bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhancing Students' Reading Comprehension Through Jigsaw
Authors: Dwiniasih Dwiniasih , Nugraha Arifial Fahla
Published: May 2019

This article mainly describes the use of jigsaw as one the collaborative learning strategies in learning that could foster students' reading comprehension. It is assumed that Jigsaw could enhance students' achievement in reading skill. Therefore, test and questionnaire were used in this research to investigate the effect of Jigsaw and students' response towards Jigsaw applied by the teacher. Finally, Jigsaw implicates students' achievement become better and it forces students to be a teacher speaking up their idea to the other group
Refah Rejimleri Bağlamında Babalık Yönelimli Aile Politikaları - Fatherhood-Oriented Family Policies in the Context of Welfare Regimes
Authors: ELNUR Ahmet
Published: May 2019

Günümüzde aile politikaları, toplumsal cinsiyet ideolojisinin yeniden üretildiği ve sürdürüldüğü temel alanlardan biri olarak öne çıkmaktadır. 20. yüzyılın son çeyreğinden itibaren, aile refahının geliştirilmesine yönelik artan sistematik çabalara paralel olarak, babalık yönelimli aile politikaları gibi yeni uygulamaların gündeme gelmeye başladığı görülmektedir. Toplumsal cinsiyet ideolojisi çerçevesinde ortaya çıkan ve şekillenen bu uygulamalarda ülkeden ülkeye değişiklik gösteren önemli farklılıklar söz konusu olmaktadır. Avrupa Birliği düzeyinde aile politikalarının hem kadınlar hem de erkekler açısından geliştirilmesine yönelik yasal ve siyasal önlemler alınmasına rağmen; bu farklılıkların varlığını sürdürmeye devam ettiği görülmektedir. Genel olarak aileye, özel olarak babalığa yönelik uygulanan desteklerin niteliğine göre farklılık gösteren aile politikası uygulamalarının açıklanması doğrultusunda, Esping-Andersen’in 1990 yılında ortaya attığı üçlü refah devleti tipolojisi, üzerinden bunca zaman geçmesine rağmen, önemli bir başvuru kaynağı olarak geçerliliğini korumaktadır. Bu çalışma kapsamında, refah rejimleri bağlamında babalık yönelimli aile politikalarının, toplumsal cinsiyet ideolojisi etkisi altında nasıl şekillendiklerinin ortaya konulması amacıyla, liberal, muhafazakar ve sosyal demokrat refah rejimlerinde geçerli olan aile politikası uygulamaları karşılaştırılmalı olarak incelenmektedir.
Truva Atı Zararlı Yazılımlarına Yaklaşım ve Çözüm Önerileri
Authors: KARA İlker
Published: May 2019

Teknolojik cihazların kullanımı arttıkça kötü niyetli kişiler
de bu cihazlara ve kullanıcılarına zarar vermek amacıyla her geçen gün yeni tür
zararlı yazılımlar geliştirerek piyasaya sürmektedir. Kişi ve kurumları
etkileyen geniş çaplı bu saldırılara karşı tedbirler alınmaya çalışılsa da
güvenlik zafiyetleri halen devam etmektedir. Pek çok siber saldırgan, mevcut
güvenlik zafiyetlerinden faydalanarak saldırılarını gerçekleştirmek için
zararlı yazılımları kullanmaktadır. Kendisini zararsız bir dosya uzantısı
altına gizleyerek kurban sisteme sızan Truva Atları son derece tehlikeli bir
tür zararlı yazılımdır. Uzak Erişim Truva Atı ise, kurban sisteme sızdıktan
sonra saldırgana uzak erişim imkânı sağlamaktadır. Bu sayede saldırgan kurban
sistemdeki dosyalara ve kayıtlı şifreleri ulaşabilmekte, kurban sistem üzerine
düzenli, koordineli saldırılar yapabilen köle bir sisteme dönüştürebilmektedir.
Bu çalışmada, Uzak Erişim Truva Atlarını tanımlayarak, kurban sisteme sızma
yöntemleri ve bu tehditte karşı alınabilecek önlemleri açıklayıp kullanıcı
farkındalığı yaratması amaçlanmıştır.
Kadınların Denizcilik Eğitiminde Karşılaştıkları Sorunlara İlişkin Bir Araştırma
Authors: Bayer Dinçer , Şahin Nardalı Öznur
Published: May 2019

Bugün, kadınlar daha önceleri tamamen erkeklerin istihdam edildiği alanlarda da görünmeye başlamıştır. Denizcilik bu iş alanlarından biridir. Günümüzde gemilerde çalışan kadınların sayısı giderek artmaktadır. Gemilerde çalışan kadınlar; yaptıkları işlerin, içinde bulundukları ortamın ve işten beklenen çıktıların özellikle erkekler için düzenlenmiş olması nedeniyle sorunlar yaşamaktadırlar. Günümüzde, Türkiye'de kadınlar gemide çalışmak üzere yükseköğretim kurumlarında Yüksek Lisans, Lisans ve Önlisans programlarında eğitilmektedirler. Lisans programları genel olarak Deniz Ulaştırma ve İşletme Mühendisliği programı ile Gemi Makineleri İşletme Mühendisliği programıdır. Önlisans programları ise Deniz Ulaştırma İşletme, Gemi Makineleri İşletme, Deniz ve Liman İşletmeciliği, Yat İşletme ve Yönetimi, Mekatronik (Elektro Teknik) ile Deniz Aşçılığı programları olarak yürütülmektedir. Bu programlar kadın, erkek ayrımı gözetmeksizin gemide çalışacak personel yetiştirmektedir. Kadınların gemilerde karşılaştıkları sorunlar eğitim kurumlarına da yansımaktadır. Kadın öğrenciler yükseköğretim kurumlarında, mesleki güçlüklerin yanı sıra, toplumsal değerlerden ve önyargılardan kaynaklanan sorunlar da yaşamaktadırlar. Bu çalışmada; gemilerde çalışmak üzere personel yetiştiren yükseköğretim kurumlarındaki denizcilik programlarının kadınlar tarafından tercih edilebilirliği ve kadın öğrencilerin yükseköğretim kurumlarında karşılaştıkları sorunlar bir yükseköğretim kurumunda yapılan alan çalışmasına dayalı olarak değerlendirilmektedir. Çalışma, temel kavramları açıklayacak, kadının denizcilik sektöründeki çalışma olanaklarına, çalışma şartlarına ve eğitim sırasında karşılaşılan sorunlara ilişkin olarak yazında kapsanmış olan bilgileri içerecek, İnceleme bölümünde kadınların eğitim sırasında karşılaştıkları sorunlara ilişkin olarak yapılan bir alan çalışmasından faydalanılacaktır. Çalışma sonunda, ulaşılan alt sonuçlar, çıkarsamalar ve değerlendirmeler ile geleceğe ilişkin öneriler yapılacaktır. Bu çalışma, denizcilik sektöründeki cinsiyet eşitliği konularını iyileştirmek için farkındalık yaratmak amacıyla yürütülecektir.
On Dokuzuncu Yüzyılda İngiliz Kadın Yazarlar
Authors: Horzum Şafak
Published: May 2019

A. Deniz Bozer (Ed.) (2018). On Dokuzuncu Yüzyılda İngiliz Kadın Yazarlar. Ankara: Hacettepe Üniversitesi Yayınları. 328 sayfa. ISBN: 978-9754914788.
Effect of Green Coffee Bean Extract on P. gingivalis and A. actinomycetemcomitans in comparision to Chlorhexidine: An in-vitro study
Authors: Pandya Rutuja , Shah Monali , Raval Yesha
Published: May 2019

Brief Background: Periodontal pathogens like Aggregatibactoractinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonasgingivalis etc., are considered to be the primary aetiologic factors for the periodontal diseases. Chlorhexidine is a gold standard antimicrobial agent with a broad antibacterial activity and has been used for chemical plaque control. But chlorhexidine is known to cause staining when used for a longer time. Hence, other agents with herbal contents are being researched that can be used on a regular basis.

Materials and Methods: Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Bactericidal Concentrations (MBC) and Zone of Inhibition (ZOI) were used to assess the antibacterial effect of Green Coffee Bean Extract against periodontal pathogens by micro dilution method and culture method, and it was compared with chlorhexidine.

Results: For Green Coffee extract, MIC value of P.g and A.a was 50 ug/ml and 100 ug/ml respectively, MBC value of P.g and A.a was 50 ug/ml and 100 ug/ml respectively and Zone of Inhibition of P.g was 15 mm at 50 ug/ml and of A.a was 12 mm at 100 ug/ml. For Chlorhexidine, MIC value of P.g and A.a was 0.2 ug/ml and 12.5 ug/ml respectively, MBC value of P.g and A.a was 1.6 ug/ml and 12.5 ug/ml respectively and Zone of Inhibition of P.g was 13 mm at 1.6 ug/ml and of A.a was 12 mm at 12.5 ug/ml.

Summary and Conclusions: Antibacterial activity of Green Coffee Bean Extract against P.g and A.a shows that it could used as a herbal adjunct to chlorhexidine for chemical plaque.

Key Words: Green Coffee Bean Extract, Chlorhexidine, Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations, Minimum Bactericidal Concentrations, Zone of Inhibition.
How Working Tasks Influence Biocontamination in an Animal Facility
Authors: M. Marcelloni Anna , Chiominto Alessandra , Di Renzi Simona , Melis Paola , Wirz Annarita , C. Riviello Maria , Massari Stefania , Sisto Renata , D’Ovidio Maria , Paba Emilia
Published: May 2019

The exposure to biocontaminants in animal facilities represents a risk for developing infectious, allergic and toxic diseases. The aim of this study was to determine what factors could be associated with a high level of exposure to biological agents through the measure and characterization of airborne fungi, bacteria, endotoxin, (1,3)-β-d-glucan and animal allergens. Airborne microorganisms were collected with an air sampler and identified by microscopic and biochemical methods. Endotoxin, (1,3)-β-d-glucan, Mus m 1, Rat n 1, Can f 1, Fel d 1, Equ c 4 allergens were detected on inhalable dust samples by Kinetic LAL, Glucatell, and ELISA assays, respectively. Our data evidenced that changing cages is a determinant factor in increasing the concentration of the airborne biocontaminants; the preparation of bedding and distribution of feed, performed in the storage area, is another critical working task in terms of exposure to endotoxins (210.7 EU/m3) and (1,3)-β-d-glucans (4.3 ng/m3). The highest concentration of Mus m 1 allergen (61.5 ng/m3) was observed in the dirty washing area. The detection of expositive peaks at risk of sensitization (>2 μg/g) by Fel d 1 in animal rooms shows passive transport by operators themselves, highlighting their role as vehicle between occupational and living environments.
Study on a Quaternary Working Pair of CaCl2-LiNO3-KNO3/H2O for an Absorption Refrigeration Cycle
Authors: Li Yiqun , Li Na , Luo Chunhuan , Su Qingquan
Published: May 2019

When compared with LiBr/H2O, an absorption refrigeration cycle using CaCl2/H2O as the working pair needs a lower driving heat source temperature, that is, CaCl2/H2O has a better refrigeration characteristic. However, the crystallization temperature of CaCl2/H2O solution is too high and its absorption ability is not high enough to achieve an evaporation temperature of 5 °C or lower. CaCl2-LiNO3-KNO3(15.5:5:1)/H2O was proposed and its crystallization temperature, saturated vapor pressure, density, viscosity, specific heat capacity, specific entropy, and specific enthalpy were measured to retain the refrigeration characteristic of CaCl2/H2O and solve its problems. Under the same conditions, the generation temperature for an absorption refrigeration cycle with CaCl2-LiNO3-KNO3(15.5:5:1)/H2O was 7.0 °C lower than that with LiBr/H2O. Moreover, the cycle’s COP and exergy efficiency with CaCl2-LiNO3-KNO3(15.5:5:1)/H2O were approximately 0.04 and 0.06 higher than those with LiBr/H2O, respectively. The corrosion rates of carbon steel and copper for the proposed working pair were 14.31 μm∙y−1 and 2.04 μm∙y−1 at 80 °C and pH 9.7, respectively, which were low enough for engineering applications.
Algorithmics, Possibilities and Limits of Ordinal Pattern Based Entropies
Authors: Piek Albert B. , Stolz Inga , Keller Karsten
Published: May 2019

The study of nonlinear and possibly chaotic time-dependent systems involves long-term data acquisition or high sample rates. The resulting big data is valuable in order to provide useful insights into long-term dynamics. However, efficient and robust algorithms are required that can analyze long time series without decomposing the data into smaller series. Here symbolic-based analysis techniques that regard the dependence of data points are of some special interest. Such techniques are often prone to capacity or, on the contrary, to undersampling problems if the chosen parameters are too large. In this paper we present and apply algorithms of the relatively new ordinal symbolic approach. These algorithms use overlapping information and binary number representation, whilst being fast in the sense of algorithmic complexity, and allow, to the best of our knowledge, larger parameters than comparable methods currently used. We exploit the achieved large parameter range to investigate the limits of entropy measures based on ordinal symbolics. Moreover, we discuss data simulations from this viewpoint.
Mining Booms and Sustainable Economic Growth in Mongolia—Empirical Result from Recursive Dynamic CGE Model
Authors: Lkhagva Davaajargal , Wang Zheng , Liu Changxin
Published: May 2019

This research aims to lay out a framework to quantify the impacts of mining booms on the macro-economy in Mongolia, a country that is increasingly dependent upon its mining sector. The study uses a dynamic computable general equilibrium (CGE) model to examine the long-term effects on the economy with three sets of scenarios: (1) a moderate boom in the productivity of agriculture, manufacturing, coal mining and coal service sectors; (2) a drop in the world price of coal and metal ores; and (3) the combination of these two scenarios. We assume that these shocks are seismic, and the findings are important for policymakers to implement policy to deal with the negative impact of mining booms. Our study result shows that reinvestment in the agriculture and manufacturing sectors could help to mitigate the resource curse, and suggests that suitable macroeconomic management and prudent administration of the mining sector’s windfall income are important.
Effects of Shoot Size and Genotype on Energy Properties of Poplar Biomass in Short Rotation Crops
Authors: Eimil-Fraga Cristina , Proupín-Castiñeiras Xurxo , Rodríguez-Añón Jose Antonio , Rodríguez-Soalleiro Roque
Published: May 2019

Eight poplar genotypes grown in a short rotation forest plantation established in an acid soil in South Europe were sampled at the age of 7 years to determine the energy properties regarding thermochemical conversion. The goal was to address the effect of selection of genotypes or shoot size at harvest on the energy quality of biomass. Between 34 and 50 biomass samples were obtained for each genotype: three disks were systematically sampled along the stem and were pooled together with a subsample of leafless branches representative of the biomass share of this component. Several energy properties were determined: higher calorific value, net calorific value, fresh moisture content, basic density, ash, volatile matter, fixed carbon content and elemental composition. Genotype had a significant effect on most of these properties, and the balsam genotypes displayed superior quality parameters and also higher biomass yield than the Euramerican genotypes. As a covariate, shoot basal diameter had a significant effect on the moisture content, basic density, ash content and on the concentrations of the elements N, K, Ca, Mg, S, Na and C. It was concluded that genotypes with low nutrient requirements planted at low density (<8000 cuttings ha−1) and harvested at a long enough rotation (7 years) produce good yields and high chip quality. Poplar short rotation crops can be grown to produce chips of A2 quality for non-industrial heating use (according to UNE-EN ISO 17225-4), able to be combusted in domestic thermal facilities of <1 MWth power.
Investigation of Two-Phase Flow in a Hydrophobic Fuel-Cell Micro-Channel
Authors: Ibrahim-Rassoul N. , Si-Ahmed E.-K. , Serir A. , Kessi A. , Legrand J. , Djilali N.
Published: May 2019

This paper presents a quantitative visualization study and a theoretical analysis of two-phase flow relevant to polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) in which liquid water management is critical to performance. Experiments were conducted in an air-flow microchannel with a hydrophobic surface and a side pore through which water was injected to mimic the cathode of a PEMFC. Four distinct flow patterns were identified: liquid bridge (plug), slug/plug, film flow, and water droplet flow under small Weber number conditions. Liquid bridges first evolve with quasi-static properties while remaining pinned; after reaching a critical volume, bridges depart from axisymmetry, block the flow channel, and exhibit lateral oscillations. A model that accounts for capillarity at low Bond number is proposed and shown to successfully predict the morphology, critical liquid volume and evolution of the liquid bridge, including deformation and complete blockage under specific conditions. The generality of the model is also illustrated for flow conditions encountered in the manipulation of polymeric materials and formation of liquid bridges between patterned surfaces. The experiments provide a database for validation of theoretical and computational methods.
Uptake of Trace Elements in Leaves of the Larrea Tridentata (DC.) Coville in Desert Washes of an Arid Environment
Authors: Sims Douglas B. , Collumb Christopher J. , Hudson Amanda C. , Walton Douglas J.
Published: May 2019

Trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Ba, Fe, Al, Mn and Ba) were uptaken by the leaves of the creosote bush (Larrea tridentata (DC.) Coville) in Nelson, Nevada, although at low concentrations. Samples were collected up-gradient of the mine tailings, the tailings, and down gradient from the source to measure spatial distribution. Data show that trace elements (As, Ba, Cr, Hg, Se) enter L. tridentata through root tissues, migrating to leaf tissue, but at significantly lower levels than that of the source sediments. Metalloid (As and Se) concentrations in the leaf tissues ranged from non-detect to greater than 44 mg kg−1 As and non-detect to over 34 mg kg−1 Se. For trace metals, Hg ranged from non-detect to 0.14 mg kg−1; Ba from 1.74 to 4.12 mg kg−1; and Cr from non-detect to 6.18 mg kg−1 while Ag, Cd, and Pb were not detected in the plant leaves. When comparing the ratio of sediment metal concentration to plant metal concentrations, the Techatticup Wash contained the highest levels of trace elements in the leaves of the L. tridentata, followed by the Carnation Wash, with the Eagle Wash containing the lowest concentrations of trace elements.
Pre-Columbian Fire Management Linked to Refractory Black Carbon Emissions in the Amazon
Authors: Arienzo Monica M. , Maezumi S. Yoshi , Chellman Nathan J. , Iriarte Jose
Published: May 2019

Anthropogenic climate change—combined with increased human-caused ignitions—is leading to increased wildfire frequency, carbon dioxide emissions, and refractory black carbon (rBC) aerosol emissions. This is particularly evident in the Amazon rainforest, where fire activity has been complicated by the synchronicity of natural and anthropogenic drivers of ecological change, coupled with spatial and temporal heterogeneity in past and present land use. One approach to elucidating these factors is through long-term regional fire histories. Using a novel method for rBC determinations, we measured an approximately 3500-year sediment core record from Lake Caranã in the eastern Amazon for rBC influx, a proxy of biomass burning and fossil fuel combustion. Through comparisons with previously published records from Lake Caranã and regional evidence, we distinguished between local and regional rBC emission sources demonstrating increased local emissions of rBC from ~1250 to 500 calendar years before present (cal yr BP), coinciding with increased local-scale fire management during the apex of pre-Columbian activity. This was followed by a regional decline in biomass burning coincident with European contact, pre-Columbian population decline, and regional fire suppression associated with the rubber boom (1850–1910 CE), supporting the minimal influence of climate on regional burning at this time. During the past century, rBC influx has rapidly increased. Our results can serve to validate rBC modeling results, aiding with future predictions of rBC emissions and associated impacts to the climate system.
Compression Test of Soft Food Gels Using a Soft Machine with an Artificial Tongue
Authors: Kohyama Kaoru , Ishihara Sayaka , Nakauma Makoto , Funami Takahiro
Published: May 2019

Care food is increasingly required in the advanced-aged society. Mechanical properties of such foods must be modified such that the foods are easily broken by the tongue without chewing. When foods are compressed between the tongue and the hard palate, the tongue deforms considerably, and only soft foods are broken. To simulate tongue compression of soft foods, artificial tongues with stiffness similar to that of the human tongue were created using clear soft materials. Model soft gels were prepared using gellan gums. A piece of gel on an artificial tongue was compressed using a texture analyzer. The deformation profile during the compression test was obtained using a video capture system. The soft machine equipped a soft artificial tongue sometimes fractured food gels unlike hard machine, which always fracture gels. The fracture properties measured using the soft machine were better than those obtained from a conventional test between hard plates to mimic natural oral processing in humans. The fracture force on foods measured using this soft machine may prove useful for the evaluation of food texture that can be mashed using the tongue.
Challenges for Natural Hydrogels in Tissue Engineering
Authors: Jabbari Esmaiel
Published: May 2019

Protein-based biopolymers derived from natural tissues possess a hierarchical structure in their native state. Strongly solvating, reducing and stabilizing agents, as well as heat, pressure, and enzymes are used to isolate protein-based biopolymers from their natural tissue, solubilize them in aqueous solution and convert them into injectable or preformed hydrogels for applications in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. This review aims to highlight the need to investigate the nano-/micro-structure of hydrogels derived from the extracellular matrix proteins of natural tissues. Future work should focus on identifying the nature of secondary, tertiary, and higher order structure formation in protein-based hydrogels derived from natural tissues, quantifying their composition, and characterizing their binding pockets with cell surface receptors. These advances promise to lead to wide-spread use of protein-based hydrogels derived from natural tissues as injectable or preformed matrices for cell delivery in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.
Transcriptome Analyses Reveal Effects of Vitamin C-Treated Donor Cells on Cloned Bovine Embryo Development
Authors: Zhang Lei , Zhang Yan , Han Zhuo , Fang Jingshuai , Chen Huanhuan , Guo Zekun
Published: May 2019

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) is a very powerful technique used to produce genetically identical or modified animals. However, the cloning efficiency in mammals remains low. In this study, we aimed to explore the effects of vitamin C (Vc)-treated donor cells on cloned embryos. As a result, Vc treatment relaxed the chromatin of donor cells and improved cloned embryo development. RNA sequencing was adopted to investigate the changes in the transcriptional profiles in early embryos. We found that Vc treatment increased the expression of genes involved in the cell–substrate adherens junction. Gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that Vc treatment facilitated the activation of autophagy, which was deficient in cloned two-cell embryos. Rapamycin, an effective autophagy activator, increased the formation of cloned blastocysts (36.0% vs. 25.6%, p < 0.05). Abnormal expression of some coding genes and long non-coding RNAs in cloned embryos was restored by Vc treatment, including the zinc-finger protein 641 (ZNF641). ZNF641 compensation by means of mRNA microinjection improved the developmental potential of cloned embryos. Moreover, Vc treatment rescued some deficient RNA-editing sites in cloned two-cell embryos. Collectively, Vc-treated donor cells improved the development of the cloned embryo by affecting embryonic transcription. This study provided useful resources for future work to promote the reprogramming process in SCNT embryos.
MCEE Mutations in an Adult Patient with Parkinson’s Disease, Dementia, Stroke and Elevated Levels of Methylmalonic Acid
Authors: Andréasson Mattias , Zetterström Rolf H. , von Döbeln Ulrika , Wedell Anna , Svenningsson Per
Published: May 2019

Methylmalonic aciduria (MMA-uria) is seen in several inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) affecting intracellular cobalamin pathways. Methylmalonyl-CoA epimerase (MCE) is an enzyme involved in the mitochondrial cobalamin-dependent pathway generating succinyl-CoA. Homozygous mutations in the corresponding MCEE gene have been shown in children to cause MCE deficiency with isolated MMA-uria and a variable clinical phenotype. We describe a 78-year-old man with Parkinson’s disease, dementia and stroke in whom elevated serum levels of methylmalonic acid had been evident for many years. Metabolic work-up revealed intermittent MMA-uria and increased plasma levels of propionyl-carnitine not responsive to treatment with high-dose hydroxycobalamin. Whole genome sequencing was performed, with data analysis targeted towards genes known to cause IEM. Compound heterozygous mutations were identified in the MCEE gene, c.139C>T (p.Arg47X) and c.419delA (p.Lys140fs), of which the latter is novel. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an adult patient with MCEE mutations and MMA-uria, thus adding novel data to the possible phenotypical spectrum of MCE deficiency. Although clinical implications are uncertain, it can be speculated whether intermittent hyperammonemia during episodes of metabolic stress could have precipitated the patient’s ongoing neurodegeneration attributed to Parkinson’s disease.
Regenerative Features of Adipose Tissue for Osteoarthritis Treatment in a Rabbit Model: Enzymatic Digestion Versus Mechanical Disruption
Authors: Desando Giovanna , Bartolotti Isabella , Martini Lucia , Giavaresi Gianluca , Nicoli Aldini Nicolò , Fini Milena , Roffi Alice , Perdisa Francesco , Filardo Giuseppe , Kon Elizaveta , Grigolo Brunella
Published: May 2019

Evaluating cell migration after cell-based treatment is important for several disorders, including osteoarthritis (OA), as it might influence the clinical outcome. This research explores migrating expanded-adipose stromal cells (ASCs) and adipose niches after enzymatic and mechanical processes. Bilateral anterior cruciate ligament transection induced a mild grade of OA at eight weeks in adult male New Zealand rabbits. ASCs, enzymatic stromal vascular fraction (SVF), and micro fragmented adipose tissue (MFAT) were intra-articularly injected in the knee joint. Assessments of cell viability and expression of specific markers, including CD-163 wound-healing macrophages, were done. Cell migration was explored through labelling with PKH26 dye at 7 and 30 days alongside co-localization analyses for CD-146. All cells showed good viability and high percentages of CD-90 and CD-146. CD-163 was significantly higher in MFAT compared to SVF. Distinct migratory potential and time-dependent effects were observed among cell-based treatments. At day 7, both ASCs and SVF migrated towards synovium, whereas for MFAT versus cartilage, a different migration pattern was noticed at day 30. The long-term distinct cell migration of ASCs, SVF, and MFAT open interesting clinical insights on their potential use for OA treatment. Moreover, the highest expression of CD-163 in MFAT, rather than SVF, might have an important role in directly mediating cartilage tissue repair responses.
Reduction of Traumatic Brain Damage by Tspo Ligand Etifoxine
Authors: Shehadeh Mona , Palzur Eilam , Apel Liat , Soustiel Jean Francois
Published: May 2019

Experimental studies have shown that ligands of the 18 kDa translocator protein can reduce neuronal damage induced by traumatic brain injury by protecting mitochondria and preventing metabolic crisis. Etifoxine, an anxiolytic drug and 18 kDa translocator protein ligand, has shown beneficial effects in the models of peripheral nerve neuropathy. The present study investigates the potential effect of etifoxine as a neuroprotective agent in traumatic brain injury (TBI). For this purpose, the effect of etifoxine on lesion volume and modified neurological severity score at 4 weeks was tested in Sprague–Dawley adult male rats submitted to cortical impact contusion. Effects of etifoxine treatment on neuronal survival and apoptosis were also assessed by immune stains in the perilesional area. Etifoxine induced a significant reduction in the lesion volume compared to nontreated animals in a dose-dependent fashion with a similar effect on neurological outcome at four weeks that correlated with enhanced neuron survival and reduced apoptotic activity. These results are consistent with the neuroprotective effect of etifoxine in TBI that may justify further translational research.
Cas Endonuclease Technology—A Quantum Leap in the Advancement of Barley and Wheat Genetic Engineering
Authors: Koeppel Iris , Hertig Christian , Hoffie Robert , Kumlehn Jochen
Published: May 2019

Domestication and breeding have created productive crops that are adapted to the climatic conditions of their growing regions. Initially, this process solely relied on the frequent occurrence of spontaneous mutations and the recombination of resultant gene variants. Later, treatments with ionizing radiation or mutagenic chemicals facilitated dramatically increased mutation rates, which remarkably extended the genetic diversity of crop plants. However, a major drawback of conventionally induced mutagenesis is that genetic alterations occur simultaneously across the whole genome and at very high numbers per individual plant. By contrast, the newly emerging Cas endonuclease technology allows for the induction of mutations at user-defined positions in the plant genome. In fundamental and breeding-oriented research, this opens up unprecedented opportunities for the elucidation of gene functions and the targeted improvement of plant performance. This review covers historical aspects of the development of customizable endonucleases, information on the mechanisms of targeted genome modification, as well as hitherto reported applications of Cas endonuclease technology in barley and wheat that are the agronomically most important members of the temperate cereals. Finally, current trends in the further development of this technology and some ensuing future opportunities for research and biotechnological application are presented.
Microstructure and Selective Corrosion of Alloy 625 Obtained by Means of Laser Powder Bed Fusion
Authors: Cabrini Marina , Lorenzi Sergio , Testa Cristian , Brevi Fabio , Biamino Sara , Fino Paolo , Manfredi Diego , Marchese Giulio , Calignano Flaviana , Pastore Tommaso
Published: May 2019

The effect of microstructure on the susceptibility to selective corrosion of Alloy 625 produced by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) process was investigated through intergranular corrosion tests according to ASTM G28 standard. The effect of heat treatment on selective corrosion susceptibility was also evaluated. The behavior was compared to commercial hot-worked, heat treated Grade 1 Alloy 625. The morphology of attack after boiling ferric sulfate-sulfuric acid test according to ASTM G28 standard is less penetrating for LPBF 625 alloy compared to hot-worked and heat-treated alloy both in as-built condition and after heat treatment. The different attack morphology can be ascribed to the oversaturation of the alloying elements in the nickel austenitic matrix obtained due to the very high cooling rate. On as-built specimens, a shallow selective attack of the border of the melt pools was observed, which disappeared after the heat treatment. The results confirmed similar intergranular corrosion susceptibility, but different corrosion morphologies were detected. The results are discussed in relation to the unique microstructures of LPBF manufactured alloys.
Enhanced Sol–Gel Route to Obtain a Highly Transparent and Conductive Aluminum-Doped Zinc Oxide Thin Film
Authors: Nateq Mohammad Hossein , Ceccato Riccardo
Published: May 2019

The electrical and optical properties of sol–gel derived aluminum-doped zinc oxide thin films containing 2 at.% Al were investigated considering the modifying effects of (1) increasing the sol H2O content and (2) a thermal treatment procedure with a high-temperature approach followed by an additional heat-treatment step under a reducing atmosphere. According to the results obtained via the TG-DTA analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction technique, and four-point probe resistivity measurements, it is argued that in the modified sample, the sol hydrolysis, decomposition of the deposited gel, and crystallization of grains result in grains of larger crystallite size in the range of 20 to 30 nm and a stronger c-axis preferred orientation with slightly less microstrain. The obtained morphology and grain-boundary characteristics result in improved conductivity considering the resistivity value below 6 mΩ·cm. A detailed investigation of the samples’ optical properties, in terms of analyzing their absorption and dispersion behaviors through UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy, support our reasoning for the increase of the mobility, and to a lesser extent the concentration of charge carriers, while causing only a slight degradation of optical transmittance down to nearly 80%. Hence, an enhanced performance as a transparent conducting film is claimed for the modified sample by comparing the figure-of-merit values.
Bi-Axial Buckling of Laminated Composite Plates Including Cutout and Additional Mass
Authors: Anish  , Chaubey Abhay , Kumar Ajay , Kwiatkowski Bartłomiej , Barnat-Hunek Danuta , Widomski Marcin K.
Published: May 2019

In the presented paper, a study of bi-axial buckling of the laminated composite plate with mass variation through the cutout and additional mass is carried out using the improved shear deformation theory (ISDT). The ISDT mathematical model employs a cubic variation of thickness co-ordinates in the displacement field. A realistic parabolic distribution of transverse shear strains through the plate thickness is assumed and the use of shear correction factor is avoided. A C° finite element formulation of the mathematical model is developed to analyze the buckling behavior of laminated composite plate with cutout and additional mass. As no results based on ISDT for the considered problem of bi-axial buckling of the laminated composite plate with mass variation are available in the literature, the obtained results are validated with the data available for a laminated composite plate without cutout and additional mass. Novel results are obtained by varying geometry, boundary conditions and ply orientations.
Investigation of the Match Relation between Steel Fiber and High-Strength Concrete Matrix in Reactive Powder Concrete
Authors: Yang Guangyao , Wei Jiangxiong , Yu Qijun , Huang Haoliang , Li Fangxian
Published: May 2019

This study investigated the strength and toughness of reactive powder concrete (RPC) made with various steel fiber lengths and concrete strengths. The results indicated that among RPC samples with strength of 150 MPa, RPC reinforced with long steel fibers had the highest compressive strength, peak strength, and toughness. Among the RPC samples with strength of 270 MPa, RPC reinforced with short steel fibers had the highest compressive strength, and peak strength, while RPC reinforced with medium-length steel fibers had the highest toughness. As a result of the higher bond adhesion between fibers and ultra-high-strength RPC matrix, long steel fibers were more effective for the reinforcement of RPC with strength of 150 MPa, while short steel fibers were more effective for the reinforcement of RPC with strength of 270 MPa.
Discovery of Antibacterial Dietary Spices That Target Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
Authors: Zhang Dan , Gan Ren-You , Farha Arakkaveettil Kabeer , Kim Gowoon , Yang Qiong-Qiong , Shi Xian-Ming , Shi Chun-Lei , Luo Qi-Xia , Xu Xue-Bin , Li Hua-Bin , Corke Harold
Published: May 2019

Although spice extracts are well known to exhibit antibacterial properties, there is lack of a comprehensive evaluation of the antibacterial effect of spices against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In the present study, ethanolic extracts from a total of 67 spices were comprehensively investigated for their in vitro antibacterial activities by agar well diffusion against two common food-borne bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enteritidis, with multi-drug resistance. Results showed that S. aureus was generally more sensitive to spice extracts than S. enteritidis. Of the 67 spice extracts, 38 exhibited antibacterial activity against drug-resistant S. aureus, while only four samples were effective on drug-resistant S. enteritidis. In addition, 11 spice extracts with inhibition zones greater than 15 mm were further verified for their broad-spectrum antibacterial properties using another 10 drug-resistant S. aureus strains. It was found that five spice extracts, including galangal, fructus galangae, cinnamon, yellow mustard seed, and rosemary, exhibited the highest antibacterial capacity. Further cytotoxicity of these 11 spices was determined and LC50 values were found to be more than 100 μg/mL except for galangal, rosemary, and sage, whose LC50 values were 9.32 ± 0.83, 19.77 ± 2.17, and 50.54 ± 2.57, respectively. Moreover, the antioxidant activities (ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) values) and total phenolic content (TPC) of spice extracts were determined to establish possible correlations with the antibacterial activity. Although the antibacterial effect was positively correlated with the antioxidant activities and TPC, the correlation was weak (r < 0.5), indicating that the antibacterial activity could also be attributed to other components besides antioxidant polyphenols in the tested spice extracts. In conclusion, dietary spices are good natural sources of antibacterial agents to fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, with potential applications as natural food preservatives and natural alternatives to antibiotics in animal feeding.
A Study to Identify Medication-Related Problems and Associated Cost Avoidance by Community Pharmacists during a Comprehensive Medication Review in Patients One Week Post Hospitalization
Authors: Took Roxane L. , Liu Yifei , Kuehl Peggy G.
Published: May 2019

Objectives: To determine the numbers of medication discrepancies and medication-related problems (MRPs) identified and resolved when providing a transitions of care comprehensive medication review (CMR) after hospital discharge within a community pharmacy; and to estimate the cost-avoidance value of this service. Methods: Community pharmacists provided CMRs to covered employees and dependents of a self-insured regional grocery store chain who were discharged from the hospital. Data was collected prospectively over 4 months. Discrepancies were identified among patients’ medication regimens by comparing the hospital discharge record, the pharmacy profile, and what the patient reported taking. MRPs were categorized into ten categories, as defined by the OutcomesMTM® Encounter Worksheet. Interventions were categorized using the severity scale developed by OutcomesMTM®, a Cardinal Health company. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and bivariate correlations. Results: Nineteen patients were enrolled in the program. Pharmacists identified 34 MRPs and 81 medication discrepancies, 1.8 and 4.3 per patient, respectively. The most common type of MRP was underuse of medication (70.6%). Significant positive correlations were found between the number of scheduled prescription medications and the number of medications with discrepancies (p ≤ 0.01; r = 0.825) and number of scheduled prescription medications and the number of MRPs (p ≤ 0.01; r = 0.697). Most commonly, the severity levels associated with the MRPs involved the prevention of physician office visits or addition of new prescription medications (n = 10 each); however, four emergency room visits and three hospitalizations were also avoided. The total estimated cost avoidance was $92,143, or $4850 per patient. Extrapolated annual cost savings related to this service would be $276,428. Conclusions: This transitions of care service was successful in identifying and addressing MRPs and discrepancies for this patient population. By providing this service, community pharmacists were able to prevent outcomes of various severities and to avoid patient care costs.
Ultrasoft, Adhesive and Millimeter Scale Epidermis Electronic Sensor for Real-Time Enduringly Monitoring Skin Strain
Authors: Zhang Jianpeng , Li Yuhang , Xing Yufeng
Published: May 2019

Epidermal electronic sensors (EESs) possess great advantages in the real-time and enduring monitoring of human vital information compared to the traditional medical device for intimately making contact with human skin. Skin strain is a significant and effective routine to monitor motion, heart rate, wrist pulse, and skin growth in wound healing. In this paper, a novel skin sensor combined with a ternary conductive nanocomposite (Carbon black (CB)/Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5)/Silbione) and a two-stage serpentine connector is designed and fabricated to monitor skin strain. The ultrasoft (~2 kPa) and adhesive properties of the ternary conductive nanocomposite ensure the capacity of the EES to intimately couple with human skin in order to improve accuracy with a relative error of 3.39% at strain 50% as well as a large strain range (0~50%) and gauge factor (GF ~2.5). The millimeter scale EES (~5 mm × 1 mm × 100 μm), based on the micro-nano fabrication technique, consisted of a two-stage serpentine connector and screen print of the ternary conductive nanocomposite. EESs with high comprehensive performance (electrical and mechanical properties) are fabricated to confirm the analytical results and monitor the motion of a human hand. The good agreement between experimental and analytical results paves the way for bettering monitoring of skin growth during wound healing in order to avoid necrosis and scarring. This EES in monitoring the motion of a human exhibit presents a promising application for assisting prosthetic movement.
On the Location of Fog Nodes in Fog-Cloud Infrastructures
Authors: C. da Silva Rodrigo A. , S. da Fonseca Nelson L.
Published: May 2019

In the fog computing paradigm, fog nodes are placed on the network edge to meet end-user demands with low latency, providing the possibility of new applications. Although the role of the cloud remains unchanged, a new network infrastructure for fog nodes must be created. The design of such an infrastructure must consider user mobility, which causes variations in workload demand over time in different regions. Properly deciding on the location of fog nodes is important to reduce the costs associated with their deployment and maintenance. To meet these demands, this paper discusses the problem of locating fog nodes and proposes a solution which considers time-varying demands, with two classes of workload in terms of latency. The solution was modeled as a mixed-integer linear programming formulation with multiple criteria. An evaluation with real data showed that an improvement in end-user service can be obtained in conjunction with the minimization of the costs by deploying fewer servers in the infrastructure. Furthermore, results show that costs can be further reduced if a limited blocking of requests is tolerated.
Multi-Location-Aware Joint Optimization of Content Caching and Delivery for Backhaul-Constrained UDN
Authors: Jing Wenpeng , Wen Xiangming , Lu Zhaoming , Zhang Haijun
Published: May 2019

Mobile edge caching is regarded as a promising way to reduce the backhaul load of the base stations (BSs). However, the capacity of BSs’ cache tends to be small, while mobile users’ content preferences are diverse. Furthermore, both the locations of users and user-BS association are uncertain in wireless networks. All of these pose great challenges on the content caching and content delivery. This paper studies the joint optimization of the content placement and content delivery schemes in the cache-enabled ultra-dense small-cell network (UDN) with constrained-backhaul link. Considering the differences in decision time-scales, the content placement and content delivery are investigated separately, but their interplay is taken into consideration. Firstly, a content placement problem is formulated, where the uncertainty of user-BS association is considered. Specifically, different from the existing works, the specific multi-location request pattern is considered that users tend to send content requests from more than one but limited locations during one day. Secondly, a user-BS association and wireless resources allocation problem is formulated, with the objective of maximizing users’ data rates under the backhaul bandwidth constraint. Due to the non-convex nature of these two problems, the problem transformation and variables relaxation are adopted, which convert the original problems into more tractable forms. Then, based on the convex optimization methods, a content placement algorithm, and a cache-aware user association and resources allocation algorithm are proposed, respectively. Finally, simulation results are given, which validate that the proposed algorithms have obvious performance advantages in terms of the network utility, the hit ratio of the cache, and the quality of service guarantee, and are suitable for the cache-enabled UDN with constrained-backhaul link.
FuseAD: Unsupervised Anomaly Detection in Streaming Sensors Data by Fusing Statistical and Deep Learning Models
Authors: Munir Mohsin , Siddiqui Shoaib Ahmed , Chattha Muhammad Ali , Dengel Andreas , Ahmed Sheraz
Published: May 2019

The need for robust unsupervised anomaly detection in streaming data is increasing rapidly in the current era of smart devices, where enormous data are gathered from numerous sensors. These sensors record the internal state of a machine, the external environment, and the interaction of machines with other machines and humans. It is of prime importance to leverage this information in order to minimize downtime of machines, or even avoid downtime completely by constant monitoring. Since each device generates a different type of streaming data, it is normally the case that a specific kind of anomaly detection technique performs better than the others depending on the data type. For some types of data and use-cases, statistical anomaly detection techniques work better, whereas for others, deep learning-based techniques are preferred. In this paper, we present a novel anomaly detection technique, FuseAD, which takes advantage of both statistical and deep-learning-based approaches by fusing them together in a residual fashion. The obtained results show an increase in area under the curve (AUC) as compared to state-of-the-art anomaly detection methods when FuseAD is tested on a publicly available dataset (Yahoo Webscope benchmark). The obtained results advocate that this fusion-based technique can obtain the best of both worlds by combining their strengths and complementing their weaknesses. We also perform an ablation study to quantify the contribution of the individual components in FuseAD, i.e., the statistical ARIMA model as well as the deep-learning-based convolutional neural network (CNN) model.
A Barrage Jamming Strategy Based on CRB Maximization against Distributed MIMO Radar
Authors: Zheng Guangyong , Na Siqi , Huang Tianyao , Wang Lulu
Published: May 2019

Distributed multiple input multiple output (MIMO) radar has attracted much attention for its improved detection and estimation performance as well as enhanced electronic counter-counter measures (ECCM) ability. To protect the target from being detected and tracked by such radar, we consider a barrage jamming strategy towards a distributed MIMO. We first derive the Cramer–Rao bound (CRB) of target parameters estimation using a distributed MIMO under barrage jamming environments. We then set maximizing the CRB as the criterion for jamming resource allocation, aiming at degrading the accuracy of target parameters estimation. Due to the non-convexity of the CRB maximizing problem, particle swarm optimization is used to solve the problem. Simulation results demonstrate the advantages of the proposed strategy over traditional jamming methods.