayo E.
Published: April 2019

This study was designed to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of cement-bonded composite made from oil palm (Elaeisguineensis) empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fibres. The production variables investigated were pre-treatment of fibres with water at varying temperatures (cold, 60 °C and 100 °C), five chemical additive (NaOH) concentrations (2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10%), OPEFB fibres ash content at three cement replacement levels (10%, 20%, and 30%) and three fibre contents (5%, 10%, and 15%) by weight of cement. The composites were tested for modulus of elasticity (MOE), modulus of rupture (MOR), internal bonding strength (IBS), compressive strength, density, thickness swelling (TS), and water absorption (WA). The pre-treatment of fibre with water at a temperature of 60 °C and a NaOH concentration of 8% significantly enhanced and modified the performance of the composites. It increased MOE (from 5.5 to 8.9 GPa) and MOR (from 3.6 to 7.3 MPa), and decreased WA (from 26.2 to 12.8%) and TS (from 2.5 to 0.5%). The results revealed that pre-treatment of fibres, partially replacing cement with OPEFB fibre ash and fibre contents had a marked influence on the properties of the composite board produced (p < 0.05). It was concluded that pre-treatment of OPEFB fibres, when optimised, enhanced the sorption resistance and some mechanical properties of the cement composite.
Pigeon and Poultry Breeders, Friends or Enemies of the Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis? A Long-Term Study of a Population in Central Poland
Authors: Gryz Jakub , Krauze-Gryz Dagny
Published: April 2019

In this study, we focused on a goshawk population in central Poland (study area 105 km2, forests 24 km2, seven small forest complexes) which was monitored long-term (with high densities recorded in the 1980s of 16.3 pairs/100 km2 despite persecution by farmers) to analyse how environmental factors (prey availability and changes in the forest structure) influenced population abundance, breeding parameters, and diet composition. The study was undertaken from 2011–2018, and the results were compared with published data from two previous study periods (1982–1992 and 2001–2003). The number of breeding pairs dropped from 17.1 to 8.0; the breeding success was around 75% in all study periods. The selection of nesting trees followed the changes in stand species and age structure. More nesting attempts per one nest were recorded in the current time period (1.7 vs. 1.1), which probably reflected lower anthropopressure (i.e., no cases of persecution were recorded in this study). Diet composition seemed to follow changes in the prey availability: The share of domestic pigeons and poultry (the main prey in the 1980s) as well as small game dropped, while the share of Eurasian jay and wood pigeon increased. Our studies suggested that anthropogenic food (poultry and domestic pigeons) played a key role for the goshawk population in the transformed habitats of the field and forest mosaic.
Luteolin 7-Sulfate Attenuates Melanin Synthesis through Inhibition of CREB- and MITF-Mediated Tyrosinase Expression
Authors: Lee Seok Won , Kim Jae Heon , Song Hyerim , Seok Jin Kyung , Hong Seong Su , Boo Yong Chool
Published: April 2019

Antioxidants with antimelanogenic activity are potentially useful for the attenuation of skin hyperpigmentation disorders. In a previous study, luteolin 7-sulfate isolated from Phyllospadix iwatensis Makino, a marine plant, was shown to inhibit cellular melanin synthesis. The aim of the present study was to examine its action mechanism, focusing on the regulation of tyrosinase (TYR) expression in cells. Cell-based assay was undertaken using murine melanoma B16-F10 cells and primary human epidermal melanocytes (HEMs). Luteolin 7-sulfate showed lower toxicity compared to luteolin in B16-F10 cells. At the non-toxic concentration ranges, luteolin 7-sulfate attenuated melanin synthesis, stimulated by α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone or forskolin. Luteolin 7-sulfate attenuated forskolin-induced microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and TYR expressions at the mRNA and protein levels in B16-F10 cells. It also attenuated the phosphorylation of cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) stimulated by forskolin. Luteolin 7-sulfate also attenuated melanin synthesis in primary HEMs. This study demonstrates that luteolin 7-sulfate attenuates TYR gene expression through the intervention of a CREB- and MITF-mediated signaling pathway, leading to the decreased melanin synthesis.
Variation in Summer Rainfall over the Yangtze River Region during Warming and Hiatus Periods
Authors: Qiu Shuang , Zhou Wen
Published: April 2019

Variation in summer precipitation over the Yangtze River region during a global warming period (1976−1997) and a hiatus period (1998−2013) are investigated in this study. The results show that during the warming period, precipitation over both the Yangtze River region and South China shows an increasing trend, attributable to increasing ascending motion, a decreasing East Asian westerly jet (EAWJ), and a decreasing temperature gradient. During the hiatus period, the rainfall belt moves from the Yangtze River region to the Huang-Huai River region in association with the northward displacement of the EAWJ, attributable to the increasing trend in the temperature gradient at high latitudes. Empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis is one of the widely used methods in atmospheric science. It is also known as principal component analysis (PCA). The second EOF mode of summer precipitation can represent the variation in rainfall over the Yangtze River region. During the warming period, rainfall over the Yangtze River region is controlled by a dipole mode of water vapor transport, induced by SST cooling in the Maritime Continent, which can lead to a strong Pacific–Japan teleconnection; warming SST in the east-central tropical Pacific can also strengthen this pattern. During the hiatus period, the Pacific–Japan pattern is weak, and the water vapor transport pattern over the western subtropical Pacific changes from a dipole structure to a weak monopole structure.
Laser-Assisted (e, 2e) Collisions in the Symmetric/Asymmetric Coplanar Geometry
Authors: Makhoute Abdelkader , Khalil Driss , Ajana Imane
Published: April 2019

In this review, we present a comprehensive survey of laser-assisted (e, 2e) reactions. The influence of a laser field on the dynamics of (e, 2e) collisions in atomic hydrogen is analyzed in the symmetric and asymmetric coplanar geometries. Particular attention is devoted to the construction of the dressed (laser-modified) target wave functions, in both the initial and final states. The calculation is performed in the framework of Coulomb-Volkov-Born approximation, where the initial and final electrons are described by Volkov wave functions, while the interaction of the incident electron with the target atom is treated in the first and the second Born approximation. The state of the ejected electron is described by a Volkov/Coulomb-Volkov wave function. A detailed account is also given of the techniques we have used to evaluate the scattering amplitudes. The influence of the laser parameters (frequency, intensity, and direction of polarization) on the angular distribution of the ejected electron is discussed, and a number of illustrative examples are given. The structure of the triple differential cross section in the vicinity of resonances is also analyzed.
Preliminary Studies on the Use of Reactive Distillation in the Production of Beverage Spirits
Authors: Rochte Jacob D. , Berglund Kris A.
Published: April 2019

Distilled alcoholic beverages have been produced through fermentation and distillation for centuries but have not purposefully involved a chemical reaction to produce a flavoring. Introducing a microorganism to produce butyric acid along with the typical yeast ethanol fermentation sets up a reactive distillation system to flavor a spirit with ethyl butyrate and butyric acid. The ternary interactions of water, ethanol, and butyric acid allow all three to vaporize in the stripping distillation, thus they are concentrated in the low wines and give a large excess of ethanol compared to butyric acid for better reaction completion. The stripping distillation has also been modeled on Aspen Plus® V9 software (by Aspen Technology, Inc. Bedford, MA, USA) and coincides well with a test stripping distillation at the bench scale. Amberlyst® 15 wet catalyst was added to a subsequent distillation, resulting in the production of the desired ethyl butyrate in the distillate, measured by gas chromatography. Primary sensory evaluation has determined that this process has a profound effect on the smell of the spirit with the main flavor being similar to fruity bubble gum. The current results will provide a pathway for creating spirits with a desired flavor on demand without acquiring a heavy capital cost if a beverage distillation column is already purchased.
Preparation of MgO-Templated N-Doped Mesoporous Carbons from Polyvinylpyrrolidone: Effect of Heating Temperature on Pore Size Distribution
Authors: Takada Tomoya , Kurihara Mayu
Published: April 2019

Magnesium oxide (MgO)-templated nitrogen (N)-doped mesoporous carbons were prepared by using polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) as a raw material and magnesium lactate (Mglac) as a precursor for the MgO template to examine the influence of heating temperature and MgO precursor (magnesium acetate was used in similar previous studies) on the pore size and nitrogen content. The MgO-templated carbon was obtained by heating the PVP/Mglac mixture in an inert atmosphere followed by an acid treatment for MgO removal. The mesopore size of the carbons was approximately 4 nm regardless of heating temperature, corresponding to the crystallite size of the MgO template estimated via X-ray diffraction. This indicates that the mesopore of approximately 4 nm was generated using the MgO template. However, larger pores were also found to exist. This result indicates that the larger pores generated through processes other than the MgO templating, likely the thermal decomposition of PVP, are contained in the templated carbon. The volume of the larger pores and the specific surface area increased with increasing heating temperature. The nitrogen content of the carbon decreased as the heating temperature was increased, but it was found to be irrelevant to the MgO precursor.
Evidence of Phase Transitions and Their Role in the Transient Behavior of Mechanical Properties and Low Temperature Degradation of 3Y-TZP Made from Stabilizer-Coated Powder
Authors: Kern Frank
Published: April 2019

The substance 3 mol% yttria stabilized zirconia (3Y-TZP) has become a commodity for the manufacture of components in biomedical and engineering applications. Materials made from stabilizer-coated rather than co-precipitated starting powders are known for their superior toughness and low temperature ageing resistance. The reason for this phenomenon is however still not fully understood. In this study, 3Y-TZP materials hot pressed at 1300–1450 °C for 1 h were characterized. It was found that at a sintering temperature of 1375 °C, a transition from fine grain to coarse grain microstructure associated with a shift from tough and ageing resistant to brittle and prone to ageing was observed. The detailed analysis of the phase composition by X-ray diffraction revealed that TZPs consists of up to five crystallographically different phases of zirconia simultaneously whose contents dynamically change with sintering temperature. At low sintering temperature, the predominant phases are a tetragonal phase with low yttria content and large domain size and high tetragonality together with a cubic phase of high yttria content. At high temperature, a tetragonal phase of higher yttria content and lower tetragonality is formed together with a cubic phase of lower yttria content.
Oxygenation and Hemodynamics during Chest Compressions in a Lamb Model of Perinatal Asphyxia Induced Cardiac Arrest
Authors: Rawat Munmun , Chandrasekharan Praveen , Gugino Sylvia , Koenigsknecht Carmon , Helman Justin , Alsaleem Mahdi , Mathew Bobby , Nair Jayasree , Berkelhamer Sara , Vali Payam , Lakshminrusimha Satyan
Published: April 2019

The current guidelines recommend the use of 100% O2 during resuscitation of a neonate requiring chest compressions (CC). Studies comparing 21% and 100% O2 during CC were conducted in postnatal models and have not shown a difference in incidence or timing of return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). The objective of this study is to evaluate systemic oxygenation and oxygen delivery to the brain during CC in an ovine model of perinatal asphyxial arrest induced by umbilical cord occlusion. Pulseless cardiac arrest was induced by umbilical cord occlusion in 22 lambs. After 5 min of asystole, lambs were resuscitated with 21% O2 as per Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) guidelines. At the onset of CC, inspired O2 was either increased to 100% O2 (n = 25) or continued at 21% (n = 9). Lambs were ventilated for 30 min post ROSC and FiO2 was gradually titrated to achieve preductal SpO2 of 85–95%. All lambs achieved ROSC. During CC, PaO2 was 21.6 ± 1.6 mm Hg with 21% and 23.9 ± 6.8 mm Hg with 100% O2 (p = 0.16). Carotid flow was significantly lower during CC (1.2 ± 1.6 mL/kg/min in 21% and 3.2 ± 3.4 mL/kg/min in 100% oxygen) compared to baseline fetal levels (27 ± 9 mL/kg/min). Oxygen delivery to the brain was 0.05 ± 0.06 mL/kg/min in the 21% group and 0.11 ± 0.09 mL/kg/min in the 100% group and was significantly lower than fetal levels (2.1 ± 0.3 mL/kg/min). Immediately after ROSC, lambs ventilated with 100% O2 had higher PaO2 and pulmonary flow. It was concluded that carotid blood flow, systemic PaO2, and oxygen delivery to the brain are very low during chest compressions for cardiac arrest irrespective of 21% or 100% inspired oxygen use during resuscitation.
Electro-Thermal Formation of Uniform Lying Helix Alignment in a Cholesteric Liquid Crystal Cell
Authors: Yu Chia-Hua , Wu Po-Chang , Lee Wei
Published: April 2019

We demonstrated previously that the temperature of a sandwich-type liquid crystal cell with unignorable electrode resistivity could be electrically increased as a result of dielectric heating. In this study, we take advantage of such an electro-thermal effect and report on a unique electric-field approach to the formation of uniform lying helix (ULH) texture in a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) cell. The technique entails a hybrid voltage pulse at frequencies f1 and, subsequently, f2, which are higher and lower than the onset frequency for the induction of dielectric heating, respectively. When the cell is electrically sustained in the isotropic phase by the voltage pulse of V = 35 Vrms at f1 = 55 kHz or in the homeotropic state with the enhanced ionic effect at V = 30 Vrms and f1 = 55 kHz, our results indicate that switching of the voltage frequency from f1 to f2 enables the succeeding formation of well-aligned ULH during either the isotropic-to-CLC phase transition at f2 = 1 kHz or by the electrohydrodynamic effect at f2 = 30 Hz. For practical use, the aligning technique proposed for the first time in this study is more applicable than existing alternatives in that the obtained ULH is adoptable to CLCs with positive dielectric anisotropy in a simple cell geometry where complicated surface pretreatment is not required. Moreover, it is electrically switchable to other CLC textures such as Grandjean planar and focal conic states without the need of a temperature controller for the phase transition, the use of ion-rich LC materials, or mechanical shearing for textural transition.
Above Room Temperature Reversible Phase Transition Induces Distinct Dielectric and Nonlinear Optical Switching Response Behavior in Crown-Ether-Based Supramolecular Clathrate
Authors: Jing Jing , Jiang Fan , Wei Yan-Li , Shi Chao , Ye Heng-Yun , Zhang Yi
Published: April 2019

Stimuli-responsive materials with coexisting nonlinear optical (NLO) and dielectric properties are technologically important, which enable simultaneous conversion of optoelectronic properties between different states under external stimuli. By rationally screening guest cations (C6H5NF2)+ in the crown-ether inclusion system, we synthesized a crown-ether supramolecular compound [(C6H5NF2)(18-crown-6)][PF6] (1). Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that 1 undergoes a reversible phase transition above room temperatures (305 K/292 K), with a thermal hysteresis of 13 K. Temperature-dependent dielectric and NLO measurements show that the compound exhibits two distinct switching response behaviors. Structural analysis indicates that the order–disorder change of the host molecule 18-crown-6 and the guest organic cation during the phase transition induces the dielectric and NLO switching behavior of the compound.
Collective Transformation of Water between Hyperactive Antifreeze Proteins: RiAFPs
Authors: Mochizuki Kenji , Matsumoto Masakazu
Published: April 2019

We demonstrate, by molecular dynamics simulations, that water confined between a pair of insect hyperactive antifreeze proteins from the longhorn beetle Rhagium inquisitor is discontinuously expelled as the two proteins approach each other at a certain distance. The extensive striped hydrophobic–hydrophilic pattern on the surface, comprising arrays of threonine residues, enables water to form three independent ice channels through the assistance of hydroxyl groups, even at 300 K. The transformation is reminiscent of a freezing–melting transition rather than a drying transition and governs the stable protein–protein separation in the evaluation of the potential of mean force. The collectivity of water penetration or expulsion and the hysteresis in the time scale of ten nanoseconds predict a potential first-order phase transition at the limit of infinite size and provide a new framework for the water-mediated interaction between solutes.
Predictor-Based Motion Tracking Control for Cloud Robotic Systems with Delayed Measurements
Authors: Shen Shaobo , Song Aiguo , Li Tao
Published: April 2019

This paper addresses the problem of motion prediction and tracking control for cloud robotic systems with time-varying delays in measurements. A novel method using an observer-based structure for position and velocity prediction is developed to estimate the real-time information of robot manipulator. The prediction error can converge to zero even if model uncertainties exist in the robot manipulator. Based on the predicted positions and velocities, some sufficient conditions are derived to design suitable tracking controllers such that semi-globally uniformly ultimately bounded tracking performance of the predictor–controller couple can be guaranteed. Finally, the effectiveness and robustness to model uncertainties of the proposed method are verified by a two degree-of-freedom (DOF) robot system.
High-Performance Low-Pass Filter Using Stepped Impedance Resonator and Defected Ground Structure
Authors: Zhang Jin , Yang Ruosong , Zhang Chen
Published: April 2019

A microstrip low-pass filter (LPF) using reformative stepped impedance resonator (SIR) and defected ground structure (DGS) is proposed in this paper. The proposed filter not only possesses the advantage of high frequency selectivity of SIR hairpin LPF with internal coupling, but also possesses the large stop-band (SB) bandwidth by adjusting the number and area of DGS units. The LPF proposed in this paper possesses the properties of miniaturization, wide SB, high selectivity, and low pass-band ripple (PBR) simultaneously. The characteristic parameters of the proposed LPF is that: the pass-band (PB) is 0~2 GHz, the PBR is 0.5 dB, the SB range is from 2.4 GHz to 9 GHz when the attenuation is under 20 dB, and the maximal attenuation could reach 45 dB in the SB. The size of this proposed LPF is 0.13 λ × 0.09 λ ; λ is the corresponding wavelength of the upper PB edge frequency of 2 GHz.
Hybrid Electric Vehicle: Design and Control of a Hybrid System (Fuel Cell/Battery/Ultra-Capacitor) Supplied by Hydrogen
Authors: Gherairi Salsabil
Published: April 2019

Due to its high efficiency and reduced emissions, new zero-emission hybrid electric vehicles have been selected as an attractive challenge for future transport applications. New zero -emission hybrid electric, on the other hand, has some major drawbacks from the complicated charging process. The hybrid electrical fuel cell system is introduced as the main source to intelligently control multi-source activities. An ultra-capacitor system is selected as the energy recovery assistance to monitor the fuel cell’s fast transient and peak power during critical periods. To regulate energy demand and supply, an intelligent energy management system is proposed and tested through several constraints. The proposed approach system aims to act quickly against sudden circumstances related to hydrogen depletion in the prediction of the required fuel consumption basis. The proposed strategy tends to define the proper operating system according to energy demand and supply. The obtained results show that the designed system meets the targets set for the energy management unit by referring to an experimental velocity database.
Pipe Sizing for Novel Heat Distribution Technology
Authors: Averfalk Helge , Ottermo Fredric , Werner Sven
Published: April 2019

This paper assesses pipe sizing aspects for previously proposed, novel, low heat distribution technology with three pipes. Assessment issues include heat loss, pressure loss, and pipe sizing for different typical pipe configurations. This assessment has been provided by the analysis of a case area with single-family houses. Concerning heat loss, the proposed three-pipe solutions have the same magnitude of heat loss as conventional twin pipes, since lower return temperatures compensate for the larger heat loss area from the third pipe. Regarding pressure loss, the main restriction on the size of the third pipe is limited to the pressure loss in the third pipe. Thermostatic valves to manage the flow rate of the third pipe are advocated, since alternative small pumps have not been found to be commercially available. The pipe sizing recommendation is that the third pipe for recirculation purposes can be two to three standard pipe sizes smaller than the corresponding supply and return pipe, if no prosumer is connected in the heat distribution network.
Analysis of Climate Change Impacts on Tree Species of the Eastern US: Results of DISTRIB-II Modeling
Authors: Iverson Louis R. , Peters Matthew P. , Prasad Anantha M. , Matthews Stephen N.
Published: April 2019

Forests across the globe are faced with a rapidly changing climate and an enhanced understanding of how these changing conditions may impact these vital resources is needed. Our approach is to use DISTRIB-II, an updated version of the Random Forest DISTRIB model, to model 125 tree species individually from the eastern United States to quantify potential current and future habitat responses under two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP 8.5 -high emissions which is our current trajectory and RCP 4.5 -lower emissions by implementing energy conservation) and three climate models. Climate change could have large impacts on suitable habitat for tree species in the eastern United States, especially under a high emissions trajectory. On average, of the 125 species, approximately 88 species would gain and 26 species would lose at least 10% of their suitable habitat. The projected change in the center of gravity for each species distribution (i.e., mean center) between current and future habitat moves generally northeast, with 81 species habitat centers potentially moving over 100 km under RCP 8.5. Collectively, our results suggest that many species will experience less pressure in tracking their suitable habitats under a path of lower greenhouse gas emissions.
The Effect of Projectile Nose Shape on the Critical Velocity of High-Performance Yarn
Authors: Lim Boon Him , Chu Jou-Mei , Gao Jinling , Claus Benjamin , Nie Yizhou , Chen Wayne
Published: April 2019

In this study, ballistic experiments were performed to determine the critical velocity of a Twaron® 2040 high-performance yarn transversely impacted by round projectiles. Four different round projectiles possessing a radius of curvature of 2 µm, 20 µm, 200 µm and 2 mm were used in this study. Load cells were mounted to the grips to measure the load history of the yarn upon impact. A high-speed camera was incorporated into the ballistic experimental setup to capture the failure process of the yarn upon impact. A scanning electron microscope was utilized to perform post-mortem failure analysis on the recovered specimens. The results showed that as the radius of curvature of the projectile increased, the critical velocity also increased. The critical velocities for all cases were bounded between those predicted from the Euler–Bernoulli beam and Smith models. Upon impact above the upper limit of the critical velocity, the axial loads revealed a demonstrative reduction. The failure surfaces changed from shear to fibrillation as the radius of curvature increased. For those specimens that failed in shear, Hertzian contact model was used to predict the critical velocity.
Influence of an Impregnation Treatment on the Morphology and Mechanical Behaviour of Flax Yarns Embedded in Hydraulic Lime Mortar
Authors: Ferrara Giuseppe , Pepe Marco , Martinelli Enzo , Dias Tolêdo Filho Romildo
Published: April 2019

The increasing attention toward environmental aspects has led, also in the sector of construction materials, to the need for developing more eco-friendly solutions. Among several options, the employment of low energy raw materials appears as an efficient solution intended to enhance the sustainability of building structures. One of the applications moving in this direction is the use of plant fibers as a reinforcement in cement-based composites, hence named as natural textile reinforced mortar (NTRM) composites. Although representing a promising technique, there are still several open issues concerning the variability of plant fibers properties, the durability, and the mechanical compatibility with the mortar. This study aims at investigating the influence of an impregnation process on the thread’s morphology and on the mechanical response. Therefore, the geometry of dry and impregnated flax threads is identified by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) images analysis, and their mechanical response in tension is assessed. In addition, the fibers-to-mortar bond behavior is investigated by means of pull-out tests. The proposed results show that the impregnation procedure employed, although not improving the fibers-to matrix bond, leads to a standardisation of the threads morphology and reduces the thread’s deformability in tension, and paves the way for further investigations on a larger scale.
Effect of a Milk-Based Fruit Beverage Enriched with Plant Sterols and/or Galactooligosaccharides in a Murine Chronic Colitis Model
Authors: López-García Gabriel , Cilla Antonio , Barberá Reyes , Alegría Amparo , Recio María C.
Published: April 2019

The potential anti-inflammatory effect of plant sterols (PS) enriched milk-based fruit beverages (PS, 1 g/100 mL) (MfB) with/without galactooligosaccharides (GOS, 2 g/100 mL) (MfB-G) in an experimental mice model of chronic ulcerative colitis was evaluated. Beverages were orally administered to mice every day by gavage to achieve PS and GOS doses of 35 and 90 mg/kg, respectively, and experimental colitis was induced by giving mice drinking water ad libitum containing 2% (w/v) dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) for 7 days, alternating with periods without DSS up to the end of the study (56 days). MfB beverage showed significant reduction of symptoms associated to ulcerative colitis and improved the colon shortening and mucosal colonic damage, but it was not able to reduce the increase of myeloperoxidase levels produced by DSS. MfB-G showed higher incidence of bloody feces and loss of stool consistency than MfB, as well as high levels of immune cells infiltration in colon tissue and myeloperoxidase. Therefore, PS-enriched milk-based fruit beverage could be an interesting healthy food to extend the remission periods of the diseases and the need to evaluate, in a pre-clinical model, the anti-inflammatory effect of the combination of bioactive compounds in the context of a whole food matrix.
Influence of Homogenization Time and Speed on Rheological and Volatile Composition in Olive-Based Pâtés
Authors: Caponio Francesco , Difonzo Graziana , Squeo Giacomo , Fortunato Stefania , Silletti Roccangelo , Summo Carmine , Paradiso Vito M. , Pasqualone Antonella
Published: April 2019

The influence of the homogenization time and speed on rheological and volatile composition in olive-based pâtés was studied. Five experimental trials were performed applying different combinations of time and speed homogenization: 1, 3, and 5 min at 12,000 rpm and 4000, 8000, and 12,000 rpm at 5 min. The obtained results showed that the processing parameters of the homogenization step significantly influenced the rheological and sensory properties of olive-based pâtés. Both time and speed influenced the rheological properties of the product. The increase of homogenization time and speed determined a significant reduction of hardness and syneresis. As regards color indices, significantly higher L* values were obtained when intermediate time and speed conditions were applied, whereas a* and b* indices showed a not univocal behavior. Both time and speed variables also influenced the volatile fraction of the pâtés (higher homogenization speed and time corresponded to higher terpenes and aldehydes).
Host–MicroRNA–Microbiota Interactions in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Yuan Ce , Steer Clifford J. , Subramanian Subbaya
Published: April 2019

Changes in gut microbiota composition have consistently been observed in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Yet, it is not entirely clear how the gut microbiota interacts with tumor cells. We know that tumor cells undergo a drastic change in energy metabolism, mediated by microRNAs (miRNAs), and that tumor-derived miRNAs affect the stromal and immune cell fractions of the tumor microenvironment. Recent studies suggest that host intestinal miRNAs can also affect the growth and composition of the gut microbiota. Our previous CRC studies showed a high-level of interconnectedness between host miRNAs and their microbiota. Considering all the evidence to date, we postulate that the altered nutrient composition and miRNA expression in the CRC microenvironment selectively exerts pressure on the surrounding microbiota, leading to alterations in its composition. In this review article, we present our current understanding of the role of miRNAs in mediating host–microbiota interactions in CRC.
Blockchain Technology in Healthcare: A Systematic Review
Authors: Agbo Cornelius C. , Mahmoud Qusay H. , Eklund J. Mikael
Published: April 2019

Since blockchain was introduced through Bitcoin, research has been ongoing to extend its applications to non-financial use cases. Healthcare is one industry in which blockchain is expected to have significant impacts. Research in this area is relatively new but growing rapidly; so, health informatics researchers and practitioners are always struggling to keep pace with research progress in this area. This paper reports on a systematic review of the ongoing research in the application of blockchain technology in healthcare. The research methodology is based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and a systematic mapping study process, in which a well-designed search protocol is used to search four scientific databases, to identify, extract and analyze all relevant publications. The review shows that a number of studies have proposed different use cases for the application of blockchain in healthcare; however, there is a lack of adequate prototype implementations and studies to characterize the effectiveness of these proposed use cases. The review further highlights the state-of-the-art in the development of blockchain applications for healthcare, their limitations and the areas for future research. To this end, therefore, there is still the need for more research to better understand, characterize and evaluate the utility of blockchain in healthcare.