bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
BİST-100 VE BİST SEKTÖR ENDEKSLERİ İLE VIX ENDEKSİ ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİSİNİN ANALİZİ
Authors: SAKARYA Şakir , AKKUŞ Hilmi Tunahan
Published: December 2018

VIX endeksi, tüm dünyada menkul kıymet piyasalarının

gelecekteki beklenen hareketlerinin tahmini için gösterge olarak kullanılan

önemli bir endekstir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, 05.01.2010-22.06.2018 tarihleri

arasındaki dönem için VIX endeksi ile BİST Ulusal 100 endeksi ve BİST sektörel

endeksler (Banka, Mali ve Teknoloji) arasındaki nedensellik ilişkisinin tespit

edilmesidir. Analiz yöntemleri olarak ADF ve PP birim kök testleri, ARDL sınır

testi ve Toda-Yamamoto nedensellik testi kullanılmıştır. Çalışmadan elde edilen

eşbütünleşme testi sonuçlarına göre, VIX endeksi ile BİST Ulusal 100 (XU100),

BİST Banka (XBANK), BİST Mali (XUMAL) ve BİST Teknoloji (XUTEK) endeksleri

arasında uzun dönemli istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmaktadır.

Toda-Yamamoto nedensellik testi sonuçlarına göre ise, VIX endeksinden XU100,

XBANK, XUMAL ve XUTEK endekslerine doğru tek yönlü nedensellik ilişkisi

bulunmuştur.
PAZARLAMADA YENİ BİR YAKLAŞIM: KABİLE (TOPLULUK) PAZARLAMASI
Authors: USLU DİVANOĞLU Sevilay
Published: December 2018

Son yıllarda giderek önemini arttıran post modern

pazarlama kavramları arasında önemli bir yer edinen “Tribal Marketing” ya da

Türkçe’ye çevirisi ile “Topluluk/Kabile Pazarlaması”, iş hayatının

vazgeçilmezleri arasında olmaya başlamıştır. İlk olarak modern insanın kabile

anlayışını nasıl benimsediği sorusu akla gelmekle birlikte, insanların kabile

ya da topluluk olarak gördükleri ve davranışlarını etkileyen gruplardan ilk

insandan günümüze kadar geçen her an söz edilebilir. Geleneksel eski

zamanlardaki fiziki kabilelerin yerini modern ve daha soyut kabileler almaya

başlamıştır. İnsanlar kendilerini birden fazla topluluk ya da kabilenin ferdi

olarak hissedebilmekte, bazen bu grupların ikisi ya da fazlası tüketimleri

üzerinde etkili olabilmektedir. Özellikle son zamanlarda sosyal medya da bu

etkileşim gruplarını daha soyut ancak daha güçlü bağ kurulabilen bir hale

dönüştürmektedir. Bireyler başkalarıyla bağ kurabilmek için bilinçli ya da

bilinçsiz olarak iletişim kurmak zorundadır. Bireyler bu iletişim sürecinde

bilgi, duygu ve düşüncelerini de paylaşmaktadır. Bireyin içinde bulunduğu

topluluk içerisinde yaptığı paylaşımların bireyin kendisini yansıttığı

düşünülmektedir. Hatta bireyin aidiyet hissettiği topluluk içerisindeki

tükettikleri onun kendini ifade biçimi olmaktadır. Bu çalışmada yeni bir

pazarlama stratejisi olan kabile pazarlaması kavramı ve bu kavramın tüketim ile

ilişkisi kavramsal açıdan ele alınmaktadır.
RECRUITMENT OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE INSTRUCTORS AT THE SCHOOLS OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES IN TURKEY: ISSUES AND CHALLENGES
Authors: KILIÇKAYA Ferit
Published: December 2018

This study aimed to present a discussion on the selection and

recruitment of English language instructors in Turkey and focusing on the

issues and challenges arising as well as the views provided by the current

English language instructors and the candidates. The study adopted a

mixed-method approach benefiting from quantitative data through the online

survey as well as qualitative data involving semi-structured interviews

conducted with randomly selected participants. The study included a five-point

Likert scale survey that was composed of 14 statements used to allow 200 participants

to express how they disagreed or agreed with a particular statement.  The statements were published as a survey on

Google Forms and were shared on several social networking sites such as

Facebook. The results of the study indicated that the requirements such as the

minimum scores on ALES and language proficiency tests should be reconsidered

while calculating the total scores for the selection and recruitment process.

The results also revealed that the interviews appeared a real matter of

considerable concern for the great majority of the participants as the

questions asked during the interviews were not structured or standardized to

allow comparisons among candidates and that issue of serious concern were

voiced by the participants on the specific requirements in job announcements.
Green supply chain management in Croatian companies
Authors: Opetuk Tihomir , Kolar Davor
Published: December 2018

The scope of this paper is to present current state and trends of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) in Croatian companies. Due to the need for reduction of GHG emissions related to the climate change, many standards, directives, concepts, methods and models dealing with sustainability have appeared. The first part of the paper consists of an overview of GSCM where the greening diagram of GSCM is presented. The second part of the paper presents the survey which has been carried out in the Croatian business sector in view of current state and trends, barriers and drivers of the GSCM implementation. According to the results of the survey, barriers and drivers of the GSCM implementation are ranked by its significance and are compared with similar surveys carried out in the European Union (EU) and the United States of America (USA). New categorization of the drivers of the GSCM implementation is presented using the factor analysis.
The vibration of nanobeam resting on elastic foundation using modified couple stress theory
Authors: Togun Necla , Bağdatli Süleyman M.
Published: December 2018

In this paper, the vibration of nanobeams resting on the Winkler foundation is proposed using the modified couple stress theory. Hamilton’s principle is utilized to construct the governing equations. The size effect of the nanobeam cannot be captured by using classical Euler-Bernoulli beam theory, but the modified couple stress theory model can capture it because it includes material length scale parameter that a newly developed model has. Once the material length scale parameter is assumed to be zero, the classical Euler-Bernoulli beam theory equation is obtained. Multiple scale method is employed to obtain the result. Simply supported boundary condition is used to study natural frequencies. The influence of material length scale parameter and the Winkler elastic foundation parameter on the fundamental frequencies of the nanobeam is investigated and tabulated. Also, in the present study, Poisson’s ratio is taken as constant. Nanobeam resting on the Winkler foundation which is simply supported is analyzed to illustrate the size effects on the free vibration. Numerical results for the simply supported nanobeam indicate that the first fundamental frequency calculated by the presented model is higher than the classical one. Moreover, it is obtained that the size influence is more substantial for higher vibration modes. The results indicate that the significant importance of the size influences the analysis of nanobeams. The vibration of nanobeam exhibits a hardening spring behavior, and the newly developed models are the beams stiffer than according to the classical beam theory. Modified couple stress theory tends to be more helpful in describing the size-dependent mechanical properties of nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS).
Calculation of displacements and stresses in cylindrical shells by the boundary elements method
Authors: Aniskin Aleksej , Lymarenko Aleksandr M.
Published: December 2018

The application of the boundary element method to the calculation of a closed circular cylindrical shell of step-constant thickness, loaded over the entire surface by a uniform normal pressure, is described. The numerical example is considered. The results of the calculation are compared by two numerical methods – boundary and finite elements.
Mereka yang Tidak Dibayar Tinggi: Ibuisme, Taman Kanak-kanak, dan Kampung di Indramayu
Authors: Wicaksono Mochammad Arief
Published: December 2018

The ideology of state-ibuism has always been interwoven with how the New Order regime until nowadays government constructing the “ideal” role of women in the family and community through the PKK (Pembinaan Kesejahteraan Keluarga) organization. However, in Cangkring Village, Indramayu, the ideology of ibuism works not because of the massive government regulating the role of women through the PKK organization, but it is possible because of the structure of the kampung community itself. Through involved observations and in-depth interviews about a kindergarten in the village, a group of housewives who dedicated themselves to teaching in kindergarten were met without getting paid high. From these socio-cultural phenomenons, this paper will describe descriptively and analytically that housewives in the Cangkring village are willing to become kindergarten teachers because of their moral burden as part of the warga kampung and also from community pressure from people who want their children to be able to read and write.
Perilaku Politik Towani Tolotang di Amparita Kabupaten Sidenreng Rappang
Authors: Alfiansyah Alfiansyah , Tang Mahmud , Muis Safriadi
Published: December 2018

This article aims to explain how the political behavior of Towani Tolotang in Amparita of Sidrap Regency in political activities, and how the relationship between Towani Tolotang's political behavior with their belief system. The method used in this research is descriptive research design using qualitative approach. The findings of this study illustrate that the existence of practical political activities in the Tolotang community changed their political behavior and had different views in terms of determining their political choice, The role of Uwa is very influential in the political decision making in Tolotang community, Decision-making also based on the region- certain areas in the Tolotang area based on their respective territories, In essence their decisions are different because of the customary attachment of their leader, Uwa in this case which determines the choice in the Amparita territories, as well as the involvement of Towani Tolotang community in political aspect of one of their efforts in maintaining the customs and beliefs that their ancestors inherited.
HUBUNGAN MESIR-INDONESIA DALAM MODERNISASI PENDIDIKAN ISLAM
Authors: Murtadlo Muhamad
Published: December 2018

Modernisasi Pendidikan Islam di Indonesia memainkan peran yang penting dan strategis dalam membawa peradaban Indonesia ke depan. Sebagai usaha penelusuran model modernisasi, negara Mesir nampak mempunyai peran yang besar dalam memberi warna modernisasi pendidikan Indonesia. Penelitian ingin menjawab pertanyaan bagaimana pengaruh Mesir dalam modernisasi Pendidikan di Indonesia. Jenis penelitian ini termasuk kajian kualitatif dengan pendekatan kajian historis. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa hubungan Indonesia � Mesir sudah berjalan ratusan tahun, dan pendidikan Mesir mempunyai corak modern dan moderat sehingga model Mesir dipandang cocok untuk� menjadi model pembaharuan pendidikan Indonesia .
PELAYANAN PENCATATAN NIKAH DI KUA PASCA PP 48 TAHUN 2014 PADA KUA KABUPATEN LAMPUNG SELATAN
Authors: Marpuah Marpuah
Published: December 2018

Pelayanan pencatatan nikah merupakan salah satu target reformasi birokrasi di lingkungan Ditjen Bimas Islam yang dilakukan melalui pendekatan sistemik. Hal itu penting mengingat persoalan gratifikasi KUA dan maraknya pelaksanaan nikah sirri di tengah masyarakat akhir-akhir ini menjadikan Kemenag, khususnya Ditjen Bimas Islam harus melaksanakan berbagai upaya menyelesaikan persoalan ini.KUA sebagai lembaga pencatat perkawinan memiliki fungsi penting untuk mewujudkan kemaslahatan umum.Khususnya kepastian dan jaminan perlindungan hukum bagi keluarga Muslim terhadap akibat yang ditimbulkan oleh perkawinan. Selain melayani proses administrasi perkawinan, kerja KUA juga berhubungan langsung dan bahkan hidup bersama dengan tradisi dan norma masyarakat. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengetahui : Bagaimana Pelayanan Pencatatan Nikah di KUA Pasca berlakunya PP 48 tahun 2014 berdasarkan tipologi A, B, C,D1. Apa factor pendukung dan penghambat dalam pelaksanaan pelayanan pencatatan nikah di KUA. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian dapat diketahui bahwa standar pelayanan pencatatan nikah di KUA Pasca PP 48 tahun 2014 meliputi 6 indikator : a). Prosedur pelayanan, yang dibakukan dan termasuk dengan pengaduan.�b). Waktu penyelesaian, yang ditetapkan sejak saat �pengajuan permohonan sampai dengan �penyelesaian. c). Biaya pelayanan, termasuk rinciannya yang ditetapkan dalam proses pemberian pelayanan. d). Produk pelayanan, yang akan diterima sesuai dengan ketentuan yang telah ditetapkan. e). Sarana dan prasarana, yang memadai. f). Kompetensi petugas, yang harus ditetapkan dengan tepat berdasarkan pengetahuan, keahlian, keterampilan, sikap, dan perilaku yang dibutuhkan.Faktor kendalanya :Terbatasnya jumlah ruangan dan SDM yang ada di KUA.
Eliminating Invisible Barriers: Health Web Site Accessibility
Authors: Rzepka Christine
Published: December 2018

One of the top reasons given for use of the internet is the ability to search for health information.
However, much of the planning for web-based health information often fails to consider accessibility
issues. If health care organizations and community agencies’ web sites have the latest, most wellresearched
information on the health topics of the day, it is useless to those who cannot access it because
of invisible technological barriers. Many flashy, high-tech sites were designed only to appeal to the needs
of the mainstream population, with no consideration given to how people with disabilities must adapt
their use of the web in order to access information. This article addresses issues of access specific to web
site development, and will explore barriers to accessibility frequently experienced by web users with
disabilities, requirements for ADA compliance, and how people with disabilities use the web. Web site
accessibility guidelines, as well as simple evaluation tools, will be discussed. A thorough review of the
article will enable even the least tech-savvy of health educators to enhance their skills in planning and
evaluating web sites to promote access for people with disabilities.
DEPENDÊNCIA ESPACIAL DO RUÍDO DE TRATORES AGRÍCOLAS EM DIFERENTES ROTAÇÕES DO MOTOR
Authors: Spadim Emanuel Rangel , Marasca Indiamara , Batistuzzi Murilo Martins , Denadai Marcelo Scantaburlo , Guerra Saulo P. Sebastião
Published: December 2018

Diversos elementos afetam a saúde do trabalhador, sendo o ruído um importante fator causador de estresse e prejudicial aos operadores expostos por muitas horas à tais ruídos elevados. O objetivo do trabalho foi de quantificar e dimensionar a amplitude dos valores de ruído em diferentes rotações de dois tratores agrícolas. O ensaio foi realizado nas dependências do Núcleo de Ensaio de Máquinas e Pneus Agroflorestais, Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, UNESP de Botucatu/SP. O ruído foi mensurado com um decibelímetro marca Icel modelo DL-4200. Utilizou-se dois tratores de 78 cv de potência. As rotações escolhidas foram a rotação de 2200 rpm e a de 2400 rpm. Os valores de ruído foram analisados por geoestatística. Para a construção dos mapas temáticos, utilizou-se o software Surfer. A variabilidade espacial do ruído em torno do trator teve maior alcance na plena aceleração com 31m. Os valores de ruído superiores a 85dB foram encontrados numa distância de 7m para rotação de trabalho e 11 m para plena aceleração em relação ao trator. Os valores encontrados nessas distâncias são considerados prejudiciais para os operadores das máquinas e para indivíduos que permaneçam próximos ao trator segundo a norma NR 15.
Development of a method to identify inter-regional environmental incidents associated with the oil spills in HCM City and the neighboring provinces
Authors: Tuan Nguyen Dinh , Huyen Do Thi Thu , Truong Hoang Nhat , Tram Ly Thi Bich , Thuy Nguyen Le Thanh
Published: December 2018

The inter-regional incidents associated with the oil spill is increasingly a serious problem to the industrial developing countries, like Vietnam. In this study, a multi-criteria analysis process was proposed to identify petroleum depots that represent potential inter-regional oil spill incidents in Ho Chi Minh City and the neighboring provinces. The criteria for determining the inter-regional inccidents asscociated with oil spill comprise of a number of criteria sets such as oil spill hazard criteria, inter-regional hazard criteria, oil spill damage criteria. Hierarchical analysis (AHP) has been applied for identifying the importance factor of the criteria. The total risk of inter-regional oil spill incidents are then estimated to provide effective support to the risk management and response plan.
Estimation of Serum Magnesium in Bangladeshi Gestational Diabetic Mother
Authors: Mishu Farzana Akonjee , Haque Syed Md Tanjilul
Published: December 2018

Background: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is characterized by glucose intolerance during pregnancy.GDM is associated with an increased incidence of congenital abnormalities usually aggravated by maternal magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is one of the essential trace elements for normal embryogenesis and foetal growth and its deficiency increase mortality and morbidity rate of mothers, embryos and neonates.Objective: To evaluate the association of serum magnesium with GDM in second and third trimester. Materials & Methods: This case control study was conducted in Mymensingh Medical College Hospital during the period from July 2013 to June 2014 to evaluate the association of magnesium with GDM in Bangladeshi women. A total number of 172 subjects were participated in this study; among them eighty six women diagnosed with GDM were selected as case (Group-I) and eighty six healthy pregnant women were control (Group-II). The case group again subdivided as Group Ia and Ib second and third trimester respectively. Control group also subdivided as Group IIa and IIb second and third trimester respectively. Student's unpaired t test was used to analyse the data between groups. For analytical purpose 95% confidence limit (p<0.05) was taken as level of significance.Results: Serum Magnesium levels were significantly decreased in cases compared to control group. Highly significant difference (p<0.001) was found between Gr-Ia and Gr-IIa. The result was also highly significant (p<0.001) when compared between Gr-Ib and Gr-IIb .Conclusion: Estimation of serum magnesium level should be incorporated in every GDM cases for prevention of complications.Anwer Khan Modern Medical College Journal Vol. 9, No. 2: Jul 2018, P 110-113
Blood Component Therapy
Authors: Karim Shanaz , Hoque Ehteshamul , Hoque Md Mazharul , Rahman Syeda Masooma , Islam Kashfia
Published: December 2018

Transfusion medicine has undergone advancements since its initiation in the early 20th century. One of these was the discovery that blood can be divided into individual components and delivered separately. Today, blood transfusions nearly always consist of the ad-ministration of 1 or more components of blood. Whole blood transfusion is now limited to situations involving massive resuscitation (trauma ) The most familiar cellular components include packed red blood cells (PRBC), washed PRBC, leukoreduced PRBC and pooled or aphaeresis platelets. Plasma products such as FFP or cryoprecipitate, ant hemophilic factor (CRYO). The transfusion of red blood cells (RBCs), platelets, fresh-frozen plasma (FFP), and cryoprecipitate has the potential of improving clinical outcomes in perioperative and peripartum settings. These benefits include improved tissue oxygenation and decreased bleeding. However, transfusions are not without risks or costs. With the advent of blood component therapy, each unit of whole blood collected serves the specific needs of several, rather than a single patient.Anwer Khan Modern Medical College Journal Vol. 9, No. 2: Jul 2018, P 142-147
Immune Response Among the Children to Hepatitis B Vaccination: A Community-based Study in Bangladesh
Authors: Hossain Mohammad Monir , Alam Ahmed Nawsher , Siddiqua Mahmuda , Siddika Ayesha , Nessa Afzalun
Published: December 2018

Hepatitis B virus infection is a vaccine preventable infection of liver which remains a key public health burden globally. The development of Anti-HBs titre greater than or equal to 10 IU/L is considered as protective immunity and any titre less than 10 IU/L as non-protective following HBV vaccination. There is no comprehensive and authentic data regarding the immune response even 10 years after the integration of the HBV vaccine in to the EPI programme in Bangladesh and specifically, in Brahmonbaria district. The study was also aimed to assess the long term immune response among HBV vaccinated children. Blood sample from 500 vaccinated children were tested for Anti-HBs, and anti-HBc. Sero negative children were given 1 dose of HBV vaccine as a booster. Samples from booster vaccine were taken one month later and tested for anti Hbs titre. Anti HBs titre was found below protective level in about 46.0% (230/500) participants. Sero-protection rate decreased to 72.2% in 5 to 6 years age group which further decreased to 58.3% in 7 to 9 years age group and increased again to 69.5% in 10 to 12 years age group children. On the other hand, the mean anti Hbs titre was 97.72 IU/L initially and then increased with the increasing of age from 165.40 IU/L to 196.67 IU/L. Breakthrough infection of HBV was seen in 1.2% (6/500) participants measuring by anti HBc which indicated protective efficacy of HBV vaccine was about 98.8% (494/500). Sero negative participants were given a booster dose; 93.6% (131/140) participants showed boosting of mean anti HBs titre upto 804.92 IU/L which was below protective level (<10 IU/L) before booster dose. Anti-HBs titre goes below with the increase of age after vaccination. Most of the participants had immunological memory which will boost antibody titre after any exposure, so routine booster dose is not needed. But non-responder to vaccination should screen after primary vaccination because of chance of breakthrough infection.
Personality, Work-Life Balance, Hardiness, and Vocation: A Typology of Nurses and Nursing Values in a Special Sample of English Hospital Nurses
Authors: Bagley Christopher , Abubaker Mahmoud , Sawyerr Alice
Published: December 2018

This initial report of a longitudinal study of 192 English hospital nurses measured Nursing Values (the 6Cs of nursing); Personality, Self-Esteem and Depression; Burnout Potential; Work-Life Balance Stress; “Hardy Personality”; and Intention to Leave Nursing. Correlational, component, and cluster analysis identified four groups: “The Soldiers” (N = 79), with medium scores on most measures, who bravely “soldier on” in their nursing roles, in the face of numerous financial cuts to the National Health Service, and worsening nurse–patient ratios; “Cheerful Professionals” (N = 54), coping successfully with nursing roles, and a variety of challenges, in upwardly mobile careers; “High Achievers” (N = 39), senior nurses with strong profiles of a “hardy personality”, and commitment to fundamental nursing values; and “Highly Stressed, Potential Leavers” (N = 20), with indicators of significant psychological distress, and difficulty in coping with nursing role challenges. We have initiated a program of co-counselling and social support for this distressed group, by nurses who are coping more successfully with multiple challenges. We discuss the role of nurse educators in fostering nursing values, developing and supporting a “hardy personality” and emotional resilience in recruits to nursing. This study is framed within the disciplinary approach of Critical Realism, which identifies the value basis for research and dialogue in developing strategies for social change. The importance of this research is that: (a) it is part of the new thrust in nursing research, applying Critical Realist theory and methodology to research on nursing stress; (b) it has established, through network sampling, a group of nurses who can be supportive of each other in their stressful careers; (c) it establishes the reliability and potential validity of a measure of core nursing values; (d) it is among the first studies in research on nursing stress, to use the humanizing methodology of moving from data analysis (description of “things”), to describing a typology of nursing stress and career progress (description of individuals).
Effect of IoT Capabilities and Energy Consumption behavior on Green Supply Chain Integration
Authors: Shafique Muhammad Noman , Rashid Ammar , Bajwa Imran Sarwar , Kazmi Rafaqat , Khurshid Muhammad Mahboob , Tahir Wardah Ahmad
Published: December 2018

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the next generation of internet-connected information communication technologies (ICT). IoT typically integrates supply chain activities to enhance green supply chain performance (GSCP). Since every organization has different IoT capabilities in comparison with other organizations, GSCP can enable supply chain integration activities for enhanced performance. The implementation of an IoT system can reduce the consumption of organizational resources like energy, electricity, and time and can increase the operational speed to gain better logistics and, ultimately, improved supply chain performance. This study has developed and empirically tested the relationship between IoT capabilities, energy consumption behavior (ECB), supply chain integration, green training (GT), and supply chain practices. Such a multidisciplinary relationship has not previously been established in the literature. The proposed study can fulfill the literature gap and opens new horizons for interdisciplinary research. Data used in this study are collected through offline and online survey methods. A total number of 250 out of 400 respondents participated in the survey. Data has been analyzed through partial least square—structure equation modeling (PLS—SEM) technique. The results of this study empirically test the developed model. IoT has a positive effect on supplier integration (SI), and customer integration (CI). Furthermore, SI and CI have a mediating role between IoT and GSCP, and GT has a positive impact on GSCP. It is concluded that the implementation of IoT can integrate CI and SI to increase GSCP. GT and ECB can ultimately improve GSCP. Additionally, the use of technology and GT can motivate employees to save energy and protect the environment to increase GSCP.
Improved Sliding Mode Control for Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor Speed Regulation System
Authors: Qian Junbing , Ji Chuankun , Pan Nan , Wu Jing
Published: December 2018

Due to advantages such as high speed, high accuracy, low maintenance and high reliability, permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) servo systems have been employed in many fields. In some cases, for example, speed fluctuations caused by load mutation would restrict the control stability, thereby limiting the usefulness of PMSM in high-precision applications. The speed regulation problem of PMSM servo control systems is discussed in this paper. A sliding mode disturbance control is developed in the vector control system to improve tracking performance of the PMSM system in order to suppress the speed fluctuations. The integration of sliding mode control and the proportional plus integral (PI) control can improve the performance of the closed-loop system and attenuate disturbances to a great extent. The proposed method can effectively improve the robustness and response speed of the system. Simulation and experimental analyses are conducted to demonstrate the superior properties of the proposed control method.
Energy Consumption Optimization Measures for Buildings in the Midwest Regions of USA
Authors: Shehadi Maher
Published: December 2018

This paper investigates various building material effects on the cooling load requirements of a typical two-floor house located in the Midwest region in the USA. A survey was done for various building materials along with their prices in the US market. Various building walls, lighting, window glazing, and insulations were used for simulation as single and combined cases. The return on investment from savings in the electrical load consumption against the materials cost was investigated. It was found that the best single case savings and investments were for cases when lights were changed from incandescent lighting with 20 W/m2 to fluorescent bulbs, or when using double skinned walls with 5 cm rock wool or expanded polystyrene insulation. Combined cases, combining more than one single change, offered more reductions in cooling loads but were associated with higher initial costs and, thus, longer returns on investment. The best case recommendation was for buildings with a 20 cm hollow concrete block (HCB) when combined with fluorescent lights and double pane heat-absorbing glazing for windows. Although these recommendations were for a typical house in the Midwest region of the United States, a similar analysis could be adopted by designers and building owners to optimize the energy consumption in their buildings. The final design decision should be based on an optimum correlation of the air-conditioning units’ size and cost, running and maintenance costs, the return on the investment duration, and the available usage area in the building.
Glycodelin as a Serum and Tissue Biomarker for Metastatic and Advanced NSCLC
Authors: Schneider Marc A. , Muley Thomas , Weber Rebecca , Wessels Sabine , Thomas Michael , Herth Felix J. F. , Kahn Nicolas C. , Eberhardt Ralf , Winter Hauke , Heussel Gudula , Warth Arne , Herold-Mende Christel , Meister Michael
Published: December 2018

A major part of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with mono- or multimodal concept develop therapy resistance. Despite the abundance of biomarkers investigated in the past, there is still a need for valid NSCLC biomarkers. Glycodelin, an immunosuppressive endometrial protein, has been shown to be also expressed in NSCLC. Here, we investigated its potential as a biomarker in metastatic and advanced stage NSCLC. Glycodelin gene and protein expression were measured in 28 therapy-naïve resected tumors as well as in corresponding brain (n = 16) and adrenal gland (n = 12) metastasis by qPCR and IHC. Moreover, we correlated glycodelin gene expression of cryoconserved therapy-naïve biopsies (n = 55) of advanced stage patients with glycodelin serum concentrations and patient survival. Using follow-up samples of the patients, we monitored glycodelin serum concentrations during therapy. Glycodelin expression correlated between primary tumor and distant metastases within the same patients. The gene expression of glycodelin in therapy-naïve biopsies also correlated with the serum concentrations of the patients (r = 0.60). Patients with elevated serum concentrations showed a tendency in lower overall survival (p = 0.088) and measuring of glycodelin indicated a progression of the disease earlier compared to clinical diagnostic. Taken together, we demonstrate that glycodelin is a promising prognostic and follow-up biomarker for metastatic and advanced NSCLC.
The Disruption of the β-Catenin/TCF-1/STAT3 Signaling Axis by 4-Acetylantroquinonol B Inhibits the Tumorigenesis and Cancer Stem-Cell-Like Properties of Glioblastoma Cells, In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Liu Heng-Wei , Su Yu-Kai , Bamodu Oluwaseun Adebayo , Hueng Dueng-Yuan , Lee Wei-Hwa , Huang Chun-Chih , Deng Li , Hsiao Michael , Chien Ming-Hsien , Yeh Chi-Tai , Lin Chien-Min
Published: December 2018

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM), a malignant form of glioma, is characterized by resistance to therapy and poor prognosis. Accumulating evidence shows that the initiation, propagation, and recurrence of GBM is attributable to the presence of GBM stem cells (GBM-CSCs). Experimental approach: Herein, we investigated the effect of 4-Acetylantroquinonol B (4-AAQB), a bioactive isolate of Antrodia cinnamomea, on GBM cell viability, oncogenic, and CSCs-like activities. Results: We observed that aberrant expression of catenin is characteristic of GBM, compared to other glioma types (p = 0.0001, log-rank test = 475.2), and correlates with poor prognosis of GBM patients. Lower grade glioma and glioblastoma patients (n = 1152) with low catenin expression had 25% and 21.5% better overall survival than those with high catenin expression at the 5 and 10-year time-points, respectively (p = 3.57e-11, log-rank test = 43.8). Immunohistochemistry demonstrated that compared with adjacent non-tumor brain tissue, primary and recurrent GBM exhibited enhanced catenin expression (~10-fold, p < 0.001). Western blot analysis showed that 4-AAQB significantly downregulated β-catenin and dysregulated the catenin/LEF1/Stat3 signaling axis in U87MG and DBTRG-05MG cells, dose-dependently. 4-AAQB–induced downregulation of catenin positively correlated with reduced Sox2 and Oct4 nuclear expression in the cells. Furthermore, 4-AAQB markedly reduced the viability of U87MG and DBTRG-05MG cells with 48 h IC50 of 9.2 M and 12.5 M, respectively, effectively inhibited the nuclear catenin, limited the migration and invasion of GBM cells, with concurrent downregulation of catenin, vimentin, and slug; similarly, colony and tumorsphere formation was significantly attenuated with reduced expression of c-Myc and KLF4 proteins. Conclusions: Summarily, we show for the first time that 4-AAQB suppresses the tumor-promoting catenin/LEF1/Stat3 signaling, and inhibited CSCs-induced oncogenic activities in GBM in vitro, with in vivo validation; thus projecting 4-AAQB as a potent therapeutic agent for anti-GBM target therapy.
Recent Advances in Oncolytic Virotherapy and Immunotherapy for Glioblastoma: A Glimmer of Hope in the Search for an Effective Therapy?
Authors: Stepanenko Aleksei , Chekhonin Vladimir
Published: December 2018

To date, no targeted drugs, antibodies or combinations of chemotherapeutics have been demonstrated to be more efficient than temozolomide, or to increase efficacy of standard therapy (surgery, radiotherapy, temozolomide, steroid dexamethasone). According to recent phase III trials, standard therapy may ensure a median overall survival of up to 18–20 months for adult patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. These data explain a failure of positive non-controlled phase II trials to predict positive phase III trials and should result in revision of the landmark Stupp trial as a historical control for median overall survival in non-controlled trials. A high rate of failures in clinical trials and a lack of effective chemotherapy on the horizon fostered the development of conceptually distinct therapeutic approaches: dendritic cell/peptide immunotherapy, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy and oncolytic virotherapy. Recent early phase trials with the recombinant adenovirus DNX-2401 (Ad5-delta24-RGD), polio-rhinovirus chimera (PVSRIPO), parvovirus H-1 (ParvOryx), Toca 511 retroviral vector with 5-fluorocytosine, heat shock protein-peptide complex-96 (HSPPC-96) and dendritic cell vaccines, including DCVax-L vaccine, demonstrated that subsets of patients with glioblastoma/glioma may benefit from oncolytic virotherapy/immunotherapy (>3 years of survival after treatment). However, large controlled trials are required to prove efficacy of next-generation immunotherapeutics and oncolytic vectors.
The Role of MicroRNAs in the Metastatic Process of High-Risk HPV-Induced Cancers
Authors: Santos Joana M.O. , Peixoto da Silva Sara , Costa Natália R. , Gil da Costa Rui M. , Medeiros Rui
Published: December 2018

High-risk human papillomavirus (HPV)-driven cancers represent a major health concern worldwide. Despite the constant effort to develop and promote vaccination against HPVs, there is still a high percentage of non-vaccinated population. Furthermore, secondary prevention programs are not ubiquitous worldwide and not widely followed. Metastatic disease is the cause of the great majority of cancer-associated deaths, making it essential to determine its underlying mechanisms and to identify actionable anti-metastatic targets. Within certain types of cancer (e.g., head and neck), HPV-positive tumors show different dissemination patterns when compared with their HPV-negative counterparts, implicating HPV-related factors in the metastatic process. Among the many groups of biomolecules dysregulated by HPV, microRNAs have recently emerged as key regulators of carcinogenesis, able to control complex processes like cancer metastization. In this review, we present recent data on the role of microRNAs in the metastization of HPV-related cancers and on their possible clinical relevance as biomarkers of metastatic disease and/or as therapeutic targets.
Insights into the Recent Progress and Advanced Materials for Photocatalytic Nitrogen Fixation for Ammonia (NH3) Production
Authors: Vu Manh-Hiep , Sakar M. , Do Trong-On
Published: December 2018

Ammonia (NH3) is one of the key agricultural fertilizers and to date, industries are using the conventional Haber-Bosh process for the synthesis of NH3 which requires high temperature and energy. To overcome such challenges and to find a sustainable alternative process, researchers are focusing on the photocatalytic nitrogen fixation process. Recently, the effective utilization of sunlight has been proposed via photocatalytic water splitting for producing green energy resource, hydrogen. Inspired by this phenomenon, the production of ammonia via nitrogen, water and sunlight has been attracted many efforts. Photocatalytic N2 fixation presents a green and sustainable ammonia synthesis pathway. Currently, the strategies for development of efficient photocatalyst for nitrogen fixation is primarily concentrated on creating active sites or loading transition metal to facilitate the charge separation and weaken the N–N triple bond. In this investigation, we review the literature knowledge about the photocatalysis phenomena and the most recent developments on the semiconductor nanocomposites for nitrogen fixation, following by a detailed discussion of each type of mechanism.
Erratum: Polge, C., et al. UBE2E1 Is Preferentially Expressed in the Cytoplasm of Slow-Twitch Fibers and Protects Skeletal Muscles from Exacerbated Atrophy upon Dexamethasone Treatment. Cells 2018, 7, 214
Authors: Polge Cécile , Aniort Julien , Armani Andrea , Claustre Agnès , Coudy-Gandilhon Cécile , Tournebize Clara , Deval Christiane , Combaret Lydie , Béchet Daniel , Sandri Marco , Attaix Didier , Taillandier Daniel
Published: December 2018

Change in author names (order). [...]
Delusional Parasitosis Impeding Delivery of Acute Care in a Cancer Patient
Authors: Geneva Ivayla I.
Published: December 2018

Taking care of patients with delusional parasitosis can be challenging. This report illustrates the added management complexity and ethical dilemmas surrounding a patient who was newly diagnosed with an incurable lung cancer, while at the same time was suffering from delusional parasitosis. Her delusion was so profound that she blamed flukes for her respiratory failure and refused treatment of her cancer. This paper emphasizes making the right decision with the greater good in mind, even if this meant “yielding” to a patient’s delusion and treating the non-existing parasitosis in order for her to allow us to also treat the cancer.
Entropy Density Acceleration and Minimum Dissipation Principle: Correlation with Heat and Matter Transfer in Glucose Catabolism
Authors: Zivieri Roberto , Pacini Nicola
Published: December 2018

The heat and matter transfer during glucose catabolism in living systems and their relation with entropy production are a challenging subject of the classical thermodynamics applied to biology. In this respect, an analogy between mechanics and thermodynamics has been performed via the definition of the entropy density acceleration expressed by the time derivative of the rate of entropy density and related to heat and matter transfer in minimum living systems. Cells are regarded as open thermodynamic systems that exchange heat and matter resulting from irreversible processes with the intercellular environment. Prigogine’s minimum energy dissipation principle is reformulated using the notion of entropy density acceleration applied to glucose catabolism. It is shown that, for out-of-equilibrium states, the calculated entropy density acceleration for a single cell is finite and negative and approaches as a function of time a zero value at global thermodynamic equilibrium for heat and matter transfer independently of the cell type and the metabolic pathway. These results could be important for a deeper understanding of entropy generation and its correlation with heat transfer in cell biology with special regard to glucose catabolism representing the prototype of irreversible reactions and a crucial metabolic pathway in stem cells and cancer stem cells.
Rotor Fault Diagnosis Based on Characteristic Frequency Band Energy Entropy and Support Vector Machine
Authors: Pang Bin , Tang Guiji , Zhou Chong , Tian Tian
Published: December 2018

Rotor is a widely used and easily defected mechanical component. Thus, it is significant to develop effective techniques for rotor fault diagnosis. Fault signature extraction and state classification of the extracted signatures are two key steps for diagnosing rotor faults. To complete the accurate recognition of rotor states, a novel evaluation index named characteristic frequency band energy entropy (CFBEE) was proposed to extract the defective features of rotors, and support vector machine (SVM) was employed to automatically identify the rotor fault types. Specifically, the raw vibration signal of rotor was first analyzed by a joint time–frequency method based on improved singular spectrum decomposition (ISSD) and Hilbert transform (HT) to derive its time–frequency spectrum (TFS), which is named ISSD-HT TFS in this paper. Then, the CFBEE of the ISSD-HT TFS was calculated as the fault feature vector. Finally, SVM was used to complete the automatic identification of rotor faults. Simulated processing results indicate that ISSD improves the end effects of singular spectrum decomposition (SSD) and is superior to empirical mode decomposition (EMD) in extracting the sub-components of rotor vibration signal. The ISSD-HT TFS can more accurately reflect the time–frequency information compared to the EMD-HT TFS. Experimental verification demonstrates that the proposed method can accurately identify rotor defect types and outperform some other methods.
Coordination Control Method Suitable for Practical Engineering Applications for Distributed Power Flow Controller (DPFC)
Authors: Xiao Mengmeng , Wang Shaorong
Published: December 2018

To control multiple series units of distributed power flow controller (DPFC), a hierarchical control method is proposed. This coordination control system consists of a coordination controller and multiple series unit controllers. According to the demand of power flow ordered by a dispatch center, the corresponding series-compensated voltage is calculated by a high-level controller and transferred to each series unit controller. Comparing the targeted compensated voltage with actual injected voltage, the modulation signal of the converter will be modified to change the power flow accurately. The DPFC system model is built in Power Systems Computer Aided Design/ Electromagnetic Transients including DC (PSCAD/EMTDC). The simulation result indicates that the proposed hierarchical control method is effective and can be considered as an option for practical engineering applications in the future.
A Novel Approach for an MPPT Controller Based on the ADALINE Network Trained with the RTRL Algorithm
Authors: Viloria-Porto Julie , Robles-Algarín Carlos , Restrepo-Leal Diego
Published: December 2018

The Real-Time Recurrent Learning Gradient (RTRL) algorithm is characterized by being an online learning method for training dynamic recurrent neural networks, which makes it ideal for working with non-linear control systems. For this reason, this paper presents the design of a novel Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) controller with an artificial neural network type Adaptive Linear Neuron (ADALINE), with Finite Impulse Response (FIR) architecture, trained with the RTRL algorithm. With this same network architecture, the Least Mean Square (LMS) algorithm was developed to evaluate the results obtained with the RTRL controller and then make comparisons with the Perturb and Observe (P&O) algorithm. This control method receives as input signals the current and voltage of a photovoltaic module under sudden changes in operating conditions. Additionally, the efficiency of the controllers was appraised with a fuzzy controller and a Nonlinear Autoregressive Network with Exogenous Inputs (NARX) controller, which were developed in previous investigations. It was concluded that the RTRL controller with adaptive training has better results, a faster response, and fewer bifurcations due to sudden changes in the input signals, being the ideal control method for systems that require a real-time response.
Deep Highway Networks and Tree-Based Ensemble for Predicting Short-Term Building Energy Consumption
Authors: Ahmad Muhammad Waseem , Mouraud Anthony , Rezgui Yacine , Mourshed Monjur
Published: December 2018

Predictive analytics play a significant role in ensuring optimal and secure operation of power systems, reducing energy consumption, detecting fault and diagnosis, and improving grid resilience. However, due to system nonlinearities, delay, and complexity of the problem because of many influencing factors (e.g., climate, occupants’ behaviour, occupancy pattern, building type), it is a challenging task to get accurate energy consumption prediction. This paper investigates the accuracy and generalisation capabilities of deep highway networks (DHN) and extremely randomized trees (ET) for predicting hourly heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) energy consumption of a hotel building. Their performance was compared with support vector regression (SVR), a most widely used supervised machine learning algorithm. Results showed that both ET and DHN models marginally outperform the SVR algorithm. The paper also details the impact of increasing the deep highway network’s complexity on its performance. The paper concludes that all developed models are equally applicable for predicting hourly HVAC energy consumption. Possible reasons for the minimum impact of DHN complexity and future research work are also highlighted in the paper.
Load Frequency Control Using Demand Response and Storage Battery by Considering Renewable Energy Sources
Authors: Liu Lei , Matayoshi Hidehito , Lotfy Mohammed Elsayed , Datta Manoj , Senjyu Tomonobu
Published: December 2018

Renewable energy sources (RESs), as clean, abundant, and inexhaustible source of energy, have developed quickly in recent years and played more and more important roles around the world. However, RESs also have some disadvantages, such as the weakness of stability, and by the the estimated increase of utilizing RESs in the near future, researchers began to give more attention to these issues. This paper presents a novel output power fluctuate compensation scheme in the small-scale power system, verifying the effect of output power control using storage battery, demand response and RESs. Four scenarios are considered in the proposed approach: real-time pricing demand response employment, RESs output control use and both of demand response and RESs output control implementation. The performance of the proposed control technique is investigated using the real 10-bus power system model of Okinawa island, Japan. Moreover, the system stability is checked using the pole-zero maps for all of the control loops associated with the proposed scheme. The robustness and effectiveness of the proposed method was verified by simulation using Matlab®/Simulink®.