bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analisis Peran Pemerintah	Terhadap Keberhasilan UMKM Kota Surabaya
Authors: Sitepu Sri Nathasya Br
Published: July 2018

Peran pemerintah dalam perekonominan dapat dilihat melalui kebijakan fiskal dan kebijakan moneter. Kebijakan pemerintah bertujuan untuk meningkatkan pertumbuhan ekonomi masyarakat. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis peran pemerintah melalui kebijakan fiskal dan kebihakan moneter terhadap keberhasilan UMKM di Kota Surabaya. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode kuantitative dengan analisis SEM-PLS. UMKM kota Surabaya merupakan objek penelitian yang menggunakan 100 sampel UMKM. Hasil penelitian menemukan bahwa pengaruh kebijakan moneter secara terhadap kesuksesan UMKM Kota Surabaya nilaianya lebih kecil dibandingkan pengaruh kebijakan moneter yang menggunakan kebijakan fiskal memediasi kesuksesan UMKM Kota Surabaya.

Kata Kunci: Kesuksesan UMKM, SEM-PLS, Kebijakan Fiskal, Kebijakan Moneter
Registration of RTx3410 through RTx3428 Sorghum Germplasm Resistant to Sugarcane Aphid [Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner)]
Authors: Peterson G. C. , Armstrong J. S. , Pendleton B. B. , Stelter M. , Brewer M. J.
Published: July 2018

The sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] germplasm lines RTx3410 through RTx3428 (Reg. No. GP‐846 to GP‐864, PI 686993 to PI 687011) were developed and released by Texas A&M AgriLife Research, Lubbock, TX, in 2018. The lines are resistant to damage caused by the sugarcane aphid [Melanaphis sacchari (Zehntner) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)] (SCA). All lines were developed by intentional plastic bag emasculation crosses and selected using the pedigree method of plant breeding. Resistance in RTx3410 through RTx3426 was identified after the SCA became a consistent pest of sorghum in the United States in 2013. To develop RTx3427 and RTx3428, crosses and selections were made in the Texas A&M AgriLife Research program at various Texas locations and resistance to the SCA in southern Africa was identified in Botswana and South Africa. Resistance in the United States was confirmed following identification of virulent SCA in 2013. All lines at seedling and adult plant stages expressed moderate to high levels of resistance to SCA. Resistance in RTx3412 to RTx3426 is derived either from Tx2783 or an early generation sib. Resistance in RTx3410, RTx3411, RTx3427, and RTx3248 is from unknown sources of resistance. The genetic relationship between the resistance gene(s) from the different sources is not known. The lines with potentially diverse sources of resistance provide the sorghum industry with a diversity of elite germplasm with resistance to SCA.
Proprietà agraria, territorio e inclusione
Authors: Ferrari Matteo
Published: July 2018

Il contributo si interroga se alcune forme di proprietà agraria contemplino un diritto ad essere inclusi. Tradizionalmente il diritto di proprietà è associato allo jus excludendi; la possibilità di un diritto ad essere inclusi è, al contrario, poco consi-derata. Dopo aver analizzato il ruolo dello jus excludendi, sottolineando come la dottrina agraristica abbia contribuito significativamente ad individuarne i limiti, il contributo introduce il diritto ad essere inclusi, distinguendo tra una versione debo-le e una forte. Mentre la prima si risolve in una semplice riproposizione del discorso sui limiti della proprietà, la seconda, prevedendo la possibilità che terzi abbiano il diritto di divenire co-titolari di una risorsa altrui, ha carattere maggiormente in-novativo. La proprietà agraria contempla alcuni casi in cui esiste un diritto ad esse-re inclusi in senso forte. In particolare, il contributo offre due esempi: le proprietà collettive agrarie e la disciplina di Dop e Igp. In entrambi le ipotesi, l'analisi indica come la versione forte del diritto ad essere inclusi sia giustificata in ragione della centralità del territorio e di esigenze di cooperazione.
Parlamentarismo, democrazia e demagogia: cenni su un'involuzione
Authors: Costato Luigi
Published: July 2018

Lo scritto affronta il tema della crisi dello Stato democratico contemporaneo di fronte alle sfide poste dal XXI secolo e dal fenomeno della globalizzazione, in par-ticolare. A partire dal pensiero dei maggiori filosi greci sulla validità e i limiti delle diverse forme di governo e ripercorrendo le tappe fondamentali dell'origine e lo sviluppo del parlamentarismo aristocratico, prima, e di quello, democratico, poi, l'autore riflette sulla situazione attuale, sulla rinascita di nazionalismi e populismi a livello europeo e su vicende specifiche come la Brexit e l'esito delle ultime elezio-ni presidenziali americane, per poi arrivare a constatare l'incapacità degli Stati contemporanei di governare gli effetti della globalizzazione e, in primo luogo, la concentrazione della ricchezza nelle mani di una "nuova aristocrazia", le poche grandi imprese transnazionali che sfuggono, appunto, al loro controllo pur influen-zandone profondamente le decisioni. La soluzione, conclude l'autore, è individua-bile solo nella realizzazione di "nuove regole globali" che pongano limiti allo stra-potere di questi attori e riaffermino la sovranità, seppur in parte condivisa, degli Stati
Blood Lactate Level as Predictor of Early Outcome after Cardiac Surgery under Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Authors: Azad Md Abul Kalam , Quashem Md Abul , Karim Md Rezaul , Hasan Md Kamrul
Published: July 2018

We examined the hypothesis that high blood lactate level in ICU patient after adult cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with early adverse outcome. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether blood lactate level after cardiac surgery is predictor of the early outcome after adult cardiac surgery under CPB. In this prospective observational study total 100 patients were enrolled who underwent elective cardiac surgery under CPB as per inclusion and exclusion criteria. Blood lactate levels > 3mmol/ L 6 hours after ICU transfer were present in 57(57%) patients. The binary logistic regression analysis showed that blood lactate level 6 hours after ICU transfer is an independent predictor for prolonged mechanical ventilation time (OR 2.417, 95% CI 1.272 - 4.596, p = .007), prolonged ICU stay (OR 1.562, 95% CI 1.181 - 2.067, p = .002), neurological deficit (OR 2.432, 95% CI 1.539 - 3.843, p = .001), pulmonary complication (OR 1.301, 95% CI 1.011 - 1.676, p = .041), arrhythmia (OR 1.444, 95% CI 1.102 - 1.893, p = .008), renal dysfunction (OR 1.838, 95% CI 1.352 - 2.497, p = .001) and mortality (OR 1.822, 95% CI 1.123- 2.955, p = .015). In conclusion, blood lactate level 6 hours after ICU transfer is an independent risk factor for worse outcomes in adult patients including mortality after cardiac surgery under CPB.University Heart Journal Vol. 13, No. 2, July 2017; 50-54
Echoes of ‘Exiled’ Nabokov and Pamuk in Murmures à Beyoğlu: Istanbul as a Border Chronotrope
Authors: Calafat Caterina
Published: July 2018

Murmures à Beyoğlu by David Boratav, winner of the Prix Gironde Nouvelles Écritures (2009), is a transcultural and postmodern novel, influenced by the writings of Nabokov and Pamuk, namely The Real Life of Sebastian Knight (1941) and Lolita (1955), and Istanbul (2003). This paper identifies various guises in which the omnipresence of the work and personality of Nabokov and Pamuk manifest themselves in Boratav's first novel, which I interpret as a noteworthy homage to the former. The essay argues, moreover, that thanks to their influence, Boratav's work acquires a unique dimension, via its highly original and complex portrait of Istanbul, that places it on a par with that of the masters. This tribute to both writers results in a book in which the main character's wanderings, characterised by a paradigmatic in-between-ness, portray an Istanbul I define as a ‘border chronotrope’.
Spotlight on Assistance Dogs—Legislation, Welfare and Research
Authors: Bremhorst Annika , Mongillo Paolo , Howell Tiffani , Marinelli Lieta
Published: July 2018

Assistance dogs are a very diverse group of working dogs that are trained to assist humans with different types of disabilities in their daily lives. Despite these dogs’ value for humankind, research on their welfare status, cognitive and behavioural capacities, selection criteria for the best fitting individuals, effective training and management practices, and genetic issues are so far lacking. This review highlights the need to address these topics and to promote progress in legal issues around assistance dogs. The topic of assistance dogs is approached comprehensively by outlining the current status of knowledge in three different dimensions: (1) the legal dimension, outlining important legal issues in the EU and Australia; (2) the welfare dimension; and (3) the dimension of research, covering assistance dog selection and training. For each of these three dimensions, we discuss potential approaches that can be implemented in the future in order to support assistance dog working performance, to protect the dogs’ welfare, and to improve our knowledge about them. Additionally, there remain many legal issues, such as the presence of assistance dogs in public areas, the resolution of which would benefit both the assistance dog and the owner with disability.
Ovarian Cancer Immunotherapy: Preclinical Models and Emerging Therapeutics
Authors: McCloskey Curtis W. , Rodriguez Galaxia M. , Galpin Kristianne J. C. , Vanderhyden Barbara C.
Published: July 2018

Immunotherapy has emerged as one of the most promising approaches for ovarian cancer treatment. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a key factor to consider when stimulating antitumoral responses as it consists largely of tumor promoting immunosuppressive cell types that attenuate antitumor immunity. As our understanding of the determinants of the TME composition grows, we have begun to appreciate the need to address both inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity, mutation/neoantigen burden, immune landscape, and stromal cell contributions. The majority of immunotherapy studies in ovarian cancer have been performed using the well-characterized murine ID8 ovarian carcinoma model. Numerous other animal models of ovarian cancer exist, but have been underutilized because of their narrow initial characterizations in this context. Here, we describe animal models that may be untapped resources for the immunotherapy field because of their shared genomic alterations and histopathology with human ovarian cancer. We also shed light on the strengths and limitations of these models, and the knowledge gaps that need to be addressed to enhance the utility of preclinical models for testing novel immunotherapeutic approaches.
The Problematic Genus Sclerocardius (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Molytinae: Ithyporini)
Authors: Lyal Christopher
Published: July 2018

The genus Sclerocardius is revised, using morphological characters. Four species are recognized, including S. africanus (Boheman), S. bohemani Schoenherr stat.rev., S. indicus Hartmann and S. kuscheli sp.nov. The species Sclerocardius madecassus Ferragu is synonymized with S. bohemani syn.nov., and Charactocnemus hintzi Hartmann is treated as a junior synonym of S. bohemani, not S. africanus. A key to species is given. Lectotypes are designated for Heteramphus africanus Boheman and Sclerocardius africanus Schoenherr. A female elytro-tergal stridulatory system involving the modification of the wing-binding patch of the seventh tergite is reported for the Sclerocardiina for the first time and supports the inclusion of the subtribe within the Ithyporini.
Quantum Games with Unawareness
Authors: Frąckiewicz Piotr
Published: July 2018

Games with unawareness model strategic situations in which players’ perceptions about the game are limited. They take into account the fact that the players may be unaware of some of the strategies available to them or their opponents as well as the players may have a restricted view about the number of players participating in the game. The aim of the paper is to introduce this notion into theory of quantum games. We focus on games in strategic form and Eisert–Wilkens–Lewenstein type quantum games. It is shown that limiting a player’s perception in the game enriches the structure of the quantum game substantially and allows the players to obtain results that are unattainable when the game is played in a quantum way by means of previously used methods.
Prediction of Mud Pressures for the Stability of Wellbores Drilled in Transversely Isotropic Rocks
Authors: Deangeli Chiara , Omwanghe Omoruyi Omoman
Published: July 2018

Serious borehole instability problems are often related to the presence of weakness planes in rock formations. In this study, we investigated the stability of wellbores drilled along a principal direction and parallel to the weakness planes. We used three different strength criteria (weakness plane model, Hoek and Brown and Nova and Zaninetti) to calculate the mud pressures to avoid slip and tensile failure along the weakness planes. We identified the orientation of the weakness planes that generate the most critical slip condition as a function of the friction angle of the planes. We also identified the range of orientations of the weakness planes that corresponds with the lower mud pressure window. We confirmed the validity of the proposed relationships with comparative stability analyses by using analytical solutions and numerical simulations (Ubiquitous Joint Model, FLAC). We found that the mud pressures calculated with the Hoek and Brown criterion show a particular trend, which cannot be predicted by the weakness plane model. We provided two normalized stability charts to predict mud pressures to prevent slip along the weakness planes in the critical slip condition. Finally, we corroborated our findings by simulating the stability of wellbores drilled in the Pedernales Field (Venezuela) and in oil fields located in Bohai Bay (China).
Design, Operation, Modeling and Grid Integration of Power-to-Gas Bioelectrochemical Systems
Authors: Muñoz-Aguilar Raúl Santiago , Molognoni Daniele , Bosch-Jimenez Pau , Borràs Eduard , Della Pirriera Mónica , Luna Álvaro
Published: July 2018

This paper deals with the design, operation, modeling, and grid integration of bioelectrochemical systems (BES) for power-to-gas application, through an electromethanogenesis process. The paper objective is to show that BES-based power-to-gas energy storage is feasible on a large scale, showing a first approximation that goes from the BES design and operation to the electrical grid integration. It is the first study attempting to cover all aspects of a BES-based power-to-gas technology, on authors’ knowledge. Designed BES reactors were based on a modular architecture, suitable for a future scaling-up. They were operated in steady state for eight months, and continuously monitored in terms of power consumption, water treatment, and biomethane production, in order to obtain data for the following modeling activity. A black box linear model of the BES was computed by using least-square methods, and validated through comparison with collected experimental data. Afterwards, a BES stack was simulated through several series and parallel connections of reactors, in order to obtain higher power consumption and test the grid integration of a real application system. The renewable energy surplus and energy price variability were evaluated for the grid integration of the BES stack. The BES stack was then simulated as energy storage system during low energy price periods, and tested experimentally with a real time system.
Modeling Hydrological Appraisal of Potential Land Cover Change and Vegetation Dynamics under Environmental Changes in a Forest Basin
Authors: Wang Jie , Ning Shaowei , Khujanazarov Timur
Published: July 2018

An integrated multi-model approach to predict future land cover in the Da River Basin in Vietnam was developed to analyze future impacts of land cover change on streamflow and sediment load. The framework applied a land cover change model and an ecological model to forecast future land cover and leaf area index (LAI) based on the historical land cover change, and these data were then used in a calibrated distributed hydrological model and a new sediment rating curve model to assess hydrological changes and sediment load in the river basin. Results showed that deforestation would likely continue, and that forest area would decrease by up to 21.3% by 2050, while croplands and shrublands would replace forests and increase by over 11.7% and 10%, respectively. Streamflow and sediment load would generally increase due to deforestation in the Da River Basin in the 2050s, in both the wet and dry seasons, but especially in the wet season. In this case, the predicted annual sediment load was expected to increase by about 9.7% at the Lai Chau station. As deforestation increased, sediment load and reservoir siltation could likely shorten the lifespan of the recently constructed Son La Reservoir. The applied integrated modeling approach provides a comprehensive evaluation of land/forest cover change effects on the river discharge and sediment load, which is essential in understanding human impacts on the river environment and in designing watershed management policies.
The Caribbean’s Geotourism Potential and Challenges: A Focus on Two Islands in the Region
Authors: Christian Colmore S.
Published: July 2018

Geotourism is a relatively new concept in the tourism industry, a concept which apparently has not yet been formally embraced by Caribbean destinations. This paper, based primarily on a literature review supplemented by the first-hand knowledge of the author, who served for over a decade in the natural resource management and tourism sectors in the region, identifies some of the geotourism assets and assesses the geotourism potential of two selected Caribbean islands, namely the Commonwealth of Dominica and St. Lucia. Indications are that the islands of the region have outstanding geological formations, dormant and active volcanic zones and associated geomorphological features, and breath-taking terrestrial and marine landscapes, including deep river gorges and tall mountains, and beautiful beaches, which together constitute important geotourism assets. Currently, these resources are marketed and promoted as part of the region’s nature tourism attractions. The feasibility of incorporating geotourism as a component of this overall nature tourism thrust is explored in this paper. As a follow-up to this study a survey of tourism officials, natural resource professionals, and selected scientists of the region is proposed for the purpose of identifying the reasons and constraints preventing the Caribbean region from formally embracing geotourism, developing and promoting the geotourism resources of the region as a unique component of the overall tourism product.
Research Trends and Hotspots Analysis Related to the Effects of Xenobiotics on Glucose Metabolism in Male Testes
Authors: Fan Yongsheng , Yu Guangxia , Yu Jun , Sun Jiantao , Wu Yu , Zhao Xue , Meng Yu , He Zhangdong , Wang Chunhong
Published: July 2018

This study aimed to integrate and analyze the existing studies and to explore research trends and hotspots related to the effects of xenobiotics on glucose metabolism in male testes. All articles were retrieved from the PubMed database, from an inception date up to 10 June 2017. CiteSpace software (version 5.1.R8 SE) was used for the co-word cluster analysis. A total of 165 eligible publications were included in this study. In 1949–1959, only two articles were published. After 1960, the number of articles increased steadily. These articles were published in 97 journals, in particular, in the Indian Journal of Experimental Biology (11 articles, 6.7%). Most of the authors (87.0%) only published one article. Only a few established research teams, mostly from the USA, worked consistently in this field. The main xenobiotics that had been studied were medicine and common environmental pollutants, e.g., gossypol, cadmium, di-n-butyl phthalate, and alpha-chlorohydrin. The hotspot keywords were Sertoli cell, lactate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, oxidative stress, and glucose metabolism. The focus of research had been changed overtime. This is the first bibliometric study between xenobiotics and glucose metabolism in the male testes. The findings suggest that environmental pollutants have become a huge concern, and related research should be strengthened.
Pharmacological Inhibition of p38 MAPK by SB203580 Increases Resistance to Carboplatin in A2780cp Cells and Promotes Growth in Primary Ovarian Cancer Cells
Authors: Han Xiaolu , Chen Huachen , Zhou Jiesi , Steed Helen , Postovit Lynne-Marie , Fu YangXin
Published: July 2018

Chemoresistance renders current chemotherapy regimens ineffective against advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Carboplatin (the first-line chemotherapeutic agent to treat EOC) induces cell death by regulating multiple signaling pathways. The objective of this study is to identify the signaling pathways that contribute to carboplatin resistance in EOC. To this end, we performed a proteome profiler human phospho-kinase array experiment and compared the phosphorylation profiles between the cisplatin-sensitive A2780s versus its derivative cisplatin-resistant A2780cp cells. The phospho-kinase array revealed that A2780s and A2780cp cells displayed different profiles in basal and carboplatin-induced phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was increased by carboplatin more markedly in A2780s cells compared to A2780cp cells. Inhibition of p38 MAPK activity by its specific inhibitor SB203580 increased resistance to carboplatin in A2780cp cells, but not in A2780s cells or in ascites-derived high-grade serous EOC cells. Interestingly, SB203580 increased the number of viable cells in the primary EOC cells, which was concomitant with an increase in survivin expression. In conclusion, inhibition of p38 MAPK by SB203580 increases resistance to carboplatin in A2780cp cells and the number of viable cells in the primary EOC cells, suggesting that pharmacological inhibition of p38 MAPK might not be an effective therapeutic strategy for EOC.
Dombi Aggregation Operators of Linguistic Cubic Variables for Multiple Attribute Decision Making
Authors: Lu Xueping , Ye Jun
Published: July 2018

A linguistic cubic variable (LCV) is comprised of interval linguistic variable and single-valued linguistic variable. An LCV contains decision-makers’ uncertain and certain linguistic judgments simultaneously. The advantage of the Dombi operators contains flexibility due to its changeable operational parameter. Although the Dombi operations have been extended to many studies to solve decision-making problems; the Dombi operations are not used for linguistic cubic variables (LCVs) so far. Hence, the Dombi operations of LCVs are firstly presented in this paper. A linguistic cubic variable Dombi weighted arithmetic average (LCVDWAA) operator and a linguistic cubic variable Dombi weighted geometric average (LCVDWGA) operator are proposed to aggregate LCVs. Then a multiple attribute decision making (MADM) method is developed in LCV setting on the basis of LCVDWAA and LCVDWGA operators. Finally, two illustrative examples about the optimal choice problems demonstrate the validity and the application of this method.
Electrophysical Properties of the PMN–PT–PS Solid Solution
Authors: Bochenek Dariusz , Skulski Ryszard , Niemiec Przemysław
Published: July 2018

The (1 − y) ((1 − x)Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–xPbTiO3)–yPbSnO3 solid solution (PMN–PT–PS) was obtained and investigated in the present paper. For the analysis of the influence of the PbSnO3 component on the electrophysical parameters, the compositions from the rhombohedral phase, tetragonal phase, and a mixture of these phases were selected. The six compositions of the PMN–PT have been obtained using sol–gel methods (for values of x equal to 0.25, 0.28, 0.31, 0.34, 0.37, and 0.40). The ceramic samples of the 0.9(PMN–PT)–0.1(PS) solid solution have been obtained using the conventional ceramic route. X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), and microstructure measurements were performed, as well as tests regarding the dielectric, ferroelectric, piezoelectric properties and electric conductivity of the PMN–PT–PS ceramic samples versus temperature. Results of the measurements show that the obtained PMN–PT–PS materials have good electrophysical properties and are well suited for use in micromechatronic and microelectronic applications.
The 3 R’s for Platelet-Rich Fibrin: A “Super” Tri-Dimensional Biomaterial for Contemporary Naturally-Guided Oro-Maxillo-Facial Soft and Hard Tissue Repair, Reconstruction and Regeneration
Authors: Zumarán Consuelo , Parra Marcelo , Olate Sergio , Fernández Eduardo , Muñoz Francisco , Haidar Ziyad
Published: July 2018

Platelet-Rich fibrin (PRF) is a three-dimensional (3-D) autogenous biomaterial obtained via simple and rapid centrifugation from the patient’s whole blood samples, without including anti-coagulants, bovine thrombin, additives, or any gelifying agents. At the moment, it is safe to say that in oral and maxillofacial surgery, PRFs (particularly, the pure platelet-rich fibrin or P-PRF and leukocyte and platelet-rich fibrin or L-PRF sub-families) are receiving the most attention, essentially because of their simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and user-friendliness/malleability; they are a fairly new “revolutionary” step in second-generation therapies based on platelet concentration, indeed. Yet, the clinical effectiveness of such surgical adjuvants or regenerative platelet concentrate-based preparations continues to be highly debatable, primarily as a result of preparation protocol variability, limited evidence-based clinical literature, and/or poor understanding of bio-components and clinico-mechanical properties. To provide a practical update on the application of PRFs during oral surgery procedures, this critical review focuses on evidence obtained from human randomized and controlled clinical trials only. The aim is to serve the reader with current information on the clinical potential, limitations, challenges, and prospects of PRFs. Accordingly, reports often associate autologous PRFs with early bone formation and maturation; accelerated soft-tissue healing; and reduced post-surgical edema, pain, and discomfort. An advanced and original tool in regenerative dentistry, PRFs present a strong alternative and presumably cost-effective biomaterial for oro-maxillo-facial tissue (soft and hard) repair and regeneration. Yet, preparation protocols continue to be a source of confusion, thereby requiring revision and standardization. Moreover, to increase the validity, comprehension, and therapeutic potential of the reported findings or observations, a decent analysis of the mechanico-rheological properties, bio-components, and their bioactive function is eagerly needed and awaited; afterwards, the field can progress toward a brand-new era of “super” oro-dental biomaterials and bioscaffolds for use in oral and maxillofacial tissue repair and regeneration, and beyond.
High Capacity and High Efficiency Maple Tree-Biomass-Derived Hard Carbon as an Anode Material for Sodium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Wang Yuesheng , Feng Zimin , Zhu Wen , Gariépy Vincent , Gagnon Catherine , Provencher Manon , Laul Dharminder , Veillette René , Trudeau Michel L. , Guerfi Abdelbast , Zaghib Karim
Published: July 2018

Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) are in the spotlight because of their potential use in large-scale energy storage devices due to the abundance and low cost of sodium-based materials. There are many SIB cathode materials under investigation but only a few candidate materials such as carbon, oxides and alloys were proposed as anodes. Among these anode materials, hard carbon shows promising performances with low operating potential and relatively high specific capacity. Unfortunately, its low initial coulombic efficiency and high cost limit its commercial applications. In this study, low-cost maple tree-biomass-derived hard carbon is tested as the anode for sodium-ion batteries. The capacity of hard carbon prepared at 1400 °C (HC-1400) reaches 337 mAh/g at 0.1 C. The initial coulombic efficiency is up to 88.03% in Sodium trifluoromethanesulfonimide (NaTFSI)/Ethylene carbonate (EC): Diethyl carbonate (DEC) electrolyte. The capacity was maintained at 92.3% after 100 cycles at 0.5 C rates. The in situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis showed that no peak shift occurred during charge/discharge, supporting a finding of no sodium ion intercalates in the nano-graphite layer. Its low cost, high capacity and high coulombic efficiency indicate that hard carbon is a promising anode material for sodium-ion batteries.
Biomineral Reactivity: The Kinetics of the Replacement Reaction of Biological Aragonite to Apatite
Authors: Greiner Martina , Férnandez-Díaz Lurdes , Griesshaber Erika , Zenkert Moritz N. , Yin Xiaofei , Ziegler Andreas , Veintemillas-Verdaguer Sabino , Schmahl Wolfgang W.
Published: July 2018

We present results of bioaragonite to apatite conversion in bivalve, coral and cuttlebone skeletons, biological hard materials distinguished by specific microstructures, skeletal densities, original porosities and biopolymer contents. The most profound conversion occurs in the cuttlebone of the cephalopod Sepia officinalis, the least effect is observed for the nacreous shell portion of the bivalve Hyriopsis cumingii. The shell of the bivalve Arctica islandica consists of cross-lamellar aragonite, is dense at its innermost and porous at the seaward pointing shell layers. Increased porosity facilitates infiltration of the reaction fluid and renders large surface areas for the dissolution of aragonite and conversion to apatite. Skeletal microstructures of the coral Porites sp. and prismatic H. cumingii allow considerable conversion to apatite. Even though the surface area in Porites sp. is significantly larger in comparison to that of prismatic H. cumingii, the coral skeleton consists of clusters of dense, acicular aragonite. Conversion in the latter is sluggish at first as most apatite precipitates only onto its surface area. However, the process is accelerated when, in addition, fluids enter the hard tissue at centers of calcification. The prismatic shell portion of H. cumingii is readily transformed to apatite as we find here an increased porosity between prisms as well as within the membranes encasing the prisms. In conclusion, we observe distinct differences in bioaragonite to apatite conversion rates and kinetics depending on the feasibility of the reaction fluid to access aragonite crystallites. The latter is dependent on the content of biopolymers within the hard tissue, their feasibility to be decomposed, the extent of newly formed mineral surface area and the specific biogenic ultra- and microstructures.
Wild Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L., Ericaceae) from Montenegro as a Source of Antioxidants for Use in the Production of Nutraceuticals
Authors: Brasanac-Vukanovic Snezana , Mutic Jelena , Stankovic Dalibor M. , Arsic Ivana , Blagojevic Nada , Vukasinovic-Pesic Vesna , Tadic Vanja M.
Published: July 2018

The aim of this study was to establish correlation of chemical composition and antioxidant activity of bilberry plants from Montenegro. Total phenolic, tannin, flavonoid, procyanidin and anthocyanin contents were determined in fruits and leaves extracts using spectrophotometric methods, while the measurements of metal content was carried out in an Inductively Coupled Atomic Emission Spectrometer. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of major phenolics were achieved by HPLC. In the investigated extracts, the most abundant phenolic was chlorogenic acid, followed by protocatechuic acid, while resveratrol, isoquercetin, quecetin and hyperoside were also present in significant quantities. Antioxidant potential was evaluated using two in vitro assays—FRAP and DPPH—being in the accordance with the cyclic voltammetry tests, performed as well. The results revealed that all the investigated extracts were rich in phenolic and essential mineral constituents, with significant antioxidant activity, depending on the polyphenolic and mineral contents, which was confirmed by principal component analysis.
A Short and Efficient Total Synthesis of Ficuseptamines A and B
Authors: Hassan Hani Mutlak A.
Published: July 2018

A rapid and efficient total synthesis of ficuseptamines A and B by a cross metathesis strategy is described.
Exogenous Melatonin Improves Fruit Quality Features, Health Promoting Antioxidant Compounds and Yield Traits in Tomato Fruits under Acid Rain Stress
Authors: Debnath Biswojit , Hussain Mubasher , Li Min , Lu Xiaocao , Sun Yueting , Qiu Dongliang
Published: July 2018

Acid rain is a serious worldwide environmental problem which reduces the growth and yield of crops. Melatonin, as a pleiotropic molecule has been known to improve stress tolerance by limiting the oxidative damage of plants exposed to adverse environments. However, the role of exogenous melatonin particularly on the yield and antioxidant compounds in tomato fruits under abiotic stress condition remains inexpressible. This observation aims to identify the influence of melatonin treatment under simulated acid rain (SAR) condition on fruit qualities, phenolics, flavonoids, and carotenoids concentration in fruits, and yield of tomatoes. Our study results showed that the fruits of SAR-stressed plants had higher quality traits and antioxidant bioactive compounds by increasing antioxidant activities against SAR-induced oxidative stress compared with fruits of control plants. Nonetheless, these improvements to antioxidant activities in fruits under SAR-condition remained unable to prevent the reduction of the yield. However, SAR-stressed plants treated by melatonin exhibited upgradation on the fruit quality traits, antioxidant compounds and yield attributes through accelerating oxidant-scavenging antioxidant actions in fruits compared with fruits of SAR-stressed plants. Meanwhile, our results suggest that exogenous melatonin plays an important role in improvement of bioactive compounds and yield traits in tomato fruits through regulating antioxidant system.
Cross-Sectional Associations between Dietary Fat-Related Behaviors and Continuous Metabolic Syndrome Score among Young Australian Adults
Authors: Sun Yile , Magnussen Costan G. , Dwyer Terence , Oddy Wendy H. , Venn Alison J. , Smith Kylie J.
Published: July 2018

Dietary guidelines recommend removing visible fat from meat, choosing low-fat options and cooking with oil instead of butter. This study examined cross-sectional associations between fat-related eating behaviors and a continuous metabolic syndrome (cMetSyn) score among young adults. During 2004–2006, 2071 participants aged 26–36 years reported how often they trimmed fat from meat, consumed low-fat dairy products and used different types of fat for cooking. A fasting blood sample was collected. Blood pressure, weight and height were measured. To create the cMetSyn score, sex-specific principal component analysis was applied to normalized risk factors of the harmonized definition of metabolic syndrome. Higher score indicates higher risk. For each behavior, differences in mean cMetSyn score were calculated using linear regression adjusted for confounders. Analyses were stratified by weight status (Body mass index (BMI) < 25 kg/m2 or ≥ 25 kg/m2). Mean cMetSyn score was positively associated with consumption of low-fat oily dressing (PTrend = 0.013) among participants who were healthy weight and frequency of using canola/sunflower oil for cooking (PTrend = 0.008) among participants who were overweight/obese. Trimming fat from meat, cooking with olive oil, cooking with butter, and consuming low-fat dairy products were not associated with cMetSyn score. Among young adults, following fat-related dietary recommendations tended to not be associated with metabolic risk.
New Ways to Treat Tuberculosis Using Dendrimers as Nanocarriers
Authors: Mignani Serge , Tripathi Rama Pati , Chen Liang , Caminade Anne-Marie , Shi Xiangyang , Majoral Jean-Pierre
Published: July 2018

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious infection that usually attacks not only the lungs, but also brain and spine. More than twenty drugs have been developed for the treatment of TB, but most of them were developed some years ago. They are used in different combinations. Isoniazid and Rifampicin are examples of the five first line TB drugs, whereas, for instance, Levofloxacin, Kanamycin and Linezolid belong to the second line drugs that are used for the treatment of drug resistant TB. Several new bicyclic nitroimidazoles (e.g., Delamanid) without mutagenic effects were developed. New TB drugs need to provide several main issues such as more effective, less toxic, and less expensive for drug resistant TB. Besides polymeric, metal-based nanoparticles, polymeric micelles and polymers, dendrimer nanostructures represent ideal delivery vehicles and offer high hopes for the future of nanomedicine. In this original review, we present and analyze the development of anti-TB drugs in combination with dendrimers. Few articles have highlighted the encapsulation of anti-TB drugs with dendrimers. Due to their unique structure, dendrimers represent attractive candidates for the encapsulation and conjugation of other anti-TB drugs presenting important drawbacks (e.g., solubility, toxicity, low bioavailability) that hinder their development, including clinic trials.
Vortical Fountain Flows in Plasticating Screws
Authors: Kazmer David O. , Grosskopf Clemens M. , Venoor Varun
Published: July 2018

Variances in polymers processed by single-screw extrusion are investigated. While vortical flows are well known in the fluids community and fountain flows are well known to be caused by the frozen layers in injection molding, our empirical evidence and process modeling suggests the presence of vortical fountain flows in the melt channels of plasticating screws adjacent to a slower-moving solids bed. The empirical evidence includes screw freezing experiments with cross-sections of processed high-impact polystyrene (HIPS) blended with varying colorants. Non-isothermal, non-Newtonian process simulations indicate that the underlying causality is increased flow conductance in the melt pool caused by higher temperatures and shear rates in the recirculating melt pool. The results indicate the development of persistent, coiled sheet morphologies in both general purpose and barrier screw designs. The behavior differs significantly from prior melting and plastication models with the net effect of broader residence time distributions. The process models guide potential strategies for the remediation of the processing variances as well as potential opportunities to achieve improved dispersion as well as complex micro and nanostructures in polymer processing.
Optimization of Extrusion Variables and Maleic Anhydride Content on Biopolymer Blends Based on Poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate)/Poly(vinyl acetate) with Tapioca Starch
Authors: Wu Chia-Yang , Lui Wai-Bun , Peng Jinchyau
Published: July 2018

Poly(3-hyroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV), poly(vinyl acetate) (PVAc), and tapioca starch are environment-friendly materials. The present study used these materials to produce biodegradable plastic pellets by melt extrusion. The tapioca starch content of composite formulations, the maleic anhydride content, and the screw speed of the extruder were chosen as variables for the extrusion process. A Box-Behnken response surface design was used to establish mathematical models to predict the relationship between the operating variables and the objective attributes (tensile strength, elongation at break, and water absorption) of the blends. Blend morphology was also assessed. The regression coefficients revealed that the extrusion parameters most significantly affecting extrudate responses were tapioca starch content and maleic anhydride content, both showing significant (p < 0.01) linear effects. The results of the analysis of variance found the models are in good agreement with experimental results as informed by high correlation coefficients (R2 > 0.9), with no significant lack of fit. From the numerical analysis, optimized operating variables (20.13% tapioca starch content, 10.14% maleic anhydride content, and a screw speed of 41.3 rpm) produced a product with optimum values of 16.4 MPa tensile strength, 13.2% elongation at break, and 30.94% water absorption.
Improved Albedo Estimates Implemented in the METRIC Model for Modeling Energy Balance Fluxes and Evapotranspiration over Agricultural and Natural Areas in the Brazilian Cerrado
Authors: Silva Oliveira Bruno , Caria Moraes Elisabete , Carrasco-Benavides Marcos , Bertani Gabriel , Augusto Verola Mataveli Guilherme
Published: July 2018

In this study we assessed METRIC (Mapping Evapotranspiration at high Resolution with Internalized Calibration) model performance to estimate energy balance fluxes and evapotranspiration (ET) in two heterogeneous landscapes in the Brazilian Cerrado, including fluxes and ET in both agricultural and natural vegetation. The estimates were evaluated by comparing them to flux tower data collected over sugarcane (USR site), woody savanna (PDG site) and stricto-sensu savanna (RECOR site) areas. The selection of the study years (2005–2007 for USR/PDG sites and 2011–2015 for RECOR site) was based on the availability of meteorological data (to be used as inputs in METRIC) and of flux tower data for energy balance fluxes and ET comparisons. The broadband albedo submodel was adjusted in order to improve Net Radiation estimates. For this adjustment, we applied at-surface solar radiation simulations obtained from the SMARTS2 model under different conditions of land elevation, precipitable water content and solar angles. We also tested the equivalence between the measured crop coefficient (Kc_ec) and the reference evapotranspiration fraction (ETrF or F), seeking to extrapolate from instantaneous to daily values of actual evapotranspiration (ETa). Surface albedo was underestimated by 10% at the USR site (showing a better performance for full crop coverage), by 15% at the PDG site (following the woody savanna dynamics pattern through dry and wet seasons) and was overestimated by 21% at the RECOR site. METRIC was effective in simulating the spatial and temporal variability of energy balance fluxes and ET over agricultural and natural vegetation in the Brazilian Cerrado, with errors within those reported in the literature. Net radiation (Rn) presented consistent results (coefficient of determination (R2) > 0.94) but it was overestimated by 8% and 9% in sugarcane and woody savanna, respectively. METRIC-derived ET estimates showed an agreement with ground data at USR and PDG sites (R2 > 0.88, root mean square error (RMSE) up to 0.87 mm day−1), but at the RECOR site, ET was overestimated by 14% (R2 = 0.96, mean absolute error (MAE) = 0.62 mm.day−1 and RMSE = 0.75 mm day−1). Surface energy balance fluxes and ET were marked by seasonality, with direct dependence on available energy, rainfall distribution, soil moisture and other parameters like albedo and NDVI.
Narrowband Characterization of Near-Ground Radio Channel for Wireless Sensors Networks at 5G-IoT Bands
Authors: Klaina Hicham , Vazquez Alejos Ana , Aghzout Otman , Falcone Francisco
Published: July 2018

In this contribution, a narrowband radio channel model is proposed for rural scenarios in which the radio link operates under near-ground conditions for application in wireless sensor networks dedicated to smart agriculture. The received power attenuation was measured for both transmitter and receiver antennas placed at two different heights above ground: 0.2 and 0.4 m. Three frequency ranges, proposed for future 5G-IoT use case in agriculture, were chosen: 868 MHz, 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz. Three ground coverings were tested in a rural scenario: soil, short and tall grass fields. The path loss was then estimated as dependent of the radio link range and a three-slope log-normal path loss model was tailored. Results are explained in terms of the first Fresnel zone obstruction. Commercial Zigbee sensor nodes operating at 2.4 GHz were used in a second experiment to estimate the link quality from the experimental Radio Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) received values. Two sensor nodes were placed at the same elevation above ground as in the previous experiment, only for short grass field case. The Quality of Service performance was determined in terms of theoretical bit error rate achieved for different digital modulations—BPSK, 8PSK and 16QAM—concluding remarkable results for an obstructed radio link.
Disaster Management System Aided by Named Data Network of Things: Architecture, Design, and Analysis
Authors: Hannan Abdul , Arshad Sobia , Azam Muhammad Awais , Loo Jonathan , Ahmed Syed Hassan , Majeed Muhammad Faran , Shah Sayed Chhattan
Published: July 2018

Disasters are the uncertain calamities which within no time can change the situation quite drastically. They not only affect the system’s infrastructure but can also put an adverse effect on human life. A large chunk of the IP-based Internet of Things (IoT) schemes tackle disasters such as fire, earthquake, and flood. Moreover, recently proposed Named Data Networking (NDN) architecture exhibited promising results for IoT as compare to IP-based approaches. Therefore to tackle disaster management system (DMS), it is needed to explore it through NDN architecture and this is the main motivation behind this work. In this research, a NDN based IoT-DMS (fire disaster) architecture is proposed, named as NDN-DISCA. In NDN-DISCA, NDN producer pushes emergency content towards nearby consumers. To provide push support, Beacon Alert Message (BAM) is created using fixed sequence number. NDN-DISCA is simulated in ndnSIM considering the disaster scenario of IoT-based smart campus (SC). From results, it is found that NDN-DISCA exhibits minimal delay and improved throughput when compared to the legacy NDN and existing PUSH schemes.
Performance Analysis of GPS/BDS Dual/Triple-Frequency Network RTK in Urban Areas: A Case Study in Hong Kong
Authors: Xu Ying , Chen Wu
Published: July 2018

Network Real Time Kinematic (NRTK) positioning with instantaneous ambiguity resolution (AR) is currently one of the most popular techniques for real-time precise positioning using Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) carrier phase observations. Although NRTK has been successfully applied in many fields in surveying and navigation, the initialization speed, accuracy, and ambiguity successfully fixed rate of NRTK in urban areas (Hong Kong, for instance) would be significantly affected by blocked satellite signals. To address these problems and analyze the performance of GPS/BDS dual/triple-frequency NRTK in urban areas, we developed a new Hong Kong GNSS Network RTK Service Platform. Based on this platform, the performance of NRTK in urban areas was examined through a series of experiments. The results showed that: (1) The initialization time of the NRTK varied with the number of the visible satellite and the quality of the observation. (2) Centimeter-level NRTK service could be provided for users over Hong Kong using the Hong Kong GNSS Network RTK Service Platform. (3) In urban areas, GPS/BDS NRTK services for static, walking, and driving users significantly improved the ambiguity successfully fixed rate of the NRTK service when compared with that using the GPS signal alone. The NRTK ambiguity successfully fixed rate in Hong Kong was better than 99% in good environment. In typical urban environment, the RTK ambiguity successfully fixed rate with GPS/BDS was 33.4–72.4%, which was about 12.7–32.4% with GPS only. (4) BDS triple-frequency observation improved the initialization speed and positioning accuracy of RTK in Hong Kong.