bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Melatonin inhibits high glucose-induced ox-LDL/LDL expression and apoptosis in human umbilical endothelial cells
Authors: Tiong Yee Lian , Ng Khuen Yen , Koh Rhun Yian , Ponnudurai Gnanajothy , Chye Soi Moi 
Published: July 2020

Abstract

Background
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the major cause of mortality in diabetic patients. Evidence suggests that hyperglycemia in diabetic patients contributes to increased risk of CVD. This study is to investigate the therapeutic effects of melatonin on glucose-treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and provide insights on the underlying mechanisms.

Materials and methods
Cell viability was determined using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and membrane potential was detected using 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein diacetate and 5,5′,6,6′-tetrachloro-1,1′,3,3′-tetraethylbenzimidazolcarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) dye staining, respectively. While, cell apoptosis was determined by Annexin-V staining and protein expression was measured using Western blot.

Results
Our results suggested that melatonin inhibited glucose-induced ROS elevation, mitochondria dysfunction and apoptosis on HUVEC. Melatonin inhibited glucose-induced HUVEC apoptosis via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Activation of Akt further activated BcL-2 pathway through upregulation of Mcl-1 expression and downregulation Bax expression in order to inhibit glucose-induced HUVEC apoptosis. Besides that, melatonin promoted downregulation of oxLDL/LOX-1 in order to inhibit glucose-induced HUVEC apoptosis.

Conclusions
In conclusion, our results suggested that melatonin exerted vasculoprotective effects against glucose-induced apoptosis in HUVEC through PI3K/Akt, Bcl-2 and oxLDL/LOX-1 signaling pathways.
Influence of center gas supply device on gas–solid flow in COREX shaft furnace through DEM–CFD model
Authors: Zhou Heng , Wang Shuyu , Du Binbin , Kou Mingyin , Tang Zhiyong , Yang Jiahui , Wu Shengli , E Dianyu 
Published: July 2020

AbstractIn order to develop the central gas flow in COREX shaft furnace, a new installment of center gas supply device (CGD) is designed. In this work, a coupled DEM–CFD model was employed to study the influence of CGD on gas–solid flow in COREX shaft furnace. The particle descending velocity, particle segregation behaviour, void distribution and gas distribution were investigated. The results show that the CGD affects the particles descending velocity remarkably as the burden falling down to the slot. Particle segregation can be observed under the inverse ‘V’ burden profile, and the influence of CGD on the particle segregation is unobvious on the whole, which causes the result that the voidage is slightly changed. Although the effect of CGD on solid flow is not significant, the gas flow in shaft furnace has an obvious change. Compared with the condition without CGD, in the case with CGD, the gas velocity is improved significantly, especially in the middle zone of the furnace, which further promotes the center gas distribution. Meanwhile, the pressure drop in the furnace with the installation of CGD is increased partly.
Assessment of myrtle powder dried by spray drying
Authors: Feitosa Regilane Marques , de Figueirêdo Rossana Maria Feitosa , de Melo Queiroz Alexandre José , da Silva Wilton Pereira , dos Santos Moreira Inacia 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Myrtle (Eugenia gracílima Kiaersk) is a fruit that has significant amounts of anthocyanins and its sensory characteristics give it commercial value and its short shelf life justifies studies on conservation processes. The aim of this study was to assess the dehydration of myrtle pulp in spray dryer using maltodextrin as promoter, evaluating the effect of drying temperatures of 150, 170, and 190 °C on the powder obtained. Increasing the drying temperature provided lower moisture content, water activity and anthocyanin values and total color difference. Acidity and insolubility of powders were better for lower drying temperatures. In general, there were changes in the shape of powder particles by increasing the drying temperature and different collection locations on the spray dryer. The model that best fit experimental data of adsorption isotherms at 25 °C was Peleg. Isotherms were classified as type III.
Optimization of pea seed intermittent drying assisted with ultrasound technology
Authors: Yu Fei , Yang Zhao , Tao Zhichao , Yang Zongyu 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
In recent years, hot air-drying coupled with ultrasonic technique or intermittent method is widely applied in food drying owing to significantly improving drying properties. The objective of this paper was to study the effect of drying temperature, ultrasonic power and intermittent method on drying kinetics, seed vitality and energy consumption of pea seed. The single factor tests were performed with air temperature of 28, 32, 36, and 40 °C, using ultrasound at four power levels of 60, 100, 150, and 200 W, and intermittent drying with intermittent ratios of 1, 1/2, 1/3 and middle intermittence. The orthogonal experiments of three factors with three levels were conducted based on the results of single factor test. Results indicated that drying temperature, ultrasonic power and drying method all had significant effects on drying kinetics, germination percentage (GP), mean germination time (MGT) and germination index (GI) (P < 0.05), and application of intermittent drying method can greatly reduce energy consumption. Further, from the orthogonal experiment, the greatest impact on the comprehensive evaluation index of seed drying was intermittent method, followed by drying temperature and the least was ultrasonic power. The optimum drying parameters of pea seed were drying temperature of 36°C, ultrasonic power of 200 W, and drying method of intermittent ratio 1/2, which were obtained by range analysis in the scope of this experiment.
Antioxidant activity and stability of the flavonoids from Lycium barbarum leaves during gastrointestinal digestion in vitro
Authors: Chen Jinghua , Kou Tingting , Fan Yanli , Niu Yinhong 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
In this study, stability including the total flavonoids content (TFC) and main monomers composition and antioxidant activity of the flavonoids extract (LBLF) from Lycium barbarum leaves were investigated in the process of simulated oral and gastrointestinal digestion in vitro. During digested through the simulated oral fluid (SOF), gastric fluid (SGF), and intestinal fluid (SIF) in order, TFC of LBLF in the lyophilized digestive fluid samples were determined at different time points. It was shown that compared with the initial TFC of 811.72 ± 0.72 mg RE/g DW, the total flavonoids did not change significantly during oral digestion, while definitely increased at gastric digestion stage (p < 0.05) where the pH value is the lowest in the digestive system, indicating that the release of flavonoids from LBLF was promoted by pepsin, trypsase, and bile, however decreased during intestinal digestion probably due to the instability of LBLF in weak alkali media. Moreover, the antioxidant capacity and bioaccessibility of LBLF were significantly improved by SGF and SIF digestion (p < 0.05). The scavenging effect of the fluid sample after gastric digestion on free radicals followed as O2
−
· > ABTS+
· > DPPH > ·OH > FRAP, while the clearance effect of intestinal digestion sample expressed as ABTS+
· > O2
−
· > DPPH > FRAP > ·OH. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) results suggested that chlorogenic acid and rutin in LBLF had low stability during the gastrointestinal digestion in vitro. Our study suggests that LBLF may show the instability in the contents of total flavonoids and some main monomers, but an enhancement in the antioxidant activity during gastrointestinal digestion, providing a reference for the stability improvement of LBLF in the next step.
Nonlinear wave equation in an inhomogeneous medium from non-standard singular Lagrangians functional with two occurrences of integrals
Authors: El-Nabulsi Rami Ahmad 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
In this communication, we show that a family of partial differential equations such as the linear and nonlinear wave equations propagating in an inhomogeneous medium may be derived if the action functional is replaced by a new functional characterized by two occurrences of integrals where the integrands are non-standard singular Lagrangians. Several features are illustrated accordingly.
Strategic Planning in Emergency Management: Evaluating the Impacts on Local Program Quality
Authors: Manning Scott Robert 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
This study examined the strategic planning practices of county-level emergency management agencies (EMAs), with a specific focus on strategic planning adoption and its relationship to local program quality. The study utilized a descriptive, cross-sectional survey design to collect planning- and program-related data from more than 300 county-level EMAs across the United States. The study findings revealed that most of the county EMAs included in the final sample had previously engaged in strategic planning activities, with nearly all of them continuing to use strategic planning as part of their general management practice. The study findings further revealed that strategic planning had a direct and significant impact on the overall quality of local emergency management programs, and that the strategic planning EMAs had significantly higher mean quality scores across all program dimensions when compared to the non-strategic planning EMAs.
A Modified Binary Pigeon-Inspired Algorithm for Solving the Multi-dimensional Knapsack Problem
Authors: Bolaji Asaju La’aro , Okwonu Friday Zinzendoff , Shola Peter Bamidele , Balogun Babatunde Sulaiman , Adubisi Obinna Damian 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
The pigeon-inspired optimization algorithm is a category of a newly proposed swarm intelligence-based algorithm that belongs to the population-based solution technique. The MKP is a class of complex optimization problems that have many practical applications in the fields of engineering and sciences. Due to the practical applications of MKP, numerous algorithmic-based methods like local search and population-based search algorithms have been proposed to solve the MKP in the past few decades. This paper proposes a modified binary pigeon-inspired optimization algorithm named (Modified-BPIO) for the 0 - 1 multidimensional knapsack problem (MKP). The utilization of the binary pigeon-inspired optimization (BPIO) for solving the multidimensional knapsack problem came with huge success. However, it can be observed that the BPIO converges prematurely due to lost diversity during the search activities. Given the above, the crossover operator is integrated with the landmark component of the BPIO to improve the diversity of the solution space. The MKP benchmarks from the Operations Research (OR) library are utilized to test the performance of the proposed binary method. Experimentally, it is concluded that the proposed Modified-BPIO has a better performance when compared with the BPIO and existing state-of-the-arts that worked on the same MKP benchmarks.
A note on the efficient evaluation of a modified Hilbert transformation
Authors: Steinbach Olaf , Zank Marco 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
In this note we consider an efficient data–sparse approximation of a modified Hilbert type transformation as it is used for the space–time finite element discretization of parabolic evolution equations in the anisotropic Sobolev space H
1,1/2(Q). The resulting bilinear form of the first order time derivative is symmetric and positive definite, and similar as the integration by parts formula for the Laplace hypersingular boundary integral operator in 2D. Hence we can apply hierarchical matrices for data–sparse representations and for acceleration of the computations. Numerical results show the efficiency in the approximation of the first order time derivative. An efficient realisation of the modified Hilbert transformation is a basic ingredient when considering general space–time finite element methods for parabolic evolution equations, and for the stable coupling of finite and boundary element methods in anisotropic Sobolev trace spaces.
Radio over fiber based signal transport schemes for emerging mobile fronthaul networks – a review
Authors: Saminathan Brindha , Tamilarasan Ilavarasan , Thangarasu Sivasakthi 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Radio over fiber plays a prominent role in the realization of next generation integrated Optical -Wireless Networks to distribute mobile broadband signals effectively to meet the increasing demand of multimedia services with guaranteed quality of services. In this paper the signal transport schemes of analog and digitized Radio over fiber systems with relevance to cellular communication and the comparison of different Radio over fiber systems with their merits and demerits is explored. Further, review of existing different types of multioperator multiservice architectures to realize high performance Radio over fiber based fronthaul architectures also presented in detail.
Transmission challenges in metropolitan area optical networks
Authors: Tomar Ashwani , Singh Kulwinder , Bansal Amit Kumar 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
For implementing wide/metropolitan area network in optical fiber communication system the key technology that can be utilized is wavelength division multiplexing (WDM). We discuss the use of WDM in metropolitan networks along with its special feature of using optical add drop multiplexers and also design issues in implementing these systems. The issue of nonlinear crosstalk induced in metropolitan networks is considered in terms of power penalty. Also, the effect of dispersion induced in optical fibers is considered by using two types of transmission systems. One is considering the non-zero dispersion shifted fiber (NZDSF) in dispersion effected environment and second is, implementing dispersion compensation after normal single mode fiber (SMF + DCF). The effect of nonlinear cross talk which can limit transmission performance is discussed in both cases in context with different parameters like power penalty, frequency difference between signal & crosstalk and transmission distance etc.
Performance analysis of hybrid optical amplifiers for multichannel wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical networks
Authors: Malik Deepak , Wason Amit 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
Hybrid Optical Amplifier (HOA) has made a significant change in Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) optical networks. We have proposed diverse hybrid optical amplifier configurations for the better performance of WDM optical networks. These configurations are SOA-EDFA, EDFA-EDFA and EDFA-Raman amplifier for 24 channels WDM optical networks at 10 Gbps with channel spacing of 0.8 nm. The performance of the systems is evaluated on the behalf of different parameters such as, quality factor, eye diagram, bit error rate and output power. The efforts are made to optimize these parameters. From the results, it is assessed that EDFA-Raman configuration gives superior results as compared to EDFA-EDFA configuration and SOA-EDFA hybrid optical amplifier configuration for long distance. Further it is also observed that EDFA-Raman hybrid optical amplifier configuration is suitable for high data rates up to 20 Gbps.
Prevalence of abdominal obesity in non-obese adolescents: a North Indian adolescent study
Authors: Solanki Dhiraj Kumar , Walia Rama , Gautam Akanksha , Misra Anoop , Aggarwal Arun Kumar , Bhansali Anil 
Published: July 2020

Abstract

Context
Childhood obesity is defined based on body mass index (BMI) criteria. Asian adults have more abdominal adiposity as compared to Western people for an equivalent BMI. Similarly, children who are non-obese/overweight by BMI criteria may have abdominal obesity. It is important to identify and target this population to reduce future cardiovascular risk.

Objective
To evaluate and inter-relate the prevalence of obesity subtypes (generalized and abdominal) in school going adolescents.

Methods
A randomized cross-sectional community based study was conducted, which was carried out in 13 schools of Chandigarh, a North Indian city. 10,037 school going adolescents of age 10–18 years were evaluated.

Results
The prevalence of overweight and generalized obesity in present study was 9.3 and 4.9% respectively. Generalized obesity was observed in 4.2% of males and 5.7% of females (p-Value = 0.001). The abdominal obesity was noted in 5.4% of children and its prevalence increased progressively with age. The prevalence was highest in 16–18 years age-group (7.6%, p<0.001). 39.3% of abdominally obese subjects were not obese by BMI criteria, while prevalence of abdominal obesity in nonobese adolescents was 2.24%. It was more prevalent in females (3.7%) than males (3%, p=0.025). Prevalence of obesity was 7.9 and 1.8% in private and government schools respectively (p<0.001).

Conclusions
Abdominal obesity is more prevalent than generalized obesity and shows increasing trend with age. Interestingly, over one third of centrally obese adolescents are not obese by BMI criteria. This underlines the importance of waist circumference measurement in addition to BMI while assessing obesity.
Utility of estimated glucose disposal rate for predicting metabolic syndrome in children and adolescents with type-1 diabetes
Authors: Köken Özlem Yayıcı , Kara Cengiz , Yılmaz Gülay Can , Aydın Hasan Murat 
Published: July 2020

Abstract

Objectives
To determine the clinical utility of the estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR) for predicting metabolic syndrome (MetS) in children and adolescents with type-1 diabetes (T1D).

Methods
Modified criteria of the International Diabetes Federation were used to determine MetS in children and adolescents between 10 and 18 years of age with T1D. The eGDR, a validated marker of insulin sensitivity, was calculated in two different ways using either the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) or waist circumference (WC). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to ascertain cut-off levels of the eGDR to predict MetS.

Results
A total of 200 patients (52% male) with T1D were enrolled in the study. The prevalence of MetS was 10.5% (n: 21). Lower eGDR levels, indicating greater insulin resistance, were found in T1D patients with MetS when compared to those without (6.41 ± 1.86 vs. 9.50 ± 1.34 mg/kg/min) (p < 0.001). An eGDRWHR cut-off of 8.44 mg/kg/min showed 85.7% sensitivity and 82.6% specificity, while an eGDRWC cut-off of 8.16 mg/kg/min showed 76.1% sensitivity and 92.1% specificity for MetS diagnosis. The diagnostic odds ratio was 28.6 (7.3–131.0) for the eGDRWHR cut-off and 37.7 (10.8–140.8) for the eGDRWC cut-off.

Conclusions
The eGDR is a mathematical formula that can be used in clinical practice to detect the existence of MetS in children and adolescents with T1D using only the WC, existence of hypertension, and hemoglobin A1c levels. An eGDR calculated using the WC could be a preferred choice due to its higher diagnostic performance.
Problems and solutions of personal protective equipment doffing in COVID-19
Authors: Cheng Lin , Chen Lei , Xiao Li , Zhang Jianping , Cheng Yilian , Zhou Lian , Peng Yu , Liu Lei 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
The progress of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is still severe. While everyone has been striving very hard to combat the pandemic, some healthcare professionals have shown varying degrees of infection symptoms and even died. The Chinese Army Medical Aid Team arrived in Wuhan on January 25, 2020, and quickly entered the battle against the pandemic after a short and rigorous training. As one of the earliest medical teams to enter the pandemic area, researchers have been exploring effective infection control measures that are currently in practice. Through observation and research, it has been noticed that layers of protective equipment have a hidden danger of infection while protecting the safety of the personnel. The members of each medical team have typically focused on the standard use of personal protective equipment (PPE). However, after a long period of intensive diagnosis and treatment in clinics and due to physical exertion and tiredness, problems such as improper operation are prone to occur during the tedious PPE doffing, thereby producing a relatively high risk of infection. This study primarily analyzes PPE doffing procedures, existing problems, and measures for improvement to explore methods to improve PPE donning and doffing and reduce the risk of infection.
Thermoelectric graphene photodetectors with sub-nanosecond response times at terahertz frequencies
Authors: Viti Leonardo , Cadore Alisson R. , Yang Xinxin , Vorobiev Andrei , Muench Jakob E. , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Stake Jan , Ferrari Andrea C. , Vitiello Miriam S. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractUltrafast and sensitive (noise equivalent power <1 nW Hz−1/2) light-detection in the terahertz (THz) frequency range (0.1–10 THz) and at room-temperature is key for applications such as time-resolved THz spectroscopy of gases, complex molecules and cold samples, imaging, metrology, ultra-high-speed data communications, coherent control of quantum systems, quantum optics and for capturing snapshots of ultrafast dynamics, in materials and devices, at the nanoscale. Here, we report room-temperature THz nano-receivers exploiting antenna-coupled graphene field effect transistors integrated with lithographically-patterned high-bandwidth (∼100 GHz) chips, operating with a combination of high speed (hundreds ps response time) and high sensitivity (noise equivalent power ≤120 pW Hz−1/2) at 3.4 THz. Remarkably, this is achieved with various antenna and transistor architectures (single-gate, dual-gate), whose operation frequency can be extended over the whole 0.1–10 THz range, thus paving the way for the design of ultrafast graphene arrays in the far infrared, opening concrete perspective for targeting the aforementioned applications.
Communication for Social Change, Making Theory Count
Authors: Thomas Pradip Ninan 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThis article argues for communication for social change theory to be based on a theory of knowledge, a specific understanding of process that feeds into practice, a knowledge of structures, a specific understanding of context and flows of power. It highlights the example of the Right to Information Movement in India as an embodiment of meaningful practice that was in itself a response to the felt needs of people. It argues that the RTI movement provided opportunities to understand Voice as a practice and value through indigenous means, specifically through the mechanism of theJan Sunwai(Public Hearings). It argues that when local people are involved in articulating ‘needs’, there will be scope for the sustainability of the practice of communication and social change and opportunities to theorise from such practice.
Navigating Socially Engaged Documentary Photographic Practices
Authors: Turnbull Gemma-Rose 
Published: July 2020

Abstract
As Documentary Photographers increasingly introduce the collaborative and participatory methodologies common to socially engaged art practices into their projects (particularly those that are activist in nature, seeking to catalyse social change agendas and policies through image making and sharing), there is an increased tension between the process of production and the photographic representation that is created. Over the course of the last five years I have utilised these methodologies of co-authorship. This article contextualizes this kind of transdisciplinary work, and examines the ways in which the integration of collaborative strategies and co-authored practice in projects that are explicitly designed to be of benefit to a primary audience (the participants, collaborators and producers) might be usefully disseminated to a secondary audience (the general public, the ‘art world’, critics etc.) through analysis of my projects Red Light Dark Room; Sex, lives and stereotypes made in Melbourne, Australia, and The King School Portrait Project made in Portland, Oregon, America.