bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Studi Kasus Ibu Melakukan Kunjungan Ulang Pada Balita Pneumonia Di Wilayah Kerja Puskesmas Landasan Ulin Kalimantan Selatan
Authors: Handayani Eka , Anggraeni Septi
Published: October 2019

Acute respiratory infections affect many children, both in developing countries and in developed countries. acute respiratory infections that affect death and often affect children under 5 years of age, namely pneumonia. Pneumonia is the main killer of toddlers in the world with a higher prevalence compared to AIDS, malaria and measles. Every year, it is estimated that more than 2 million children under five die from Pneumonia (1 toddler / 20 seconds) from 9 million total deaths of children under five in the world. In Indonesia, pneumonia is still a big problem considering the mortality rate from this disease is still high.. Knowing the mother's case studies do repeat visits in infants pneumonia in health center Landasan Ulin. A qualitative study through interviews and documentation to one health worker. Not all mothers bring their babies repeated visit only 30% of mothers who commit repeated visit of all children under five suffering from pneumonia. Mother toddler who do repeat visits by 35% means that more mothers who do not do repeat visits by 65% this is because there are several reasons mothers do not bring toddlers pneumonia to re-visit them her son had recovered and did not cough again, there also reasoned mothers are busy.
Becoming Deleuzian?
Authors: Perniola Mario
Published: October 2019

Mario Perniola finds more than one cause in common with Deleuze, establishing a link between some aspects of Deleuze's theories and his own education, oriental philosophy, the situationists, but mostly Surrealism and Stoicism, two philosophical attitudes sharing the awareness that the threshold between actuality and virtuality is shifting and in constant transformation. The core element of the essay is notably the notion of becoming, to be taken strictly in relation to the notions of assemblage and plane of consistency. Together they account for one and the same moment, a disposition of elements, which is not stable but in constant movement.
Postharvest Treatment of Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val Adults with Commercial Biopesticides
Authors: Mantzoukas Spiridon , Lagogiannis Ioannis , Pettas Ioannis , Korbou Georgia , Magita Alexandra , Papadopoulou Athanasia , Trianti Maria , Eliopoulos Panagiotis A. , Karanastasi Eirini
Published: October 2019

Within the context of the harmful side-effects of chemical pest control applications, the present study investigated the insecticidal effect of three commercial biopesticides, the fungal Metab (Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae) and Lecan (Lecanicillium lecanii), as well as raw zeolite, against Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), also known as the confused flour beetle. To this end, we sprayed Tribolium confusum adults with suspensions of the said biopesticides, at three different dosages (250 ppm, 500 ppm, and 1000 ppm) on Avena sativa L. and Linum usitatissimum L. hull and no hull seeds. The data were analyzed in terms of three- and four-way ANOVA model, and the overall survival was determined while using the Kaplan–Meier method. The mortality of Tribolium confusum adults was recorded and analyzed in correlation with the following parameters: dose, product (seed), days, and treatment as factors. At the end of the experiment, all of the biopesticides were effectively pathogenic, but there was variation in their effectiveness in terms of the T. confusum mortality that they caused, depending on the product (seed). The type of seed can play a role in the pathogenicity or effectiveness of the biopesticides. Additionally, our results showed that the mortality percentage was dependent on the dose and treatment of the commercial biopesticides.
Effect of Different Water Salinity Levels on the Germination of Imazamox-Resistant and Sensitive Weedy Rice and Cultivated Rice
Authors: Fogliatto Silvia , Serra Francesca , Patrucco Lorenzo , Milan Marco , Vidotto Francesco
Published: October 2019

Weeds that have become resistant to herbicides may threaten rice production. Rice cultivation is mainly carried out in coastal and river delta areas that often suffer salinity problems. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of salinity upon germination and the root and shoot seedling growth of Italian weedy rice and cultivated rice (Oryza sativa), and to find a possible correlation between salinity and herbicide resistance. Seed germination tests were conducted in Petri dishes on four imazamox-sensitive and one resistant weedy rice populations and two rice varieties: Baldo (conventional) and CL80 (imidazolinone-resistant Clearfield® variety). Different salt concentrations were tested: 0, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350 and 400 mM NaCl. Germination percentage, germination speed, seedling root and shoot length were affected by increasing the salt concentration in all tested populations and varieties. The germination percentage was in general more affected in resistant weedy rice and CL80. In resistant weedy rice this was partially compensated by a faster germination up to 100 mM. In terms of seedling root and shoot length, CL80 and Baldo showed the highest tolerance to salt; resistant weedy rice was not able to produce seedling roots and shoots at concentrations > 300 mM.
Manure Fertilization Gives High-Quality Earthworm Coprolites with Positive Effects on Plant Growth and N Metabolism
Authors: Schiavon Michela , Ertani Andrea , Francioso Ornella , Nardi Serenella
Published: October 2019

Humic substances (HS) are important soil components playing pivotal roles in guaranteeing long-term soil fertility. In this study, the chemical and biological properties of HS extracted from earthworm coprolites collected in soils subjected to different fertilization inputs (no fertilization, NF; fertilization with farmyard manure, FM; mineral input, M; mixed inputs, FMM, half farmyard manure plus half mineral input) were investigated. Results indicated a relationship between fertilization input and composition, molecular complexity and apparent molecular weight distribution of HS produced by earthworms. Coprolites from FM and FMM soils were the most enriched in organic carbon (OC), and HS from coprolites of FM soil were the highest in humic carbon (HC). Also, soil amendment with manure increased carboxylate and aromatic groups in HS, and the fraction with a high degree of polycondensation, thus indicating a positive impact of manure on plant residues’ degradation processes. These HS were the only to display hormone-like activity, which likely accounted for their most pronounced positive effects on plant growth and metabolism, including accumulation of chlorophylls, mineral nutrition, and activity of nitrogen assimilation enzymes, in oat (Avena sativa L.) plants growing in a soil-less system. We conclude that manure input favored the turnover of OC towards the humification process that led to the production of high-quality coprolites and HS with superior biological activity, and suggests that OC in coprolites and HC in HS from earthworms might be used as reliable indicators of soil fertility.
Functional Analysis of Three miRNAs in Agropyron mongolicum Keng under Drought Stress
Authors: Zhang Xuting , Fan Bobo , Yu Zhuo , Nie Lizhen , Zhao Yan , Yu Xiaoxia , Sun Fengcheng , Lei Xuefeng , Ma Yanhong
Published: October 2019

Agropyron mongolicum Keng, a perennial diploid grass with high drought tolerance, belongs to the genus Agropyron, tribe Triticeae. It has made tremendous contributions toward reseeding natural pasture and seeding artificial grassland in China, especially in the arid and semi-arid area of northern China. As a wild relative of wheat, A. mongolicum is also a valuable resource for the genetic improvement of wheat crops. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNA molecules ubiquitous in plants, which have been involved in responses to a wide variety of stresses including drought, salinity, chilling temperature. To date, little research has been done on drought-responsive miRNAs in A. mongolicum. In this study, two miRNA libraries of A. mongolicum under drought and normal conditions were constructed, and drought-responsive miRNAs were screened via Solexa high throughput sequencing and bioinformatic analysis. A total of 114 new miRNAs were identified in A. mongolicum including 53 conservative and 61 unconservative miRNAs, and 1393 target genes of 98 miRNAs were predicted. Seventeen miRNAs were found to be differentially expressed under drought stress, seven (amo-miR21, amo-miR62, amo-miR82, amo-miR5, amo-miR77, amo-miR44 and amo-miR17) of which were predicted to target on genes involved in drought tolerance. QRT-PCR analysis confirmed the expression changes of the seven drought related miRNAs in A. mongolicum. We then transformed the seven miRNAs into Arabidopsis thaliana plants, and three of them (amo-miR21, amo-miR5 and amo-miR62) were genetically stable. The three miRNAs demonstrated the same expression pattern in A. thaliana as that in A. mongolicum under drought stress. Findings from this study will better our understanding of the molecular mechanism of miRNAs in drought tolerance and promote molecular breeding of forage grass with improved adaption to drought.
The Presence of Toxocara Eggs on Dog’s Fur as Potential Zoonotic Risk in Animal-Assisted Interventions: A Systematic Review
Authors: Maurelli Maria Paola , Santaniello Antonio , Fioretti Alessandro , Cringoli Giuseppe , Rinaldi Laura , Menna Lucia Francesca
Published: October 2019

Animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) usually contribute to the well-being and health of users/patients, but it is essential that the animals involved in these activities do not represent a source of zoonoses. This systematic review focused on the evaluation of the potential risk of the transmission of Toxocara by dogs’ fur, considering their involvement as the main animal species in AAIs. Three databases were considered: MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, and the PRISMA guidelines were used. Out of 162 articles found, 14 papers were identified as eligible for inclusion in the review. Although the findings were very heterogeneous, they showed that regular parasitological surveillance to plan effective control programs is strongly needed to guarantee the health of pets and consequently the public health, according to the concept of One Health. Since AAIs involve patients and/or users potentially susceptible, it is very important to appropriately treat dogs enrolled in these interventions after an accurate diagnosis of parasitic zoonoses.
Social Environment and Individual Differences in Feeding Behavior Are Associated with Risk of Endometritis in Dairy Cows
Authors: Thompson Alexander , Proudfoot Kathryn L. , Franks Becca , von Keyserlingk Marina A.G.
Published: October 2019

Our aim was to determine whether individual differences in feeding and social behavior in different social environments affect health outcomes in dairy cows. We used eight groups of four animals per treatment assigned to either a ‘predictable’ or an ‘unpredictable’ and competitive social environment. Predictable cows were given free access to six feed bins with no change in feed delivery times; whereas, the unpredictable cows were required to share one feed bin with one resident cow and morning feed was delayed 0, 1, 2, or 3 h every other day. On alternate days, the unpredictable cows were also re-assigned to a new bin and a new resident partner. Low daily dry matter intake (DMI) was a risk factor for cytological endometritis in predictable cows (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval): 0.17 (0.02, 0.53)), but low daily DMI was protective for unpredictable cows (OR: 1.93 (1.09, 4.14)). Although low rate of DMI (kg/min) was a risk factor for cytological endometritis for predictable cows (OR: 4.2 × 10−101 (8.6 × 10−206, 4.8 × 10−30)) it was unrelated to disease for unpredictable cows. There were no associations between feed bin visits or percentage of non-nutritive visits with the likelihood of cytological endometritis. This is the first evidence that individual differences in feeding behavior influence cytological endometritis risk in dairy cows, but the direction and magnitude of these effects is dependent on the social environment.
The Effect of Substitution of Palm Fat with Linseed Oil on the Lipid Peroxidation, Antioxidative Capacity and Intestinal Morphology in Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
Authors: Trebušak Tina , Vrecl Fazarinc Milka , Salobir Janez , Pirman Tatjana
Published: October 2019

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different dietary fatty acids (saturated or polyunsaturated fatty acids) supplementation on the oxidative status and intestinal morphology of adult rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Twenty-four “slovenska kunka” rabbits were randomly assigned to two different dietary treatments (12 rabbits per treatment) and fed the experimental diets between 80 and 102 days of age. The palm fat (PALM) diet with 6% palm fat and linseed (LINSEED) diets with 6% linseed oil were used. To evaluate the oxidative status of rabbits, the malondialdehyde concentration in urine and plasma and concentration of water and lipid soluble antioxidants in plasma were measured. The antioxidative capacity of the gastrointestinal tract was evaluated by measuring concentration of water and lipid soluble antioxidants in tissues and contents of the intestine. The histological structure of the small intestine and caecum was analyzed via histomorphometric analysis. No significant differences were found in either of those parameters. In summary, rabbits were exposed to high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids with a high predisposition to oxidation, but their health and welfare were not endangered.
Single-Dose Pharmacokinetics and Preliminary Safety Assessment with Use of CBD-Rich Hemp Nutraceutical in Healthy Dogs and Cats
Authors: Deabold Kelly A. , Schwark Wayne S. , Wolf Lisa , Wakshlag Joseph J.
Published: October 2019

The use of CBD-rich hemp products is becoming popular among pet owners with no long-term safety data related to consumption in adult dogs and cats. The purpose of this study was to determine the single-dose oral pharmacokinetics of CBD, and to provide a preliminary assessment of safety and adverse effects during 12-week administration using a hemp-based product in healthy dogs and cats. Eight of each species were provided a 2 mg/kg total CBD concentration orally twice daily for 12 weeks with screening of single-dose pharmacokinetics in six of each species. Pharmacokinetics revealed a mean maximum concentration (Cmax) of 301 ng/mL and 43 ng/mL, area under the curve (AUC) of 1297 ng-h/mL and 164 ng-h/mL, and time to maximal concentration (Tmax) of 1.4 h and 2 h, for dogs and cats, respectively. Serum chemistry and CBC results showed no clinically significant alterations, however one cat showed a persistent rise in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) above the reference range for the duration of the trial. In healthy dogs and cats, an oral CBD-rich hemp supplement administered every 12 h was not detrimental based on CBC or biochemistry values. Cats do appear to absorb or eliminate CBD differently than dogs, showing lower serum concentrations and adverse effects of excessive licking and head-shaking during oil administration.
Two Novel SNPs in RET Gene Are Associated with Cattle Body Measurement Traits
Authors: Gao Yuan , Huang Bizhi , Bai Fuxia , Wu Fei , Zhou Zihui , Lai Zhenyu , Li Shipeng , Qu Kaixing , Jia Yutang , Lei Chuzhao , Dang Ruihua
Published: October 2019

The rearrangement of the transfection (RET) gene, which mediates the functions of the ganglion in the gastrointestinal tract, plays an important role in the development of the gastrointestinal nervous system. Therefore, the RET gene is a potential factor influencing animal body measurement. The aim of this study was to reveal the significant genetic variations in the bovine RET gene and investigate the relationship between genotypes and body measurement in two Chinese cattle breeds (Qinchuan and Nanyang cattle). In this study, two SNPs (c.1407A>G and c.1425C>G) were detected in the exon 7 of RET gene by sequencing. For the SNP1 and SNP2, the GG genotype was significantly associated with body height, hip height, and chest circumference in Qinchuan cattle (p < 0.05). Individuals with an AG-CC genotype showed the lowest value of all body measurement in both breeds. Our results demonstrate that the polymorphisms in the bovine RET gene were significantly associated with body measurement, which could be used as DNA marker on the marker-assisted selection (MAS) and improve the performance of beef cattle.
Modeling the Spatial Distribution of Plateau Pika (Ochotona curzoniae) in the Qinghai Lake Basin, China
Authors: Wu Yi-Nan , Ma Yu-Jun , Liu Wen-Ling , Zhang Wu-Zhao
Published: October 2019

The plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) is a keystone species in the alpine rangeland ecosystem of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. Most previous studies of habitat selection by plateau pika have been conducted at a local microhabitat scale; however, little is known about the relationship between the distribution of plateau pika and macrohabitat factors at broad spatial scales. Using a presence-only ecological niche model (maximum entropy, Maxent), we predicted the distribution of plateau pika in the Qinghai Lake basin based on a set of environmental and anthropogenic variables at 1-km spatial resolution, and identified key macrohabitat factors that contribute to the predictive performance. Our results showed suitable area for plateau pika in the Qinghai Lake basin being approximately 3982 km2, which is 15.8% of the land area in the whole watershed. The distance to road emerged as the most important predictor of the distribution patterns of plateau pika, while the soil type was of ancillary importance. Mean air temperature of wettest quarter, distance to resident site and altitude also produced high gains in defining plateau pika’s distribution. A higher predictive accuracy was achieved by the model that combined environmental and anthropogenic variables. With the constraint of human factors, the presence probability of plateau pika in about 1661 km2 will increase. These findings demonstrate the impact of human activities on the distribution of plateau pika, and the importance of vegetation reservation for plateau pika control.
Paws for Thought: A Controlled Study Investigating the Benefits of Interacting with a House-Trained Dog on University Students Mood and Anxiety
Authors: Thelwell Emily L R
Published: October 2019

University students have been found to have higher rates of psychological distress than that of the general population, which reportedly rises significantly upon starting university and does not return to pre-university levels throughout their time in university. It is therefore highly important to find ways to improve student health and well-being. One way that may help is by interacting with animals. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether interacting with a dog would have a positive effect on university students’ mood and anxiety. This study assigned 82 university students to either the experimental condition (dog interaction, n = 41) or to the control condition (dog video, n = 41). The students completed the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule-Expanded Form (PANAS-X), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Pet Attitude Scale before their assigned conditions, to evaluate their mood and anxiety levels and attitudes to animals. The participants again completed the STAI and PANAS-X Form after their condition, to assess for possible changes in anxiety and mood. The findings of the study indicated that all participants, regardless of condition, experienced a reduction in their anxiety and an improvement in their mood across time. However, directly interacting with a dog resulted in greater declines in anxiety and improved mood scores, more so than watching a video. Consequently, it appears there are psychological benefits to be gained by students from interacting with dogs and it is hoped this study will help to inform future best practices in designing student dog interventions.
Essential Oil Blend Could Decrease Diarrhea Prevalence by Improving Antioxidative Capability for Weaned Pigs
Authors: Tian Qiyu , Piao Xiangshu
Published: October 2019

Finding an alternative to in-feed antibiotics is important because of increasing contemporary concern regarding drug residues and the development of drug-resistant bacteria. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that essential oils added to the feed would decrease diarrhea prevalence in post-weaned pigs. Ninety weaned piglets (initial body weight (BW): 8.1 ± 1.4 kg) were randomly assigned to one of three dietary diets: (1) a control diet (CON, the basal diet without antibiotics), (2) an antibiotic diet (AB, CON supplemented with colistin sulfate, 20 mg/kg and bacitracin zinc, 40 mg/kg), or (3) an essential oil diet (EO, CON supplemented with an essential oil blend 100 mg/kg) in a completely randomized block design for a 28-day period. The results revealed that AB and EO improved the average daily gain of the piglets from day (d) 15 to 28 (p < 0.05). The diarrhea prevalence in piglets fed AB and EO was lower than that of piglets fed CON (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the growth performance or diarrhea prevalence between the AB and EO treatments. Nutrient digestibility was measured at d 28. Compared with CON, EO increased the apparent total tract digestibility of gross energy and crude protein (p < 0.05). Villus height in the duodenum and the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the jejunum for piglets fed AB and EO was greater than those for piglets fed CON (p < 0.05). The essential oil blend improved the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), but decreased the 8-hydroxy deoxyguanosine content in serum on d 14 (p < 0.05). Decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl content were observed on d 28 in comparison with CON (p < 0.05). The mucosa in the jejunum of pigs fed EO had greater T-AOC, SOD levels, and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities than that of pigs fed CON (p < 0.05). Pigs fed EO and AB had greater GSH-Px activity in the liver tissue than pigs fed CON (p < 0.05). Not only did jejunal and ileal mucosa have EO upregulated SOD1 mRNA expression (p < 0.05), this was also the case in liver tissue. GPx1 expression in the ileal mucosa and GPx4 expression in the liver tissue were higher for pigs fed EO when compared to those fed CON (p < 0.05). Collectively, a dietary essential oil blend supplementation, which has natural antimicrobial properties, could enhance growth performance and decrease diarrhea prevalence in weaned pigs through increases in antioxidative capacity.
Impact of Intravenous Iron on Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Function in Experimental Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Nuhu Faisal , Seymour Anne-Marie , Bhandari Sunil
Published: October 2019

Background: Mitochondrial dysfunction is observed in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), a common complication in CKD, is associated with poor clinical outcomes affecting mitochondrial function and exacerbating oxidative stress. Intravenous (iv) iron, that is used to treat anaemia, may lead to acute systemic oxidative stress. This study evaluated the impact of iv iron on mitochondrial function and oxidative stress. Methods: Uraemia was induced surgically in male Sprague-Dawley rats and studies were carried out 12 weeks later in two groups sham operated and uraemic (5/6 nephrectomy) rats not exposed to i.v. iron versus sham operated and uraemic rats with iv iron. Results: Induction of uraemia resulted in reduced iron availability (serum iron: 31.1 ± 1.8 versus 46.4 ± 1.4 µM), low total iron binding capacity (26.4 ± 0.7 versus 29.5 ± 0.8 µM), anaemia (haematocrit: 42.5 ± 3.0 versus 55.0 ± 3.0%), cardiac hypertrophy, reduced systemic glutathione peroxidase activity (1.12 ± 0.11 versus 1.48 ± 0.12 U/mL), tissue oxidative stress (oxidised glutathione: 0.50 ± 0.03 versus 0.36 ± 0.04 nmol/mg of tissue), renal mitochondrial dysfunction (proton/electron leak: 61.8 ± 8.0 versus 22.7 ± 5.77) and complex I respiration (134.6 ± 31.4 versus 267.6 ± 26.4 pmol/min/µg). Iron therapy had no effect on renal function and cardiac hypertrophy but improved anaemia and systemic glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity. There was increased renal iron content and complex II and complex IV dysfunction. Conclusion: Iron therapy improved iron deficiency anaemia in CKD without significant impact on renal function or oxidant status.
Impact of Cold versus Hot Brewing on the Phenolic Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) Herbal Tea
Authors: Damiani Elisabetta , Carloni Patricia , Rocchetti Gabriele , Senizza Biancamaria , Tiano Luca , Joubert Elizabeth , de Beer Dalene , Lucini Luigi
Published: October 2019

Consumption of rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) as herbal tea is growing in popularity worldwide and its health-promoting attributes are mainly ascribed to its phenolic composition, which may be affected by the brewing conditions used. An aspect so far overlooked is the impact of cold brewing vs regular brewing and microwave boiling on the (poly) phenolic profile and in vitro antioxidant capacity of infusions prepared from red (‘fermented’, oxidized) and green (‘unfermented’, unoxidized) rooibos, the purpose of the present study. By using an untargeted metabolomics-based approach (UHPLC-QTOF mass spectrometry), 187 phenolic compounds were putatively annotated in both rooibos types, with flavonoids, tyrosols, and phenolic acids the most represented type of phenolic classes. Multivariate statistics (OPLS-DA) highlighted the phenolic classes most affected by the brewing conditions. Similar antioxidant capacities (ORAC and ABTS assays) were observed between cold- and regular-brewed green rooibos and boiled-brewed red rooibos. However, boiling green and red rooibos delivered infusions with the highest antioxidant capacities and total polyphenol content. The polyphenol content strongly correlated with the in vitro antioxidant capacities, especially for flavonoids and phenolic acids. These results contribute to a better understanding of the impact of the preparation method on the potential health benefits of rooibos tea.
Collapse Responses of Concrete Frames Reinforced with BFRP Bars in Middle Column Removal Scenario
Authors: Yang Tao , Han Zhongqing , Deng Nianchun , Chen Wanqing
Published: October 2019

Six concrete beam-column frame sub-assemblages reinforced with basalt fiber-reinforced polymer (BFRP) bars in the frame beams were designed to investigate the collapse resistance after a middle column removal. Effect of parameters, including span to depth ratio of frame beams, prestressing, as well as material types of stirrups in the beams, on the collapse resistance of the sub-assemblages, was investigated. Experimental results showed that the initial stiffness of the frame beams was apparently lower due to low elastic modulus of BFRP bars. The collapse resistance of the sub-assemblages presented wave-like increasing tendency with the vertical displacement of the failed middle column, and it mainly attributed to the cracking or crushing of concrete and rupture of BFRP bars in the frame beams. Top longitudinal BFRP bars at the beam ends near to the side column (BESCs) and bottom longitudinal BFRP bars at the beam ends near to the middle column (BEMCs) kept tensile during the loading process, which played an important role in resisting structural collapse. Adjacent structural members such as frame beams and columns could provide horizontal reaction forces to constrain the free deformation of the residual sub-assemblages after the middle column failed, and it was beneficial to mitigate the structural collapse risk. The vertical deformation of the frame beams was nearly linear and proportional to the vertical displacement of the failed middle column. Finally, the dynamic increase factor (DIF) of collapse load was discussed using energy conservation method, and a calculation method of DIF for prestressed concrete frame structures was developed. It was suggested that the DIF values for the non-prestressed frame structures reinforced with BFRP bars in the beams should be taken as 2.0, while those for the prestressed sub-assemblages can be taken between 1.44 and 2.0.
Hybrid Power System Design for Multifunctional Mini-Loader Vehicles
Authors: Chen Po-Tuan , Ding Pei-Fan , Yang Cheng-Jung , Huang K. David
Published: October 2019

This study presents the improvement of energy efficiency and operating time of mini-loader vehicles by integrating the power system of internal combustion engines (ICE) and electric motors (EM). The hybrid powertrain was developed based on the belt-starter generator (BSG). The BSG system enabled us to choose optionally the ICE or the EM mode according to the power demand in different usage scenarios. The required power specifications were evaluated. The equipment in conformity with specification was then tight-stacking installed in the limited space of the mini-loader. Therefore, the mini-loader ably passes across a 770 mm width door. In the situation of consumption of the same amount of gasoline, the hybrid power mode can increase the operating time by 30 min. In addition, its power output can be satisfied to override 140 mm high short steps, cross a 300 mm trench, and climbing a 30% slope. In particular, using electricity as a power source can reduce carbon emission.
Chalcogenide–Tellurite Composite Photonic Crystal Fiber: Extreme Non-Linearity Meets Large Birefringence
Authors: Ahmadian Amir , Esfahani Monfared Yashar
Published: October 2019

In this paper, we propose a novel design of a photonic crystal fiber (PCF) with tellurite-cladding, three rings of air-holes and elliptical concentration of As2S3 in the fiber core. The combined effect of tight mode confinement (an effective mode area of nearly 0.6 µm2), large non-linear refractive index of As2S3 and significant variation between the effective modal index values of the two orthogonal states of the fundamental guided mode leads to extreme non-linear coefficient and birefringence values, all achieved at the zero dispersion wavelength (ZDW) of 1550 nm. The corresponding birefringence and non-linear coefficient (7 × 10−3 and 28 W−1 m−1, respectively) are more than three orders of magnitude larger than that of the regular silica-based highly non-linear PCFs. In addition, we numerically demonstrate that by modifying the core and air-hole dimensions one can easily control the dispersion curve and tune the ZDW of the proposed fiber to any excitation wavelength ranging from near-infrared to short-wave-infrared, including optical telecommunication windows close to 1550 nm. The superior characteristics of the proposed elliptical-core composite PCF including extreme non-linearity, nearly-zero confinement loss (2.47 × 10−12 dB/cm), the ability to maintain polarization of light, and tunable ZDW can open the door to new possibilities in non-linear optics, optical telecommunications, optical signal processing, and sensing devices.
Water-Weakening Effects on the Mechanical Behavior of Different Rock Types: Phenomena and Mechanisms
Authors: Cai Xin , Zhou Zilong , Liu Kewei , Du Xueming , Zang Haizhi
Published: October 2019

The presence of water strongly affects rock properties and would be related to a series of geological disasters. To understand water saturation effects on the mechanical behavior of different rock types and interpret the underlying mechanisms of differences in water sensitivity, three kinds of rocks, namely sandstone, granite and marble, were selected for tests. Uniaxial compression experiments were conducted on specimens under oven-dried and water-saturated conditions. Acoustic emission (AE) techniques were also applied to monitor and record AE signals during tests. Experimental results reveal that water weakens the mechanical parameters of the three tested rocks, such as uniaxial compressive strength (UCS), elastic modulus and critical strain. The sandstone undergoes the greatest weakening with the addition of pore water, the mechanical properties of the granite exhibit relatively minor reductions, while the marble is the least affected by water saturation. The water-weakening degree of rock properties depends on the porosity as well as the mineralogy, especially the proportion of quartz and swelling clays. Moreover, after water saturation, the failure pattern of the sandstone and the granite tends to transform into the shear-dominant mode from the tensile one in dry state, probably due to frictional reduction. However, the water presence does not change the failure mode of the marble.
Improved Attribute-Based Encryption Using Chaos Synchronization and Its Application to MQTT Security
Authors: Liao Teh-Lu , Lin Hong-Ru , Wan Pei-Yen , Yan Jun-Juh
Published: October 2019

In recent years, Internet of Things (IoT) has developed rapidly and been widely used in industry, agriculture, e-health, smart cities, and families. As the total amount of data transmission will increase dramatically, security will become a very important issue in data communication in the IoT. There are many communication protocols for Device to Device (D2D) or Machine to Machine (M2M) in IoT. One of them is Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT), which is quite prevalent and easy to use. MQTT is designed for resource-constrained devices, so its security is not as strong as other communication protocols. To enhance MQTT security, it needs an additional function to overcome its weakness. However, considering the limited computational abilities of resource-constrained devices, they cannot use too powerful or complicated cryptographic algorithms. Therefore, this paper proposes novel improved attribute-based encryption (ABE) integrated with chaos synchronization to enhance the MQTT security. Finally, a small size of IoT is implemented to simulate resource-constrained devices equipped with a human–machine interface and monitoring software to show and verify the performance of MQTT communication with this improved ABE algorithm.
An FCM–GABPN Ensemble Approach for Material Feeding Prediction of Printed Circuit Board Template
Authors: Lv Shengping , Xian Rongheng , Li Denghui , Zheng Binbin , Jin Hong
Published: October 2019

Accurate prediction of material feeding before production for a printed circuit board (PCB) template can reduce the comprehensive cost caused by surplus and supplemental feeding. In this study, a novel hybrid approach combining fuzzy c-means (FCM), feature selection algorithm, and genetic algorithm (GA) with back-propagation networks (BPN) was developed for the prediction of material feeding of a PCB template. In the proposed FCM–GABPN, input templates were firstly clustered by FCM, and seven feature selection mechanisms were utilized to select critical attributes related to scrap rate for each category of templates before they are fed into the GABPN. Then, templates belonging to different categories were trained with different GABPNs, in which the separately selected attributes were taken as their inputs and the initial parameter for BPNs were optimized by GA. After training, an ensemble predictor formed with all GABPNs can be taken to predict the scrap rate. Finally, another BPN was adopted to conduct nonlinear aggregation of the outputs from the component BPNs and determine the predicted feeding panel of the PCB template with a transformation. To validate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed approach, the experiment and comparison with other approaches were conducted based on the actual records collected from a PCB template production company. The results indicated that the prediction accuracy of the proposed approach was better than those of the other methods. Besides, the proposed FCM–GABPN exhibited superiority to reduce the surplus and/or supplemental feeding in most of the case in simulation, as compared to other methods. Both contributed to the superiority of the proposed approach.
Analysis of Seaweeds from South West England as a Biorefinery Feedstock
Authors: Beacham Tracey A. , Cole Isobel S. , DeDross Louisa S. , Raikova Sofia , Chuck Christopher J. , Macdonald John , Herrera Leopoldo , Ali Tariq , Airs Ruth L. , Landels Andrew , Allen Michael J.
Published: October 2019

Seaweeds contain many varied and commercially valuable components, from individual pigments and metabolites through to whole biomass, and yet they remain an under cultivated and underutilised commodity. Currently, commercial exploitation of seaweeds is predominantly limited to whole biomass consumption or single product extracts for the food industry. The development of a seaweed biorefinery, based around multiple products and services, could provide an important opportunity to exploit new and currently underexplored markets. Here, we assessed the native and invasive seaweeds on the South West coast of the UK to determine their characteristics and potential for exploitation through a biorefinery pipeline, looking at multiple components including pigments, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and other metabolites.
Characterization and Application of Agave salmiana Cuticle as Bio-membrane in Low-temperature Electrolyzer and Fuel Cells
Authors: Arredondo Cristhian H. , Aguilar-Lira Guadalupe , Perez-Silva Irma , Rodriguez Jose Antonio , Islas Gabriela , Hernandez Prisciliano
Published: October 2019

This work describes the application of the Agave salmiana cuticle as a new protonic exchange biological membrane (0.080 ± 0.001 mm thickness). Different chemical, electrochemical and mechanical treatments were evaluated to stimulate the ionic exchange properties of the cuticle. Thermal treatment was adequate for its application in a two-chamber electrolyzer. Under optimal conditions an ionic conductivity value of 10 ± 3 mS cm−1 was obtained; this value is similar to the value achieved using a Nafion membrane. The thermally-activated bio-membrane was also evaluated in a fuel cell, where the highest potential was obtained using methanol and hydrogen (0.46 ± 0.01 V). This result makes the Agave salmiana cuticle a competitive choice to replace the commercial membrane. Its surface morphology and their functional groups were evaluated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), infrared spectroscopy and impedance spectroscopy. This thermally-treated Agave salmiana cuticle is an ecofriendly alternative to replace Nafion membranes in electrolyzer and fuel cells.
Feasibility Study of Native Ureolytic Bacteria for Biocementation Towards Coastal Erosion Protection by MICP Method
Authors: Imran Md , Kimura Shuya , Nakashima Kazunori , Evelpidou Niki , Kawasaki Satoru
Published: October 2019

In recent years, traditional material for coastal erosion protection has become very expensive and not sustainable and eco-friendly for the long term. As an alternative countermeasure, this study focused on a sustainable biological ground improvement technique that can be utilized as an option for improving the mechanical and geotechnical engineering properties of soil by the microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) technique considering native ureolytic bacteria. To protect coastal erosion, an innovative and sustainable strategy was proposed in this study by means of combing geotube and the MICP method. For a successful sand solidification, the urease activity, environmental factors, urease distribution, and calcite precipitation trend, among others, have been investigated using the isolated native strains. Our results revealed that urease activity of the identified strains denoted as G1 (Micrococcus sp.), G2 (Pseudoalteromonas sp.), and G3 (Virgibacillus sp.) relied on environment-specific parameters and, additionally, urease was not discharged in the culture solution but would discharge in and/or on the bacterial cell, and the fluid of the cells showed urease activity. Moreover, we successfully obtained solidified sand bearing UCS (Unconfined Compressive Strength) up to 1.8 MPa. We also proposed a novel sustainable approach for field implementation in a combination of geotube and MICP for coastal erosion protection that is cheaper, energy-saving, eco-friendly, and sustainable for Mediterranean countries, as well as for bio-mediated soil improvement.
Hybrid Deduction–Refutation Systems
Authors: Goranko Valentin
Published: October 2019

Hybrid deduction–refutation systems are deductive systems intended to derive both valid and non-valid, i.e., semantically refutable, formulae of a given logical system, by employing together separate derivability operators for each of these and combining ‘hybrid derivation rules’ that involve both deduction and refutation. The goal of this paper is to develop a basic theory and ‘meta-proof’ theory of hybrid deduction–refutation systems. I then illustrate the concept on a hybrid derivation system of natural deduction for classical propositional logic, for which I show soundness and completeness for both deductions and refutations.
The Antifungal Effect of Garlic Essential Oil on Phytophthora nicotianae and the Inhibitory Component Involved
Authors: Wang Yaochen , Wei Keke , Han Xiaobin , Zhao Donglin , Zheng Yanfen , Chao Jianmin , Gou Jianyu , Kong Fanyu , Zhang Cheng-Sheng
Published: October 2019

This study explored the chemical compositions of garlic essential oil, the inhibitory activity of garlic essential oil and diallyl disulfide (DADS) against Phytophthora nicotianae, and the effects on mycelial plasma membrane permeability and P. nicotianae inhibition. In total, 29 compounds were detected in garlic essential oil, of which 26 were detected by gas chromatography‒mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and 21 by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) GC-MS. DADS (60.12% and 19.09%) and trisulfide di-2-propenyl (14.18% and 17.98%) were the major components identified by HS-SPME GC-MS and GC-MS analysis, respectively. Half-inhibitory concentration (Ec50, antagonism) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC, fumigation) of DADS against P. nicotianae were 150.83 μL/L and 20 μL/L, respectively, while Ec50 of garlic essential oil was 1108.25 μL/L. Mycelial membrane permeability gradually increased in a concentration-dependent manner, and cell death increased at 450 μL/L DADS. Furthermore, DADS treatment significantly reduced the incidence of tobacco black shank and the number of P. nicotianae pathogens in rhizosphere soil. DADS also promoted root development of tobacco seedlings at low concentrations, which was inhibited at high concentrations. Therefore, DADS may play an important role in the antifungal effect against P. nicotianae by destroying mycelial cell membrane integrity, causing an increase in cell membrane permeability, and leading to cell death.
Disclosing the Impact of Carcinogenic SF3b Mutations on Pre-mRNA Recognition Via All-Atom Simulations
Authors: Borišek Jure , Saltalamacchia Andrea , Gallì Anna , Palermo Giulia , Molteni Elisabetta , Malcovati Luca , Magistrato Alessandra
Published: October 2019

The spliceosome accurately promotes precursor messenger-RNA splicing by recognizing specific noncoding intronic tracts including the branch point sequence (BPS) and the 3’-splice-site (3’SS). Mutations of Hsh155 (yeast)/SF3B1 (human), which is a protein of the SF3b factor involved in BPS recognition and induces altered BPS binding and 3’SS selection, lead to mis-spliced mRNA transcripts. Although these mutations recur in hematologic malignancies, the mechanism by which they change gene expression remains unclear. In this study, multi-microsecond-long molecular-dynamics simulations of eighth distinct ∼700,000 atom models of the spliceosome Bact complex, and gene sequencing of SF3B1, disclose that these carcinogenic isoforms destabilize intron binding and/or affect the functional dynamics of Hsh155/SF3B1 only when binding non-consensus BPSs, as opposed to the non-pathogenic variants newly annotated here. This pinpoints a cross-talk between the distal Hsh155 mutation and BPS recognition sites. Our outcomes unprecedentedly contribute to elucidating the principles of pre-mRNA recognition, which provides critical insights on the mechanism underlying constitutive/alternative/aberrant splicing.
Optimization of the Supplier Selection Process in Prefabrication Using BIM
Authors: Zhao Linlin , Liu Zhansheng , Mbachu Jasper
Published: October 2019

Prefabrication offers substantial benefits including reduction in construction waste, material waste, energy use, labor demands, and delivery time, and an improvement in project constructability and cost certainty. As the material cost accounts for nearly 70% of the total cost of the prefabrication project, to select a suitable material supplier plays an important role in such a project. The purpose of this study is to present a method for supporting supplier selection of a prefabrication project. The proposed method consists of three parts. First, a list of assessment criteria was established to evaluate the suitability of supplier alternatives. Second, Building Information Modelling (BIM) was adopted to provide sufficient information about the project requirements and suppliers’ profiles, which facilitates the storage and sharing of information. Finally, the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to rank the importance of the assessment criteria and obtain the score of supplier alternatives. The suppliers were ranked based on the total scores. To illustrate how to use the proposed method, it was applied to a real prefabrication project. The proposed method facilitates the supplier selection process by providing sufficient information in an effective way and by improving the understanding of the project requirements.
The Role of an Architect in Creating the Image of an Elderly-Friendly Sustainable Smart City
Authors: Tymkiewicz Joanna
Published: October 2019

The idea of sustainable smart city has extensive scientific literature where the architects’ role in designing built environments, being a physical platform for implementing “elderly-friendly” solutions, is poorly referenced. The main objective of the article is to define the role of architects in creating the image of sustainable smart cities, focusing on senior citizens. The paper surveys the available literature on the subject and describes pilot studies carried out at the indicative level among the students of one of architecture faculties in Poland, based on the design thinking method. The studies demonstrate how students imagine intelligent elderly-friendly cities in the future from the architects’ perspective. In addition, examples of other studies with the students of that faculty are presented. Following the analyses combining the conclusions of research and pilot studies with the students, a tabular summary of the architects’ tasks and roles were provided—these were divided into six building blocks of a smart city and as a reference to the elements shaping the image of cities, districts and buildings. This is a new, innovative classification of architectural issues. The perspectives for further desk research and field participatory research were indicated, which should, in the future, translate into a novel holistic approach to the problem.