bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The ethical and praxeological conceptions of an act and its evaluation
Authors: Podrez Ewa
Published: March 2019

The conception of an act and its evaluation constitute the most interesting and important moral subject which consists of a complex set of theoretical and practical issues. The article includes St. Thomas’ conception of the definition of the goodness of an act, Tatarkiewicz’s theory of rightness of an act as a source of its evaluation as well as Kotarbinski’s considerations which deal with the analysis of an act from an efficiency perspective. They have all contributed to the definitione of an act in its several variants and provided the possibility of classification of evaluation of an act on the ethical and praxeological plane.
Moral and ethical aspects of the Polish transition from communism in the enunciations of the Polish Episcopate
Authors: Delong Marek
Published: March 2019

The Polish Episcopate critically assessed the social and economic situation in Poland in the period of the transition from communism to democracy and a freemarket economy. Privatisation led to production being stopped and to an increase in unemployment. Profit and not human dignity became the measure of labour. The economic and social reality was dominated by the treatment of economics and financial success as of the highest values and the dissemination of the opinion that in politics and economics there are no values. The political elites showed an inability to develop long-term strategies for getting out of the crisis. The disappearance of the morality of many representatives of public life, which was manifested in universal corruption and the aspiration to improve social status as soon as possible, contributed to this state of affairs. As a result, there was a crisis of the idea of the common wealth and an increase in crime. The social crisis was particularly visible in moral attitudes, social behaviour, and in the economic sphere, public finance, on the labour market, and in the quickly progressing social stratification.
The scope of responsibility of employers towards workers’ families in the Second Republic of Poland
Authors: Grata Paweł
Published: March 2019

The aim of this article is the presentation of the scope of responsibility of employers towards workers’ families in Poland in the interwar period. The article also shows how those duties were fulfilled. This issue appeared in Europe with the development of social insurance programmes and labour laws. The Second Republic of Poland built its own legal system for employees’ families. It included health insurance and benefits, families’ pensions and funeral allowances. Certain obligations were also imposed on employers in the context of labour law. The most important was the obligation to open nursery schools for the children of women who worked in factories.
Intricacies of modern consumption: Consumerism vs. deconsumption
Authors: Bylok Felicjan
Published: March 2019

The subject of considerations in the paper is a reflection on modern consumption. The author, in search of an answer to the question what main orientations determine consumer behaviour in the market, formulates the hypothesis that deconsumption may become a permanent trend in the development of modern consumption. In order to verify this hypothesis, consumerism along with its main styles and deconsumption as a response to excessive consumption are analysed. The author presents forms of deconsumption, i.e. sustainable consumption, green consumerism, ethical consumption, anti-consumption and consumer movements promoting such forms of consumption. In the conclusions, he points to the development potential of deconsumption manifested in a growing number of consumers who are changing their consumption habits into more socially and environmentally friendly ones.
Entrepreneurship of Poles in the light of changes in value systems
Authors: Gruszewska Ewa
Published: March 2019

Poland’s transformation is occurring in individuals’ attitudes and behaviour. Several years ago, the entrepreneur was associated in Poland with corruption and borderline legal activities. Today, many entrepreneurs are looked upon as positive role models. Social acceptance of entrepreneurial attitudes in Poland is growing. Increased susceptibility to entrepreneurial behaviour in society will increase the rate at which new businesses are established, enhancing market dynamics and accelerating innovative changes. In Poland, however, entrepreneurs are not seen as a positive example, unlike in the United States. Willingness to take risks, selfexpression and independence are not met with social acceptance, especially if rewarded with high incomes. The research undertaken by the author is aimed at analysing the essence of entrepreneurial attitudes and changes in the social acceptance of entrepreneurial behaviour.
The feminisation of precarity Poland compared to other countries
Authors: Polkowska Dominika
Published: March 2019

Precarity applies to people who, in order to survive, need to work in a low-quality job, which is uncertain, temporary, low-paid, with no prospect of promotion, no security and no contract. In this sense, the precariat is a category related mostly to the secondary segments of the labour market according to the concept of the dual labour market. It is also the universal feature of Post-Fordism and the modern working conditions in which women, more often than men are located in the “worst” segment of the labour market. In this context, it is worth noting that since the beginning of the era of globalisation, women have mostly worked in the sectors more uncertain and unstable e.g., in the service industries and trade. It has been feminisation in a double sense of the word: there have been more and more working women, on the one hand, and on the other hand, women have usually taken the flexible jobs. Most of these jobs are precarious work. Precarity combined with job insecurity and low wages leaves the workforce in this group unable to plan for their future or afford a decent life. This article attempts to prove that the threat of precarity is more probable for women than men. This claim is supported by the OECD and Eurostat data on precarity for Poland and other European countries.
The First Woman Yamī, Her Origin and Her Status in Indo-Iranian Mythology: Demigoddess or Half-human? (Evidence from R̥gveda 10.10, Iranian Parallels and Greek Relatives)
Authors: Kulikov Leonid
Published: March 2019

This paper focuses on the mythology of Yamī and her twin-brother Yama (the first humans according to Indo-Iranian mythology), their non-human origin and some aspects of Yamī’s behaviour which presumably betray a number of features of a female half-deity. The relationships between Yamī and Yama are the central topic of the dialogue hymn Rgveda 10.10, where Yamī attempts to seduce her twin to incest in order to produce offspring and thus continue the human race. This offer is refused by Yama, who refers to the inappropriateness of incest. Although Yamī and Yama are humans according to the Vedic tradition, their origin from two half-deities – a Gandharva father and an Apsara mother – remains inexplicable: how could a couple of non-human beings (half-deities or demons) give birth to humans? Obviously, the mythological status of the twins should be reconsidered. I argue that at least one of them, Yamī, retains immortality and some other features of the non-human (semi-divine) nature. On the basis of the analysis of the Yama and Yamī hymn and some related Vedic texts, I argue that this assumption may account for certain peculiarities of Yamī’s behaviour – particularly her hypersexuality (which can be qualified as demonic type of behaviour), as opposed to the much more constrained, human type of conduct displayed by Yama. Given the notoriously lustful character of the Gandharvas, an origin from this semi-divine creature may account for Yamī’s hypersexuality. Although the word gandharvá- does not have Indo-European etymology, we can find possible Indo-European parallels. In particular, the Gandharvas are comparable with the Centaurs, which cannot be etymologically related but possibly originate in the same non-Indo-European source. There are some reasons to assume that both words are borrowed from the Kassite language and mythology, which, in turn, may have been related to the language and culture of the Proto-North-Caucasians. Although we do not find exact equivalents of Yamī outside of the Indo-Iranian pantheon, indirect parallels can be found in other Indo-European traditions. The Apsaras (water nymphs) can be compared to a variety of water deities (nymphs) in Greek mythology, such as the Naiads, or to the Slavic rusalki.
Byzantine Rank Hierarchy in the 9th–11th Centuries
Authors: Kanev Nikolay
Published: March 2019

The aim of the article is to present the Byzantine secular rank hierarchy of the 9th–11th centuries. During the above-mentioned period of time Byzantium knew not one but several distinct, relatively independent official hierarchical systems. All of them, however, were mutually interconnected to varying degrees and thus formed a single, pan-imperial hierarchical construct, expressed through the so-called system of palace precedence of ranks in the empire. It is this global and more general paradigm that reflects the Byzantine hierarchical model of the 9th–11th centuries; consequently, it seems fitting to refer to it as the rank hierarchy of the classical Middle Byzantine period, in the era preceding the reforms of Alexios I Komnenos (1081–1118).
Małgorzata Skowronek, Średniowieczne opowieści biblijne. Paleja historyczna w tradycji bizantyńsko-słowiańskiej [Medieval Biblical Stories. Palaea Historica in the Byzantine-Slavic Tradition], Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego, Łódź 2017 [= Series Ceranea, 4], pp. 396.
Authors: Dawczyk Maciej
Published: March 2019

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ЛЕВ ХИРОСФАКТ, Сочинения, перевод с греческого, подготовка издания, комментарии, вступительная статья Т.А. СЕНИНОЙ (монахини Кассии) [Leo Choirosphaktes, Works, translated from Greek and edited with a commentary and introduction by T.A. Senina (nun Kassia)], Алетейя, Санкт-Петербург 2017 [= Новая византийская библиотека. Источники], pp. 279.
Authors: Leszka Mirosław J.
Published: March 2019

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Model-model Penciptaan Suasana Religius pada SMUN Kodia Malang
Authors: Muhaimin Muhaimin , Ali Nur , Sutiah Sutiah
Published: March 2019

This study aims to examine how educational models create religious atmosphere in schools. This research is a concrete effort to find the right pattern to realize a religious environment in an academic context. This study uses a qualitative research approach with case study design. While the subjects in this study included a number of school principals, former principals, deputy principals, teachers and students of 4th State High School of Malang. The techniques used in data collection in this study include observations to obtain data about various teaching and learning activities, and religious activities as well as the religious atmosphere in schools as well as in-depth interviews. The implementation of religious activities in the school, which was originally "top down", was then developed to "bottom up". Through this approach, it turns out that it can bring peace, peace and increase brotherhood, unity, and friendship between leaders, employees, teachers and students. Besides, the religious atmosphere in the school is running dynamically. How to create a religious atmosphere, among others, through various types of progammed religious activities, both of Islamic and non-Islamic. In addition, school leaders use a personal approach both to students and to students' families.
Pelaksanaan Pendidikan Agama pada Sekolah-Sekolah di Kodia Malang
Authors: Kasiram Moh.
Published: March 2019

Religious education is one of the  more important elements in achieving the goal of national education in Indonesia. UUSPN No. 21 1989 and GBHN 1993 stated that religious education is compulsary for student in every level. This study tries to find out the implmentation of religious education in  Malang city. It is found out that (1) religious teachers are very serious in preparing the lesson; (2) the teachers use new methods in teaching religion i.e. experiments and problem solving; (3) the quality of teacher achievement again is very good in preparing teaching plans and implementing PBM in the classroom; (4) all schools are conducive to religious education, because all principals are the main supporters in religious activities in schools; and (5) the limitations of facilities, infrastructure and funds are the main obstacles.
Pengaruh Penggunaan Metode Pendidikan Moral Terhadap Peningkatan Pertimbangan Moral Siswa SMP
Authors: Ghony M. Djunaidi , Ali Nur
Published: March 2019

The model of learning in teaching moral education widely adopted in Indonesia is the Lecture Question Answer (LQA) method developed from the values induction approach. This method has lent itself to that negative interpretation. The present study attempts at investigating the influences of moral education methods in order to find out a method that is more appropriate to the characteristics and the objectives of moral education in Indonesia. This research is experimental in nature and was performed using a 2x2 factorial design. One independent variable, one moderator variable and one dependent variable were involved in the study. The research subjects were randomly selected from the students of SMP IKIP Malang and they were also randomly assigned to perform research treatments. The subjects’ moral judgment stages were measured using the Kohlberg’s judgment stage structure. A two way anova was then performed to analyze the data. The results show that the method of discussing moral dilemmas is superior to the lecture method. Female students are superior in moral judgment skills than male students.
Rasm Mushaf Usmany Dan Rahasianya (Sebuah kajian tentang bukti. baru kemu'jizatan AI-Qur'an)
Authors: Aziz Abdul
Published: March 2019

Syalabi wrote, in his book that Abu Bakar has collected Al-Qur'an comprising seven readings which are allowed to be read. He did not specify on one certain reading. A lot of his friends also had their own mushaf. The differences, then, caused the different reading among Iraq and Syam society. This dispute made Khudzaifah bin al-Yaman was angry. He informed it to Usman bin Affan r.a. and finally Usman united the people in one letter or one reading and Rasm.
Teologi Pluralisme Dalam Pendidikan Islam Mencermati lmplikasi Pemikiran Nurcholish Madjid
Authors: Esha Muhammad Ln'am
Published: March 2019

The phenomena of religious plurality is like two-edge knife. The religious plurality can give advantages or us to help human life achieving the progress because of life dynamics with those differences. But, on the other hand, it can cause big disaster for human life. Of course, we do not wish religious plurality to be a destructive power. An effort to create the awareness of the plurality must be done to make the plurality become stimulant of progress not a destructive power. In this context, the idea proposed by the thinkers of pluralism, such as Farid Essack, or Nur Cholis Madjid, who have tried to propose the idea in the theological context, find its significance.
Pengaruh lklan Terhadap Perilaku Konsumerisme
Authors: Rahayu Lin Tri
Published: March 2019

This research tried to find a description about the influence of advertisement to consumerism behavior, factors that influencing in decision to buy and medias of advertisement in which giving bigger influence in decision to buy. This research was conducted in Malang. The method research used is qualitative method Method which used in data collecting is interview. The interview method used was complimentary leaded method. The result of this research are (1) advertisement influencing consumerism attitude and consumerism behavior, (2) factors that influencing the decision to buy for example requirement at that moment, quality of products, benefit an product and influence of others (friend, family member and others) (3) most utilized effective media to display advertisment products are television and then magazine, newspaper, radio and which at least having an effect on is pamphlets.
Konsep Pluralisme Agama Farid Esack
Authors: Soleh A. Khudori
Published: March 2019

Farid Esack is one of the Islamic scholars concerning on religious pluralism. Pluralism, according to him, does not only deal with inclusiveness as Nur Kholis Madjid and Alwi Shihab thought and political interest-based as John Hick and Hans Kung concerned but also theological perspective. It means that the truth of other religions is not based on their only existence but because of Qur'anic acceptance textually to their existence beside Islam. According to Esack, al-Qur'an has clearly accepted other religions' existence beside Islam.
MENELADANI PROFESIONALISME RASULULLAH DALAM DUNIA BISNIS
Authors: Asnawi Nur
Published: March 2019

Multidimensional growth in Indonesia not because of economical factor, but because of the behavior of businessmen that is not in the way of that has been formed by Rasulullah, i. e. accountability, disclosure, responsibility, fairness, and honesty. The businessman behavior today looks like so far from those values, emphasizing to profit taking, that makes Indonesian business to be penniless. Dalam melakukan bisnis ada 5 hal yang diteladankan oleh Rasulullah, yaitu: kepn'badian spiritual (faithly), memiliki kejujuran (integrity), berlaku adil dalam bisnis, bersikap melayani dan rendah hati, dan amanah (trusty).
FILSAFAT IKHWAN ASH-SHAFA
Authors: Hady M. Samsul
Published: March 2019

Brethren of Purity (Ikhwan al-Safa) is a group of philosophers in medieval Islamic history. They declared themselves as opponents of any chastity, impurity, or opacity. Their thoughts compiled in an encyclopedia containing of fifty two treaties (epistles), titled al-Rasa'il Ikhwan al-Safa wa Khullan al-Wafa. Al-Rasa'il extensively surveys a huge range of subjects ranging from music to magic. They are didactic in tone and highly eclectic in content, providing both pedagogical and culture mirror of their Age and its diverse philosophies and creeds. Therefore, al-Rasail is still debatable of its origin, one claims to the writing of Ali bin Abi Talib, the fourth Muslim Caliph (d. 40/661), or the writing of the sixth Shi'ite imam, Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq. The encyclopedia aspires to encompass all knowledge, from all sources, and to give meaning to the struggles of the human race. One of all amazing notions of the Brethren of Purity is a numerical symbolism as applied to explain qualitative correspondence of three principal beings: God as The Creator, universe, and human being.
KETIKA MOHAMMED ARKOUN MEMBINCANG WAHYU
Authors: El-Mawa Mahrus
Published: March 2019

Expressing of somebody's thought is like open a window of ideas world on a period. Terminology of "wahyu" or revelation in Qur'anic studies, then; often only concentrated on its subject in a past. Hence, impress that researchers less express revelation in modern perspective of science, such as linguistics, anthropology, and so on. Mohammed Arkoun is one among recent thinker of moslem trying to discuss about revelation. In the context of Islamic thought, Arkoun's contribution enough means to open the door of discourse on recent Islamic science. In this article can be known that how Arkoun in reading of revelation has a new perspective.
KEMATANGAN JIWA BERAGAMA
Authors: Mulyono Mulyono
Published: March 2019

Human beings have two experiences; a) physical, and b) spiritual. The physical growth is based on the chronological age, then that is known as adultery. Whereas the spiritual growth is based on the capability level, and the top of this growth is known as maturity. The growth level that is achieved by every individual will be different. Anyone can be adult physically, not spiritually. To be adult spiritually, someone may be mature in his/her personality soul. The people's soul is mature when the people's mature soul is interrelated with religiosity that is known as a maturity of religious soul. 17zere are six characteristics of maturity: 1) having a good differentiation, 2) having dynamic motivation in spiritual life, 3) having proper implementation of the religion consistently and productively, 4) having comprehensive point of view, 5) having integrated point of view and 6) having high motivation in finding and serving the God.
Asymmetric Information in the Market for IPOs
Authors: Rhodes Heather N
Published: March 2019

This study utilizes hand-collected ownership data to re-examine the signaling, agency and wealth effect theories in a matched-sample of initial public offerings (IPOs) issued in the U.S. prior to and following the passage of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (SOX). SOX provides some motivation for revisiting these topics because evidence exists that it may have affected the types of firms going public and ultimately the relatively importance of adverse selection and moral hazard, the asymmetric information problems with which these theories are concerned. Results on both the pre- and post-SOX samples are consistent with the signaling theory and evidence of a wealth effect exists in both eras. However, in contrast to results of studies conducted prior to SOX, both the pre- and post-SOX results give little credence to the agency theory, suggesting that SOX has not impacted investors’ concerns regarding moral hazard. Rather, the difference between the pre-SOX results and the results of previous studies suggests that SOX appeared to reduce moral hazard concerns only through its effect on the self-selection of firms going public.
Relationship between Leader Behaviours and Subordinates’ Work Performance
Authors: Magombo-Bwanali Neria
Published: March 2019

The paper assesses the relationship between leader behaviours and subordinates’ work performance in the context of tax administration. Data were collected in Malawi using two validated questionnaires administered online for subordinates and team leaders at a field office of a tax administration. Frequency distributions were used to identify dominant primary leader behaviours and the Spearman’s rank-order correlation analysis was used to assess the relationship between leader behaviours and subordinates’ work performance. Participative path-goal leadership behaviour is the most common primary leadership behaviour that team leaders in tax administration employ. Secondly, supportive and achievement oriented leader behaviours have a significant relationship with subordinates’ work performance in tax administration. The study concluded that achievement oriented path-goal leadership behaviour could be effective for public organisations involved in law enforcement. It is recommended that leaders should conduct a self-assessment of their leadership; adopt the relations-oriented leadership behaviours and incorporate coaching during performance evaluation exercise; and that organisations should equip leaders with leadership and management skills through training.The study is limited by the small sample-size, therefore, future studies could repeat the assessment with a larger sample and determine the mathematical equations for predicting the effect of each leadership behaviour on subordinates’ work performance.
The Strategy of Spiritual Leadership
Authors: Jufrizen Jufrizen , Sari Maya , Nasutian Muhammad İrfan , Radiman Radiman , Wahyuni Sri Fitri
Published: March 2019

To analyze the influence of spiritual leadership on the organizational commitment of lecturers, spiritual leadership on the workplace spirituality, spiritual leadership on spiritual survival, Workplace Spirituality on the organizational commitment of lecturers, and Spiritual Survival towards the organizational commitment of lecturers in  Private Universities in Medan. The study population was all permanent lecturers of private universities owned by  Foundation ( organizations) totaling 425 permanent lecturers who had functional positions as expert assistants, lecturers, and head lecturers and had the following characteristics: (1) tenure of over 1 year, (2 ) Domicile in Medan and (3) Carry out the Tri Dharma of Higher Education. Determination of the number using the Slovin formula and obtained as many as 219 lecturers and data analysis used was path analysis. The results showed that Spiritual Leadership had a positive and significant effect on the lecturers' organizational commitment, Spiritual Leadership had a positive and significant effect on workplace spirituality, Spiritual Leadership had a positive and significant effect on spiritual survival, Workplace Spirituality had a positive and significant influence on the organizational commitment of lecturers, and Spiritual Survival was influential positive and significant towards organizational commitment of lecturers at  Private Universities in Medan City. In this study Workplace Spirituality and spiritual survival act as mediators
Comparison of Magnesium Versus Titanium Screw Fixation for Biplane Chevron Medial Malleolar Osteotomy in the Treatment of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus
Authors: Acar Baver , Kose Ozkan , Unal Melih , Turan Adil , Kati Yusuf Alper , Guler Ferhat
Published: March 2019

Background and objectives: The purpose of this retrospective study was to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes of patients who underwent biplane chevron medial malleolar osteotomy (MMO) for osteochondral lesions of the talus (OLT), fixed with either magnesium (Mg) or titanium (Ti) screws. Materials and Methods: A total of 22 patients (12 male, 10 female) with a mean age of 40.6±12.5 years (range, 18-56 years) who underwent MMO for OLT treatment were included in this retrospective study. Of the 22 patients, MMO was fixed with bioabsorbable Mg screws (Alloy: MgYREZr) in 11 patients, and in the remaining 11 patients (one bilateral) MMO were fixed with Ti screws.  All patients were followed up for at least one year with a mean of 20.7±8.9 months (range, 12–49 months). The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scale and the visual analog scale (VAS) were used to evaluate the clinical results. Union of the osteotomy, postoperative displacement, and all other complications were followed and analyzed. Results: An improvement in the AOFAS scale and VAS points were recorded in both groups with no statistically significant difference between the groups (p: 0.079 and 0.107 respectively). Complete union of the osteotomy was obtained in all patients. One patient in the Ti group required implant removal due to pain and irritation. There were no other significant complications in either group. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that bioabsorbable Mg compression screws have similar therapeutic efficacy to Ti screws in respect to functional and radiological outcomes in MMO fixation. Bioabsorbable Mg screw is an alternative fixation material which can be safely used for MMO in ankle surgery.
Crushing Behavior and Crushing Strengths of Low-Density Foam Concrete
Authors: Song Yu , Lange David
Published: March 2019

Foam concrete is a highly cellularized cementitious material that undergoes extensive plastic deformation when loaded to failure. Under compression, the foam structure gets progressively crushed at a steady stress stage such that a substantial amount of energy is dissipated. Understanding foam concrete crushing behavior is of special importance for its engineering applications such as energy absorber, but the current studies are insufficient to define material properties for design of field applications. This study characterizes the crushing strength and foam modulus of samples with penetration test and resonant frequency test, respectively. A four-phase crushing behavior is observed. The yield strength and plateau strength are identified to characterize the foam crushing. Using the experimental inputs, the modulus-strength constitutive equations are then established. These findings are useful for expanding the knowledge of normal concrete to studies on foam concrete, as well as design of applications.Foam concrete is a highly cellularized cementitious material that undergoes extensive plastic deformation when loaded to failure. Under compression, the foam structure gets progressively crushed at a steady stress stage such that a substantial amount of energy is dissipated. Understanding foam concrete crushing behavior is of special importance for its engineering applications such as energy absorber, but the current studies are insufficient to define material properties for design of field applications. This study characterizes the crushing strength and foam modulus of samples with penetration test and resonant frequency test, respectively. A four-phase crushing behavior is observed. The yield strength and plateau strength are identified to characterize the foam crushing. Using the experimental inputs, the modulus-strength constitutive equations are then established. These findings are useful for expanding the knowledge of normal concrete to studies on foam concrete, as well as design of applications.
Ebolavirus Entry: From Molecular Characterization to Drug Discovery
Authors: Salata Cristiano , Calistri Arianna , Alvisi Gualtiero , Celestino Michele , Parolin Cristina , Palu' Giorgio
Published: March 2019

Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) is one of the most lethal transmissible infections characterized by a high fatality rate, and caused by members of the Filoviridae family. The recent large outbreak of EVD in West Africa (2013-2016), highlighted the worldwide danger of this disease and its impact on global public health and economy. The development of highly needed anti-Filoviridae antivirals has been so far hampered by the shortage of tools to study their life cycle in vitro, and therefore screen for potential active compounds outside a biosafety level-4 (BSL-4) containment. Importantly, the development of surrogate models to in vitro study of Filoviridae entry in a BSL-2 setting, such as viral pseudotypes and Ebola virus like particles, tremendously boosted both our knowledge on viral life cycle and the identification of promising anti-Filoviridae compounds interfering with viral entry. In this context, the combination of such surrogate systems with large-scale small molecule compounds and haploid genetic screenings, as well as rational drug design and drug repurposing approaches will prove priceless in our quest for the development of a treatment for EVD.
The Ubiquitin versus NEDD8 Binding Preference of NEDD4 Binding Protein 1 (N4BP1) Is Based on a Mutual Conformational Perturbation
Authors: Nepravishta Ridvan , Ferrentino Federica , Mandaliti Walter , Mattioni Anna , Castagnoli Luisa , Cesareni Gianni , Paci Maurizio , Santonico Elena
Published: March 2019

Ubiquitin binding domains (UBDs) are modular elements that bind non-covalently to ubiquitin and act as downstream effectors and amplifiers of the ubiquitination signal. With few exceptions, UBDs recognize the hydrophobic path centered on Ile44 (Leu-8, Ile-44, Val-70). Nevertheless, a variety of different orientations, which can be attributed to specific contacts between each UBD and surface residues surrounding the hydrophobic patch, specify how each class of UBD recognizes ubiquitin. Here, we describe the structure of a novel ubiquitin-binding domain that we identified in NEDD4 binding protein 1 (N4BP1). By performing protein sequence analysis, mutagenesis and NMR spectroscopy of the 15N isotopically labelled protein, we demonstrate that a Phe-Pro motif in N4BP1 recognizes the canonical hydrophobic patch of ubiquitin. This recognition mode resembles the molecular mechanism evolved in the CUE (Coupling of ubiquitin conjugation to ER degradation) domain family, where an invariant proline, usually following a phenylalanine, is required for binding to ubiquitin. Interestingly, the UBD of N4BP1 is evolutionary related to CUBAN (Cullin binding domain associating with NEDD8) (40% identity and 47% similarity), a protein module that also recognizes the ubiquitin-like NEDD8, which is the closest relative of ubiquitin (58% identity and 80% similarity). By performing circular dichroism and 15N NMR chemical shift perturbation of N4BP1 in complex with ubiquitin, we demonstrate that the UBD of N4BP1 lacks the NEDD8 binding properties observed in CUBAN and it recognizes the Ile44-centered patch of ubiquitin through a dedicated binding site, which share some of the features observed in the CUE domain family. Moreover, we show that, in addition to mediating the interaction with ubiquitin and ubiquitinated substrates, both the CUBAN and the UBD of N4BP1 are poly-ubiquitinated in cells. This modification is dependent on the presence of a functional domain. We believe that the structural and functional characterization of this novel UBD will allow a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms governing N4BP1 function, while at the same time providing a valuable tool for clarifying how the discrimination between ubiquitin and the highly related NEDD8 is achieved.
Improving the Efficiency of Opportunistic Routing in Dynamic Ad Hoc Networks by Eliminating Duplicate Message Forwarding
Authors: Menon Varun
Published: March 2019

Opportunistic routing has emerged as one of the prominent solutions for efficient data delivery in ad hoc networks especially in highly dynamic scenarios. Opportunistic routing uses the broadcasting nature of the wireless medium to increase the number of potential forwarding nodes in the network, thereby improving the delivery rate. But most of the proposed opportunistic routing protocols suffer from increased duplicate data forwarding at the intermediate nodes in the network which leads to increase in traffic and reduced efficiency. We propose a novel method which uses acknowledgements for controlling the data forwarding by intermediate nodes and thereby eliminating most of the duplicate forwarding in the network. Simulation results show that our proposed method is much more efficient that all the major existing opportunistic protocols.
Testing Host-Plant Driven Speciation in Phytophagous Insects: A Phylogenetic Perspective
Authors: Jousselin Emmanuelle , Elias Marianne
Published: March 2019

During the last two decades, ecological speciation has been a major research theme in evolutionary biology. Ecological speciation occurs when reproductive isolation between populations evolves as a result of niche differentiation. Phytophagous insects represent model systems for the study of this evolutionary process. The host-plants on which these insects feed and often spend parts of their life cycle constitute ideal agents of divergent selection for these organisms. Adaptation to feeding on different host-plant species can potentially lead to ecological specialization of populations and subsequent speciation. This process is thought to have given birth to the astonishing diversity of phytophagous insects and is often put forward in macroevolutionary scenarios of insect diversification. Consequently, numerous phylogenetic studies on phytophagous insects have aimed at testing whether speciation driven by host-plant adaptation is the main pathway for the diversification of the groups under investigation. The increasing availability of comprehensive and well-resolved phylogenies and the recent developments in phylogenetic comparative methods are offering an unprecedented opportunity to test hypotheses on insect diversification at a macroevolutionary scale, in a robust phylogenetic framework. Our purpose here is to review the contribution of phylogenetic analyses to investigate the importance of plant-mediated speciation in the diversification of phytophagous insects and to present suggestions for future developments in this field.
Low Concentration Response Hydrogen Sensors Based on Wheatstone Bridge
Authors: Jiang Hongchuan , Tian Xiaoyu , Deng Xinwu , Zhao Xiaohui , Zhang Luying , Zhang Wanli , Zhang Jianfeng , Huang Yifan
Published: March 2019

MEMThe PdNi film hydrogen sensors with Wheatstone bridge structure were designed and fabricated by the micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) technology. The integrated sensors consisted of four PdNi alloy film resistors. The interval two of them were shielded with silicon nitride film and used as reference resistance, while the others were used for hydrogen sensing. The PdNi alloy films and SiN films were deposited by magnetron sputtering. The morphology and microstructure of the PdNi films were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD). The output resistance signal was converted to millivolt output voltage signal for easy data acquisition. Hydrogen (H2) sensing properties of PdNi film hydrogen sensor with Wheatstone bridge structure was investigated under different temperatures (30℃, 50℃ and 70℃) and H2 concentrations (from 10 ppm to 0.4%). The hydrogen sensor demonstrated good response at different hydrogen concentrations and high repeatability in cycle testing under 0.4% H2 concentration. Under 10ppm hydrogen, the PdNi film hydrogen sensor had evident and collectable output voltage of 600 μV.
Smart Modular Architecture for Supervision and Monitoring of a 4.0 Production Plant
Authors: Tiboni Monica , Aggogeri Francesco , Pellegrini Nicola , Perani Cesare Augusto ,   Università degli Studi di Brescia Via Branze 38, Brescia 25123, Italy,   XPLAB, Brescia, Italy
Published: March 2019

The paper presents a smart modular architecture that allows for a traditional production plant to be transformed into a supervised, fully integrated, and monitored system. The proposed approach is based on using commercial devices to create an industrial Internet of Things network connected to PLCs, CNCs, and sensors on every single plant machinery. The novelty is in the smart architecture, software implementation of the supervision, and monitoring. A base software code, easily adaptable to different applications, allows for highly innovative man-machine interfaces to be created. Therefore, the monitoring of the embedded systems can be obtained through multiple remotable interfaces. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology is demonstrated experimentally on a case study during a mechatronics industry exhibition.
Transisi Data dan Informasi dalam Pengembangan Ilmu Pengetahuan
Authors: Mulyadi Mulyadi
Published: March 2019

Data transition is a transition of data until it becomes wisdom. Why the transition of data, information, knowledge and wisdom is interesting to study, because science can not only be understood as the result of static scientific and legal theory, but science is the process, activity and ability developed by scientists to finally become wisdom. The main problem that occurs is the public especially the world of education more presented with various results of science that is ready and ready to use, without seeing the process of work and science activities.On the basis of this, we must be able to build the character of a scientist, the person who is always dissatisfied and always restless questioning and questioning everything, is critical of the results of knowledge that has been developed by the previous people specialized in the field of library science. A knowledge or information that will be presented to users in the library, must first be verified in advance where the data source and how interpret it to be understood by the user so the information received is completely valid and does not cause anxiety and debate. The method used in data processing by looking at relations (relations), then designed with a pattern (pattern) particular, and eventually become principles (principles) to be done and implemented together. Thus it can be concluded that to make the data into a knowledge and ultimately a principle that can be implemented by many people has become a necessity for information managers have a soul as a true scientist who does not have partiality so that science really stands above truth.
A Mathematical Model for Predicting Long-Term Productivity of Modern Multifractured Shale-Gas/Oil Wells
Authors: Li Gao , Guo Boyun , Li Jun , Wang Ming
Published: March 2019

Modern multifractured shale-gas/oil wells are horizontal wells completed with simultaneous-fracturing, zipper-fracturing, and (in particular) modified-zipper-fracturing techniques. An analytical model was developed in this study for predicting the long-term productivity of these wells under conditions of pseudosteady-state (PSSS) flow, considering the cross-bilinear flow in the rock matrix and hydraulic fractures. Performance of the model was verified with the well-productivity data obtained from a shale-gas well and a shale-oil well. Sensitivity analyses were performed to identify key parameters of hydraulic fracturing affecting well productivity. The conducted field case studies show that the analytical model overpredicts shale-gas-well productivity by 2.3% and underpredicts shale-oil productivity by 7.4%. A sensitivity analysis with the model indicates that well productivity increases with reduced fracture spacing, increased fracture length, and increased fracture width, but not proportionally. Whenever operational restrictions permit, more fractures with high density should be created in the hydraulic-fracturing process to maximize well productivity. The benefit of increasing fracture width should diminish as the fracture width becomes large. Increasing fracture length by pumping more fracturing fluid can increase well-production rate nearly proportionally. Therefore, it is desirable to create long fractures by pumping high volumes of fracturing fluid in the hydraulic-fracturing process.
Quaternized Chitosan Nanoparticles in Vaccine Applications
Authors: Yu Shuang , Hao Shengnan , Sun Beini , Zhao Dongying , Yan Xingye , Jin Zheng , Zhao Kai
Published: March 2019

Different natural and synthetic biodegradable polymers have been used in vaccine formulations
as adjuvant and delivery system but have faced various limitations. Chitosan is a new delivery
system with the potential to improve development of nano vaccines and drugs. However, chitosan
is only soluble in acidic solutions of low concentration inorganic acids such as dilute acetic acid
and dilute hydrochloric acid and in pure organic solvents, which greatly limits its application.
Chemical modification of chitosan is an important way to improve its weak solubility. Quaternized
chitosan not only retains the excellent properties of chitosan, but also improves its water solubility
for a wider application. Recently, quaternized chitosan nanoparticles have been widely used in biomedical
field. This review focuses on some quaternized chitosan nanoparticles, and points out the
advantages and research direction of quaternized chitosan nanoparticles. As shown by the applications
of quaternized chitosan nanoparticles as adjuvant and delivery carrier in vaccines, quaternized
chitosan nanoparticles have promising potential in application for the development of nano vaccines
in the future.
ANGPTL3 Mutations in Unrelated Chinese Han Patients with Familial Hypercholesterolemia
Authors: Yang Yunyun , Yang Song , Jiao Xiaolu , Li Juan , Zhu Miaomiao , Wang Luya , Qin Yanwen
Published: March 2019

Background and objective:

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a severe genetic hyperlipidemia
characterized by increased levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), leading to premature atherosclerosis.
Angiopoietin-like protein (ANGPTL3) is a hepatocyte-specific protein that can be used to lower LDL in
FH. However, it was unknown whether ANGPTL3 variants are present in FH patients. This study was performed
to identify ANGPTL3 variants in unrelated Chinese Han patients with FH.

Methods and Results:

We screened 80 patients with FH (total cholesterol >7.8mmol/L, LDL-cholesterol
>4.9mmol/L) and 77 controls using targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) of six FH candidate genes
(LDLR, ApoB100, PCSK9, ABCG5, ABCG8, and ANGPTL3). Candidate pathogenic variants identified by NGS
were validated by Sanger sequencing. Mutant and wild-type plasmids containing the variant sequence were constructed
and verified by Sanger sequencing. The gene expression profile was analyzed by an expression profile
chip in transfected HepG2 cells using quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR. We identified 41 variants in 28 FH patients,
including two ANGPTL3 mutations: one exonic (c.A956G: p.K319R) and one in the untranslated region
(c.*249G>A). Gene ontology analyses found that the cholesterol metabolic process and ANGPTL3 expression
were significantly up-regulated in the ANGPTL3 K319R mutation group compared with the wild-type group.
qRT-PCR findings were consistent with the expression profile analysis.

Conclusion:

Rare ANGPTL3 variants were identified in Chinese patients with FH, including ANGPTL3:
p.(Lys319Arg) which affected the expression of ANGPTL3 and the cholesterol metabolic process as determined
by bioinformatics analysis.

:

Clinical Trial Registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registration (ChiCTR-ROC-17011027)
http://www.chictr.org.cn/listbycreater.aspx
Loss of the Tumor Suppressor HACE1 Contributes to Cancer Progression
Authors: Li Jun-Chen , Chang Xing , Chen Yang , Li Xin-Zhe , Zhang Xiang-Lian , Yang Shi-Ming , Hu Chang-Jiang , Zhang Hao
Published: March 2019

HACE1 belongs to the family of HECT domain-containing E3 ligases, which plays an important role in the occurrence, invasion and metastatic process in many human malignancies. HACE1 is a tumor suppressor gene that is reduced in most cancer tissues compared to adjacent normal tissue. The loss or knocking out of HACE1 leads to enhanced tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis; in contrast, the overexpression of HACE1 can inhibit the development of tumors. Hypermethylation reduces the expression of HACE1, thereby promoting tumor development. HACE1 can inhibit the development of inflammation or tumors via the ubiquitination pathway. Therefore, HACE1 may be a potential therapeutic target, providing new strategies for disease prevention and treatment.
Dehydroabietylamine, A Diterpene from Carthamus tinctorious L. Showing Antibacterial and Anthelmintic Effects with Computational Evidence
Authors: SJ Aditya R. , CK Ramesh , S Raghavendra , M Paramesha
Published: March 2019

Background:

Plant-based drugs provide an outstanding contribution to modern therapeutics, and it is well known that the presence of different phytochemicals is responsible for such pharmacological effects. Carthamus tinctorius L. is one such medicinally important plant whose different solvent extracts have been reported with several pharmacological effects like antibacterial, hepatoprotective, and wound healing. The exploration of phytoconstituents from such a medicinally important plant for different pharmacological effects could produce new and effective drugs to treat human diseases.

Objective:

The present study attempts to explore the antibacterial and anthelmintic properties of dehydroabietylamine, a diterpene isolated from Carthamus tinctorius L. followed by the in silico elucidation of its probable mode of action.

Methods:

The minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of dehydroabietylamine were assessed against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, using micro- broth dilution method. The anthelmintic activity of was determined to assess the time taken for paralysis and death of Pheretima Posthuma at different concentrations. Additionally, molecular docking study was conducted to understand the interaction between dehydroabietylamine with target proteins identified for both antibacterial and anthelmintic activity viz., glucosamine-6-phosphate synthase and β-Tubulin, respectively.

Results:

The dehydroabietylamine showed the significant MIC for S. aureus (12.5 μg/ml) and P. aeruginosa (6.25μg/ml), respectively. The result of anthelmintics effect of dehydroabietylamine was found to be dosedependent and compared to the standard drug, albendazole.

Conclusion:

The interactions of dehydroabietylamine with the two target proteins with high binding affinity indicated the probable inhibition of target proteins, which could be the cause for prominent antibacterial and antihelminthic effects.