bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EFEKTIFITAS CONE AERATOR DAN FILTRASI KULIT KERANG DALAM MENURUNKAN KADAR BESI (Fe) DAN KADAR KEKERUHAN PADA AIR SUMUR GALI
Authors: Pradana Tedy Dian
Published: February 2019

In West Kalimantan that the access level of protection of clean water only reached 41% of the target MGD's by45.1%, therefore most people use groundwater for their daily needs. Groundwater is a source for the daily needs of the community in Parit Bugis Gang Mustika 1 Kuburaya district so that people looking for alternative sources of clean water. From the beginning pedahualuan test showed levels of iron (Fe) is 4.36 mg / l and turbidity 58NTU.kandungan appropriate RI Permenkes 416 / Menkes / Per / IX / 1990, concerning water quality standardsare 25 NTU turbidity womb and womb iron (Fe) 1 mg / l. This research aims to reduce the content of turbidity and iron content (Fe). The specific objective Analyzing the difference turbidity content and the content of iron (Fe) before and after and see the use of aerators and filtration Cone shells and look at the effectiveness before and after filtration Cone Aerator and seashells in lowering levels of turbidity and levels of iron (Fe). This study is True Experiment (Experiment Pure) aims to determine the ability of aerators and filtration Cone shells in reducing turbidity and iron (Fe) in water wells. The research sample of 24 samples. The statistical test used was Test T Test. Paired sample test results showed that there were significant differences between the content of turbidity and iron content (Fe) before and after using aerators and filtration cone shells. cone method aerator significant value of0.000 <0.05 and filtration seashells significant value of 0.000 <0.05. Seashells filtration method is more effective in decreasing Fe compared to the cone aerator. , For people in the trenches Bugis alley mustika 1 This method can be used as a water treatment in water wells for maximum results that people can use lime as coagulant dosage in accordance with usage.
DAMPAK PENGELOLAAN SAMPAH PADA KESEHATAN MASYARAKAT DI TPA
Authors: Emilda Emilda
Published: February 2019

The limitations of waste management in the Cipayung Landfill (TPA) causing a buildup of garbage up to more than 30 meters. This condition has a health impact on people in Cipayung Village. This study aims to analyze the impact of waste management at Cipayung Landfill on public health in Cipayung Village, Depok City. The research is descriptive qualitative. Data obtained by purposive sampling. Data was collected by interviews, observation and documentation. Based on interviews with 30 respondents, it was found that the most common diseases were diarrhea, then other types of stomach ailments, subsequent itching on the skin and coughing. This is presumably because the environmental conditions in the form of unhealthy air and water and clean and healthy living behaviors (PHBS) have not become the habit of the people. The results indicated that there were no respondents who had implemented all of these criteria. In general respondents have implemented  3 criteria, namely maintaining hair hygiene, maintaining skin cleanliness, and maintaining hand hygiene. While maintaining clean water storage is the most often overlooked behavior. To minimize this health impact, improvements in waste management in Cipayung landfill are needed along with continuous socialization and education to develop PHBS habits and the importance of maintaining a clean environment.
PENGARUH PELAKSANAAN K3 (KESEHATAN DAN KESELAMATAN KERJA) TERHADAP TINGKAT KECELAKAAN KERJA PEREKAM MEDIS
Authors: Apriyani Ria Khoirunnisa
Published: February 2019

Kesehatan dan Keselamatan Kerja (K3) sangat penting bagi suatu perusahaan yang memiliki para pekerja, agar para pekerja dapat bekerja dengan produktif dan tercapainya target perusahaan. Tingkat kecelakaan di Pelayanan Kesehatan seperti di Rumah Sakit maupun di Klinik 41% lebih besar dari pekerja di industri lain. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengukur besarnya pengaruh pelaksanaan K3 (Kesehatan dan Keselamatan Kerja) terhadap tingkat kecelakaan kerja perekam medis di Klinik Pratama Medika Antapani Bandung. Penelitian menggunakan metode deskriptif kuantitatif dengan rancangan cross sectional. Penelitian ini menggunakan total sampling yaitu sebanyak 10 responden. Teknik pengumpulan data yang digunakan adalah melalui kuisioner dan dilengkapi dengan studi litelatur yang memiliki relevansi erat dengan pokok permasalahan di Klinik Pratama Medika Antapani Bandung. Analisis data menggunakan analisis korelasi sederhana yang meliputi koefisien korelasi dan koefisien determinasi. Hasil uji statistik menunjukkan bahwa : (1) koefisien korelasi product moment simpangan distribusi frekuensi variabel K3 (Kesehatan dan Keselamatan Kerja) terhadap variabel tingkat kecelakaan kerja (0,99), (2) koefisien determinasi variabel K3 (Kesehatan dan Keselamatan Kerja) terhadap variabel tingkat kecelakaan kerja (98,01%), (3) sisanya 1,99% dipengaruhi oleh variabel  lain yang tidak diteliti.
KEBERADAAN JENTIK AEDES SP BERDASARKAN KARAKTERISTIK KONTAINER DI DAERAH ENDEMIS DAN NON ENDEMIS DEMAM BERDARAH DENGUE
Authors: Arfan Iskandar
Published: February 2019

Kota Pontianak merupakan daerah Endemis DBD. Kontainer adalah Tempat Penampungan Air (TPA) atau bejana yang dapat menjadi tempat berkembangbiak nyamuk Aedes sp. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengetahui hubungan keberadaan jentik Aedes sp berdasarkan karakteristik kontainer di daerah Endemis dan Non Endemis Demam Berdarah Dengue. Jenis penelitian ini adalah observasional study dengan pendekatan cross sectional. Subjek penelitian yaitu seluruh kontainer pada 1 RT (rukun tetangga) daerah endemis dan 1 RT di daerah non endemis dengan total 83 rumah yakni 43 rumah/92 kontainer yang dapat di observasi di daerah endemis dan 40 rumah/121 kontainer yang dapat di observasi di daerah non endemis. Analisis dilakukan terhadap kedua wilayah secara bersamaan dengan total jumlah kontainer 213 buah. Hasil penelitian ini diperoleh bahwa ada hubungan keberadaan jentik berdasarkan jenis kontainer (p = 0,024) dan penutup kontainer (p = 0,042). Sedangkan variabel yang tidak berhubungan adalah bahan, warna dan volume kontainer. Instansi terkait memberikan penyuluhan kepada masyarakat tentang penyakit DBD dan karakteristik kontainer apa saja yang disenangi oleh nyamuk Aedes sp, seperti jenis kontainer yang disertai penutup kontainer. Bekerja sama dengan pihak setempat, seperti memberikan pelatihan modifikasi tempat penampungan  air yang dilengkapi penutup, sehingga dapat digunakan masyarakat untuk mengurangi populasi jentik nyamuk tersebut.
NILAI BUDAYA, KEPERCAYAAN, DAN SOSIAL EKONOMI PADA AKSEPTOR VASEKTOMI
Authors: Handoyo Lukman , Yunitasari Esti , Wahyudi Andri Setiya
Published: February 2019

Cakupan akseptor vasektomi dalam program KB masih rendah secara nasional. Terdapat suatu fenomena di Kecamatan Pakal Kota Surabaya yang memiliki cakupan di atas rata-rata angka nasional hampir setiap tahunnya. Beberapa faktor yang dapat memengaruhi tingginya cakupan vasektomi diantaranya nilai budaya, kepercayaan, dan sosial ekonomi. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mempelajari dan memberikan gambaran tentang pengaruh budaya, filosofi hidup atau kepercayaan, dukungan sosial serta faktor ekonomi terhadap keikutsertaan suami dalam metode kontrasepsi vasektomi. Desain pada penelitian ini menggunakan deskriptif kuantitatif. Jumlah sampel sebanyak 102 orang yang didapatkan dari hasil perhitungan simple random sampling. Data diambil melalui penyebaran instrumen berupa kuesioner dan pertanyaan terbuka yang diadaptasi dari format pengkajian Leininger dan kemudian dianalisis secara univariat dengan menjelaskan distribusi frekuensi. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan akseptor menganut nilai budaya yang positif terhadap vasektomi (54.9%), kepercayaan yang lebih besar bernilai negatif (52.94%) meski pada akhirnya mereka tetap memutuskan untuk divasektomi, pengaruh lingkungan sosial bernilai positif (58.86%) untuk mendukung suami menjadi akseptor vasektomi, serta faktor ekonomi bernilai tinggi (59.8%) yang bermakna kondisi ekonomi cukup memengaruhi keikutsertaan vasektomi. Berdasarkan hasil tersebut, dapat disimpulkan bahwa faktor kebudayaan, kepercayaan, dan sosial ekonomi sangat berkontribusi dalam memengaruhi suami untuk berpartisipasi dalam vasektomi. Diharapkan petugas KB atau tenaga kesehatan terkait dimanapun berada senantiasa menggunakan pendekatan sosio-kultural-spiritual dalam melakukan promosi tentang program KB.
PENERAPAN SISTEM INFORMASI GEOGRAFIS FAKTOR RISIKO PENYAKIT LEPTOSPIROSIS
Authors: Ganinov Ivan Tinarbudi , Huda Syaiful
Published: February 2019

Leptospirosis merupakan zoonosis yang diakibatkan bakteri Leptospira sp. Sumber infeksi pada manusia biasanya akibat kontak secara langsung atau tidak langsung dengan urin hewan yang terinfeksi. Leptospirosis merupakan zoonosis yang paling luas tersebar di seluruh dunia, kecuali daerah kutub. Sejumlah 300.000 sampai 500.000 kasus Leptospirosis berat terjadi setiap tahun. Kabupaten Bantul merupakan daerah dengan kasus terbanyak penyakit Leptospirosis pada tahun 2015-2016 di D.I. Yogyakarta. Pada tahun 2017, kasus terbanyak terjadi pada 6 kecamatan di Kabupaten Bantul yaitu Kecamatan Pundong, Kecamatan Bambanglipuro, Kecamatan Banguntapan, Kecamatan Jetis, Kecamatan Pajangan, dan Kecamatan Sedayu dengan total kasus sebanyak 48 kasus. Dalam pengendalian penyakit Leptospirosis diperlukan suatu informasi yang secara terintegrasi mampu mengolah data spasial dan non spasial secara efektif dan efisien. Salah satu sistem yang dapat menjadi alternatif solusi yaitu Sistem Informasi Geografis. Jenis penelitian ini menggunakan penelitian deskriptif kuantitatif dengan rancangan penelitian studi kasus kontrol. Sampel dalam penelitian ini sebanyak 96 responden terdiri dari 48 responden kasus dan 48 responden kontrol. Metode analisis data dengan analisis spasial, analisis univariat dan analisis bivariat dengan uji Chi Square dengan tingkat kepercayaan 95%. Berdasarkan analisis bivariat menunjukkan bahwa semua variabel bebas mempunyai hubungan dengan variabel terikat yaitu keberadaan tikus di dalam maupun di luar rumah (p = 0,002), keberadaan hewan peliharaan (p = 0,012).
HUBUNGAN KARAKTERISTIK IBU BERSALIN DENGAN RUPTUR PERINEUM
Authors: Safitri Mey Elisa
Published: February 2019

Ruptur perineum disebabkan paritas, jarak kelahiran, berat badan bayi, pimpinan persalinan, ekstaksi vakum, trauma alat dan episiotomi.(WHO) tahun 2014, terdapat 210 juta wanita hamil, dan 130 juta kelahiran di seluruh dunia dari jumlah tersebut, diperkirakan sebanyak 558.000 ibu meninggal setiap tahun akibat komplikasi kehamilan dan persalinan. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui karakteristik (umur dan paritas) ibu bersalin dengan ruptur perineum. Penelitian ini menggunakan survei analitik dengan pendekatan cross sectional, dimana data diambil dengan menggunakan data sekunder, sampel yang diambil dalam penelitian ini adalah 60 orang, dengan menggunakan total populasi dimana seluruh populasi menjadi sampel. Dengan menggunakan uji chi-square pada tingkat kepercayaan 95% memperlihatkan bahwa nilai signifikan probabilitas (Asym Sig), uji chi-square menunjukan a=0,012 untuk umur, a=0,002 untuk paritas yang berarti lebih kecil dari X-Value (0,05). Hasil penelitian ini yaitu ada hubungan karakteristik (umur dan paritas) ibu bersalin dengan ruptur perineum di Kliik Nurma Medan Periode 2015-2017.
EFEK TERAPI OBAT ANTI TUBERKULOSIS TERHADAP LAJU ENDAP DARAH: STUDI PADA PASIEN TUBERKULOSIS ANAK
Authors: Brajadenta Gara Samara , Sumaerah Dewi Siti
Published: February 2019

Laju endap darah (LED) merupakan salah satu elemen pemeriksaan darah rutin. Pemeriksaan laboratorium penunjang tersebut juga dapat digunakan untuk mengetahui respon dalam suatu pengobatan tuberkulosis (TB). Namun demikian, hubungan antara terapi obat anti tuberkulosis (OAT) dengan LED belum banyak dijelaskan di dalam literatur. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis efek terapi OAT lini pertama terhadap LED pada pasien TB anak. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian observasional analitik. Populasi adalah pasien TB anak di instalasi rawat jalan RSUD. Prof. Dr. Margono Soekarjo yang mendapatkan terapi OAT lini pertama. Penarikan sampel menggunakan total sampling, semua pasien TB anak yang diberikan terapi 9 bulan OAT lini pertama selama penelitian berlangsung. Digunakan uji t berpasangan untuk menguji signifikasi perbedaan angka LED sebelum dan sesudah terapi OAT. Hasil analisis uji t signifikan sig.=0,000 (0,000<0,05), terapi OAT lini pertama selama 9 bulan pada pasien TB anak terbukti dapat menurunkan angka LED.
Australian Tactical Medical Association and the Journal of High Threat & Austere Medicine: A joint initiative to progress a niche subspecialty of medicine
Authors: Makrides Timothy , Pepper Matt
Published: February 2019

This year sees the launch of the official journal of the Australian Tactical Medical Association (ATMA), the Journal of High Threat and Austere Medicine (JHTAM). This initiative is a significant achievement in the progression of high threat medicine in Australia and builds upon the success of the past 18 months.

Whilst ‘Tactical Medicine’ conjures in the minds of the uninformed ideas of black-clad specialists in body armour, JHTAM and ATMA actually encompass and represent a wide range of applications of first aid and medicine. The crossover between all these applications is significant, and collaboration will only allow for a larger evidence base to draw from, as well as opening communication channels and starting conversations that enable greater and more cohesive response capacity in wilderness, expedition, prehospital, tactical, military and austere applications.
Insidious bleeding; the danger of complacency: Case Report
Authors: Delport Aldon , Makrides Timothy , Delport Shannon , Makrides Hannah
Published: February 2019

Background: A recent publication in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery reported that patients who received a tourniquet (TQ) for severe extremity bleeding had a fourfold decrease in overall shock related mortality (Scerbo et al., 2017). A systematic review conducted in the United States (US) by Beaucreux, Vivian, Miles, Sylvain, and Pasquier (2018) showed that tourniquets are an effective tool for haemorrhage control in civilian populations with low levels of associated complications. Not a lot is known about the attitudes of Australian paramedics toward TQ’s or their use thereof, but anecdotal evidence suggests that their use is contentious.

Case: We present a case of severe extremity haemorrhage involving a 90-year-old male who sustained a partial amputation to the lower aspect of the left leg proximal to the ankle whilst cutting a tree branch with a 5-inch toothed garden saw.

Conclusion: In this case, the paramedics who attended to this patient believed that the use of a TQ was extreme. Standard trauma management and haemorrhage control measures that included a pressure bandage, vacuum splint and warming blanket served as confounding factors in obscuring an ongoing insidious bleed. Based on the injury profile, the patients advanced age, medications for comorbidities and associated decrease in physiological reserves this patient was a candidate for early TQ application. Failure to apply a TQ may have contributed to coagulopathy and the need for postoperative transfusions.
Mediating Effects between Perspectives in Strategy Maps
Authors: Adeinat Iman
Published: February 2019

Many researchers have highlighted the importance of strategy maps for improving organizational performance and providing an entire organization with a cognitive representation of its strategic objectives. However, arguing that strategy maps do not assign weight to each perspective, other researchers have generated weighted strategy maps and used various optimization models to highlight the most important perspective. In this study, I argue that organizations should understand all the causal links in a strategy map and explore paths toward improvement rather than focusing on just one perspective. To that end, I analyse all the causal relationships in the strategy map developed for a major postal service in Saudi Arabia and identify two principal mediating relationships: (1) the relationship between the learning and growth perspective and the customer perspective as mediated by the internal business process perspective and (2) the relationship between the internal business process perspective and the financial performance perspective as mediated through the customer perspective.
Assessing Concentration Changes of Odorant Compounds in the Thermal-Mechanical Drying Phase of Sediment-Like Wastes from Olive Oil Extraction
Authors: Hernández Diógenes , Quinteros-Lama Héctor , Tenreiro Claudio , Gabriel David
Published: February 2019

In the industrial production of olive oil, both solid wastes and those produced from their incineration are a serious environmental problem since only 20% w/w of the fruit becomes oil and the rest is waste, mainly orujo and alperujo. A key aspect to transforming these wastes into an important source of energy such as pellets is to recognize the most appropriate time of the year for waste drying, with the objective of minimizing the environmental impact of the volatile compounds contained in the waste. In this work, the emissions produced during thermal-mechanical drying were studied throughout a period of six months of waste storage in which alperujo and orujo were stored in open containers under uncontrolled environmental conditions. The studied emissions were produced when both wastes were dried in a pilot rotary drying trommel at 450 °C to reduce their initial humidity of around 70–80% w/w to 10–15% w/w. Results indicated that when the storage time of the wastes in the uncontrolled environments increased, the emission of odorant compounds during drying also increased as a consequence of the biological and chemical processes occurring in the containers. The main odorant VOCs were quantified monthly for six months at the outlet of the drying trommel. It was determined that the drying of this type of waste could be carried out properly until the third month of storage. Afterwards, the concentration of most VOCs produced widely exceeded the odor thresholds of selected compounds.
A Real-Time BOD Estimation Method in Wastewater Treatment Process Based on an Optimized Extreme Learning Machine
Authors: Yu Ping , Cao Jie , Jegatheesan Veeriah , Du Xianjun
Published: February 2019

It is difficult to capture the real-time online measurement data for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in wastewater treatment processes. An optimized extreme learning machine (ELM) based on an improved cuckoo search algorithm (ICS) is proposed in this paper for the design of soft BOD measurement model. In ICS-ELM, the input weights matrices of the extreme learning machine and the threshold of the hidden layer are encoded as the cuckoo’s nest locations. The best input weights matrices and threshold are obtained by using the strong global search ability of improved cuckoo search algorithm. The optimal results can be used to improve the precision of forecasting based on less number of neurons of the hidden layer in ELM. Simulation results show that the soft sensor model has good real-time performance, high prediction accuracy, and stronger generalization performance for BOD measurement of the effluent quality compared to other modeling methods such as back propagation (BP) network in most cases.
Real-Time Musical Conducting Gesture Recognition Based on a Dynamic Time Warping Classifier Using a Single-Depth Camera
Authors: Chin-Shyurng Fahn , Lee Shih-En , Wu Meng-Luen
Published: February 2019

Gesture recognition is a human–computer interaction method, which is widely used for educational, medical, and entertainment purposes. Humans also use gestures to communicate with each other, and musical conducting uses gestures in this way. In musical conducting, conductors wave their hands to control the speed and strength of the music played. However, beginners may have a limited comprehension of the gestures and might not be able to properly follow the ensembles. Therefore, this paper proposes a real-time musical conducting gesture recognition system to help music players improve their performance. We used a single-depth camera to capture image inputs and establish a real-time dynamic gesture recognition system. The Kinect software development kit created a skeleton model by capturing the palm position. Different palm gestures were collected to develop training templates for musical conducting. The dynamic time warping algorithm was applied to recognize the different conducting gestures at various conducting speeds, thereby achieving real-time dynamic musical conducting gesture recognition. In the experiment, we used 5600 examples of three basic types of musical conducting gestures, including seven capturing angles and five performing speeds for evaluation. The experimental result showed that the average accuracy was 89.17% in 30 frames per second.
Big Data and Climate Change
Authors: Hassani Hossein , Huang Xu , Silva Emmanuel
Published: February 2019

Climate science as a data-intensive subject has overwhelmingly affected by the era of big data and relevant technological revolutions. The big successes of big data analytics in diverse areas over the past decade have also prompted the expectation of big data and its efficacy on the big problem—climate change. As an emerging topic, climate change has been at the forefront of the big climate data analytics implementations and exhaustive research have been carried out covering a variety of topics. This paper aims to present an outlook of big data in climate change studies over the recent years by investigating and summarising the current status of big data applications in climate change related studies. It is also expected to serve as a one-stop reference directory for researchers and stakeholders with an overview of this trending subject at a glance, which can be useful in guiding future research and improvements in the exploitation of big climate data.
A Novel Combination Cancer Therapy with Iron Chelator Targeting Cancer Stem Cells via Suppressing Stemness
Authors: Katsura Yuki , Ohara Toshiaki , Noma Kazuhiro , Ninomiya Takayuki , Kashima Hajime , Kato Takuya , Sato Hiroaki , Komoto Satoshi , Narusaka Toru , Tomono Yasuko , Xing Boyi , Chen Yuehua , Tazawa Hiroshi , Kagawa Shunsuke , Shirakawa Yasuhiro , Kasai Tomonari , Seno Masaharu , Matsukawa Akihiro , Fujiwara Toshiyoshi
Published: February 2019

Excess iron causes cancer and is thought to be related to carcinogenesis and cancer progression including stemness, but the details remain unclear. Here, we hypothesized that stemness in cancer is related to iron metabolism and that regulating iron metabolism in cancer stem cells (CSCs) may be a novel therapy. In this study, we used murine induced pluripotent stem cells that expressed specific stem cell genes such as Nanog, Oct3/4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc, and two human cancer cell lines with similar stem cell gene expression. Deferasirox, an orally available iron chelator, suppressed expression of stemness markers and spherogenesis of cells with high stemness status in vitro. Combination therapy had a marked antitumor effect compared with deferasirox or cisplatin alone. Iron metabolism appears important for maintenance of stemness in CSCs. An iron chelator combined with chemotherapy may be a novel approach via suppressing stemness for CSC targeted therapy.
Palladium Comprising Dicationic Bipyridinium Supported Periodic Mesoporous Organosilica (PMO): Pd@Bipy–PMO as an Efficient Hybrid Catalyst for Suzuki–Miyaura Cross-Coupling Reaction in Water
Authors: Ahadi Arefeh , Rostamnia Sadegh , Panahi Paria , Wilson Lee D. , Kong Qingshan , An Zengjian , Shokouhimehr Mohammadreza
Published: February 2019

In this study, we developed a novel catalysts consisting of periodic mesoporous organosilica functionalized with bipyridinium ionic liquid supported palladium. The physiochemical properties of the hybrid catalyst were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, small angle X–ray powder diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, nitrogen adsorption–desorption analyses, and atomic absorption spectroscopy. The stabilized Pd species inside the mesochannels provided good catalytic efficiency for the Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions in water. The activity of the designed catalysts retained for several consecutive recycle runs. The stability, recoverability, and reusability of the designed heterogeneous catalyst were also studied under various reaction conditions.
A Theoretical Study on Pd-catalyzed, Friedel-Crafts Intermolecular Acylation: Does Generated In Situ Aroyl Triflate Act as A Reactive Electrophile to Functionalize C–H Bond of Arenes?
Authors: Chang Rong , Tian Ye , Li Niu , Bai Jin , Yan Huimin , Yang Wenjing , Guo Zhen , Li Yanrong
Published: February 2019

The mechanism of Pd-catalyzed, Friedel-Crafts intermolecular acylation of arenes to ketones was comprehensively investigated by using DFT calculations. The calculated results revealed that this transformation was composed of several key steps: C–I bond oxidative addition, CO insertion, reductive elimination and C–H bond functionalization. Of these steps, the last was found to be the rate–determining step, and it occurred much more easily with strongly electrophilic aroyl triflate compared to other resultant counterparts. In addition, our calculation provides a rationale for experimental findings that simple Pd salts exhibit superior catalytic abilities compared to phosphine-ligated Pd catalysts.
Synthesis of MCM-41 Immobilized (Phenoxy)Imine Palladium(II) Complexes as Recyclable Catalysts in the Methoxycarbonylation of 1-Hexene
Authors: Akiri Saphan O. , Ojwach Stephen O.
Published: February 2019

The immobilization of 2-phenyl-2-((3(tryethoxysicyl)propyl)imino)ethanol (HL1) and 4-methyl-2-(((3(triethoxysilyl)propyl)imino)methyl)phenol (HL2) on MCM-41 afforded the respective ligands HL1-MCM-41 (HL3) and HL2-MCM-41 (HL4). The treatment of complexes Pd(L1)2 and Pd(L2)2 with MCM-41 afforded the immobilized complexes (Pd(L1)2)-MCM-41 (1) and (Pd(L2)2)-MCM-41 (2) respectively. Separately, the reactions of HL3 and HL4 with Pd(NCMe)2Cl2 produced the immobilized complexes Pd(HL3)Cl2 (3) and Pd(HL4)Cl2 (4) respectively. The immobilized compounds were characterized by FT-IR, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and X-ray Powder Diffraction (XRD). All the complexes (1–4) formed active catalysts in the methoxycarbonylation of 1-hexene to give linear and branched esters. The catalysts were recycled four times without the loss of catalytic activity. Hot filtration experiments established the absence of leaching, and the heterogeneous nature of the active species was derived from mercury drop experiments.
Mesenchymal Stem Cells-derived Exosomes: A New Possible Therapeutic Strategy for Parkinson’s Disease?
Authors: Vilaça-Faria Helena , Salgado António J. , Teixeira Fábio G.
Published: February 2019

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder worldwide. Clinically, it is characterized by severe motor complications caused by a progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons (DAn) and dopamine loss. Current treatment is focused on mitigating the symptoms through administration of levodopa, rather than on preventing DAn damage. Therefore, the use and development of neuroprotective/disease-modifying strategies is an absolute need, which can lead to promising gains on PD translational research. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)–derived exosomes have been proposed as a promising therapeutic tool, since it has been demonstrated that they can act as biological nanoparticles with beneficial effects in different pathological conditions, including PD. Thus, considering their potential protective action in lesioned sites, MSCs-derived exosomes might also be active modulators of the neuroregeneration processes, opening a door for their future use as therapeutical strategies in human clinical trials. Therefore, in this review, we analyze the current understanding of MSCs-derived exosomes as a new possible therapeutic strategy for PD, by providing an overview about the potential role of miRNAs in the cellular and molecular basis of PD.
Host Vesicle Fusion Protein VAPB Contributes to the Nuclear Egress Stage of Herpes Simplex Virus Type-1 (HSV-1) Replication
Authors: Saiz-Ros Natalia , Czapiewski Rafal , Epifano Ilaria , Stevenson Andrew , Swanson Selene K. , Dixon Charles R. , Zamora Dario B. , McElwee Marion , Vijayakrishnan Swetha , Richardson Christine A. , Dong Li , Kelly David A. , Pytowski Lior , Goldberg Martin W. , Florens Laurence , Graham Sheila V. , Schirmer Eric C.
Published: February 2019

The primary envelopment/de-envelopment of Herpes viruses during nuclear exit is poorly understood. In Herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1), proteins pUL31 and pUL34 are critical, while pUS3 and some others contribute; however, efficient membrane fusion may require additional host proteins. We postulated that vesicle fusion proteins present in the nuclear envelope might facilitate primary envelopment and/or de-envelopment fusion with the outer nuclear membrane. Indeed, a subpopulation of vesicle-associated membrane protein-associated protein B (VAPB), a known vesicle trafficking protein, was present in the nuclear membrane co-locating with pUL34. VAPB knockdown significantly reduced both cell-associated and supernatant virus titers. Moreover, VAPB depletion reduced cytoplasmic accumulation of virus particles and increased levels of nuclear encapsidated viral DNA. These results suggest that VAPB is an important player in the exit of primary enveloped HSV-1 virions from the nucleus. Importantly, VAPB knockdown did not alter pUL34, calnexin or GM-130 localization during infection, arguing against an indirect effect of VAPB on cellular vesicles and trafficking. Immunogold-labelling electron microscopy confirmed VAPB presence in nuclear membranes and moreover associated with primary enveloped HSV-1 particles. These data suggest that VAPB could be a cellular component of a complex that facilitates UL31/UL34/US3-mediated HSV-1 nuclear egress.
A High Efficient Biological Language Model for Predicting Protein–Protein Interactions
Authors: Wang Yanbin , You Zhu-Hong , Yang Shan , Li Xiao , Jiang Tong-Hai , Zhou Xi
Published: February 2019

Many life activities and key functions in organisms are maintained by different types of protein–protein interactions (PPIs). In order to accelerate the discovery of PPIs for different species, many computational methods have been developed. Unfortunately, even though computational methods are constantly evolving, efficient methods for predicting PPIs from protein sequence information have not been found for many years due to limiting factors including both methodology and technology. Inspired by the similarity of biological sequences and languages, developing a biological language processing technology may provide a brand new theoretical perspective and feasible method for the study of biological sequences. In this paper, a pure biological language processing model is proposed for predicting protein–protein interactions only using a protein sequence. The model was constructed based on a feature representation method for biological sequences called bio-to-vector (Bio2Vec) and a convolution neural network (CNN). The Bio2Vec obtains protein sequence features by using a “bio-word” segmentation system and a word representation model used for learning the distributed representation for each “bio-word”. The Bio2Vec supplies a frame that allows researchers to consider the context information and implicit semantic information of a bio sequence. A remarkable improvement in PPIs prediction performance has been observed by using the proposed model compared with state-of-the-art methods. The presentation of this approach marks the start of “bio language processing technology,” which could cause a technological revolution and could be applied to improve the quality of predictions in other problems.
Effect of Steel Substrates on the Formation and Deuterium Permeation Resistance of Aluminide Coatings
Authors: Xiang Xin , Yang Feilong , Zhang Guikai , Wang Xiaolin
Published: February 2019

The effect of steel substrates on the formation and deuterium permeation resistance of aluminide coatings for tritium permeation barrier applications was investigated. It was found that the average thickness and crystal structure of electrodeposited Al coatings varied with Cr steel substrates. After aluminization in vacuum, significant differences existed in the composition and thickness of (Fe,Cr)2Al5-type aluminide layers formed on different Cr steel substrates, in which the alloying element Cr from steel substrates was involved. Thereafter, the scale microstructural feature and thickness also changed with the Cr steel substrate after selective oxidation in an Ar gas stream. Consequently, the deuterium permeation resistance of the formed aluminide tritium permeation barriers (TPBs) differed by steel substrates, indicating that the substrate effect existed in aluminide TPB coatings and thus could have a significant influence on the formation and eventual performance of aluminide TPBs.
Zero-Temperature Equation of State of a Two-Dimensional Bosonic Quantum Fluid with Finite-Range Interaction
Authors: Tononi Andrea
Published: February 2019

We derive the two-dimensional equation of state for a bosonic system of ultracold atoms interacting with a finite-range effective interaction. Within a functional integration approach, we employ a hydrodynamic parameterization of the bosonic field to calculate the superfluid equations of motion and the zero-temperature pressure. The ultraviolet divergences, naturally arising from the finite-range interaction, are regularized with an improved dimensional regularization technique.
An Analysis of Dentigerous Cysts Developed around a Mandibular Third Molar by Panoramic Radiographs
Authors: Terauchi Masahiko , Akiya Satoshi , Kumagai Junya , Ohyama Yoshio , Yamaguchi Satoshi
Published: February 2019

Dentigerous cysts are one of the most prevalent types of odontogenic cysts and are associated with the crown of an unerupted tooth, especially of the mandibular third molar. In this study, the characteristics of a dentigerous cyst developed around a mandibular third molar on panoramic radiographs were investigated. The panoramic images of 257 consecutive dentigerous cyst cases associated with a mandibular third molar were analyzed. The mean age of the patients was 45.9 ± 13.3 years. The size of the cyst did not significantly correlate to the age of the patient. The unilocular type (89.1%) and the crown side type (68.5%) were significant. The associated mandibular third molars had a high frequency of class III (64.6%) and position B (48.3%) in Pell and Gregory classification and of horizontal position (36.3%) in angulation. Dentigerous cysts were thought to originate and grow commonly around deeply impacted third molars. The associated third molar with dentigerous cyst tends to have a mesial inclination. Dentigerous cysts do not appear to develop gradually after the crown formation has finished, but arise at various periods randomly.
Are Virtual Particles Less Real?
Authors: Jaeger Gregg
Published: February 2019

The question of whether virtual quantum particles exist is considered here in light of previous critical analysis and under the assumption that there are particles in the world as described by quantum field theory. The relationship of the classification of particles to quantum-field-theoretic calculations and the diagrammatic aids that are often used in them is clarified. It is pointed out that the distinction between virtual particles and others and, therefore, judgments regarding their reality have been made on basis of these methods rather than on their physical characteristics. As such, it has obscured the question of their existence. It is here argued that the most influential arguments against the existence of virtual particles but not other particles fail because they either are arguments against the existence of particles in general rather than virtual particles per se, or are dependent on the imposition of classical intuitions on quantum systems, or are simply beside the point. Several reasons are then provided for considering virtual particles real, such as their descriptive, explanatory, and predictive value, and a clearer characterization of virtuality—one in terms of intermediate states—that also applies beyond perturbation theory is provided. It is also pointed out that in the role of force mediators, they serve to preclude action-at-a-distance between interacting particles. For these reasons, it is concluded that virtual particles are as real as other quantum particles.
An Experimental Study of the Failure Mode of ZnO Varistors Under Multiple Lightning Strokes
Authors: Zhang Chunlong , Xing Hongyan , Li Pengfei , Li Chunying , Lv Dongbo , Yang Shaojie
Published: February 2019

In this study, in order to explore the failure mode of ZnO varistors under multiple lightning strokes, a five-pulse 8/20 μs nominal lightning current with pulse intervals of 50 ms was applied to ZnO varistors. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) were used to analyze the microstructure of the material. The failure processes of ZnO varistors caused by multiple lightning impulse currents were described. The performance changes of ZnO varistors after multiple lightning impulses were analyzed from both macro and micro perspectives. According to the results of this study’s experiments, the macroscopic failure mode of ZnO varistors after multiple lightning impulses involved the rapid deterioration of the electrical parameters with the increase of the number of impulse groups, until destruction occurred by side-corner cracking. The microstructural examination indicated that, after the multiple lightning strokes, the proportion of Bi in the crystal phases was altered, the grain size of the ZnO varistors became smaller, and the white intergranular phase (Bi-rich grain boundary layer) increased significantly. The failure mechanism was thermal damage and grain boundary structure damage caused by temperature gradient thermal stress, generated by multiple lightning currents.
A Smart Many-Core Implementation of a Motion Planning Framework along a Reference Path for Autonomous Cars
Authors: Cabodi Gianpiero , Camurati Paolo , Garbo Alessandro , Giorelli Michele , Quer Stefano , Savarese Francesco
Published: February 2019

Research on autonomous cars, early intensified in the 1990s, is becoming one of the main research paths in automotive industry. Recent works use Rapidly-exploring Random Trees to explore the state space along a given reference path, and to compute the minimum time collision-free path in real time. Those methods do not require good approximations of the reference path, they are able to cope with discontinuous routes, they are capable of navigating in realistic traffic scenarios, and they derive their power from an extensive computational effort directed to improve the quality of the trajectory from step to step. In this paper, we focus on re-engineering an existing state-of-the-art sequential algorithm to obtain a CUDA-based GPGPU (General Purpose Graphics Processing Units) implementation. To do that, we show how to partition the original algorithm among several working threads running on the GPU, how to propagate information among threads, and how to synchronize those threads. We also give detailed evidence on how to organize memory transfers between the CPU and the GPU (and among different CUDA kernels) such that planning times are optimized and the available memory is not exceeded while storing massive amounts of fuse data. To sum up, in our application the GPU is used for all main operations, the entire application is developed in the CUDA language, and specific attention is paid to concurrency, synchronization, and data communication. We run experiments on several real scenarios, comparing the GPU implementation with the CPU one in terms of the quality of the generated paths and in terms of computation (wall-clock) times. The results of our experiments show that embedded GPUs can be used as an enabler for real-time applications of computationally expensive planning approaches.
Analysis of the Sensitivity of Extended Kalman Filter-Based Inertia Estimation Method to the Assumed Time of Disturbance
Authors: del Giudice Davide , Grillo Samuele
Published: February 2019

The frequency behavior of an electric power system right after a power imbalance is determined by its inertia constant. The current shift in generation mix towards renewable energy sources is leading to a smaller and more variable inertia, thereby compromising the frequency stability of modern grids. Therefore, real-time inertia estimation methods would be beneficial for grid operators, as their situational awareness would be enhanced. This paper focuses on an inertia estimation method specifically tailored for synchronous generators, based on the extended Kalman filter (EKF). Such a method should be started at the time of disturbance, which must be estimated accurately, otherwise additional errors could be introduced in the inertia estimation process. In this paper, the sensitivity of the EKF-based inertia estimation method to the assumed time of disturbance is analyzed. It is shown that such sensitivity is influenced by the initially assumed inertia constant, the use time of the filter and by the time required for primary frequency regulation to be activated.
Turbulence-Model Comparison for Aerodynamic-Performance Prediction of a Typical Vertical-Axis Wind-Turbine Airfoil
Authors: Meana-Fernández Andrés , Fernández Oro Jesús Manuel , Argüelles Díaz Katia María , Velarde-Suárez Sandra
Published: February 2019

In this work, different turbulence models were applied to predict the performance of a DU-06-W-200 airfoil, a typical choice for vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWT). A compromise between simulation time and results was sought, focusing on the prediction of aerodynamic forces and the developed flow field. Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equation (U-RANS) models and Scale-Resolving Simulations (SRS), such as Scale-Adaptive Simulation (SAS) and Detached Eddy Simulation (DES), were tested, with k − ω -based turbulence models providing the most accurate predictions of aerodynamic forces. A deeper study of three representative angles of attack (5 ° , 15 ° , and 25 ° ) showed that U-RANS models accurately predict aerodynamic forces with low computational costs. SRS modeling generates more realistic flow patterns: roll-up vortices, vortex packets, and stall cells have been identified, providing a richer unsteady flow-field description. The power spectrum density of velocity at 15 ° has confirmed a broadband spectrum in DES simulations, with a small peak at a Strouhal number of 0.486. Finally, indications regarding the selection of the turbulence model depending on the desired outcome (aerodynamic forces, airfoil flow field, or VAWT simulation) are provided, tending toward U-RANS models for the prediction of aerodynamic forces, and SRS models for flow-field study.
Gasification Kinetics of Bituminous Coal Char in the Mixture of CO2, H2O, CO, and H2
Authors: Chen Junwei , Chen Weibin , Jiao Yang , Wang Xidong
Published: February 2019

The gasification kinetics of bituminous coal char was investigated in a mixture of CO2, H2O, CO, H2, and N2 under isothermal conditions. In addition, the impacts of gasification temperature, gasification time, and gas composition on the gasification process were analyzed. As the experimental results suggest, there is a significant increase of the carbon conversion degree of bituminous coal char not just when gasification temperature and time increase, but also when H2 and CO concentration decreases. The kinetics of bituminous coal char in the gasification process was successfully modeled as a shrinking unreacted core. It is concluded that the gasification of bituminous coal char is controlled by an internal chemical reaction in the early stage and diffusion in the later stage. The activation energies of bituminous coal char gasification for different stages were studied. Moreover, it is proposed for the first time, to our knowledge, that the diffusion-control step is significantly shortened with the decrease of the CO2/H2O ratio. As scanning-electron-microscopy results suggest, bituminous coal char gasified in CO2/H2O = 1/3 atmosphere has numerous inner pores (0–5 m). Therefore, in the process of gasification, the inner pores provide a gas channel that reduces the gas diffusion resistance and thus shortens the diffusion-control step. These results can serve as a reference for industrialized application of the technology of coal gasification direct reduced iron.
Geoheritage in Deltaic Environments: Classification Notes, Case Example, and Geopark Implication
Authors: Mikhailenko Anna V. , Ruban Dmitry A.
Published: February 2019

River deltas boast ecosystem richness, but their efficient conservation and management require consideration of the full spectrum of natural phenomena, including those which are geological. Few specialists have explored the issue of deltaic geological heritage (geoheritage), and the relevant knowledge remains scarce and non-systematised. This paper proposes the first classification of this geoheritage. Five categories are distinguished: entire-delta geological phenomenon, delta-associated “purely” geological features, delta-associated features resulting from geology–ecosystem interactions, geological features occasional to deltas, and geoarchaeological localities in deltas. Chosen as a case example, the Don River delta in the southwestern part of Russia possesses geoheritage of these categories, except for the latter. The relevant unique geological features differ by their types and ranks. Of particular interest is the phenomenon of a self-cleaning environment which prevents mercury concentration in the soil despite pollution from natural and anthropogenic sources. The complexity of the deltaic geoheritage, its co-existence with the rich biodiversity, and the aesthetical issues make geopark creation in river deltas a sensible venture. Relevant proposals have been made for Malaysia and the Netherlands–Belgium border, and the Don River delta in Russia also presents an appropriate location for geopark creation.
Medicinal Potential, Utilization and Domestication Status of Bitter Kola (Garcinia kola Heckel) in West and Central Africa
Authors: Maňourová Anna , Leuner Olga , Tchoundjeu Zacharie , Van Damme Patrick , Verner Vladimír , Přibyl Ondřej , Lojka Bohdan
Published: February 2019

Garcinia kola Heckel (Clusiaceae), known as bitter kola, is a multipurpose tree indigenous to West and Central Africa. This highly preferred species is called “wonder plant” because all of its parts can be used as medicine. Its seeds, the most valued product of the tree, are commonly eaten to prevent/cure gastric disorders and for their typical astringent taste. There is a vast evidence that bioactive components of the seeds can serve as alternative medicine to treat/prevent severe illnesses such as malaria, hepatitis and immune-destructive diseases. Despite the species’ pharmaceutical potential and its high preference by West and Central African communities, G. kola is still at the beginning of its domestication process. Even though, there are numerous scientific articles published on species‘ biological activities, it is a difficult task to find basic information on its diversity, distribution, genetics, silvicultural management or botany. Therefore, in this very first review published on G. kola, we summarize all relevant information known about the species, target some of the challenges connected with its cultivation and propose a leading direction for future research and domestication process.