bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Summer phytoplankton of the northern Barents Sea (75–80º N)
Authors: Pautova Larisa A. , Silkin Vladimir A. , Kravchishina Marina D. , Yakubenko Valeriy G. , Chultsova Anna L.
Published: January 2020

The structure of the summer planktonic communities of the Northern part of the Barents sea in the first half of August 2017 were studied. In the sea-ice melting area, the average phytoplankton biomass producing upper 50-meter layer of water reached values levels of eutrophic waters (up to 2.1 g/m3). Phytoplankton was presented by diatoms of the genera Thalassiosira and Eucampia. Maximum biomass recorded at depths of 22–52 m, the absolute maximum biomass community (5,0 g/m3) marked on the horizon of 45 m (station 5558), located at the outlet of the deep trench Franz Victoria near the West coast of the archipelago Franz Josef Land. In ice-free waters, phytoplankton abundance was low, and the weighted average biomass (8.0 mg/m3 – 123.1 mg/m3) corresponded to oligotrophic waters and lower mesotrophic waters. In the upper layers of the water population abundance was dominated by small flagellates and picoplankton from, biomass – Arctic dinoflagellates (Gymnodinium spp.) and cold Atlantic complexes (Gyrodinium lachryma, Alexandrium tamarense, Dinophysis norvegica). The proportion of Atlantic species in phytoplankton reached 75%. The representatives of warm-water Atlantic complex (Emiliania huxleyi, Rhizosolenia hebetata f. semispina, Ceratium horridum) were recorded up to 80º N, as indicators of the penetration of warm Atlantic waters into the Arctic basin. The presence of oceanic Atlantic species as warm-water and cold systems in the high Arctic indicates the strengthening of processes of “atlantificacion” in the region.
Geçiş Sürecinde Bulgaristan'da Kamu Yönetimi
Authors: BAYRAMOĞLU ÖZUĞURLU Sonay , GÜLPINAR Turgay
Published: January 2020

Makale, bir geçiş ülkesi olarak Bulgaristan’da sosyalizm sonrası dönemde, devletin yeniden inşa sürecini ve idari yapının gelişimini, siyasal ve anayasal yönleri ile birlikte incelemektedir. Bulgaristan, barış içerisinde ve iç savaş olmaksızın yaşanan bir rejim değişikliğinin siyasi ve idari neden ve sonuçlarının incelenmesi bakımından uygun bir örnek olaydır. Çoğulcu bir anlayışla ve barışçıl bir biçimde Bulgaristan’da kurulan anayasal düzen, toplumun beklediği daha iyi yaşam ve özgürlük ortamını tesis etmek için yeterli olmamıştır. Makale bunun nedenlerini, anayasa gibi birinci el ve ikinci el metinler üzerinden incelemektedir. Makalede, Bulgaristan’da demokratik ve liberal bir sistemin kurulamamasının geçiş sürecinde idari sistemin dikkate alınmaması ve birbirinden farklı kamu yönetimi anlayışlarının aynı anda uygulanmaya çalışılmasıylailgili olduğu sonucuna ulaşmıştır.
The Bull of Phalaris: Atrocity in the Canon
Authors: Petersen-Overton Kristofer
Published: January 2020

While political theory occasionally resembles a protracted discussion about violence, the same cannot be said for atrocity. Where something recognizable as atrocity does crop up in canonical texts, it tends to be characterized as a fundamentally extra-political phenomenon. The canon promotes a tautology: atrocity is extra-political and properly political violence is not atrocious. To begin my discussion of atrocity, I first consider the figure of the tyrant and tyrannical violence in Western political thought as a possible proxy issue for early thinking about transgressive violence. Of the many disquisitions on tyranny, Seneca’s distinction between ordinary cruelty and what he calls “bestial savagery” establishes the basis for a theory of atrocity, but it does not go far enough. I then survey canonical discussions of transgressive violence up to the present, emphasizing the recurring theme of non-instrumentality. Finally, I present a tentative formulation of atrocity that underscores its political nature.
APLIKASI KUESIONER PRA SKRINNING PERKEMBANGAN ANAK BERBASIS ANDROID DI HOMPIMPA CENTER BENGKALIS
Authors: Dewi Emilia Kartika , Rahmalisa Uci , Febriani Anita
Published: January 2020

Kuesioner Pra Skrining Perkembangan (KPSP) merupakan salah satu alat skrining/deteksi yang diwajibkan oleh Depkes untuk digunakan ditingkat pelayanan kesehatan primer. Psikolog memiliki peran yang signifikan sebagai tenaga ahli yang memiliki kewenangan dalam masalah perkembangan anak, termasuk kewenangan deteksi adanya penyimpangan perkembangan anak. Namun, psikolog dalam melayani skrining perkembangan dengan menggunakan KPSP masih bersifat manual yaitu masih menggunakan kertas kuesioner. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah membangun Aplikasi Kuesioner Pra Skrining Perkembangan Anak Berbasis Android yang dapat mempermudah psikolog dalam mengisi jawaban kuesioner dari orang tua secara efektif dan efisien, mempermudah psikolog dalam melakukan perhitungan kuesioner, serta mempercepat dalam pembuatan laporan hasil kuesioner. Metode penelitian ini menggunakan metode waterfall dan data dianalisa dengan menggunakan metode PIECES.

Penelitian ini menghasilkan Aplikasi Kuesioner Pra Skrinning Perkembangan Anak Berbasis Android yang mana dapat membantu kinerja psikolog dalam melayani klien yang memiliki masalah dalam perkembangan anak. Aplikasi ini juga memberikan efisiensi waktu serta mempermudah dan mempercepat kinerja psikolog, serta dapat memberikan informasi tentang perkembangan anak dalam bentuk grafik, sehingga bisa mengetahui perkembangan anak secara periode.
PERANCANGAN GAME STRATEGI WIRAUSAHA “MEATBALL TYCOON” MENGGUNAKAN METODE FINITE-STATE MACHINE
Authors: Hormasnyah Dhebys Suryani , Apriani Meyti Eka , Ramadhan Satria Bagus Wahyu
Published: January 2020

Kurangnya lowongan pekerjaan bagi yang membutuhkannya  menimbulkan ketidakmampuan dalam memenuhi kebutuhan sebagian pihak masyarakat. Salah satu cara untuk menambah lowongan pekerjaan bagi orang-orang yang tidak mendapatkannya adalah dengan membuka usaha sendiri. Untuk meningkatkan minat mereka, kita dapat menggunakan perkembangan teknologi sebagai sarananya. Kini, terdapat berbagai sarana game yang digemari masyarakat. Dengan adanya hal tersebut, kita bisa memanfaatkannya untuk memperkenalkan wirausaha kepada masyarakat. Salah satunya dengan membuat permainan simulasi wirausaha 3D Meatball Tycoon  yang dapat mengenalkan wirausaha dengan memanfaatkan Finite-State Machine dalam pengaturan perilaku objeknya untuk menciptakan kondisi yang lebih nyata. Aplikasi ini memanfaatkan perangkat Android dan desktop PC dan dibangun sebagai saran hiburan dan edukasi dalam pengenalan wirausaha.Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah terealisasikannya suatu game dengan memanfaatkan Finite-State Machine yang dapat memotivasi dan memperkenalkan dalam berwirausaha terhadap penggunanya.
IMPLEMENTASI METODE AHP DAN PROMETHEE PADA SPK PEMILIHAN HOTEL
Authors: Amalia Eka Larasati , Hamdana Elok Nur , Hutami Anisa Meiyanti
Published: January 2020

Perkembangan hotel di Kota Batu sedang melaju pesat, hal tersebut dapat dlihat dari banyaknya hotel baru yang dibangun dan jumlah tamu yang menginap di hotel. Kondisi tersebut dapat menimbulkan kesulitan bagi wisatawan dalam memilih hotel, sehingga sering kali wisatawan tidak mendapatkan hotel sesuai dengan prioritas keinginan yang mereka tentukan. Oleh karena itu, peneliti meneliti dan mengembangkan sistem pendukung keputusan yang menerapkan metode AHP untuk mengukur konsistensi kriteria yang ditentukan oleh pengguna khususnya dalam penelitian ini adalah wisatawan. Metode Promethee untuk menghitung dan meranking daftar hotel yang paling sesuai dengan keinginan wisatawan.
PENERAPAN FACIAL LANDMARK POINT UNTUK KLASIFIKASI JENIS KELAMIN BERDASARKAN CITRA WAJAH
Authors: Rosiani Ulla Delfana , Asmara Rosa Andrie , Laeily Nadhifatul
Published: January 2020

Teknologi biometrik yang biasa digunakan adalah face recognition yang menganalisa wajah manusia sehingga menghasilkan suatu informasi salah satunya adalah jenis kelamin. Komputer perlu diberikan pembelajaran untukmembedakan jenis kelamin berdasarkan komponen wajah. Pembelajaran mengenai deteksi jenis kelamin memiliki beberapa kesulitan karena kompleksitas dari kondisi wajah, seperti posisi gambar, pencahayaan dan ekspresi.Beberapa penelitian, menyimpulkan bahwa fitur geometri merupakan fitur yang cocok untuk mengatasi kompleksitas tersebut. Pada penelitian ini, fitur yang digunakan adalah jarak antara kedua mata, lebar nasal root, lebar hidung, tinggi bibir atas dan tinggi bibir bawah. Pengukuran nilai-nilai pada fitur tersebut dapat dilakukan dengan bantuan landmark point seperti dlib regression tree. Setelah itu nilai-nilai yang didapatkan digunakan untuk perhitungan klasifikasi menggunakan metode Support Vector Machine dengan kernel Gaussian RBF dan normalisasi Sigmoid. Menggunakan dataset sejumlah 60 data jenis A dan B untuk training dan 20 untuk testing, hasil akurasi yang didapatkan adalah 70%, precision 80%, dan recall 67%. Sedangkan dengan dataset sejumlah 30 data jenis A untuk training, hasil akurasi yang didapatkan adalah 40%, precision 30%, dan recall 37.5%. Sedangankan dengan dataset sejumlah 30 data jenis B untuk training, hasil akurasi yang didapatkan adalah 65%, precision 70%, dan recall 64%.
Image-Based Dedicated Methods of Night Traffic Visibility Estimation
Authors: Qin Hongshuai , Qin Huibin
Published: January 2020

Traffic visibility is an essential reference for safe driving. Nighttime conditions add to the difficulty of estimating traffic visibility. To estimate the visibility in nighttime traffic images, we propose a Traffic Sensibility Visibility Estimation (TSVE) algorithm that combines laser transmission and image processing and needs no reference to the corresponding fog-free images and camera calibration. The information required is first obtained via the roadside equipment which collects environmental data and captures road images and then analyzed locally or remotely. The proposed analysis includes calculating the current atmospheric transmissivity with the laser atmospheric transmission theory and acquiring image features by using the cameras and the adjustable brightness target. Image analysis is performed using two image processing algorithms, namely, dark channel prior (DCP) and image brightness contrast. Finally, to improve the accuracy of visibility estimation, multiple nonlinear regression (MNLR) is performed on the various visibility indicators obtained by the two methods. Extensive on-site measurements analysis confirms the advantages of TSVE. Compared with other visibility estimation methods, such as the laser atmospheric transmission theory and image analysis method, TSVE significantly decreases the estimation errors.
RNA-Based Therapeutics: From Antisense Oligonucleotides to miRNAs
Authors: Bajan Sarah , Hutvagner Gyorgy
Published: January 2020

The first therapeutic nucleic acid, a DNA oligonucleotide, was approved for clinical use in 1998. Twenty years later, in 2018, the first therapeutic RNA-based oligonucleotide was United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved. This promises to be a rapidly expanding market, as many emerging biopharmaceutical companies are developing RNA interference (RNAi)-based, and RNA-based antisense oligonucleotide therapies. However, miRNA therapeutics are noticeably absent. miRNAs are regulatory RNAs that regulate gene expression. In disease states, the expression of many miRNAs is measurably altered. The potential of miRNAs as therapies and therapeutic targets has long been discussed and in the context of a wide variety of infections and diseases. Despite the great number of studies identifying miRNAs as potential therapeutic targets, only a handful of miRNA-targeting drugs (mimics or inhibitors) have entered clinical trials. In this review, we will discuss whether the investment in finding potential miRNA therapeutic targets has yielded feasible and practicable results, the benefits and obstacles of miRNAs as therapeutic targets, and the potential future of the field.
Mmi1, the Yeast Ortholog of Mammalian Translationally Controlled Tumor Protein (TCTP), Negatively Affects Rapamycin-Induced Autophagy in Post-Diauxic Growth Phase
Authors: Vojtova Jana , Hasek Jiri
Published: January 2020

Translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) is a multifunctional and highly conserved protein from yeast to humans. Recently, its role in non-selective autophagy has been reported with controversial results in mammalian and human cells. Herein we examine the effect of Mmi1, the yeast ortholog of TCTP, on non-selective autophagy in budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a well-established model system to monitor autophagy. We induced autophagy by nitrogen starvation or rapamycin addition and measured autophagy by using the Pho8Δ60 and GFP-Atg8 processing assays in WT, mmi1Δ, and in autophagy-deficient strains atg8Δ or atg1Δ. Our results demonstrate that Mmi1 does not affect basal or nitrogen starvation-induced autophagy. However, an increased rapamycin-induced autophagy is detected in mmi1Δ strain when the cells enter the post-diauxic growth phase, and this phenotype can be rescued by inserted wild-type MMI1 gene. Further, the mmi1Δ cells exhibit significantly lower amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the post-diauxic growth phase compared to WT cells. In summary, our study suggests that Mmi1 negatively affects rapamycin-induced autophagy in the post-diauxic growth phase and supports the role of Mmi1/TCTP as a negative autophagy regulator in eukaryotic cells.
Thermal Mitigation of the Indoor and Outdoor Climate by Green Curtains in Japanese Condominiums
Authors: Abe Hiroto , Rijal Hom B. , Hiroki Ryoga , Iijima Kentaro , Ohta Akira
Published: January 2020

In recent years, “green curtains” have become one of the most prevalent thermal mitigation methods in Japan. They can be considered as green infrastructure for achieving thermal comfort and reducing energy use. To examine the thermal mitigation effect of the green curtain for practical applicability in the condominium, the indoor and balcony temperatures for 48 days both in households with and without green curtains were analyzed. The balcony globe temperature of the households with green curtains was 0.6 °C lower than that of the households without green curtains, during air-conditioner usage. Furthermore, the air-conditioner usage time of the households with green curtains was 40% less than that of the households without green curtains. The results showed that green curtains are effective for achieving both thermal mitigation and energy saving in a condominium.
Statistical Modeling for Nanofluid Flow: A Stretching Sheet with Thermophysical Property Data
Authors: Jedi Alias , Shamsudeen Azhari , Razali Noorhelyna , Othman Haliza , Zainuri Nuryazmin Ahmat , Zulkarnain Noraishikin , Bakar Nor Ashikin Abu , Pati Kafi Dano , Thanoon Thanoon Y.
Published: January 2020

This paper reports the use of a numerical solution of nanofluid flow. The boundary layer flow over a stretching sheet in combination of two nanofluids models is studied. The partial differential equation that governs this model was transformed into a nonlinear ordinary differential equation by using similarity variables, and the numerical results were obtained by applying the shooting technique. Copper (Cu) nanoparticles (water-based fluid) were used in this study. This paper presents and discusses all numerical results, including those for the local Sherwood number and the local Nusselt number. Additionally, the effects of the nanoparticle volume fraction, Brownian motion Nb, and thermophoresis Nt on the performance of heat transfer are discussed. The results show that the stretching sheet has a unique solution: as the nanoparticle volume fraction φ (φ = 0), Nt (Nt = 0.1), and Nb decrease, the rate of heat transfer increases. Furthermore, as φ (φ = 0) and Nb decrease, the rate of mass transfer increases. The data of the Nusselt and Sherwood numbers were tested using different statistical distributions, and it is found that both datasets fit the Weibull distribution for different values of Nt and rotating φ.
Heterogeneous Computing (CPU–GPU) for Pollution Dispersion in an Urban Environment
Authors: Fernandez Gonzalo , Mendina Mariana , Usera Gabriel
Published: January 2020

The use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to assist in air quality studies in urban environments can provide accurate results for the dispersion of pollutants. However, due to the computational resources needed, simulation domain sizes tend to be limited. This study aims to improve the computational efficiency of an emission and dispersion model implemented in a CPU-based solver by migrating it to a CPU–GPU-based one. The migration of the functions that handle boundary conditions and source terms for the pollutants is explained, as well as the main differences present in the solvers used. Once implemented, the model was used to run simulations with both engines on different platforms, enabling the comparison between them and reaching promising time improvements in favor of the use of GPUs.
The Temperature Dependence of the Magnetization Process of the Kondo Insulator YbB12
Authors: Matsuda Yasuhiro H. , Kakita Yoshiki , Iga Fumitoshi
Published: January 2020

The properties of the Kondo insulator in a strong magnetic field are one of the most intriguing subjects in condensed matter physics. The Kondo insulating state is expected to be suppressed by magnetic fields, which results in the dramatic change in the electronic state. We have studied the magnetization process of one of the prototypical Kondo insulators YbB 12 at several temperatures in magnetic fields of up to 80 T. The metamagnetism due to the insulator-metal (IM) transition seen around 50 T was found to become significantly broadened at approximately 30 K. This characteristic temperature T * ≈ 30 K in YbB 12 is an order of magnitude lower than the Kondo temperature T K = 240 K. Our results suggest that there is an energy scale smaller than the Kondo temperature that is important to understanding the nature of Kondo insulators.
Detailed Energy Accounting of Electrical Submersible Pumping Systems
Authors: Grassian David , Olsen Daniel
Published: January 2020

The concept of energy return on investment (EROI) is applied to a set of electrical submersible pumps (ESPs) installed on a small offshore platform by conducting a detailed energy accounting of each ESP. This information is used to quantify the energy losses and efficiencies of each ESP system as well as the EROI of the lifting process (EROILifting), which is derived by dividing the energy out of each well, which is the chemical energy of the crude oil produced, by the energy consumed by each ESP system and by the surface equipment used to dispose of the well’s produced water. The resulting EROILifting values range from 93 to 565, with a corresponding energy intensity range of 18.3 to 3.0 kWh/barrel of crude. The energy consumed by each well is also is used to calculate the lifting costs, which is the incremental cost of producing an additional barrel of crude oil, which range from 0.64 to 3.90 USD/barrel of crude. The lifting costs are entirely comprised of procured diesel fuel, since there is no natural gas available on the platform to be used as fuel. Electrical efficiencies range from 0.60 to 0.80, while Hydraulic efficiencies range from 0.12 to 0.56. The overall ESP efficiencies range from 0.09 to 0.39, with the largest losses occurring in the hydraulic system, particularly within the ESP pump itself. Improvement of pump efficiencies is the only practical option to improve the overall ESP system efficiencies. Other losses within the electrical and hydraulic systems present few opportunities for improvement.
Relationships between Leaf Anatomy and Physiological Functioning of Southern US Oak Species Differing in Flood Tolerance
Authors: Renninger Heidi , Durbin Tyler , Gentry Austin , Kassahun Zeima
Published: January 2020

Research Highlights: Bottomland oaks receive less attention than upland species, however their adaptations to flooding and summer water stress will extend our understanding of the oak genus and links between physiology and leaf anatomy. Background and objectives: Determining links between leaf anatomy and physiology can aid in parameterizing dynamic global vegetation models for oak systems, therefore we sought to (1) compare leaf anatomic, nutrient, and physiological parameters for bottomland oaks differing in flood tolerance, (2) determine correlations across parameters and determine which anatomic and nutrient parameters best predict photosynthetic capacity metrics, and (3) compare these data with reported literature values for oaks across the globe. Materials and Methods: We measured CO2 response curves (A/Ci) on leaves from Nuttall, Shumard, swamp chestnut, water and white oak seedlings planted in the Southeastern United States (US) and estimated stomatal size and density, epidermal cell size, vein density, leaf mass per area (LMA) and nitrogen (N) concentrations. Principal component analysis among these leaf anatomic and nutrient parameters was used to determine the best predictors of photosynthetic parameters including Rubisco-limited carboxylation rate (VCmax) and electron transport limited carboxylation rate (Jmax). Results: We found that although physiological parameters were similar, flood-tolerant oaks had lower leaf N concentrations and larger, more infrequent stomata than less flood-tolerant species. Leaf epidermal properties were correlated with N concentrations and a principal component capturing this correlation as well as principal components correlated with mesophyll conductance and leaf carbon concentrations were found to best explain variation in VCmax and Jmax. These Southeastern US oaks exhibited similar leaf physiological parameters and LMA as oaks reported in the literature but differed in leaf epidermal and stomatal properties as well as leaf N concentrations increasing the reported range of these parameters within the oak genus. Conclusions: Therefore, leaf anatomy and nutrient parameters as opposed to physiology differed across flood tolerance and between bottomland oaks and broader literature values.
The Bactericidal Effect of a Combination of Food-Grade Compounds and their Application as Alternative Antibacterial Agents for Food Contact Surfaces
Authors: Park Kyung Min , Yoon Sung-Geon , Choi Tae-Ho , Kim Hyun Jung , Park Kee Jai , Koo Minseon
Published: January 2020

Chemical antibacterials are widely used to control microbial growth but have raised concerns about health risks. It is necessary to find alternative, non-toxic antibacterial agents for the inhibition of pathogens in foods or food contact surfaces. To develop a non-toxic and “green” food-grade alternative to chemical sanitizers, we formulated a multicomponent antibacterial mixture containing Rosmarinus officinalis L., Camellia sinensis L., citric acid, and ε-polylysine and evaluated its bactericidal efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella Enteritidis, and Listeria monocytogenes on food contact surfaces. A combination of the agents allowed their use at levels lower than were effective when tested individually. At a concentration of 0.25%, the multicomponent mixture reduced viable cell count by more than 5 log CFU/area, with complete inactivation 24 h after treatment. The inhibitory efficacy of the chemical antibacterial agent (sodium hypochlorite, 200 ppm) and the multicomponent antibacterial mixture (0.25%) on utensil surfaces against S. aureus, E. coli, S. Enteritidis, and L. monocytogenes were similar, but the multicomponent system was more effective against B. cereus than sodium hypochlorite, with an immediate 99.999% reduction on knife and plastic basket surfaces, respectively, and within 2 h on cutting board surfaces after treatment. A combination of these food-grade antibacterials could be a useful strategy for inhibition of bacteria on food contact surfaces while allowing use of lower concentrations of its components than are effective individually. This multicomponent food-grade antibacterial mixture may be a suitable “green” alternative to chemical sanitizers.
Consumers’ Perceptions and Sensory Properties of Beef Patty Analogues
Authors: Taylor Jordan , Ahmed Isam A. Mohamed , Al-Juhaimi Fahad Y. , Bekhit Alaa El-Din A.
Published: January 2020

The present study was carried out to gain consumer insights on the use of tempeh (a fermented soy bean product) to improve the healthiness of beef patties and to determine the acceptable level of tempeh (10%, 20%, or 30%) in the patty. The study consisted of conducting two focus groups (n = 15), a pilot sensory evaluation, and a full consumer sensory study. The focus groups were asked about their consumption of beef patties, attitudes towards processed meat, attitudes towards negative aspects of red meat consumption, and attitudes towards tempeh consumption, as well as sensory perceptions of the cooked patties and their visual acceptance of raw patties. Focus group discussions suggested that there was a market for the product if consumers were informed of tempeh health benefits. Participants seemed more willing to choose how to balance their diet with an antioxidant source than buy a beef patty with added antioxidants. The focus group participants rated the visual attributes of raw patties from all treatments and it was found that the 20% tempeh and 30% tempeh patties were ranked lower (p < 0.05) than the others. Overall, the sensory experiments showed that the inclusion of 10% tempeh was the most acceptable level of addition. There were no significant (p > 0.05) differences between the control and 10% tempeh patties for overall acceptability or acceptance of flavor. However, 10% tempeh patties were found to be more tender and juicier than the control (p < 0.05). A proper knowledge and awareness of consumers about the benefits of tempeh could allow the development of beef containing tempeh products.
Cross-Sectional Associations of Physical Fitness Performance Level and Sleep Duration among Older Adults: Results from the National Physical Fitness Survey in Taiwan
Authors: Lee Po-Fu , Ho Chien-Chang , Yeh Ding-Peng , Hung Chang-Tsen , Chang Yun-Chi , Liu Chia-Chen , Tseng Ching-Yu , Hsieh Xin-Yu
Published: January 2020

Research on relationships between physical fitness and sleep duration among older adults is scarce, especially in Taiwanese representative samples of elderly people who undergo physical fitness measurements. This study aimed to determine the associations between physical fitness and short and long sleep durations among older adults in Taiwan. We conducted a cross-sectional study and reviewed data derived from the National Physical Fitness Survey in Taiwan. A total of 24,125 Taiwanese adults aged 65 years and older participated in this study between October 2014 and March 2015. Each individual’s sleep duration was recorded with a standard questionnaire method. Sleep duration data were stratified into short (≤5 h), normal (6–7 h), and long (≥8 h) sleep duration groups. Physical fitness was assessed by five components: aerobic endurance (2 min step test), muscle strength and endurance (30 s arm curl and 30 s chair stand tests), flexibility (back scratch and chair sit-and-reach tests), body composition (body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)), and balance (one-leg stance with eye open and 8-foot up-and-go tests). To understand whether a dose–response relationship exists between physical fitness and short or long sleep duration, we analyzed four levels of performance on the basis of quartiles of physical fitness measurements by using logistic regression. The first quartile of physical fitness performance was the baseline level. The odds ratio (OR) for short sleep duration for the third quartile of BMI was 0.8031 times (95% CI, 0.7119–0.9061) lower than the baseline. For the fourth quartile of BMI, the OR was 0.8660 times (95% CI, 0.7653–0.9800) lower than the baseline. The adjusted OR for long sleep duration significantly decreased in the second, third, and fourth quartiles of the 30 s chair stand, back scratch, chair sit-and-reach test, one-leg stance with one eye open, and BMI. The adjusted OR was increased in the third and fourth quartiles of the 8-foot up-and-go and WHR. The results of the current study suggest that physical fitness performance may influence sleep duration as an associated factor, and the relationship is much stronger for long sleep duration than for short sleep duration.
Role of Personalization in Continuous Use Intention of Mobile News Apps in India: Extending the UTAUT2 Model
Authors: Cheng Yanxia , Sharma Saurabh , Sharma Prashant , Kulathunga KMMCB
Published: January 2020

The aim of this study was to empirically examine the extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology 2 (UTAUT2) model by adding “personalization” as one of the antecedents, as well as a moderator to determine the key factors for the continuous use intention of mobile news applications (apps). For this study, an online and manual sample survey of 309 respondents, who had used the news app earlier, was collected and analyzed, using quantitative methods such as explanatory and confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling, and Hayes process for finding moderating effects among variables. The findings of the direct effect demonstrated that performance expectancy (PE) has the most influential effect on continuous use intention, followed by habit (HT), hedonic motivation (HM), and facilitating conditions (FC). Furthermore, the outcome of tests for the moderating effect of personalization between UTAUT2 constructs and continuous use intention (CUI) showed that personalization has a significant moderating effect on performance expectancy and habit. Therefore, this research establishes the key role of PE, HT, HM, and FC as main factors that trigger the users’ continuous use intention of news apps and provides an integrated framework to assess the moderating effect of personalization on technology acceptance. The findings of the research expand the existing literature on news applications and provide foundation for future research studies in the area of mobile news apps.
Simulating, Off-Chain and On-Chain: Agent-Based Simulations in Cross-Organizational Business Processes
Authors: Kampik Timotheus , Najjar Amro
Published: January 2020

Information systems execute increasingly complex business processes, often across organizations. Blockchain technology has emerged as a potential facilitator of (semi)-autonomous cross-organizational business process execution; in particular, so-called consortium blockchains can be considered as promising enablers in this context, as they do not require the use of cryptocurrency-based blockchain technology, as long as the trusted (authenticated) members of the network are willing to provide computing resources for consensus-finding. However, increased autonomy in the execution of business processes also requires the delegation of business decisions to machines. To support complex decision-making processes by assessing potential future outcomes, agent-based simulations can be considered a useful tool for the autonomous enterprise. In this paper, we explore the intersection of multi-agent simulations and consortium blockchain technology in the context of enterprise applications by devising architectures and technology stacks for both off-chain and on-chain agent-based simulation in the context of blockchain-based business process execution.
Aleurocanthus spiniferus (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in Some European Countries: Diffusion, Hosts, Molecular Characterization, and Natural Enemies
Authors: Nugnes Francesco , Laudonia Stefania , Jesu Giovanni , Jansen Maurice Gerardus Maria , Bernardo Umberto , Porcelli Francesco
Published: January 2020

After the first record in 2008 in Southeast Italy, the alien invasive and quarantine pest Aleurocanthus spiniferus (orange spiny whitefly—OSW) has gradually spread throughout Europe, infesting several new host plants in addition to the known hosts. Molecular characterization of some Italian populations and a newly found Albanian population highlighted two different haplotypes invading Europe, belonging to one of the haplogroups previously recorded in China. A predator was recorded for the first time in several fields in Italy in association with OSW and other whitefly species. It was successively identified through a morpho-molecular characterization as a Nearctic member of the tribe Serangiini, the ladybird beetle, Delphastus catalinae. This predator represents a promising biocontrol agent to manage A. spiniferus outbreaks in Italy and other invaded countries.
Evaluation of d-Limonene and β-Ocimene as Attractants of Aphytis melinus (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae), a Parasitoid of Aonidiella aurantii (Hemiptera: Diaspididae) on Citrus spp.
Authors: Mohammed Khalid , Agarwal Manjree , Li Beibei , Newman James , Liu Tao , Ren Yonglin
Published: January 2020

The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from herbivore-infested plants can be used as chemical signals by parasitoids during host location. In this research, we investigated the VOC chemical signals for the parasitoid Aphytis melinus to discriminate between Aonidiella aurantii (California red scale)-infested fruit and non-infested fruit on three different citrus species. First, we identified the chemical stimuli emanating from non-infested and A. aurantii-infested citrus fruits via solid phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses and identified 34 volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The GC-MS analysis showed qualitative and quantitative differences between VOCs emitted from non-infested and infested citrus fruit. Two VOCs, d-limonene and β-ocimene, were significantly increased in all infested fruit, regardless of the fruit species. The response of the female adult A. melinus to olfactory cues associated with A. aurantii infested fruit was evaluated using a Y-tube olfactometer. In two-choice behavioural assays, A. melinus females preferred infested citrus cues over non-infested fruit. Females showed positive chemotaxis toward these VOCs in all tested combinations involving two dosages of synthetic compounds, d-limonene and β-ocimene, except for d-limonene at a dosage of 10 μL/mL. The application of these VOCs may help to enhance the effectiveness of bio-control programs and parasitoid mass-rearing techniques.
Walking Speed: Japanese Data in Chronic Liver Diseases
Authors: Nishikawa Hiroki , Enomoto Hirayuki , Yoh Kazunori , Iwata Yoshinori , Sakai Yoshiyuki , Kishino Kyohei , Ikeda Naoto , Takashima Tomoyuki , Aizawa Nobuhiro , Takata Ryo , Hasegawa Kunihiro , Ishii Noriko , Yuri Yukihisa , Nishimura Takashi , Iijima Hiroko , Nishiguchi Shuhei
Published: January 2020

We aim to clarify the impact of walking speed (WS) and analyze factors linked to WS decline in patients with chronic liver diseases (CLDs, 165 males and 191 females, 137 liver cirrhosis patients). The WS decline is defined as <0.8 m/second (m/s), referring to the guidelines. The median (range) WS was 1.3 m/s (0.2–2.02 m/s). There were 17 patients with WS < 0.8 m/s (4.8%). The WS value was significantly correlated with the handgrip strength value both in males (r2 = 0.252, p < 0.0001) and females (r2 = 0.256, p < 0.0001). In the multivariate analysis of factors associated with WS decline, only the extracellular water (ECW) to total body water (TBW) ratio using bioimpedance analysis was an independent predictor (p = 0.0398). Extracellular fluid excess was categorized as follows: normal condition (ECW to TBW ratio < 0.390), mild overhydrated condition (ECW to TBW ratio 0.390–0.399), and moderate to severe overhydrated condition (ECW to TBW ratio ≥ 0.400). The WS value was well stratified according to the ECW to TBW ratio (normal vs. mild, p = 0.0001; mild vs. moderate to severe, p < 0.0001; normal vs. moderate to severe, p < 0.0001; overall p-value < 0.0001). In conclusion, the ECW to TBW ratio can be closely linked to WS decline in CLD patients.
Ablation Behavior of a Carbon Fabric Reinforced Phenolic Composite Modified by Surface-Decorated ZrB2/SiC
Authors: Xu Feng , Zhu Shizhen , Hu Jingdan , Ma Zhuang , Liu Yanbo
Published: January 2020

Carbon fabric reinforced phenolic composites were widely used as TPSs (thermal protection system) material in the aerospace industry. However, their limited oxidative ablation resistance restricted their further utility in more serious service conditions. In this study, the surface-decorated ZrB2/SiC and its modified carbon fabric reinforced phenolic composites have been successfully prepared. The self-modification mechanism of the surface-decorated ZrB2/SiC particles were characterized. The mechanical performance and ablation behavior of the composites were investigated. Results showed that the ZrB2/SiC particles possessed a good surface-decorated effect, which achieved good compatibility with the phenolic resin. The mechanical performance of the modified phenolic composite was effectively improved. The anti-oxidative ablation performance of the composite was improved. The mass ablation rate of the surface-decorated ZrB2–SiC-modified carbon fabric reinforced phenolic composites was 25% lower than that of the unmodified composites. The formed ZrO2 ceramic layer attached to the surface of the residual chars prevented the heat energy and oxygen from the inner material. Meanwhile, the volatilization of SiO2 and B2O3 effectively increased the heat dissipation. All these results confirmed that the ZrB2–SiC particles can effectively improve the ablation resistance of the composite, which provided a basis for the application of the composites to more serious service environments.
On Completeness of Sliced Spaces under the Alexandrov Topology
Authors: Kurt Nazli , Papadopoulos Kyriakos
Published: January 2020

We show that in a sliced spacetime ( V , g ) , global hyperbolicity in V is equivalent to T A -completeness of a slice, if and only if the product topology T P , on V, is equivalent to T A , where T A denotes the usual spacetime Alexandrov “interval” topology.
Monitoring the Interfacial Polymerization of Piperazine and Trimesoyl Chloride with Hydrophilic Interlayer or Macromolecular Additive by In Situ FT-IR Spectroscopy
Authors: Yang Xi
Published: January 2020

The interfacial polymerization (IP) of piperazine (PIP) and trimesoyl chloride (TMC) has been extensively utilized to synthesize nanofiltration (NF) membranes. However, it is still a huge challenge to monitor the IP reaction, because of the fast reaction rate and the formed ultra-thin film. Herein, two effective strategies were applied to reduce the IP reaction rate: (1) the introduction of hydrophilic interlayers between the porous substrate and the formed polyamide layer, and (2) the addition of macromolecular additives in the aqueous solution of PIP. As a result, in situ Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was firstly used to monitor the IP reaction of PIP/TMC with hydrophilic interlayers or macromolecular additives in the aqueous solution of PIP. Moreover, the formed polyamide layer growth on the substrate was studied in a real-time manner. The in situ FT-IR experimental results confirmed that the IP reaction rates were effectively suppressed and that the formed polyamide thickness was reduced from 138 ± 24 nm to 46 ± 2 nm according to TEM observation. Furthermore, an optimized NF membrane with excellent performance was consequently obtained, which included boosted water permeation of about 141–238 (L/m2·h·MPa) and superior salt rejection of Na2SO4 > 98.4%.
Effect of Direct Energy Deposition Process Parameters on Single-Track Deposits of Alloy 718
Authors: Sreekanth Suhas , Ghassemali Ehsan , Hurtig Kjell , Joshi Shrikant , Andersson Joel
Published: January 2020

The effect of three important process parameters, namely laser power, scanning speed and laser stand-off distance on the deposit geometry, microstructure and segregation characteristics in direct energy deposited alloy 718 specimens has been studied. Laser power and laser stand-off distance were found to notably affect the width and depth of the deposit, while the scanning speed influenced the deposit height. An increase in specific energy conditions (between 0.5 J/mm2 and 1.0 J/mm2) increased the total area of deposit yielding varied grain morphologies and precipitation behaviors which were comprehensively analyzed. A deposit comprising three distinct zones, namely the top, middle and bottom regions, categorized based on the distinct microstructural features formed on account of variation in local solidification conditions. Nb-rich eutectics preferentially segregated in the top region of the deposit (5.4–9.6% area fraction, Af) which predominantly consisted of an equiaxed grain structure, as compared to the middle (1.5–5.7% Af) and the bottom regions (2.6–4.5% Af), where columnar dendritic morphology was observed. High scan speed was more effective in reducing the area fraction of Nb-rich phases in the top and middle regions of the deposit. The <100> crystallographic direction was observed to be the preferred growth direction of columnar grains while equiaxed grains had a random orientation.
Yeast Diversity Associated with the Phylloplane of Corn Plants Cultivated in Thailand
Authors: Into Parichat , Pontes Ana , Sampaio José Paulo , Limtong Savitree
Published: January 2020

The ecology and diversity of phylloplane yeasts is less well understood in tropical regions than in temperate ones. Therefore, we investigated the yeast diversity associated with the phylloplane of corn, an economically important crop in Thailand, by a culture-dependent method. Thirty-six leaf samples were collected and 217 yeast strains were isolated by plating leaf-washings. The strains were grouped by PCR-fingerprinting and representative strains were identified by analysis of the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit rRNA gene. In total, 212 strains were identified within 10 species in the Ascomycota and 32 species in the Basidiomycota. Five strains represented potential new species in the Basidiomycota, one strain was recently described as Papiliotrema plantarum, and four strains belonged to the genera Vishniacozyma and Rhodotorula. A higher number of strains in the Basidiomycota (81.6%) was obtained. Hannaella sinensis was the species with the highest occurrence. Principal coordinates analysis ordinations of yeast communities revealed that there were no differences in the similarity of the sampling sites. The estimation of the expected species richness showed that the observed species richness was lower than expected. This work indicated that a majority of yeast associated with the phylloplane of corn plant belongs to the phylum Basidiomycota.
Evaluation and Predictive Modeling of Removal Condition for Bioadsorption of Indigo Blue Dye by Spirulina platensis
Authors: Robledo-Padilla Felipe , Aquines Osvaldo , Silva-Núñez Arisbe , Alemán-Nava Gibrán S. , Castillo-Zacarías Carlos , Ramirez-Mendoza Ricardo A. , Zavala-Yoe Ricardo , Iqbal Hafiz M. N. , Parra-Saldívar Roberto
Published: January 2020

Among the different chemical and physical treatments used to remove the color of the textile effluents, bioremediation offers many benefits to the environment. In this study, we determined the potential of Spirulina platensis (S. platensis) for decolorizing indigo blue dye under different incubation conditions. The microalgae were incubated at different pH (from 4 to 10) to calibrate for the optimal discoloration condition; a pH of 4 was found to be optimal. The biomass concentration in all experiments was 1 g/L, which was able to decolorize the indigo blue dye by day 3. These results showed that S. platensis is capable of removing indigo blue dye at low biomass. However, this was dependent on the treatment conditions, where temperature played the most crucial role. Two theoretical adsorption models, namely (1) a first-order model equation and (2) a second-order rate equation, were compared with observed adsorption vs. time curves for different initial concentrations (from 25 to 100 mg/L). The comparison between models showed similar accuracy and agreement with the experimental values. The observed adsorption isotherms for three temperatures (30, 40, and 50 °C) were plotted, showing fairly linear behavior in the measured range. The adsorption equilibrium isotherms were estimated, providing an initial description of the dye removal capacity of S. platensis.
First Principles Calculation of the Stability of Iron Bearing Carbonates at High Pressure Conditions
Authors: Tsuchiya Jun , Nishida Risa , Tsuchiya Taku
Published: January 2020

Carbonate minerals such as ferromagnesite (Mg,Fe)CO 3 are suggested to be a possible major deep-carbon host in the lower mantle, because ferromagnesite is possibly stabilized by Fe spin crossover under pressure. However, the behavior of Fe-bearing carbonates under lower mantle pressure conditions has not been suitably examined thus far. Thus, in this study, we investigate the high-pressure stability of ferromagnesite and possible high-pressure structures with the chemical composition of (Mg 0.833 Fe 0.167 )CO 3 via first principles calculation using internally consistent local density approximation with Hubbard parameter (LDA+U) method, which can more accurately account for the electronic state of Fe than the LDA and generalized gradient approximation (GGA) approaches. The enthalpy values obtained via our calculations suggest that (Mg 0.833 Fe 0.167 )CO 3 undergoes phase transition from the R 3 ¯ c structure (high spin) to the P 1 ¯ (high spin) at 50 GPa, and to C2/m (high-spin) structure above 80 GPa, under static 0 K conditions. Therefore, no spin transitions in these carbonate minerals is expected under the lower mantle pressure conditions.
Screening for Sulfur Compounds by Molybdenum-Catalyzed Oxidation Combined with Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Matsuo Hirotaka , Hanamure Yu , Miyano Rei , Takahashi Yōko , Ōmura Satoshi , Nakashima Takuji
Published: January 2020

The molybdenum (Mo)-catalyzed oxidation of sulfide under neutral conditions yields sulfone. This reaction proceeds more smoothly than olefin epoxidation and primary or secondary alcohol oxidation. In this study, Mo-catalyzed oxidation was used to screen for sulfur compounds (named “MoS-screening”) in microbial broths by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS). To demonstrate proof-of-concept, known sulfur microbial compounds were successfully identified from a mixture of non-sulfur microbial compounds as sulfinyl or sulfonyl products of Mo-catalyzed oxidation. Then our MoS-screening method was used to screen 300 samples of microbial broth for sulfur compounds. One of the identified compounds was a kitasetaline-containing N-acetyl cysteine moiety produced by an actinomycete strain. These results demonstrate the potential of MoS-screening in the search for new sulfur compounds from microbial sources.
Thermodynamic and Kinetic Study of Diels–Alder Reaction between Furfuryl Alcohol and N-Hydroxymaleimides—An Assessment for Materials Application
Authors: Carneiro de Oliveira Jamerson , Laborie Marie-Pierre , Roucoules Vincent
Published: January 2020

The study of Diels–Alder reactions in materials science is of increasing interest. The main reason for that is the potential thermoreversibility of the reaction. Aiming to predict the behavior of a material modified with maleimido and furyl moieties, 1H NMR and UV-Vis solution studies of the Diels–Alder reaction between furfuryl alcohol and two N-hydroxymaleimides are explored in the present study. Rate constants, activation energy, entropy, and enthalpy of formation were determined from each technique for both reacting systems. Endo and exo isomers were distinguished in 1H NMR, and the transition from a kinetic, controlled Diels–Alder reaction to a thermodynamic one could be observed in the temperature range studied. A discussion on the effect of that on the application in a material was performed. The approach selected considers a simplified equilibrium of the Diels–Alder reaction as the kinetic model, allowing materials scientists to evaluate the suitability of using the reacting molecules for the creation of thermoresponsive materials. The proposed approach determines the kinetic constants without the direct influence of the equilibrium constant value, thereby allowing a more objective data analysis. The effects of the selection of kinetic model, analytical method, and data treatment are discussed.