bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
KLASIFIKASI JENIS BUAH APEL DENGAN METODE K-NEAREST NEIGHBORS DENGAN EKSTRAKSI FITUR HSV DAN LBP
Authors: Wijaya Novan , Ridwan Anugrah
Published: April 2019

Abstrak Apel merupakan salah satu jenis buah yang unggul dan sangat digemari dan dikonsumsi masyarakat. Buah apel memiliki banyak varietas yang dapat dibedakan berdasarkan warna dan bentuk buah. Fitur Hue Saturation Value (HSV) dan Local Binary Patern (LBP) digunakan pada penelitian ini sebagai ekstraksi fitur warna dan bentuk pada buah yang kemudian akan dijadikan ciri dari warna dan bentuk buah apel yang akan diteliti. Metode K-Nearest Neighbor (K-NN) adalah salah satu metode penelitian pada kecerdasan buatan yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini untuk mengklasifikasikan nilai-nilai yang didapat dari hasil ekstraksi fitur HSV dan LBP. Data yang digunakan pada penelittian ini adalah 800 citra, yang terdiri dari 600 citra latih dan 200 citra uji. Hasil evaluasi yang didapat dari metode K-Nearest Neighbor ini untuk Secara keseluruhan dapat dilihat bahwa rata-rata nilai Precision yang di dapat sebesar 94%, Recall sebesar 100%, dan Accuracy sebesar 94 %.Kata kunci: Hue Saturation Value, Local Binary Patern, K-Nearest Neighbor
PENGGUNAAN MEDIA VIAR DALAM MENINGKATKAN HASIL BELAJAR PESERTA DIDIK KELAS VI A PADA MATERI TATA SURYA DI SDN NO. 86 KOTA GORONALO
Authors: Lanusi Dewi Hastaty
Published: April 2019

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to improve students' learning outcomes of Class VIA in the solar system material in SDN No. 86 Kota Gorontalo. This research was conducted for 3 months from January to March 2017. The research method used is a classroom action research consisting of two learning cycles. Each cycle consists of 4 stages namely, planning, action, observation and reflection. The subjects of the study were students of class VI A SDN No. 86 Gorontalo City, amounting to 23 people. The research instrument is the observation sheet and the test of learning result. The data obtained were analyzed statistically descriptive. The results showed that the learning outcomes in cycle I average grade value reached 77.8% but the percentage of completeness then reached 74%, meaning there are still 6 students who have not completed. While on the second cycle there is an increase, the average value of 77.8 to 85 with a completeness of 91%. Thus it is concluded that the use of viar media was able to improve the learning outcomes of students class VI A SDN No. 86 The city of Gorontalo on the materials of the Solar System.
Civic Stratification Within Cross-Border Families: Mainland Chinese Children and Wives in Hong Kong
Authors: To Clara Wai-chun
Published: April 2019

The extant literature on family-related migration has examined the civic stratification of the right to family reunification of citizens and non-citizens and the citizenship rights of their reunited family members. However, civic stratification amongst immigrant family members has received less attention. Accordingly, the current study highlights the significance of immigration status and social reproduction in the hierarchisation of the residency and social rights of Mainland Chinese children and spouses within cross-border families in Hong Kong, particularly since the policy changes in 2003. This study asserts that children are valued as prospective contributory citizens, and thus, they are afforded preferential treatment over spouses, who are mostly women, whose contribution to the reproduction of family and society are undervalued by central and local states.
Tracking Ignorance: Examining Changes in Immigrant Population Innumeracy in the United States from 2005 to 2013
Authors: Herda Daniel
Published: April 2019

Citizens’ tendency to overestimate the size of immigrant populations has been the subject of several studies over the past three decades. While we have learned a great deal about the extent, causes, and potential consequences of this population innumeracy, our understanding remains static. The current letter offers the first longitudinal consideration of immigrant population size misperceptions with an analysis across a nine-year span in the U.S. This study considers: 1) whether misperceptions have changed over time; 2) how these changes compare to the growth of the actual foreign-born population size; and 3) whether these changes are related to demographic and ideological factors. Results indicate that misperceptions have grown rapidly in the U.S, far outpacing the modest, actual increases across the period. Pooled cross-sectional analyses indicate that demographic factors do not explain the growth in misperceptions. However, the overestimates of politically conservative Americans have grown increasingly extreme over time.
Diseño y Construcción de un Transformador Trifásico para Control de Voltaje en el Laboratorio de Sistemas Eléctricos de Potencia
Authors: Játiva Jesús , Maldonado Jonathan , Mena Vanessa
Published: April 2019

Se realiza el diseño y construcción de un transformador trifásico tipo seco de 5 kVA con voltajes de 220 V tanto en el devanado primario como en el secundario, con capacidad de variar la relación de transformación mediante taps fijos en un rango de variación +/- 5% en pasos de 2,5% en el devanado primario y con un cambiador de taps bajo carga de operación manual y un rango de variación de +/- 5% en pasos de 1% en el devanado secundario. Se detalla el proceso para dimensionar un transformador mediante la aplicación de normas técnicas y criterios basados en la experiencia de fabricantes. Haciendo uso de la herramienta MATLAB, se desarrolla una interfaz gráfica que permite al usuario diseñar transformadores trifásicos tipo seco a partir de potencia, voltajes, tipo de conexión y requerimiento de taps en cada devanado. El usuario obtendrá los parámetros requeridos para la construcción del transformador, tanto del núcleo como de la bobina. El programa también presenta al usuario el circuito equivalente obtenido de los parámetros de diseño. Se diseña y construye el transformador indicado para el Laboratorio de Sistemas Eléctricos de Potencia, sobre el cual se ejecutan pruebas eléctricas para observar que su funcionamiento sea el adecuado y que se encuentra dentro de las normas establecidas. De los resultados de las pruebas de cortocircuito y circuito abierto se obtiene el circuito equivalente del transformador.
‘Another, more sinister reality’: Class, Youth and Psychopathology from Saturday Night and Sunday Morning to Endless Night
Authors: Jancovich Mark
Published: April 2019

This article analyses how the protagonists of films such as Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1959), The Collector (1965), Blow Up (1966), Twisted Nerve (1968) and Endless Night (1972) were understood in relation to debates over the supposed perils of the new affluence and the erosion of class distinctions that it was presumed to entail. In particular it examines the terms in which these issues were discussed within contemporaneous reviews of the films, terms that were insistently psychological. These protagonists, as well as, to a certain extent, the actors who played them, were seen as representing a nightmare image of a ‘new’ working class that no longer ‘knew its place’, and as manifesting psychological problems that were associated with this intermediate status. Their psychologies were interpreted by many critics as being distinguished by a sense of isolation from external reality and by a hostile relationship to the world characterised by a psychopathic lack of empathy. Such concerns could be seen as establishing certain parallels between working-class realism and the contemporaneous horror film, and indeed the reviews cited in this article demonstrate that working-class realism and horror were seen as having shared points of interest in the 1960s, points that have often been repressed by the tendency to compartmentalise British cinema history into separate or even opposed ‘traditions’.
Os jingles como formas simbólicas estratégicas de persuasão político-eleitoral
Authors: Hoffmann Fábio , Santos Everton Rodrigo
Published: April 2019

Recebido:  07/08/2017 Aprovado:  15/10/2017Publicado: 10/12/2017O objetivo deste trabalho é fazer uma análise dos jingles políticos como formas simbólicas estratégicas de persuasão político-eleitoral. Para isto, se procura analisá-los inseridos em um contexto histórico específico e social estruturado. É do contexto sócio-histórico que o briefing se vale para formular a letra/mensagem do candidato ou governo composto com a música/melodia. Mais do que uma peça publicitária para elevar qualidades ou combater conceitos, portanto, o jingle é recepcionado por determinantes de um campo em permanente disputa por capital político. Campo de poder que concatena diferentes formas de produzir e recepcionar os símbolos presentes nesse embate. Este trabalho argumenta que compreender o conjunto dos mecanismos simbólicos dentro dos quais são criados, recepcionados e transmitidos os jingles políticos constitui um elemento primordial para determinar suas chances de ser bem sucedido ou não. Palavras-chave: Jingles políticos, formas simbólicas, marketing político.
An Overview of Rice QTLs Associated with Disease Resistance to Three Major Rice Diseases: Blast, Sheath Blight, and Bacterial Panicle Blight
Authors: Zarbafi Seyedeh Soheila , Ham Jong Hyun
Published: April 2019

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important crops that are produced as human food, directly feeding people more than any other crop. Hence, it is important to increase the yield potential of rice through improving the disease resistance to prevailing rice diseases. Blast caused by the fungus Magnaporthe oryzae, sheath blight caused by the fungus Rhizoctonia solani Kühn, and bacterial panicle blight caused by the bacteria Burkholderia glumae and B. gladioli are serious rice diseases in many rice-producing regions. In spite of the chronic damages from these major diseases, the quantitative resistance to each of them is not known very well and any available disease-resistant varieties are rare or not stable. Although gene-for-gene resistance that is mediated by an R-Avr interaction has been intensively studied for blast, quantitative (or horizontal) resistance to a broad spectrum of races in M. oryzae is still poorly understood. Identification of the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) related to these diseases and using marker technology can facilitate marker-assisted selection to screen resistant traits in individual resources, which could ultimately lead to the development of novel disease-resistant rice varieties. This article is a summary of identified QTLs that are associated with rice diseases, including blast, sheath blight, and bacterial panicle blight that can be used in breeding programs.
Macronutrients in Soil and Wheat as Affected by a Long-Term Tillage and Nitrogen Fertilization in Winter Wheat–Fallow Rotation
Authors: Shiwakoti Santosh , Zheljazkov Valtcho D. , Gollany Hero T. , Kleber Markus , Xing Baoshan
Published: April 2019

The insights gained from the long-term impacts of tillage and N fertilization on soil fertility are crucial for the development of sustainable cropping systems. The objectives of this study were to quantify the effects of 75 years of tillage and N fertilization on macronutrients in soil and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) tissues grown in a winter wheat–summer fallow rotation. The experiment included three types of tillage (disc, DP; sweep, SW; and moldboard, MP) and five N application rates (0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 kg ha−1). Soil and tissue samples were analyzed for the concentration of total N, S, and C, Mehlich III extractable P, K, Mg, Ca in the soil, and the total concentration of the same nutrients in wheat tissue. Soil N concentration was significantly greater under DP (1.10 g kg−1) than under MP (1.03 g kg−1). The P concentration in upper 20 cm soil depth increased with increased N rates. Comparison of experiment plots to a nearby undisturbed pasture revealed a decline of P (32%), SOC (34%), Mg (77%), and Ca (86%) in the top 10 cm soil depth. The results suggest that DP with high N rates could reduce the macronutrient decline in soil and plant over time.
Soil Nutrient Dynamics and Nitrogen Fixation Rate Changes over Plant Growth in Temperate Soil
Authors: Horel Ágota , Gelybó Györgyi , Potyó Imre , Pokovai Klára , Bakacsi Zsófia
Published: April 2019

Research on the use of soil enhancer materials such as biochar from soil chemical perspective still provide differing results; therefore, investigations focusing on soil-biochar-plant interactions are still necessary to constrain our understanding of complex biochar effects. The present study investigated the changes in biological nitrogen fixation rates (BNF) and overall nutrient dynamics (NO3−, NH4+, total N, K2O, and P2O5) during the growth of Capsicum annuum (pepper) in pot experiments amended with biochar made of paper fiber sludge and grain husk. Four treatments were studied with 0, 0.5%, 2.5%, and 5.0% (by weight) added biochar (BC) amount to temperate silt loam soil. Peppers were planted at 2–4 leave stages and grown for the duration of 12.5 weeks. Our results showed that total nitrogen had relatively small changes in all treatments over time compared to the dynamic changes observed in the case of inorganic nutrients. NO3−-N and NH4+-N abundances presented a continuous decrease during the course of the study after an initial increase. The pepper plant facilitated the BNF rates to triple in the control soils, while plants were in the growing phase (weeks 1–6), which further increased an additional 61% by harvesting (week 12). A high amount of biochar addition suppressed potential BNF rates of the investigated soil, indicating its potentially negative effects on soil indigenous microbial communities if added in excess. We also found a plateau in plant biomass production that after reaching an optimal (2.5%) biochar amendment in the soils, and excess biochar addition did not result in significant changes in the soils’ pH to achieve better nutrient (potassium, nitrogen, phosphorous) use or crop growth.
Polyphenolic Composition of Rosa canina, Rosa sempervivens and Pyrocantha coccinea Extracts and Assessment of Their Antioxidant Activity in Human Endothelial Cells
Authors: Kerasioti Efthalia , Apostolou Anna , Kafantaris Ioannis , Chronis Konstantinos , Kokka Eleana , Dimitriadou Christina , Tzanetou Evangelia N. , Priftis Alexandros , Koulocheri Sofia D. , Haroutounian Serkos A. , Kouretas Demetrios , Stagos Dimitrios
Published: April 2019

The aim of the present study was the investigation of the antioxidant activity of plant extracts from Rosa canina, Rosa sempervivens and Pyrocantha coccinea. The results showed that the bioactive compounds found at higher concentrations were in the R. canina extract: hyperoside, astragalin, rutin, (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin; in the R. sempervirens extract: quinic acid, (+)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin, astragalin and hyperoside; and in the P. coccinea extract: hyperoside, rutin, (−)-epicatechin, (+)-catechin, astragalin, vanillin, syringic acid and chlorogenic acid. The total polyphenolic content was 290.00, 267.67 and 226.93 mg Gallic Acid Equivalent (GAE)/g dw, and the total flavonoid content 118.56, 65.78 and 99.16 mg Catechin Equivalent (CE)/g dw for R. caninna, R. sempervirens and P. coccinea extracts, respectively. The extracts exhibited radical scavenging activity in DPPH and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS)•+ assays and protection from ROO•-induced DNA damage in the following potency order: R. canina > R. sempervirens > P. coccinea. Finally, treatment with R. canina and P. coccinea extract significantly increased the levels of the antioxidant molecule glutathione, while R. canina extract significantly decreased Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in endothelial cells. The results herein indicated that the R. canina extract in particular may be used for developing food supplements or biofunctional foods for the prevention of oxidative stress-induced pathological conditions of endothelium.
Effect of the Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitor Sildenafil on Ischemia-Reperfusion-Induced Muscle Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Oxidative Stress
Authors: Tetsi Liliane , Charles Anne-Laure , Georg Isabelle , Goupilleau Fabienne , Lejay Anne , Talha Samy , Maumy-Bertrand Myriam , Lugnier Claire , Geny Bernard
Published: April 2019

Lower-limb ischemia-reperfusion (IR) is frequent and associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors demonstrated antioxidant and beneficial effects in several organs submitted to IR, but their effects on muscle mitochondrial functions after lower-limb IR are unknown. Unilateral hindlimb IR (2 h tourniquet followed by 2 h reperfusion) without or with sildenafil (1mg/kg ip 30 minutes before ischemia) was performed in 18 mice. Maximal oxidative capacity (VMax), relative contribution of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes, calcium retention capacity (CRC)—a marker of apoptosis—and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were determined using high-resolution respirometry, spectrofluorometry, and electron paramagnetic resonance in gastrocnemius muscles from both hindlimbs. IR significantly reduced mitochondrial VMax (from 11.79 ± 1.74 to 4.65 ± 1.11 pmol/s*mg wet weight (ww), p < 0.05, −50.2 ± 16.3%) and CRC (from 2.33 ± 0.41 to 0.84 ± 0.18 µmol/mg dry weight (dw), p < 0.05; −61.1 ± 6.8%). ROS tended to increase in the ischemic limb (+64.3 ± 31.9%, p = 0.08). Although tending to reduce IR-related ROS production (−42.4%), sildenafil failed to reduce muscle mitochondrial dysfunctions (−63.3 ± 9.2%, p < 0.001 and −55.2 ± 7.6% p < 0.01 for VMax, and CRC, respectively). In conclusion, lower limb IR impaired skeletal muscle mitochondrial function, but, despite tending to reduce ROS production, pharmacological preconditioning with sildenafil did not show protective effects.
A Calibration Method for System Parameters in Direct Phase Measuring Deflectometry
Authors: Deng Xiaoting , Gao Nan , Zhang Zonghua
Published: April 2019

Phase measuring deflectometry has been widely studied as a way of obtaining the three-dimensional shape of specular objects. Recently, a new direct phase measuring deflectometry technique has been developed to measure the three-dimensional shape of specular objects that have discontinuous and/or isolated surfaces. However, accurate calibration of the system parameters is an important step in direct phase measuring deflectometry. This paper proposes a new calibration method that uses phase information to obtain the system parameters. Phase data are used to accurately calibrate the relative orientation of two liquid crystal display screens in a camera coordinate system, by generating and displaying horizontal and vertical sinusoidal fringe patterns on the two screens. The results of the experiments with an artificial specular step and a concave mirror showed that the proposed calibration method can build a highly accurate relationship between the absolute phase map and the depth data.
Recent Advancement in the Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy-Based Biosensors for Infectious Disease Diagnosis
Authors: Hamm Logan , Gee Amira , De Silva Indrasekara A. Swarnapali
Published: April 2019

Diagnosis is the key component in disease elimination to improve global health. However, there is a tremendous need for diagnostic innovation for neglected tropical diseases that largely consist of mosquito-borne infections and bacterial infections. Early diagnosis of these infectious diseases is critical but challenging because the biomarkers are present at low concentrations, demanding bioanalytical techniques that can deliver high sensitivity with ensured specificity. Owing to the plasmonic nanomaterials-enabled high detection sensitivities, even up to single molecules, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has gained attention as an optical analytical tool for early disease biomarker detection. In this mini-review, we highlight the SERS-based assay development tailored to detect key types of biomarkers for mosquito-borne and bacterial infections. We discuss in detail the variations of SERS-based techniques that have developed to afford qualitative and quantitative disease biomarker detection in a more accurate, affordable, and field-transferable manner. Current and emerging challenges in the advancement of SERS-based technologies from the proof-of-concept phase to the point-of-care phase are also briefly discussed.
Defect Detection using Power Spectrum of Torsional Waves in Guided-Wave Inspection of Pipelines
Authors: Nakhli Mahal Houman , Yang Kai , Nandi Asoke K.
Published: April 2019

Ultrasonic Guided-wave (UGW) testing of pipelines allows long-range assessment of pipe integrity from a single point of inspection. This technology uses a number of arrays of transducers separated by a distance from each other to generate a single axisymmetric (torsional) wave mode. The location of anomalies in the pipe is determined by inspectors using the received signal. Guided-waves are multimodal and dispersive. In practical tests, nonaxisymmetric waves are also received due to the nonideal testing conditions, such as presence of variable transfer function of transducers. These waves are considered as the main source of noise in the guided-wave inspection of pipelines. In this paper, we propose a method to exploit the differences in the power spectrum of the torsional wave and flexural waves, in order to detect the torsional wave, leading to the defect location. The method is based on a sliding moving window, where in each iteration the signals are normalised and their power spectra are calculated. Each power spectrum is compared with the previously known spectrum of excitation sequence. Five binary conditions are defined; all of these need to be met in order for a window to be marked as defect signal. This method is validated using a synthesised test case generated by a Finite Element Model (FEM) as well as real test data gathered from laboratory trials. In laboratory trials, three different pipes with defects sizes of 4%, 3% and 2% cross-sectional area (CSA) material loss were evaluated. In order to find the optimum frequency, the varying excitation frequency of 30 to 50 kHz (in steps of 2 kHz) were used. The results demonstrate the capability of this algorithm in detecting torsional waves with low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) without requiring any change in the excitation sequence. This can help inspectors by validating the frequency response of the received sequence and give more confidence in the detection of defects in guided-wave testing of pipelines.
Establishment of a Standard Method for Boundary Slip Measurement on Smooth Surfaces Based on AFM
Authors: Chen Lei , Zhao Xuezeng , Pan Yunlu
Published: April 2019

Typically, it is difficult to analyze and design a micro/nanofluid system, and the design process cannot follow the traditional law of hydrodynamics. The boundary condition is very important in the applications of a micro/nanofluid system. The existence of boundary slip can reduce the hydrodynamic resistance and enhance fluid flow. How to accurately determine the dynamic boundary conditions is increasingly concerned by researchers. Atomic force microscope (AFM) is proven to be the most advanced experimental instrument for studying the characteristics of the surface and the interaction interface. Most studies on the application of atomic force microscopy to the measurement of the boundary slip do not describe a systematic standard process, leading to many differences in the measurement results. In this paper, a standard process of measuring slip on smooth and flat surfaces is developed, including the data processing methods that minimize the interference factors in the original data as well as simplify the data expression. Thus, the boundary slip can be obtained more easily and accurately.
Channel Estimation Based on IOTA Filter in OFDM/OQPSK and OFDM/OQAM Systems
Authors: Zhou Xiao , Wang Chengyou , Tang Ruiguang
Published: April 2019

In this paper, we present a study of bit error rate (BER) for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing/offset quadrature phase shift keying (OFDM/OQPSK) and OFDM/offset quadrature amplitude modulation (OQAM) systems with an isotropic orthogonal transfer algorithm (IOTA) filter. The novel noise suppression method based on an IOTA filter is proposed to reduce the error of channel estimation caused by additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN). The OFDM/OQPSK and OFDM/OQAM systems do not insert the guard interval (GI) and pilots in the signal frames, thus they possess transmission efficiency. An analysis was carried out for convolutional coded OFDM/OQPSK and OFDM/OQAM systems in Rayleigh fading channels with generator polynomials and constraint lengths. Compared with conventional OFDM/QPSK and OFDM/QAM systems with the insertion of comb-type pilots, the proposed IOTA filter-based channel estimation method can provide significant energy per bit to time-varying noise power spectral density ratio gains over time and frequency-selective propagation Rayleigh fading channels in OFDM/OQPSK and OFDM/OQAM systems.
3D Face Profilometry Based on Galvanometer Scanner with Infrared Fringe Projection in High Speed
Authors: Xue Junpeng , Zhang Qican , Li Chenghang , Lang Wei , Wang Min , Hu Yanfei
Published: April 2019

Structured light 3D shape metrology has become a very important technique and one of the hot research topics in 3D face recognition. However, it is still very challenging to use the digital light projector (DLP) in a 3D scanner and achieve high-speed, low-cost, small-size, and infrared-illuminated measurements. Instead of using a DLP, this paper proposes to use a galvanometer scanner to project phase-shifted fringes with a projection speed of infrared fringes up to 500 fps. Moreover, the measurement accuracy of multi-frequency (hierarchical) and multi-wavelength (heterodyne) temporal phase unwrapping approaches implemented in this system is analyzed. The measurement accuracy of the two methods is better than 0.2 mm. Comparisons are made between this method and the classical DLP approach. This method can achieve a similar accuracy and repeatability compared to the classical DLP method when a face mask is measured. The experiments on real human face indicate that this proposed method can improve the field of 3D scanning applications at a lower cost.
Theoretical and Experimental Investigation of Temperature and Phase Transformation during SAW Overlaying
Authors: Winczek Jerzy , Gawronska Elzbieta , Gucwa Marek , Sczygiol Norbert
Published: April 2019

The article presents the modeling of temporary temperature and phase share calculations during SAW (submerged arc welding) overlaying of steel elements. The input heat of a melted electrode and the heat of direct electric arc impact have been taken into consideration in the temperature field solution. The characteristic areas (fusion, full and incomplete transformation), have been determined by solidus, A3 and A1 temperatures, respectively. The limit temperatures of the phase trandformations during cooling, based on the cooling rate in the temperature range 800–500 °C according to S355 steel time-temperature-transformation welding diagram, have been determined. The JMAK (Johnson–Mehl–Avrami–Kolmogorov) law and KM (Koistinen–Marburger) formula were used in the phase change kinetic description. Theoretical considerations were illustrated with examples of temperature and phase share computations for welding overlaid S355 steel plate. The analysis of the history of changes in temperature and structural components (phases) was carried out based on the results of numerical simulations as well as metallographic examination after SAW overlaying. The dimensions of the HAZ (heat-affected zone), obtained experimentally, and the structure types confirmed the results of the computation.
Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction as a Model to Investigate Fibrosis-Attenuating Treatments
Authors: Martínez-Klimova Elena , Aparicio-Trejo Omar Emiliano , Tapia Edilia , Pedraza-Chaverri José
Published: April 2019

Renal fibrosis is the common pathway for most forms of progressive renal disease. The Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction (UUO) model is used to cause renal fibrosis, where the primary feature of UUO is tubular injury as a result of obstructed urine flow. Furthermore, experimental UUO in rodents is believed to mimic human chronic obstructive nephropathy in an accelerated manner. Renal fibrosis is the common pathway for most forms of progressive renal disease. Removing the obstruction may not be sufficient to reverse fibrosis, so an accompanying treatment may be of benefit. In this review, we have done a revision on treatments shown to ameliorate fibrosis in the context of the UUO experimental model. The treatments inhibit the production of fibrotic and inflammatory proteins such as Transforming Growth Factor β1 (TGF-β1), Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNF-α), collagen and fibronectin, Heat Shock Protein 47 (HSP47), suppress the proliferation of fibroblasts, prevent epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, reduce oxidative stress, inhibit the action of the Nuclear Factor κB (NF-κB), reduce the phosphorylation of mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (SMAD) family members 2 and 3 (Smad2/3) or Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (MAPKs), inhibit the activation of the renin-angiotensin system. Summaries of the UUO experimental methods and alterations observed in the UUO experiments are included.
Less Binge Eating and Loss of Control over Eating Are Associated with Greater Levels of Mindfulness: Identifying Patterns in Postmenopausal Women with Obesity
Authors: Smith Veronica M. , Seimon Radhika V. , Harris Rebecca A. , Sainsbury Amanda , da Luz Felipe Q.
Published: April 2019

Obesity is a public health concern resulting in widespread personal, social, and economic burden. Many individuals with obesity report feeling unable to stop eating or to control their food intake (i.e., a loss of control over eating) despite their best efforts. Experiencing loss of control over eating predicts further eating pathology and is a key feature of binge eating. Mindfulness (i.e., awareness and acceptance of current thoughts, feelings, sensations, and surrounding events) has emerged as a potential strategy to treat such eating disorder behaviors, but it is not known whether there is merit in investigating this strategy to address binge eating in postmenopausal women with obesity. Thus, this study aimed to examine the relationships between binge eating and mindfulness in postmenopausal women with obesity seeking weight loss treatment. Participants (n = 101) were assessed with the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, the Loss of Control over Eating Scale, the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, and the Langer Mindfulness Scale. Participants´ overall scores on both mindfulness scales were significantly and negatively correlated with binge eating frequency or the severity of loss of control over eating. Moreover, participants who reported fewer binge eating episodes were significantly more mindful than those who reported greater frequencies of binge eating episodes within the past 28 days. These findings suggest a merit in investigating the use of mindfulness-based therapies to treat binge eating in postmenopausal women with obesity.
Targeting Tyrosine Kinases in Cancer: Lessons for an Effective Targeted Therapy in the Clinic
Authors: Angelucci Adriano
Published: April 2019

The 21st century has finally seen the full achievement of targeted therapy to treat cancer with the promise of lower side effects and improved efficacy with respect to cytotoxic chemotherapeutics [...]
Genetic Susceptibility in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma in a Spanish Population
Authors: Fernández-Mateos Javier , Seijas-Tamayo Raquel , Adansa Klain Juan , Pastor Borgoñón Miguel , Pérez-Ruiz Elisabeth , Mesía Ricard , del Barco Elvira , Salvador Coloma Carmen , Rueda Dominguez Antonio , Caballero Daroqui Javier , Fernández Ruiz Encarnación , Ocana Alberto , González-Sarmiento Rogelio , Cruz-Hernández Juan
Published: April 2019

Despite classical environmental risk factors like tobacco, alcohol or viral infection, not all individuals develop head and neck cancer. Therefore, identification of the genetic susceptibility produced by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) is an important task. A total of 296 human papillomavirus negative head and neck cancer (HNC) patients (126 laryngeal, 100 pharyngeal and 70 oral cavity) were included in the study, involving 29 candidate SNPs in genes within important carcinogenic pathways (oncogenesis and tumour suppression, DNA repair, inflammation, oxidation and apoptosis). Genotyping was performed using TaqMan probes or restriction fragment length assays in peripheral blood DNA. In addition, 259 paired controls were also evaluated with the same risk factors for each specific location. Nine SNPs in DNA repair (ERCC1 rs11615, ERCC2 rs13181), inflammatory (IL2 rs2069762, IL6 rs1800795), oxidative (NFE2L2 rs13035806 and rs2706110) and apoptotic genes (TP53 rs1042522, MDM2 rs2279744, BCL2 rs2279115) were differently associated with HNSCC susceptibility by location. Some of these SNPs were not described before in this tumour type. In conclusion, we describe several SNPs associated with HNC in a Spanish population.
SERPINB2 Is a Novel Indicator of Cancer Stem Cell Tumorigenicity in Multiple Cancer Types
Authors: Lee Na-Hee , Park Se-Ra , Lee Jin Woo , Lim Soyi , Lee Seung-Ho , Nam Seungyoon , Kim Dong Young , Hah Seung Yeon , Hong In-Sun , Lee Hwa-Yong
Published: April 2019

Drug resistance is one of the major characteristics of cancer stem cells (CSCs) and a mechanism of tumor recurrence. Therefore, selectively targeting CSCs may be an effective therapeutic strategy to overcome cancer recurrence. In the present study, we found that exposure to tumorigenic compounds significantly increased the growth potential and stem-cell-like properties of various CSCs. Early-response genes involved in tumorigenesis can be used as specific markers to predict potential tumorigenicity. Importantly, for the first time we identified, a labile tumorigenic response gene—SERPINB2—and showed that tumorigenic compound exposure more profoundly affected its expression in CSCs than in non-stem cancer cells, although both cells exhibit basal expression of SERPINB2 in multiple cancer types. Our data also revealed a strong relationship between the significantly enhanced expression of SERPINB2 and metastatic progression in multiple cancer types. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to focus on the functions of SERPINB2 in the tumorigenicity of various CSCs and these findings will facilitate the development of promising tumorigenicity test platforms.
Efficient Biodiesel Conversion from Microalgae Oil of Schizochytrium sp.
Authors: Kuan Dingyaw , Dai Lingmei , Liu Dehua , Liu Hongjuan , Du Wei
Published: April 2019

Microalgae oil has been regarded as a promising feedstock for biodiesel production. However, microalgae oil usually contains some non-lipid components, such as pigments. Microalgae oil could be converted to biodiesel effectively with a two-step process to decrease the negative effect caused by by-product glycerol generated in traditional biodiesel production process. Firstly, microalgae oil was hydrolysed to free fatty acids (FFAs) and then FFAs were converted to methyl ester. In this study, the hydrolysis of microalgae oil from Schizochytrium sp. was systematically investigated and microalgae oil could be hydrolysed effectively to FFAs at both non-catalytic and acid-catalytic conditions. The hydrolysis degree of 97.5% was obtained under non-catalytic conditions of 220 °C and a water to oil ratio of 10:1 (w:w). The hydrolysis degree of 97.1% was obtained with the optimized sulphuric acid catalytic conditions of 95 °C, and a ratio of water to oil 3:1. The lipase Novozym435-mediated esterification with the hydrolysed FFAs was explored and a FAME (Fatty Acids Methyl Ester) yield of 95.1% was achieved. The conversion of different FFAs also was compared and the results indicated that lipase Novozym435-mediated methanolysis was effective for the preparation of biodiesel as well as poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs).
Experimental Design and Optimization of Triclosan and 2.8-Diclorodibenzeno-p-dioxina Degradation by the Fe/Nb2O5/UV System
Authors: Fidelis Michel Z. , Abreu Eduardo , Dos Santos Onélia A. A. , Chaves Eduardo S. , Brackmann Rodrigo , Dias Daniele T. , Lenzi Giane G.
Published: April 2019

This study describes the experimental design and optimization of the photocatalytic reaction using the immobilized catalyst Fe/Nb2O5 in the degradation of Triclosan and 2.8-DCDD. The techniques employed to characterize the photocatalysts were: specific surface area, average pore volume, average pore diameter, photo-acoustic spectroscopy (PAS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM/EDS). The reaction parameters studied were pH, catalyst concentration, catalyst calcination temperature, and nominal metallic charge. The results indicated that the immobilized Fe/Nb2O5 catalysts were efficient in the degradation of Triclosan and 2.8-dichlorodibenzene-p-dioxin. The catalysts with nominal metal loading of 1.5% Fe calcined at 873 K showed the highest constant reaction rate and the lowest half-life 0.069 min−1 and 10.04 min. Tests in different matrices indicated that the photocatalytic reaction using aqueous solution containing Cl− is faster when compared with the ultrapure water matrix.
Circulating Cell-Free mtDNA Contributes to AIM2 Inflammasome-Mediated Chronic Inflammation in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Bae Jung Hwan , Jo Seung , Kim Seong Jin , Lee Jong Min , Jeong Ji Hun , Kang Jeong Suk , Cho Nam-Jun , Kim Sang Soo , Lee Eun Young , Moon Jong-Seok
Published: April 2019

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Damaged mitochondria DNA (mtDNA) may have a role in regulating hyperglycemia during type 2 diabetes. Circulating cell-free mitochondria DNA (ccf-mtDNA) was found in serum and plasma from patients and has been linked to the prognosis factors in various human diseases. However, the role of ccf-mtDNA in chronic inflammation in type 2 diabetes is unclear. In this study, we hypothesized that the ccf-mtDNA levels are associated with chronic inflammation in patients with type 2 diabetes. The mtDNA levels were elevated in the plasma from patients with type 2 diabetes compared to healthy subjects. The elevated mtDNA levels were associated with interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. The mtDNA, from patients with type 2 diabetes, induced absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome-dependent caspase-1 activation and IL-1β and IL-18 secretion in macrophages. Our results suggest that the ccf-mtDNA might contribute to AIM2 inflammasome-mediated chronic inflammation in type 2 diabetes.
Insurer Resilience in an Era of Climate Change and Extreme Weather: An Econometric Analysis
Authors: Valverde L. , Convertino Matteo
Published: April 2019

Having sustained, over the course of more than two decades, record-breaking natural catastrophe losses, American insurers and reinsurers are justifiably questioning the potential linkage between anthropogenic climate change and extreme weather. Here, we explore issues pertaining to this linkage, looking at both the likely short-term implications for the insurance industry, as well as potential longer-term impacts on financial performance and corporate resilience. We begin our discussion with an overview of the implications that climate change is likely to have on the industry, especially as it relates to how catastrophic risks are construed, assessed, and managed. We then present the rudiments of an econometric analysis that explores the financial resilience of the property/casualty (P/C) industry in the face of both natural and man-made catastrophes. In this analysis, we explore the profitability consequences of several illustrative scenarios involving large-scale losses from extreme weather—specifically, a sequence of storms like those striking the U.S. in 2004—and a scenario that explores the prospect of a Katrina-scale storm in combination with a mass terror attack on the scale of 9/11. At systemic levels of aggregation, our analysis suggests a high degree of macro-resilience for the P/C industry. Moreover, we find that insurer resilience is higher for larger impacts, considering both the speed of recovery, as well as the inverse of the area under the unaffected system profile. We conclude with a summary of our findings and a closing commentary that explores the potential implications of these results for P/C insurers moving forward.
New Family of Stream Ciphers as Physically Clone-Resistant VLSI-Structures
Authors: Mars Ayoub , Adi Wael
Published: April 2019

A concept for creating a large class of lightweight stream ciphers as Key Stream Generators KSGs is presented. The resulting class-size exceeds 2323 possible different KSGs. If one unknown cipher from the KSG-class is randomly picked-up and stored irreversibly within a VLSI device, the device becomes physically hard-to-clone. The selected cipher is only usable by the device itself, therefore cloning it requires an invasive attack on that particular device. Being an unknown selection out of 2323 possible KSGs, the resulting cipher is seen as a Secret Unknown Cipher (SUC). The SUC concept was presented a decade ago as a digital alternative to the inconsistent traditional analog Physically Unclonable Functions (PUFs). This work presents one possible practical self-creation technique for such PUFs as hard-to-clone unknown KSGs usable to re-identify VLSI devices. The proposed sample cipher-structure is based on non-linear merging of randomly selected 16 Nonlinear Feedback Shift Registers (NLFSRs). The created KSGs exhibit linear complexities exceeding 281 and a period exceeding 2161. The worst-case device cloning time complexity approaches 2162. A simple lightweight identification protocol for physically identifying such SUC structures in FPGA-devices is presented. The required self-reconfiguring FPGAs for embedding such SUCs are not yet available, however, expected to emerge in the near future. The security analysis and hardware complexities of the resulting clone-resistant structures are evaluated and shown to offer scalable security levels to cope even with the post-quantum cryptography.
2-Chloroalkoxy-Substituted Pentafluorinated Bistolanes as Novel Light-Emitting Liquid Crystals
Authors: Yamada Shigeyuki , Miyano Kazuya , Agou Tomohiro , Kubota Toshio , Konno Tsutomu
Published: April 2019

In this study, we designed and synthesized novel pentafluorinated bistolane derivatives with 2-chloropentyl or 2-chlorohexyl flexible units as novel light-emitting liquid crystals (LELCs). By measuring the phase-transition behaviors, all derivatives were found to display liquid-crystalline (LC) phases during both heating and cooling processes. Among the novel bistolanes, the S- and R-configured derivatives exhibited a chiral nematic (N*) phase with a typical Grandjean optical texture. Interestingly, the chiral derivatives also exhibited a blue phase with a typical platelet texture in a narrow temperature range (2–4 °C). Photophysical measurements revealed that the 2-chloroalkoxy-substituted pentafluorinated bistolanes exhibited intense photoluminescence (PL) both in solution and in crystalline phases. The PL characteristics, especially the maximum PL wavelength, were found to switch sensitively during the heating and cooling cycles depending on the molecular aggregates through the crystal (Cr) ⇄ N* phase transition. The 2-chloroalkoxy flexible units induced dynamic changes in the LC and PL properties, providing valuable insight into the potential of various LELCs as PL sensing materials.
Modeling the Capacitated Multi-Level Lot-Sizing Problem under Time-Varying Environments and a Fix-and-Optimize Solution Approach
Authors: You Meng , Xiao Yiyong , Zhang Siyue , Zhou Shenghan , Yang Pei , Pan Xing
Published: April 2019

In this study, we investigated the time-varying capacitated lot-sizing problem under a fast-changing production environment, where production factors such as the setup costs, inventory-holding costs, production capacities, or even material prices may be subject to continuous changes during the entire planning horizon. Traditional lot-sizing theorems and algorithms, which often assume a constant production environment, are no longer fit for this situation. We analyzed the time-varying environment of today’s agile enterprises and modeled the time-varying setup costs and the time-varying production capacities. Based on these, we presented two mixed-integer linear programming models for the time-varying capacitated single-level lot-sizing problem and the time-varying capacitated multi-level lot-sizing problem, respectively, with considerations on the impact of time-varying environments and dynamic capacity constraints. New properties of these models were analyzed on the solution’s feasibility and optimality. The solution quality was evaluated in terms of the entropy which indicated that the optimized production system had a lower value than that of the unoptimized one. A number of computational experiments were conducted on well-known benchmark problem instances using the AMPL/CPLEX to verify the proposed models and to test the computational effectiveness and efficiency, which showed that the new models are applicable to the time-varying environment. Two of the benchmark problems were updated with new best-known solutions in the experiments.
Combining the Burrows-Wheeler Transform and RCM-LDGM Codes for the Transmission of Sources with Memory at High Spectral Efficiencies
Authors: Granada Imanol , Crespo Pedro M. , Garcia-Frías Javier
Published: April 2019

In this paper, we look at the problem of implementing high-throughput Joint Source- Channel (JSC) coding schemes for the transmission of binary sources with memory over AWGN channels. The sources are modeled either by a Markov chain (MC) or a hidden Markov model (HMM). We propose a coding scheme based on the Burrows-Wheeler Transform (BWT) and the parallel concatenation of Rate-Compatible Modulation and Low-Density Generator Matrix (RCM-LDGM) codes. The proposed scheme uses the BWT to convert the original source with memory into a set of independent non-uniform Discrete Memoryless (DMS) binary sources, which are then separately encoded, with optimal rates, using RCM-LDGM codes.
Frequency and Pattern Reconfigurable Antenna for Emerging Wireless Communication Systems
Authors: Iqbal Amjad , Smida Amor , Mallat Nazih Khaddaj , Ghayoula Ridha , Elfergani Issa , Rodriguez Jonathan , Kim Sunghwan
Published: April 2019

A printed and minimal size antenna having the functionality of frequency shifting as well as pattern reconfigurability is presented in this work. The antenna proposed in this work consists of three switches. Switch 1 is a lumped switch that controls the operating bands of the antenna. Switch 2 and Switch 3 controls the beam switching of the antenna. When the Switch 1 is ON, the proposed antenna operates at 3.1 GHz and 6.8 GHz, covering the 2.5–4.2 GHz and 6.2–7.4 GHz bands, respectively. When Switch 1 is OFF, the antenna operates only at 3.1 GHz covering the 2.5–4.2 GHz band. The desired beam from the antenna can be obtained by adjusting the ON and OFF states of Switches 2 and 3. Unique beams can be obtained by different combination of ON and OFF states of the Switches 2 and 3. A gain greater than 3.7 dBi is obtained for all four cases.