bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
MEMBANGUN KARAKTER BANGSA DENGAN NILAI-NILAI KEUTAMAAN DALAM BHAGAVAD GITA SUATU KAJIAN PUSTAKA ATAS KARYA NGAKAN PUTU PUTRA
Authors: Dewi Andayani Diana
Published: July 2017

Lately, characters become very serious conversation. Various Portals of Government Agencies which are associated with education makes the characters as the project theme of national seminars. In a variety of social media will very often be found articles related to the characters. This is because the Indonesian Government is anxious to see the reality of nation’s community mental which is experiencing a crisis and moral degradation.

Cases of corruption and human tragedy that were done by those who are supposedly literate even become a spectacle on various TV stations. It encourages the government of Indonesia sought to reformulate the National Education Goals as outlined in UUSPN No. 20 of 2003 Article 3. That article states that education aims to develop students' potential to become a human of faith and piety to God Almighty, noble, healthy, knowledgeable, skilled, creative, independent, and become democratic and accountable citizens to the community and nationality. All are then formulated into 18 (eighteen) grains of the noble values of the nation then called the values of the character as a means to build the nation's character.

Although the Indonesian government has formulated 18 characters to build the nation's character, but various groups, community leaders and academics are still eager to participate to complement the Government's thoughts. This article shall discuss a book by national Hindu leaders, namely Ngakan Putu Putra, a comprehensive work explored in the literature that explores the Bhagavadgita which discusses 27 (twenty-seven) character value that gives hope for the realization of the nation's character.
E-LEARNING SEBAGAI EVOLUSI PROSES PEMBELAJARAN DI ERA MASYARAKAT INFORMASI
Authors: Kussa Laksana Utama Putu
Published: July 2017

Education is a important thing in a human civilization history. The progress of a civilization is mostly determined by education as a main factor. Throughout the history of human civilization, there were so many learning methods has been invented such as discussion method, discourse method, group teaching, and technology-supported learning method. The fast development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the era of information society has facilitated all of knowledge seekersnowdays to learn something better and better.E-Learning as a implementation of ICT in education domain takes the role as a education media which provide education content so that the students are able to access it times infinity.
PERAN KEPALA SEKOLAH DALAM MENINGKATKAN MUTU PENDIDIKAN
Authors: Fitrah Muh.
Published: July 2017

This writing has main purpose that is to know head master’s role in improving educational quality, leadership, duty, and headmaster’s role in improving educational quality, leardership, duty, and headmaster’s role in order to produce process and product of quality education. Educational quality is our hope in facing strict life exchange in several sectors especially in education sectors for better future. For the sake of making educational quality, this needs role of leaders in educational institutes. One of them is headmaster because it is the pioneer is moving all changes to go to educational quality. Headmaster’s duty is not only leading ceremony, waiting incoming letter to be signed but also making a good quality of education in school. Specifically headmaster’s role in improving quality of education are doing monitoring, evaluating continually toward seccessful program determined, planning and arranging word plan agreed with improving needs of educational quality which orients on school’s mission, making intensive commumication with teachers, students, student’s parents and society.
Penerapan KMARI Nomor 702 Tahun 2016 Sebagai Upaya Nyata Menuju Kualitas Penjaminan Mutu Perguruan Tinggi Pada Kementerian Agama
Authors: Subagiasta I Ketut
Published: July 2017

This article entitled “The Application of KMARI No. 702 year of 2016 as a Real Effort toreach the Quality Assurance of High Institution in Religion Ministry”. Some descriptions of this article cover introduction such as basis law engagement performance, report engagement, and review on report performance, some components in KMARI Nomor 702 year of 2016, understanding performance engagement, understanding of engagement performance, and meaning review on report of performance. Then also described about purpose arranging angagement performance, arranging angagement performance, purpose report performance, form, delivery, report performance yearly, performance yearly, measuring performance, indidcator performance, and indicator main of performance, purpose review on report performance, arrangement review on report performance. Last of this article namely about conclusion and reflection.
MANAJEMEN PEMBIAYAAN PENDIDIKAN TINGGI DALAM UPAYA PENINGKATAN MUTU (Studi Kasus Pada Perguruan Tinggi Swasta Menengah di Surabaya)
Authors: Anwar Abidin Achmad
Published: July 2017

Financing a good management is one key to the success of an educational institution to promote or increase quality. In this study, the focus of the problem is how the management of financing available to the private universities in Surabaya medium in order to improve its quality. The method used is qualitative descriptive with the presence of the researcher as an instrument of research conducted interviews to informants as a source of primary data and documents as well as supporting books as a secondary data source. Management Funding education is one of the factors that determine the quality improvement due to the financial management that is transparent and accountable will give rise to the belief of stakehoulder and it will be the motivation of each academicians Tri Dharma College in Private colleges medium in Surabaya to conduct quality improvement in their respective fields.
KINERJA LEMBAGA KEUANGAN MIKRO SYARIAH DAN UPAYA UNTUK MEMPERTAHANKAN EKSISTENSI PERILAKU MASYARAKAT PEDESAAN
Authors: Kuncoro Amin , Husnurrosyidah Husnurrosyidah
Published: July 2017

Peran lembaga keuangan mikro di Indonesia seperti sekarang ini diharapkan mampu memberikan kontribusi bagi pembangunan nasional, jika dilihat pada sektor yang menjadi tujuan utama adalah peran dan eksistensi lembaga keuangan mikro khususnya bagi masyarakat yang tinggal di pedesaan. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengurai peran kinerja lembaga keuangan mikro syariah bagi masyarakat yang tinggal di pedesaan, karena lokasinya sangat jauh dari peradaban kota sehingga membutuhkan waktu yang lama untuk jarak tempuh bagi masyarakat yang tinggal di pedesaan. Yang kedua adalah perilaku masyarakat dalam upaya mensikapi adanya lembaga keuangan mikro syariah di lingkungannya. Jenis penelitian ini adalah eksperimen riset yang mana variabel independen merupakan variabel manipulasi, sehingga seringkali disebut sebagai variabel penjelas dari variabel dependen, sampelnya adalah warga atau masyarakat yang terlibat langsung dengan lembaga keuangan mikro syariah yang berasa di desa Tempur Kabupaten Jepara Jawa tengah Indonesia. Teknik pengambilan sampelnya menggunakan purposive sampling sehingga jumlah sampelnya adalah 100 orang. Hasil dari penelitian ini adalah lembaga keuangan mikro syariah sangat menjunjung nilai-nilai yang terkandung dari ajaran Islam, yaitu menggunakan akad syariah untuk bertransaksi, selain itu karena jarak tempuh yang jauh dari pusat kota, maka sebagian masyarakat dan tenaga pemasaran lembaga keuangan mikro tersebut menjalin kerja sama yang baik untuk meningkatkan ekonomi keluarga.
MODEL PERHITUNGAN UNIT COST LAYANAN KESEHATAN DENGAN METODE BIAYA KONVENSIONAL DAN ABC (STUDI KASUS DI PUSKESMAS “X” KABUPATEN LUMAJANG)
Authors: Mulyono Imam
Published: July 2017

@font-face { font-family: "Times New Roman"; }@font-face { font-family: "宋体"; }@font-face { font-family: "SimSun"; }p.MsoNormal { margin: 0pt 0pt 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }p.MsoFooter { margin: 0pt 0pt 0.0001pt; text-align: center; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }span.msoIns { text-decoration: underline; color: blue; }span.msoDel { text-decoration: line-through; color: red; }div.Section0 { }Public Health Center (PHC) is one organization that is very strategic and have special authority in the health services so that they are entitled to innovate in the health service. Unit cost calculation purposes of research compiled by the PHC Unit Cost Konvensional Method and Activity Based Costing (ABC) Approach. The study was conducted at PHC "X" Lumajang City. The Research Methods used a case study with the source data from interviews and documentation. Results of this study include the calculation model of unit cost with konvensional methods, the classification of the direct costs and indirect costs, acquired unit cost by considering all PHC staff salaries amounted Rp.124.987,00, while if the total salaries of employees of PHC "X" that civil servants are not included in the total cost of the component units of the average unit cost of each service is Rp. 36.087,00. Analysis of calculation models of unit cost of service with the ABC method, classified in activities, among other things -Producting Activities Result, Result-Contribution Activities, Support Activities, and Hygiene & Houskeeping Activities, acquired PHC unit cost with consideration of all PHC staff salaries amounting to Rp. 124,876.00, whereas if the total salaries of employees of PHC "X" that civil servants are not included in the total cost of the components, the unit cost of the service on average for each service, patients bear only Rp. 44.103,00.
Police And Public Image Satisfaction On Quality Of Service In Corner Driver's License Unit
Authors: Indahingwati Asmara
Published: July 2017

This research discusses, the influence of physical environmental, technical and functional quality toward customer satisfaction and Police institution image (study at SIM Corner in Indonesia). This purposed of this research to evaluate and analyze. The population of this research is the customer’s as the applicant extension of SIM A and SIM C and also SIM A and SIM C at the service management of SIM Corner in Indonesia, as respondent being analyzed are 150 customer’s at SIM Corner in Surabaya city and Sidoarjo district, and using non-probability sampling, besides it also using accidental sampling. Date tool using the Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with path analysis, and the result of this research show that: physical environmental quality proven that it improve the customer satisfaction at SIM Corner; technical quality proven that it improve the customer satisfaction at SIM Corner; functional quality proven that it improve the customer satisfaction at SIM Corner; physical environmental quality proven that it improve the Police institution image; technical quality proven that it improve the Police institution image; functional quality proven that it improve the Police institution image; consumer satisfaction proven that it improve the Police institution image in Indonesia.
Claim Settlement of Life Insures in Nepal
Authors: Basaula Damodar
Published: July 2017

Claim management has been vital area of the life insurance business. Life insurance of Nepal seems still in infant stage; however the success of life insurance companies may largely depend upon the claim management. This paper has attempted to state and analyze five years’ status of the performance of claim settlement made by life insurers especially on the basis of total claim received; claim paid and claim outstanding aspects. This paper describes the status of current situation of claim settlement in life insurance market. The literature review indentified the lapses and gaps of the claim settlement in Nepalese Life Insurance Companies. The study concludes that present claim settlement status of Nepal has been seen in growing stage of development in terms of total claim. Some of the life insurers have made tremendous improvement in paying claim in the range of 90.96% to 98.49%. Some life insurers established earlier have not demonstrated well performance in settling claim and some newly set companies have made satisfactory growth. Janapriya Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Vol. 5 (December 2016), page: 27-43
Neonatal Hyperbilirubinemia: Hospital Based Study in Western Region, Nepal
Authors: Sharma Sharada
Published: July 2017

Hyperbilirubinemia is the common cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to identify neonatal hyperbilirubinemia and its early outcome. Retrospective data review was carried out in the Neonatal Care Unit and medical record section of Western Regional Hospital (WRH) for the year 2013. The data were analyzed and interpreted by using descriptive and inferential statistics through the computer program SPSS 20 version and presented in tables. Findings revealed that out of 815, 17.8 percent were the hyperbilirubinemia, 60 percent were male, mean age = 6.61(SD=4.55), 47.6 percent were Brahmin/ Chhetry ethnicity, 55.2 percent were from rural residence and 69.6 percent were admitted from emergency/OPD of WRH. Regarding the duration of stay mean = 3.75(SD=2.02), 86.2 percent neonates were improved at discharge and 0.7 percent expired. There is statistically significant relationship between residence, and source of admission with early outcome of neonates at discharge (p<0.05). The majority of the neonates admitted in the hospital were improved at discharge. Therefore early recognition of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia is an important public health concern. Janapriya Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Vol. 5 (December 2016), page: 75-82
Volatility Spillover Effect in Indian Stock Market
Authors: G. C Surya Bahadur , Kothari Ranjana , Thagurathi Rajesh Kumar
Published: July 2017

The study aims to empirically examine the transmission of volatility from global stock markets to Indian stock market. The study is based on time series data comprising of daily closing stock market indices from National Stock Exchange (NSE), India and major foreign stock exchange of the three countries one each from America, Europe and Asia making the highest portfolio investment in Indian stock market. The study period covers 11 years from 1st January, 2005 to 31st December, 2015 comprising a total of 2731 observations. The Indian stock index used is CNX Nifty 50 and the foreign indices are S & P 500 from USA, FTSE 100 from UK, and Nikkei 225 from Japan. The results reveal that the Indian stock market return is co-integrated with market returns of US, UK and Japanese stock markets. Therefore, the return and hence volatility of Indian stock market is associated with global markets which depicts that it is getting integrated with global financial markets. The results provide empirical evidence for volatility transmission or volatility spillover in the Indian stock market from global markets. There exists inbound volatility transmission from US market to Indian stock market. The Indian and UK stock market have bi-directional volatility transmission. However, there exists presence of only outbound volatility transmission from Indian stock market to Japanese stock market. The volatility transmission from global markets to India is rapid with the spillover effect existing for up to three days only.Janapriya Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies, Vol. 5 (December 2016), page: 83-101
Pornography consumption and its association with sexual concerns and expectations among young men and women
Authors: Goldsmith Kaitlyn , Dunkley Cara R. , Dang Silvain S. , Gorzalka Boris B.
Published: July 2017

The often narrow representations of sexual performance and physical attractiveness in pornography may be linked to sexual concerns and sexual expectations among young men and women (e.g., body- and performance-related sexual distractions, negative genital self-image, expectations of one's partner). Investigation of the relations between these constructs is needed to assess the potential impact of pornography on young adult's sexual lives. Undergraduate men (n=333) and women (n=668) completed an online survey assessing pornography viewership, body- and performance-related cognitive distractions during sexual activity, genital self-image, and pornography-based partner expectations. Multivariate regression analyses revealed that visual pornography viewership was uniquely associated with higher partner performance expectations among women. Among men, visual pornography viewership was uniquely associated with body- and performance-related cognitive distractions during sexual activity. Literary pornography use was not uniquely associated with these variables among men or women. The results of this investigation suggest that individuals who consume visual pornography may experience some forms of sexual insecurity and sexual expectations related to their pornography use. Importantly, many sexual concerns were unrelated to pornography consumption, which is consistent with research in favour of pornography consumption as a healthy sexual outlet for young adults.
An exploration of the prevalence of global, categorical, and specific female genital dissatisfaction
Authors: Fudge Miranda C. , Byers E. Sandra
Published: July 2017

Genital dissatisfaction is problematic for women in and of itself but also because it is associated with poorer sexual well-being. The current study aimed to clarify the prevalence of female genital dissatisfaction, both globally (i.e., overall) and with regards to distinct genital aspects, in a sample of women of different ages and with different relationship statuses. Participants were 209 women (ages 20 to 68 years) living primarily in the United States. Participants completed an online survey that included a background questionnaire, the 7-item Female Genital Self-Image Scale, and the 30-item Specific Genital Aspects Scale. Overall, 18% (n=37) of the women were globally dissatisfied with their genitals. Between 11% and 20% (n=22−41) of the women were dissatisfied with each categorical genital aspect (i.e., appearance, smell/taste, and function). The women were significantly less likely to be dissatisfied with their genital function than with their genital appearance. Between 2% and 69% (n=4−145) of the women were dissatisfied with each of the 30 genital aspects at the specific level. More than one quarter of the women were dissatisfied with nine (of 30) specific genital aspects and these spanned all three categories of genital self-perceptions. There were no differences in the prevalence of global or categorical genital dissatisfaction across age or relationship status. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for educators, researchers, clinicians, and journalists.
Understanding Canada's International Trade under the Trans-Pacific Partnership: Lessons from Gravity Redux
Authors: Liaqat Zara
Published: July 2017

This article applies the traditional gravity model of trade to explore the effects of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) in the context of Canada and, subsequently, draws on the theoretical gravity framework incorporating trade costs derived by Anderson and van Wincoop (2003). It provides a decomposition of the growth of Canada's trade flow with each of its top trading partners. The growth of Canada's bilateral trade with the prospective TPP member countries can be largely attributed to output growth, whereas a vast majority of trade growth with the non-member countries is associated with a reduction in trade costs. Moreover, the elimination of trade barriers after putting into effect free trade agreements considerably diminishes trade costs and raises bilateral trade.
Contralateral posterior interhemispheric approach to deep medial parietooccipital vascular malformations: surgical technique and results
Authors: Burkhardt Jan-Karl , Winkler Ethan A. , Lawton Michael T.
Published: July 2017

OBJECTIVE

Deep medial parietooccipital arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are traditionally resected through an ipsilateral posterior interhemispheric approach (IPIA), which creates a deep, perpendicular perspective with limited access to the lateral margins of the lesion. The contralateral posterior interhemispheric approach (CPIA) flips the positioning, with the midline positioned horizontally for retraction due to gravity, but with the AVM on the upper side and the approach from the contralateral, lower side. The aim of this paper was to analyze whether the perpendicular angle of attack that is used in IPIA would convert to a parallel angle of attack with the CPIA, with less retraction, improved working angles, and no significant increase in risk.

METHODS

A retrospective review of pre- and postoperative clinical and radiographic data was performed in 8 patients who underwent a CPIA.

RESULTS

Three AVMs and 5 CCMs were resected using the CPIA, with an average nidus size of 2.3 cm and CCM diameter of 1.7 cm. All lesions were resected completely, as confirmed on postoperative catheter angiography or MRI. All patients had good neurological outcomes, with either stable or improved modified Rankin Scale scores at last follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

The CPIA is a safe alternative approach to the IPIA for deep medial parietooccipital vascular malformations that extend 2 cm or more off the midline. Contralaterality and retraction due to gravity optimize the interhemispheric corridor, the surgical trajectory to the lesion, and the visualization of the lateral margin, without resection or retraction of adjacent normal cortex. Although the falx is a physical barrier to accessing the lesion, it stabilizes the ipsilateral hemisphere while gravity delivers the dissected lesion through the transfalcine window. Patient positioning, CSF drainage, venous preservation, and meticulous dissection of the deep margins are critical to the safety of this approach.
Safe and sustainable: the extracranial approach toward frontoethmoidal meningoencephalocele repair
Authors: Heidekrueger Paul I. , Thu Myat , Mühlbauer Wolfgang , Holm-Mühlbauer Charlotte , Schucht Philippe , Anderl Hans , Schoeneich Heinrich , Aung Kyawzwa , Mg Ag Mg , Thu Soe Myint Ag , Juran Sabrina , Aung Thiha , Ehrl Denis , Ninkovic Milomir , Broer P. Niclas
Published: July 2017

OBJECTIVE

Although rare, frontoethmoidal meningoencephaloceles continue to pose a challenge to neurosurgeons and plastic reconstructive surgeons. Especially when faced with limited infrastructure and resources, establishing reliable and safe surgical techniques is of paramount importance. The authors present a case series in order to evaluate a previously proposed concise approach for meningoencephalocele repair, with a focus on sustainability of internationally driven surgical efforts.

METHODS

Between 2001 and 2016, a total of 246 patients with frontoethmoidal meningoencephaloceles were treated using a 1-stage extracranial approach by a single surgeon in the Department of Neurosurgery of the Yangon General Hospital in Yangon, Myanmar, initially assisted by European surgeons. Outcomes and complications were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 246 patients (138 male and 108 female) were treated. Their ages ranged from 75 days to 32 years (median 8 years). The duration of follow-up ranged between 4 weeks and 16 years (median 4 months). Eighteen patients (7.3%) showed signs of increased intracranial pressure postoperatively, and early CSF rhinorrhea was observed in 27 patients (11%), with 5 (2%) of them requiring operative dural repair. In 8 patients, a decompressive lumbar puncture was performed. There were 8 postoperative deaths (3.3%) due to meningitis. In 15 patients (6.1%), recurrent herniation of brain tissue was observed; this herniation led to blindness in 1 case. The remaining patients all showed good to very good aesthetic and functional results.

CONCLUSIONS

A minimally invasive, purely extracranial approach to frontoethmoidal meningoencephalocele repair may serve well, especially in middle- and low-income countries. This case series points out how the frequently critiqued lack of sustainability in the field of humanitarian surgical missions, as well as the often-cited missing aftercare and dependence on foreign supporters, can be circumvented by meticulous training of local surgeons.
Semantic clause types and modality as features for argument analysis
Authors: Becker Maria , Palmer Alexis , Frank Anette
Published: July 2017

This work investigates the role of semantic clause types and modality in argumentative texts. We annotate argumentative microtexts with situation entity (SE) classes and additionally label the segments that contain modal verbs with their modal senses. We analyse the correlation both of SE classes and of modal verbs and senses with components of argument structures (such as premises and conclusions) and their functions (such as support and rebuttal). We find interesting tendencies in the correlations between both argument components and argumentative functions with SE types.

We also see interesting differences in the distributions of modal verbs and senses within different argumentative components and functions, as well as evidence that modal senses can be helpful to distinguish conclusions and premises. We conclude that both semantic clause types and modal senses can be deployed for automatic recognition and fine-grained classification of argumentative text passages.
Rhetorical strategies in German argumentative dialogs
Authors: Hautli-Janisz Annette , El-Assady Mennatallah
Published: July 2017

An important factor of argument mining in dialog or multilog data is the framing with which interlocutors put forth their arguments. By using rhetorical devices such as hedging or reference to the Common Ground, speakers relate themselves to their interlocutors, their arguments, and the ongoing discourse. Capitalizing on theoretical linguistic insights into the semantics and pragmatics of discourse particles in German, we propose a categorization of rhetorical information that is highly relevant in natural transcribed speech. In order to shed light on the rhetorical strategies of different interlocutors in large amounts of real mediation data, we use a method from Visual Analytics which allows for an exploration of the rhetorical patterns via an interactive visual interface. With this innovative combination of theoretical linguistics, argument mining and information visualization, we offer a novel way of analyzing framing strategies in large amounts of multi-party argumentative discourse in German.
Evidently epistential adverbs are argumentative indicators: A corpus-based study
Authors: Musi Elena , Rocci Andrea
Published: July 2017

Argumentative indicators of discourse relations constitute crucial cues for the mining of arguments. However, a comprehensive lexicon of these linguistic devices is so far lacking due to the scarcity of corpora argumentatively annotated and the absence of an empirically validated analytic methodology. Recent studies have shown that modals, that express that things might be otherwise, and evidentials, that point to the presence of information sources, are good candidates to work as argumentative indicators. On these grounds, we propose a systematic, non-language specific corpus-based procedure to identify indicators of argumentative discourse relations. We test the design of a multi-level annotation through the analysis of the English and Italian epistential adverbs evidently and evidentemente in comparable corpora of newspaper articles. We show that the annotation guidelines achieve consistent analytical results with expert annotators. Data analysis reveals that the two adverbs work as argumentative indicator both at the structural and at the inferential level: besides pointing to the presence of premises-conclusion relations, they recurrently pattern with causal argument schemes from the effect to the cause. The Italian adverb evidentemente is less polysemous and more frequent, thus working as a more reliable indicator.
Frailty and cancer: Implications for oncology surgery, medical oncology, and radiation oncology
Authors: Ethun Cecilia G. , Bilen Mehmet A. , Jani Ashesh B. , Maithel Shishir K. , Ogan Kenneth , Master Viraj A.
Published: July 2017

Answer questions and earn CME/CNE

The concept of frailty has become increasingly recognized as one of the most important issues in health care and health outcomes and is of particular importance in patients with cancer who are receiving treatment with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. Because both cancer itself, as well as the therapies offered, can be significant additional stressors that challenge a patient's physiologic reserve, the incidence of frailty in older patients with cancer is especially high—it is estimated that over one‐half of older patients with cancer have frailty or prefrailty. Defining frailty can be challenging, however. Put simply, frailty is a state of extreme vulnerability to stressors that leads to adverse health outcomes. In reality, frailty is a complex, multidimensional, and cyclical state of diminished physiologic reserve that results in decreased resiliency and adaptive capacity and increased vulnerability to stressors. In addition, over 70 different measures of frailty have been proposed. Still, it has been demonstrated that frail patients are at increased risk of postoperative complications, chemotherapy intolerance, disease progression, and death. Although international standardization of frailty cutoff points are needed, continued efforts by oncology physicians and surgeons to identify frailty and promote multidisciplinary decision making will help to develop more individualized management strategies and optimize care for patients with cancer. CA Cancer J Clin 2017;67:362–377. © 2017 American Cancer Society.
Chemical Analysis of Astragali Complanati Semen and Its Hypocholesterolemic Effect Using Serum Metabolomics Based on Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Sham Tung , Zhang Huan , Mok Daniel , Chan Shun , Wu Jianhong , Tang Songyun , Chan Chi
Published: July 2017

The hypocholesterolemic protective effect of the dried seed of Astragalus complanatus (ACS) was investigated in rats fed with normal diet, high cholesterol diet (HCD), and HCD plus 70% ethanol extract of ACS (600 mg/kg/day) by oral gavage for four weeks. ACS extract was tested to be rich in antioxidants, which may be contributed to its high content of phenolic compounds. Consumption of ACS remarkably suppressed the elevated total cholesterol (p < 0.01) and LDL-C (p < 0.001) induced by HCD. Chemical constituents of ACS extract were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization orbitrap mass spectrometry and the results showed that the ACS extract mainly consisted of phenolic compounds including flavonoids and flavonoid glycosides. In addition, based on the serum fatty acid profiles, elucidated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, free and esterified fatty acids including docosapentaenoic acid, adrenic acid, dihomo-γ-linolenic acid and arachidonic acid were regulated in ACS treatment group. Western blot results further indicated the protein expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) (p < 0.05) in liver was upregulated in ACS treatment group. To conclude, our results clearly demonstrated that ACS provides beneficial effect on lowering HCD associated detrimental change.
Cellular Automaton to Study the Impact of Changes in Traffic Rules in a Roundabout: A Preliminary Approach
Authors: Małecki Krzysztof , Wątróbski Jarosław
Published: July 2017

The current article presents a roundabout traffic model based on cellular automata for computer simulation. The model takes into account various sizes of roundabouts, as well as various types and maximum speeds of vehicles. A realistic vehicle braking phase is presented which is adjusted to the kind of vehicle and weather conditions. It also analyses roundabout traffic options including where the various rules for entering and exiting a roundabout apply. Traffic rules are contained in respective traffic scenarios. The simulation results indicate that there is significant scope for roundabout traffic reorganisation, with a mind to increasing roundabout capacity.
Laboratory Evaluation of Rejuvenating Agent on Reclaimed SBS Modified Asphalt Pavement
Authors: Wang Jie , Zeng Wei , Qin Yongchun , Huang Songchang , Xu Jian
Published: July 2017

To evaluate the effect of rejuvenating agent on reclaimed SBS (styrene-butadiene-styrene) modified asphalt pavement (RSMAP) material, different tests of asphalt and mixtures were conducted. Firstly, the improvement effect of rejuvenating agents on the aged modified asphalt was tested at macroscopic and microscope level. Then the properties of hot mix asphalt (HMA) with different RSMAP contents (0%, 30%, 50% and 70%) were evaluated by conducting freeze-thaw split, semi-circular bending (SCB) and dynamic modulus (DM). The results indicate that rejuvenating agent can recycle the properties of aged modified asphalt effectively. The initial phase structure of the aged modified asphalt is not changed by adding rejuvenating agents. Moreover, the SBS particles area ratio of modified asphalt blends is significantly correlated with tenacity as the proportion of rejuvenating agent increases. For mixtures, RSMAP is harmful to moisture susceptibility and low-temperature cracking resistance of recycled mixture, especially with high RSMAP content. Moreover, the two properties can be improved by adding rejuvenating agents, but the recycled mixtures with high RSMAP content are not easy to recover to HMA mixture level. In general, the rejuvenating agent has an effect on the stiffness of the recycled mixture, but this is effect not obvious. When loading frequency reaches a higher value, the DM of recycled mixtures and HMA mixture tend to be consistent including high RSMAP content.
Study of Surfactant Additives for the Manufacture of Warm Mix Asphalt: From Laboratory Design to Asphalt Plant Manufacture
Authors: Sol-Sánchez Miguel , Moreno-Navarro Fernando , Rubio-Gámez Ma
Published: July 2017

Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA), manufactured at a lower temperature than the traditional Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA), allows for important economic and environmental benefits when considered for application in roads. Nonetheless, despite the benefits, its application in pavement for roads is not as widespread as desired from an environmental point of view; more in-depth studies to investigate its development and wider applicability are required. Thus, the present paper aims to contribute to the implementation of this cleaner technology to produce WMA (based on chemical additives) for its application in pavement for roads, including from the stage of the design of the material in the laboratory (by selecting the most appropriate manufacturing temperature and additive type and dosage) to its production in a conventional industrial plant for its use in a trial section. Results demonstrate that it is possible to reduce the manufacturing temperature of asphalt mixtures by using chemical additives, recording similar mechanical behaviour (or even superior) to conventional hot mixtures when specific studies are developed for the optimal design of the WMA. It was also shown that these mixtures could be produced in a conventional asphalt plant without implementing important changes in equipment, which implies a cost-effective solution that can readily be incorporated into traditional plant procedures.
Dietary Milk Sphingomyelin Reduces Systemic Inflammation in Diet-Induced Obese Mice and Inhibits LPS Activity in Macrophages
Authors: Norris Gregory , Porter Caitlin , Jiang Christina , Blesso Christopher
Published: July 2017

High-fat diets (HFD) increase lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activity in the blood and may contribute to systemic inflammation with obesity. We hypothesized that dietary milk sphingomyelin (SM), which reduces lipid absorption and colitis in mice, would reduce inflammation and be mediated through effects on gut health and LPS activity. C57BL/6J mice were fed high-fat, high-cholesterol diets (HFD, n = 14) or the same diets with milk SM (HFD-MSM, 0.1% by weight, n = 14) for 10 weeks. HFD-MSM significantly reduced serum inflammatory markers and tended to lower serum LPS (p = 0.08) compared to HFD. Gene expression related to gut barrier function and macrophage inflammation were largely unchanged in colon and mesenteric adipose tissues. Cecal gut microbiota composition showed greater abundance of Acetatifactor genus in mice fed milk SM, but minimal changes in other taxa. Milk SM significantly attenuated the effect of LPS on pro-inflammatory gene expression in RAW264.7 macrophages. Milk SM lost its effects when hydrolysis was blocked, while long-chain ceramides and sphingosine, but not dihydroceramides, were anti-inflammatory. Our data suggest that dietary milk SM may be effective in reducing systemic inflammation through inhibition of LPS activity and that hydrolytic products of milk SM are important for these effects.
Tumor Microenvironment on a Chip: The Progress and Future Perspective
Authors: Ahn Jungho , Sei Yoshitaka , Jeon Noo , Kim YongTae
Published: July 2017

Tumors develop in intricate microenvironments required for their sustained growth, invasion, and metastasis. The tumor microenvironment plays a critical role in the malignant or drug resistant nature of tumors, becoming a promising therapeutic target. Microengineered physiological systems capable of mimicking tumor environments are one emerging platform that allows for quantitative and reproducible characterization of tumor responses with pathophysiological relevance. This review highlights the recent advancements of engineered tumor microenvironment systems that enable the unprecedented mechanistic examination of cancer progression and metastasis. We discuss the progress and future perspective of these microengineered biomimetic approaches for anticancer drug prescreening applications.
BICM-ID with Physical Layer Network Coding in TWR Free Space Optical Communication Links
Authors: Al-Rubaie Alaa , Abu Almaalie Zina , Ghassemlooy Zabih
Published: July 2017

Physical layer network coding (PNC) is a promising technique to improve the network throughput in a two-way relay (TWR) channel for two users to exchange messages across a wireless network. The PNC technique incorporating a TWR channel is embraced by a free space optical (FSO) communication link for full utilization of network resources, namely TWR-FSO PNC. In this paper, bit interleaved coded modulation with iterative decoding (BICM-ID) is adopted to combat the deleterious effect of the turbulence channel by saving the message being transmitted to increase the reliability of the system. Moreover, based on this technique, comparative studies between end-to-end BICM-ID code, non-iterative convolutional coded and uncoded systems are carried out. Furthermore, this paper presents the extrinsic information transfer (ExIT) charts to evaluate the performance of BICM-ID code combined with the TWR-FSO PNC system. The simulation results show that the proposed scheme can achieve a significant bit error rate (BER) performance improvement through the introduction of an iterative process between a soft demapper and decoder. Similarly, Monte Carlo simulation results are provided to support the findings. Subsequently, the ExIT functions of the two receiver components are thoroughly analysed for a variety of parameters under the influence of a turbulence-induced channel fading, demonstrating the convergence behaviour of BICM-ID to enable the TWR-FSO PNC system, effectively mitigating the impact of the fading turbulence channel.
Electrohydrodynamics-Induced Abnormal Electro-Optic Characteristics in a Polymer-Dispersed Liquid Crystal Film
Authors: Wu Sheng-Kuang , Mo Ting-Shan , Lin Jia-De , Huang Shuan-Yu , Huang Chia-Yi , Yeh Hui-Chen , Chen Lin-Jer , Lee Chia-Rong
Published: July 2017

This study demonstrates for the first time abnormal electro-optic (EO) characteristics induced by electrohydrodynamics (EHD) in a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film in the presence of a low-frequency (1 kHz) AC voltage. Large LC droplets (20−40 µm) buried in the film can be obtained after the illumination of one UV light with a weak intensity (~0.96 mW/cm2) for 12 h. This film exhibits abnormal EO features, including the transmittance’s decay at a high voltage regime at normal incidence and the conversion between polarization independence and polarization dependence for the transmittance-voltage curve at normal and oblique incidences, respectively, of which properties are different from those shown in traditional PDLC films with small droplets. The abnormal EO characteristics of the large-droplet PDLC at the high voltage regime are attributed to a strong scattering effect associated with the formation of the foggy LC droplets in the cell. This effect is induced by a vortex-like LC director field with a rotational axis normal to the cell substrates in each dome-like droplet of the cell at the high voltage regime. The vortex-like director field is induced by a vortex-like turbulence of charged impurity generated by the EHD effect under the action of the AC electric field along the cell normal and the confinement of the dome-like boundary of the droplet on the charged impurities in each droplet. The scattering is decided by the degrees of mismatch between the refractive indices of the LC droplet and polymer, and the local fluctuation of the vortex-like director field in the droplet, resulting in the abnormal EO behaviors of the large-droplet PDLC. This investigation provides novel insight into the EHD effect in three dimensional (3D) microdroplets with anisotropic fluid. Such a large-droplet PDLC has potential in photonic applications, such as electrically controlled polarization-based optical components or optical converters between polarization independence and polarization dependence.
Objective Weights Based on Ordered Fuzzy Numbers for Fuzzy Multiple Criteria Decision-Making Methods
Authors: Kacprzak Dariusz
Published: July 2017

Fuzzy multiple criteria decision-making (FMCDM) methods are techniques of finding the trade-off option out of all feasible alternatives that are characterized by multiple criteria and where data cannot be measured precisely, but can be represented, for instance, by ordered fuzzy numbers (OFNs). One of the main steps in FMCDM methods consist in finding the appropriate criteria weights. A method based on the concept of Shannon entropy is one of many techniques for the determination of criteria weights when obtaining them from the decision-maker is not possible. The goal of the paper is to extend the notion of Shannon entropy to fuzzy data represented by OFNs. The proposed approach allows to obtain criteria weights as OFNs, which are normalized and sum to 1.
Linking the Power and Transport Sectors—Part 1: The Principle of Sector Coupling
Authors: Robinius Martin , Otto Alexander , Heuser Philipp , Welder Lara , Syranidis Konstantinos , Ryberg David , Grube Thomas , Markewitz Peter , Peters Ralf , Stolten Detlef
Published: July 2017

The usage of renewable energy sources (RESs) to achieve greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goals requires a holistic transformation across all sectors. Due to the fluctuating nature of RESs, it is necessary to install more wind and photovoltaics (PVs) generation in terms of nominal power than would otherwise be required in order to ensure that the power demand can always be met. In a near fully RES-based energy system, there will be times when there is an inadequate conventional load to meet the overcapacity of RESs, which will lead to demand regularly being exceeded and thereby a surplus. One approach to making productive use of this surplus, which would lead to a holistic transformation of all sectors, is “sector coupling” (SC). This paper describes the general principles behind this concept and develops a working definition intended to be of utility to the international scientific community. Furthermore, a literature review provides an overview of relevant scientific papers on the topic. Due to the challenge of distinguishing between papers with or without SC, the approach adopted here takes the German context as a case study that can be applied to future reviews with an international focus. Finally, to evaluate the potential of SC, an analysis of the linking of the power and transport sectors on a worldwide, EU and German level has been conducted and is outlined here.
A Chaos-Embedded Gravitational Search Algorithm for the Identification of Electrical Parameters of Photovoltaic Cells
Authors: Valdivia-González Arturo , Zaldívar Daniel , Cuevas Erik , Pérez-Cisneros Marco , Fausto Fernando , González Adrián
Published: July 2017

Solar energy is used worldwide to alleviate the daily increasing demands for electric power. Photovoltaic (PV) cells, which are used to convert solar energy into electricity, can be represented as equivalent circuit models, in which a series of electrical parameters must be identified in order to determine their operating characteristics under different test conditions. Intelligent approaches, like those based in population-based optimization algorithms like Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Genetic Algorithms (GAs), and Simulated Annealing (SA), have been demonstrated to be powerful methods for the accurate identification of such parameters. Recently, chaos theory have been highlighted as a promising alternative to increase the performance of such approaches; as a result, several chaos-based optimization methods have been devised to solve many different and complex engineering problems. In this paper, the Chaotic Gravitational Search Algorithm (CGSA) is proposed to solve the problem of accurate PV cell parameter estimation. To prove the feasibility of the proposed approach, a series of comparative experiments against other similar parameters extraction methods were performed. As shown by our experimental results, our proposed approach outperforms all other methods compared in this work, and proves to be an excellent alternative to tackle the challenging problem of solar cell parameters identification.
RTV Silicone Rubber Degradation Induced by Temperature Cycling
Authors: Wen Xishan , Yuan Xiaoqing , Lan Lei , Hao Lu , Wang Yu , Li Shaodong , Lu Hailiang , Bao Zhenghong
Published: July 2017

Room temperature vulcanized (RTV) silicone rubber is extensively used in power system due to its hydrophobicity and hydrophobicity transfer ability. Temperature has been proven to markedly affect the performance of silicone rubbers. This research investigated the degradation of RTV silicone rubber under temperature cycling treatment. Hydrophobicity and its transfer ability, hardness, functional groups, microscopic appearance, and thermal stability were analyzed using the static contact angle method, a Shore A durometer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetry (TG), respectively. Some significant conclusions were drawn. After the temperature was cycled between −25 °C and 70 °C, the hydrophobicity changed modestly, but its transfer ability changed remarkably, which may result from the competition between the formation of more channels for the transfer of low molecular weight (LMW) silicone fluid and the reduction of LMW silicone fluid in the bulk. A hardness analysis and FTIR analysis demonstrated that further cross-linking reactions occurred during the treatment. SEM images showed the changes in roughness of the RTV silicone rubber surfaces. TG analysis also demonstrated the degradation of RTV silicone rubber by presenting evidence that the content of organic materials decreased during the temperature cycling treatment.