bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
All Smart Contracts Are Ambiguous
Authors: Grimmelmann James
Published: June 2019

Smart contracts are written in programming languages rather than in natural languages. This might seem to insulate them from ambiguity, because the meaning of a program is determined by technical facts rather than by social ones. It does not. Smart contracts can be ambiguous, too, because technical facts depend on socially determined ones. To give meaning to a computer program, a community of programmers and users must agree on the semantics of the programming language in which it is written. This is a social process, and a review of some famous controversies involving blockchains and smart contracts shows that it regularly creates serious ambiguities. In the most famous case, The DAO hack, more than $150 million in virtual currency turned on the contested semantics of a blockchain-based smart-contract programming language.
Bi-temporal anodal tDCS during slow-wave sleep boosts episodic memory consolidation in high performers
Authors: Grieder Matthias , Morishima Yosuke , Homan Stephanie , Mueller Sarah M , Feher Kristoffer , Mueller Stefanie V , Dierks Thomas
Published: June 2019

Background: Sleep is crucial for sound memory functioning in humans. In particular, the slow waves that occur predominantly during slow wave sleep (SWS) are associated with hippocampus-dependent declarative memory consolidation. Making use of this association, boosting SWS to improve memory performance would be appealing for both healthy and memory-impaired populations. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation that modulates the brain’s excitability and has shown promising results in improving memory performance. However, owing to differing stimulation protocols and contradictory findings, there is insufficient evidence for the efficacy of tDCS-modulated hippocampal excitability on SWS and sleep-dependent memory consolidation.Hypotheses: We aimed to enhance sleep-dependent memory consolidation and augment slow wave amplitudes.Methods: We applied bi-temporal anodal tDCS to the left and right lateral temporal lobes of 31 healthy participants in a double-blind, sham-controlled, randomized crossover study. State-dependent tDCS was administered during slow wave sleep only. A pair-associate episodic memory task was used to assess sleep-dependent memory consolidation with face-occupation stimuli with baseline retrieval before sleep and delayed retrieval after sleep.Results: Sleep-dependent memory consolidation was increased by tDCS only in participants who showed above-average performance (i.e. high performers) in baseline memory retrieval. Moreover, tDCS increased the slow wave amplitudes compared to sham.Conclusions: When targeting a specialized brain mechanism such as memory consolidation with tDCS during slow wave sleep, only those who were high performers at baseline achieved a memory boost.
Empathy Does Not Amplify Vicarious Threat Learning
Authors: Williams Alexander Lane , Conway Christopher C
Published: June 2019

Clinically significant fears and phobias can be acquired vicariously. Witnessing a demonstrator’s defensive reaction to potentially dangerous objects and situations can instill conditioned threat responses in the observer. The present study concentrates on individual differences in this social learning process. Specifically, we hypothesized that dispositional empathy modulates vicarious threat conditioning. We examined university students’ (N = 150) conditioned threat responding after they observed strangers undergo Pavlovian threat conditioning. There was evidence of a substantial conditioned defensive response (Cohen’s d = 0.66), as indexed by elevated skin conductance reactions during participants’ direct exposure to the vicariously conditioned stimuli. Contrary to expectations, indices of dispositional empathy were weakly related to the size of conditioned responses (median r = .04). Our results confirm that vicarious threat learning can be evaluated experimentally, but they do not support the hypothesis that empathy amplifies this process. The preregistration, stimulus materials, data, and analysis code for this study are available at https://osf.io/h6hm2.
Exploring Effective Methods of Teacher Professional Development in University for 21st Century Education
Authors: Yue XiaoYao
Published: June 2019

In the 21st century, the new trends of technology, economy, politics impact social life, workplace and people lifestyle. In turn, university need to alter and innovate curriculum and instruction to teach students with “21st century skills”, such as critical thinking and problem solving, cross-cultural understanding, creativity and innovation, information, communications, media literacy, computing and ICT literacy. Teachers have to foster all of them then can teach students to learn. Under this situation, teacher professional development evoke teachers to meet students needs for 21st century education. Through systematical content analysis on related research works, the author conclude effective teacher professional development methods that contains need assessment of TPD, peer-mentoring, building collaboration, create positive school culture, develop 21st century skills, instructional strategies for active learning, embedding core values, continual professional development, research-based projects and integrated ICT teaching, which can address teacher learning and practice.
Barriers to Sustainable Tourism in Senegal
Authors: NDIAYE Mahawa
Published: June 2019

This work is in line with the promotion of sustainable development initiated by the UNWTO in countries where tourism can be an essential vector of development and at the same time, in the development policy of the tourism sector in Senegal through the Emerging Senegal Plan (ESP). The tourism sub-sector generates nearly 75,000 jobs and is one of the largest providers of foreign exchange but its contribution to GDP remains modest. Tourism suffers from lack of connectivity to target markets, poorly diversified and insufficiently competitive supply, poor quality services, lack of trained and skilled manpower, and deficit of promotion of Senegal as a destination. It therefore includes, firstly, a survey of current barriers to sustainable development and, secondly, an analysis of hypotheses focusing on ways and means of financing sustainable development, access to greater social well-being and opportunities for sustainable economic growth, cultural heritage and biodiversity preservation, etc. Qualitative and quantitative surveys have made it possible, through their exploitation, to better identify practices that are conducive to a more productive and sustainable tourism implementation approach.
Social cost of pending the patent examination in Brazil
Authors: Garcez Júnior Sílvio Sobral , Loureiro Rodrigo Nogueira Albert , Eloy Bruno Ramos , Silva Gabriel Francisco da , Santos João Antonio Belmino dos , Lima Francisco Valdivino Rocha
Published: June 2019

In Brazil, the general rule is that the invention patent has a duration of 20 years and that of a utility model, 15 years, counted from the filing date of the patent application. However, if the examination of a patent of invention or utility model is not completed within 10 or 8 years, respectively, the sole paragraph of art. 40 of Law nº 9,279/96 - Industrial Property Law (LPI) determines a differentiated methodology for the calculation of the validity of the right. The standard in question provides that, in this case, the patent will be valid for at least ten years in the case of IP and seven years in the case of MU, counting from the date of the granting of patent (and not the file). The present paper deals with the problematic involved in the extension of the term of validity of patent in the hypothesis of administrative slowness of Brazilian Office (INPI) in the appraisal of the application. As the vast majority of patents are granted using the benefit provided in the sole paragraph of art. 40 of the LPI, it will be analyzed the social cost of the automatic extension of the term of validity of the patent in the post-patent segment (pharmaceuticals and agricultural pesticides). It was found that the accumulated loss of the public coffers only taking into account nine medicines purchased by public health system (SUS) in regular centralized purchases up to January 2016 was over R$ 2 billion. As for agricultural pesticides, there was an annual cost of approximately R$ 318 million for the group of eight patents that were extended with the application of the legal safeguard.
Pengembangan Listrik Tenaga Surya bagi Pedagang Kuliner
Authors: Parera Lory Marcus , Tupalessy Johanis , Kastnaja Roland
Published: June 2019

. Energi listrik merupakan salah satu aspek penting dalam kehidupan manusia bahkan menjadi kebutuhan primer dalam berbagai aktivitas. Manfaat listrik bagi kehidupan manusia adalah sebagai penerangan di rumah, menyalakan TV, fasilitas umum, dan untuk menjalankan suatu usaha baik skala kecil maupun besar yang tentunya menggunakan sumber energi listrik. Tujuan kegiatan pengabdian yang dilaksnakan adalah memberikan pemahaman dan pengetahuan  pentingnya penggunaan energi baru terbukan listrik tenaga surya (PLTS) bagi pedangan kuliner. Metode yang digunakan yaitu dilakukannya survey untuk mengetahui sejauh mana pedagang tahu tentang listrik tenaga surya dan memberikan ceramah serta demontrasi cara menggunakan lampu tenaga surya pada tempat usahanya. Sebesar 99,7 % menggunakan sumber listrik PLN, sedangkan 0,33 % menggunakan sumber accu. Untuk mengurangai pemakain listrik dari PLN, maka solusi yang tepat adalah dapat menggunakan sumber energi matahari sebagai pembangkit tenaga listriknya atau lampu tenaga surya hemat listrik (LTSHE).  Kapasitas lampu tenaga surya hemat energi terdiri dari 3 buah lampu  dengan masing-masing lampu 3 watt. Lampu 3 waat setara lampu 15 waat jenis lain.Hasil yang diperoleh dari kegiatan ini adalah pedagang dapat memiliki pengetahuan tentang pentingnya energi matahari dapat dimanfaatkan sebagai sumber energi listrik sehingga mengurangi tingkat ketergatungan dari sumber listrik PLN dan menikmati dampak pemasangan lampu LTSHE pada tempat usahanya.
Sosialisasi Perhitungan Dan Pelaporan Wajib Pajak Usaha Mikro, Kecil Dan Menengah (UMKM) Kota Semarang
Authors: Saryadi Saryadi , Pinem Robetmi Jumpakita
Published: June 2019

Pengabdian masyarakat ini berttujuan untuk membantu masyarakat untuk memahami pengampunan pajak, penghitungan dan pelaporan pajak sehingga membantu Dirjen Pajak dalam mensosialisasikan pajak pelaku UMKM. Program pengabdian yang menjadi prioritas untuk dilaksanakan adalah sosialisasi perhitungan dan pelaporan wajib pajak usaha mikro, kecil dan menengah (UMKM) Kota Semarang.Metode pelaksanaan pengabdian ini menggunakan metode participatory rural appraisal (PRA) adalah teknik yang memungkinkan masyarakat untuk turut serta dalam membuat tindakan nyata rencana, pengawasan, dan evaluasi kebijakan yang berpengaruh pada kehidupannya. Alasan mereka tidak mengikuti tax amnesty adalah sebagian pengusaha menyatakan tidak adanya sosialisasi dari pemerintah, dan sebagian menyatakan sudah melakukan pembayaran pajak usaha secara rutin, sehingga tidak perlu mengikuti program pengampunan pajak / tax amnesty. Pengabdian kepada masyarakat ini yaitu Kota Semarang mempunyai potensi wajib pajak UMKM yang bisa menambah pemasukan negara, memalui semakin gencarnya disosialisasikan kesadaran akan pajak maka pelaku wajib pajak akan ikut melaporkan pajaknya. Sosialisasi penghitungan dan pelaporan pajak mampu mempermudah pelaku UMKM dalam melaporkan pajaknya karena selama ini tidak melaporkan karena ketidaktahuan dan cara pelaporannya.
Inhibition of Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase by Nucleic Acid Metabolite 7-Methylguanine
Authors: Nilov D. K. , Tararov V. I. , Kulikov A. V. , Zakharenko A. L. , Gushchina I. V. , Mikhailov S. N. , Lavrik O. I. , Švedas V. K.
Published: June 2019

The ability of 7-methylguanine, a nucleic acid metabolite, to inhibit poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) and poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-2 (PARP-2) has been identified in silico and studied experimentally.The amino group at position 2 and the methyl group at position 7 were shown to be important substituents for the efficient binding of purine derivatives to PARPs. The activity of both tested enzymes, PARP-1 and PARP-2, was suppressed by 7-methylguanine with IC50 values of 150 and 50 M, respectively. At the PARP inhibitory concentration, 7-methylguanine itself was not cytotoxic, but it was able to accelerate apoptotic death of BRCA1-deficient breast cancer cells induced by cisplatin and doxorubicin, the widely used DNA-damaging chemotherapeutic agents. 7-Methylguanine possesses attractive predictable pharmacokinetics and an adverse-effect profile and may be considered as a new additive to chemotherapeutic treatment.
Metodologias para avaliação das estruturas poliméricas bioabsorvíveis na aplicação de stents para coarctação da aorta em neonatos e crianças até 18 meses
Authors: Santos RN , Louro VON , Wahbe NT , Santos TSG , Silva BU , Pedra CAC , Andrade Aron
Published: June 2019

A coarctação da aorta (CoA) é uma doença congênita que tem como principal sintoma um estreitamento da aorta em sua porção torácica descendente. Esse estreitamento dificulta a passagem do sangue, causando aumento na pressão das artérias do cérebro e braços e diminuição na pressão das artérias dos órgãos abdominais e membros inferiores. A CoA pode ser reparada cirurgicamente, removendo-se a área de obstrução. Um procedimento menos invasivo ocorre com a implantação de stent, tornando possível manter o vaso aberto num determinado diâmetro. A aplicação da Impressão 3D gera biomodelos fidedignos da anatomia do paciente com cardiopatias congênitas, através de imagens provenientes de tomografia computadorizada. De posse desses biomodelos serão realizados testes de implantação de protótipos de stents poliméricos bioabsorvíveis também confeccionados por impressão 3D. O stent bioabsorvível é um dispositivo que desobstrui o vaso, mantém uma estrutura sustentando os vasos por vários meses após a angioplastia, impedindo o recuo elástico do vaso, corrigindo as dissecções, liberando drogas antiproliferativas e depois desaparece não provocando os efeitos destrutivos tardios da presença do corpo estranho. Os atuais stents bioabsorvíveis são compostos tanto por polímeros como por materiais bioabsorvíveis. Estão disponíveis diversos polímeros, com composições químicas e propriedades mecânicas diferentes e, consequentemente, tempos de absorção distintos. Estes fatores são de grande relevância principalmente para pacientes muito jovens que, ao crescer, terão novamente sua aorta estreitada. Diferentes desenhos das estruturas de stents bem como diferentes materiais poliméricos foram definidos e os testes serão realizados de forma comparativa quanto à resistência radial ao reestreitamento do biomodelo.
La planeación del emprendimiento empresarial. Un enfoque a partir de la economía política
Authors: Fonseca Vásconez José Fabián , Villacis Venegas Norma Yolanda , Toledo Castillo Norma del Rocio , Torres Guananga German Patricio , Salazar Tenelanda Marco Vinicio
Published: June 2019

La creación de una empresa en un mundo sin fronteras comerciales  regido por la competitividad como el que actualmente vivimos es un proceso complejo, por tanto, quienes quieren emprender una actividad productiva fracasan al considerar que basta su espíritu empresarial para poner su idea a funcionar en el mercado asumiendo el éxito o el riesgo de fracaso como algo normal para un emprendedor,  en tal razón el presente estudio tiene como objetivo demostrar que es posible evitar que  las fuerzas de mercado oferta y demanda destruyan una actividad productiva naciente, para lo cual se propone como planificar el emprendimiento desde la visión de la economía política,  en este ámbito la interacción de sus sustentos teóricos-metodológicos constituye una guía para las investigaciones empresariales y sugiere la base teórica para emprendedores a partir de una área de conocimiento de las ciencias sociales; cuyas conclusiones dan apertura a futuros estudios  sobre la importancia de promover coopetencia sobre la competitividad para reducir peligros y fomentar el crecimiento económico sostenido ya que la creación de una empresa, aparece como una alternativa al grave problema del desempleo que atraviesan las naciones.
UJI KUALITAS AIR PADA SUMBER MATA AIR WAIMARAPU DESA WAIMANU KECAMATAN KATIKUTANA SELATAN KABUPATEN SUMBA TENGAH
Authors: Ate Eunike Puteri , Nitsae Merpiseldin , Daud Yanti
Published: June 2019

Mata air Waimarapu merupakan sumber mata air di Desa Waimanu KecamatanKatikutana Selatan Kabupaten Sumba Tengah. Masyarakat menggunakan mata air untukmencukupi kebutuhan air bersih (sebagai air minum, mandi, cuci, dan pengairantanaman) akan tetapi belum mengetahui kualitas air tesebut. Tujuan dalam penelitian iniadalah untuk mempelajari kualitas dari mata air Waimarapu dengan acuan PeraturanPemerintah Nomor 82 Tahun 2001. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah metodeeksperimen dan dianalisis secara deskriptif kuantitatif dengan membandingkan data hasilpengukuran dari masing-masing parameter air dengan nilai baku mutu PeraturanPemerintah Nomor 82 Tahun 2001. Berdasarkan hasil penelitian yang dilakukan ada 3parameter yang tidak sesuai dengan baku mutu yaitu kandungan oksigen terlarut (5,60mg/L) tembaga (0,11 mg/L) dan phospat (0,54 mg/L). Hal ini disebabkan oleh karenaperubahan cuaca, pergerakan massa air dan lokasi mata air Waimarapu yang berada diarea persawahan sehingga menyebabkan masuknya limbah pertanian (penggunaanpupuk dan pembasmi hama). Sedangkan untuk parameter lainnya (suhu, TDS, TSS, pH,BOD, besi, mangan, sulfat, nitrat, nitrit, klorin, sianida, dan total coliform) masih sesuaidengan baku mutu yang ditetapkan. Nilai ini masih bisa ditolerir dalam kualitas air.Berdasarkan hasil yang diperoleh, mata air Waimarapu masih berada dalam batas amanuntuk digunakan sesuai peruntukkannya.
UJI AKTIVITAS ANTIBAKTERI EKSTRAK KULIT BUAH DELIMA MERAH (Punica granatum L.) TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN (Vibrio cholera)
Authors: Yunus Ferdinan Migu , Sabuna Alan Ch , Nge Sonya T.M
Published: June 2019

Kolera adalah penyakit infeksi saluran usus yang bersifat akut dan disebabkan oleh bakteri Vibriocholerae. Bila bakteri ini mencemari makanan dan terkonsumsi dalam jumlah yang banyak, maka dapatmenyebabkan penyakit diare. Upaya mencegah penyakit diare yaitu salah satu alternatif untuk mengatasiresistensi antibiotik yang berpotensi mengobati diare adalah kulit buah delima merah. Tujuan penelitian untukmengetahui pengaruh ekstrak kulit buah delima merah dan konsentrasi yang efektif ekstrak kulit buah delimamerah terhadap pertumbuhan Vibrio cholerae. Uji antibakteri dilakukan dengan metode difusi cakram kertas.Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode Eksperimen, yang terdiri dari 5 perlakuan A0= 0(kontrol), A1= 25 mg/ml, A2= 50 mg/ml, A3= 75 mg/ml dan A4= 100 mg/ml dan 3 kali ulangan. Hasilpengamatan dianalisis secara statistik menggunakan analisis variansi (ANOVA) satu jalur dengan tarafsignifikansi 5%. Analisis statistik dilakukan dengan menggunakan program SPSS versi 16.0. Hasil penelitianmenunjukan bahwa adanya pengaruh ekstrak kulit buah delima merah terhadap pertumbuhan Vibrio choleradan efektif konsentrasi 100 mg/ml dan dapat di lihat pada nilai signifikan menunjukan 0,00 dalam hal ini lebihkecil dari pada 0,05 (0,00≤0,005) yang artinya ada perbedaan antara kontrol dengan perlakuan A1, A2, A3 danA4. Sehingga dibuktikan dengan terbentuknya diameter rata-rata zona bening pada setiap konsentrasi ekstrakkulit buah delima merah secara berturut-turut yaitu: 25 mg/ml = 6,7 mm, 50 mg/ml = 7,3 mm,75 mg/ml = 8,0 mmdan 100 mg/ml = 11,3 mm.
Sintesis dan Karakterisasi Zeolit Hidroksi Sodalit dari Limbah Padat Abu Layang PLTU Batubara
Authors: Hidayat Amalia Ekaputri , Moersidik Setyo Sarwanto , Adityosulindro Sandyanto
Published: June 2019

Coal burning process in steam powered electric generator plants functioned to generate electricity energy. This process produce kinds of waste, such as solid waste, waste water, and emission. One of the solid waste produced in this process is fly ash. Fly ash is categorized as hazardous waste, it also can buildup in the landfill because of its massive production. However, fly ash has the potential as a raw material to produce synthetic zeolite because it contains metal oxide which is quite high. In this study, class F coal fly ash was synthesized by combining hydrothermal and fusion method. Synthesized fly ash and zeolite are characterized so that the chemical composition can be analyzed by X-ray Fluorescence; the mineralogy analyzed by X-ray Diffraction; the surface morphology analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy; and the particle size analyzed by Particle Size Analyzer. The synthesis of zeolite from coal fly ash in this study result hydroxy-sodalite zeolite type. In addition, this synthesis process increases the surface area of the previous fly ash. From the characteristics of zeolite from this synthesis it can be conclude that this zeolite can be approved as an adsorbent for the removal of liquid or gas pollutants in environmental technology applications with further research. ABSTRAKProses yang terjadi pada Pembangkit Listrik Tenaga Uap untuk menghasilkan energi listrik adalah melalui unit proses pembakaran batubara. Proses ini akan menghasilkan limbah padat, cair, maupun udara. Salah satu limbah padat yang dihasilkan adalah abu layang. Limbah abu layang ini dikatagorikan limbah bahan berbahaya dan beracun, serta dapat terjadinya penumpukan di tempat penimbunan akhir karena produksinya yang sangat tinggi. Namun, abu layang memiliki potensi sebagai bahan baku dalam memproduksi zeolit sintetik karena kandungan oksida logamnya yang cukup tinggi. Pada penelitian ini, abu layang batu bara kelas F disintesis dengan metode gabungan fusi-hidrotermal. Abu layang dan zeolit yang disintesis dikarakterisasi agar dapat dianalisis komposisi kimianya dengan X-ray Flourescence; mineraloginya dengan X-ray Diffraction; morfologi permukaan dengan Scanning Electron Microscopy; serta distribusi partikel dengan Particle Size Analyzer. Proses sintesis zeolit dari abu layang batubara pada penelitian ini menghasilkan zeolit jenis hidroksi sodalit. Selain itu, proses sintesis ini meningkatkan luas permukaan dari abu layang sebelumnya. Dari karakteristik zeolit hasil sintesis ini dapat disimpulkan bahwa zeolit ini dapat berpotensi sebagai adsorben untuk penyisihan polutan cair maupun gas pada aplikasi teknologi lingkungan dengan penelitian lebih lanjut.Kata kunci : abu layang; zeolit; hidroxi-sodalit; sintesis; fusi-hidrotermal
Performance indicators for monitoring the integrated care pathway of patients with colorectal cancer: the E.Pic.A. project
Authors: Ricotti Andrea , Messori Ioli Giovanni , Altini Mattia , Bachini Letizia , Balzi William , Frassineti Giovanni Luca , Gemmi Fabrizio , Massa Ilaria , Pierini Andrea , Bertetto Oscar , Racca Patrizia
Published: June 2019

Background: Given limitations in economic resources, achieving sustainability in healthcare is an increasingly important issue driving policy decisions. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a frequent oncological diagnosis with an incidence that is expected to increase, making the efficient utilisation of resources a major priority for its diagnosis and treatment. To assess potentially inappropriate utilisation of services in the integrated care pathway of patients with malignant CRC, a series of key performance indicators (KPIs) have been developed by a multidisciplinary panel of the E.Pic.A. project (Economic Appropriateness of an Integrated Care Pathway).Methods: The KPIs identified had to comply with criteria of reliability, representativeness, accessibility and operativity. A definition is provided for each of the KPIs, along with the methodology used to calculate it and a reference target.Results: Eight KPIs were identified that can measure inadequacies of services provided in the diagnostic and treatment pathways for CRC: four for instrumental diagnostics, three for surgery and one for oncologic therapy.Conclusions: Use of the methodology described can help payors to obtain detailed information on inappropriate and wasteful use of healthcare resources, which would then permit their reallocation for interventions with higher value for patients with CRC and other pathologies. (HTA & Market Access, Oncology)
Effect of Inflation on Stochastic Optimal Investment Strategies for DC Pension under the Affine Interest Rate Model
Authors: NJOKU Kevin N. C. , OSU Bright O.
Published: June 2019

﻿In this paper, we seek to investigate the effect of inflation on the optimal investment strategies for DC Pension. Our model permits the plan member to make a defined contribution, as provided in the Nigerian Pension Reform Act of 2004. The plan member is free to invest in risk-free asset and two risky assets. A stochastic differential equation of the pension wealth that takes into account certainly agreed proportions of the plan member's salary, paid as a contribution towards the pension fund, is presented. The Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman (H-J-B) equation, Legendre transformation, and dual theory are used to obtain the explicit solution of the optimal investment strategies for CRRA utility function. Our investigation reveals that the inflation has significant negative effect on optimal investment strategy, particularly, the CCRA is not constant with the investment strategy since the inflation parameters and coefficient of CRRA utility function have insignificant input on the investment strategy.
The Nyström Method and Convergence Analysis for System of Fredholm Integral Equations
Authors: ZHOU Huimin , WANG Qisheng
Published: June 2019

In this paper, the efficient numerical solutions of a class of system of Fredholm integral equations are solved by the Nyström method, which discretizes the system of integral equations into solving a linear system. The existence and uniqueness of the exact solutions are proved by the Banach fixed point theorem. The format of the Nyström solutions is given, especially with the composite Trapezoidal and Simpson rules. The results of error estimation and convergence analysis are obtained in the infinite norm sense. The validity and reliability of the theoretical analysis are verified by numerical experiments.
On Quasi-Sasakian Manifolds
Authors: SAZAK Ahmet , YILDIZ Ahmet
Published: June 2019

In this paper we study three-dimensional quasi-Sasakian manifolds admitting the Schouten-van Kampen connection. Also, we study D-homothetic deformations on three-dimensional quasi-Sasakian manifolds admitting Schouten-van connection and projectively flat three-dimensional quasi-Sasakian manifolds admitting scv connection.
Neimark-Sacker Bifurcation of a Third Order Difference Equation
Authors: ALOQEİLİ Marwan , SHAREEF Asmaa
Published: June 2019

In this paper, we investigate the bifurcation of a third order rational difference equation. Firstly, we show that the equation undergoes a Neimark-Sacker bifurcation when the parameter reaches a critical value. Then, we consider the direction of the Neimark-Sacker bifurcation. Finally, we give some numerical simulations of our results.
Conceptual generalization of sociological data
Authors: Kanygin Gennadiy , Poltinnikova Mariya , Koretskaya Viktoria
Published: June 2019

In the modern world of exponentially increasing information, it becomes more and more difficult to analyze and organize well-known data such as: texts, tables, files, networks, etc. The considerable diversity of data structures, used in numerous sociological projects, makes it hard for sociologists to be aware of the social information processing that takes place in reality. The article observes shortcomings of sociological data as a tool of social communication that could be overcome with the help of modern knowledge management methods. We propose the new graph context oriented ontological methods that allow sociologists to organize any artifacts into semantic networks. Such representation opens a new way of data organization aimed to unify sociological data structures and to facilitate creation and maintenance of data by a wider range of social actors. We demonstrate how sociological data of different types used in the study of professional links within Russian ethnographic community can be transformed into semantic network and what problems arise during this work.
KERUNTUHAN BIROKRASI TRADISIONAL DI KASUNANAN SURAKARTA
Authors: Prasadana Muhammad Anggie Farizqi , Gunawan Hendri
Published: June 2019

Kasunanan Surakarta merupakan salah satu kerajaan semi-otonom yang diberi hak oleh Belanda untuk mengatur birokrasinya sendiri. Birokrasinya adalah birokrasi tradisional. Kekuasaan pemerintah kolonial yang kian menguat, terutama selepas Perang Jawa, menjadikan birokrasi itu berkedudukan di bawah birokrasi kolonial. Ketika Indonesia merdeka, birokrasi tradisional di Kasunanan hancur dan digantikan oleh birokrasi modern. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menjelaskan proses keruntuhan birokrasi tradisional di Kasunanan Surakarta. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode sejarah yang dimulai dari pengumpulan sumber (heuristik), melakukan kritik sumber, interpretasi sumber, dan yang terakhir menuliskan hasilnya. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa keruntuhan birokrasi tradisional di Kasunanan Surakarta disebabkan oleh tuntutan yang disuarakan kalangan anti-swapraja yang menganggap kerajaan sebagai kaki tangan Belanda dan ketidakpedulian Sunan terhadap gerakan revolusi yang sedang menggema. Keruntuhannya sejalan dengan hilangnya status istimewa yang sempat dirasakan wilayah Surakarta. Setelah runtuh, pemerintah Republik Indonesia membentuk birokrasi modern di daerah Surakarta dan menempatkannya di bawah provinsi Jawa Tengah.
A natureza da ciência na concepção de licenciandos de um curso de Ciências Biológicas
Authors: Lima Murilo Del Bianco , Rodrigues Jéssica Laguilio , Klepka Verônica , Corazza Maria Júlia
Published: June 2019

Este trabalho aborda as concepções acerca da natureza da ciência, emitidas por estudantes de um curso de Ciências Biológicas, participantes do Programa de Iniciação à Docência (Pibid), subprojeto Biologia, de uma universidade da região Noroeste do Estado do Paraná. Os dados foram constituídos a partir de um questionário, cujas respostas deveriam ser justificadas. A análise foi feita seguindo os pressupostos metodológicos da análise de conteúdo, descritos por Minayo (2003). Foram construídas unidades de significados fundamentadas no referencial teórico de Rivero e Wamba (2011). As argumentações mostraram uma diversidade de concepções, com o predomínio da visão empírico-indutivista e neutra. Vale ressaltar que, dentre os sujeitos, houve uma maior ressignificação acerca da natureza da ciência por aqueles que estavam participando do programa há mais tempo.
Lameness in Sheltered Cows and Its Association with Cow and Shelter Attributes
Authors: Sharma Arvind , Phillips Clive J. C.
Published: June 2019

The sheltering of old, unproductive and abandoned cows in traditional cow shelters, known as gaushalas, has been practiced in India since ancient times. Cows are kept in these shelters until they die of natural causes. The welfare of the cows in these shelters was assessed through a cross-sectional study of 54 cow shelters in six states of India. A total of 1620 cows were examined to assess the prevalence of lameness in these cows, and the associated risk factors for lameness were identified through the measurement of animal-based and resource-based welfare indicators. The overall lameness prevalence was 4.2%. The majority (86%) had mild to moderate hock joint swellings but no or only mild carpal joint injuries. Approximately one-half had mild to moderate hock joint hair loss and most were free of hock joint ulcerations. Claw overgrowth was present in almost one half of the cows. Lameness prevalence was positively correlated with coat dirtiness, hock and carpal joint lesions, diarrhea and claw overgrowth scores. In a multivariate analysis, lameness prevalence increased as the Body Condition Score (BCS) decreased and was associated with increased udder dirtiness, the ulceration of the hock joint, carpal joint injuries and claw overgrowth. Resource-based indicators measured at the shelter level suggested that an absence of bedding in the sheds and an increase in the gradient of the shed flooring increased lameness. Addressing the principle risk factors identified for lameness in the sheltered cows (low body condition, dirty udders, lesions on the hock and carpal joints, overgrown claws, and a steep floor gradient) may help to reduce this serious animal welfare problem.
Genetic Diversity of Indigenous Pigs from South China Area Revealed by SNP Array
Authors: Diao Shuqi , Huang Shuwen , Xu Zhiting , Ye Shaopan , Yuan Xiaolong , Chen Zanmou , Zhang Hao , Zhang Zhe , Li Jiaqi
Published: June 2019

To investigate the genetic diversity, population structure, extent of linkage disequilibrium (LD), effective population size (Ne), and selection signatures in indigenous pigs from Guangdong and Guangxi in China, 226 pigs belonging to ten diverse populations were genotyped using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chips. The genetic divergence between Chinese and Western pigs was determined based on the SNP chip data. Low genetic diversity of Dahuabai (DHB), Luchuan (LC), Lantang (LT), and Meihua (MH) pigs, and introgression of Western pigs into Longlin (LL), MH, and Yuedonghei (YDH) pigs were detected. Analysis of the extent of LD showed that indigenous pigs had low LD when pairwise SNP distance was short and high LD when pairwise SNP distance was long. Effective population size analysis showed a rapid decrease for Chinese indigenous pigs, and some pig populations had a relatively small Ne. This result indicated the loss of genetic diversity in indigenous pigs, and introgression from Western commercial pigs. Selection signatures detected in this study overlapped with meat quality traits, such as drip loss, intramuscular fat content, meat color b*, and average backfat thickness. Our study deepened understanding of the conservation status and domestication of Chinese indigenous pigs.
Stakeholder Perceptions of the Challenges to Racehorse Welfare
Authors: Butler Deborah , Valenchon Mathilde , Annan Rachel , Whay Helen R. , Mullan Siobhan
Published: June 2019

The purpose of this paper is to highlight some of the key challenges to racehorse welfare as perceived by racing industry stakeholders. The paper draws upon statements and transcripts from 10 focus group discussions with 42 participants who were taking part in a larger study investigating stakeholders’ perceptions of racehorse welfare, which participants recognised as maintaining the physical and mental well-being of a performance animal. Analysis of the 68 statements participants identified as challenges produced nine themes. Among these, 26% (18 statements) of the challenges were health related, whilst 41% (28 statements) focused on the effect staff shortages were having on the racing industry. Staff shortages were perceived as affecting standards of racehorse care and the opportunity to develop a human–horse relationship. Poor employee relations due to a lack of recognition, communication and respect were perceived as having a detrimental effect on employee attitudes, behaviour and staff retention which, in turn, can have a sequential effect on the welfare and health of horses in training. Although the number of challenges produced is small (68), they emphasise the perceptions of stakeholders closely associated with the racing industry.
The Effect of Straw, Rope, and Bite-Rite Treatment in Weaner Pens with a Tail Biting Outbreak
Authors: Pelant Lahrmann Helle , Faustrup Julie Fabricius , Hansen Christian Fink , D’Eath Rick B. , Nielsen Jens Peter , Forkman Björn
Published: June 2019

Tail biting in pigs is an injurious behaviour that spreads rapidly in a group. We investigated three different treatments to stop ongoing tail biting outbreaks in 65 pens of 6–30 kg undocked pigs (30 pigs per pen; SD = 2): (1) straw (7 g/pig/day on the floor), (2) rope, and (3) Bite-Rite (a hanging plastic device with chewable rods). Pigs were tail scored three times weekly, until an outbreak occurred (four pigs with a tail wound; day 0) and subsequently once weekly. After an outbreak had occurred, a subsequent escalation in tail damage was defined if four pigs with a fresh tail wound were identified or if a biter had to be removed. Straw prevented an escalation better (75%) than Bite-Rite (35%; p < 0.05), and rope was intermediate (65%). Upon introduction of treatments (day 0), pigs interacted less with tails than before (day −1; p < 0.05). Behavioural observations showed that pigs engaged more with rope than Bite-Rite (p < 0.05). Bite-Rite pigs (but not straw or rope) increased their interaction with tails between day 0 and day 7 (p < 0.05). Straw was the most effective treatment. However, further investigations may identify materials or allocation strategies which are more effective still.
Fuzzy Logic Controller Parameter Optimization Using Metaheuristic Cuckoo Search Algorithm for a Magnetic Levitation System
Authors: García-Gutiérrez Gabriel , Arcos-Aviles Diego , Carrera Enrique , Guinjoan Francesc , Motoasca Emilia , Ayala Paúl , Ibarra Alexander
Published: June 2019

The main benefits of fuzzy logic control (FLC) allow a qualitative knowledge of the desired system’s behavior to be included as IF-THEN linguistic rules for the control of dynamical systems where either an analytic model is not available or is too complex due, for instance, to the presence of nonlinear terms. The computational structure requires the definition of the FLC parameters namely, membership functions (MF) and a rule base (RB) defining the desired control policy. However, the optimization of the FLC parameters is generally carried out by means of a trial and error procedure or, more recently by using metaheuristic nature-inspired algorithms, for instance, particle swarm optimization, genetic algorithms, ant colony optimization, cuckoo search, etc. In this regard, the cuckoo search (CS) algorithm as one of the most promising and relatively recent developed nature-inspired algorithms, has been used to optimize FLC parameters in a limited variety of applications to determine the optimum FLC parameters of only the MF but not to the RB, as an extensive search in the literature has shown. In this paper, an optimization procedure based on the CS algorithm is presented to optimize all the parameters of the FLC, including the RB, and it is applied to a nonlinear magnetic levitation system. Comparative simulation results are provided to validate the features improvement of such an approach which can be extended to other FLC based control systems.
Investigation of Crack Propagation and Healing of Asphalt Concrete Using Digital Image Correlation
Authors: Hasheminejad Navid , Vuye Cedric , Margaritis Alexandros , Ribbens Bart , Jacobs Geert , Blom Johan , Van den bergh Wim , Dirckx Joris , Vanlanduit Steve
Published: June 2019

The fatigue performance and healing ability of asphalt pavements are important for mixture design, rehabilitation, and maintenance of the roads. By analyzing these parameters in an asphalt mixture, it is possible to predict the crack formation and propagation in asphalt pavements and healing of these cracks during the rest periods. The healing effect in asphalt mixtures has been observed and verified by many researchers and different methods exist to evaluate this phenomenon. However, current methods are still inadequate to fully observe and quantify the healing phenomenon in asphalt mixtures. In this study, a digital image correlation (DIC) method is used to calculate the strain map on the surface of cylindrical asphalt specimens during the indirect tensile fatigue test. This strain map is used to detect the location of crack initiations and development of the microcracks during the experiments. Next, the specimens are unloaded and the temperature of the climate chamber is increased to 60 °C for 18 h to investigate the healing phenomenon on the surface of the specimens. It is observed that the strain reduces near the microcrack areas especially at the tip of the microcracks. Furthermore, using DIC it is possible to observe the healing rate and the minimum time required to heal the microcracks on the surface of the specimens.
Adaptive Refinements of Pitch Tracking and HNR Estimation within a Vocoder for Statistical Parametric Speech Synthesis
Authors: Al-Radhi Mohammed Salah , Csapó Tamás Gábor , Németh Géza
Published: June 2019

Recent studies in text-to-speech synthesis have shown the benefit of using a continuous pitch estimate; one that interpolates fundamental frequency (F0) even when voicing is not present. However, continuous F0 is still sensitive to additive noise in speech signals and suffers from short-term errors (when it changes rather quickly over time). To alleviate these issues, three adaptive techniques have been developed in this article for achieving a robust and accurate F0: (1) we weight the pitch estimates with state noise covariance using adaptive Kalman-filter framework, (2) we iteratively apply a time axis warping on the input frame signal, (3) we optimize all F0 candidates using an instantaneous-frequency-based approach. Additionally, the second goal of this study is to introduce an extension of a novel continuous-based speech synthesis system (i.e., in which all parameters are continuous). We propose adding a new excitation parameter named Harmonic-to-Noise Ratio (HNR) to the voiced and unvoiced components to indicate the degree of voicing in the excitation and to reduce the influence of buzziness caused by the vocoder. Results based on objective and perceptual tests demonstrate that the voice built with the proposed framework gives state-of-the-art speech synthesis performance while outperforming the previous baseline.
Analysis of the Molecular Interactions between Cytochromes P450 3A4 and 1A2 and Aflatoxins: A Docking Study
Authors: García-Montoya Isui Abril , Flores-Holguín Norma Rosario , Landeros-Martínez Linda-Lucila , Alvarado-González Mónica , Rascón-Cruz Quintín , Fuentes-Montero María Elena , Palomares-Báez Pedro , Rodríguez-Valdez Luz María
Published: June 2019

Mycotoxins known as aflatoxins (AF) are produced as a secondary metabolite by some species of Aspergillus fungi. They are considered carcinogenic, hepatotoxic, teratogenic, and mutagenic. In this study, the molecular structure, chemical reactivity, and charge transfer values of AFB1, B2, G1, and G2 were analyzed using density functional theory. Different methodologies—B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) and M06-2X/6-311G(d,p)—were applied for geometrical calculations. Chemical reactivity parameters were used in the calculation of charge transfer values during the interaction between protein and ligand. The binding energy, the electrostatic interactions, and the amino acids of the active site were determined by molecular docking analysis between AF and cytochromes P450 (3A4 and 1A2), employing different PDB files (CYP3A4:1TQN, 2V0M, 4NY4 and 1W0E, and CYP1A2:2HI4). Molecular docking analysis indicated that the central rings of the AF are involved in the interaction with the HEM group of the active site. The differences in the molecular structure of the AF affect their position regarding the HEM group. The resulting configurations presented considerable variation in the amino acids and the position of the coupling. The charge transfer values showed that there is oxidative damage inside the active site and that the HEM group is responsible for the main charge transferences.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Aging and Diseases of Aging
Authors: Haas Richard H.
Published: June 2019

Mitochondria have been increasingly recognized as the important players in the aging process [...]
The Biosynthesis, Signaling, and Neurological Functions of Bile Acids
Authors: Kiriyama Yoshimitsu , Nochi Hiromi
Published: June 2019

Bile acids (BA) are amphipathic steroid acids synthesized from cholesterol in the liver. They act as detergents to expedite the digestion and absorption of dietary lipids and lipophilic vitamins. BA are also considered to be signaling molecules, being ligands of nuclear and cell-surface receptors, including farnesoid X receptor and Takeda G-protein receptor 5. Moreover, BA also activate ion channels, including the bile acid-sensitive ion channel and epithelial Na+ channel. BA regulate glucose and lipid metabolism by activating these receptors in peripheral tissues, such as the liver and brown and white adipose tissue. Recently, 20 different BA have been identified in the central nervous system. Furthermore, BA affect the function of neurotransmitter receptors, such as the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor and γ-aminobutyric acid receptor. BA are also known to be protective against neurodegeneration. Here, we review recent findings regarding the biosynthesis, signaling, and neurological functions of BA.
The Ensemble of Conformations of Antifreeze Glycoproteins (AFGP8): A Study Using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Authors: Her Cheenou , Yeh Yin , Krishnan Viswanathan V.
Published: June 2019

The primary sequence of antifreeze glycoproteins (AFGPs) is highly degenerate, consisting of multiple repeats of the same tripeptide, Ala–Ala–Thr*, in which Thr* is a glycosylated threonine with the disaccharide beta-d-galactosyl-(1,3)-alpha-N-acetyl-d-galactosamine. AFGPs seem to function as intrinsically disordered proteins, presenting challenges in determining their native structure. In this work, a different approach was used to elucidate the three-dimensional structure of AFGP8 from the Arctic cod Boreogadus saida and the Antarctic notothenioid Trematomus borchgrevinki. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), a non-native solvent, was used to make AFGP8 less dynamic in solution. Interestingly, DMSO induced a non-native structure, which could be determined via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The overall three-dimensional structures of the two AFGP8s from two different natural sources were different from a random coil ensemble, but their “compactness” was very similar, as deduced from NMR measurements. In addition to their similar compactness, the conserved motifs, Ala–Thr*–Pro–Ala and Ala–Thr*–Ala–Ala, present in both AFGP8s, seemed to have very similar three-dimensional structures, leading to a refined definition of local structural motifs. These local structural motifs allowed AFGPs to be considered functioning as effectors, making a transition from disordered to ordered upon binding to the ice surface. In addition, AFGPs could act as dynamic linkers, whereby a short segment folds into a structural motif, while the rest of the AFGPs could still be disordered, thus simultaneously interacting with bulk water molecules and the ice surface, preventing ice crystal growth.