bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pemeriksaan Kadar Ureum dan Kreatinin Pasien HIV yang Mendapatkan Terapi ARV di Puskesmas Harapan Sentani Kabupaten Jayapura Papua
Authors: Rampa Ester , Prastyawati Rini , Sinaga Herlando
Published: November 2019

ARV therapy in HIV patients prolongs the age of HIV patients, but has a contribution to the incidence of kidney disease. Damage to kidney function is not only a result of HIV infection and side effects of ARV treatment but complications of opportunistic infections that can interfere with the functioning of other organs can also affect kidney function. This research aims to determine the results of examination of urea levels and creatinine levels in HIV patients with ARV therapy. This type of research was descriptive with a laboratory test approach. The research was conducted for 1 month, starting from May 1 to June 1, 2018. The population used in this research were all HIV patients with ARV therapy who conducted examinations at Harapan Sentani Health Center during the research period. The samples size were 24 (total sampling). The sample used was serum HIV sufferers with ARV therapy. Methods for examining kidney function include the levels of urea and creatinine used were photometry. The results showed that from 24 samples studied there were normal urea levels of 24 patients (100%) and no urea levels were found to increase or decrease (abnormally), whereas normal creatinine levels were 13 patients (54.3%) and creatinine levels were increased by 11 patients (45.7%).

Keywords: HIV patients; ARV therapy; ereum; creatinine

ABSTRAK

Terapi ARV pada penderita HIV memperpanjang usia pasien HIV, namun memiliki kontribusi terhadap kejadian penyakit ginjal. Kerusakan fungsi ginjal bukan hanya akibat dari infeksi virus HIV dan efek samping dari pengobatan ARV tetapi komplikasi infeksi oportunistik yang dapat mengganggu fungsi organ tubuh yang lain juga bisa berpengaruh terhadap fungsi ginjal. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui hasil pemeriksaan kadar ureum dan kadar kreatinin pada penderita HIV dengan terapi ARV. Jenis penelitian ini adalah deskriptif dengan pendekatan uji laboratorium. Penelitian ini dilaksanakan selama 1 bulan, mulai dari tanggal 01 Mei sampai dengan 01 Juni 2018. Populasi yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah semua pasien HIV dengan terapi ARV yang melakukan pemeriksaan di Puskesmas Harapan Sentani selama masa penelitian. Ukuran sampel adalah 24 (total sampling). Sampel yang digunakan adalah serum penderita HIV dengan terapi ARV. Metode pemeriksaan fungsi ginjal antara lain adalah kadar ureum dan kreatinin yang digunakan adalah fotometri. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa dari 24 sampel terdapat kadar ureum normal sebanyak 24 pasien (100%) dan tidak ditemukan kadar ureum yang meningkat atau menurun (abnormal), sedangkan kadar kreatinin yang normal sebanyak 13 pasien (54,3%) dan kadar kreatinin yang meningkat sebanyak 11 pasien (45,7%).

Kata kunci: penderita HIV; terapi ARV; ureum; kreatinin
Soil Amendment with Biochar Affects Water Drainage and Nutrient Losses by Leaching: Experimental Evidence under Field-Grown Conditions
Authors: Libutti Angela , Cammerino Anna Rita Bernadette , Francavilla Matteo , Monteleone Massimo
Published: November 2019

Leaching of soluble elements from cultivated soils is a major concern to meet the target of agricultural sustainability in most areas. The effect of biochar application to a cultivated soil on water drainage and the consequent solute losses was assessed during a trial carried out over two consecutive growing seasons. Biochar was added to a loam-texture soil, at 0, 1, and 2% d.w. rates. A lysimeter-like set-up arranged in the experimental field-unit, allowed collecting the percolating water. Two multiple linear regressions (ANCOVA models) were applied to detect biochar effect on: (1) The seasonal amount of drained water; and (2) the concentration of solutes in the drained water. The statistical comparison among a set of slope coefficients as affected by treatments (growing season and biochar) was used as modelling approach. The lower biochar application rate (1%) significantly reduced both the amount of drained water and its concentration in solutes. Conversely, the higher biochar application rate (2%) showed no significant effects. Nitrate and chloride showed a significant interaction with biochar application rates. Higher biochar application increased nitrate leaching while reduced that of chloride. Biochar application within a rate no more than 1% resulted in a useful and quite effective technical operation.
Response of Bt and Non-Bt Cottons to High Infestations of Bollworm (Helicoverpa zea Boddie) and Tobacco Budworm (Heliothis virescens (F.)) under Sprayed and Unsprayed Conditions
Authors: Allen Kerry C. , Luttrell Randall G. , Little Nathan S. , Parys Katherine A. , Perera Omaththage P.
Published: November 2019

Early-maturing and full-season Bt and non-Bt cottons were exposed to high densities of tobacco budworm (Heliothis virescens (F.)) and bollworm (Helicoverpa zea Boddie) in 0.04 ha field cages during the summers of 2011 and 2012 to measure the possible need for supplemental use of insecticides on Bt cotton. Fruit survival within-season and at-harvest was carefully mapped on individual plants within comparative plots of all cottons untreated and sprayed with lambda-cyhalothin (0.0448 kg a.i./ha) or chlorantraniliprole (0.1009 kg a.i./ha) following insect infestations. Differences in lint yields among cotton maturity groups were not always detected, but early-maturing Bt cottons were among the higher yielding experimental plots for both years. Depending on the insecticide treatment, average harvested fruit ranged from 0.3 to 7.1 open bolls per plant for non-Bt cotton plots, while Bt cotton plots ranged from 1.8 to 7.5 open bolls per plant during the two-year study. Bt cottons generally protected fruit from insect damage and resulted in final yields comparable to those of insecticide sprayed Bt and non-Bt cottons. Unsprayed non-Bt cottons were significantly damaged by insects in these high-infestation environments.
Freeze-Dried Royal Jelly Proteins Enhanced the Testicular Development and Spermatogenesis in Pubescent Male Mice
Authors: Shi Zhicheng , Enayatullah Hamdard , Lv Zengpeng , Dai Hongjian , Wei Quanwei , Shen Lirong , Karwand Babrak , Shi Fangxiong
Published: November 2019

Spermatogenesis and hormones secretions are crucial endocrine and physiological process for maintaining the life. Royal Jelly (RJ) bioactive components are Major Royal Jelly Proteins (MRJPs), owing exceptional biological properties. However, the effects of RJ on pup’s testicular development during neonatal and pubertal period exposure hasn’t been adequately studied. The aim of the study was to detect neonatal sexual hormones concentration and histopathological changes on testicular development of the male progeny after oral exposure to freeze-dried RJ for 35 consecutive days. After mice give birth, male pups were collected together, separated by sex, and randomly standardized to seven (7) male pups per dam. Male pups were assigned to control diet (CON group), low dose RJ (L-RJ group) diet (control diet + 125 mg/kg/day RJ), moderate dose RJ (M-RJ group) diet (control diet + 250 mg/kg/day RJ) and high dose of RJ (H-RJ group) diet (control diet + 500 mg/kg/day RJ). After weaning, male pups were continuously fed with freeze-dried RJ until the age of PNDs 35. The results revealed that, oral M-RJ (250 mg/kg/day) administration significantly (p < 0.05) increased the testis weight, the diameter of seminiferous tubule and the height of seminiferous epithelium of offspring mice at PNDs 14. However, high-dose RJ (500 mg/kg/day) decreased the diameter of seminiferous tubule but increased the height of seminiferous epithelium of male offspring (p < 0.05) at the same time point. Furthermore, oral M-RJ treatment significantly (p < 0.05) increased the testis weight and spermatogenesis at PNDs 21. Whereas, oral H-RJ treatment significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the diameter of seminiferous tubule and the height of seminiferous epithelium at PNDs 21. At PNDs 35, oral M-RJ treatment increased the testis weight, the diameter of seminiferous tubule and the level of FSH. While, high-dose of RJ reduced testis weight and size (diameter of seminiferous tubule and height of seminiferous epithelium), ratio of apoptotic germ cells and incomplete spermatogenesis collectively. In addition, sexual hormone secretions (FSH, LH, E2) were decreased after RJs treatment (L-RJ, M-RJ, H-RJ) at PNDs 21 respectively. In conclusion, the results concluded that oral administration of low and moderate doses of RJ could enhance the development of testis at neonate period until pubescent, whereas unfavorable adverse effects induced by high dose of RJ might remain.
Owners’ Attitudes, Knowledge, and Care Practices: Exploring the Implications for Domestic Cat Behavior and Welfare in the Home
Authors: Grigg Emma K. , Kogan Lori R.
Published: November 2019

Available research on the link between domestic cats’ environment and welfare has primarily been conducted in animal shelters or research facilities; a better understanding of the welfare of cats living in homes is needed. This study measured the attitudes of current U.S.-based cat owners towards cats as pets; owner knowledge about normal cat behavior and environmental needs; current trends in cat care; cats’ behavior in the home; and the human-animal bond. The primary hypothesis was that owners with a more accurate understanding of cat behavior and a stronger reported bond with their cats would report fewer behavior problems. Data from an online, anonymous, cross-sectional survey of 547 cat owners supported the primary hypothesis: owner knowledge, along with two measures of the human-animal bond (owner-pet interactions, and perceptions of affordability of cat ownership), were significant predictors of the number of reported behavior problems. In addition to fewer reported behavior problems, greater owner knowledge about cats was correlated with less use of positive-punishment-based responses to misbehavior, and increased tolerance of potential behavior problems when present. Owners’ agreement with certain misconceptions about cats and perception of high costs of care were correlated with the use of positive punishment in response to misbehavior. Based on the survey results, many cats living in private homes may be receiving only minimal environmental enrichment. Collectively, these results suggest the need for better education of cat owners. Topics could include: understanding normal cat behavior and correcting misconceptions; enrichment needs (particularly of indoor-only cats) and the risk of behavior problems when cats’ needs are not met; welfare risks associated with declawing; and the importance of sufficient resources to minimize social and territorial conflict.
From the Field to the Pot: Phytochemical and Functional Analyses of Calendula officinalis L. Flower for Incorporation in an Organic Yogurt
Authors: Bragueto Escher Graziela , Cardoso Borges Lorena do Carmo , Sousa Santos Jânio , Mendanha Cruz Thiago , Boscacci Marques Mariza , Araújo Vieira do Carmo Mariana , Azevedo Luciana , M. Furtado Marianna , S. Sant’Ana Anderson , Wen Mingchun , Zhang Liang , Granato Daniel
Published: November 2019

Edible flowers have been used as ingredients because of their biological activities, taste, and overall appearance. This research was aimed to characterize the chemical composition and in vitro antioxidant activity of the marigold flower (Calendula officinalis L.) extracted with different proportions of water and ethyl alcohol, and the lyophilized extract with higher content of antioxidant compounds was incorporated into an organic yogurt. Results showed that the hydroalcoholic extract (50:50 v/v) presented the highest total phenolic content (TPC), flavonoids, and antioxidant activity (ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total reducing capacity (TRC), and Cu2+/Fe2+ chelating ability). Phenolic acids and flavonoids were quantified in the extract by LC-DAD, while 19 compounds were tentatively identified by ESI-MS/MS. The lyophilized marigold extract (LME) also inhibited 12% of Wistar rat’s brain lipid oxidation in vitro, inhibited α-amylase, and α-glucosidase activities, but showed no cytotoxicity towards cancerous cells (HCT8 and A549). However, marigold flower extract protected human erythrocytes against mechanical stress. When added into an organic yogurt model (0 to 1.5%), LME increased TPC and antioxidant activity (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and TRC), and the sensory analysis showed that the organic yogurt had an acceptance of 80.4%. Our results show that the use of LME may be a technological strategy to increase the content of bioactive compounds in yogurts.
In Vitro Antioxidant Activity and FTIR Characterization of High-Molecular Weight Melanoidin Fractions from Different Types of Cocoa Beans
Authors: Oracz Joanna , Zyzelewicz Dorota
Published: November 2019

Melanoidins from real foods and model systems have received considerable interest due to potential health benefits. However, due to the complexity of these compounds, to date, the exact structure of melanoidins and mechanism involved in their biological activity has not been fully elucidated. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the total phenolic content, antioxidant properties, and structural characteristics of high-molecular weight (HMW) melanoidin fractions isolated by dialysis (>12.4 kDa) from raw and roasted cocoa beans of Criollo, Forastero, and Trinitario beans cultivated in various area. In vitro antioxidant properties of all studied HMW cocoa fractions were evaluated by four different assays, namely free radical scavenging activity against DPPH• and ABTS•+ radicals, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and metal-chelating ability. Additionally, the structure–activity relationship of isolated HMW melanoidin fractions were analyzed using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The results show that roasting at a temperature of 150 °C and a relative air humidity of 0.3% effectively enhances the total phenolics content and the antioxidant potential of almost all HMW cocoa melanoidin fractions. The ATR-FTIR analysis revealed that the various mechanisms of action of HMW melanoidins isolates of different types of cocoa beans related to their structural diversity. Consequently, the results clearly demonstrated that HMW cocoa fractions isolated from cocoa beans (especially those of Criollo variety) roasted at higher temperatures with the lower relative humidity of air possess high antioxidant properties in vitro.
Bag-of-Visual-Words for Cattle Identification from Muzzle Print Images
Authors: Awad Ali Ismail , Hassaballah M.
Published: November 2019

Cattle, buffalo and cow identification plays an influential role in cattle traceability from birth to slaughter, understanding disease trajectories and large-scale cattle ownership management. Muzzle print images are considered discriminating cattle biometric identifiers for biometric-based cattle identification and traceability. This paper presents an exploration of the performance of the bag-of-visual-words (BoVW) approach in cattle identification using local invariant features extracted from a database of muzzle print images. Two local invariant feature detectors—namely, speeded-up robust features (SURF) and maximally stable extremal regions (MSER)—are used as feature extraction engines in the BoVW model. The performance evaluation criteria include several factors, namely, the identification accuracy, processing time and the number of features. The experimental work measures the performance of the BoVW model under a variable number of input muzzle print images in the training, validation, and testing phases. The identification accuracy values when utilizing the SURF feature detector and descriptor were 75%, 83%, 91%, and 93% for when 30%, 45%, 60%, and 75% of the database was used in the training phase, respectively. However, using MSER as a points-of-interest detector combined with the SURF descriptor achieved accuracies of 52%, 60%, 67%, and 67%, respectively, when applying the same training sizes. The research findings have proven the feasibility of deploying the BoVW paradigm in cattle identification using local invariant features extracted from muzzle print images.
Design of a 90 GHz SOI Fin Electro-Optic Modulator for High-Speed Applications
Authors: Mahrous Hany , Fedawy Mostafa , El Sabbagh Mona , Fikry W. , Gad Michael
Published: November 2019

Introducing high speed networks, such as the fifth generation of mobile technology and related applications including the internet of things, creates a pressing demand for hardware infrastructure that provides sufficient bandwidth. Here, silicon-based microwave-photonics presents a solution that features easy and inexpensive fabrication through a mature platform that has long served the electronics industry. In this work, the design of an electro-optic modulator is proposed where the ‘fin’ structure is adopted from the domain of electronics devices, with emphasis on the high speed of operation. The proposed modulator is customized to provide a bandwidth of 90 GHz with a small phase shifter length of 800 μm and an optical insertion loss of 4 dB. With such a speed, this proposed modulator fits high-speed applications such as modern tele-communications systems.
Evaluation of Tip Loss Corrections to AD/NS Simulations of Wind Turbine Aerodynamic Performance
Authors: Zhong Wei , Wang Tong Guang , Zhu Wei Jun , Shen Wen Zhong
Published: November 2019

The Actuator Disc/Navier-Stokes (AD/NS) method has played a significant role in wind farm simulations. It is based on the assumption that the flow is azimuthally uniform in the rotor plane, and thus, requires a tip loss correction to take into account the effect of a finite number of blades. All existing tip loss corrections were originally proposed for the Blade-Element Momentum Theory (BEMT), and their implementations have to be changed when transplanted into the AD/NS method. The special focus of the present study is to investigate the performance of tip loss corrections combined in the AD/NS method. The study is conducted by using an axisymmetric AD/NS solver to simulate the flow past the experimental NREL Phase Ⅵ wind turbine and the virtual NREL 5MW wind turbine. Three different implementations of the widely used Glauert tip loss function F are discussed and evaluated. In addition, a newly developed tip loss correction is applied and compared with the above implementations. For both the small and large rotors under investigation, the three different implementations show a certain degree of difference to each other, although the relative difference in blade loads is generally no more than 4%. Their performance is roughly consistent with the standard Glauert correction employed in the BEMT, but they all tend to make the blade tip loads over-predicted. As an alternative method, the new tip loss correction shows superior performance in various flow conditions. A further investigation into the flow around and behind the rotors indicates that tip loss correction has a significant influence on the velocity development in the wake.
The Effect on Bone Stress in Oral Prosthetic Rehabilitation Supported by Different Number of Dental Implants: A Numerical Analysis
Authors: Prados-Privado María , Gehrke Sergio A. , Tozaki Lúcia Kurokawa , Zanatta Luiz Carlos Silveira , Cruz Paulo , Mazon Patricia , De Aza Piedad N. , Prados-Frutos Juan Carlos
Published: November 2019

The aim of this study was to compare the mechanical behavior of two types of prosthesis as well as the stress distribution on the prostheses’ components and the bone. Two groups were analyzed: in the first group (M1), the prothesis was composed of two implants placed at a distance of 14 mm; in the second group (M2), the prothesis was composed of three implants installed at a distance of 9.7 mm from each other. An axial load of 100 N distributed on the cantilever throughout the region from the distal implant and a 30 N axial load on the implants in the inter-foramen region, were applied in both model 1 and model 2. In both models, the stress was concentrated in the region near the neck of the implant, resulting in a maximum value of 143 MPa in M1 and of 131MPa in M2. In M1, the stress along the bone varied from of −4.7 MPa to 13.57 MPa, whereas in M2, it varied from −10 to 12 MPa. According to the results obtained, the model corresponding to six implants presented a better distribution of bone stress around the implants.
Investigation of Strain of Steel Reinforcement of Modular Flexural Member at Discontinuity Interface
Authors: Park Jongho , Lee Hae-Kyun , Park Sun-Kyu , Choi Jinwoong , Hong Sungnam
Published: November 2019

The modular structure has a discontinuity owing to the joint between the modules; thus, structural behavior verification is required. In this study, the tensile behavior of a steel reinforcement at the discontinuity interface was evaluated in the joint of a modular flexural member. The modular specimen was fabricated with a 400 mm joint, and an integral specimen was fabricated with the same specifications as the modular specimen, without a joint. The largest crack width of the integral specimen was measured at the center of the beam, and that of the modular specimen was measured at the discontinuity interface. The maximum crack width of the modular specimen was greater than that of the integral specimen. The strain of the steel reinforcement was estimated using the measured crack width and six formulas for evaluating the crack width. The estimated strain of the modular specimen was higher than that of the integral specimen, and the deformation of the steel reinforcement at the discontinuity interface was accelerated with the increasing load. Therefore, the tensile load was concentrated at the discontinuity interface in the modular specimen, and the steel reinforcement at the discontinuity interface was likely to yield earlier than the integral specimen.
Numerical Analysis and Characterization of Surface Pressure Fluctuations of High-Speed Trains Using Wavenumber–Frequency Analysis
Authors: Lee Songjune , Cheong Cheolung , Kim Jaehwan , Kim Byung-hee
Published: November 2019

The high-speed train interior noise induced by the exterior flow field is one of the critical issues for product developers to consider during design. The reliable numerical prediction of noise in a passenger cabin due to exterior flow requires the decomposition of surface pressure fluctuations into the hydrodynamic (incompressible) and the acoustic (compressible) components, as well as the accurate computation of the near aeroacoustic field, since the transmission characteristics of incompressible and compressible pressure waves through the wall panel of the cabin are quite different from each other. In this paper, a systematic numerical methodology is presented to obtain separate incompressible and compressible surface pressure fields in the wavenumber–frequency and space–time domains. First, large eddy simulation techniques were employed to predict the exterior flow field, including a highly-resolved acoustic near-field, around a high-speed train running at the speed of 300 km/h in an open field. Pressure fluctuations on the train surface were then decomposed into incompressible and compressible fluctuations using the wavenumber–frequency analysis. Finally, the separated incompressible and compressible surface pressure fields were obtained from the inverse Fourier transform of the wavenumber–frequency spectrum. The current method was illustratively applied to the high-speed train HEMU-430X running at a speed of 300 km/h in an open field. The results showed that the separate incompressible and compressible surface pressure fields in the time–space domain could be obtained together with the associated aerodynamic source mechanism. The power levels due to each pressure field were also estimated, and these can be directly used for interior noise prediction.
Visceral Language: A Phenomenological Approach to Contemporary Letterpress-Printed Artist’s Book Practice in the UK
Authors: Butler Angie
Published: November 2019

The decline of commercial letterpress printing and technological advances in industry were major influential factors with respect to the establishment of independent small presses in the United Kingdom (UK). Although unlike work from commercial, private or fine press printers, utilisation of the letterpress process embedded a phenomenological approach to artist-led publishing where physicality and experience of using the letterpress process was reflected within the practice of making artists’ books and printed matter. Major concepts and inclusion of tools, equipment, technologies and studio methods used in historical small publishing practice can be considered in relation to today’s practitioners making letterpress-printed artists’ books to understand how skills are learnt and developed to support the evolution of a reflexive approach within contemporary practice.
Spatial Variability of the Lower Atmospheric Boundary Layer over Hilly Terrain as Observed with an RPAS
Authors: Cuxart Joan , Wrenger Burkhard , Matjacic Blazenka , Mahrt Larry
Published: November 2019

The operation of a Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) over a hilly area in northern Germany allows inspection of the variability of the profiles of temperature, humidity, and wind speed next to a small hill. Four cases in nearly stationary conditions are analyzed. Two events are windy, one overcast and the other with clear skies, whereas the two other cases have weak winds, one overcast, and one with clear skies and dissipating mist. The profiles are made at five locations surrounding the hill, separated by a distance from each other of 5 km at most, sampling up to 130 m above the ground. The average profiles and their standard deviations indicate that the variability in the windy cases is approximately constant with height, likely linked to the turbulent flow itself, whereas, for the weak wind cases, the variability diminishes with height, and it is probably linked to the surface variability. The variability between soundings is large. The computation of the root mean square error with respect to the average of the soundings for each case shows that the site closest to the average is the one over open terrain and low vegetation, whereas the site in the forest is the farthest from average. Comparison with the profiles to the nearest grid point of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) model shows that the closest values are provided by the average of the soundings and by the site closest to the average. Despite the small dataset collected during this exercise, the methodology developed here can be used for more cases and locations with the aim to characterize better the local variability in the lower atmosphere. In this sense, a non-dimensional heterogeneity index is proposed to quantify the topographically and thermally induced variability in complex terrain.
Reproductive Biology and Ecology of the Green Mussel Perna viridis: A Multidisciplinary Approach
Authors: Asaduzzaman Md , Rahi Noor Aysha , Rahman Md Moshiur , Akter Sumi , Hoque Nayeema Ferdausy , Shakil Abrar , Wahab Md Abdul
Published: November 2019

A multidisciplinary approach was applied to explore deeper knowledge about the reproductive biology and ecology of the green mussel (Perna viridis) by interlinking among ecological factors, ingested gut plankton, gonad fatty acid profile, and reproductive traits. Mussels were collected throughout the year from the coastal region of the Bay of Bengal of Bangladesh, and the histological analysis of 242 mussels revealed five stages of gametogenesis with an annual spawning season from January to April. The gonadosomatic index showed a strong correlation with the water quality parameters, ingested gut plankton groups, and gonadal fatty acids, and also displayed prominent effects of seasonality. In all datasets, we performed principal component analysis in which the first two principal components showed that seasonality explained >65% of the variability, and the multivariate spaces of seasonality corresponded to the gonad development. High salinity, nutrients, chlorophyll a, and plankton abundance in the water column were positively correlated with gonad development and the spawning of mussels. During the development stage, mussel ingested more plankton, particularly Bacillariophyceae and Pyrrophyceae, which were an important source of increased n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids content in gonads. Furthermore, gonads accumulated more lipids and saturated fatty acids during the mature and spawning stages, which were probably utilized during embryogenesis and early larval development as energy sources and constituents of the cell membrane. This research provides a model toward a better understanding of reproductive biological traits and how these traits are interrelated with the surrounding environmental variables of the green mussel, which would be helpful in marine aquaculture and the sustainable exploitation of the fishery resources.
Antibodies from the Sera of Multiple Sclerosis Patients Efficiently Hydrolyze Five Histones
Authors: Baranova Svetlana V. , Mikheeva Elena V. , Buneva Valentina N. , Nevinsky Georgy A.
Published: November 2019

It is known that intranuclear histones can be pernicious after entering to the extracellular space. In addition, the immunization of animals with exogenous histones leads to systemic inflammatory and toxic reactions. Abzymes—autoantibodies with enzymatic activities—are the distinctive feature of autoimmune diseases and they can be especially dangerous to humans. Here, electrophoretically homogeneous IgGs were isolated from sera of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) by chromatography on several affinity sorbents. We present evidence that sera of all MS patients contain autoantibodies against histones and 73% of IgGs purified from the sera of 59 MS patients efficiently hydrolyze from one to five histones: H1, H2a, H2b, H3, and H4. The relative average efficiency of the histones hydrolysis was ~3.9-fold higher than that for healthy donors. The relative average activity of IgGs depends on the type of MS and decreased approximately in the following order: debut of MS, secondary progressive multiple sclerosis, remitting multiple sclerosis, remittent progressive multiple sclerosis. Similar to proteolytic abzymes of patients with several autoimmune diseases, histone-hydrolyzing IgGs from MS patients were inhibited in the presence of specific inhibitors of serine and of metal-dependent proteases, but an unexpected significant inhibition of the activity by inhibitors of thiol-like and especially acidic proteases was observed. Since IgGs can efficiently hydrolyze histones, a negative role of abzymes in the development of MS cannot be excluded.
G-Quadruplex Binders Induce Immunogenic Cell Death Markers in Aggressive Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Di Somma Sarah , Amato Jussara , Iaccarino Nunzia , Pagano Bruno , Randazzo Antonio , Portella Giuseppe , Malfitano Anna Maria
Published: November 2019

Background: DNA G-quadruplex (G4) structures represent potential anti-cancer targets. In this study, we compared the effect of two G4-targeting compounds, C066-3108 and the gold standard BRACO-19. Methods: In breast and prostate cancer cells, cytotoxicity induced by both molecules was measured by a sulforhodamine B assay. In breast cancer cells, cycle, apoptosis, the formation of G4 structures, calreticulin and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), as well as T cell activation, were analyzed by flow cytometry and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) by luminescence. Results: Both ligands inhibited cell survival and induced DNA damage. In MCF-7 cells, G4 ligands increased the subG0/G1 phase of the cell cycle inducing apoptosis and reduced intracellular ATP. In untreated MCF-7 cells, we observed a slight presence of G4 structures associated with the G2/M phase. In MDA-MB231 cells, G4 ligands decreased the G1 and enhanced the G2/M phase. We observed a decrease of intracellular ATP, calreticulin cell surface exposure and an increase of HMGB1, accompanied by T cell activation. Both compounds induced G4 structure formation in the subG0/G1 phase. Conclusions: Our data report similar effects for both compounds and the first evidence that G4 ligands induce the release of danger signals associated with immunogenic cell death and induction of T cell activation.
Tumor Mutational Burden and Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kim Jong Yeob , Kronbichler Andreas , Eisenhut Michael , Hong Sung Hwi , van der Vliet Hans J. , Kang Jeonghyun , Shin Jae Il , Gamerith Gabriele
Published: November 2019

Tumor mutational burden (TMB) is a genomic biomarker that predicts favorable responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Here, we set out to assess the predictive value of TMB on long-term survival outcomes in patients undergoing ICIs. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL and clinicaltrials.gov from inception to 6 August 2019. We included retrospective studies or clinical trials of ICIs that reported hazard ratios (HRs) for overall survival (OS) and/or progression-free survival (PFS) according to TMB. Data on 5712 patients from 26 studies were included. Among patients who received ICIs, high TMB groups showed better OS (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.67) and PFS (HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.40 to 0.67) compared to low TMB groups. In patients with high TMB, those who received ICIs had a better OS (HR 0.69, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.95) and PFS (HR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.47 to 0.92) compared to those who received chemotherapy alone, while in patients with low TMB, such ICI benefits of OS or PFS were not statistically significant. In conclusion, TMB may be an effective biomarker to predict survival in patients undergoing ICI treatment. The role of TMB in identifying patient groups who may benefit from ICIs should be determined in future randomized controlled trials.
Ionic, Core-Corona Polymer Microsphere-Immobilized MacMillan Catalyst for Asymmetric Diels-Alder Reaction
Authors: Ullah Md. Wali , Haraguchi Naoki
Published: November 2019

The improvement of the catalytic activity of a heterogeneous chiral catalyst is one of the most critical issues, as are its recovery and reuse. The design of a heterogeneous chiral catalyst, including the immobilization method and the support polymer, is of significance for the catalytic activity in asymmetric reactions. An ionic, core-corona polymer microsphere-immobilized MacMillan catalyst (ICCC) was successfully synthesized by the neutralization reaction of sulfonic acid functionalized core-corona polymer microsphere (CCM–SO3H) with a chiral imidazolidinone precursor. We selected the core-corona polymer microsphere as the polymer support for the improvement of catalytic activity and recovery. The MacMillan catalyst was immobilized onto the pendant position of the corona with ionic bonding. ICCC exhibited excellent enantioselectivity up to 92% enantiomeric excess (ee) (exo) and >99% ee (endo) in the asymmetric Diels-Alder (DA) reaction of (E)-cinnamaldehyde and 1,3-cyclopentadiene. ICCC was quantitatively recovered by centrifugation because of the microsphere structure. The recovered ICCC was reused without significant loss of the enantioselectivity.
Preparation of Chloromethylated Pitch–Based Hyper–Crosslinked Polymers and An Immobilized Acidic Ionic Liquid as A Catalyst for the Synthesis of Biodiesel
Authors: Pei Baoyou , Xiang Xiaoyan , Liu Ting , Li Dongliang , Zhao Chaoyang , Qiu Rongxing , Chen Xiaoyan , Lin Jinqing , Luo Xiaoyan
Published: November 2019

Hyper-crosslinking polymers and its immobilized acid ionic liquid catalyst were prepared using cheap pitch, as a monomer, through hyper-crosslinking reactions and allyl chloride, as a chlorine source, for chloromethylation and further grafting with imidazole and functionalizing with sulfonic acid. The polymers were characterized by FE-SEM, FTIR, TG, and nitrogen sorption. The grafting ratios of the chloromethylated pitch-based hyper-crosslinked polymer (HCPpitch–CH2–Cl) and immobilized acid ionic liquid [HCPpitch–Im–Pros][Tos] were 3.5 mmol/g and 3.0 mmol/g, and the BET specific surface areas were 520 m2/g and 380 m2/g, respectively. This strategy provides an easy approach to preparing highly stable and acid functionalized mesoporous catalysts. The immobilized acidic ionic liquid was used as a catalyst for the esterification of oleic acid and methanol to synthesize biodiesel. The results demonstrated that under the optimal conditions of an alcohol to acid molar ratio of 7:1, ionic liquid to oleic acid molar ratio of 0.12, and a reaction time of 3 h at atmospheric pressure, the yield of methyl oleate can reach up to 93%. Moreover, the catalyst was reused five times without the yield decreasing significantly. This study shows that [HCPpitch–Im–Pros][Tos] is a robust catalyst for the synthesis of biodiesel.
Novel Data Mining Methodology for Healthcare Applied to a New Model to Diagnose Metabolic Syndrome without a Blood Test
Authors: Barrios Mauricio , Jimeno Miguel , Villalba Pedro , Navarro Edgar
Published: November 2019

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of risk factors that increase the likelihood of heart disease and diabetes mellitus. It is crucial to get diagnosed with time to take preventive measures, especially for patients in locations without proper access to laboratories and medical consultations. This work presented a new methodology to diagnose diseases using data mining that documents all the phases thoroughly for further improvement of the resulting models. We used the methodology to create a new model to diagnose the syndrome without using biochemical variables. We compared similar classification models, using their reported variables and previously obtained data from a study in Colombia. We built a new model and compared it to previous models using the holdout, and random subsampling validation methods to get performance evaluation indicators between the models. Our resulting ANN model used three hidden layers and only Hip Circumference, dichotomous Waist Circumference, and dichotomous blood pressure variables. It gave an Area Under Curve (AUC) of 87.75% by the IDF and 85.12% by HMS MetS diagnosis criteria, higher than previous models. Thanks to our new methodology, diagnosis models can be thoroughly documented for appropriate future comparisons, thus benefiting the diagnosis of the studied diseases.
Dissipative Endoreversible Engine with Given Efficiency
Authors: Masser Robin , Hoffmann Karl Heinz
Published: November 2019

Endoreversible thermodynamics is a finite time thermodynamics ansatz based on the assumption that reversible or equilibrated subsystems of a system interact via reversible or irreversible energy transfers. This gives a framework where irreversibilities and thus entropy production only occur in interactions, while subsystems (engines, for instance) act as reversible. In order to give an opportunity to incorporate dissipative engines with given efficiencies into an endoreversible model, we build a new dissipative engine setup. To do this, in the first step, we introduce a more general interaction type where energy loss not only results from different intensive quantities between the connected subsystems, which has been the standard in endoreversible thermodynamics up to now, but is also caused by an actual loss of the extensive quantity that is transferred via this interaction. On the one hand, this allows the modeling of leakages and friction losses, for instance, which can be represented as leaky particle or torque transfers. On the other hand, we can use it to build an endoreversible engine setup that is suitable to model engines with given efficiencies or efficiency maps and, among other things, gives an expression for their entropy production rates. By way of example, the modeling of an AC motor and its loss fluxes and entropy production rates are shown.
An Improved Belief Entropy to Measure Uncertainty of Basic Probability Assignments Based on Deng Entropy and Belief Interval
Authors: Zhao Yonggang , Ji Duofa , Yang Xiaodong , Fei Liguo , Zhai Changhai
Published: November 2019

It is still an open issue to measure uncertainty of the basic probability assignment function under Dempster-Shafer theory framework, which is the foundation and preliminary work for conflict degree measurement and combination of evidences. This paper proposes an improved belief entropy to measure uncertainty of the basic probability assignment based on Deng entropy and the belief interval, which takes the belief function and the plausibility function as the lower bound and the upper bound, respectively. Specifically, the center and the span of the belief interval are employed to define the total uncertainty degree. It can be proved that the improved belief entropy will be degenerated to Shannon entropy when the the basic probability assignment is Bayesian. The results of numerical examples and a case study show that its efficiency and flexibility are better compared with previous uncertainty measures.
Transfer Entropy between Communities in Complex Financial Networks
Authors: Korbel Jan , Jiang Xiongfei , Zheng Bo
Published: November 2019

In this paper, we analyze information flows between communities of financial markets, represented as complex networks. Each community, typically corresponding to a business sector, represents a significant part of the financial market and the detection of interactions between communities is crucial in the analysis of risk spreading in the financial markets. We show that the transfer entropy provides a coherent description of information flows in and between communities, also capturing non-linear interactions. Particularly, we focus on information transfer of rare events—typically large drops which can spread in the network. These events can be analyzed by Rényi transfer entropy, which enables to accentuate particular types of events. We analyze transfer entropies between communities of the five largest financial markets and compare the information flows with the correlation network of each market. From the transfer entropy picture, we can also identify the non-linear interactions, which are typical in the case of extreme events. The strongest flows can be typically observed between specific types of business sectors—financial sectors is the most significant example.
The Role of Infrastructure for Electric Passenger Car Uptake in Europe
Authors: Tsakalidis Anastasios , Julea Andreea , Thiel Christian
Published: November 2019

Plug-in electric vehicles (PEV) can be a main lever towards a decarbonised road transport system. The PEV market uptake needs to be nurtured by appropriate support measures for users, for technological advances related to the vehicle and its components, and for all relevant recharging infrastructure deployment. This paper focuses on the role of PEV recharging infrastructure for electric passenger car uptake in Europe. It examines the status of road transport electrification, relevant policies, incentives and national plans. We find that the status and plans of PEV and recharging infrastructure and the corresponding support measures vary significantly between countries. The PEV share in the various analysed countries ranged in 2017 from 0.01% to 5.49% and is estimated to reach values between 0.05% and 12.71% in 2020. The corresponding ratio of PEV per one publicly accessible recharging point ranged between 1 and 60 and is estimated to vary between 3 and 161 in 2020. Diverging plans could lead to market fragmentation in the European Union (EU) and impede the EU-wide circulation of PEVs. The appropriate level of recharging infrastructure should be determined to both support PEV deployment and to prevent sunk investments. Different country experiences vis-à-vis PEV and infrastructure support could be useful to identify best practices.
Phase Space Reconstruction Algorithm and Deep Learning-Based Very Short-Term Bus Load Forecasting
Authors: Shi Tian , Mei Fei , Lu Jixiang , Lu Jinjun , Pan Yi , Zhou Cheng , Wu Jianzhang , Zheng Jianyong
Published: November 2019

With the refinement and intelligence of power system optimal dispatching, the widespread adoption of advanced grid applications that consider the safety and economy of power systems, and the massive access of distributed energy resources, the requirement for bus load prediction accuracy is continuously increasing. Aiming at the volatility brought about by the large-scale access of new energy sources, the adaptability to different forecasting horizons and the time series characteristics of the load, this paper proposes a phase space reconstruction (PSR) and deep belief network (DBN)-based very short-term bus load prediction model. Cross-validation is also employed to optimize the structure of the DBN. The proposed PSR-DBN very short-term bus load forecasting model is verified by applying the real measured load data of a substation. The results prove that, when compared to other alternative models, the PSR-DBN model has higher prediction accuracy and better adaptability for different forecasting horizons in the case of high distributed power penetration and large fluctuation of bus load.
Robust Design Optimization of Electromagnetic Actuators for Renewable Energy Systems Considering the Manufacturing Cost
Authors: Deng Jie , Liu Xiaohan , Zhai Guofu
Published: November 2019

Power transmission and protection of power electronics–electromagnetic actuators are crucial parts in renewable energy systems (energy management of photovoltaic, wind power, hybrid and electric vehicles). Consistency optimization of electromagnetic actuators has attracted extensive attention from corporations in competitive markets. Robust design has been widely applied for reducing the influence of uncertainties in the manufacturing process to improve the consistency of product quality. However, the cost factors of the actual manufacturing process are not fully considered in state-of-art methods. Although the consistency has been improved, the optimization scheme may not be optimal from the perspective of engineering applications, because unnecessary cost increments may be produced. In this paper, an application-oriented robust design method for consistency optimization is proposed. The impact of tolerance values on quality loss and manufacturing cost can be considered simultaneously to guide the tolerance optimization process. Thus, the optimal solution of total loss is obtained by optimizing the quality fluctuation to the design objective with the minimum increment of manufacturing cost. An example of the consistency optimization of an electromagnetic actuator used in the photovoltaic system is presented to illustrate the procedure and verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.