bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
STUDI PERENCANAAN SALURAN KABEL TEGANGAN MENENGAH PADA JARINGAN DISTRIBUSI PRIMER (STUDI KASUS PT. PLN (PERSERO) UNIT RAHA)
Authors: Saifu Amirun Bonti , Mansur Mansur , Hay Sahabuddin
Published: September 2019

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menghitung luas penampang kabel tanah yang akan digunakan dan ntuk menentukan teknik pemasangan kabel tanah pada perencanaan ini. Jenis penelitian ini adalah penelitian dengan Metode Survey yang bertujuan untuk meninjau lokasi penelitian guna menentukan rute yang akan dilalui saluran kabel tegangan menengah. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian dan hasil perhitungan menentukan luas penampang penghantar yang akan digunakan, maka pada perencanaan ini kabel yang akan digunakan adalah untuk Feeder Kota menggunakan kabel NYFGbY 3 x 70 mm2, untuk Feeder Waara menggunakan kabel NYFGbY 3 x 70 mm2, untuk Feeder Tampo menggunakan kabel NYFGbY 3 x 300 mm2, untuk Feeder Konawe menggunakan kabel NYFGbY 3 x 240 mm2 dan untuk Feeder Lawa menggunakan kabel NYFGbY 3 x 500 mm2. Teknik pemasangan kabel yang akan digunakan pada perencanaan ini yaitu tanam langsung dibawah permukaan tanah dengan kedalaman minimal 80 cm, lebar bagian atas minimal 40 cm dan bagian bawah minimal 30 cm dimana setelah kabel terpasang kemudian ditutup pasir kemudian dipadatkan dengan tanah dan setelah itu ditutup dengan batu. Untuk penyeberangan jalan, kabel dimasukan kedalam pipa PVC berdiameter 10 cm. Kata Kunci :Feeder, Jaringan Distribusi Primer, Kabel Tanah, Saluran Kabel Tegangan Menengah (SKTM) dan Kabel NYFGbY
Investigating Understandings of Antibiotics and Antimicrobial Resistance in Diverse Ethnic Communities in Australia: Findings from a Qualitative Study
Authors: Whittaker Andrea , Lohm Davina , Lemoh Chris , Cheng Allen C. , Davis Mark
Published: September 2019

This paper explores the understandings of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among ethnically diverse informants in Melbourne, Australia. A total of 31 face-to-face semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with a sample of ethnic in-patients who were admitted with an acquired antimicrobial infection in a public hospital (n = 7); five hospital interpreters; and ethnic members of the general community (n = 19) as part of a broader study of lay understandings of AMR. Thematic analysis revealed there was poor understanding of AMR, even among informants being treated for AMR infections. Causes of the increasing incidence of AMR were attributed to: weather fluctuations and climate change; a lack of environmental cleanliness; and the arrival of new migrant groups. Asian informants emphasized the need for humoral balance. Antibiotics were viewed as ‘strong’ medicines that could potentially disrupt this balance and weaken the body. Travel back to countries of origin sometimes involved the use of medical services and informants noted that some community members imported antibiotics from overseas. Most used the internet and social media to source health information. There is a lack of information in their own languages. More attention needs to be given to migrant communities who are vulnerable to the development, transmission and infection with resistant bacteria to inform future interventions.
Longitudinal Shedding Patterns and Characterization of Antibiotic Resistant E. coli in Pastured Goats Using a Cohort Study
Authors: Ndegwa Eunice , Almehmadi Hanin , Chyer Kim , Kaseloo Paul , Ako Ankrah A.
Published: September 2019

There is a scarcity of information on antibiotic resistance in goats. To understand shedding of resistant Escherichia coli in pastured goats, we collected fecal samples from a mixed age cohort over a one-year period. No antibiotic had been used on the study animals one year prior to and during the study period. Resistant isolates were detected in all age groups and prevalence in goat kids was significantly higher than adults; 43–48% vs. 8–25% respectively. The proportion of resistant isolates was higher when animals were congregated near handling facility than on pasture. Most isolates were resistant to tetracycline (51%) and streptomycin (30%), but also to antibiotics that had never been used on the farm; ampicillin (19%). TetB, bla-TEM, (aadA and strpA/strpB) genes were detected in 70%, 43%, (44% and 24%) of tetracycline, ampicillin, and streptomycin resistant isolates respectively. Resistant isolates also harbored virulent genes and some belonged to D and B2 phylogenetic groups. Thus, pastured goats, despite minimal exposure to antibiotics, are reservoirs of resistant E. coli that may contaminate the environment and food chain and spread resistant genes to pathogenic bacteria and some that are potential animal and human pathogens. Environmental sources may play a role in acquisition of resistant bacteria in pastured goats.
An Experimental Study on the Reduction Behavior of Dust Generated from Electric Arc Furnace
Authors: Zhang Mengxu , Li Jianli , Zeng Qiang , Mou Qiqiang
Published: September 2019

To improve the utilization value of electric arc furnace dust (EAFD) containing zinc, the reduction behavior of non-agglomerate dust was investigated with carbon and ferrosilicon in an induction furnace. The experimental results show that when the temperature increases, the zinc evaporation rate increases. When the reducing agent is carbon, zinc evaporation mainly occurs in the range of 900–1100 °C. When the reducing agent is ferrosilicon, zinc begins to evaporate at 800 °C, but the zinc evaporation rate is 90.47% at 1200 °C and lower than 99.80% with carbon used as a reducing agent at 1200 °C. For the carbon reduction, the iron metallization rate increases with a rise in the temperature. When the reducing agent is ferrosilicon, with an increase in temperature, the metallization rate first increases, then decreases, and finally, increases, which is mainly due to the reaction between the metallic iron and ZnO. In addition, the residual zinc in the EAFD is mainly dispersed in the form of a spinel solution near the metallic phase.
A Fracture Mechanics-Based Optimal Fatigue Design Method of Under-Matched HSLA Steel Butt-Welded Joints with Imperfections
Authors: Wen Xue , Wang Ping , Dong Zhibo , Fang Hongyuan
Published: September 2019

The trend of light-weight structures leads to the wide application of high strength steels in engineering structures. When welding high strength steels, under-matched consumables could reduce the cold-cracking tendency, simplifying the preheating process. However, under-matched welds would sometimes make the high strength base metal pointless due to its weak load-carrying capacity. For the purpose of enhancing the fatigue strength of under-matched welded joints, a fracture mechanics-based optimal fatigue design method of under-matched butt-welded joints is proposed in this work. Heterogeneous mechanical features of welded joints, which are not considered in current standards and codes, are incorporated into the optimal design method. The fatigue limit of the high strength parent metal is taken as the design target, which has seldom been reported. HSLA steel Q550, with its under-matched consumable ER70S-6 composed X-shaped butt-welds, is selected for experimental verification. The experimental results indicate that the fracture mechanic based equal-fatigue-bearing-capacity (EFBC) design method established in this work is feasible and could be a valuable reference for the design of practical engineering structures.
Radiation-Induced Thyroid Cancers: Overview of Molecular Signatures
Authors: Suzuki Keiji , Saenko Vladimir , Yamashita Shunichi , Mitsutake Norisato
Published: September 2019

Enormous amounts of childhood thyroid cancers, mostly childhood papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTCs), after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident have revealed a mutual relationship between the radiation exposure and thyroid cancer development. While the internal exposure to radioactive 131I is involved in the childhood thyroid cancers after the Chernobyl accident, people exposed to the external radiation, such as atomic-bomb (A-bomb) survivors, and the patients who received radiation therapy, have also been epidemiologically demonstrated to develop thyroid cancers. In order to elucidate the mechanisms of radiation-induced carcinogenesis, studies have aimed at defining the molecular changes associated with the thyroid cancer development. Here, we overview the literatures towards the identification of oncogenic alterations, particularly gene rearrangements, and discuss the existence of radiation signatures associated with radiation-induced thyroid cancers.
Influence of the Type of Diet on the Incidence of Pathogenic Factors and Antibiotic Resistance in Enterococci Isolated from Faeces in Mice
Authors: Sánchez Beatriz , Cobo Antonio , Hidalgo Marina , Martínez-Rodríguez Ana M. , Prieto Isabel , Gálvez Antonio , Martínez-Cañamero Magdalena
Published: September 2019

A comparative study on potential risks was carried out in a collection of 50 enterococci isolated from faeces of mice fed a standard or a high-fat diet enriched with extra virgin olive oil, refined olive oil or butter, at the beginning, after six weeks and after twelve weeks of experiments. Strains were biochemically assessed and genetically characterized. E. faecalis and E. casseliflavus were the most frequently isolated species in any diet and time points. Apart from the fact of not having isolated any strain from the virgin olive oil group during the last balance, we found statistically significant differences p < 0 . 05 among the diets in the percentage of antibiotic resistance and in the presence of the enterococcal surface protein gene (esp), as well as a tendency p < 0 . 1 for the presence of the tyrosine decarboxylase gene (tdc) to increase over time in the group of isolates from the standard diet. When the resistance of the strains to virgin or refined olive oil was studied, only the group of enterococci from high fat diets showed a significantly higher percentage of resistance to refined olive oil p < 0 . 05 , while both types of oil equally inhibited those isolated from the standard diet p > 0 . 05 .
Quercetin Enhances the Anti-Tumor Effects of BET Inhibitors by Suppressing hnRNPA1
Authors: Pham Thao N.D. , Stempel Sophie , Shields Mario A. , Spaulding Christina , Kumar Krishan , Bentrem David J. , Matsangou Maria , Munshi Hidayatullah G.
Published: September 2019

Bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) proteins, which are important epigenetic readers, are often dysregulated in cancer. While a number of BET inhibitors are currently in early phase clinical trials, BET inhibitors show limited single-agent activity. The purpose of this study is to determine if Quercetin, a naturally occurring polyphenolic flavonoid often found abundant in fruits and vegetables, can enhance the anti-tumor effects of BET inhibitors. The efficacy of the combination was evaluated in vitro and in a xenograft model of pancreatic cancer. Co-treatment with BET inhibitors and Quercetin promoted apoptosis, decreased sphere-forming ability by cancer cells, and decreased cell proliferation. We found that hnRNPA1, a nuclear protein known to control mRNA export and mRNA translation of anti-apoptotic proteins, mediates some anti-tumor effects by Quercetin. Additionally, we show that combining BET inhibitors with Quercetin or hnRNPA1 knockdown decreased the anti-apoptotic protein Survivin. Significantly, Quercetin decreased hnRNPA1 in vivo and enhanced the effects of BET inhibitors at suppressing tumor growth. Together, these results demonstrate that Quercetin enhances the efficacy of BET inhibitors by suppressing hnRNPA1, and identify combination therapy with Quercetin and BET inhibitors for the treatment of cancer patients.
The Mechanisms Involved in Morphine Addiction: An Overview
Authors: Listos Joanna , Łupina Małgorzata , Talarek Sylwia , Mazur Antonina , Orzelska-Górka Jolanta , Kotlińska Jolanta
Published: September 2019

Opioid use disorder is classified as a chronic recurrent disease of the central nervous system (CNS) which leads to personality disorders, co-morbidities and premature death. It develops as a result of long-term administration of various abused substances, along with morphine. The pharmacological action of morphine is associated with its stimulation of opioid receptors. Opioid receptors are a group of G protein-coupled receptors and activation of these receptors by ligands induces significant molecular changes inside the cell, such as an inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity, activation of potassium channels and reductions of calcium conductance. Recent data indicate that other signalling pathways also may be involved in morphine activity. Among these are phospholipase C, mitogen-activated kinases (MAP kinases) or β-arrestin. The present review focuses on major mechanisms which currently are considered as essential in morphine activity and dependence and may be important for further studies.
Severe Eosinophilic Asthma
Authors: Bakakos Agamemnon , Loukides Stelios , Bakakos Petros
Published: September 2019

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease with varying severity. Severe asthma is a subject of constant research because it greatly affects patients’ quality of life, and patients with severe asthma experience symptoms, exacerbations, and medication side effects. Eosinophils, although at first considered insignificant, were later specifically associated with features of the ongoing inflammatory process in asthma, particularly in the severe case. In this review, we discuss new insights into the pathogenesis of severe asthma related to eosinophilic inflammation and the pivotal role of cytokines in a spectrum that is usually referred to as “T2-high inflammation” that accounts for almost half of patients with severe asthma. Recent literature is summarized as to the role of eosinophils in asthmatic inflammation, airway remodeling, and airway hypersensitivity. Major advances in the management of severe asthma occurred the past few years due to the new targeted biological therapies. Novel biologics that are already widely used in severe eosinophilic asthma are discussed, focusing on the choice of the right treatment for the right patient. These monoclonal antibodies primarily led to a significant reduction of asthma exacerbations, as well as improvement of lung function and patient quality of life.
Sexual Health in Menopause
Authors: Scavello Irene , Maseroli Elisa , Di Stasi Vincenza , Vignozzi Linda
Published: September 2019

Sexual function worsens with advancing menopause status. The most frequently reported symptoms include low sexual desire (40–55%), poor lubrication (25–30%) and dyspareunia (12–45%), one of the complications of genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM). Declining levels of sex steroids (estrogens and androgens) play a major role in the impairment of sexual response; however, psychological and relational changes related with aging and an increase in metabolic and cardiovascular comorbidities should also be taken into account. Although first-line therapeutic strategies for menopause-related sexual dysfunction aim at addressing modifiable factors, many hormonal and non-hormonal, local and systemic treatment options are currently available. Treatment should be individualized, taking into account the severity of symptoms, potential adverse effects and personal preferences.
Effective Hydrogenation of 3-(2”-furyl)- and 3-(2”-thienyl)-1-(2’-hydroxyphenyl)-prop-2-en-1-one in Selected Yeast Cultures
Authors: Łużny Mateusz , Krzywda Martyna , Kozłowska Ewa , Kostrzewa-Susłow Edyta , Janeczko Tomasz
Published: September 2019

Biotransformations were performed on eight selected yeast strains, all of which were able to selectively hydrogenate the chalcone derivatives 3-(2”-furyl)- (1) and 3-(2”-thienyl)-1-(2’-hydroxyphenyl)-prop-2-en-1-one (3) into 3-(2”-furyl)- (2) and 3-(2”-thienyl)-1-(2’-hydroxyphenyl)-propan-1-one (4) respectively. The highest efficiency of hydrogenation of the double bond in the substrate 1 was observed in the cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae KCh 464 and Yarrowia lipolytica KCh 71 strains. The substrate was converted into the product with > 99% conversion just in six hours after biotransformation started. The compound containing the sulfur atom in its structure was most effectively transformed by the Yarrowia lipolytica KCh 71 culture strain (conversion > 99%, obtained after three hours of substrate incubation). Also, we observed that, different strains of tested yeasts are able to carry out the bioreduction of the used substrate with different yields, depending on the presence of induced and constitutive ene reductases in their cells. The biggest advantage of this process is the efficient production of one product, practically without the formation of side products.
Nutritional Potential and Toxicological Evaluation of Tetraselmis sp. CTP4 Microalgal Biomass Produced in Industrial Photobioreactors
Authors: Pereira Hugo , Silva Joana , Santos Tamára , Gangadhar Katkam N. , Raposo Ana , Nunes Cláudia , Coimbra Manuel A. , Gouveia Luísa , Barreira Luísa , Varela João
Published: September 2019

Commercial production of microalgal biomass for food and feed is a recent worldwide trend. Although it is common to publish nutritional data for microalgae grown at the lab-scale, data about industrial strains cultivated in an industrial setting are scarce in the literature. Thus, here we present the nutritional composition and a microbiological and toxicological evaluation of Tetraselmis sp. CTP4 biomass, cultivated in 100-m3 photobioreactors at an industrial production facility (AlgaFarm). This microalga contained high amounts of protein (31.2 g/100 g), dietary fibres (24.6 g/100 g), digestible carbohydrates (18.1 g/100 g) and ashes (15.2 g/100 g), but low lipid content (7.04 g/100 g). The biomass displayed a balanced amount of essential amino acids, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, and starch-like polysaccharides. Significant levels of chlorophyll (3.5 g/100 g), carotenoids (0.61 g/100 g), and vitamins (e.g., 79.2 mg ascorbic acid /100 g) were also found in the biomass. Conversely, pathogenic bacteria, heavy metals, cyanotoxins, mycotoxins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and pesticides were absent. The biomass showed moderate antioxidant activity in several in vitro assays. Taken together, as the biomass produced has a balanced biochemical composition of macronutrients and (pro-)vitamins, lacking any toxic contaminants, these results suggest that this strain can be used for nutritional applications.
A Horizontal-Gate Monolayer MoS2 Transistor Based on Image Force Barrier Reduction
Authors: Yang Kun , Liu Hongxia , Wang Shulong , Li Wei , Han Tao
Published: September 2019

Transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have received wide attention as a new generation of semiconductor materials. However, there are still many problems to be solved, such as low carrier mobility, contact characteristics between metal and two-dimensional materials, and complicated fabrication processes. In order to overcome these problems, a large amount of research has been carried out so that the performance of the device has been greatly improved. However, most of these studies are based on complicated fabrication processes which are not conducive to the improvement of integration. In view of this problem, a horizontal-gate monolayer MoS2 transistor based on image force barrier reduction is proposed, in which the gate is in the same plane as the source and drain and comparable to back-gated transistors on-off ratios up to 1 × 104 have been obtained. Subsequently, by combining the Y-Function method (YFM) and the proposed diode equivalent model, it is verified that Schottky barrier height reduction is the main reason giving rise to the observed source-drain current variations. The proposed structure of the device not only provides a new idea for the high integration of two-dimensional devices, but also provides some help for the study of contact characteristics between two-dimensional materials and metals.
Whey Protein Supplementation Compared to Collagen Increases Blood Nesfatin Concentrations and Decreases Android Fat in Overweight Women: A Randomized Double-Blind Study
Authors: Giglio Bruna M. , Schincaglia Raquel M. , da Silva Alexandre S. , Fazani Ieda C. S. , Monteiro Paula A. , Mota João F. , Cunha Juliana P. , Pichard Claude , Pimentel Gustavo D.
Published: September 2019

Protein supplements are usually used to control body weight, however, the impact of protein quality on body fat attenuation is unknown. We investigated the effects of isocaloric isoproteic supplementation of either whey protein (WG) or hydrolysed collagen supplementation (CG) on dietary intake, adiposity and biochemical markers in overweight women. Methods: In this randomized double-blind study, 37 women, [mean ± SE, age 40.6 ± 1.7 year; BMI (kg/m2) 30.9 ± 0.6], consumed sachets containing 40 g/day of concentrated whey protein (25 g total protein, 2.4 leucine, 1.0 valine, 1.5 isoleucine, n = 17) or 38 g/day of hydrolysed collagen (26 g total protein, 1.02 leucine, 0.91 valine, 0.53 isoleucine, n = 20) in the afternoon snack. The compliance was set at >70% of the total theoretical doses. The dietary intake was evaluated by a 6-day food record questionnaire. At the beginning and after eight weeks of follow-up, body composition was evaluated by using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and lipid profile, insulin resistance, C-reactive protein, adiponectin, leptin and nesfastin plasma concentrations were analyzed. Results: Supplements were isocaloric and isoproteic. There were no differences in caloric intake (p = 0.103), protein (p = 0.085), carbohydrate (p = 0.797) and lipids (p = 0.109) intakes. The branched chain amino acids (BCAA) (GC: 1.8 ± 0.1 g vs. WG: 5.5 ± 0.3 g, p < 0.001) and leucine intake (CG: 0.1 ± 0.1 g vs. WG: 2.6 ± 0.1 g, p < 0.001) were higher in WG compared to CG. BMI increased in the CG (0.2 ± 1.1 kg/m2, p = 0.044) but did not change in WG. WG decreased the android fat (−0.1 ± 0.3 kg, p = 0.031) and increased nesfatin concentrations (4.9 ± 3.2 ng/mL, p = 0.014) compared to CG. Conclusions: Whey protein supplementation in overweight women increased nesfatin concentrations and could promote increase of resting metabolic rate as part of body composition improvement programs compared to collagen supplementation for 8 weeks. Additionally, our findings suggest that collagen may not be an effective supplement for overweight women who are attempting to alter body composition.
Nanosystems as Vehicles for the Delivery of Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs)
Authors: Martin-Serrano Ángela , Gómez Rafael , Ortega Paula , de la Mata F. Javier
Published: September 2019

Recently, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), also called host defence peptides (HDPs), are attracting great interest, as they are a highly viable alternative in the search of new approaches to the resistance presented by bacteria against antibiotics in infectious diseases. However, due to their nature, they present a series of disadvantages such as low bioavailability, easy degradability by proteases, or low solubility, among others, which limits their use as antimicrobial agents. For all these reasons, the use of vehicles for the delivery of AMPs, such as polymers, nanoparticles, micelles, carbon nanotubes, dendrimers, and other types of systems, allows the use of AMPs as a real alternative to treatment with antibiotics.
Combination of Proton Therapy and Radionuclide Therapy in Mice: Preclinical Pilot Study at the Paul Scherrer Institute
Authors: Müller Cristina , De Prado Leal Maria , Dominietto Marco D. , Umbricht Christoph A. , Safai Sairos , Perrin Rosalind L. , Egloff Martina , Bernhardt Peter , van der Meulen Nicholas P. , Weber Damien C. , Schibli Roger , Lomax Antony J.
Published: September 2019

Proton therapy (PT) is a treatment with high dose conformality that delivers a highly-focused radiation dose to solid tumors. Targeted radionuclide therapy (TRT), on the other hand, is a systemic radiation therapy, which makes use of intravenously-applied radioconjugates. In this project, it was aimed to perform an initial dose-searching study for the combination of these treatment modalities in a preclinical setting. Therapy studies were performed with xenograft mouse models of folate receptor (FR)-positive KB and prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA)-positive PC-3 PIP tumors, respectively. PT and TRT using 177Lu-folate and 177Lu-PSMA-617, respectively, were applied either as single treatments or in combination. Monitoring of the mice over nine weeks revealed a similar tumor growth delay after PT and TRT, respectively, when equal tumor doses were delivered either by protons or by β¯-particles, respectively. Combining the methodologies to provide half-dose by either therapy approach resulted in equal (PC-3 PIP tumor model) or even slightly better therapy outcomes (KB tumor model). In separate experiments, preclinical positron emission tomography (PET) was performed to investigate tissue activation after proton irradiation of the tumor. The high-precision radiation delivery of PT was confirmed by the resulting PET images that accurately visualized the irradiated tumor tissue. In this study, the combination of PT and TRT resulted in an additive effect or a trend of synergistic effects, depending on the type of tumor xenograft. This study laid the foundation for future research regarding therapy options in the situation of metastasized solid tumors, where surgery or PT alone are not a solution but may profit from combination with systemic radiation therapy.
Systematic Meta-Analysis Identifies Co-Expressed Kinases and GPCRs in Ovarian Cancer Tissues Revealing a Potential for Targeted Kinase Inhibitor Delivery
Authors: Albrecht Hugo , Kübler Eric
Published: September 2019

The use of many anticancer drugs is problematic due to severe adverse effects. While the recent clinical launch of several kinase inhibitors led to tremendous progress, these targeted agents tend to be of non-specific nature within the kinase target class. Moreover, target mediated adverse effects limit the exploitation of some very promising kinase targets, including mitotic kinases. A future strategy will be the development of nanocarrier-based systems for the active delivery of kinase inhibitors using cancer specific surface receptors. The G-protein-coupled-receptors (GPCRs) represent the largest cell surface receptor family and some members are known to be frequently overexpressed in various cancer types. In the presented study, we used ovarian cancer tissues as an example to systematically identify concurrently overexpressed GPCRs and kinases. The rationale of this approach will guide the future design of nanoparticles, which will dock to GPCRs on cancer cells via specific ligands and deliver anticancer compounds after receptor mediated internalization. In addition to this, the approach is expected to be most effective by matching the inhibitor profiles of the delivered kinase inhibitors to the observed kinase gene expression profiles. We validated the suggested strategy in a meta-analysis, revealing overexpression of selected GPCRs and kinases in individual samples of a large ovarian cancer data set. The presented data demonstrate a large untapped potential for personalized cancer therapy using high-end targeted nanopharmaceuticals with kinase inhibitors.
A New Strategy for the Synthesis of Fluorinated Polyurethane
Authors: Wang Pu-Cheng , Lu Dan , Wang Hu , Bai Ru-Ke
Published: September 2019

An alternating fluorinated copolymer based on chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE) and butyl vinyl ether (BVE) was synthesized by RAFT/MADIX living/controlled polymerization in the presence of S-benzyl O-ethyl dithiocarbonate (BEDTC). Then, using the obtained poly(CTFE-alt-BVE) as a macro chain transfer agent (macro-CTA), a block copolymer was prepared by chain extension polymerization of vinyl acetate (VAc). After a basic methanolysis process, the poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc) block was transferred into poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA). Finally, a novel fluorinated polyurethane with good surface properties due to the mobility of the flexible fluorinated polymer chains linked to the network was obtained via reaction of the copolymer bearing the blocks of PVA with isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) as a cross-linking agent.
Past as Prophecy: Indigenous Diplomacies beyond Liberal Settler Regimes of Recognition, as Told in Shell
Authors: Bloch Lee
Published: September 2019

According to a prophecy told in a small, Muskogee-identified community in the US South, the seeds of Indigenous ways of knowing and relating to more-than-human kin will once again flourish in the ruins of colonial orders. Even settlers will be forced to turn to Indigenous knowledges because “they have destroyed everything else”. Following this visionary history-future, this article asks how Indigenous diplomacies and temporalities animate resurgent possibilities for making life within the fractures (and apocalyptic ruins) of settler states. This demands a rethinking of the global and the international from the perspective of deep Indigenous histories. I draw on research visiting ancestral landscapes with community members, discussing a trip to an ancient shell mound and a contemporary cemetery in which shells are laid atop grave plots. These stories evoke a long-term history of shifting and multivalient shell use across religious and temporal differences. They speak to practices of acknowledgement that exceed liberal settler regimes of state recognition and extend from much older diplomatic practices.
Remote Sensing of Ice Phenology and Dynamics of Europe’s Largest Coastal Lagoon (The Curonian Lagoon)
Authors: Idzelytė Rasa , Kozlov Igor E. , Umgiesser Georg
Published: September 2019

A first-ever spatially detailed record of ice cover conditions in the Curonian Lagoon (CL), Europe’s largest coastal lagoon located in the southeastern Baltic Sea, is presented. The multi-mission synthetic aperture radar (SAR) measurements acquired in 2002–2017 by Envisat ASAR, RADARSAT-2, Sentinel-1 A/B, and supplemented by the cloud-free moderate imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) data, are used to document the ice cover properties in the CL. As shown, satellite observations reveal a better performance over in situ records in defining the key stages of ice formation and decay in the CL. Using advantages of both data sources, an updated ice season duration (ISD) record is obtained to adequately describe the ice cover season in the CL. High-resolution ISD maps provide important spatial details of ice growth and decay in the CL. As found, ice cover resides longest in the south-eastern CL and along the eastern coast, including the Nemunas Delta, while the shortest ice season is observed in the northern CL. During the melting season, the ice melt pattern is clearly shaped by the direction of prevailing winds, and ice drift velocities obtained from a limited number of observations range within 0.03–0.14 m/s. The pronounced shortening of the ice season duration in the CL is observed at a rate of 1.6–2.3 days year‒1 during 2002–2017, which is much higher than reported for the nearby Baltic Sea regions. While the timing of the freeze onset and full freezing has not changed much, the dates of the final melt onset and last observation of ice have a clear decreasing pattern toward an earlier ice break-up and complete melt-off due to an increase of air temperature strongly linked to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Notably, the correlation between the ISD, air temperature, and winter NAO index is substantially higher when considering the lagoon-averaged ISD values derived from satellite observations compared to those derived from coastal records. The latter clearly demonstrated the richness of the satellite observations that should definitely be exploited in regional ice monitoring programs.
Measuring and Predicting Urban Expansion in the Angkor Region of Cambodia
Authors: Liu Jie , Ren Hongge , Wang Xinyuan , Shirazi Zeeshan , Quan Bin
Published: September 2019

Recent increases in urbanization and tourism threaten the viability of UNESCO world heritage sites across the globe. The Angkor world heritage site located in southern Cambodia is now facing such a challenge. Over the past two decades, Angkor has seen over 300,000% growth in international tourist arrivals, which has led to uncontrolled development of the nearby city of Siem Reap. This study uses remote sensing and GIS to comprehend the process of urban expansion during the past 14 years, and has applied the CA-Markov model to predict future urban expansion. This paper analyzes the urban pressure on the Angkor site at different scales. The results reveal that the urban area of Siem Reap city increased from 28.23 km2 in 2004 to 73.56 km2 in 2017, an increase of 160%. Urban growth mainly represented a transit-oriented pattern of expansion, and it was also observed that land surfaces, such as arable land, forests, and grasslands, were transformed into urban residential land. The total constructed land area in the core and buffer zones increased by 12.99 km2 from 2004 to 2017, and 72% of the total increase was in the buffer zone. It is predicted that the built-up area in Siem Reap is expected to cover 135.09 km2 by 2025 and 159.14 km2 by 2030. The number of monuments that are most likely be affected by urban expansion is expected to increase from 9 in 2017 to 14 in 2025 and 17 in 2030. The urban area in Siem Reap has increased dramatically over the past decade and monuments continue to be decimated by urban expansion. This paper urges closer attention and urgent actions to minimize the urban pressure on the Angkor site in the future.
An Improved Indicator System for Evaluating the Progress of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Sub-Target 9.1 in County Level
Authors: Xu Jiacheng , Bai Jianjun , Chen Jun
Published: September 2019

In order to assess the progress of the SDG sub-target 9.1 at the county level, the SDG indicator 9.1.1 (rural access index) and 9.1.2 (passenger and freight volumes) were implemented in Deqing County, China to explore the fitness-for-purpose of these indicators for county level evaluations. It is found that the country-oriented indicator system has some localization problems and cannot fully reflect the connotation of the SDG sub-target 9.1 when used in the county level. An improved indicator system was built by modifying the SDG indicator 9.1.1 and adding three more indicators (namely the road density, accessibility, and total postal business). The analysis of the calculation process and results showed that the improved indicator system can solve the problems arising from the original SDG indicator when applied in the county level. The modified resident access index can eliminate the dependence of the original indicator 9.1.1 calculations on urban-rural boundary data, and takes into account the urban vulnerable groups such as urban villages residents. While the road density and accessibility can be used to measure the quantity, quality, and connectivity of the road and the reality of the residents to obtain the road, which enables the indicators to reflect the necessary details of the level of the transportation infrastructure construction. The total postal business can help the SDG indicator 9.1.2 reflect the relationship between the transportation infrastructure construction and the development of the economic and people’s livelihood.
Influence of Lignocellulosic Waste Pre-Treatment on the Characteristics of Bond Rupture
Authors: Hýsek Štěpán , Čermák Jaroslav , Lexa Martin
Published: September 2019

Post-harvest crop residues are an interesting raw material for the production of composite materials. However, their surface often contains waxy and siliceous substances, which can cause adhesion problems. Therefore, various surface pre-treatment methods have been developed to increase the surface tension of these particles and hence to improve adhesive adhesion. The influence of hydrothermal, chemical, plasma and enzymatic treatment was investigated. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the effect of pre-treatments of post-harvest crop residues on the nature of joint failure and adhesive dispersion on the particles. The evaluation is based on microscopic analysis of particles obtained from the rupture area after internal bonding tests. The nature of bond failure and adhesive dispersion on the particle surface is evaluated. The results show a clear influence of material pre-treatment on the failure bond of the bond and, to a large extent, correlate with the mechanical properties of composites published in previous studies. The most suitable treatment appears to be a plasma treatment at a properly adjusted intensity. Conversely, the unsuitable treatment was alkaline, which, although it increased adhesion, deteriorated the overall mechanical properties. Hydrothermal treatment could be also considered as an industrially suitable method.
Chemicals Denial—A Challenge to Science and Policy
Authors: Karlsson Mikael
Published: September 2019

Much research shows that science denial regarding climate change is widespread and problematic for science and scientists, as well as for policy-makers. Climate denial delays goal achievement. As shown in this article, science denial commonly occurs also in the field of chemicals assessment and policy, but the research on the topic is scarce. The peer-reviewed studies that exist mostly concern a limited number of specific cases, such as DDT, CFCs and endocrine disrupting chemicals. The characteristics of ‘chemicals denial’ show similarity with those of climate denial, including reliance on fake experts, cherry-picked facts and attacks on scientists, with a key aspect being the questioning of causal relationships. Considering the gaps between chemicals policy goals and the state of the environment, further scientific exploration in the field is needed. Developing a better coordinated research agenda and a common terminology are therefore warranted strategies. A key concept in such endeavors could be ‘chemicals denial’.
Variation in Runoff of the Arys River and Keles River Watersheds (Kazakhstan), as Influenced by Climate Variation and Human Activity
Authors: Bissenbayeva Sanim , Abuduwaili Jilili , Shokparova Dana , Saparova Asel
Published: September 2019

Runoff formation is a complex meteorological-hydrological process impacted by many factors, especially in the inland river basin. In this study, long-term (1960–2015) river runoff and climate data in the Arys and Keles River watersheds (Kazakhstan) were gathered to analyze the impacts of climate variation and human activity on runoff. The non-parametric Kendall test and the Pettitt test were used to identify trends and change points in the time data series. It was found that both watersheds had significant upward trends in temperature and potential evapotranspiration data, and insignificant upward trends in the runoff. Change points in annual runoff were identified around the year 1973. The hydrological sensitivity method was employed to evaluate the impacts of climate variation and human activity on mean annual runoff based on precipitation and potential evapotranspiration. It was found that the decline in annual runoff over both catchments can be mainly attributed to human activity, the reduction percentages due to human activities range from 59% to 99%. The results of this study can provide a reference for the development and water management of the regional water resources.
Perceived Occurrences of Soundscape Influencing Pleasantness in Urban Forests: A Comparison of Broad-Leaved and Coniferous Forests
Authors: Hong Xin-Chen , Zhu Zhi-Peng , Liu Jiang , Geng De-Hui , Wang Guang-Yu , Lan Si-Ren
Published: September 2019

Perceived occurrences of soundscape reflect cognitive responses to perceived soundscapes. This research focuses on the relationship between perceived occurrences and pleasantness of soundscape in urban forests, and models these parameters. Soundscape information was gathered at 60 observation sites in urban forests, including perceived occurrences of soundscape (POS), pleasantness of perceived soundscape in urban forests (PSUF), and equivalent continuous A-weighted sound pressure level (LAeq). Twelve trained participants were exposed to the soundscape at each site for five minutes and filled out a questionnaire about POS and PSUF. The weight-ratio of perceived occurrences of soundscape (WPOS) was obtained from the POS. Pearson’s correlation coefficients and Stevens’ power law were conducted to test the applicability of the perceived occurrences of soundscape in psychophysical models. Results show that there is an interaction between the WPOS and PSUF in urban forests, and that psychophysical models are able to assess pleasantness of perceived soundscapes in urban forests. Findings show that pleasantness trends of geophony and biophony in broad-leaved forests and those in coniferous forests are opposite when the LAeq is increasing. Furthermore, by combining the WPOS, PSUF, and LAeq, the models were able to link the PSUF of geophony, biophony, anthrophony, and total soundscape in urban forests. Overall, results revealed that perceived occurrences of soundscape play a key role in linking the pleasantness of geophony, biophony, and anthrophony in urban forests.
Impact of Open Innovation Communities on Enterprise Innovation Performance: A System Dynamics Perspective
Authors: Wu Bing , Gong Chunyu
Published: September 2019

Open innovation communities (OICs) can help enterprises make full use of external knowledge resources from users, but problems such as low user participation and low conversion rate of creative ideas impact the efficiency of OICs. Most studies on this topic employ qualitative or empirical methods from a static perspective, but ignore the effect of interaction between enterprises and users as well as the cumulative effect of time. A discussion on the dynamic evolution process of open innovation is lacking. Based on a review of the literature on OICs, innovation performance, and system dynamics, this study proposes a conceptual model of innovation performance impact, which comprises the knowledge management, governance mechanism, and user behavior subsystems. Xiaomi’s OIC in China was selected as the research object, and relevant data were collected through a web spider. According to the system dynamics modeling method, a causal relationship analysis was carried out on the three aforementioned interrelated subsystems. Then, a stock flow chart with 32 variables was constructed to determine the initial values and calculation equations for each variable. Finally, the model was constructed and verified using Vensim PLE software. The simulation results were as follows. (1) The number of product releases in the Xiaomi OIC was positively correlated with the number of posts, comments, and views. Compared with user interaction behavior (i.e., commenting and viewing), the impact of user innovation behavior (i.e., posting) on enterprise innovation performance (i.e., number of patents) is clearer. Specifically, regarding interaction behavior, the impact of the users’ commenting behavior on innovation performance (i.e., number of product releases) was relatively clearer than that of their viewing behavior. (2) Governance mechanism (i.e., R&D investment and management expense), which comprises technical and organizational mechanisms, positively affected the innovation performance of enterprises. Compared with the organizational mechanism (i.e., management expense), the impact of the technical mechanism (i.e., R&D investment) on the innovation performance was clearer. (3) Governance mechanism helped to increase the number of users in the OIC, and, in turn, affected the user innovation and interaction behavior. (4) The technical mechanism positively affected knowledge application capability, which, in turn, had a positive impact on the innovation performance of enterprises. Based on these findings, management strategies are proposed for the establishment and development of OICs.
An Adaptive Routing-Forwarding Control Scheme Based on an Intelligent Fuzzy Decision-Making System for Opportunistic Social Networks
Authors: Zhu Yian , Zhang Lin , Shi Haobin , Hwang Kao-Shing , Shi Xianchen , Luo Shuyan
Published: September 2019

Routing selection in opportunistic social networks is a complex and challenging issue due to intermittent communication connections among mobile devices and dynamic network topologies. The structural characteristics of opportunistic social networks indicate that the social attributes of mobile nodes play a significant role on data dissemination. To this end, in this paper, we propose an adaptive routing-forwarding control scheme (FPRDM) based on an intelligent fuzzy decision-making system. On the foundation of the conception of fuzzy inference logic, two techniques are used in the proposed routing algorithm. Information fusion of social characteristics of message users and node identification are implemented based on the fuzzy recognition strategy, and the fuzzy decision-making mechanism is applied to control message replication and optimize data transmission. Simulation results demonstrate that, in the best case, the proposed scheme presents an average delivery ratio of 0.8, reduces the average end-to-end delay by nearly 45% as compared with the Epidemic routing protocol, and lowers the network overhead by about 75% as compared to the Spray and Wait routing algorithm.
An Efficient Precoding Algorithm for mmWave Massive MIMO Systems
Authors: Khan Imran , Henna Shagufta , Anjum Nasreen , Sali Aduwati , Rodrigues Jonathan , Khan Yousaf , Khattak Muhammad Irfan , Altaf Farhan
Published: September 2019

Symmetrical precoding and algorithms play a vital role in the field of wireless communications and cellular networks. This paper proposed a low-complexity hybrid precoding algorithm for mmWave massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems. The traditional orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP) has a large complexity, as it requires matrix inversion and known candidate matrices. Therefore, we propose a bird swarm algorithm (BSA) based matrix-inversion bypass (MIB) OMP (BSAMIBOMP) algorithm which has the feature to quickly search the BSA global optimum value. It only directly finds the array response vector multiplied by the residual inner product, so it does not require the candidate’s matrices. Moreover, it deploys the Banachiewicz–Schur generalized inverse of the partitioned matrix to decompose the high-dimensional matrix into low-dimensional in order to avoid the need for a matrix inversion operation. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm effectively improves the bit error rate (BER), spectral efficiency (SE), complexity, and energy efficiency of the mmWave massive MIMO system as compared with the existing OMP hybrid and SDRAltMin algorithm without any matrix inversion and known candidate matrix information requirement.
Geometric and Kinematic Analyses and Novel Characteristics of Origami-Inspired Structures
Authors: Chen Yao , Yan Jiayi , Feng Jian
Published: September 2019

In recent years, origami structures have been gradually applied in aerospace, flexible electronics, biomedicine, robotics, and other fields. Origami can be folded from two-dimensional configurations into certain three-dimensional structures without cutting and stretching. This study first introduces basic concepts and applications of origami, and outlines the common crease patterns, whereas the design of crease patterns is focused. Through kinematic analysis and verification on origami structures, origami can be adapted for practical engineering. The novel characteristics of origami structures promote the development of self-folding robots, biomedical devices, and energy absorption members. We briefly describe the development of origami kinematics and the applications of origami characteristics in various fields. Finally, based on the current research progress of crease pattern design, kinematic analysis, and origami characteristics, research directions of origami-inspired structures are discussed.