bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
JEWISH MUSEUMS IN EUROPE: GENESIS AND PROFILE
Authors: Sztyma Tamara
Published: May 2019

In the last decades of the 20th c. and following
2000, a real 'boom' in founding Jewish museums throughout
Europe could be observed. A lot of new institutions were
established, and old ones were modernized. All this
resulting from the growing urge to overcome silence over
the Holocaust, to square up with the past, and to open the
debate on the multiethnicity of the history of Europe. This,
in turn, was favoured by the occurring phenomena: Europe’s
integration, the fall of the Iron Curtain, and the development
of democratic civil societies.
New Jewish museums established in Europe, though
inevitably making a reference to the Shoah, are not Holocaust
museums as such, and they do not tell the story of the
genocide. Their goal is mainly to restore the memory of the
centuries of the Jewish presence in a given country, region,
and town: they tell this story as part of the history of the given
place, and aim at having it incorporated into the official national
history. Moreover, their mission is to show the presence and
importance of the Jewish heritage in today’s world, as well as
to ask questions related to Jewish identity in contemporary
Europe. The civilizational conflicts that arose after the relatively
peaceful 1990s, outlined a new framework for the activity of
Jewish museums which, interestingly, gradually go beyond
the peculiar Jewish experience in order to reach a universal
level. With such activities they try to promote pluralism and
multicultural experience, shape inclusive attitudes, give voice
to minorities, speak out against all the manifestations of
discrimination and exclusion. Since these museums deal with
such sensitive challenging issues, they have to well master the
structure of their message on every level: that of architecture,
script, exhibition layout, and accompanying programmes,
thanks to which they unquestionably contribute to creating
new standards and marking out new trends in today’s
museology as well as in museum learning.
Conflicting Process Theodicies
Authors: Edwards Rem B. ,   The Center for Process Studies
Published: May 2019

This article examines the process theodicies of David Ray Griffin and Philip Clayton. It explains their differences on such issues as God’s primordial power and voluntary self-limitation, creativity as an independent metaphysical principle that limits God, creation out of nothing or out of chaos, and God’s voluntary causal naturalism. Difficulties with their positions are discussed. The Clayton-Knapp “no-not-once” principle is explained, and a more comprehensive theodicy is outlined.
A Note Regarding Relational Ontology in Chemistry
Authors: Kopel Jonathan ,   The Center for Process Studies
Published: May 2019

Reductionism remains the dominant philosophical framework of modern science. Within reductionism, the universe is conceived as a probabilistic and deterministic system guided solely by the laws of physics and mathematics. Under the guidance of reductionist thought, the development of the modern atomic theory and quantum mechanics has drastically changed science, medicine, and philosophy. In particular, the standard model of particle physics remains the crowning achievement of over three hundred years of reductionist thought in both physics and chemistry. Yet developments within chemistry suggest a new paradigm is required to overcome the limitations of reductionism and provide chemists a more fruitful model. This article will argue that a version of relational ontology provides an avenue for elucidating and predicting chemical and atomic phenomena. In relational ontology, the ontological status of an enduring entity in any moment is viewed as a composite of its own inherited properties and the influences of other entities, especially those closely related to it within a system. This view encompasses the causal aspects of the world without denying its dynamic and creative nature while providing a richer understanding of chemistry and other scientific fields.
A New Process-Oriented Approach to Theodicy
Authors: Bracken Joseph ,   The Center for Process Studies
Published: May 2019

In God of Empowering Love: A History and Reconception of the Theodicy Conundrum, David Polk proposes that the power of God should be understood as love that empowers rather than overpowers and that the process-relational metaphysics of Whitehead, Hartshorne, and subsequent Whiteheadian thinkers justifies this conception of God’s power as empowering love. I argue instead that, while Polk’s thesis cannot, strictly speaking, be philosophically justified within the conventional parameters of Whitehead’s metaphysical scheme, the latter could be modestly altered so as to justify divine power as empowering love. In what follows, I lay out my argument for a systems-oriented approach to the God-world relationship in which God as Trinity is both the transcendent origin and ultimate goal of the cosmic process (understood as an ongoing structured society of finite subsocieties and nexuses).
Parameters affecting biomass drying during combustion in moving grate furnaces
Authors: Vorotinskienė Lina
Published: May 2019

The most efficient way so far to extract energy from renewable sources is combustion of solid fuel. Solid fuel furnaces of moderate capacity (5–10 MW) equipped with reciprocating grates are most popular. Grate combustion is a well-developed technology; however, to burn biofuel in this type of furnaces in the optimal and safe way, the fuel must be of high quality and have at least constant moisture content. However, increasing demand for biofuel results in increasing prices. To remain in the market and to stay competitive, heat producers choose to utilise moist biofuel of lower quality, whose moisture content can vary and reach up to 60% wt. The burning on the grate of such biofuel is complicated as the drying process occupies most of the space in the furnace. The purpose of this work was to analyse processes taking place in a furnace, such as: primary air supply, influence of flue gas recirculation and radiation from hot surfaces of the furnace to biofuel drying. Analysis of the data obtained would provide technical decisions facilitating optimal fuel combustion in a furnace without additional investments. Analysis of biofuel drying was performed in an experimental setup with a fixed fuel bed. The experiments were performed with wood chips and four different drying fluid temperatures. The results of experimental studies have shown that the drying rate of biofuels upper layers is strongly influenced by radiation from hot surfaces and the moisture content of the sample decreases by 18% wt.
Increase in efficiency of hydrogen production by optimization of food waste fermentation parameters
Authors: Hovorukha Vira , Tashyrev Oleksandr , Tashyreva Hanna , Havryliuk Olesia , Bielikova Olena , Iastremska Larysa
Published: May 2019

The aim of the work was to optimize the ratio of weight of solid (food waste) and liquid (water) phases in order to ensure high efficiency of molecular hydrogen synthesis and degradation of multi-component food waste. Assessment of the efficiency of fermentation process was carried out using colorimetric and potentiometric methods for pH and redox potential measuring, volumetric and chromatographic methods for volume and composition of gas investigation, and mathematical calculations for fermentation parameters determination. The dynamics of hydrogen fermentation of waste in the horizontal reactor using different ratios of solid (food waste) and liquid (water) phases was investigated. The optimization of the ratio of solid and liquid phases was shown to lead to the increase in efficiency of molecular hydrogen synthesis and destruction of waste particles. The ratio of solid and liquid phases 1:3 was determined to be optimal for the effective synthesis of hydrogen as well as for maximum waste decomposition. It provided effective hydrogen fermentation of multi-component food waste and allowed to rationally use material and technical resources. Obtained results are promising for further development of efficient industrial biotechnologies for waste destruction with the simultaneous synthesis of environmentally friendly energy carrier, i.e. molecular hydrogen.
Wikis como herramientas de trabajo colaborativo complementario y desarrollo de recursos para la formación en traducción a nivel universitario: Análisis retrospectivo
Authors: Vitalaru Bianca
Published: May 2019

Este artículo tiene dos objetivos. En primer lugar, nos hemos propuesto hacer un análisis retrospectivo de los diferentes tipos de actividades realizadas con alumnos de un Máster de Traducción e Interpretación para desarrollar la habilidad de trabajo en grupo utilizando nuevas tecnologías como parte de la competencia interpersonal, fundamental para los traductores según la Red EMT de la Comisión Europea. En segundo lugar, nos interesa evaluar la utilidad de las herramientas wiki para facilitar el trabajo colaborativo en la creación/producción de recursos propios y de materiales bilingües/multilingües para personas en formación del campo de la TI en los servicios públicos (TISP). En este sentido tendremos en cuenta el tipo de tarea, las adaptaciones y cambios de los diferentes cursos académicos en los que se ha implementado desde 2007 hasta 2010 y las habilidades desarrolladas por los alumnos. Finalmente, propondremos unas reflexiones y recomendaciones generales.

This article has two objectives. The first one is to include a retrospective analysis of the different types of activities carried out with students of a Translation and Interpreting Master’s Degree in order to develop the ability to work in groups using new technologies as part of the interpersonal competence, fundamental for translators according to the EMT Network of the European Commission. Moreover, we are interested in evaluating the usefulness of wiki tools to facilitate collaborative work in the creation / production of resources and bilingual / multilingual materials by students enrolled in community interpreting (PSIT) studies. In this context we will take into account the type of task, the adaptations and changes of the different academic courses in which wikis have been implemented from 2007 to 2010 and the skills developed by the students. Finally, we will propose some reflections and general recommendations.
Genetisk risiko og fødslen af det somatiske individ
Authors: Rose Nikolas , Novas Carlos
Published: May 2019

Oversat af Mikkel Thorup og Anders Dræby Sørensen
Om Schmitt
Authors: Morgenthau Hans
Published: May 2019

Oversat af Mikkel Thorup
Det ene og mangefoldet - a priori betingelser for enhver mulig ontologi
Authors: Badiou Alain
Published: May 2019

Oversat af Kåre Blinkenberg og Holger Ross Lauritsen
Dialektik, forskel og svag tænkning
Authors: Vattimo Gianni
Published: May 2019

Den svage tænkning, hvis hovedtræk skal indkredses i dette es­say, er forbundet med dialektikken og forskellen på en måde, der ikke først og fremmest og udelukkende kan betegnes som "o­vervindelse", men må snarere defineres ved hjælp af Heideggers term Verwindung - en term, der selv kun kan forstås inden for en "svag" opfattelse af tænkningen.
Chanter Dusapin : dialogues avec Françoise Kubler et Georg Nigl
Authors: Ranallo Vincent
Published: May 2019

Les compositeurs et leurs interprètes collaborent à la création des oeuvres. La nature et le degré de cette collaboration sont variables. Cet article s’intéresse à la marque laissée sur la musique vocale de Pascal Dusapin par le contact des chanteurs Françoise Kubler et Georg Nigl. L’analyse se colore de l’expérience de l’auteur, lui-même praticien de la musique de ce compositeur. Le parcours du compositeur prend son essor dans une approche expérimentale, mise de l’avant dans la musique de chambre, et s’ouvre graduellement à l’opéra, oeuvre d’art total. Ce cheminement se cristallise dans les rapports de Dusapin avec Kubler et Nigl. À la question de l’expressivité de la diction, ou de sa neutralisation et de son abstraction, Dusapin répond par l’immédiateté de la dimension théâtrale, à travers les timbres de la voix et les mimiques corporelles. Le geste imaginé par le compositeur communique un affect. Il est non seulement vocal, mais il englobe le déploiement du corps chantant dans l’espace.
POSLOVNA TAJNA U SAVREMENOM PRAVU
Authors: MIHAJLOVIĆ Borko
Published: May 2019

Poslovna tajna je možda i najznačajnije sredstvo zaštite specifičnih znanja, informacija i novih tehnologija u savremenoj privredi. Predmet ovog rada je analiza elemenata pojma poslovne tajne sa aspekta relevantnih međunarod-nih, evropskih i srpskih propisa. Na početku autor pokušava da utvrdi šta je predmet zaštite u okviru poslovne tajne, a potom se bavi svakim od tri osnovna elementa ovog pojma, koja su opšteprihvaćena u srpskom, uporednom i međunarodnom pravu: tajnost, tržišna vrijednost poslovne tajne i preduzimanje odgovarajućih mjera u cilju zaštite poslovne tajne. Na kraju autor ukazuje na neusklađenosti koje postoje u pravu Republike Srbije između Zakona o zaštiti poslovne tajne i Zakona o privrednim društvima kojima je poslovna tajna definisana, nastojeći da ukaže na praktične probleme do kojih te neusklađenosti mogu da dovedu.
POČECI SRPSKE TEORIJSKOPRAVNE MISLI KRAJEM 18. I POČETKOM 19. VIJEKA
Authors: MATIĆ Dejan
Published: May 2019

U radu se analizira nastanak i razvoj srpske teorije prava krajem 18. i početkom 19. vijeka. Politička, kulturna i ekonomska zbivanja i dostignuća ovog perioda srpske istorije, društvene nauke, a posebno istorijska nauka, su u velikoj mjeri osvijetlile i detaljno analizirale, no to nije slučaj i sa dostignućima teorije prava kao samostalne naučne discipline. Autor ukazuje na najznačajnije stavove o državi i pravu pravnih poslenika tog vremena u cilju isticanja značajnih naučnih, ali i opštedrušvenih dometa onovremene srpske pravne nauke. Sama priroda teme, koja se odnosi na prošlost srpske teorije prava, neizbježno je nametnula korišćenje prije svega istorijskog metoda. Prilikom analize društvenih faktora koji su uticali na srpske teoretičare prava u stvaranju i izlaganju njihovih teorijskopravnih postavki upotrijebljen je sociološki metod. Uporedna analiza shvatanja srpskih pravnih pisaca te poređenje njihovih stavova sa stavovima evropske teorije prava 19. vijeka, koja im je bila uzor i inspiracija, uslovila je upotrebu komparativnog metoda. Aksiološki metod je korišćen prilikom ocjene naučnih dometa srpske teorije prava u naznačenom vremenskom okviru. U radu se zaključuje da srpska teorijskopravna tradicija nesumnjivo posjeduje bogat sadržaj, te da njeni rezultati predstavljaju neprocjenjivu zaostavštinu, koja se svakako može neposredno uključiti i u savremenu teoriju prava.
Influence of crustal fracturing on the thermal springs and earthquake swarms distribution in the north-east part of the Baikal rift system (Russia)
Authors: Novopashina Anna Vladimirovna , Kuz’mina Elena Alexandrovna
Published: May 2019

The Baikal rift system faults, having developed in the recent rift formation period, are characterized by hydrothermal and seismic activity. Especially in the northeastern part, the level of fracturing affects the localization of thermal outlets and the distribution of earthquake swarms. The specific features of the hydrothermal outputs and seismicity interposition, depending on the fracture heterogeneity and water saturation of the lithosphere layers, have not been previously evaluated. The results of the statistical analysis of the hydrothermal data, presented herein, show that most of the springs are distributed in areas of increased fault density. Multiple less hot hydrotherms are associated with zones of maximum density in the inter-block space. The spatio-temporal analysis of seismicity showed that migrations of weak and moderate seismic activity propagate from earthquake swarms through these zones. Swarms initiate the deformation front by propagating in the quasiplastic layer of the upper mantle at a speed of tens of kilometers per year, which can increase the aqueous fluid pore pressure in the lower earth’s crust, facilitate the movement of the fluid upwards along the section, and cause a process of successive stress relaxation in zones of high fracturing and concentration of hydrothermal springs. Earthquake swarms occur in areas of about average fracture density, associated with deep faults framing consolidated blocks of the earth’s crust. The hydrotherms with high or average temperature, and with probable deep source chemical composition components are related with such zones.
Preservice Turkish Teachers’ Attitudes Towards Anatolian Dialects
Authors: Sarıkaya Bünyamin
Published: May 2019

The term dialect refers to a variation of a language that is peculiar to a specific place, city or region, and therefore, can be regarded as the richness of that language. This study aimed to investigate preservice teachers’ attitudes towards Anatolian dialects. A screening model was used. Study sample consisted of 143 first-, second-, third and fourth-grade students of the Department of Turkish Language Teaching of the Faculty of Education of Muş Alparslan University in the fall semester of 2018-2019 academic year. Data were collected using the “Attitude Scale towards Anatolian Dialects” (ASTAD) developed by Pehlivan (2012). It is a Likert-type scale consisting of 22 items and 4 subscales. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows 22.0 at a significance level of 0.05. Results showed that participants had a moderate level of attitude towards Anatolian dialects. Participants’ attitudes towards Anatolian dialects significantly differed by bilingualism and grade while gender, mother’s and fathers’ educational levels, and socioeconomic status had no significant effect. Based on the results, it is recommended that activities, seminars and conferences be held to inform teachers and preservice teachers about what to do when they encounter students speaking local dialects. Parents and students should also be taught that local dialects are the richness of languages but that they should not use them in school environment.
An Examination of Needs Analysis Research in the Language Education Process
Authors: Sönmez Hülya
Published: May 2019

The aim of this study is to analyze research methods, data collection tools, and data analysis methods of the needs assessment studies conducted in the language education and teaching process. In this study, the general screening model, which is based on an examination of research on needs analysis, was used. The data collected in accordance with the general screening model were examined by the content analysis method based on the examination of the documents. The methods of these studies, data collection tools, and data analysis methods were reviewed. In accordance with the results from the review process, the frequency of use, efficiency, and functionality of the research method, data collection tool and data analysis methods used were evaluated. Next, during the needs assessment process, the importance and priority of students’ and teachers’ needs were discussed. The results of these discussions have been included at the end of the research. In the light of the findings of the research and the results, suggestions were made regarding the importance of teacher and student needs factors in the process of identifying and analyzing language education needs. The classification made shows that researchers generally concentrate on four models which are mixed, survey, descriptive and experimental models. As for the data collection tools, it is understood that different data collection tools are used in the sample studies to determine the needs.
Comparison of Upper Extremity Muscle Activation Levels Between Isometric and Dynamic Maximum Voluntary Contraction Protocols
Authors: Warnock Ben , L. Gyemi Danielle , Brydges Evan , Stefanczyk Jennifer M. , Kahelin Charles , Burkhart Timothy A. , Andrews David M.
Published: May 2019

Background: Muscle activations (MA) during maximum voluntary contractions (MVC) are commonly utilized to normalize muscle contributions. Isometric MVC protocols may not activate muscles to the same extent as during dynamic activities, such as falls on outstretched hands (FOOSH), that can occur during sport or recreational activities. Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare the peak MA of upper extremity muscles during isometric and dynamic MVC protocols. Methods: Twenty-four (12 M, 12 F) university-aged participants executed wrist and elbow flexion and extension actions during five-second MVC protocols targeting six upper extremity muscles (three flexors and three extensors). Each protocol [isometric (ISO); dynamic (eccentric (ECC), concentric (CON), elastic band (ELAS), un-resisted (UNRES)] consisted of three contractions (with one-minute rest periods between) during two sessions separated by one week. Muscle activation levels were collected using standard electromyography (EMG) preparations, electrode placements and equipment reported previously. Results: Overall, the ECC and CON dynamic protocols consistently elicited higher peak muscle activation levels than the ISO protocol for both males and females during both sessions. Over 95% of the CON trials resulted in mean and peak muscle activation ratios greater than ISO, with 56.3% being significantly greater than ISO (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Higher activation levels can be elicited in upper extremity muscles when resistance is applied dynamically through a full range of motion during MVC protocols.
Clarifying a trophic black box: stable isotope analysis reveals unexpected dietary variation in the Peruvian anchovy Engraulis ringens
Authors: Pizarro Jessica , Docmac Felipe , Harrod Chris
Published: May 2019

Background

Small fishes play fundamental roles in pelagic ecosystems, channelling energy and nutrients from primary producers to higher trophic levels. They support globally important fisheries in eastern boundary current ecosystems like the Humboldt Current System (HCS) of the SE Pacific (Chile and Peru), where fish catches are the highest in the world (per unit area). This production is associated with coastal upwelling where fisheries target small pelagic fishes including the Peruvian anchovy (Engraulis ringens). The elevated biomass attained by small pelagics is thought to reflect their low trophic position in short/simple food chains. Despite their global importance, large gaps exist in our understanding of the basic ecology of these resources. For instance, there is an ongoing debate regarding the relative importance of phytoplankton versus animal prey in anchovy diet, and ecosystem models typically assign them a trophic position (TP) of ∼2, assuming they largely consume phytoplankton. Recent work based on both relative energetic content and stable isotope analysis (SIA) suggests that this value is too low, with δ15N values indicating that anchovy TP is ca. 3.5 in the Peruvian HCS.

Methods

We characterised the trophic ecology of adult anchovies (n = 30), their putative prey and carnivorous jack mackerel (n = 20) captured from N Chile. SIA (δ13C and δ15N) was used to estimate the relative contribution of different putative prey resources. δ15N was used to estimate population level trophic position.

Results

Anchovies showed little variability in δ13C (−18.7 to −16.1‰) but varied greatly in δ15N (13.8 to 22.8‰)—individuals formed two groups with low or high δ15N values. When considered as a single group, mixing models indicated that anchovy diet was largely composed of zooplankton (median contribution: 95% credibility limits), with major contributions of crustacean larvae (0.61: 0.37–0.77) and anchovy (preflexion) larvae (0.15: 0.02–0.34), and the assimilation of phytoplankton was negligible (0.05: 0–0.22). The modal (95% credibility limits) estimate of TP for the pooled anchovy sample was 3.23 (2.93–3.58), overlapping with recent SIA-based estimates from Peru. When the two δ15N groups were analysed separately, our results indicate that the lower δ15N group largely assimilated materials from crustacean larvae (0.73: 0.42–0.88), with a TP of 2.91 (2.62–3.23). Mixing models suggested high δ15N anchovies were cannibalistic, consuming anchovy preflexion larvae (0.55: 0.11–0.74). A carnivorous trophic niche was supported by high TP (3.79: 3.48–4.16), mirroring that of carnivorous juvenile jack mackerel (Trachurus murphyi; 3.80: 3.51–4.14). Our results support recent conclusions regarding high TP values of anchovy from Peru and reveal new insights into their trophic behaviour. These results also highlight the existence of cryptic trophic complexity and ecosystem function in pelagic food webs, classically considered as simple.
Opening Formula and Witness Clauses in Arabic Legal Documents from the Early Islamic Period
Authors: Khan Geoffrey
Published: May 2019

Arabic legal documents from early Islamic Egypt are attested in Arabic papyrus collections . These exhibit a formulaic structure that is clearly distinct from those of the Byzantine Greek tradition of legal documents, which continued to be written in the first Islamic century. The Islamic Arabic documents reflect a legal formulaic tradition that had its origins in the Ḥijāz of Arabia. This article examines the background of this Ḥijāzī tradition, with particular focus on the opening formula and the witness clauses. Parallel features are identified in Ancient South Arabian legal texts and in texts of a legal nature from Northern Arabia.
Indic Ornaments on Javanese Shores
Authors: Bronner Yigal , Creese Helen
Published: May 2019

The Old Javanese Rāmāyaṇa Kakawin, the earliest known Javanese literary work, is based on the sixth-century Sanskrit Bhaṭṭikāvya. It is an outcome of a careful and thorough project of translation and adaptation that took place at a formative moment in the cultural exchange between South and Southeast Asia. In this essay we explore what it was that the Javanese poets set out to capture when they rendered the Bhaṭṭikāvya into Old Javanese, what sort of knowledge and protocols informed their work, in what way the outcome was different from the original, and what the Old Javanese Rāmāyaṇa can teach us about Bhaṭṭi’s poem and the nascent poetics of kakawin literature. In particular, we show how Sanskrit figures of speech, or ornaments (alaṃkāra) were understood, commented upon, expanded, and reconfigured. A close look at these texts allows us insights into this remarkable moment of cultural exchange.
Celebrating Sensual Indulgence
Authors: Hong Yue
Published: May 2019

This paper examines the construction of the poet Du Mu’s libertine image to illustrate how Chinese writers and readers of the ninth and tenth centuries validated the search for sensual pleasure by associating it with literary talent, unconventional character, and political disengagement. In doing so, they added indulgence in sensual pleasures to the repertoire of fengliu cultural ideals, a repertoire previously associated with reclusion and drinking. Because sensual pleasure was traditionally viewed as trivial and/or disruptive to social order, ninth-century writers approached the new ideal with considerable ambivalence. Although Du Mu had fashioned a libertine poetic self-image as a young man, he attempted to shed this image later in life. I argue that it was Du Mu’s readers who, by creatively reading his poems and writing anecdotes about his sexual adventures, re-imagined the poet as a figure of fascination and thus created one of the most enduring fengliu characters in Chinese history.
Edith Porada zum 100 . Geburtstag: A Centenary Volume. Edited by Erika Bleibtreu and Hans Ulrich Steymans
Authors: Garrision Mark B.
Published: May 2019

Edith Porada zum 100 . Geburtstag: A Centenary Volume. Edited by Erika Bleibtreu and Hans Ulrich Steymans. Orbis Biblicus et Orientalis, vol. 268. Fribourg: Academic Press, 2014. Pp. xv + 642, illus. FS 184.
Die aramäischen Texte aus Tall Šēḫ Ḥamad/Dūr-Katlimmu/Magdalu. By Wolfgang Röllig
Authors: Millard Alan
Published: May 2019

Die aramäischen Texte aus Tall Šēḫ Ḥamad/Dūr-Katlimmu/Magdalu. By Wolfgang Röllig. Berichte der Ausgrabung Tall Šēḫ Ḥamad/Dūr-Katlimmu, vol. 17. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag, 2014. Pp. lxiv + 284, illus. €84.
World around the Old Testament: The People and Places of the Ancient Near East. Edited by Bill T. Arnold and Brent A. Strawn
Authors: Chavalas Mark W.
Published: May 2019

The World around the Old Testament: The People and Places of the Ancient Near East. Edited by Bill T. Arnold and Brent A. Strawn. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2016. Pp. xxvii + 531, illus. $49.99.
Review on Some Plants’ Therapeutic Effects against Gastrointestinal Microbes
Authors: Abdallah M. S. , Go R. , Mustafa M. , Nallappan M.
Published: May 2019

Plants play vital roles in many health care systems, be it rural or an urban community. Plants became familiar as medicine due to the primordial ideologies and believed. Several plant parts served as medicines to so many ailments including gastrointestinal ailments, due to the fact that their active ingredients are powerful against the microbes as well as healing so many physiological abnormalities. The principal antimicrobial components were used to inhibit the growth of microbes (S. aureus, E. coli, Salmonella spp, B. cereus, and B. subtili,), as well as most of the recognized compounds in most plants were aromatic or saturated organic compounds which enabled the plants to be active against the gastrointestinal microbes. The commonly used diluents were; water, methanol and Di methyl sulphate oxides to ascertain the level of activity of the plants. As such, plant materials in one way or the other are very active when dealing with microbes due to their active ingredients or the phytoconstituents. Most of the microbes identified in many reviewed researches were enteric bacterial species, by which divided into both gram negative and gram positive bacterial isolates, they differ in their cell components, which are the main targets of bioactive constituents to deal with any bacteria. However, certain parasites contributed towards the production of ailments for their survival and causing havoc to the hosts and sometimes be mutualistic.
A Study on Cold Plasma for Food Preservation
Authors: Raviteja T. , Dayam Susan Kanthi , Yashwanth J.
Published: May 2019

Cold plasma is an electrically energized matter composed of highly reactive species which includes molecules of charged and gas with minute particle in the form of negative and positive ions, photons electrons, free radicals at room temperature. It is an emerging technology in non-thermal food preservation in the application of sterilization. An increase in the plasma-based treatment for food is employed to inactivate the food borne pathogens seen in the recent years. The present study recollects the activity of the plasma agents on the microbe population, surface decontamination of the raw produce in the food processing and future novelty in food technology.
Polyhalogen and Polyinterhalogen Anions from Fluorine to Iodine
Authors: Sonnenberg Karsten , Mann Lisa , Redeker Frenio A. , Schmidt Benjamin , Riedel Sebastian
Published: May 2019

This Review deals with the evolving field of polyhalogen chemistry, specifically polyhalogen anions (polyhalides). In addition to a historical outline, current progress in synthetic approaches towards the formation of polyfluorides, polychlorides, polybromides, and polyinterhalides is also illustrated. The structural diversity of polyhalides has substantially increased in the past decade, especially for polychlorides and polybromides, which are commonly characterized by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and quantum‐chemical calculations. Polyfluorides have been examined by sophisticated state‐of‐the‐art quantum‐chemical calculations and investigated spectroscopically in noble gas matrix‐isolation experiments under cryogenic conditions at 4 K. The bonding in such polyhalide systems is also discussed. The last Section deals with applications of polyhalides in halogenation reactions and electrochemistry as well as their use as reactive ionic liquids, emphasizing the promising future of polyhalogen chemistry.
Bio‐Based Polyurethanes from Microbially Converted Castor Oil
Authors: Tran Tuan Kiet , Kumar Prasun , Kim Hak‐Ryul , Hou Ching T. , Kim Beom Soo
Published: May 2019

Bio‐based new polyurethanes (PU) were synthesized from microbially converted castor oil. Castor oil was used as a raw material to synthesize 7,10,12‐trihydroxy‐8(E)‐octadecenoic acid (TOD) by the strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa PR3. Subsequently, hexamethylene diisocyanate (HMDI) was used in different ratios and reacted with TOD to produce new PU. Fourier transform‐infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry were used to confirm the identity of TOD. Differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and tensile property testing were used to investigate the thermal and mechanical properties of PU. PU synthesized based on TOD had a tensile strength of 45.4 MPa with low elongation at break of 8.16% at an isocyanate/hydroxyl ratio of 2.0. To modify the properties of PU, TOD was blended separately with polyethylene glycol or polycaprolactone diol at different weight ratios before reacting with HMDI. The modified polymer showed improved thermal stability and comparatively higher elongation at break. This is the first study demonstrating the conversion of castor oil into TOD that can be used stand alone or as a blend for PU synthesis.
Tailoring of oxidized starch's adhesion using crosslinker and adhesion promotor for the recycling of fiberboards
Authors: Lubis Muhammad Adly Rahandi , Park Byung‐Dae , Hong Min‐Kug
Published: May 2019

The growing interest in recycling waste medium density fiberboards (MDFs) is driving the development of new adhesives that provide sufficient adhesion, and allow disintegration of the waste MDFs. Described in here is the preparation of adhesives based on oxidized starch (OS) in combination with blocked‐polymeric 4‐4 diphenylmethane diisocyanate (B‐pMDI) as a crosslinker and poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) as an adhesion promotor for the recycling of waste MDFs. The COOH groups of OS were reacted with NCO groups of B‐pMDI to form amide linkages, and the CHO groups were reacted with OH groups of PVA through hydrogen bonding. Further, when applied as an adhesive, the OS formed ester linkages with OH of MDF fibers. As the results, MDF bonded with 1% B‐pMDI/15% PVA/OS adhesive had an internal bonding strength of 0.13 MPa, 0.01 mg L−1 of formaldehyde emission (FE), and 12% of degree of fiber disintegration. These results demonstrate that the B‐pMDI/PVA/OS adhesive is a possible alternative to the current urea–formaldehyde resins for the recycling of waste MDFs into recycled MDFs without FE. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47966.
Crowd characteristics and crowd wisdom: Evidence from an online investment community
Authors: Hong Hong , Ye Qiang , Du Qianzhou , Wang G. Alan , Fan Weiguo
Published: May 2019

Fueled by the explosive growth of Web 2.0 and social media, online investment communities have become a popular venue for individual investors to interact with each other. Investor opinions extracted from online investment communities capture “crowd wisdom” and have begun to play an important role in financial markets. Existing research confirms the importance of crowd wisdom in stock predictions, but fails to investigate factors influencing crowd performance (that is, crowd prediction accuracy). In order to help improve crowd performance, our research strives to investigate the impact of crowd characteristics on crowd performance. We conduct an empirical study using a large data set collected from a popular online investment community, StockTwits. Our findings show that experience diversity, participant independence, and network decentralization are all positively related to crowd performance. Furthermore, crowd size moderates the influence of crowd characteristics on crowd performance. From a theoretical perspective, our work enriches extant literature by empirically testing the relationship between crowd characteristics and crowd performance. From a practical perspective, our findings help investors better evaluate social sensors embedded in user‐generated stock predictions, based upon which they can make better investment decisions.
Genetic variants in p53 signaling pathway genes predict chemotherapy efficacy in colorectal cancer
Authors: Zhang Ke , Meng Yixuan , Cao Xiangming , Xu Ye , Du Mulong , Wu Yuan , Liu Lingxiang
Published: May 2019

Background

The murine double minute‐2 gene (MDM2) was originally identified as predicting chemotherapy efficacy. However, little is known regarding the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the p53 signaling pathway and prognosis/chemotherapy sensitivity in colorectal cancer.

Methods

We analyzed the association between 111 SNPs in 22 p53 signaling pathway genes and both progression‐free survival (PFS) and disease control rate (DCR) using Cox regression and logistics regression analysis. The false discovery rate method was used for correction of multiple testing. Secondary structure was predicted by RNAfold. Expression qualitative trait locus analysis and mRNA expression differences were assessed using the GTEx and TCGA databases.

Results

We found that the rs747828 C allele of TP73 was significantly associated with reduced PFS (HR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.27‐2.12, P = 2.00 × 10−4) in the additive model. In the stratified analysis, the rs747828 C allele was significantly associated with both reduced PFS (P = 1.40 × 10−3) and DCR (P = 1.82 × 10−2) in oxaliplatin‐based chemotherapy. The secondary structure of TP73 was altered in response to different rs747828 genotypes. Although the rs747828 C allele was not associated with messenger RNA (mRNA) TP73 expression, it was significantly associated with increased mRNA TP73‐AS1 expression levels in sigmoid tissues. TP73 mRNA was significantly overexpressed in tumor tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues (P = 2.36 × 10−19).

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that functional genetic variants of TP73 mediate the response to chemotherapy in colorectal cancer.
Sequential cetuximab/bevacizumab therapy is associated with improved outcomes in patients with wild‐type KRAS exon 2 metastatic colorectal cancer
Authors: Hsu Hung‐Chih , Liu Yu‐Chun , Wang Chuang‐Wei , Chou Wen-Chi , Hsu Yu-Jen , Chiang Jy-Ming , Lin Yung-Chang , Yang Tsai-Sheng
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Combination of biological therapy and chemotherapy improves the survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). However, the optimal biological therapy sequence remains unclear. In this retrospective study, we evaluated the clinical outcomes of patients with mCRC treated with different sequences of biological therapies as first‐ and third‐line therapy.

Methods

We only included patients with wild‐type KRAS exon 2 mCRC who had received cetuximab, bevacizumab, and standard chemotherapy. The patients were treated with cetuximab or bevacizumab as first‐ or third‐line therapy combined with a similar chemotherapy backbone.

Results

In total, 102 patients were included. Forty‐six patients received first‐line cetuximab therapy followed by third‐line bevacizumab therapy (cetuximab → bevacizumab group) and 56 patients received first‐line bevacizumab therapy followed by third‐line cetuximab therapy (bevacizumab → cetuximab group). The cetuximab → bevacizumab group was associated with increased survival (OS) compared with the bevacizumab → cetuximab group (median OS: 30.4 months vs 25.7 months, hazard ratio (HR): 0.55, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.36‐0.86). When calculated from the start of second‐ and third‐line therapies, OS was also higher in the cetuximab → bevacizumab group (second‐line: 20.6 months vs 14.8 months, HR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.34‐0.81; third‐line: 12.5 months vs 9.9 months, HR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.35‐0.83). The cetuximab → bevacizumab group was also associated with better progression‐free survival than the bevacizumab → cetuximab group (8.8 vs 4.5 months, HR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.25‐0.58) in the third‐line setting, but not in the first‐ or second‐line settings.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that first‐line cetuximab therapy followed by third‐line bevacizumab therapy was associated with favorable clinical outcomes as compared to the reverse sequence.
Transient N4‐Acyl‐DNA Protection against Cleavage by Restriction Endonucleases
Authors: Jakubovska Jevgenija , Tauraitė Daiva , Meškys Rolandas
Published: May 2019

A set of five N4‐acyl‐modified 2′‐deoxycytidine 5′‐triphosphates were incorporated into modified DNA by using phi29 DNA polymerase, and cleavage by selected restriction endonucleases was studied. Modified DNA containing N4‐acyl functional groups in either one or both strands of a DNA molecule was resistant to the majority of restriction enzymes tested, whereas modifications outside of the recognition sequences were well tolerated. The N4‐acylated cytidine derivatives were subjected to competitive nucleotide incorporation by using phi29 DNA polymerase, showing that a high‐fidelity phi29 DNA polymerase efficiently used the modified analogues in the presence of its natural counterpart. These N4 modifications were also demonstrated to be easily removed in an aqueous ethanolamine solution, in which all steps, including primer extension, demodification, and cleavage by restriction endonuclease, could be performed in a one‐pot procedure that eliminated additional purification stages. It is suggested that N4‐modified nucleotides are promising building blocks for a programmable; transient; and, most importantly, straightforward DNA protection against specific endonucleases.
Right lateral geniculate nucleus infarct presenting as a left monocular temporal hemianopia
Authors: Liu Antonio , Sanguino Luis
Published: May 2019

A lesion to the right lateral geniculate nucleus should cause a complete left monocular hemianopia. We present a case of a patient with left eye monocular temporal hemianopia with two MRIs demonstrating an ischemic defect at the right lateral geniculate body as the likely culprit. Patient improved after 4 days.
Role of Ligand in the Selective Production of Hydrogen from Formic Acid Catalysed by the Mononuclear Cationic Zinc Complexes [(L)Zn(H)]+ (L=tpy, phen, and bpy)
Authors: Piacentino Elettra L. , Parker Kevin , Gilbert Thomas M. , O'Hair Richard A. J. , Ryzhov Victor
Published: May 2019

A series of zinc‐based catalysts was evaluated for their efficiency in decomposing formic acid into molecular hydrogen and carbon dioxide in the gas phase using quadrupole ion trap mass spectrometry experiments. The effectiveness of the catalysts in the series [(L)Zn(H)]+, where L=2,2′:6′,2′′‐terpyridine (tpy), 1,10‐phenanthroline (phen) or 2,2′‐bipyrydine (bpy), was found to depend on the ligand used, which turned out to be fundamental in tuning the catalytic properties of the zinc complex. Specifically, [(tpy)Zn(H)]+ displayed the fastest reaction with formic acid proceeding by dehydrogenation to produce the zinc formate complex [(tpy)Zn(O2CH)]+ and H2. The catalysts [(L)Zn(H)]+ are reformed by decarboxylating the zinc formate complexes [(L)Zn(O2CH)]+ by collision‐induced dissociation, which is the only reaction channel for each of the ligands used. The decarboxylation reaction was found to be reversible, since the zinc hydride complexes [(L)Zn(H)]+ react with carbon dioxide yielding the zinc formate complex. This reaction was again substantially faster for L=tpy than L=phen or bpy. The energetics and mechanisms of these processes were modelled using several levels of density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Experimental results are fully supported by the computational predictions.
Hydrogen‐Bond Structure and Dynamics of TADDOL Asymmetric Organocatalysts Correlate with Catalytic Activity
Authors: Cha Seoncheol , Marekha Bogdan , Wagner Manfred , Hunger Johannes
Published: May 2019

The catalytic efficiency of diol‐based organocatalysts has been shown to strongly depend on the diols molecular structure including hydrogen‐bonding, yet, the underlying molecular‐level origins have remained elusive. Herein a study on the inter‐ and intramolecular hydrogen‐bonding of two isomeric diol‐based catalysts (TADDOLs) in solution is presented: 1‐Naphthyl substituted TADDOL (1nTADDOL), which exhibits high catalytic efficiency, and 2‐naphthyl substituted TADDOL (2nTADDOL), which is a poor catalyst. Using nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopy, comparable hydrogen‐bond strengths for both TADDOLs in solution were found, however, significantly slower bonding dynamics for 1nTADDOL. In aromatic solvents, 1nTADDOL forms less, but longer‐lived, intermolecular OH⋅⋅⋅π bonds to solvent molecules, as compared to 2nTADDOL. Thus, rather than previously suggested differences in intermolecular hydrogen‐bonding strengths, the results suggest that the hydrogen‐bonding kinetics and entropies differ for both TADDOLs, which also explains their vastly different catalytic activities.
Oxygen‐Bridged Ga2(Et)3(OTeF5)3 and the Weakly Coordinating Anions [Ga(Et)(OTeF5)3]− and [Ga(OTeF5)4]−
Authors: Wiesner Anja , Fischer Lukas , Steinhauer Simon , Beckers Helmut , Riedel Sebastian
Published: May 2019

Salts of the weakly coordinating anions [Ga(OTeF5)4]− as well as [Ga(Et)(OTeF5)3]− and the neutral Ga2(Et)3(OTeF5)3 were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction. Ga2(Et)3(OTeF5)3 was formed by treating GaEt3 with pentafluoroorthotelluric acid (HOTeF5) and reacted with PPh4Cl and CPh3Cl to [PPh4][Ga(Et)(OTeF5)3] and [CPh3][Ga(Et)(OTeF5)3]. In contrast, Ag[Ga(OTeF5)4] was prepared from AgOTeF5 and GaCl3 and was used as a versatile starting material for further reactions. Starting with Ag[Ga(OTeF5)4] the substrates [PPh4][Ga(OTeF5)4] and [CPh3][Ga(OTeF5)4] were formed from PPh4Cl and CPh3Cl.
Recycling therapies for myeloma: The need for prospective trials
Authors: Kumar Shaji K.
Published: May 2019

With the improving survival of patients with myeloma, there is a need for the development of multiple different drug combinations for continued treatment and disease control. Reusing previously used drugs, especially as part of new combinations, is an attractive strategy.
Impacts of spectral variations in multiwavelength excitation method on measurements of fluorescently whitened papers
Authors: Imura Kenji
Published: May 2019

The multiwavelength excitation (MWE) method for measuring the colorimetric properties of fluorescent whitening agent (FWA)‐treated specimens illuminated by a standard daylight illuminant computationally approximates not the spectral power distribution (SPD) of the illuminant but the luminescent SPD excited thereby by a weighted sum of the luminescent SPDs excited by a few different narrow‐band illuminations. The weights are optimized for the actual SPDs of those illuminations and the bispectral luminescent radiance factors of typical FWA‐treated paper specimens. Since the latter is invariant among instruments once provided as the common numerical data, the variations of the narrow‐band SPDs give major impacts to the reproducibility of this method. The weights optimized for the varied SPDs, however, mitigate the impacts. For investigating how they impact, one basic illumination system and its 16 simple variation systems were built virtually. The basic system consists of three narrow‐band LEDs and one blue‐excited white LED, whereas the individual simple variation system has either the peak wavelength or spectral width of one of the four LEDs (including the blue LED in the white LED) varied. With those systems, seven FWA‐treated papers with the known bispectral radiance factors were measured computationally by simulating the procedure of the MWE method. The differences in the colorimetric values measured with the simple variation systems from those with the basic system are far below the just noticeable difference, which indicates that the MWE method can be a practical solution for better reproducibility in measuring FWA‐treated papers.