bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sex-Dependent Regulation of Estrogen Receptor β in Human Colorectal Cancer Tissue and its Relationship With Clock Genes and VEGF-A Expression
Authors: HERICHOVA I. , REIS R. , HASAKOVA K. , VICIAN M. , ZEMAN M.
Published: January 2020

The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) shows a sex-dependent difference in humans. The aim of this study was to analyze estrogen receptor β mRNA (ERβ) expression in patients with CRC with respect to their gender and clinicopathological features. Since cancer progression is accompanied by tumor vascularization, VEGF-A (vascular endothelial growth factor A) transcription was analyzed along with ERβ mRNA. ERβ mRNA was also correlated with the expression of clock genes, which are known to influence the cell cycle. ERβ mRNA expression in females with CRC showed an inverse association with increasing tumor staging that was not observed in males. Lower levels of ERβ mRNA were observed in females with a higher clinical stage compared with those with earlier-stage tumors. ERβ mRNA expression showed a significant positive correlation with mRNA of clock genes period 2 and cryptochrome 2 in healthy but not in cancerous tissue in males. Expression of VEGF-A mRNA showed a negative correlation with ERβ mRNA after splitting of the cohort according to gender and nodus involvement. We propose that gender differences in ERβ mRNA expression in tumors during the early stages of CRC can partially explain the lower occurrence of CRC in females compared with males.
The Effect of Pulmonary Surfactant on the Airway Smooth Muscle After Lipopolysaccharide Exposure and its Mechanisms
Authors: TOPERCEROVA J. , KOLOMAZNIK M. , KOPINCOVA J. , NOVA Z. , URBANOVA A. , MOKRA D. , MOKRY J. , CALKOVSKA A.
Published: January 2020

Pulmonary surfactant has a relaxing effect on the airway smooth muscle (ASM), which suggests its role in the pathogenesis of respiratory diseases associated with hyperreactivity of the ASM, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The ASM tone may be directly or indirectly modified by bacterial wall component lipopolysaccharide (LPS). This study elucidated the effect of LPS on the ASM reactivity and the role of surfactant in this interaction. The experiments were performed using ASM of adult guinea pigs by in vitro method of tissue organ bath (ASM unexposed-healthy or exposed to LPS under in vitro conditions) and ASM of animals intraperitoneally injected with LPS at a dose 1 mg/kg of b.w. once a day during 4-day period. Variable response of LPS was controlled by cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin and relaxing effect of exogenous surfactant was studied using leukotriene and histamine receptor antagonists. The exogenous surfactant has relaxing effect on the ASM, but does not reverse LPS-induced smooth muscle contraction. The results further indicate participation of prostanoids and potential involvement of leukotriene and histamine H1 receptors in the airway smooth muscle contraction during LPS exposure.
Prototipe Pengontrol Kunci Pintu Berbasis Arduino Uno Menggunakan RFID Studi Pada Smks Kesehatan Utama Insani
Authors: Nugroho Asep Hardiyanto , Ladjamudin Al-Bahra Bin , Bariroh Siti
Published: January 2020

Dalam rangka meningkatkan keamanan, SMKS kesehatan Utama Insani memperkerjakan seorang security untuk memegang kendali keamanan siswa dan lingkungannya. Security akan bekerja memantau perilaku siswa dan memantau keamanan setiap ruang yang ada. Namun sistem keamanan yang ada tidak berjalan dengan efektif, dimana hal ini disebabkan karena keterbatasan seorang security yang terkadang masih melakukan kesalahan dan kelalaian dalam memantau keamanan siswa dan ruangan. Untuk membantu meringankan tugas security dibutuhkan sistem keamanan yang lebih canggih dan efektif. Dalam penelitian ini, sistem keamanan yang digunankan adalah keamanan pintu berbasis Arduino Uno menggunakan RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), dimana RFID sering juga dikenal dengan istilah sensor tag ID yang cukup terkenal dan sering digunakan dalam bidang elektronika mikrokontroler. RFID merupakan sensor yang mengidentifikasi suatu objek dengan menggunakan frekuensi radio.
Aplikasi Prediksi Penyebaran Penyakit Infeksi Saluran Pernafasan Akut (ISPA) Di Kabupaten Pandeglang
Authors: Yunita Ayu Mira , Susilawati Susilawati
Published: January 2020

Penyakit infeksi saluran pernafasan akut (ISPA), merupakan salah satu masalah kesehatan yang utama di kabupaten Pandeglang, karena masih tingginya kejadian ISPA yang mengakibatkan 20-30% kematian. Data pasien dan data puskesmas yang berada di wilayah kabupaten pandeglang diamati sebagai informasi yang dapat digunakan dalam memprediksi penyebaran penyakit ISPA dan upaya pencegahan penyebaran penyakit ISPA. Prediksi bisa di lakukan dengan berbagai metode salah satunya yaitu metode regresi linier sederhana, Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan tujuan untuk memprediksi penyebaran penyakit ISPA. Data penelitian ini diperoleh dari Dinas Kesehatan Kabupaten Pandeglang yaitu data pasien tahun 2014 sampai dengan 2018 dari 36 puskesmas di Kabupaten Pandeglang digunakan sebagai data untuk memprediksi penyebaran penyakit ISPA dimasa mendatang. Hasil penelitian ini memperlihatkan bahwa data pasien dan data puskesmas bisa diprediksi dengan pendekatan metode regresi linier sederhana berdasarkan data tahun sebelumnya. Hasil prediksi penyebaran penyakit ISPA bergantung pada kelengkapan data sebelumnya untuk menghasilkan data prediksi yang lebih akurat.
PROTOTIPE MODEL PEMBELAJARAN ON-LINE DENGAN METODE OBJECT ORIENTED BERBASIS WEB (STUDI KASUS MATA PELAJARAN LOGIKA MATEMATIKA)
Authors: Syam Syahriani , Mahmudin Mahmudin
Published: January 2020

ABSTRAK Perkembangan teknologi informasi dan komunikasi (TIK) telah membawa perubahan yang sangat besar bagi dunia pendidikan. Bentuk perkembangan teknologi informasi dan komunikasi yang diterapkan di dunia pendidikan adalah metode pembelajaran online atau lebih dikenal dengan sebutan e-Learning yang membantu sebuah proses pembelajaran. Berawal dari adanya masalah pada motode pembelajaran dan minat belajar mahasiswa pada mata kuliah logika Matematika pada Fakultas Teknik UNIS Tangerang, maka dikembangkan suatu pembelajaran online (e-learning) dengan metode object oriented berbasis web  mengunakan PHP dan MySQL. Dengan model pembelajaran online berbasis web ini dapat meningkatkan proses pembelajaran mahasiswa pada mata kuliah logika Matematika dan pembelajaran online memudakan Dosen memberikan materi pembelajaran serta memberikan tugas kepada para mahasiswa dan dosen pun bisa meng-upload materi dan tugas dimana saja dan kapan saja. Kata kunci : e-learning, Pembelajaran, Logika Matematika ABSTRAK The development of information and communication technology (ICT) has brought enormous changes to the world of education. The form of development of information and communication technology that is applied in the world of education is an online learning method or better known as e-Learning that helps a learning process. Starting with a problem in learning methods and student interest in mathematics logic courses at the Faculty of Engineering UNIS Tangerang, an online learning (e-learning) method was developed using web-based object oriented methods using PHP and MySQL. With this web-based online learning model can improve the learning process of students on ICT subjects and online learning makes it easier for lecturers to provide learning materials and give assignments to students and lecturers can upload materials and assignments anywhere and anytime .. Keywords: e-learning, Learning, Mathematical Logic
FOLLICULAR MUCINOSIS IN A PATIENT WITH PARAPSORIASIS
Authors: Sandru Florica , Dumitrascu Mihai Cristian , Popa Adelina , Draghici Carmen Cristina , Stanescu Ana Maria Alexandra , Miulescu Raluca Gabriela
Published: January 2020

We present the case of a young patient, without comorbidities, who developed an erythematous-squamous, disseminated, discrete itchy rash, associated with scarring alopecia at the level of the scalp and the external third of the eyebrows, in 3-year evolution, in which two skin biopsies showed: subacute spongiotic dermatitis and psoriasiform dermatitis. As new lesions continued to appear despite treatment with phototherapy, systemic, local corticosteroids, it was decided to perform another skin biopsy: loose areas, granular appearance that color blue with Alcian Blue staining, thus supporting the diagnosis of follicular mucinosis. The treatment consisted of Acitretin 30 mg / day, with favorable evolution. Follicular mucinosis is a rare inflammatory disease, characterized by mucin deposits located in the follicular epithelium and sebaceous glands. There are two clinical forms: a primary, benign, limited to the skin, and a secondary form, commonly associated with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. The evolution of both forms of follicular mucinosis is a chronic one, and the correct therapeutic attitude consists primarily in the periodic surveillance of the patient, with possible repeat biopsy, to exclude the form associated with a mycosis fungoides. The management of such patients is extremely difficult, as a number of conditions must be evaluated, such as: screening for collagenosis, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, evaluation of thyroid function, tumor markers.
SISTEM PEMANTAUAN PERTUMBUHAN BATITA MENGGUNAKAN METODE FUZZY TSUKAMOTO
Authors: Anggraeni Irma , Yanti Yusma
Published: January 2020

The growth of children under the age of three (toddlers) is one of the determinants of children's development in the future. One of the parameters of toddler growth assessment is determined by gender, age, height and weight. This research makes a system that can monitor toddler growth with web-based. The research method used is the System Life Development Cycle, which consists of planning, analysis, design, implementation and use. This system also uses the Tsukamoto fuzzy method to determine the membership set of each input variable. The gender criteria are divided into two classes, male and female, the age criteria are divided into three classes, the height criteria are three classes, and the weight criteria are divided into three classes. Based on the division of classes, the output of this study is the growth status of toddlers, namely poor growth, poor, normal and more. Based on the results of input data criteria and calculations using Tsukamoto fuzzy, the output obtained in the form of the status of the child's growth.
SISTEM PENUNJANG KEPUTUSAN PEMILIHAN INDUK AYAM KUB TERBAIK DENGAN METODE FUZZY DAN VIKOR
Authors: Teguh Muhammad , Setyaningsih Sri , . Mulyati
Published: January 2020

Kampung Unggul Superior Chicken (KUB) is a native native chicken selection from the Animal Research Center (Balitnak). KUB chicken has the advantage of low incubation and high egg production, so it becomes a parent producer of many DOC (female line). Currently consumption of native chicken meat and eggs in the community from year to year has increased while its production has not been able to fully meet the needs of the community. Some of the problems in maintaining KUB hens are not optimal body weight, length of time in laying eggs and even a small amount of egg production quality from selected prospective broodies originating from KUB hens who have high productivity in laying eggs. to overcome these problems, an application system is needed, one of which is a decision support system application. This application can provide recommendations in the selection of the best KUB hens so that the hens can be maintained intensively so that the supply of chicken meat and eggs can meet the needs of the community. There are several methods that can be used to determine the selection of the best KUB Parent, including using the Vikor method. Vikor is used to overcome the problem of complex multi-criteria systems that focus on ranking and selection of an alternative, while to determine the weighting using the Fuzzy Method. The results of this study are in the form of an application system that can help breeders / enclosure technicians in determining the selection of the Best KUB Chicken Parent. The level of system accuracy using the Vikor and Fuzzy methods was obtained at 77.2% of the 9 test data used.
Uji Toksisitas Akut Ekstrak Etanol Buah Wualae (Etlingera elatior (Jack) R. M. Smith) Terhadap Gambaran Histopatologi Organ Jantung Tikus Wistar (Rattus norvegicus)
Authors: Jabbar Asriullah , Wahyuni W , Yusuf Muhammad Ilyas , Helmia Wa Ode Nia , Sahidin I
Published: January 2020

Buah wualae (Etlingera elatior (Jack) R. M. Smith) mengandung senyawa alkaloid, flavonoid, tanin dan terpenoid yang berkhasiat sebagai antioksidan, antibakteri, dan imunomodulator. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui batas keamanan dari ekstrak yang ditinjau dari nilai LD50 dan pengaruhnya terhadap histopatologi organ jantung, paru-paru dan limpa tikus. Jenis penelitian ini adalah penelitian eksperimental yang dilakukan dengan metode Reed-Munch menggunakan 28 ekor tikus yang dibagi ke dalam 4 kelompok perlakuan. Kelompok kontrol diberi NaCMC 0,5% dan kelompok perlakuan diberi ekstrak dosis 500 mg/kg BB; 5000 mg/kg BB; dan15000 mg/kg BB. Rute pemberian yang digunakan adalah rute oral. Parameter yang diamati dalam penelitian ini adalah nilai LD50, gejala toksik yang timbul sampai tikus mati, dan perubahan bobot tikus, serta pemeriksaan histopatologi organ jantung. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan nilai LD50 ekstrak etanol buah wualae adalah 8.649,679 mg/kg BB (kategori praktis tidak toksik). Pemeriksaan histopatologi organ jantung pada dosis 500 mg/kg BB, 5000 mg/kg Bb dan 15000 mg/kg BB menunjukkan gejala nekrosis.Kata kunci: Etlingera, wualae, hispatologi, organ, kongesti, nekrosis
Project Based Learning and Community Based Learning – Promises for Political Science and Higher Education
Authors: Clancy Kelly
Published: January 2020

Experiential learning is an exciting way for political scientists to show students the immediate relevance of the work they are doing, as well as to use our colleges and universities as a venue for engaging with and enhancing our communities. This paper explores the possibility of using project-based learning in political science classrooms as a way to enhance experiential learning. Project-based learning focuses on using projects as a way to structure classroom experiences. Projects invite students to collaborate in teams on authentic, open ended problems, conducting research and sharing the outcome with significant stakeholders. The goal of the paper is to: a) explore the possibilities of project-based learning for social science in general, and political science in particular; b) offer an assessment of the ability of project-based learning to complement more traditional forms of experiential learning such as service learning.
Determining Software Time-to-Market and Testing Stop Time when Release Time is a Change-Point
Authors: Singh Ompal , Panwar Saurabh , Kapur P. K.
Published: January 2020

In software engineering literature, numerous software reliability growth models have been designed to evaluate and predict the reliability of the software products and to measure the optimal time-to-market of the software systems. Most existing studies on software release time assessment assumes that when software is released, its testing process is terminated. In practice, however, the testing team releases the software product first and continues the testing process for an added period in the operational phase. Therefore, in this study, a coherent reliability growth model is developed to predict the expected reliability of the software product. The debugging process is considered imperfect as new faults can be introduced into the software during each fault removal. The proposed model assumes that the fault observation rate of the testing team modifies after the software release. The release time of the software is therefore regarded as the change-point. It has been established that the veracity of the performance of the growth models escalates by incorporating the change-point theory. A unified approach is utilized to model the debugging process wherein both testers and users simultaneously identify the faults in the post-release testing phase. A joint optimization problem is formulated based on the two decision criteria: cost and reliability. In order to assimilate the manager’s preferences over these two criteria, a multi-criteria decision-making technique known as multi-attribute utility theory is employed. A numerical illustration is further presented by using actual data sets from the software project to determine the optimal software time-to-market and testing termination time.
Forecasting the Long-Run Behavior of the Stock Price of Some Selected Companies in the Malaysian Construction Sector: A Markov Chain Approach
Authors: Sarsour Wajeeh Mustafa , Sabri Shamsul Rijal Muhammad
Published: January 2020

The fluctuations in stock prices produce a high risk that makes investors uncertain about their investment decisions. The present paper provides a methodology to forecast the long-term behavior of five randomly selected equities operating in the Malaysian construction sector. The method used in this study involves Markov chains as a stochastic analysis, assuming that the price changes have the proparty of Markov dependency with their transition probabilities. We identified a three-state Markov model (i.e., increase, stable, fall) and a two-state Markov model (i.e., increase and fall). The findings suggested that the chains had limiting distributions. The mean return time was computed for respective equities as well as to determine the average duration to return to a stock price increase. The analysis might aid investors in improving their investment knowledge, and they will be able to make better decisions when an equity portfolio possesses higher transition probabilities, higher limiting distribution, and lowest mean return time in response to a price increase. Finally, our investigations suggest that investors are more likely to invest in the GKent based on the three-state model, while VIZIONE seems to be a better investment choice based on a two-state model.
Paclobutrazol Application Favors Yield Improvement of Maize Under Semiarid Regions by Delaying Leaf Senescence and Regulating Photosynthetic Capacity and Antioxidant System During Grain-Filling Stage
Authors: Kamran Muhammad , Ahmad Shakeel , Ahmad Irshad , Hussain Izhar , Meng Xiangping , Zhang Xudong , Javed Tehseen , Ullah Misbah , Ding Ruixia , Xu Peizhi , Gu Wenjie , Han Qingfang
Published: January 2020

In the present study, we examined the potential role of paclobutrazol in delaying leaf senescence, in causing changes in the activities of antioxidants, and in the maintenance of photosynthetic activity during the senescence process, and, therefore, on the grain yield of maize under semiarid field conditions. Maize seeds were pretreated with 0 (CK), 200 (PS1), 300 (PS2), and 400 (PS3) mg paclobutrazol L−1. Our results indicated that elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and higher accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were positively associated with accelerated leaf senescence during the grain-filling periods. The leaf senescence resulted in the disintegration of the photosynthetic pigments and reduced the net photosynthetic rate after silking. However, the resultant ROS burst (O2− and H2O2) was lessened and the leaf senescence and chlorophyll degradation were evidently inhibited in leaves of paclobutrazol-treated maize plants, which was strongly linked with upregulated activities of antioxidant enzymes in treated plants. The enhanced chlorophyll contents and availability of a greater photosynthetic active green leaf area during the grain filling period facilitated the maintenance of higher photosynthetic rate, and light-harvesting efficiency of photosynthesis associated with photosystem II (PSII) resulted in higher kernel number ear−1 and thousand kernel weights, and thus increased the final grain yield. The average maize grain yield was increased by 18.8% to 55.6% in paclobutrazol treatments, compared to untreated control. Among the various paclobutrazol treatments, PS2 (300 mg L−1) treatment showed the most promising effects on enhancing the activities of antioxidative enzymes, delaying leaf senescence and improving the yield of maize. Thus, understanding this effect of paclobutrazol on delaying leaf senescence introduces new possibilities for facilitating yield improvement of maize under semiarid conditions.
Vitamin D Supplementation is Associated with Increased Glutathione Peroxidase-1 Levels in Arab Adults with Prediabetes
Authors: Ansari Mohammed Ghouse Ahmed , Sabico Shaun , Clerici Mario , Khattak Malak Nawaz Khan , Wani Kaiser , Al-Musharaf Sara , Amer Osama Emam , Alokail Majed S. , Al-Daghri Nasser M.
Published: January 2020

Vitamin D supplementation may be used to lower oxidative stress. This interventional study aimed to investigate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) levels and other parameters in Arab adults with prediabetes. A total of 203 Saudi adults with prediabetes and vitamin D deficiency [intervention group, N = 146 (53 males and 93 females); control group, N = 57 (25 males and 32 females)] were included in this non-randomized, six-month intervention study. The intervention group received 50,000 international units (IU) cholecalciferol tablets once a week for two months, then twice a month for the next two months, followed by 1000 IU daily for the last two months. The control group received no supplementation. Serum 25(OH)D, lipid profile, glucose, C-reactive protein (CRP) and GPx1 were measured at baseline and after six months. Post-intervention, GPx1 concentrations increased significantly in the intervention group [17.3 (11.5–59.0) vs 26.7 (11.4–59.9) p < 0.01] while no changes were observed in the control group (p = 0.15). This significant increase in 25(OH)D and GPx1 levels persisted after adjusting for age and BMI. Stratification according to sex revealed that this favourable increase in GPx1 was true only for males (p = 0.002). In all groups, baseline GPx1 was inversely correlated with low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (r = −0.26, p < 0.01) and body mass index (BMI) (r = −0.20, p < 0.05), while positively correlated with age (r = 0.18, p < 0.05) and systolic blood pressure (r = 0.19, p < 0.05). In conclusion, vitamin D supplementation favourably enhanced GPx1 levels in adult Arabs with prediabetes, particularly in males.
DE-CapsNet: A Diverse Enhanced Capsule Network with Disperse Dynamic Routing
Authors: Jia Bohan , Huang Qiyu
Published: January 2020

Capsule Network (CapsNet) is a methodology with good prospects in visual tasks, since it can keep a stronger relationship of spatial information than Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). However, the current Capsule Network do not provide performance as expected on several benchmark data sets with complex data and backgrounds. Inspired by the multiple capsules of Diverse Capsule Network (DCNet++) and the Spatial Group-wise Enhance (SGE) mechanism, we propose the Diverse Enhanced Capsule Network (DE-CapsNet), a hierarchical architecture which uses residual convolutional layers and the position-wise dot product to build diverse enhanced primary capsules with various scales of images for complex data. The architecture adopts the Sigmoid function in a dynamic routing algorithm to get a more uniform distribution of routing coefficients which obviously distinguishes the assignment probabilities between capsules. DE-CapsNet achieved state-of-the-art accuracy on Canadian Institute For Advanced Research (CIFAR-10) in the Capsule Network field and provided better performance than the ensemble of seven CapsNets on Fashion-Modified National Institue of Standards and Technology database (F-MNIST) while achieving a 50.3% reduction in the number of parameters.
An Uncertainties Simulation Model Applied to an Automated Laminar Flowmeter
Authors: Pedro António , Morgado Teresa , Navas Helena
Published: January 2020

Aircraft oxygen regulators are a normally used specialized test bench designed to perform tests to the regulators during its work conditions. The tests are performed placing the regulator in the barometric chamber, where low pressure conditions are forced to simulate altitude conditions and then a flow is forced on the output of the regulator to simulate the inhalation of the user. The relevant test flows are measured by laminar flowmeters. These flowmeters are meant to measure the flowrate at pressures correspondent to altitudes between sea level altitude and fifty thousand feet. In this work a way was studied to automate laminar flowmeters used on oxygen regulator test benches. For this purpose, was developed a data acquisition system (DAS) using a microcontroller board and two microelectromechanical systems—MEMSs (a pressure and temperature sensor and a differential pressure sensor). Since these MEMSs did not have factory calibration, they were calibrated in this study. The automated flowmeter was also calibrated. To estimate the error of flow rate measured by this solution, an uncertainties simulation model based on the Monte Carlo method and several calibrations were performed. According to the automated flowmeter calibration, the uncertainty obtained (±0.45% fs) is accepted, but the authors only recommend its use for actual volumetric flowrate measurements.
NK Cell-Based Immunotherapy in Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Terrén Iñigo , Orrantia Ane , Mikelez-Alonso Idoia , Vitallé Joana , Zenarruzabeitia Olatz , Borrego Francisco
Published: January 2020

Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic lymphocytes that are able to kill tumor cells without prior sensitization. It has been shown that NK cells play a pivotal role in a variety of cancers, highlighting their relevance in tumor immunosurveillance. NK cell infiltration has been reported in renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the most frequent kidney cancer in adults, and their presence has been associated with patients’ survival. However, the role of NK cells in this disease is not yet fully understood. In this review, we summarize the biology of NK cells and the mechanisms through which they are able to recognize and kill tumor cells. Furthermore, we discuss the role that NK cells play in renal cell carcinoma, and review current strategies that are being used to boost and exploit their cytotoxic capabilities.
First Study on Marine Heterobranchia (Gastropoda, Mollusca) in Bangka Archipelago, North Sulawesi, Indonesia
Authors: Papu Adelfia , Undap Nani , Martinez Nancy Armas , Segre Marco R. , Datang Ivan Galton , Kuada Rendy Robert , Perin Marco , Yonow Nathalie , Wägele Heike
Published: January 2020

As ephemeral, benthic, secondary consumers usually associated with sessile coral reef organisms, marine heterobranchs are good indicators of the health of marine tropical habitats. Thus, marine Heterobranchia have recently become a major target for monitoring programs. For this work, an extensive survey was made in Bangka Archipelago, the first of its kind in this area. Bangka Archipelago is composed of small islands and the adjacent coastline of North Sulawesi. The substrate is dominated by biogenic reefs and volcanic rocks, thus forming highly diverse habitats. In total, 149 species were collected and/or photo-documented in September 2017 and September 2018, which represents the dry season. They can be assigned to the Cephalaspidea, Aplysiida, Pleurobranchida, Nudibranchia, and Eupulmonata. Thirty-three species are new to science, highlighting the lack of knowledge about the group and especially about this region. Our data provide a baseline for future monitoring surveys, as the anthropogenic pressures on Bangka Archipelago are increasing due to enhanced touristic activities, but also due to large scale environmental changes caused by previous mining operation activities.
An Experimental Investigation on the Impact of Duplexing and Beamforming Techniques in Field Measurements of 5G Signals
Authors: Franci Daniele , Coltellacci Stefano , Grillo Enrico , Pavoncello Settimio , Aureli Tommaso , Cintoli Rossana , Migliore Marco Donald
Published: January 2020

The fifth generation mobile network introduces dramatic improvements with respect to the previous technologies. Features such as variable numerology, bandwidth parts, massive Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) and Time Division Duplex (TDD) will extend the capabilities of the 5G wireless systems and, at the same time, will influence the measurement techniques used to assess the compliance with general public electromagnetic field exposure limits. In this study, a heterogeneous set of 5G signals is investigated with the aim of establishing an effective measurement technique suitable for the new technology. Following an experimental approach based on both modulation and zero span analysis, some important characteristics of the 5G system are highlighted and extensively discussed, and experimental procedures for estimating factors associated to TDD (F T D C factor) and beam sweeping (R factor), to be used in the extrapolation formulas, are presented. The results of this study represent a starting point for future investigations on effective methods to estimate both the instant maximum power and the total power transmitted during a 5G radio frame.
Surface Discharges and Flashover Modelling of Solid Insulators in Gases
Authors: Slama Mohammed El Amine , Beroual Abderrahmane , Haddad Abderrahmane (Manu)
Published: January 2020

The aim of this paper is the presentation of an analytical model of insulator flashover and its application for air at atmospheric pressure and pressurized SF6 (Sulfur Hexafluoride). After a review of the main existing models in air and compressed gases, a relationship of flashover voltage based on an electrical equivalent circuit and the thermal properties of the discharge is developed. The model includes the discharge resistance, the insulator impedance and the gas interface impedance. The application of this model to a cylindrical resin-epoxy insulator in air medium and SF6 gas with different pressures gives results close to the experimental measurements.
Comparative Analysis of High Frequency Signal Injection Based Torque Estimation Methods for SPMSM, IPMSM and SynRM
Authors: Martinez Maria , Reigosa David , Fernandez Daniel , Briz Fernando
Published: January 2020

Torque estimation in permanent magnet synchronous machines and synchronous reluctance machines is required in many applications. Torque produced by a permanent magnet synchronous machine depends on the permanent magnets’ flux and d q -axes inductances, whereas torque in synchronous reluctance machines depends on the d q -axes inductances. Consequently, precise knowledge of these parameters is required for proper torque estimation. The use of high frequency signal both for permanent magnets’ flux and d q -axes inductances estimation has been recently shown to be a viable option. This paper reviews the physical principles, implementation and performance of high-frequency signal injection based torque estimation for permanent magnet synchronous machines and synchronous reluctance machines.
Energy-Efficient Direct Yaw Moment Control for In-Wheel Motor Electric Vehicles Utilising Motor Efficiency Maps
Authors: Sun Peikun , Stensson Trigell Annika , Drugge Lars , Jerrelind Jenny
Published: January 2020

An active energy-efficient direct yaw moment control (DYC) for in-wheel motor electric vehicles taking motor efficiency maps into consideration is proposed in this paper. The potential contribution of DYC to energy saving during quasi-steady-state cornering is analysed. The study in this paper has produced promising results which show that DYC can be used to reduce the power consumption while satisfying the same cornering demand. A controller structure that includes a driver model and an offline torque distribution law during continuous driving and cornering is developed. For comparison, the power consumption of stability DYC is also analysed. Simulations for double lane change manoeuvres are performed and driving conditions either with a constant velocity or with longitudinal acceleration are designed to verify the effectiveness of the proposed controller in different driving situations. Under constant velocity cornering, since the total torque demand is not high, two rear wheels are engaged and during cornering it is beneficial to distribute more torque to one wheel to improve energy efficiency. In the simulated driving manoeuvres, up to 10% energy can be saved compared to other control methods. During acceleration in cornering, since the total torque demand is high, it is energy-efficient to use all the four in-wheel motors during cornering.
Experimental Investigation on the Post-Peak Short-Term and Creep Behavior of Fractured Sandstone
Authors: Zong Yijiang , Han Lijun , Jin Yuhao , Zhao Weisheng , Meng Lingdong
Published: January 2020

Short-term and creep tests of fractured sandstone with different degrees of damage prepared using pre-peak and post-peak unloading tests on intact sandstone were carried out using a servo-controlled rock mechanics system. Based on our experimental results, the influence of confining pressure and damage on short-term mechanical behavior of fractured sandstone with different degrees of damage was first analyzed. The results show that the peak strength, residual strength, elastic modulus, and secant modulus of fractured sandstone increase linearly with increasing confining pressure, but decrease with increasing damage. The short-term failure modes depend on the damage and change from typical shear failure modes to multiple shear failure modes with increasing damage. Then, the influence of the differential stress, confining pressure, and the degree of damage on the creep mechanical behavior of fractured specimens was further investigated. The axial instantaneous strain and creep strain increase linearly with increasing differential stress, and the specimens exhibit significant time-dependent behavior under high stress. The steady creep rate increases with increasing stress, but it decreases with increasing confining pressure and damage. However, the long-term strength and creep failure strength of fractured specimens increase linearly with increasing confining pressure, but they decrease linearly with increasing damage. The creep failure modes of fractured specimens are also the main shear failure modes, which are similar to the short-term failure modes.
Marking Standing Trees with RFID Tags
Authors: Picchi Gianni
Published: January 2020

Precision forestry and traceability services for the certification of timber products require reliable systems for the identification of items throughout the supply chains, starting from the inventory of standing trees. AutoID systems based on radio frequency identification (RFID) are regarded as the most promising technology for this purpose. Nevertheless, there is no information available regarding the capacity of RFID tags to withstand the climatic and biological wearing agents present in forests for long periods, while maintaining the stored information and the capacity to return a readable signal over time. In order to assess this aspect, seven RFID UHF tags, selected from the range of commercial models or developed for this purpose, were used to mark standing trees for two years. Results showed that all models proved able to maintain sufficient operative capacity to be identified with manual (proximity) readers. Some models suffered damage to the protective case or were deformed, with a strong decrease in readability. Tags with simple structure and lower cost proved strong enough to endure one year without major drawbacks, and could be best suited for deployment in integrated auto-ID supply chains if used as disposable components. More complex and expensive tags are best suited for long-term marking, but application on living trees requires specific solutions to prevent damage due to stem growth.
Cascade Testing for Fragile X Syndrome in a Rural Setting in Cameroon (Sub-Saharan Africa)
Authors: Kengne Kamga Karen , Nguefack Séraphin , Minka Khuthala , Wonkam Tingang Edmond , Esterhuizen Alina , Nchangwi Munung Syntia , De Vries Jantina , Wonkam Ambroise
Published: January 2020

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), an X-linked dominant monogenic condition, is the main genetic cause of intellectual disability (ID) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). FXS is associated with an expansion of CGG repeat sequence in the Fragile X Mental Retardation gene 1 (FMR1) on chromosome X. Following a neuropediatric assessment of two male siblings who presented with signs of FXS that was confirmed with molecular testing, we provided cascade counselling and testing to the extended family. A total of 46 individuals were tested for FXS; among them, 58.70% (n = 27) were females. The mean age was 9.4 (±5) years for children and 45.9 (±15.9) years for adults. Pedigree analysis suggested that the founder of these families was likely a normal transmitting male. Four out of 19 males with clinical ID were confirmed to have a full mutation for FXS, while 14/27 females had a pathologic CGG expansion (>56 CGG repeats) on one of their X chromosomes. Two women with premature menopause were confirmed of being carriers of premutation (91 and 101 CGG repeats). We also identified maternal alleles (91 and 126 CGG repeats) which expanded to a full mutation in their offspring (>200 CGG repeats). This study is a rare report on FXS from Africa and illustrates the case scenario of implementing genetic medicine for a neurogenetic condition in a rural setting.
Genomics in Bacterial Taxonomy: Impact on the Genus Pseudomonas
Authors: Lalucat Jorge , Mulet Magdalena , Gomila Margarita , García-Valdés Elena
Published: January 2020

The introduction of genomics is profoundly changing current bacterial taxonomy. Phylogenomics provides accurate methods for delineating species and allows us to infer the phylogeny of higher taxonomic ranks as well as those at the subspecies level. We present as a model the currently accepted taxonomy of the genus Pseudomonas and how it can be modified when new taxonomic methodologies are applied. A phylogeny of the species in the genus deduced from analyses of gene sequences or by whole genome comparison with different algorithms allows three main conclusions: (i) several named species are synonymous and have to be reorganized in a single genomic species; (ii) many strains assigned to known species have to be proposed as new genomic species within the genus; and (iii) the main phylogenetic groups defined by 4-, 100- and 120-gene multilocus sequence analyses are concordant with the groupings in the whole genome analyses. Moreover, the boundaries of the genus Pseudomonas are also discussed based on phylogenomic analyses in relation to other genera in the family Pseudomonadaceae. The new technologies will result in a substantial increase in the number of species and probably split the current genus into several genera or subgenera, although these classifications have to be supported by a polyphasic taxonomic approach.
Rapid, Paralog-Sensitive CNV Analysis of 2457 Human Genomes Using QuicK-mer2
Authors: Shen Feichen , Kidd Jeffrey M.
Published: January 2020

Gene duplication is a major mechanism for the evolution of gene novelty, and copy-number variation makes a major contribution to inter-individual genetic diversity. However, most approaches for studying copy-number variation rely upon uniquely mapping reads to a genome reference and are unable to distinguish among duplicated sequences. Specialized approaches to interrogate specific paralogs are comparatively slow and have a high degree of computational complexity, limiting their effective application to emerging population-scale data sets. We present QuicK-mer2, a self-contained, mapping-free approach that enables the rapid construction of paralog-specific copy-number maps from short-read sequence data. This approach is based on the tabulation of unique k-mer sequences from short-read data sets, and is able to analyze a 20X coverage human genome in approximately 20 min. We applied our approach to newly released sequence data from the 1000 Genomes Project, constructed paralog-specific copy-number maps from 2457 unrelated individuals, and uncovered copy-number variation of paralogous genes. We identify nine genes where none of the analyzed samples have a copy number of two, 92 genes where the majority of samples have a copy number other than two, and describe rare copy number variation effecting multiple genes at the APOBEC3 locus.
Horizontally Acquired Homologs of Xenogeneic Silencers: Modulators of Gene Expression Encoded by Plasmids, Phages and Genomic Islands
Authors: Piña-Iturbe Alejandro , Suazo Isidora D. , Hoppe-Elsholz Guillermo , Ulloa-Allendes Diego , González Pablo A. , Kalergis Alexis M. , Bueno Susan M.
Published: January 2020

Acquisition of mobile elements by horizontal gene transfer can play a major role in bacterial adaptation and genome evolution by providing traits that contribute to bacterial fitness. However, gaining foreign DNA can also impose significant fitness costs to the host bacteria and can even produce detrimental effects. The efficiency of horizontal acquisition of DNA is thought to be improved by the activity of xenogeneic silencers. These molecules are a functionally related group of proteins that possess affinity for the acquired DNA. Binding of xenogeneic silencers suppresses the otherwise uncontrolled expression of genes from the newly acquired nucleic acid, facilitating their integration to the bacterial regulatory networks. Even when the genes encoding for xenogeneic silencers are part of the core genome, homologs encoded by horizontally acquired elements have also been identified and studied. In this article, we discuss the current knowledge about horizontally acquired xenogeneic silencer homologs, focusing on those encoded by genomic islands, highlighting their distribution and the major traits that allow these proteins to become part of the host regulatory networks.
Women in the Workplace: Promoting Healthy Lifestyles and Mitigating Weight Gain during the Preconception, Pregnancy, and Postpartum Periods
Authors: Madden Seonad K. , Skouteris Helen , Bailey Cate , Hills Andrew P. , Ahuja Kiran D. K. , Hill Briony
Published: January 2020

Overweight and obesity before, during, and after pregnancy are associated with adverse outcomes for mothers and their offspring. Workplaces have been identified as important settings for improving health and wellbeing. However, the value of workplace interventions for women across the reproductive life stages has yet to be realized. This paper aims to explore the potential of workplaces to facilitate healthy lifestyle behaviors, prevent further weight gain, and devise tailored interventions for working women, specifically during the preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum periods. Workplaces can be used to engage women, including preconception women, who are detached from clinical settings. Potential benefits of workplace health promotion for women and employers include improved employee wellbeing, productivity, and corporate competitiveness. However, workplaces also need to overcome implementation barriers such as activity scheduling and availability. A systems approach may address these barriers. Consequently, designing and implementing workplace health promotion interventions to meet the specific needs of working women of reproductive age will necessitate collaboration with a range of key stakeholders across all stages of intervention design. Given that these women make up a considerable proportion of the workforce, workplaces can help optimize the health status of employees and prevent excess weight gain during the preconception, pregnancy, and postpartum periods.
How Birth Season Affects Vulnerability to the Effect of Ambient Ozone Exposure on the Disease Burden of Hypertension in the Elderly Population in a Coastal City in South China
Authors: Huang Jing , He Tianfeng , Li Guoxing , Guo Xinbiao
Published: January 2020

Birth season is an important factor that reflects prenatal nutritional conditions during early development, and which might have lifelong impacts on health. Moreover, ambient ozone pollution has been considered an important environmental risk factor for hypertension. However, whether birth season affects vulnerability to the effect of ambient ozone exposure on late-life hypertension is still unknown. A flexible case–crossover design was used to explore the effect of ambient ozone exposure on the disease burden of hypertension using years of life lost (YLL) in the elderly population in a coastal city in South China from 2013 to 2016. The influence of birth season was also explored. Ozone exposure was significantly associated with increased YLL from hypertension. The association was higher in the elderly individuals who were born in autumn than in those born in other seasons. Specifically, every 10 μg/m3 increase in ozone was associated with 0.68 (95% CI: 0.27, 1.10) YLL from hypertension in the elderly population born in autumn, while nonsignificant associations were found for those born in other seasons. The birth season, which affects the nutritional condition during early development, could affect vulnerability to the effect of ambient ozone exposure on the disease burden of hypertension in late life. The findings highlighted the importance of taking birth season into consideration when exploring the hypertensive effects of ozone exposure.
Impact of Fast Urbanization on Ecosystem Health in Mountainous Regions of Southwest China
Authors: Xiao Yi , Guo Luo , Sang Weiguo
Published: January 2020

Accelerated urbanization has changed land use patterns, leading to the deterioration of ecosystems. Assessments of ecosystem health (ESH) during the urbanization process are used to determine the reasons and mechanism for this, and to uncover negative factors. In this study, we assessed the ESH of Qiannan prefecture, in Guizhou Province, China, based on the ecosystem services value. We selected a series of indicators, including natural, social, and economic aspects, to detect the impact of urbanization on ecosystem services in 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015. The results show that ESH in Qiannan declined from 1990 to 2015, especially in the eastern and northern regions. Further, the results indicate that urbanization had a negative impact on ESH, of which the dominant factor was the proportion of construction land from 1990 to 2005. After 2005, moreover, the dominant factor was the gross domestic product. The impact of urbanization on EHS had spatial differences, however. The most significant negative impact was found in the east and north. After 2010, the western and central regions of Qiannan showed an urbanization trend in favor of ecosystem health. We recommend ecological restoration in regions with weak and relatively weak ESH levels to achieve sustainable development.
Primary Cutaneous Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma (pcALCL) in the Elderly and the Importance of Sport Activity Training
Authors: Sica Antonello , Vitiello Paola , Ronchi Andrea , Casale Beniamino , Calogero Armando , Sagnelli Evangelista , Costa Nachtigal Gilca , Troiani Teresa , Franco Renato , Argenziano Giuseppe , Moscarella Elvira , Sagnelli Caterina
Published: January 2020

Primary cutaneous anaplastic large cell lymphoma (pcALCL) is part of a spectrum of cutaneous CD30+ lymphoproliferative disease that also includes lymphomatoid papulosis. It often occurs in elderly patients, presenting at a median age of 60 years, although it may occur at any age. It is a CD30+ T-cell neoplasm composed of large cells with anaplastic, pleomorphic, or immunoblastic morphology, with exclusively cutaneous onset and localization. The clinical course of pcALCL is predominantly indolent. Most elderly patients with lymphoma tend to have a sedentary lifestyle, which has a negative effect on their quality of life (QoL) and survival. Several studies indicate that exercise has a positive impact on QoL because it reduces peak oxygen consumption, improves physical capacity, increases self-esteem, reduces accumulated stress, and promotes relaxation. Therefore, particularly in indolent lymphomas, it is necessary to indicate a program of physical activity to be practiced systematically. Complete surgical excision and local radiotherapy are the first line gold standard in pcALCL with a solitary lesion.