bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SISTEM PERNYORTIRAN BUAH APEL MANALAGI MENGGUNAKAN SENSOR LOADCELL DAN TCS 3200 BERDASARKAN BERAT DAN WARNA BERBASIS ARDUINO
Authors: Jurnal Redaksi Tim
Published: February 2019

Tiap tahun kota Malang menghasilkan apel berton - ton untuk didistribusikan didaerah Indonesia. Untuk membedakan kualitas apel yang baik dan berkualitas para pengusaha melakukan penyortiran terlebih dahulu sebelum pengemasan dan distribusi. Beberapa kriteria dalam penyortiran bisa didasar pada warna dan berat. Pembacaan warna berupa nilai RGB dan berat berupa gram. Salah satu teknologi canggih yang mampu mengenal warna dan berat adalah Sensor TCS3200 dan Load Cell. Yang Objek penelitian ini adalah buah apel manalagi. Untuk membedakan kualitas apel yang baik dan berkualitas para pengusaha melakukan dan distribusi. Beberapa kriteria dalam penyortiran bisa didasar pada warna dan berat.. Hasil penyortiran dapat digunakan untuk memprediksi buah apel yang akan didistribusikan berdasarkan jarak tempuh dan kondisi buah tersebut pada saat pengiriman, serta pengusaha dapat menjamin kualitas apeL mempunyai ciri khas hijau kekuningan.
IMPLEMENTASI METODE BUBLE SORT PADA RANCANG BANGUN APLIKASI PENCARIAN RUTE BERDASARKAN JARAK TEMPUH ANGKUTAN UMUM WILAYAH KABUPATEN KARANGANYAR BERBASIS ANDROID (KRAWIS ANGKOT – KARANGANYAR WISATA ANGKUTAN UMUM)
Authors: Jurnal Redaksi Tim
Published: February 2019

Perkembangan teknologi yang sangat cepat membawa pengguna teknologi untuk hidup dengan tak lepas dari teknologi informasi itu sendiri. Melalui teknologi informasi yang berkembang saat ini, pengelolaan informasi dapat dilakukan dengan lebih efektif dan efisien. Dalam hal ini, penulis ingin berpartisipasi dalam pengembangan teknologi informasi lokasi dalam bentuk mobile yaitu aplikasi pencarian rute angkutan umum berbasis android yang mana aplikasi ini nantinya akan memberikan informasi rute angkutan umum dari satu lokasi wisata ke lokasi wisata lainnya. Aplikasi ini memberikan kemudahan kepada masyarakat sekitar dalam mencari informasi tentang angkutan umum sesuai kebutuhan yang berada di Kabupaten Karanganyar. Aplikasi ini juga akan menampilkan mengenai lokasi-lokasi wisata yang berada pada wilayah Kabupaten Karanganyar yang disertai dengan foto-foto lokasi wisata tersebut. Secara garis besar, aplikasi ini akan memberikan informasi lengkap mengenai rute angkutan menuju lokasi wisata Kabupaten Karanganyar serta tarif tiap angutan umum. Metode yang digunakan dalam pembuatan aplikasi ini adalah metode buble sort. Metode ini digunakan untuk mengurutkan pilihan rute angkutan umum berdasarkan jarak tempuh. Kesimpulan yang didapat adalah aplikasi ini mampu membantu masyarakat dalam menentukan rute angkutan umum menuju lokasi wisata dengan tepat.
RANCANG BANGUN SISTEM ELECTRONIC COMPLAINT SISWA BERBASIS WEB Di SMA NEGERI 3 PANDEGLANG MENGGUNAKAN METODE WATERFALL
Authors: Jurnal Redaksi Tim
Published: February 2019

In the development of information technology very often people want the challenge of speed, accuracy, and ease of access in an information system that must be met well. The grievance system in SMA Negeri 3 Pandeglang is still less effective ie the students complaint complaint still use the way of recording in the paper or the students come directly to the teacher room in complaint to the homeroom teacher. This causes obstacles faced by the guardian of the class where there is a loss of damage on the complaint complaint paper so that complaints complaints are not conveyed to the homeroom teacher and principal. On the basis of the above problems, researchers create a web-based system is expected to help students in complaints and facilitate homeroom teachers, principals and teachers in handling sustainability of student complaints effectively. In designing the system using UML (Unified Modeling Language) and using waterfall method it proposes an approach to systematic and sequential software development starting from the system advance level on all analysis, design, coding, testing and maintenance.
DESAIN ROBOT PEMBERI PAKAN AYAM TERNAK OTOMATIS BERBASIS MIKROKONTROLER ATMEGA16 MENGGUNAKAN SIMULATOR SOFTWARE PROTEUS 8
Authors: Jurnal Redaksi Tim
Published: February 2019

Permasalahan mahalnya upah tenaga kerja saat ini Sudan sangat menjadi bahan pertimbangan untuk melakukan hal-hal pekerjaan yang rutin dikerjakan setiap hari, seperiti halnya memberi minum pada ternak, untuk kasus ini, perlu adanya solusi atas permasalahannya, yaitu dengan membuat suatu robot untuk mengerjakan hal tersebut. Robot Pemberi Pakan Ayam Ternak Otomatis atau yang selanjutkanya akan disingkat menjadi Robot PPATO, tujuannya untuk melakukan pekerjaan rutin memberi pakan pada ayam ternak sacara otomatis pada waktu tertentu yang terjadwal. Karakteristik Robot PPATO yaitu robot akan memberikan pakan pada waktu tertentu terjadwal, dengan bantuan komponen elektronika utama yaiut: IC Timer, Driver Motor DC, Sensor Infra Red atau LDR, dan buzzer yang dipasang pada mesin robot. Penelitian dimulai dengan menganalisis dan melakukan perancangan sistem balk hardware maupun software, kemudian dilanjutkan dengan melakukan coding pemrograman. Bahasa pemrograman yang dipakai adalah Bahasa C. Penelitian ini menggunakan alat IC Timer untuk waktu pemberian pakan. Tahap terakhir adalah uji coba sistem untuk mengetahui apakah sistem telah berjalan dengan baik sesuai yang direncanakan. Robot PPTAO akan memberikan pakan pada waktu yang telah ditentukan dan sensor LDR Sensor Infra Red atau LDR yang berfungsi mendeteksi pakan. Hasil penelitian didapatkan sebuah desain dari sebuah Robot PPTAO tersebut, yang dapat langsung disimulasikan dengan menggunakan Simulator Software Proteus 8.
PENERAPAN ALGORITMA RIVERT CODE 4 (RC 4) PADA APLIKASI KRIPTOGRAFI DOKUMEN
Authors: Jurnal Redaksi Tim
Published: February 2019

The development of information technology, has made the information as a basic requirement for everyone. To secure the information we have, one of the techniques of data and information security is cryptography. Therefore, the authors make an application that can maintain the confidentiality of the information and the intended application is web-based cryptographic applications. This application can be used to secure the data. In this application, the cryptographic algorithm to be used is the algorithm Rivest Code 4 (RC4). RC4 is a stream cipher algorithm that processes the type of data input unit. Algorithms Rivest Code 4 (RC4) is also part of a symmetric algorithm, in which the encryption and decryption process has the same key. Making these applications using the programming language PHP and MySQL. Modeling methods in making this application is a method of UML (Unified Modeling Language). The results to be achieved from this research is biased document cryptographic applications perform encryption and decryption algorithms Rivest document with Code 4 (RC4).
ANALISIS PELAYANAN PRIMA ATAS KEPUASAN KONSUMEN PADA APOTEK K24 BAMBU APUS JAKARTA TIMUR
Authors: Sarkawi Dahlia , Oktaviani Anggi , Priadi Agus , Khansa Thany
Published: February 2019

Excellent service isn’t a new term in the world of  work. The company must be able to give the best service to consumers so as to give satisfaction to consumers. Consumer satisfaction serve as the main key in maintaining the existence of a company. The research aims to determine the influence of excellent service to consumer satisfaction. This research use quantitative method. This research use quantitative method with 90 samples research with nonprobability sampling technique, especially purposive method. Based on data analysis, the result of research on the correlation coefficient show that 0.183 indicating that there is a very weak relationship between excellent service to consumer satisfaction. From the determination coefficient test obtained the influence of service excellent variable on cosumer satisfaction variable is 3.4% and the remaining 96.6% influenced by other variables not examined by the author. The result of simple regression obtained Y = 27,072 + 0,168X which result if excellent service is considered constant then consumer satisfaction will be positive and significant. And T test results, excellent service influence on customer satisfaction with t count > t table = 1.750> 1.662, then Ha accepted.
RANCANG BANGUN SISTEM INFORMASI GEOGRAFIS PENDATAAN INFRASTRUKTUR JALAN BERBASIS ANDROID
Authors: Hartanti Dian , Lubis Hendarman , Handayani Dwipa
Published: February 2019

Roads are infrastructure that are very important for aspects of human life, because with good roads, road users can safely and comfortably drive, so that it will improve the economic sector in the city, but in reality many roads are currently disrupting. so that road users are not comfortable passing the road when using motorized vehicles, this is caused by changes in shape and texture both in terms of quantity and quality such as damaged or perforated roads, but information about damaged roads cannot be known to many people, especially in the streets remote residential areas of the city, therefore there is a need for geographic information systems to find out information about the availability of roads in the city of Bekasi, to ensure that drivers feel comfortable and safe for their purposes, this system is made using android-based mobile devices that make it easier for users to access anywhere and anytime
Meningkatkan Kompetensi SDM di BUMD PDAM Tirta Patriot Kota Bekasi Dalam Pembuatan Dokumentasi Sistem Informasi Pelayanan Prima
Authors: Sikumbang Hengki
Published: February 2019

Perusahaan Daerah Air Minum (PDAM) Tirta Patriot Kota Bekasi sebagai penyedia jasa air bersih bagi area industri, area bisnis maupun pemukiman penduduk di wilayah operasional Tirta Patriot, meliputi Kabupaten Bekasi dan sebagian Kota Bekasi. Saat ini PDAM Tirta Patriot Kota Bekasi sudah memiliki Sistem Informasi Pelayanan Prima, yaitu sistem yang menangani mengenai pelayanan Pergudangan, Pelayanan Distribusi, dan Pelayanan Pengaduan. Sebuah Sistem Informasi pada hakekatnya adalah merupakan suatu sistem yang memiliki komponen-komponen atau sub sistem-sub sistem untuk menghasilkan informasi. Bisnis teknologi dunia saat ini didominasi oleh sektor teknologi informasi. Dalam menghadapi era globalisasi, persaingan akan semakin ketat, sehingga sangat dibutuhkan kebijakan-kebijakan dan aktivitas-aktivitas secara langsung yang dapat meningkatkan daya saing perusahaan di kemudian hari.Namun sampai saat ini, semua alur dari sistem informasi tersebut belum memiliki dokumentasi yang berbasiskan teknologi informasi. Metode yang digunakan untuk menjawab permasalahan atau mencapai tujuan kegiatan P2M adalah dengan mengadakan workshop. Dalam pembuatan dokumentasi sistem berbasiskan teknologi informasi Perusahaan Daerah Air Minum (PDAM) Tirta Patriot Kota Bekasi menggunaan perangkat lunak UML – Rational Rose 2000.
Sosialisasi Penerapan Listrik Kerakyatan Untuk Mengatasi Masalah Kebutuhan Energi Listrik Di Pedesaan
Authors: Nur Chairat Arief Suardi
Published: February 2019

Rokan Hulu merupakan salah satu kabupaten di Provinsi Riau yang memiliki luas wilayah sekitar 7747,01 km2 yang dibagi kedalam 16 (enam belas) kecamatan. Salah satu masalah dengan lingkungan adalah meningkatnya sampah di Tempat Pemrosesan Akhir (TPA) yang menimbulkan masalah keterbatasan lahan TPA dan biaya pemprosesan sampah di TPA semakin besar. TPA sampah Kabupaten Rokan Hulu terletak di Desa Tanjung belit yang mempunyai luas ± 2,5 Ha dan berjarak 5 km dari pemukiman penduduk. Sampah yang dibuang ke TPA ini mencapai 10-13 (Sepuluh sampai Tiga Belas) ton perhari. Sampai saat ini pengumpulan sampah dipasir pengaraian belum bisa direalisasikan secara efektif dikarenakan kurangnya kesadaran masyarakat terhadap kebersihan lingkungan dan disisi lain lokasi ataupun area TPA yang berjarak jauh dari Kota Pasir Pengaraian, dan jalan atapun akses menuju ke lokasi TPA yang masih belum memadai, selain itu terbatasnya alat transportasi dalam pengangkutan sampah yang disediakan oleh Dinas Lingkungan Hidup.
Pelatihan Aplikasi Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Bayu (PLTB) untuk Lampu Taman di Sekolah SMAN 57 Jakarta
Authors: Hajar Ibnu
Published: February 2019

Kegiatan pelatihan P2M ini merupakan kegiatan pelatihan aplikasi EBT (Energi Baru Terbarukan) yang dimotori oleh para Dosen dan mahasiswa STT-PLN di bidang Teknik Elektro guna melatih siswa-siswi calon penerus bangsa yang masih duduk dibangku sekolah menengah, setingkat SMA/SMK terutama dalam berbagi pengetahuan / Sharing Knowledge mengenai aplikasi ilmu yang lagi banyak digunakan lampu penerangan umum di daerah-daerah terpencil di Indonesia saat ini yaitu : “Pelatihan Aplikasi Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Bayu (PLTB) untuk Lampu Taman” pada sekolah SMAN 57 Jakarta yang berlokasi di Kedoya Utara, Kebun Jeruk, Kodya Jakarta Barat, DKI Jakarta. Penyusun dalam tim P2M memilih pelatihan aplikasi “Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Bayu untuk lampu taman” ini adalah untuk memberikan paparan tentang bagaimana rancang bangun, fungsi kerja dan manfaatnya dalam kehidupan masyarakat pada umumnya dan kegiatan sekolah pada khususnya.Dalam perancangannya, pemilihan material dari baling-baling/blade yang bisa terbuat dari kayu atau aluminium dipilih berdasarkan karakteristik kecepatan angin dan dilakukan pengujian material berpengaruh terhadap kecepatan daya putar baling-baling/blade. Potensi energi angin di Indonesia telah teridentifikasi di beberapa lokasi terutama di wilayah Jawa, Sulawesi Selatan, Nusa Tenggara dan Maluku.

Melalui pelatihan aplikasi PLTB untuk penggunaan lampu taman, merupakan salah satu program yang dikembangkan oleh Dosen dan mahasiswa STT-PLN, dan hasil pengembangan pelatihan ini diberikan secara gratis untuk siswa-siswi SMAN 57 Jakarta, agar ilmu yang diperoleh secara teori di sekolah dapat diterapkan di dalam prakteknya.
Notas sobre la responsabilidad de las personas jurídicas por los delitos en el sistema italiano, con particular referencia a la denominada “culpa de organización”
Authors: Valenzano Anna Salvina
Published: February 2019

O texto aborda a responsabilidade penal das pessoas jurídicas no direito italiano. Para isso, adota novos critérios de imputação, tratando a conduta delitiva como “defeito organizacional” que favorece a prática da conduta criminosa. Sob essa perspectiva, a imputação do crime à pessoa jurídica pode ser feita por cinco níveis de ligação: i) a pessoa jurídica ser a beneficiária do crime; ii) ter sido o crime cometido por falha de supervisão; iii) o crime ter ocorrido por falha organizacional; iv) ausência de mecanismos de prevenção de crimes; v) ter sido o crime cometido por uma “evasão não fraudulenta” do modelo organizacional.
ROLE OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) IN AGRICULTURE FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Authors: BAIN R. P. , RAI D. P. , NAYAK SIDDARTH
Published: February 2019

If we want to convert our rural population into knowledge driven, progressive, self sufficient, self reliant, sustainable society, the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT’s) cannot be ignored. Timely availability information is considered as most important factor in Indian agriculture. At present ICT is the technology of this millennium. Transferring the developed technology to all end users is time-consuming and tiresome task and is often not completed due to paucity of resources and lack of manpower. In India, agriculture and rural development has gained significantly from ICT due to its widespread extension and adoption. In this era of internet, ICT is committed to provide real, timely accurate authentic information to the farmers and rural peoples.
A VARIETY OF TEACHING-LEARNING STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE THE CARING BEHAVIOR OF NURSING STUDENTS
Authors: Anna Anastasia , Nuraeni Aan , Praptiwi Atlastieka
Published: February 2019

Background: Caring is the essence of nursing that is believed vital in improving the health and well-being of patients and in facilitating health promotion. Nursing education has a fundamental role in shaping a positive student’s caring behavior.

Objective: This study identified the caring behavior of the final-year nursing students after completing a critical care nursing course unit by implementing assorted teaching-learning strategies.

Methods: This study was a descriptive research using a comparative design. Samples were recruited from a group of 152 final-year students using a random sampling technique (n=76). Data were collected using a valid and reliable Indonesian caring instrument consisting of 32 items based on Watson’s ten carative factors. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics by calculating mean scores of students’ caring behavior. A paired t test was performed to evaluate the difference between caring behavior before and after completion of the course unit involving a diverse teaching learning strategy, such as face-to-face lectures in the class, quizzes and practicums, facilitated small group case-based discussions, and expert reviews.

Results: Results showed that more than half of the students had negative caring behavior before (59.22%) and after (54.55%) participating in learning process. There was also a barely statistical insignificance in the change of caring behavior following the course unit that involved various learning strategies (p value = 0.276). Further analyses of the 10 carative factors revealed that there was a significant change in transpersonal teaching-learning, provision for a supportive, protective, and/or corrective mental, physical, sociocultural, and spiritual environment, and spiritual environment and existential-phenomenological spiritual forces (improved, p value <0.05).

Conclusions: Student-centered learning is a good approach to enhance the students’ critical thinking skills. However, in implementing the approach, there is a need to reevaluate appropriate method so as to simultaneously develop students’ critical thinking skills, caring behavior, and empathy.
Canine Endogenous Oxytocin Responses to Dog-Walking and Affiliative Human–Dog Interactions
Authors: Powell Lauren , Edwards Kate M. , Bauman Adrian , Guastella Adam J. , Drayton Bradley , Stamatakis Emmanuel , McGreevy Paul
Published: February 2019

Several studies suggest human–dog interactions elicit a positive effect on canine oxytocin concentrations. However, empirical investigations are scant and the joint influence of human–dog interaction and physical activity remains unexplored. The aims of the current study were to (a) examine the canine endogenous oxytocin response to owner-led dog-walking and affiliative human–dog interactions and (b) investigate the moderating effect of the owner-reported strength of the human–dog bond on such responses. Twenty-six dogs took part in a random order cross-over trial, involving dog-walking and human–dog interactions. Urinary samples were collected before and after each condition. The data were analyzed using linear mixed models with condition, order of conditions, condition duration, and latency from initiation of condition to urine sample collection considered as fixed effects, and the participant was considered a random effect. Canine urinary oxytocin concentrations did not differ significantly following dog-walking (mean change: −14.66 pg/mg Cr; 95% CI: −47.22, 17.90) or affiliative human–dog interactions (mean change: 6.94 pg/mg Cr; 95% CI: −26.99, 40.87). The reported strength of the human–dog bond did not significantly moderate the canine oxytocin response to either experimental condition. Contrary to our hypothesis, we did not observe evidence for a positive oxytocin response to dog-walking or human–dog interactions.
Detection of Helminthosporium Leaf Blotch Disease Based on UAV Imagery
Authors: Huang Huasheng , Deng Jizhong , Lan Yubin , Yang Aqing , Zhang Lei , Wen Sheng , Zhang Huihui , Zhang Yali , Deng Yusen
Published: February 2019

Helminthosporium leaf blotch (HLB) is a serious disease of wheat causing yield reduction globally. Usually, HLB disease is controlled by uniform chemical spraying, which is adopted by most farmers. However, increased use of chemical controls have caused agronomic and environmental problems. To solve these problems, an accurate spraying system must be applied. In this case, the disease detection over the whole field can provide decision support information for the spraying machines. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the potential of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing for HLB detection. In this work, the UAV imagery acquisition and ground investigation were conducted in Central China on April 22th, 2017. Four disease categories (normal, light, medium, and heavy) were established based on different severity degrees. A convolutional neural network (CNN) was proposed for HLB disease classification. The experiments on data preprocessing, classification, and hyper-parameters tuning were conducted. The overall accuracy and standard error of the CNN method was 91.43% and 0.83%, which outperformed other methods in terms of accuracy and stabilization. Especially for the detection of the diseased samples, the CNN method significantly outperformed others. Experimental results showed that the HLB infected areas and healthy areas can be precisely discriminated based on UAV remote sensing data, indicating that UAV remote sensing can be proposed as an efficient tool for HLB disease detection.
Analyzing the Impact of Variability and Uncertainty on Power System Flexibility
Authors: Min Chang-Gi
Published: February 2019

This study investigates the impact of variability and uncertainty on the flexibility of a power system. The variability and uncertainty make it harder to maintain the balance between load and generation. However, most existing studies on flexibility evaluation have not distinguished between the effects of variability and uncertainty. The countermeasures to address variability and uncertainty differ; thus, applying strategies individually tailored to variability and uncertainty is helpful for more efficient operation and planning of a power system. The first contribution of this study is in separating the variability and uncertainty, and determining which is more influential in terms of flexibility in specific system situations. A flexibility index, named the ramping capability shortage probability (RSP), is used to quantify the extent to which the variability and uncertainty affect the flexibility. The second contribution is to generate various scenarios for variability and uncertainty based on a modified IEEE-RTS-96, to evaluate the flexibility. The penetration level of renewable energy resources is kept the same in each scenario. The results of a sensitivity analysis show that variability is more effective than uncertainty for high and medium net loads.
3D U-Net for Skull Stripping in Brain MRI
Authors: Hwang Hyunho , Rehman Hafiz Zia Ur , Lee Sungon
Published: February 2019

Skull stripping in brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an essential step to analyze images of the brain. Although manual segmentation has the highest accuracy, it is a time-consuming task. Therefore, various automatic segmentation algorithms of the brain in MRI have been devised and proposed previously. However, there is still no method that solves the entire brain extraction problem satisfactorily for diverse datasets in a generic and robust way. To address these shortcomings of existing methods, we propose the use of a 3D-UNet for skull stripping in brain MRI. The 3D-UNet was recently proposed and has been widely used for volumetric segmentation in medical images due to its outstanding performance. It is an extended version of the previously proposed 2D-UNet, which is based on a deep learning network, specifically, the convolutional neural network. We evaluated 3D-UNet skull-stripping using a publicly available brain MRI dataset and compared the results with three existing methods (BSE, ROBEX, and Kleesiek’s method; BSE and ROBEX are two conventional methods, and Kleesiek’s method is based on deep learning). The 3D-UNet outperforms two typical methods and shows comparable results with the specific deep learning-based algorithm, exhibiting a mean Dice coefficient of 0.9903, a sensitivity of 0.9853, and a specificity of 0.9953.
Formulations of Curcumin Nanoparticles for Brain Diseases
Authors: Del Prado-Audelo María L. , Caballero-Florán Isaac H. , Meza-Toledo Jorge A. , Mendoza-Muñoz Néstor , González-Torres Maykel , Florán Benjamín , Cortés Hernán , Leyva-Gómez Gerardo
Published: February 2019

Curcumin is a polyphenol that is obtained from Curcuma longa and used in various areas, such as food and textiles. Curcumin has important anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that allow it to be applied as treatment for several emerging pathologies. Remarkably, there are an elevated number of publications deriving from the terms “curcumin” and “curcumin brain diseases”, which highlights the increasing impact of this polyphenol and the high number of study groups investigating their therapeutic actions. However, its lack of solubility in aqueous media, as well as its poor bioavailability in biological systems, represent limiting factors for its successful application. In this review article, the analysis of its chemical composition and the pivotal mechanisms for brain applications are addressed in a global manner. Furthermore, we emphasize the use of nanoparticles with curcumin and the benefits that have been reached as an example of the extensive advances in this area of health.
Fast Identification of Bacteria for Quality Control of Drinking Water through a Static Headspace Sampler Coupled to a Sensory Perception System
Authors: Carrillo Jeniffer , Durán Cristhian
Published: February 2019

The aim of this study was to develop and implement a methodology composed by a Static Head-Space-Sampler (SHS) coupled to a Sensory Perception System (SPS) for the extraction of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) emitted by bacterial species in the water. The SPS was performed by means of a chamber of 16 Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (MOS) gas sensors and a software with pattern recognition methods for the detection and identification of bacteria. At first, the tests were conducted from the sterile and polluted water with the Escherichia coli bacteria and modifying the incubation temperatures (50 °C, 70 °C and 90 °C), with the objective to obtain an optimal temperature for the distinguishing of species. Furthermore, the capacity of the methodology to distinguish the important compounds was assessed, in this case, E. coli and other bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella oxytoca, which formed similar analytes. The validation of the proposed methodology was done by acquiring water samples from different unitary operations of an aqueduct of the municipality of Toledo (North of Santander, Colombia), which were analyzed by the membrane filter technique in the laboratories of the University of Pamplona, along with the SHS-SPS system. The results showed that it was possible to distinguish polluted water samples in a fast way through the sensory measurement equipment using pattern recognition techniques such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Discriminant Function Analysis (DFA) and a probabilistic neural network (PNN), where a 95% of differentiation was obtained through PCA and 100% of the classification with DFA. The PNN network achieved the 86.6% of success rate with the cross-validation technique “leave one out”.
Assessment and Management of HIV-Associated Cognitive Impairment: Experience from a Multidisciplinary Memory Service for People Living with HIV
Authors: Alford Kate , Banerjee Sube , Nixon Eileen , O’Brien Clara , Pounds Olivia , Butler Andrew , Elphick Claire , Henshaw Phillip , Anderson Stuart , Vera Jaime H.
Published: February 2019

As the HIV population ages, the prevalence of cognitive impairment (CI) is increasing, yet few services exist for the assessment and management of these individuals. Here we provide an initial description of a memory assessment service for people living with HIV and present data from a service evaluation undertaken in the clinic. We conducted an evaluation of the first 52 patients seen by the clinic. We present patient demographic data, assessment outcomes, diagnoses given and interventions delivered to those seen in the clinic. 41 patients (79%) of those seen in the clinic had objective CI: 16 (31%) met criteria for HIV-associated Neurocognitive Disorder (HAND), 2 (4%) were diagnosed with dementia, 14 (27%) showed CI associated with mental illness and/or drugs/alcohol, 7 (13%) had CI which was attributed to factors other than HIV and in 2 (4%) patients the cause remains unclear. 32 (62%) patients showed some abnormality on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain scans. Patients attending the clinic performed significantly worse than normative scores on all tests of global cognition and executive function. Interventions offered to patients included combination antiretroviral therapy modification, signposting to other services, case management, further health investigations and in-clinic advice. Our experience suggests that the need exists for specialist HIV memory services and that such a model of working can be successfully implemented into HIV patient care. Further work is needed on referral criteria and pathways. Diagnostic processes and treatment offered needs to consider and address the multifactorial aetiology of CI in HIV and this is essential for effective assessment and management.
Megakaryocytes in Bone Metastasis: Protection or Progression?
Authors: Maroni Paola
Published: February 2019

Bone is the primary site where some cancers develop secondary growth, particularly those derived from breast and prostate tissue. The spread of metastasis to distant sites relies on complex mechanisms by which only cells endowed with certain characteristics are able to reach secondary growth sites. Platelets play a pivotal role in tumour growth, by conferring resistance to shear stress to the circulating tumour cells and protection against natural killer cell attack. Mature polyploid megakaryocytes (MKs) reside in close proximity to the vascular sinusoids of bone marrow, where their primary function is to produce platelets. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that MKs are essential for skeletal homeostasis, due to the expression and production of the bone-related proteins osteocalcin, osteonectin, bone morphogenetic protein, osteopontin, bone sialoprotein, and osteoprotegerin. Debate surrounds the role that MKs play in the development of bone metastasis, which is the topic of this mini-review.
Intestinal Mucosal Mast Cells: Key Modulators of Barrier Function and Homeostasis
Authors: Albert-Bayo Mercé , Paracuellos Irene , González-Castro Ana M. , Rodríguez-Urrutia Amanda , Rodríguez-Lagunas María J. , Alonso-Cotoner Carmen , Santos Javier , Vicario María
Published: February 2019

The gastrointestinal tract harbours the largest population of mast cells in the body; this highly specialised leukocyte cell type is able to adapt its phenotype and function to the microenvironment in which it resides. Mast cells react to external and internal stimuli thanks to the variety of receptors they express, and carry out effector and regulatory tasks by means of the mediators of different natures they produce. Mast cells are fundamental elements of the intestinal barrier as they regulate epithelial function and integrity, modulate both innate and adaptive mucosal immunity, and maintain neuro-immune interactions, which are key to functioning of the gut. Disruption of the intestinal barrier is associated with increased passage of luminal antigens into the mucosa, which further facilitates mucosal mast cell activation, inflammatory responses, and altered mast cell–enteric nerve interaction. Despite intensive research showing gut dysfunction to be associated with increased intestinal permeability and mucosal mast cell activation, the specific mechanisms linking mast cell activity with altered intestinal barrier in human disease remain unclear. This review describes the role played by mast cells in control of the intestinal mucosal barrier and their contribution to digestive diseases.
The Nuclear Lamina as an Organizer of Chromosome Architecture
Authors: Shevelyov Yuri Y. , Ulianov Sergey V.
Published: February 2019

The nuclear lamina (NL) is a meshwork of lamins and lamin-associated proteins adjoining the inner side of the nuclear envelope. In early embryonic cells, the NL mainly suppresses background transcription, whereas, in differentiated cell types, its disruption affects gene expression more severely. Normally, the NL serves as a backbone for multiple chromatin anchoring sites, thus shaping the spatial organization of chromosomes in the interphase nucleus. However, upon cell senescence, aging, or in some types of terminally differentiated cells and lamin-associated diseases, the loss of NL-chromatin tethering causes drastic alterations in chromosome architecture. Here, we provide an overview of the recent advances in the field of NL-chromatin interactions, focusing on their impact on chromatin positioning, compaction, repression, and spatial organization.
Automodified Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase Analysisto Monitor DNA Damagein Peripheral Lymphocytes of Floriculturists Occupationally Exposed to Pesticides
Authors: Imperato Serena , Mistretta Carmela , Marone Maria , Migliaccio Ilaria , Pulcinelli Ilaria , Faraone Mennella Maria Rosaria
Published: February 2019

Increased DNA damage and the propension to cancer development, depend on the modulation of the mechanisms to control and maintain genomic integrity. Poly(ADP-Ribose)Polymerase activation and automodification are early responses to genotoxic stress. Upon binding to DNA strand breaks, the enzyme, a molecular DNA nick sensor, is hyperactivated: this is the first step in a series of events leading to either DNA repair or apoptosis. Enzyme hyperactivation and automodification can be easily measured and are widely used to look at DNA damage extent in the cell. We investigated whether these two markers (increased catalytic activity and auto modification), could help to monitor DNA damage in lymphocytes of flower growers from Southern Italy, occupationally exposed to pesticides. Peripheral lymphocyte lysates were analyzed for Poly(ADP-Ribose)Polymerase activity, and by SDS-PAGE and anti-Poly(ADP-Ribose)Polymerase 1-antibodyto measure automodified Poly(ADP-Ribose)Polymerase levels bydensitometry. Poly(ADP-Ribose)Polymerase activity and PARP automodification followed the same trend. Growers daily exposed to pesticides, showed both biomarkers very high, either in the presence or in the absence of pathologies. PARP activity and auto-modification in peripheral blood lymphocytes are possible, non-invasive, androutinartools to monitor the healthy conditions of floricoltorists.
Current Progress on the Surface Chemical Modification of Carbonaceous Materials
Authors: Rehman Adeela , Park Mira , Park Soo-Jin
Published: February 2019

Carbon-based materials is considered one of the oldest and extensively studied research areas related to gas adsorption, energy storage and wastewater treatment for removing organic and inorganic contaminants. Efficient adsorption on activated carbon relies heavily upon the surface chemistry and textural features of the main framework. The activation techniques and the nature of the precursor have strong impacts on surface functionalities. Consequently, the main emphasis for scientists is to innovate or improve the activation methods in an optimal way by selecting suitable precursors for desired adsorption. Various approaches, including acid treatment, base treatment and impregnation methods, have been used to design activated carbons with chemically modified surfaces. The present review article intends to deliver precise knowledge on efforts devoted by researchers to surface modification of activated carbons. Chemical modification approaches used to design modified activated carbons for gas adsorption, energy storage and water treatment are discussed here.
Characterization of HfO2 Optical Coatings Deposited by MF Magnetron Sputtering
Authors: Wiatrowski Artur , Obstarczyk Agata , Mazur Michał , Kaczmarek Danuta , Wojcieszak Damian
Published: February 2019

The aim of this work is to determine the influence of medium frequency magnetron sputtering powers on the various properties of hafnium dioxide (HfO2) thin films. Microstructure observations show that an increase in the sputtering power has a significant influence on HfO2 films’ microstructure. As-deposited hafnia thin films exhibit nanocrystalline structure with a monoclinic phase, however the rise of the sputtering power results in an increase of crystallite sizes. Atomic force microscopy investigations show that the surface of the deposited films is smooth, crack-free, and composed of visible grains. The surface roughness and the value of the water contact angle increase with the increase of the sputtering power. Measurements of the optical properties show that HfO2 coatings are transparent in the visible wavelength range. A higher sputtering power causes a decrease of an average transmittance level and a simultaneous increase of the real part of the refractive index. Nanoindentation measurements reveal that the thin film hardness and Young’s elastic modulus increase with an increase in the sputtering power. Moreover, the results of plasticity index H/E and plastic resistance parameter H3/E2 are discussed. Based on the obtained results, a correlation between the sputtering power and the structural, surface, and optical properties, as well as the hardness and Young’s elastic modulus, were determined.
Timely Interventions for Children with ADHD through Web-Based Monitoring Algorithms
Authors: Oppenheimer Julia , Ojo Oluwafemi , Antonetty Annalee , Chiujdea Madeline , Garcia Stephanie , Weas Sarah , Loddenkemper Tobias , Fleegler Eric , Chan Eugenia
Published: February 2019

The aim of this study was to evaluate an automated trigger algorithm designed to detect potentially adverse events in children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), who were monitored remotely between visits. We embedded a trigger algorithm derived from parent-reported ADHD rating scales within an electronic patient monitoring system. We categorized clinicians’ alert resolution outcomes and compared Vanderbilt ADHD rating scale scores between patients who did or did not have triggered alerts. A total of 146 out of 1738 parent reports (8%) triggered alerts for 98 patients. One hundred and eleven alerts (76%) required immediate clinician review. Nurses successfully contacted parents for 68 (61%) of actionable alerts; 46% (31/68) led to a change in care plan prior to the next scheduled appointment. Compared to patients without alerts, patients with alerts demonstrated worsened ADHD severity (β = 5.8, 95% CI: 3.5–8.1 [p < 0.001] within 90 days prior to an alert. The trigger algorithm facilitated timely changes in the care plan in between face-to-face visits.
Genome Sequencing of Cladobotryum protrusum Provides Insights into the Evolution and Pathogenic Mechanisms of the Cobweb Disease Pathogen on Cultivated Mushroom
Authors: Sossah Frederick Leo , Liu Zhenghui , Yang Chentao , Okorley Benjamin Azu , Sun Lei , Fu Yongping , Li Yu
Published: February 2019

Cladobotryum protrusum is one of the mycoparasites that cause cobweb disease on cultivated edible mushrooms. However, the molecular mechanisms of evolution and pathogenesis of C. protrusum on mushrooms are largely unknown. Here, we report a high-quality genome sequence of C. protrusum using the single-molecule, real-time sequencing platform of PacBio and perform a comparative analysis with closely related fungi in the family Hypocreaceae. The C. protrusum genome, the first complete genome to be sequenced in the genus Cladobotryum, is 39.09 Mb long, with an N50 of 4.97 Mb, encoding 11,003 proteins. The phylogenomic analysis confirmed its inclusion in Hypocreaceae, with its evolutionary divergence time estimated to be ~170.1 million years ago. The genome encodes a large and diverse set of genes involved in secreted peptidases, carbohydrate-active enzymes, cytochrome P450 enzymes, pathogen–host interactions, mycotoxins, and pigments. Moreover, C. protrusum harbors arrays of genes with the potential to produce bioactive secondary metabolites and stress response-related proteins that are significant for adaptation to hostile environments. Knowledge of the genome will foster a better understanding of the biology of C. protrusum and mycoparasitism in general, as well as help with the development of effective disease control strategies to minimize economic losses from cobweb disease in cultivated edible mushrooms.
The Monumental Mistake of Evicting Bats from Archaeological Sites—A Reflection from New Delhi
Authors: Umadi Ravi , Dookia Sumit , Rydell Jens
Published: February 2019

We highlight the importance of an integrated management policy for archaeological monuments and the insect-eating bats that roost inside them. We refer to India, but the issue is general and of worldwide significance. There is increasing evidence that the ecosystem services provided by insect-eating bats in agricultural fields are of vital economic importance, which is likely to increase as chemical pest-control methods become inefficient due to evolving multi-resistance in insects. We visited five archaeological sites in the city of New Delhi. We found bats at all five locations, and three of them harbored large colonies (many thousands) of mouse-tailed bats and tomb bats. These bats likely disperse over extensive areas to feed, including agricultural fields in the vicinity and beyond. All insect-eating bats should be protected and properly managed as a valuable resource at the archaeological sites where they occur. We firmly believe that “fear” of bats can be turned into curiosity by means of education and that their presence should instead enhance the value of the sites. We suggest some means to protect the bats roosting inside the buildings, while mitigating potential conflicts with archaeological and touristic interests.
Evaluation of “Healthy Learning. Together”, an Easily Applicable Mental Health Promotion Tool for Students Aged 9 to 18 Years
Authors: Schwager Susanne , Berger Uwe , Glaeser Anni , Strauss Bernhard , Wick Katharina
Published: February 2019

Schools play an important role in adolescents’ health promotion. Due to the limited resources of teachers, there is a need for short-time interventions that can be easily implemented in a regular class without extensive training. Therefore, the tool “Healthy learning. Together.” was developed within a joint venture research project in Jena, Germany. The tool consists of a box with 60 exercises and a poster exhibition for students in 5th grade and higher. One thousand one hundred and forty four (1144) students (56% female) from nine schools were assessed at an interval of 10 weeks in a parallelized pre-post-design with class-wise assignment to intervention group (IG) and control group (CG). In the IG, regular teachers implemented the health promotion tool. Before and after the intervention social integration, class climate, self-efficacy (as primary outcomes) and mental and physical wellbeing (as secondary outcomes) were measured using standardized questionnaires. ANCOVA analysis revealed that students of the IG showed more positive changes on primary outcomes with small effect sizes. Additional implementation outcomes showed high teacher and student enthusiasm but sometimes low exposure rates. Regarding the relatively small amount of time and preparation for teachers to get noticeable effects, the introduced tool is suitable as a first step into health promotion for schools.
Risk and Protective Environmental Factors Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence-Based Principles and Recommendations
Authors: Emberti Gialloreti Leonardo , Mazzone Luigi , Benvenuto Arianna , Fasano Alessio , Garcia Alcon Alicia , Kraneveld Aletta , Moavero Romina , Raz Raanan , Riccio Maria Pia , Siracusano Martina , Zachor Ditza A. , Marini Marina , Curatolo Paolo
Published: February 2019

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex condition with early childhood onset, characterized by a set of common behavioral features. The etiology of ASD is not yet fully understood; however, it reflects the interaction between genetics and environment. While genetics is now a well-established risk factor, several data support a contribution of the environment as well. This paper summarizes the conclusions of a consensus conference focused on the potential pathogenetic role of environmental factors and on their interactions with genetics. Several environmental factors have been discussed in terms of ASD risk, namely advanced parental age, assisted reproductive technologies, nutritional factors, maternal infections and diseases, environmental chemicals and toxicants, and medications, as well as some other conditions. The analysis focused on their specific impact on three biologically relevant time windows for brain development: the periconception, prenatal, and early postnatal periods. Possible protective factors that might prevent or modify an ASD trajectory have been explored as well. Recommendations for clinicians to reduce ASD risk or its severity have been proposed. Developments in molecular biology and big data approaches, which are able to assess a large number of coexisting factors, are offering new opportunities to disentangle the gene–environment interplay that can lead to the development of ASD.
Contraction Integral Equation for Three-Dimensional Electromagnetic Inverse Scattering Problems
Authors: Zhong Yu , Xu Kuiwen
Published: February 2019

Inverse scattering problems (ISPs) stand at the center of many important imaging applications, such as geophysical explorations, industrial non-destructive testing, bio-medical imaging, etc. Recently, a new type of contraction integral equation for inversion (CIE-I) has been proposed to tackle the two-dimensional electromagnetic ISPs, in which the usually employed Lippmann–Schwinger integral equation (LSIE) is transformed into a new form with a modified medium contrast via a contraction mapping. With the CIE-I, the multiple scattering effects, i.e., the physical reason for the nonlinearity in the ISPs, is substantially suppressed in estimating the modified contrast, without compromising physical modeling. In this paper, we firstly propose to implement this new CIE-I for the three-dimensional ISPs. With the help of the FFT type twofold subspace-based optimization method (TSOM), when handling the highly nonlinear problems with strong scatterers, those with higher contrast and/or larger dimensions (in terms of wavelengths), the performance of the inversions with CIE-I is much better than the ones with the LSIE, wherein inversions usually converge to local minima that may be far away from the solution. In addition, when handling the moderate scatterers (those the LSIE modeling can still handle), the convergence speed of the proposed method with CIE-I is much faster than the one with the LSIE. Secondly, we propose to relax the contraction mapping condition, i.e., different contraction mappings are used in updating contrast sources and contrast, and we find that the convergence can be further accelerated. Several numerical tests illustrate the aforementioned interests.