bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fenologija cvatnje i pomološka svojstva sorti badema na području Beograda
Authors: Milatović Dragan , Zec Gordan , Đurović Dejan , Boškov Đorđe
Published: December 2018

U radu su prikazani fenologija cvatnje i pomološka svojstva sedam sorti badema Prunus dulcis; (‘Exinograd’, ‘Icar’, ‘Mari de Stepa’, ‘Nessebar’, ‘Miagkoskorlupniy’, ‘Prianiy’ i ‘Retsou’) na području Beograda. Ispitivana je fenofaza cvatnje (početak, puna cvatnja, kraj, trajanje i obilnost) kao i svojstva ploda (masa i dimenzije ploda, debljina ljuske, masa i randman jezgre, sadržaj ulja i mineralnih tvari). Prosječno vrijeme cvatnje ispitivanih sorti je bilo u drugoj polovini ožujka i početkom travnja. Cvatnja je počinjala najranije kod sorti ‘Exinograd’ i ‘Nessebar’ (14. ožujka), a najkasnije kod sorte ‘Mari de Stepa’ (1. travnja). Prosječno trajanje cvatnje je variralo od 11 do 22 dana i bilo je duže kod sorti koje su ranije cvjetale. Sorte ‘Icar’ i ‘Exinograd’ su imale krupan plod (s masom iznad 5 g), ali i najniži randman jezgre (ispod 30%). S druge strane, sitan plod (ispod 2,5 g) su imale sorte ‘Retsou’, ‘Miagkoskorlupniy’, ‘Nessebar’ i ‘Prianiy’, koje su ujedno imale i najviši randman jezgre (47-52%). Sadržaj ulja u jezgri je varirao u intervalu od 49% (‘Miagkoskorlupniy’) do 60% (‘Mari de Stepa’). Sadržaj ukupnih mineralnih tvari je iznosio 3,03-3,31%.
Feromoni medonosne pčele (Apis mellifera L.)
Authors: Kovačić Marin , Puškadija Zlatko
Published: December 2018

Podjelu uloga između članova pčelinje zajednice, kao i funkcioniranje pčelinje zajednice omogućuje savršena komunikacija, a ona se kod pčela odvija pomoću pčelinjeg plesa i najvećim dijelom putem feromona. Feromoni u pčelinjoj zajednici imaju ulogu spajanja pčela kao jedinki u jednu kohezivnu zajednicu, tzv. superorganizam. Također, feromoni imaju ključnu ulogu u svim aspektima života pčelinje zajednice, od razmnožavanja, do sakupljanja hrane i obrane zajednice. U ovom su radu obrađene žlijezde koje izlučuju feromone, kao i uloga pojedinih feromona
na ponašanje pčelinje zajednice.
Primjena analitičkih metoda u postupcima autentifikacije poljoprivednih i prehrambenih proizvoda
Authors: Gvozdanović Kristina , Margeta Polona , Margeta Vladimir
Published: December 2018

Autentifikacija proizvoda služi za dokazivanje sastava i podrijetla poljoprivrednih i prehrambenih proizvoda. Republika Hrvatska ima veliki broj poljoprivrednih i prehrambenih proizvoda koji su zbog specifičnih organoleptičkih, tehnoloških i prehrambenih specifičnosti deklarirani kao proizvodi visoke vrijednosti te zaštićeni oznakom izvornosti, zemljopisnog podrijetla ili zajamčeno tradicionalnog specijaliteta. Provođenje postupka autentifikacije predstavlja multidisciplinarni postupak koji uključuje analitičke metode kombinirane s informatikom, matematikom i statistikom, a sve s ciljem dobivanja što točnijih i pouzdanijih podataka kako bi se mogao donijeti zaključak o podrijetlu i sastavu proizvoda. Zanimanje javnosti za konzumiranjem kvalitetne i sigurne hrane dovelo je do brzog razvoja metoda za autentifikaciju proizvoda. U analitičke metode analize ubrajaju se molekularne metode analize, kromatografske metode, spektrometrijske metode i imunološke metode. U radu su opisane analitičke metode koje se primjenjuju u postupcima dokazivanja izvornosti, zemljopisnog podrijetla ili tradicijskog specijaliteta proizvoda u svijetu.
Framing Analysis of Edy Rahmayadi's News on MedanBisnisdaily.com
Authors: Azhar Anang Anas , Pekuwali Daniel
Published: December 2018

Mass media has an important role in imaging. Whether we realize it or not, the image is the result of mass media construction. The mass media can lift someone so that they become famous and supported by the community but can also bring down the person to become the most hated figure. The media constructs reality through certain points of view which are then framed or framed. In this study, the framing analysis of the Gamson and Modigliani models was used to find out how the reality or image of Edy Rahmayadi was constructed or framed by MedanBisnisdaily.com. According to Gamson, framing is a way of telling stories or clusters of organized ideas in such a way and presenting the construction of the meaning of events related to the object of a discourse. This type of research is qualitative with a constructivism paradigm. From this research, Medanbisnisdaily.com describes the image of Edy Rahmayadi as a firm, but controversial and seemingly arrogant person.
Business of Local Fruit and Vegetables in Jember District as a Support of Food Security, Indonesia
Authors: Komarayanti Sawitri , Suharso Wiwik , Herrianto Elfien
Published: December 2018

Local fruits and vegetables contribute to food security in the area. Efforts to gather information about local fruits and vegetables is very important. This is due to the diversity of local fruit and vegetables are endangered due to the penetration of imported fruits and vegetables that increasingly dominate, changing consumption patterns and land use. This study examines the diversity of local fruits and vegetables in Jember. The research method using exploratory survey which aims to gather information with a qualitative approach. The research instrument is observation sheet, interview and documentation. The survey area covers 31 districts in Jember, namely:Subdistrict Kencong, Gumukmas, Puger, Wuluhan, Ambulu, Tempurejo, Silo, Mayang, Mumbulsari, Jenggawah, Ajung, Rambipuji, Balung, Umbulsari, Semboro, Jombang, Sumberbaru, Embankment, Bangsalsari, Panti, Sukorambi, Arjasa, Pakusari, Kalisat, Ledokombo, Sumberjambe, Sukowono, Jelbuk, Kaliwates, Sumbersari and Patrang, Respondents were interviewed are traders of fruit and vegetables in the market and the centers of the fruit. The results of this exploratory study found that 46 kinds of local fruits and 52 kinds of local vegetables. 52.2% met the local fruit is cultivated, ie 24 types of local fruits such as:Avocado, Grapes, Belimbing, Duku, Durian, Guava, Guava Water, Orange Semboro, Orange Large, longan, mango, mangosteen, Melinjo, jackfruit, pineapple, papaya, banana, rambutan, Salak, Sawo, passionfruit, soursop and breadfruit. 30.8% of local vegetables that have been cultivated at 16 types of local vegetables such as: Bawang Merah, Bawang leaves Cabbage, Cauliflower, chinese cabbage / mustard, Long Bean, Large Chilli, chilli, Mushroom, Tomato, eggplant, beans, cucumber, pumpkin Siam, Kale and Spinach,
Aceh Islamic Society (Beliefs in Animism and Dynamism)
Authors: Muhammad Hasan Ridwan , Ibrahim Iskandar , Dhuhri Saifuddin
Published: December 2018

The people of Acheh society so immersed in the customary beliefs, traditions and cultures of Hinduism, and belief in large wooden staples such as, banyan trees and ketapang trees, as well as trustworthy objects possessing supernatural powers of animism and dynamism. They are also cling to the teachings of religion that have been abandoned by the former, even though those who bring the teachings are not derived from Islam, indirectly the belief, can form personal in everyday social that is not very memorable. In some parts of the Acheh community who live in rural areas up to now, practice the customs and culture of the tahayul rather than Hindu relics such as, the practice of heresy, superstition and khurafat and has become a practice in its daily that is difficult to be left.
Performance Model of Kulcapi (Karo Musical Instrument) as a Teaching Material in Guitar Learning
Authors: Suroso Panji , Sembiring Adina Sastra , Widiastuti Uyuni , Hasbulah Muklis , Amal Bakhrul Khair
Published: December 2018

This study examines performance model of Kulcapi Karo as a teaching material in guitar learning classes at Music Art Study Program in Unimed. To obtain maximum learning outcomes in the learning process, creative strategies and methods are created in utilizing local music culture as a capital in improving music playing skills. Efforts are made in various ways to maximize learning by reviewing and analyzing matters related to the learning process such as; analyze learning objectives, teaching material, strategies or learning methods, including local cultural material as a learning resource that can be adapted to the development and needs of the community in the world of education that continues to grow. Based on this, it is very important if Kulcapi's musical instrument culture as local culture can be packaged and used as teaching material in learning guitar music instruments. This is intended to further enrich students' understanding of theoretical concepts and the practice of playing stringed musical instruments is not only limited to popular knowledge, but also on things that are more specifically including traditional ones. With the effort to study and understand the Kulcapi instrument as teaching material, students must absolutely understand the organology structure and the technique of playing Kulcapi to be able to be developed to the level of being able to play better musical instruments. The technique of playing Kulcapi instrument as a capital in developing students' abilities in guitar courses seems to be more able to improve the achievement of better quality learning outcomes
The Creation in Building Good News for The Society in Medan, Indonesia
Authors: Qorib Ahmad , Saragih M. Yoserizal
Published: December 2018

The news has three news coverage techniques, namely reportage, interviews, library research (literature studies). Some news writing techniques that can be a basic guide for journalists are:The title of the news is as concise as possible with short and clear sentences, but can still describe the core of the story as a whole.There are 5W + 1H elements.Arrange news so that it can be presented with accurate, clear and interesting information. Use language that is easily understood by readers from a variety of circles.Not "patronizing" but "showing / presenting".
Development and Validation of a RP-HPLC Method for Quantitative Analysis of Linagliptin in Bulk and Dosage Forms
Authors: Rajbangshi Joy Chandra , Alam Md Mahbubul , Hossain Md Shahadat , Islam Md Samiul , Rouf Abu Shara Shamsur
Published: December 2018

This research was aimed to establish a versatile, sensitive, rapid and validated RP-HPLC method to analyze linagliptin in bulk as well as in pharmaceutical dosage forms. Liquid chromatography was performed on HPLC system and 20μl of samples were injected into a C18 column (150 x 4.6 mm i.d., 5μm particle size) and the eluents were monitored through a PDA detector at 239 nm. An isocratic method with a flow rate of 1 ml/min was used to elute the compounds with a mobile phase comprised of 70:30 v/v mixture of phosphate buffer (pH 6.8±0.2) and acetonitrile. The retention time of the compound was found to be 2.8 minutes. According to the ICH Q2(R1) guidelines, the method was validated by establishing several analytical parameters such as system suitability, specificity, linearity, accuracy, precision, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantitation (LOQ), ruggedness and robustness to assay linagliptin. The method showed good linearity (R2 = 0.9981) over the concentration ranges of 40 – 60 μg/ml with a recovery between 99.48% ± 0.38% RSD to 100.22% ± 0.011% RSD, whereas the LOD and LOQ values were 0.05 μg/ml and 0.15 μg/ml, respectively. The relative standard deviation (% RSD) for inter-day and intra-day precision was not more than 2.0%. Hence, the proposed method can be applied accurately for research and routine analysis of linagliptin in bulk as well as different pharmaceutical dosage forms.

Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 17(2): 175-182, 2018 (December)
Impact Assessment of Different Polymers on Physicochemical Properties of Ibuprofen Loaded Solid Dispersions
Authors: Ferdousy Sonia , Sajeeb BK , Yeasmin Shahida , Faroque ABM
Published: December 2018

In the present study, solid dispersions of ibuprofen were prepared to improve aqueous solubility of ibuprofen. A series of formulations were prepared where PEG 6000 with polymers named PVP K30, cross PVP, poloxamer 237, HPMC ASLF, pregelatinized starch, Na-CMC, Eudragit L100, and kollidon IR were used in different ratios. Among 41 formulations, solid dispersions of ibuprofen in PEG 6000 with each of PVP K30, poloxamer 237, and Na-CMC at ratio of 2:9:7 revealed improved solubility of 952.73 ± 1.31, 878.18 ± 0.97, and 1263.64 ± 1.58 μg/ml, respectively. The physicochemical properties of these preparations were ascertained by FTIR, SEM, DSC, and particle size analyses. FTIR spectrum showed absence of chemical interactions and physical compatibilities between ibuprofen and polymers were confirmed by DSC. Disappearance of individual surface properties in solid dispersions were revealed by SEM studies, which indicated the formation of effective preparations. On the other hand, particle size analysis showed reduction in particle size of ibuprofen from solid dispersions that demonstrated solubility enhancement of ibuprofen. The above studies suggested that solid dispersions of ibuprofen in PEG 6000 at ratios of 2:9:7 with each of PVP K30, poloxamer 237, and Na-CMC were found to be effective to improve aqueous solubility.

Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 17(2): 183-190, 2018 (December)
14-Deoxyandrographolide Isolated from Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f) Nees Growing in Bangladesh and its Antimicrobial Properties
Authors: Rashid Parisa Tamannur , Ahmed Muniruddin , Rahaman Md Mizanur , Muhit Md Abdul
Published: December 2018

Abstract not available

Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 17(2): 265-267, 2018 (December)
Estimating Crop Transpiration of Soybean under Different Irrigation Treatments Using Thermal Infrared Remote Sensing Imagery
Authors: Hou Mengjie , Tian Fei , Zhang Lu , Li Sien , Du Taisheng , Huang Mengsi , Yuan Yusen
Published: December 2018

Temporal and spatial resolution of satellite images are coarse and cannot provide the real-time, meter-scale resolution monitoring required in many applications, such as precision agriculture. Since high resolution thermal infrared data provide one means to observe canopy temperature variance, we developed an algorithm (three-temperature model, 3T) to estimate transpiration rate at meter-scale pixels and detected transpiration variation for soybean under different upper irrigation limits: No irrigation, 35% of field capacity (FC), 55% of FC, and 75% of FC, denoted as W0, W1, W2, and W3, respectively. The spatial patterns of the transpiration rate indicated that heterogeneity is common in farmland. Transpiration rates in the wet treatment (i.e., W3) were consistently higher than that in the dry treatment (i.e., W0). Transpiration rates reached peak values at around 12:30–14:30 and most of values showed that W3 > W2 > W1 > W0, with 0.91 mm/h, 0.89 mm/h, 0.79 mm/h, and 0.62 mm/h during the reproductive period, respectively. In general, the transpiration rate of soybean increased with increasing irrigation quantities. With a higher irrigation total, soil water content increased gradually, and then the transpiration rate increased. Although land surface temperature decreased by only 8.57 K (Kelvin), 6.33 K, and 5.47 K, respectively, the transpiration rate increased by 78%, 60%, and 40%, respectively, for the W3, W2, and W1 treatment compared with the W0 treatment. The magnitude of transpiration change is greater than that of canopy temperature, but both parameters are strongly interrelated with each other through a non-linear correlation. Heterogeneity of canopy leaf temperature and transpiration is mainly due to physical and biological interactions. Understanding transpiration rate and canopy temperature heterogeneity under different irrigation treatments can not only help in scheduling irrigation, but also in enhancing water utilization efficiency in irrigated agriculture. The real-time monitoring of crop transpiration at meter-scale is of great importance for large irrigation systems, especially for precision irrigation, and will have great application prospects in the near future.
Tarantula: Design, Modeling, and Kinematic Identification of a Quadruped Wheeled Robot
Authors: Hayat Abdullah Aamir , Elangovan Karthikeyan , Rajesh Elara Mohan , Teja Mullapudi Sai
Published: December 2018

This paper firstly presents the design and modeling of a quadruped wheeled robot named Tarantula. It has four legs each having four degrees of freedom with a proximal end attached to the trunk and the wheels for locomotion connected at the distal end. The two legs in the front and two at the back are actuated using two motors which are placed inside the trunk for simultaneous abduction or adduction. It is designed to manually reconfigure its topology as per the cross-sections of the drainage system. The bi-directional suspension system is designed using a single damper to prevent the trunk and inside components from shock. Formulation for kinematics of the wheels that is coupled with the kinematics of each leg is presented. We proposed the cost-effective method which is also an on-site approach to estimate the kinematic parameters and the effective trunk dimension after assembly of the quadruped robot using the monocular camera and ArUco markers instead of high-end devices like a laser tracker or coordinate measurement machine. The measurement technique is evaluated experimentally and the same set up was used for trajectory tracking of the Tarantula. The experimental method for the kinematic identification presented here can be easily extended to the other mobile robots with serial architecture designed legs.
Total Fatty Acid Analysis of Human Blood Samples in One Minute by High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Gallego Sandra F. , Hermansson Martin , Liebisch Gerhard , Hodson Leanne , Ejsing Christer S.
Published: December 2018

Total fatty acid analysis is a routine method in many areas, including lipotyping of individuals in personalized medicine, analysis of foodstuffs, and optimization of oil production in biotechnology. This analysis is commonly done by converting fatty acyl (FA) chains of intact lipids into FA methyl esters (FAMEs) and monitoring these by gas-chromatography (GC)-based methods, typically requiring at least 15 min of analysis per sample. Here, we describe a novel method that supports fast, precise and accurate absolute quantification of total FA levels in human plasma and serum samples. The method uses acid-catalyzed transesterification with 18O-enriched H2O (i.e., H218O) to convert FA chains into 18O-labeled free fatty acids. The resulting “mass-tagged” FA analytes can be specifically monitored with improved signal-to-background by 1 min of high resolution Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS) on an Orbitrap-based mass spectrometer. By benchmarking to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) certified standard reference materials we show that the performance of our method is comparable, and at times superior, to that of gold-standard GC-based methods. In addition, we demonstrate that the method supports the accurate quantification of FA differences in samples obtained in dietary intervention studies and also affords specific monitoring of ingested stable isotope-labeled fatty acids (13C16-palmitate) in normoinsulinemic and hyperinsulinemic human subjects. Overall, our novel high-throughput method is generic and suitable for many application areas, spanning basic research to personalized medicine, and is particularly useful for laboratories equipped with high resolution mass spectrometers, but lacking access to GC-based instrumentation.
Long-Term Outcome after Hemithyroidectomy for Papillary Thyroid Cancer: A Comparative Study and Review of the Literature
Authors: Geron Yossi , Benbassat Carlos , Shteinshneider Miriam , Koren Shlomit , Or Keren , Markus Efrat , Hirsch Dania , Muallem Kalmovich Limor
Published: December 2018

Background: The extent of surgery for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) remains a controversial issue. Since a less aggressive approach is becoming more predominant, we aim here to study the short- and long-term outcomes of DTC patients after hemithyroidectomy. Methods: From a total of 1252 consecutive papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients, 109 treated with hemithyroidectomy and 50 with total thyroidectomy but no I131 were included. Persistent or recurrent disease was defined based on histopathology, imaging studies, and thyroglobulin levels. Results: Our hemithyroidectomy cohort included females (84.4%), microcarcinomas (81.9%), TNM stage I (95.4%), and a low American Thyroid Association (ATA) recurrence risk (94.5%). At one-year post-treatment, 3.7% had persistent disease (all female, median age 55 years, tumor size 7.5 mm). Recurrent disease was detected in 7.5% of those with excellent response at 1-year. With a follow-up of 8.6 years (1–48), all 109 patients were disease free at last visit, including the 11 patients (10.1%) who received additional treatment. Also, when comparing the hemi- and total thyroidectomy groups no significant differences were found in the rate of persistent and recurrent disease, overall mortality, and disease status at last visit. Conclusions: For properly selected low-risk PTC patients, hemithyroidectomy is a safe treatment option with a favorable long-term outcome.
The Role of Every-Day Cosmetics in Altering the Skin Microbiome: A Study Using Biodiversity
Authors: Wallen-Russell Christopher
Published: December 2018

As described in previous work, the use of synthetic chemical ingredients in modern cosmetics is postulated to be a cause of damage to the skin microbiome. The discovery that biodiversity on the human skin is currently the only reliable indicator of skin health, meant that for the first time, a mechanism to test for healthy skin was possible. Using this mechanism and in collaboration with The Medical University of Graz, who carried out the independent study, this work aimed to help answer whether modern day synthetic cosmetics are a main cause of long-term damage to the skin microbiome. Thirty-two human participants tested three different face washes for their effect on the skin’s microbial diversity, along with skin pH, moisture and TEWL (trans-epidermal water loss), washing twice-a-day for four weeks. The upper volar forearm of the volunteers was swabbed at the beginning, two weeks in and at the end of the four weeks. 16S rRNA sequencing was used. One leading ‘natural’ brand full of synthetic ingredients, a leading synthetic brand and a 100% natural face wash were used. Results give the first indications of a link between synthetic ingredients in a cosmetics product and its effect on skin microbiome biodiversity. It paves the way for future studies on the topic with a larger sample group, longer test period and standardised methodology to create a universal standard for testing the health of skin using benchmark diversity values. This can be used in the future to test the effectiveness of cosmetics or ingredients on skin health, leading to the restriction in cosmetics of products proven to harm the skin’s natural environment.
How to Construct a Combined S-CO2 Cycle for Coal Fired Power Plant?
Authors: Sun Enhui , Hu Han , Li Hangning , Liu Chao , Xu Jinliang
Published: December 2018

It is difficult to recover the residual heat from flue gas when supercritical carbon dioxide (S-CO2) cycle is used for a coal fired power plant, due to the higher CO2 temperature in tail flue and the limited air temperature in air preheater. The combined cycle is helpful for residual heat recovery. Thus, it is important to build an efficient bottom cycle. In this paper, we proposed a novel exergy destruction control strategy during residual heat recovery to equal and minimize the exergy destruction for different bottom cycles. Five bottom cycles are analyzed to identify their differences in thermal efficiencies (ηth,b), and the CO2 temperature entering the bottom cycle heater (T4b) etc. We show that the exergy destruction can be minimized by a suitable pinch temperature between flue gas and CO2 in the heater via adjusting T4b. Among the five bottom cycles, either the recompression cycle (RC) or the partial cooling cycle (PACC) exhibits good performance. The power generation efficiency is 47.04% when the vapor parameters of CO2 are 620/30 MPa, with the double-reheating-recompression cycle as the top cycle, and RC as the bottom cycle. Such efficiency is higher than that of the supercritical water cycle power plant.
Spatio–Temporal Pattern of the Urban System Network in the Huaihe River Basin Based on Entropy Theory
Authors: Fan Yong , Guo Renzhong , He Zongyi , Li Minmin , He Biao , Yang Hao , Wen Nu
Published: December 2018

As complex systems, the spatial structure of urban systems can be analyzed by entropy theory. This paper first calculates the interaction force between cities based on the gravity model, the spatial relationship matrix between cities is constructed using the method of network modeling, and the spatial network modeling of urban system can be calculated. Secondly, the Efficiency Entropy (EE), Quality Entropy (QE), and System Entropy (SE) of urban system network are calculated and analyzed by information entropy. Finally, taking the Huaihe River Basin (HRB) as a case study, model verification and empirical analysis are performed. It is found that the spatio–temporal pattern of the urban system network structure in the basin is uneven: in space, the urban system network in the HRB presents a layer-by-layer spatial distribution centered on the core city of Xuzhou; meanwhile, the overall urban system network in the basin presents an orderly development trend. This study has certain theoretical and practical value for the planning of urban and urban systems and the coordinated development of regions.
Hydrogen Production from Coffee Mucilage in Dark Fermentation with Organic Wastes
Authors: Cárdenas Edilson León Moreno , Zapata-Zapata Arley David , Kim Daehwan
Published: December 2018

One of primary issues in the coffee manufacturing industry is the production of large amounts of undesirable residues, which include the pericarp (outer skin), pulp (outer mesocarp), parchment (endocarp), silver-skin (epidermis) and mucilage (inner mesocarp) that cause environmental problems due to toxic molecules contained therein. This study evaluated the optimal hydrogen production from coffee mucilage combined with organic wastes (wholesale market garbage) in a dark fermentation process. The supplementation of organic wastes offered appropriate carbon and nitrogen sources with further nutrients; it was positively effective in achieving cumulative hydrogen production. Three different ratios of coffee mucilage and organic wastes (8:2, 5:5, and 2:8) were tested in 30 L bioreactors using two-level factorial design experiments. The highest cumulative hydrogen volume of 25.9 L was gained for an 8:2 ratio (coffee mucilage: organic wastes) after 72 h, which corresponded to 1.295 L hydrogen/L substrates (0.248 mol hydrogen/mol hexose). Biochemical identification of microorganisms found that seven microorganisms were involved in the hydrogen metabolism. Further studies of anaerobic fermentative digestion with each isolated pure bacterium under similar experimental conditions reached a lower final hydrogen yield (up to 9.3 L) than the result from the non-isolated sample (25.9 L). Interestingly, however, co-cultivation of two identified microorganisms (Kocuria kristinae and Brevibacillus laterosporus), who were relatively highly associated with hydrogen production, gave a higher yield (14.7 L) than single bacterium inoculum but lower than that of the non-isolated tests. This work confirms that the re-utilization of coffee mucilage combined with organic wastes is practical for hydrogen fermentation in anaerobic conditions, and it would be influenced by the bacterial consortium involved.
A Review of Evaluation, Optimization and Synthesis of Energy Systems: Methodology and Application to Thermal Power Plants
Authors: Wang Ligang , Yang Zhiping , Sharma Shivom , Mian Alberto , Lin Tzu-En , Tsatsaronis George , Maréchal François , Yang Yongping
Published: December 2018

To reach optimal/better conceptual designs of energy systems, key design variables should be optimized/adapted with system layouts, which may contribute significantly to system improvement. Layout improvement can be proposed by combining system analysis with engineers’ judgments; however, optimal flowsheet synthesis is not trivial and can be best addressed by mathematical programming. In addition, multiple objectives are always involved for decision makers. Therefore, this paper reviews progressively the methodologies of system evaluation, optimization, and synthesis for the conceptual design of energy systems, and highlights the applications to thermal power plants, which are still supposed to play a significant role in the near future. For system evaluation, both conventional and advanced exergy-based analysis methods, including (advanced) exergoeconomics are deeply discussed and compared methodologically with recent developments. The advanced analysis is highlighted for further revealing the source, avoidability, and interactions among exergy destruction or cost of different components. For optimization and layout synthesis, after a general description of typical optimization problems and the solving methods, the superstructure-based and -free concepts are introduced and intensively compared by emphasizing the automatic generation and identification of structural alternatives. The theoretical basis of the most commonly-used multi-objective techniques and recent developments are given to offer high-quality Pareto front for decision makers, with an emphasis on evolutionary algorithms. Finally, the selected analysis and synthesis methods for layout improvement are compared and future perspectives are concluded with the emphasis on considering additional constraints for real-world designs and retrofits, possible methodology development for evaluation and synthesis, and the importance of good modeling practice.
Design and Simulation of Romanian Solar Energy Charging Station for Electric Vehicles
Authors: Badea Gheorghe , Felseghi Raluca-Andreea , Varlam Mihai , Filote Constantin , Culcer Mihai , Iliescu Mariana , Răboacă Maria Simona
Published: December 2018

Since mid 2010, petrol consumption in the transport sector has increased at a higher rate than in other sectors. The transport sector generates 35% of the total CO2 emissions. In this context, strategies have been adopted to use clean energy, with electromobility being the main directive. This paper examines the possibility of charging electric vehicle batteries with clean energy using solar autochthonous renewable resources. An isolated system was designed, dimensioned, and simulated in operation for a charging station for electric vehicles with photovoltaic panels and batteries as their main components. The optimal configuration of the photovoltaic system was complete with improved Hybrid Optimization by Genetic Algorithms (iHOGA) software version 2.4 and we simulated its operation. The solar energy system has to be designed to ensure that the charging station always has enough electricity to supply several electric vehicles throughout all 24 h of the day. The main results were related to the energy, environmental, and economic performance achieved by the system during one year of operation.
EFR-Mediated Innate Immune Response in Arabidopsis thaliana is a Useful Tool for Identification of Novel ERQC Modulators
Authors: Lia Andrea , Gallo Antonia , Marti Lucia , Roversi Pietro , Santino Angelo
Published: December 2018

Plants offer a simpler and cheaper alternative to mammalian animal models for the study of endoplasmic reticulum glycoprotein folding quality control (ERQC). In particular, the Arabidopsis thaliana (At) innate immune response to bacterial peptides provides an easy means of assaying ERQC function in vivo. A number of mutants that are useful to study ERQC in planta have been described in the literature, but only for a subset of these mutants the innate immune response to bacterial elicitors has been measured beyond monitoring plant weight and some physio-pathological parameters related to the plant immune response. In order to probe deeper into the role of ERQC in the plant immune response, we monitored expression levels of the Phosphate-induced 1 (PHI-1) and reticulin-oxidase homologue (RET-OX) genes in the At ER α-Glu II rsw3 and the At UGGT uggt1-1 mutant plants, in response to bacterial peptides elf18 and flg22. The elf18 response was impaired in the rsw3 but not completely abrogated in the uggt1-1 mutant plants, raising the possibility that the latter enzyme is partly dispensable for EF-Tu receptor (EFR) signaling. In the rsw3 mutant, seedling growth was impaired only by concomitant application of the At ER α-Glu II NB-DNJ inhibitor at concentrations above 500 nM, compatibly with residual activity in this mutant. The study highlights the need for extending plant innate immune response studies to assays sampling EFR signaling at the molecular level.
Low-Field, Benchtop NMR Spectroscopy as a Potential Tool for Point-of-Care Diagnostics of Metabolic Conditions: Validation, Protocols and Computational Models
Authors: Percival Benita C. , Grootveld Martin , Gibson Miles , Osman Yasan , Molinari Marco , Jafari Fereshteh , Sahota Tarsem , Martin Mark , Casanova Federico , Mather Melissa L. , Edgar Mark , Masania Jinit , Wilson Philippe B.
Published: December 2018

Novel sensing technologies for liquid biopsies offer promising prospects for the early detection of metabolic conditions through omics techniques. Indeed, high-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) facilities are routinely used for metabolomics investigations on a range of biofluids in order to rapidly recognise unusual metabolic patterns in patients suffering from a range of diseases. However, these techniques are restricted by the prohibitively large size and cost of such facilities, suggesting a possible role for smaller, low-field NMR instruments in biofluid analysis. Herein we describe selected biomolecule validation on a low-field benchtop NMR spectrometer (60 MHz), and present an associated protocol for the analysis of biofluids on compact NMR instruments. We successfully detect common markers of diabetic control at low-to-medium concentrations through optimised experiments, including α-glucose (≤2.8 mmol/L) and acetone (25 µmol/L), and additionally in readily accessible biofluids, particularly human urine. We present a combined protocol for the analysis of these biofluids with low-field NMR spectrometers for metabolomics applications, and offer a perspective on the future of this technique appealing to ‘point-of-care’ applications.
Semantic Geometric Modelling of Unstructured Indoor Point Cloud
Authors: Shi Wenzhong , Ahmed Wael , Li Na , Fan Wenzheng , Xiang Haodong , Wang Muyang
Published: December 2018

A method capable of automatically reconstructing 3D building models with semantic information from the unstructured 3D point cloud of indoor scenes is presented in this paper. This method has three main steps: 3D segmentation using a new hybrid algorithm, room layout reconstruction, and wall-surface object reconstruction by using an enriched approach. Unlike existing methods, this method aims to detect, cluster, and model complex structures without having prior scanner or trajectory information. In addition, this method enables the accurate detection of wall-surface “defacements”, such as windows, doors, and virtual openings. In addition to the detection of wall-surface apertures, the detection of closed objects, such as doors, is also possible. Hence, for the first time, the whole 3D modelling process of the indoor scene from a backpack laser scanner (BLS) dataset was achieved and is recorded for the first time. This novel method was validated using both synthetic data and real data acquired by a developed BLS system for indoor scenes. Evaluating our approach on synthetic datasets achieved a precision of around 94% and a recall of around 97%, while for BLS datasets our approach achieved a precision of around 95% and a recall of around 89%. The results reveal this novel method to be robust and accurate for 3D indoor modelling.
Identification and Functional Characterization of a Cold-Related Protein, BcHHP5, in Pak-Choi (Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis)
Authors: Wang Jin , Huang Feiyi , You Xiong , Hou Xilin
Published: December 2018

In plants, heptahelical proteins (HHPs) have been shown to respond to a variety of abiotic stresses, including cold stress. Up to the present, the regulation mechanism of HHP5 under low temperature stress remains unclear. In this study, BcHHP5 was isolated from Pak-choi (Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis cv. Suzhouqing). Sequence analysis and phylogenetic analysis indicated that BcHHP5 in Pak-choi is similar to AtHHP5 in Arabidopsis thaliana. Structure analysis showed that the structure of the BcHHP5 protein is relatively stable and highly conservative. Subcellular localization indicated that BcHHP5 was localized on the cell membrane and nuclear membrane. Furthermore, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis showed that BcHHP5 was induced to express by cold and other abiotic stresses. In Pak-choi, BcHHP5-silenced assay, inhibiting the action of endogenous BcHHP5, indicated that BcHHP5-silenced might have a negative effect on cold tolerance, which was further confirmed. All of these results indicate that BcHHP5 might play a role in abiotic response. This work can serve as a reference for the functional analysis of other cold-related proteins from Pak-choi in the future.
Iron Metabolism in Cancer
Authors: Wang Yafang , Yu Lei , Ding Jian , Chen Yi
Published: December 2018

Demanded as an essential trace element that supports cell growth and basic functions, iron can be harmful and cancerogenic though. By exchanging between its different oxidized forms, iron overload induces free radical formation, lipid peroxidation, DNA, and protein damages, leading to carcinogenesis or ferroptosis. Iron also plays profound roles in modulating tumor microenvironment and metastasis, maintaining genomic stability and controlling epigenetics. in order to meet the high requirement of iron, neoplastic cells have remodeled iron metabolism pathways, including acquisition, storage, and efflux, which makes manipulating iron homeostasis a considerable approach for cancer therapy. Several iron chelators and iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) has recently been developed for cancer intervention and presented considerable effects. This review summarizes some latest findings about iron metabolism function and regulation mechanism in cancer and the application of iron chelators and IONPs in cancer diagnosis and therapy.
Chemokines and Chemokine Receptors: Orchestrating Tumor Metastasization
Authors: Marcuzzi Elisabetta , Angioni Roberta , Molon Barbara , Calì Bianca
Published: December 2018

Metastasis still represents the primary cause of cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide. Chemokine signalling contributes to the overall process of cancer growth and metastasis, and their expression in both primary tumors and metastatic lesions correlate with prognosis. Chemokines promote tumor metastasization by directly supporting cancer cell survival and invasion, angiogenesis, and by indirectly shaping the pre-metastatic niches and antitumor immunity. Here, we will focus on the relevant chemokine/chemokine receptor axes that have been described to drive the metastatic process. We elaborate on their role in the regulation of tumor angiogenesis and immune cell recruitment at both the primary tumor lesions and the pre-metastatic foci. Furthermore, we also discuss the advantages and limits of current pharmacological strategies developed to target chemokine networks for cancer therapy.
Functional Polymorphisms in DNA Repair Genes Are Associated with Sporadic Colorectal Cancer Susceptibility and Clinical Outcome
Authors: Jiraskova Katerina , Hughes David J. , Brezina Stefanie , Gumpenberger Tanja , Veskrnova Veronika , Buchler Tomas , Schneiderova Michaela , Levy Miroslav , Liska Vaclav , Vodenkova Sona , Di Gaetano Cornelia , Naccarati Alessio , Pardini Barbara , Vymetalkova Veronika , Gsur Andrea , Vodicka Pavel
Published: December 2018

DNA repair processes are involved in both the onset and treatment efficacy of colorectal cancer (CRC). A change of a single nucleotide causing an amino acid substitution in the corresponding protein may alter the efficiency of DNA repair, thus modifying the CRC susceptibility and clinical outcome. We performed a candidate gene approach in order to analyze the association of non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) in the genes covering the main DNA repair pathways with CRC risk and clinical outcome modifications. Our candidate polymorphisms were selected according to the foremost genomic and functional prediction databases. Sixteen nsSNPs in 12 DNA repair genes were evaluated in cohorts from the Czech Republic and Austria. Apart from the tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage, which occurred as the main prognostic factor in all of the performed analyses, we observed several significant associations of different nsSNPs with survival and clinical outcomes in both cohorts. However, only some of the genes (REV3L, POLQ, and NEIL3) were prominently defined as prediction factors in the classification and regression tree analysis; therefore, the study suggests their association for patient survival. In summary, we provide observational and bioinformatics evidence that even subtle alterations in specific proteins of the DNA repair pathways may contribute to CRC susceptibility and clinical outcome.
Bone-Healing Pattern on the Surface of Titanium Implants at Cortical and Marrow Compartments in Two Topographic Sites: an Experimental Study in Rabbits
Authors: Soto-Peñaloza David , Caneva Marco , Viña-Almunia José , Martín-de-Llano José Javier , Peñarrocha-Oltra David , Peñarrocha-Diago Miguel
Published: December 2018

This study evaluates the bone-healing patterns on the surface of titanium implants at the cortical and marrow compartments of bicortically-installed implants in the diaphysis and metaphysis of rabbit tibiae. In 27 New Zealand rabbits, two implants, one for each macro-design and with equal resorbable blasted media (RBM) implant surfaces, were randomly implanted in the diaphysis or metaphysis of each tibia. The flaps were sutured to allow submerged healing. The animals were sacrificed after two, four, or eight weeks, with nine weeks used for the period of healing. Ground sections were prepared and analyzed. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups for newly formed bone in contact with the implant surface after two, four, and eight weeks of healing. Bone apposition in the marrow compartment was slightly higher in the diaphysis compared to metaphysis regions across healing stages. Despite the limitations of the present study, it can be concluded that new bone apposition was better than average in the cortical compartment as compared to the marrow compartments. Bone morphometry and density may affect bone apposition onto the implant surface. The apposition rates were slightly better at both the cortical and marrow compartments in diaphysis as compared to metaphysis sites. The new bone formation at the marrow compartment showed slightly better increasing values at diaphysis compared to metaphysis implantation sites.
Hot Deformation Characteristics—Constitutive Equation and Processing Maps—of 21-4N Heat-Resistant Steel
Authors: Li Yiming , Ji Hongchao , Li Wangda , Li Yaogang , Pei Weichi , Liu Jinping
Published: December 2018

The hot deformation behavior of 21-4N heat-resistant steel was studied by hot compression test in a deformation temperature range of 1000–1180 °C, a strain rate range of 0.01–10 s−1 and a deformation degree of 60%, and the stress-strain curves were obtained. The functional relationship between flow stress and process parameters (deformation degree, deformation temperature, strain rate, etc.) of 21-4N heat-resistant steel during hot deformation was explored, the constitutive equation of peak stress was established, and its accuracy was verified. Based on the dynamic material model, the energy dissipation maps and destabilization maps of 21-4N heat-resistant steel were established at strains of 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6, and processing maps were obtained by their superposition. Within the deformation temperature range of 1060~1120°C and a strain rate range of 0.01–0.1 s−1, there is a stable domain with the peak efficiency of about 0.5. The best hot working parameters (strain rate and deformation temperature) of 21-4N heat-resistant steel are determined by the stable and instable domain in the processing maps, which are in the deformation temperature range of 1120–1180 °C and the strain rate range of 0.01–10 s−1.
NLP Formulation for Polygon Optimization Problems
Authors: Asaeedi Saeed , Didehvar Farzad , Mohades Ali
Published: December 2018

In this paper, we generalize the problems of finding simple polygons with minimum area, maximum perimeter, and maximum number of vertices, so that they contain a given set of points and their angles are bounded by α + π where α ( 0 ≤ α ≤ π ) is a parameter. We also consider the maximum angle of each possible simple polygon crossing a given set of points, and derive an upper bound for the minimum of these angles. The correspondence between the problems of finding simple polygons with minimum area and maximum number of vertices is investigated from a theoretical perspective. We formulate these three generalized problems as nonlinear programming models, and then present a genetic algorithm to solve them. Finally, the computed solutions are evaluated on several datasets and the results are compared with those from the optimal approach.
Effect of Negative Current on the Microstructure of Oxide Coatings Prepared by Hybrid Pulse Anodization
Authors: Huang Shuo , Jiang Bailing , Liu Cancan , Shao Qingying , Li Hongtao
Published: December 2018

The oxide coatings were prepared on 6061 Al alloy at different negative current densities in oxalic acid using the hybrid pulse anodization (HPA) method at room temperature. The variation curves of positive and negative voltages with anodization time were recorded. The nanopore diameters and distribution regularities in HPA coatings were analyzed with the Image-Pro Plus software based on field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) images. The results showed that the negative current could reduce the growth rate of HPA coatings, and thus led to a small thickness of the coatings within the same anodization time. Besides, appropriate negative current densities resulted in the better distribution uniformity of nanopores, but the excessive negative current densities tended to cause inferior nanopore arrangement. These were attributed to the existence of the negative current, causing H+ and O2− to move in opposite directions, so that a large number of H+ concentrated on the surface of the HPA coatings, resulting in the accelerated dissolution of the coatings.
Metabolomics and Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Brown Connor , Green Brian , Thompson Richard , Den Hollander Anneke , Lengyel Imre ,   On behalf of the EYE-RISK consortium
Published: December 2018

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) leads to irreversible visual loss, therefore, early intervention is desirable, but due to its multifactorial nature, diagnosis of early disease might be challenging. Identification of early markers for disease development and progression is key for disease diagnosis. Suitable biomarkers can potentially provide opportunities for clinical intervention at a stage of the disease when irreversible changes are yet to take place. One of the most metabolically active tissues in the human body is the retina, making the use of hypothesis-free techniques, like metabolomics, to measure molecular changes in AMD appealing. Indeed, there is increasing evidence that metabolic dysfunction has an important role in the development and progression of AMD. Therefore, metabolomics appears to be an appropriate platform to investigate disease-associated biomarkers. In this review, we explored what is known about metabolic changes in the retina, in conjunction with the emerging literature in AMD metabolomics research. Methods for metabolic biomarker identification in the eye have also been discussed, including the use of tears, vitreous, and aqueous humor, as well as imaging methods, like fluorescence lifetime imaging, that could be translated into a clinical diagnostic tool with molecular level resolution.