bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pengembangan Minat Baca Peserta Didik : Studi Peran Kepala Sekolah
Authors: Fahrurrrazi Fahrurrrazi
Published: February 2018

Penelitian ini dilatarbelakangi oleh fenomena minat baca siswa dan pengaruh minat baca terhadap pertumbuhan kemampuan belajar siswa pada jenjang-jenjang pendidikan selanjutnya. Kepala sekolah sebagai lokomotif perkembangan mutu pendidikan memiliki peran strategi bagi pengumbuhan dan pengembangan minat baca peserta didik. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui peran kepala madrasah sebagai edukator, manajer, dan innovator dalam pengembangan minat baca peserta didik di MIT Nurul Islam Kota Semarang. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kualitatif lapangan, data dikumpulkan melalui observasi, wawancara, dokumentasi dan triangulasi, serta dianalisis dengan teknik analisis deskriptif. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa: 1) Peran kepala madrasah sebagai edukator dalam pengembangan minat baca peserta didik meliputi meliputi tiga pembinaan, yakni pembinaan mental dan moral, serta pembinaan artistik. 2) Peran kepala madrasah sebagai manajer dalam pengembangan minat baca peserta didik di MIT Nurul Islam meliputi penerapan fungsi-fungsi manajemen dengan didasarkan pada pada kerjasama dengan USAID dan UIN Walisongo Semarang. 3) Peran kepala madrasah sebagai innovator dalam pengembangan minat baca peserta didik di MIT Nurul Islam Kota Semarang meliputi inovasi strategi, pola pikir (mindset) dan struktur.
Abstract
This research is motivated by the phenomenon of reading interest of students and the influence of reading interest on the growth of students' learning ability in the next level of education. The principal as a locomotive of the development of the quality of education has a strategic role for the growth and development of reading interest of learners. This study aims to determine the role of principal as an educator, manager, and innovator in the development of reading interest of learners in MIT Nurul Islam Semarang City. This research is a qualitative field research, data collected through observation, interview, documentation and triangulation, and analyzed by descriptive analysis technique. The results of this study indicate that: 1) The role of principal as an educator in the development of reading interest of learners includes three activities are coaching, namely mental and moral coaching, and artistic coaching. 2) The role of principal as manager in the development of reading interest of learners at MIT Nurul Islam covers the application of management functions based on cooperation with USAID and UIN Walisongo Semarang. 3) The role of principal as innovator in the development of reading interest of learners at MIT Nurul Islam Semarang City includes innovation strategy, mindset, and structure.
Hibah Pemerintah dan Pertanggungjawabannya
Authors: Budi Prastowo , Wahyudi M. Hari , Effendi A’an
Published: February 2018

Government grant is one of the legal acts of the Government in the distribution of welfare of citizens. The purpose of this study is to determine the government that does not grant its designation that an act of corruption as well as the withdrawal of government grants if there are irregularities. The research method uses a normative juridical approach statute and case approach. The results of research in writing this law first: the incompatibility of the proposed treaty grants the user an act of corruption. The results of the second study: Government grants that have been given by the Government to grant recipients may be withdrawn if there is deviation to make legal effort to administrative sanctions, civil or  criminal.Keywords: Grants, Government, Corruption
Kegiatan Usaha PT. Pelabuhan Indonesia Pasca Lahirnya Undang-Undang Nomor 17 Tahun 2008 Tentang Pelayaran Dalam Perspektif Hukum Persaingan Usaha
Authors: Annas Muhammad
Published: February 2018

Lahirnya Undang-Undang Nomor 17 Tahun 2008 tentang Pelayaran telah memisahkan fungsi regulator dan operator dalam industri pelabuhan. Lahirnya Undang-Undang tersebut menyebabkan PT. Pelabuhan Indonesia hanya berwenang sebagai operator dan berubah status menjadi pelaku usaha biasa. Oleh karena itu Undang-Undang  Pelayaran yang baru menjadikan hak monopoli PT. Pelabuhan Indonesia pada kegiatan usaha industri pelabuhan dihapuskan. Masalah muncul ketika perubahan Undang-Undang Pelayaran tidak diikuti dengan perubahan perilaku PT. Pelabuhan Indonesia yang masih seakan-akan memiliki hak monopoli dengan menjadikan dasar Surat Menteri Perhubungan Nomor HK 003/1/11Phb2011 tanggal 6 Mei 2011. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukan bahwa dasar yang digunakan oleh PT. Pelabuhan Indonesia tidaklah tepat dan bertentangan dengan Undang-Undang Nomor 5 Tahun 1999. Selain itu monopoli PT. Pelabuhan Indonesia tidak termasuk monopoli yang dikecualikan dalam Undang-Undang Nomor 5 Tahun 1999. Kata Kunci: Hukum Persaingan Usaha, Monopoli, PT. Pelabuhan Indonesia
α-Amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of the extracts and constituents of Ferulago blancheana, F. pachyloba and F. trachycarpa roots
Authors: Karakaya Songül , Özbek Hilal , Gözcü Sefa , Güvenalp Zühal , Yuca Hafize , Duman Hayri , Kazaz Cavit , Kiliç Ceyda Sibel
Published: February 2018

Eleven coumarins named osthole (1), imperatorin (2), bergapten (3), prantschimgin (4), grandivitinol (5), suberosin (6), xanthotoxin (7), felamidin (8), marmesin (9), umbelliferone (10), ulopterol (11), and a sterol mixture consisted of stigmasterol (12), β-sitosterol (13) were isolated from the roots of Ferulago blancheana, F. pachyloba and F. trachycarpa through in vitro bioassay-guided fractionation processes. The extracts and bioactive compounds were evaluated for their α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities. Among the tested compounds, felamidin and suberosin showed significant α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 0.4 and 0.9 mg/mL, respectively, when compared to the reference standard acarbose (IC50 = 4.9 mg/mL). Grandivitinol (IC50 = 20.0 mg/mL) had the lowest inhibitory effect. On the other hand, none of the tested extracts were found to be active on α-amylase inhibition. This is the first report on isolation, characterization of the bioactive compounds and evaluation the α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of these species.

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Outbreak of Chikungunya Virus Infection with Global Propagation
Authors: Ahmed Iftikhar
Published: February 2018

Abstract not availableJ Enam Med Col 2018; 8(1): 4-6
Surrenderers’ Relationships with Cats Admitted to Four Australian Animal Shelters
Authors: Zito Sarah , Paterson Mandy , Morton John , Vankan Di , Bennett Pauleen , Rand Jacquie , Phillips Clive
Published: February 2018

The surrender of cats to animal shelters results in financial, social and moral burdens for the community. Correlations of caretaking and interactions with surrendered cats were calculated, to understand more about humans’ relationships with surrendered cats and the contribution of semi-owned cats to shelter intakes. A questionnaire was used to collect detailed information about 100 surrenderers’ relationships with cats they surrendered to four animal shelters in Australia, with each surrenderer classifying themselves as being either the owner or a non-owner of the surrendered cat (ownership perception). Method of acquisition of the cat, association time, closeness of the relationship with the cat and degree of responsibility for the cat’s care were all associated with ownership perception. Many non-owners (59%) fed and interacted with the cat they surrendered but rarely displayed other caretaking behaviours. However, most surrenderers of owned and unowned cats were attached to and felt responsible for the cat. Based on these results and other evidence, a causal model of ownership perception was proposed to provide a better understanding of factors influencing ownership perception. This model consisted of a set of variables proposed as directly or indirectly influencing ownership perception, with connecting arrows to indicate proposed causal relationships. Understanding ownership perception and the contribution of semi-owned cats to shelter intake is important as these can inform the development of more targeted and effective intervention strategies to reduce numbers of unwanted cats.
Delivery of Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Gelatin–Alginate Hydrogels to Stomach Lumen for Treatment of Gastroparesis
Authors: Joddar Binata , Tasnim Nishat , Thakur Vikram , Kumar Alok , McCallum Richard , Chattopadhyay Munmun
Published: February 2018

Gastroparesis (GP) is associated with depletion of interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) and enteric neurons, which leads to pyloric dysfunction followed by severe nausea, vomiting and delayed gastric emptying. Regenerating these fundamental structures with mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy would be helpful to restore gastric function in GP. MSCs have been successfully used in animal models of other gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, including colitis. However, no study has been performed with these cells on GP animals. In this study, we explored whether mouse MSCs can be delivered from a hydrogel scaffold to the luminal surfaces of mice stomach explants. Mouse MSCs were seeded atop alginate–gelatin, coated with poly-l-lysine. These cell–gel constructs were placed atop stomach explants facing the luminal side. MSCs grew uniformly all across the gel surface within 48 h. When placed atop the lumen of the stomach, MSCs migrated from the gels to the tissues, as confirmed by positive staining with vimentin and N-cadherin. Thus, the feasibility of transplanting a cell–gel construct to deliver stem cells in the stomach wall was successfully shown in a mice stomach explant model, thereby making a significant advance towards envisioning the transplantation of an entire tissue-engineered ‘gastric patch’ or ‘microgels’ with cells and growth factors.
With a Little Help from My Friends: The Role of Intraoperative Fluorescent Dyes in the Surgical Management of High-Grade Gliomas
Authors: Maugeri Rosario , Villa Alessandro , Pino Mariangela , Imperato Alessia , Giammalva Giuseppe , Costantino Gabriele , Graziano Francesca , Gulì Carlo , Meli Francesco , Francaviglia Natale , Iacopino Domenico
Published: February 2018

High-grade gliomas (HGGs) are the most frequent primary malignant brain tumors in adults, which lead to death within two years of diagnosis. Maximal safe resection of malignant gliomas as the first step of multimodal therapy is an accepted goal in malignant glioma surgery. Gross total resection has an important role in improving overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS), but identification of tumor borders is particularly difficult in HGGS. For this reason, imaging adjuncts, such as 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) or fluorescein sodium (FS) have been proposed as superior strategies for better defining the limits of surgical resection for HGG. 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is implicated as precursor in the synthetic pathway of heme group. Protoporphyrin IX (PpIX) is an intermediate compound of heme metabolism, which produces fluorescence when excited by appropriate light wavelength. Malignant glioma cells have the capacity to selectively synthesize or accumulate 5-ALA-derived porphyrins after exogenous administration of 5-ALA. Fluorescein sodium (FS), on the other hand, is a fluorescent substance that is not specific to tumor cells but actually it is a marker for compromised blood-brain barrier (BBB) areas. Its effectiveness is confirmed by multicenter phase-II trial (FLUOGLIO) but lack of randomized phase III trial data. We conducted an analytic review of the literature with the objective of identifying the usefulness of 5-ALA and FS in HGG surgery in adult patients.
Active and Stable Methane Oxidation Nano-Catalyst with Highly-Ionized Palladium Species Prepared by Solution Combustion Synthesis
Authors: Khader Mahmoud , Al-Marri Mohammed , Ali Sardar , Abdelmoneim Ahmed
Published: February 2018

We report on the synthesis and testing of active and stable nano-catalysts for methane oxidation. The nano-catalyst was palladium/ceria supported on alumina prepared via a one-step solution-combustion synthesis (SCS) method. As confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HTEM), SCS preparative methodology resulted in segregating both Pd and Ce on the surface of the Al2O3 support. Furthermore, HTEM showed that bigger Pd particles (5 nm and more) were surrounded by CeO2, resembling a core shell structure, while smaller Pd particles (1 nm and less) were not associated with CeO2. The intimate Pd-CeO2 attachment resulted in insertion of Pd ions into the ceria lattice, and associated with the reduction of Ce4+ into Ce3+ ions; consequently, the formation of oxygen vacancies. XPS showed also that Pd had three oxidation states corresponding to Pd0, Pd2+ due to PdO, and highly ionized Pd ions (Pd(2+x)+) which might originate from the insertion of Pd ions into the ceria lattice. The formation of intrinsic Ce3+ ions, highly ionized (Pd2+ species inserted into the lattice of CeO2) Pd ions (Pd(2+x)+) and oxygen vacancies is suggested to play a major role in the unique catalytic activity. The results indicated that the Pd-SCS nano-catalysts were exceptionally more active and stable than conventional catalysts. Under similar reaction conditions, the methane combustion rate over the SCS catalyst was ~18 times greater than that of conventional catalysts. Full methane conversions over the SCS catalysts occurred at around 400 °C but were not shown at all with conventional catalysts. In addition, contrary to the conventional catalysts, the SCS catalysts exhibited superior activity with no sign of deactivation in the temperature range between ~400 and 800 °C.
A Case of Spontaneous Pneumomediastinum with Subcutaneous Emphysema in Children
Authors: Benlamkaddem Said , Berdai Mohamed , Labib Smael , Harandou Mustapha
Published: February 2018

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is defined as free air or gas contained within the mediastinum, which almost invariably originates from the alveolar space or the conducting airways. It is rare in pediatric patients; however, occasional cases are reported to result from forced Valsalva’s maneuver due to cough, emesis, a first attack of wheeze, or asthma exacerbations. We report the case of a 7-year-old previously healthy girl, with a history of persistent dry cough one day before, who was brought to our unit with face, neck and chest swelling. The chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) scan showed subcutaneous emphysema with pneumomediastinum and pneumopericardium without evidence of the origin of this air leak. Laboratory tests and the bronchoscopy were normal. The patient was admitted in the pediatric critical care and received noninvasive monitoring, analgesia, oxygen, and omeprazole as a prophylaxis for a gastric ulcer. The patient improved, subcutaneous emphysema resolved, and she was discharged on the third day.
Open Source and Independent Methods for Bundle Adjustment Assessment in Close-Range UAV Photogrammetry
Authors: Murtiyoso Arnadi , Grussenmeyer Pierre , Börlin Niclas , Vandermeerschen Julien , Freville Tristan
Published: February 2018

Close-range photogrammetry as a technique to acquire reality-based 3D data has, in recent times, seen a renewed interest due to developments in sensor technologies. Furthermore, the strong democratization of UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) or drones means that close-range photogrammetry can now be used as a viable low-cost method for 3D mapping. In terms of software development, this led to the creation of many commercial black-box solutions (PhotoScan, Pix4D, etc.). This paper aims to demonstrate how the open source toolbox DBAT (Damped Bundle Adjustment Toolbox) can be used to generate detailed photogrammetric network diagnostics to help assess the quality of surveys processed by the commercial software, PhotoScan. In addition, the Apero module from the MicMac software suite was also used to provide an independent assessment of the results. The assessment is performed by the careful examination of some of the bundle adjustment metrics generated by both open source solutions. A UAV project was conducted on a historical church in the city center of Strasbourg, France, in order to provide a dataset with a millimetric level of precision. Results showed that DBAT can be used to reprocess PhotoScan projects under similar conditions and derive useful metrics from them, while Apero provides a completely independent verification of the results of commercial solutions. Overall, this paper shows that an objective assessment of photogrammetric results is important. In cases where problems are encountered in the project, this assessment method can be useful to detect errors that may not be explicitly presented by PhotoScan.
Effect of Surface Thermal Resistance on the Simulation Accuracy of the Condensation Risk Assessment for a High-Performance Window
Authors: Koo So , Park Sihyun , Song Jin-Hee , Song Seung-Yeong
Published: February 2018

The accuracy of condensation risk assessment depends on the accuracy of the measured or calculated temperatures. The existing 2D simulation method provides sufficiently accurate results for evaluating average performance values, such as U-values. However, the accuracy of predicting the temperatures in the local areas such as the edge-of-glazing and the frame has been questioned. This study analyzes the effect of the surface thermal resistance on the accuracy of the condensation risk assessment for high-performance windows. Experiments and three-dimensional simulations were performed for a triple-glazed window. The differences in results between the basic experimental test and the simulations with several different applied boundary conditions were analyzed. The results show that, in the simulations, a small change in the surface thermal resistance has no significant effect on the accuracy of the condensation risk assessment of the center-of-glazing or the frame. However, for the edge-of-glazing, the accuracy of predicting the condensation risk was significantly improved by using the increased local surface thermal resistance with the simulation. By employing the reduced radiation and convection at the edges or junctions between two surfaces, the error between the measured and calculated temperature factors can be reduced to less than 3%.
The Effects of NaCl Concentration and Confining Pressure on Mechanical and Acoustic Behaviors of Brine-Saturated Sandstone
Authors: Huang Yan-Hua , Yang Sheng-Qi , Hall Matthew , Zhang Yuan-Chao
Published: February 2018

To better understand the mechanical behavior of rock with brine saturation, conventional triaxial experiments were carried out on sandstone for a range of confining pressures (0–60 MPa) and NaCl concentrations (0–30%). As the confining pressure and NaCl concentration increased, the triaxial compressive strength, crack damage threshold, Young’s modulus, cohesion, and internal friction angle all increased. Real-time ultrasonic wave and acoustic emission (AE) techniques were used to obtain the relationship between acoustic behavior and stress level during the whole triaxial compression process. During the whole deformation process, the evolution of P-wave velocity and accumulated AE count could be divided into four phases. The microstructural characteristics of brine-saturated sandstone, before and after loading, indicated that the strength enhancement mechanism may be attributed to an increase in inter-particle friction resulting from salt crystallisation around the points of contact. The angle of friction increased by more than 86% at maximum NaCl concentration compared to that for distilled water. The NaCl deposition in the pore space resulted in nonlinear strength increases for the brine-saturated sandstone specimens with increasing salinity. The present study is expected to improve the knowledge of the strength and failure mechanisms of sedimentary rock in deep saline aquifers.
A Hierarchical Optimal Operation Strategy of Hybrid Energy Storage System in Distribution Networks with High Photovoltaic Penetration
Authors: Chen Jian , Li Jiaqi , Zhang Yicheng , Bao Guannan , Ge Xiaohui , Li Peng
Published: February 2018

In this paper, a hierarchical optimal operation strategy for a hybrid energy storage system (HESS) is proposed, which is suitable to be utilized in distribution networks (DNs) with high photovoltaic (PV) penetration to achieve PV power smoothing, voltage regulation and price arbitrage. Firstly, a fuzzy-logic based variable step-size control strategy for an ultracapacitor (UC) with the improvement of the lifetime of UC and tracking performance is adopted to smooth PV power fluctuations. The impact of PV forecasting errors is eliminated by adjusting the UC power in real time. Secondly, a coordinated control strategy, which includes centralized and local controls, is proposed for lithium-ion batteries. The centralized control is structured to determine the optimal battery unit for voltage regulation or price arbitrage according to lithium-ion battery performance indices. A modified lithium-ion battery aging model with better accuracy is proposed and the coupling relationship between the lifetime and the effective capacity is also considered. Additionally, the local control of the selected lithium-ion battery unit determines the charging/discharging power. A case study is used to validate the operation strategy and the results show that the lifetime equilibrium among different lithium-ion battery units can be achieved using the proposed strategy.
Quantifying Processes Governing Nutrient Concentrations in a Coastal Aquifer via Principal Component Analysis
Authors: Lecher Alanna , Murray Joseph , Paytan Adina
Published: February 2018

Submarine groundwater discharge (SGD) is an important source of nutrients to coastal ecosystems. The flux of nutrients associated with SGD is governed by the volumetric discharge of groundwater and the concentrations of nutrients in groundwater within the coastal aquifer. Nutrient concentrations in the coastal aquifer, in turn, are controlled by processes such as mixing, precipitation, adsorption-desorption, the decay of organic material, and nitrogen-fixation/denitrification. In this study, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to groundwater and ocean water nutrient concentration data from Monterey Bay, California, to identify and rank processes controlling coastal aquifer nutrient concentrations. Mixing with seawater, denitrification, the decay of organic matter, and desorption of phosphate were determined to be the three most important processes accounting for 39%, 19%, 14%, and 12% of the variability, respectively. This study shows how PCA can be applied to SGD studies to quantify the relative contribution of different processes controlling nutrient concentrations in coastal aquifers.
Degradation Investigation of Selected Taste and Odor Compounds by a UV/Chlorine Advanced Oxidation Process
Authors: Fang Jingyun , Liu Jiajian , Shang Chii , Fan Chihhao
Published: February 2018

Taste- and odor-causing (T&O) compounds are a major concern in drinking water treatment plants due to their negative impacts on the safety and palatability of water supply. This study explored the degradation kinetics and radical chemistry of four often-detected T&O compounds, geosmin (GSM), 2-methylisoborneol (MIB), benzothiazole (BT), and 2-isobutyl-3-methoxypyrazine (IBMP), in the ultraviolet/chlorine (UV/chlorine) advanced oxidation process. All experiments were carried out in a 700 mL photoreactor and the process effectively degraded the investigated T&O compounds in a slightly acidic environment. The degradation of T&O decreased with increasing pH but slightly with decreasing chlorine dosage. When the pH increased from 6 to 8, the pseudo-first-order rate constants of GSM, MIB, BT, and IBMP dropped from 2.84 × 10−3, 2.29 × 10−3, 3.64 × 10−3, and 2.76 × 10−3 s−1 to 3.77 × 10−4, 2.64 × 10−4, 6.48 × 10−4, and 6.40 × 10−4 s−1, respectively. Increasing the chlorine dosage slightly accelerated the degradation of the investigated T&O compounds, but excessive hypochlorous acid and hypochlorite scavenged the HO• radicals and reactive chlorine species (RCS). Generally, HO• primarily contributed to the degradation of all of the investigated T&O compounds as compared to RCS. The degradation by RCS was found to be structurally selective. RCS could not degrade GSM, but contributed to the degradation of MIB, BT, and IBMP. The results confirmed that the proposed oxidation process effectively degraded typical T&O compounds in aqueous phase.
Interpreting the Fuzzy Semantics of Natural-Language Spatial Relation Terms with the Fuzzy Random Forest Algorithm
Authors: Wang Xiaonan , Du Shihong , Feng Chen-Chieh , Zhang Xueying , Zhang Xiuyuan
Published: February 2018

Naïve Geography, intelligent geographical information systems (GIS), and spatial data mining especially from social media all rely on natural-language spatial relations (NLSR) terms to incorporate commonsense spatial knowledge into conventional GIS and to enhance the semantic interoperability of spatial information in social media data. Yet, the inherent fuzziness of NLSR terms makes them challenging to interpret. This study proposes to interpret the fuzzy semantics of NLSR terms using the fuzzy random forest (FRF) algorithm. Based on a large number of fuzzy samples acquired by transforming a set of crisp samples with the random forest algorithm, two FRF models with different membership assembling strategies are trained to obtain the fuzzy interpretation of three line-region geometric representations using 69 NLSR terms. Experimental results demonstrate that the two FRF models achieve good accuracy in interpreting line-region geometric representations using fuzzy NLSR terms. In addition, fuzzy classification of FRF can interpret the fuzzy semantics of NLSR terms more fully than their crisp counterparts.
Consecutive Isoproterenol and Adenosine Treatment Confers Marked Protection against Reperfusion Injury in Adult but Not in Immature Heart: A Role for Glycogen
Authors: Lewis Martin , Szobi Adrian , Balaska Dirki , Khaliulin Igor , Adameova Adriana , Griffiths Elinor , Orchard Clive , Suleiman M.-Saadeh
Published: February 2018

Consecutive treatment of adult rat heart with isoproterenol and adenosine (Iso/Aden), known to consecutively activate PKA/PKC signaling, is cardioprotective against ischemia and reperfusion (I/R). Whether this is cardioprotective in an immature heart is unknown. Langendorff–perfused hearts from adult and immature (60 and 14 days old) male Wistar rats were exposed to 30 min ischemia and 120 min reperfusion, with or without prior perfusion with 5 nM Iso for 3 min followed by 30 μM Aden for 5 min. Changes in hemodynamics (developed pressure and coronary flow) and cardiac injury (Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) release and infarct size) were measured. Additional hearts were used to measure glycogen content. Iso induced a similar inotropic response in both age groups. Treatment with Iso/Aden resulted in a significant reduction in time to the onset of ischemic contracture in both age groups whilst time to peak contracture was significantly shorter only in immature hearts. Upon reperfusion, the intervention reduced cardiac injury and functional impairment in adults with no protection of immature heart. Immature hearts have significantly less glycogen content compared to adult. This work shows that Iso/Aden perfusion confers protection in an adult heart but not in an immature heart. It is likely that metabolic differences including glycogen content contribute to this difference.
A Novel Sugar Transporter from Dianthus spiculifolius, DsSWEET12, Affects Sugar Metabolism and Confers Osmotic and Oxidative Stress Tolerance in Arabidopsis
Authors: Zhou Aimin , Ma Hongping , Feng Shuang , Gong Shufang , Wang Jingang
Published: February 2018

Plant SWEETs (sugars will eventually be exported transporters) play a role in plant growth and plant response to biotic and abiotic stresses. In the present study, DsSWEET12 from Dianthus spiculifolius was identified and characterized. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis revealed that DsSWEET12 expression was induced by sucrose starvation, mannitol, and hydrogen peroxide. Colocalization experiment showed that the DsSWEET12-GFP fusion protein was localized to the plasma membrane, which was labeled with FM4-64 dye, in Arabidopsis and suspension cells of D. spiculifolius. Compared to wild type plants, transgenic Arabidopsis seedlings overexpressing DsSWEET12 have longer roots and have a greater fresh weight, which depends on sucrose content. Furthermore, a relative root length analysis showed that transgenic Arabidopsis showed higher tolerance to osmotic and oxidative stresses. Finally, a sugar content analysis showed that the sucrose content in transgenic Arabidopsis was less than that in the wild type, while fructose and glucose contents were higher than those in the wild type. Taken together, our results suggest that DsSWEET12 plays an important role in seedling growth and plant response to osmotic and oxidative stress in Arabidopsis by influencing sugar metabolism.
MicroRNA-125a-5p Affects Adipocytes Proliferation, Differentiation and Fatty Acid Composition of Porcine Intramuscular Fat
Authors: Du Jingjing , Xu Yan , Zhang Peiwen , Zhao Xue , Gan Mailin , Li Qiang , Ma Jideng , Tang Guoqing , Jiang Yanzhi , Wang Jinyong , Li Xuewei , Zhang Shunhua , Zhu Li
Published: February 2018

Intramuscular fat (IMF) content and composition are considered crucial indicators of porcine meat quality. However, the molecular mechanism of porcine IMF development is still mostly unclear. Recently, new evidence suggested that microRNA (miRNAs) play important roles in porcine intramuscular adipogenesis. Previously, microRNA-125a-5p (miR-125a-5p) was identified as an important regulator of adipogenesis. In the present study, we found that the expression of miR-125a-5p is dynamically regulated during porcine intramuscular preadipocytes differentiation and that its expression levels in different porcine muscle tissues were negatively involved with IMF content. To investigate the potential function role of miR-125a-5p in IMF development, porcine intramuscular preadipocytes were collected and transfected with miR-125a-5p mimics, inhibitors, or a negative control (NC), respectively. The results showed that overexpression of miR-125a-5p promoted proliferation and inhibited differentiation of porcine intramuscular preadipocytes while inhibition of miR-125a-5p had the opposite effects. Furthermore, a luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that porcine kruppel like factor 3 (KLF13) is a target gene of miR-125a-5p during porcine intramuscular preadipocytes differentiation. Interestingly, porcine ELOVL fatty acid elongase 6 (ELOVL6), a regulator of fatty acid composition, was also identified as a target gene of miR-125a-5p during porcine intramuscular adipogenesis. Further studies show that miR-125a-5p overexpression reduced total saturated fatty acids (SFA) content and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA)/SFA ratios while having no significant impact on polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA)/SFA and n-6/n-3 ratios. Taken together, our results identified that miR-125a-5p may be a novel regulator of porcine intramuscular adipogenesis and the fatty acid composition of porcine IMF.
Controllable Sliding Bearings and Controllable Lubrication Principles—An Overview
Authors: Santos Ilmar
Published: February 2018

Hydrodynamic and aerodynamic lubrication regimes in their controllable forms have been intensively investigated over the last two decades. With the aim of reducing friction and improving thermal, static, and dynamic characteristics of radial sliding bearings, different types of electro-mechanical actuators have been coupled to such bearings. Depending on (i) the actuator type; (ii) the actuation principle, i.e., hydraulic, pneumatic, piezoelectric or magnetic among others; and (iii) how such an actuator is coupled to the sliding bearings, different regulation and control actions of fluid film pressure and lubricant flow can be obtained. The most common actions are: (a) the control of the injection pressure to modify the fluid film pressure statically as well as dynamically; (b) the adjustment of the angle and direction of injection flow (mostly passive action); (c) the control of the sliding bearing gap and its preload via moveable and compliant sliding surfaces; and (d) the control of the lubricant viscosity. All four parameters, i.e., pressure, flow (velocity profiles), gap and viscosity, are explicit parameters in the modified form of Reynolds’ equations for active lubrication. In this framework, this paper gives one main original contribution to the state-of-the-art of radial sliding bearings and controllable lubrication: a comprehensive overview about the different types of controllable sliding bearings and principles used by several authors. The paper ends with some conclusive remarks about advantages and drawbacks of the different design solutions for controllable sliding bearings and the main challenges to be overcome towards industrial applications.
A Fine Grain, High Mn Steel with Excellent Cryogenic Temperature Properties and Corresponding Constitutive Behaviour
Authors: Wang Yuhui , Shi Baodong , He Yanming , Zhang Hongwang , Peng Yan , Wang Tiansheng
Published: February 2018

A Fe-34.5 wt % Mn-0.04 wt % C ultra-high Mn steel with a fully recrystallised fine-grained structure was produced by cold rolling and subsequent annealing. The steel exhibited excellent cryogenic temperature properties with enhanced work hardening rate, high tensile strength, and high uniform elongation. In order to capture the unique mechanical behaviour, a constitutive model within finite strain plasticity framework based on Hill-type yield function was established with standard Armstrong-Frederick type isotropic hardening. In particular, the evolution of isotropic hardening was determined by the content of martensite; thus, a relationship between model parameters and martensite content is built explicitly.
A New Proof of a Conjecture on Nonpositive Ricci Curved Compact Kähler–Einstein Surfaces
Authors: Guan Zhuang-Dan
Published: February 2018

In an earlier paper, we gave a proof of the conjecture of the pinching of the bisectional curvature mentioned in those two papers of Hong et al. of 1988 and 2011. Moreover, we proved that any compact Kähler–Einstein surface M is a quotient of the complex two-dimensional unit ball or the complex two-dimensional plane if (1) M has a nonpositive Einstein constant, and (2) at each point, the average holomorphic sectional curvature is closer to the minimal than to the maximal. Following Siu and Yang, we used a minimal holomorphic sectional curvature direction argument, which made it easier for the experts in this direction to understand our proof. On this note, we use a maximal holomorphic sectional curvature direction argument, which is shorter and easier for the readers who are new in this direction.
Micro-Dosing of Fine Cohesive Powders Actuated by Pulse Inertia Force
Authors: Wang Hongcheng , Zhang Ting , Zhao Miaomiao , Chen Rangrang , Wu Liqun
Published: February 2018

Micro-dosing of fine cohesive powders is the key technology in additive manufacturing and especially in high-potency active pharmaceutical ingredients (HPAPI). However, high accuracy micro-dosing (<5 mg) of fine cohesive powder is less trivial and still remains a challenge because it is difficult to eliminate the aggregation phenomena caused by the strong interparticle cohesive forces (in small capillaries). This paper presents a novel micro-dose method of fine cohesive powders via a pulse inertia force system. A piezoelectric actuator is used to provide a high enough pulse inertia force for a tapered glass nozzle and drive powder particles in the nozzle to be discharged from the nozzle orifice with the help of particle self-gravity. The nozzles with outlet diameters in the range of 100–2000 µm were fabricated via a glass heating process. The α-lactose monohydrate powder is used as the micro-dosing powder. The influences of the tapered nozzle outlet diameter, amplitude of the applied pulse voltage, and angle of the nozzle axis on micro-dosing mass are researched. The minimum mean dose mass is 0.6 mg for a single pulse inertia force. The coefficient of variation of dose mass, which represents the micro-dosing stability, can be controlled below 5% when the dose mass is relatively small.
Modelling Geotechnical Heterogeneities Using Geostatistical Simulation and Finite Differences Analysis
Authors: Pinheiro Marisa , Emery Xavier , Miranda Tiago , Lamas Luís , Espada Margarida
Published: February 2018

Modelling a rock mass in an accurate and realistic way allows researchers to reduce the uncertainty associated with its characterisation and reproduce the intrinsic spatial variability and heterogeneities present in the rock mass. However, there is often a lack of a structured methodology to characterise heterogeneous rock masses using geotechnical information available from the prospection phase. This paper presents a characterization methodology based on the geostatistical simulation of geotechnical variables and the application of a scenario reduction technique aimed at selecting a reduced number of realisations able to statistically represent a large set of realisations obtained by the geostatistical approach. This type of information is useful for a further rock mass behaviour analysis. The methodology is applied to a gold deposit with the goal of understanding its main differences to traditional approaches based on a deterministic modelling of the rock mass. The obtained results show the suitability of the methodology to characterise heterogeneous rock masses, since there were considerable differences between the results of the proposed methodology, mainly concerning the theoretical tunnel displacements, and the ones obtained with a traditional approach.
Chemical Constituents and Pharmacological Activity of Agarwood and Aquilaria Plants
Authors: Wang Shuai , Yu Zhangxin , Wang Canhong , Wu Chongming , Guo Peng , Wei Jianhe
Published: February 2018

Agarwood, a highly precious non-timber fragrant wood of Aquilaria spp. (Thymelaeaceae), has been widely used in traditional medicine, religious rites, and cultural activities. Due to the inflated demanding and depleted natural resources, the yields of agarwood collected from the wild are shrinking, and the price is constantly rising, which restricts agarwood scientific research and wide application. With the sustainable planting and management of agarwood applied, and especially the artificial-inducing methods being used in China and Southeast Asian countries, agarwood yields are increasing, and the price is becoming more reasonable. Under this condition, illuminating the scientific nature of traditional agarwood application and developing new products and drugs from agarwood have become vitally important. Recently, the phytochemical investigations have achieved fruitful results, and more than 300 compounds have been isolated, including numerous new compounds that might be the characteristic constituents with physiological action. However, no one has focused on the new compounds and presented a summary until now. Alongside phytochemical advances, bioactivity screening and pharmacological investigation have also made a certain progress. Therefore, this review discussed the new compounds isolated after 2010, and summarized the pharmacological progress on agarwood and Aquilaria plants.
A Polysulfide-Infiltrated Carbon Cloth Cathode for High-Performance Flexible Lithium–Sulfur Batteries
Authors: Song Ji-Yoon , Lee Hyeon-Haeng , Hong Won , Huh Yun , Lee Yun , Kim Hae , Jun Young-Si
Published: February 2018

For practical application of lithium–sulfur batteries (LSBs), it is crucial to develop sulfur cathodes with high areal capacity and cycle stability in a simple and inexpensive manner. In this study, a carbon cloth infiltrated with a sulfur-containing electrolyte solution (CC-S) was utilized as an additive-free, flexible, high-sulfur-loading cathode. A freestanding carbon cloth performed double duty as a current collector and a sulfur-supporting/trapping material. The active material in the form of Li2S6 dissolved in a 1 M LiTFSI-DOL/DME solution was simply infiltrated into the carbon cloth (CC) during cell fabrication, and its optimal loading amount was found to be in a range between 2 and 10 mg/cm2 via electrochemical characterization. It was found that the interwoven carbon microfibers retained structural integrity against volume expansion/contraction and that the embedded uniform micropores enabled a high loading and an efficient trapping of sulfur species during cycling. The LSB coin cell employing the CC-S electrode with an areal sulfur loading of 6 mg/cm2 exhibited a high areal capacity of 4.3 and 3.2 mAh/cm2 at C/10 for 145 cycles and C/3 for 200 cycles, respectively, with minor capacity loss (<0.03%/cycle). More importantly, such high performance could also be realized in flexible pouch cells with dimensions of 2 cm × 6 cm before and after 300 bending cycles. Simple and inexpensive preparation of sulfur cathodes using CC-S electrodes, therefore, has great potential for the manufacture of high-performance flexible LSBs.
Vitamin B12 Status of Various Ethnic Groups Living in New Zealand: An Analysis of the Adult Nutrition Survey 2008/2009
Authors: Devi Asika , Rush Elaine , Harper Michelle , Venn Bernard
Published: February 2018

Vitamin B12 deficiency leads to serious health problems, whilst sub-optimal status is associated with raised biochemical markers of disease risk. Identifying at-risk groups could benefit both individuals and public health. Dietary data were sourced from the New Zealand Adult Nutrition Survey 2008/2009, involving a nationally representative sample of 4721 participants. Ethnic groupings were by regional origin: Māori and Pacific Islands, New Zealand European, East and South-East Asian, and South Asian. Diets were assessed using 24-h recalls and from responses to a questionnaire. Blood samples were obtained from a subset (n = 3348). The mean (95% CI) vitamin B12 intake of the Māori and Pacific Islands group was 5.1 (4.7, 5.5) µg/day, New Zealand Europeans 4.1 (3.8, 4.3) µg/day, East and South-East Asians 4.5 (3.7, 5.3) µg/day, and South Asians 3.0 (2.5, 3.6) µg/day. Overall, 20.1% of the sample had vitamin B12 inadequacy (<221 pmol/L). South Asians had the lowest vitamin B12 concentration at 282 (251, 312) pmol/L, whilst Māori/Pacific and East/South-East Asians had the highest, at 426 (386, 466) and 425 (412, 437) pmol/L, respectively. The main dietary determinant of serum vitamin B12 concentration was whether or not people ate red meat, with a regression coefficient of 27.0 (95% CI: 6.6, 47.5). It would be helpful for health agencies to be aware of the potential for compromised vitamin B12 status in South Asian communities.
The Assessment of Bone Regulatory Pathways, Bone Turnover, and Bone Mineral Density in Vegetarian and Omnivorous Children
Authors: Ambroszkiewicz Jadwiga , Chełchowska Magdalena , Szamotulska Katarzyna , Rowicka Grażyna , Klemarczyk Witold , Strucińska Małgorzata , Gajewska Joanna
Published: February 2018

Vegetarian diets contain many beneficial properties as well as carry a risk of inadequate intakes of several nutrients important to bone health. The aim of the study was to evaluate serum levels of bone metabolism markers and to analyze the relationships between biochemical bone markers and anthropometric parameters in children on vegetarian and omnivorous diets. The study included 70 prepubertal children on a lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet and 60 omnivorous children. Body composition, bone mineral content (BMC), and bone mineral density (BMD) were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Biochemical markers—bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTX-I), osteoprotegerin (OPG), nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL), sclerostin, and Dickkopf-related protein 1 (Dkk-1)—were measured using immunoenzymatic assays. In vegetarians, we observed a significantly higher level of BALP (p = 0.002) and CTX-I (p = 0.027), and slightly lower spine BMC (p = 0.067) and BMD (p = 0.060) than in omnivores. Concentrations of OPG, RANKL, sclerostin, and Dkk-1 were comparable in both groups of children. We found that CTX-I was positively correlated with BMC, total BMD, and lumbar spine BMD in vegetarians, but not in omnivores. A well-planned vegetarian diet with proper dairy and egg intake does not lead to significantly lower bone mass; however, children following a lacto-ovo-vegetarian diet had a higher rate of bone turnover and subtle changes in bone regulatory markers. CTX-I might be an important marker for the protection of vegetarians from bone abnormalities.
Compression Creep and Thermal Ratcheting Behavior of High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
Authors: Kanthabhabha Jeya Rahul , Bouzid Abdel-Hakim
Published: February 2018

The characterization of thermal ratcheting behavior of high density polyethylene (HDPE) material coupled with compressive creep is presented. The research explores the adverse influence of thermal cycling on HDPE material properties under the effect of compressive load, number of thermal cycles, creep time period, and thermal ratcheting temperature range. The compressive creep analysis of HDPE shows that the magnitude of creep strain increases with increase in magnitude of applied load and temperature, respectively. The creep strain value increased by 7 and 28 times between least and maximum applied temperature and load conditions, respectively. The creep modulus decreases with increase in compressive load and temperature conditions. The cumulative deformation is evident in the HDPE material, causing a reduction in the thickness of the sample under thermal ratcheting. The loss of thickness increases with increase in the number of thermal cycles, while showing no sign of saturation. The thermal ratcheting strain (TRS) is influenced dominantly by the applied load condition. In addition, the TRS decreases with increase in creep time period, which is cited to the extended damage induced due creep. The results highlight the need for improved design standard with inclusion of thermal ratcheting phenomenon for HDPE structures particularly HDPE bolted flange joint.