bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surgical Outcome in Bentall’s Procedure
Authors: Rajbanshi Bijoy , Timala Rabindra , Pradhan Sidhartha , Singh Yogesh Man , Gautam Navin , Sharma Jotindra , Koirala Ramesh , Koirala Bhagwan
Published: December 2019

It is well recognized that Bentall's procedure is one of the demanding surgeries in adults. We report the short term results following Bentall’s procedure in seventeen consecutive patients operated in the last 5 years.
Pemanfaatan Teknologi Informasi Sebagai Media Pembelajaran di Taman Pendidikan Al-Quran
Authors: Hakimah Maftahatul , Tukadi Tukadi , Hapsari Rinci Kembang , Nugroho Hendro , Hapsari Dian Puspita
Published: December 2019

Perkembangan teknologi informasi saat ini memberikan kemudahan akses disegala bidang sekalipun pendidikan non formal seperti TPQ. Cara belajar yang menyenangkan menjadi tuntutan bagi para guru TPQ termasuk di TPQ Al-Fadlol agar para santri bisa memahami materi agama sehingga bisa diterapkan dalam rutinitas keseharian. Materi ibadah sehari-hari yang diajarkan di TPQ Al-Fadlol ini adalah doa sehari-hari, tuntunan shalat dan cerita islami. Kegiatan Pengabdian Kepada Masyarakat yang dilakukan ini adalah menyajikan materi utama di TPQ Al-Fadlol dalam sebuah aplikasi yang diberi nama Muslim Daily Prayer sebagai media pembelajaran. Dengan aplikasi ini, para santri dan para guru bisa menciptakan suasana belajar yang tidak membosankan sehingga para santri lebih bersemangat belajar agama. Selain itu, sosialisasi terhadap pengaruh positif dan negatif dari adanya teknologi informasi ini diberikan untuk membekali para santri dan para guru agar lebih bijak dalam menggunakannya.
Peningkatan Kualitas Batik Tulis Motif Tajung di Kelurahan Polagan Sampang Menggunakan Bahan Pewarna Alam Mangrove
Authors: Amirullah Amirullah , Wardoyo Tri , Rapitasari Diana
Published: December 2019

Kampung Madegan dan Kampung Tajung merupakan salah satu wilayah pesisir di Kelurahan Polagan Kabupaten Sampang. Pada sepanjang pesisir pantai telah lama tumbuh pohon bakau (mangrove) dan berbatasan langsung dengan lahan tambak. Sekitar sepuluh tahun terakhir vegetasi mangrove di kedua kampung ini semakin berkurang. Dampaknya ketika laut pasang, tidak ada media penahan alami sehingga air menerobos mangrove dan langsung masuk ke lahan tambak. Intrusi air laut ini menyebabkan banyak tambak penduduk tidak produktif lagi baik menghasilkan garam di musim kemarau dan budidaya ikan bandeng atau udang di musim penghujan. Penurunan vegetasi mangrove dipicu oleh: (1) penebangan kayu, dahan, dan ranting  pohon mangrove untuk kayu bakar, (2) pengambilan daun hutan mangrove sebagai pakan ternak, (3) penambangan pasir pantai secara masif khususnya ketika air laut surut untuk pasir bangunan, (4) minimnya pengetahuan dan pemahaman masyarakat bahwa bagian mangrove (dahan dan kulit batang) jenis dapat diolah menjadi bahan pewarna alam batik tulis. KKN-PPM Universitas Bhayangkara Surabaya 2019 dilaksanakan di Kampung Madegan dan Kampung Tajung. Salah satu hasil kegiatan program adalah batik tulis gentongan Motif Tajung menggunakan bahan pewarna dari dahan/kulit batang mangrove jenis Rhizophora Mucronata (tinjang) dengan melibatkan Kelompok Pengrajin Batik Tulis Tajung Laok (Mitra 1). Kegiatan diharapkan mampu meningkatkan pemahaman masyarakat, bahwa mangrove selain sebagai penahan ombak alami, habitat bagi ikan maupun udang muda, dan sumber oksigen, dahan dan kulit batangnya dapat juga dimanfaatkan menjadi produk bernilai ekonomis berupa bahan pewarna alam batik tulis, sehingga mampu meningkatkan kualitas batik tulis Motif Tajung  sekaligus mendorong masyarakat lokal menjaga kelestarian Mangrove.
Peningkatan Kualitas Pola Desain dan Efisiensi Produksi UMKM Jilbab dan Baju Muslim di Kelurahan Rungkut Menanggal Surabaya
Authors: Rapitasari Diana , Amirullah Amirullah
Published: December 2019

Usaha Kecil Menengah dan Mikro (UMKM) CV Kamilindo bergerak dalam bidang usaha produksi dan pemasaran konveksi jilbab dan baju muslim “Rira Clothing” serta berlokasi di Kelurahan Rungkut Menanggal Kota Surabaya. Permasalahan aspek produksi adalah (1) Motif rancangan busana (fashion) masih terbatas dan kemampuannya hanya dimiliki oleh pemilik mitra, dan (2) Pemotongan bahan kain Mitra dengan ketebalan tertentu masih dilakukan dengan gunting kain manual. Masalah pada aspek produksi berdampak pada: (1) Pola desain jilbab dan baju muslim masih mengikuti pola lama dan kurang bisa mengikuti perkembangan mode baju busana muslim terbaru, dan (2) Proses pemotongan bahan baku kain ukuran lebar dan tebal menjadi ukuran kecil dan siap jahit relatif lama sehingga menghambat produksi. Program Program Kemitraan Masyarakat (PKM) menggandeng UMKM "Rira Clothing" sebagai mitra dengan tujuan untuk meningkatkan kualitas pola desain dan efisiensi produksi pada UMKM jilbab dan baju muslim. Dari sejumlah permasalahan diatas program PKM melaksanakan program lanjutan meliputi: (1) Peningkatan pengetahuan, keterampilan dan kualitas desain jilbab dan baju muslim menggunakan pola desain jilbab dan baju muslim dengan motif terbaru kepada desainer, dan (2) Efisiensi waktu dan tenaga pemotongan bahan baku kain ukuran lebar dan tebal menjadi ukuran kecil dan siap jahit melalui rancang  bangun inovasi TTG mesin potong bahan baku kain listrik ke Mitra. Hasil kegiatan adalah: (1) Pola desain dan produk jilbab dan baju muslim dengan motif terbaru hasil kreasi desainer Mitra dan (2)  Inovasi baru Teknologi Tepat Guna (TTG) mesin potong bahan baku kain dengan penggerak motor listrik.
Schools and Communities: A Partnership to Enhance the Quality of Alternative Education in Indonesia
Authors: HERLİNA Herlina , WIDODO Suparno Eko , MADHAKOMALA R.
Published: December 2019

The partnership
between school and community can have some benefits to reach students’
achievement. The present research aimed at analyzing varieties of school and
communities’ partnerships in providing alternative schools at the senior high school
level. A single case study research method was employed with two informants as
the primary data source and sixteen informants as the secondary data source.
The data were collected through open ended, in depth interviews, and direct
observations. The result suggested that Master Learning Center collaborated
with particular communities, is able to provide educational needs affecting
students’ achievement. This led to a general conclusion that
schools-communities’ partnerships are considered an effective type of
cooperation to supply the needs of schooling. The partnerships either assisted
marginal society with the education quality improvement.
Identifikasi Potensi Sistem Panasbumi Berdasarkan Korelasi Data Geologi Dan Data Gravitasi Dengan Menggunakan Teknik Filtering First Horizontal Derivative (FHD) - Second Horizontal Derivatif (SVD)
Authors: Wahyu Syafrima , Daud Yunus , Rahadinata Tony , Ningrum Sari Sekar
Published: December 2019

Daerah panasbumi “Z” dalam tatanan tektoniknya termasuk pada jalur back-arc Sumatera, tepat pada salah satu segmen sesar Sumatera bagian selatan, disusun oleh batuan vulkanik dan sedimen klastik yang berumur Tersier hingga Kuarter (Andesit-Basalt). Gejala adanya potensi sistem panasbumi pada daerah penelitian ditandai dengan kemunculan manifestasi permukaan berupa alterasi dan lima mata air panas bersuhu 44,4 – 92,5 oC dan pH antara 8,19 – 9,43. Pengolahan Data gravitasi menggunakan teknik pemisahan Complete Bouguer Anomali (CBA), filtering First Horizontal Derivative (FHD) dan filtering Second Vertical Derivative (SVD) untuk mengetahui kemungkinan lokasi sumber panas dan letak bidang kontak terjadinya anomali serta jenis sesarnya. Berdasarkan slicing lintasan FHD dan SVD, struktur pada peta geologi didominasi oleh sesar naik dan sesar normal yang bersifat regional, serta struktur dengan kompleksitas tinggi yang bersifat lokal. Kemunculan manifestasi permukaan sistem panasbumi berada disekitar nilai anomali residual gravitasi tinggi (8 – 24 mgal) yang mengindikasikan terdapatnya batuan yang kompak dan massif. Diperkirakan sistem panasbumi daerah penelitian termasuk jenis tektonik fracture zone serta anomali tinggi yang berada di sekitar APZ1-APZ2-APZ3 tersebut terdapat batuan intrusi yang berperan penting sebagai sumber panas.
Ma Synthesis and characterizations Titanium Dioxide Nanocomposite by Laser Ablation for Antimicrobial Applications
Authors: Alsalih Moatasem Wdaah , Samsudin Syakirah , Arshad Siti Suri
Published: December 2019

Background: a composite nanoparticles containing Titanium Dioxide are synthesized by pulsed laser ablation. oxide nanoparticles NPs have wide ranges of physical, chemical and biological properties. The main advantages In the present work, studying the characterization of colloid TiO2 NPs were synthesis by PLAL and investigated the antibacterial activity of colloidal TiO2NPs compared to the antibacterial activity of synthesized composite nanoparticles was tested against four different pathogen bacteria two-gram negative (Escherichia coli (E. coli), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae )), institute of bioscience UPM university  kindly supplied these bacteria. The bacterial suspension was made and adjusted by comparison against 0.5 Mc-Farland turbidity typical (5x 107cell ml-1) tubes. It was further diluted to obtain a final of 5 x 106cell ml-1. All bacteria strains were culture in agar media. The media was inoculated by the 0.2 ml/5ml with either the bacteria strains, then added 0.5 ml of TiO2 nanoparticles at concentration200, 400,600 ml-1. The samples were incubated at 37 Â°C. The bacterial growth was measured by optical density that absorbs strongly at 532 nm wavelength. Conclusion that is the mean values of inhibition were calculated from triple evaluation in each assessment.
Formação continuada para a diversidade étnico-racial
Authors: Valentim Silvani dos Santos , Leal Jackson Almeida
Published: December 2019

Resumo: Este estudo objetivou analisar as repercussões do curso “Grupos de Trabalho: Educação para as Relações Étnico-raciais”, nas práticas pedagógicas dos professores da Rede Municipal de Educação de Contagem, MG, no período de 2012 a 2016. A pesquisa teve como referência metodológica a abordagem qualitativa e como estratégia o estudo de caso. Os instrumentos utilizados para levantamento de dados foram: a análise documental, questionário, entrevistas semiestruturadas e a observação participante. Os resultados obtidos evidenciaram a relevância do curso para os professores interlocutores deste estudo, visto que o formato de grupos de trabalho viabilizou a interação, uma rede de troca de informações, conhecimentos e experiências, oportunizando a estes ressignificar saberes que resultaram em práticas pedagógicas antirracistas.
Epistemic Reasonableness and Respect for Persons
Authors: Li Zhuoyao
Published: December 2019

Recent discussions by Martha Nussbaum and Steven Wall shed new light on the concept of reasonableness in political liberalism and whether the inclusion of epistemic elements in the concept necessarily makes political liberalism lose its antiperfectionist appeal. This article argues that Nussbaum’s radical solution to eliminate the epistemic component of reasonableness is neither helpful nor necessary. Instead, adopting a revised understanding of epistemic reasonableness in terms of a weak view of rationality that is procedural, external and second-order rather than a strong view that is substantial, internal and first-order can help political liberalism maintain an epistemic dimension in the idea of reasonableness without becoming perfectionist. In addition, political liberalism can defend a stronger account of respect for persons against liberal perfectionism on the basis of the revised understanding of epistemic reasonableness. Both arguments serve to demonstrate the strength of the political liberal project.
TeleMeios as a Virtual Environment and their possibilities in Hybrid Education
Authors: Meneses Saldanha Nepomuceno Lara , Santos Silva André , De Oliveira Xavier Daniele , de Castro Barbosa Jessica , Uchôa Araújo Ana Cláudia , Borges Neto Hermínio , Martins Torres Antonia Lis de Maria
Published: December 2019

The discussion contemplates the construction and development of collaborative digital tools to support distance teaching, with its origins still in the 2000s, within the scope of the Multimeios Research Laboratory, linked to the Faculty of Education (FACED) of UFC, located at city of Fortaleza / Ceará / Brazil. Thus, it aims to analyze the experiences of construction and (re) structuring of the TeleMeios Virtual Teaching Environment (VTE) and its adaptive possibilities in a hybrid context, with a view to subsidizing formative actions in which learners and teachers can have access to virtual experiences in the learning environment which play the role of protagonists. As theoretical reference, there are the studies of Borges (2009), Jucá (2011), Moran (2015), Bacich; Tanzi Neto; Trevisani (2015) among others, which discuss about teaching and hybrid education, digital information and communication technologies, as well as other themes involving teaching and virtual and classroom learning. The research is bibliographical, of a qualitative nature, anchored in Lakatos and Marconi (2002), which makes use of publications such as textbooks, scientific articles, reviews, which deal with the subject. Among the findings, it can be highlighted that the TeleMeios environment has a formative potential to be explored and investigated, focusing on the structural and pedagogical design of virtual environments that surpass the concept of content repository and the idea of students as receptacles of knowledge. and teachers, as sole holders of knowledge.
Mathematical scattering theory in quantum waveguides
Authors: Plamenevskii B. A. , Poretskii A. S. , Sarafanov O. V.
Published: December 2019

A waveguide occupies a domain G with several cylindrical ends. The waveguide is described by a nonstationary equation of the form it f = Af ,where A is a selfadjoint second order elliptic operator with variable coefficients (in particular, for A = -, where stands for the Laplace operator, the equation coincides with the Schrodinger equation). For the corresponding stationary problem with spectral parameter, we define continuous spectrum eigenfunctions and a scattering matrix. The limiting absorption principle provides expansion in the continuous spectrum eigenfunctions. We also calculate wave operators and prove their completeness. Then we define a scattering operator and describe its connections with the scattering matrix.
Fibrillar biocomposite on the base of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) nanofibers and iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles
Authors: Prusakov V. E. , Maksimov Yu. V. , Beglov V. A. , Gerasimov M. V. , Bychkova A. V. , Olhov A. A. , Chalih A. E. , Iordanskii A. L. , Berlin A. A.
Published: December 2019

The novel biodegradable biocomposites on the base of poly(3-hydroxybutyrare) nanofibers with embedded iron oxide nanoparticles have been studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Mssbayer spectroscopy, small angle X‑ray scattering (SAXS), and macroscopic magnetization techniques.
Manifestation of the lunar-solar tide in spectrums of coordinate GPS data
Authors: Spivak A. A. , Kharlamov V. A.
Published: December 2019

The results of the spectral analysis of coordinate data obtained as a result of the permanent registration in the Geophysical Observatory Mikhnevo IDG RAS using a stationary GPS receiver. A detailed analysis of digital data series for a long period of time (observations are carried out from June 2014 to the present time) showed that the spectrum of variations of coordinate data is characterized by the presence of a significant number of quasi-harmonic components, among which there are fluctuations with periods close to the periods of tidal waves.
Using Food Grade Lye “omushelekha” in the Formulation of Health Products from Commonly Consumed African Indigenous Vegetables and Vegetable Combinations
Authors: Walingo Mary K. , Habwe Florence O.
Published: December 2019

Background: Lye, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide has been used over the years in food preparation including the preparation of vegetables and dried meat products, washing or chemical peeling of fruits and vegetables, cocoa processing, caramel production, poultry scalding and cooking among others. Lye is believed to improve the organoleptic properties and also enhances the nutritional value to the products. Objective: To assess the effect of food grade lye on the levels of copper and iron in the raw, boiled and boiled-fried single vegetables and vegetable combinations treated with and without food grade lye.Methods: Single vegetables, Crotalaria occroleuca, Solanum scabrum, Vigna unguiculata and Amaranthus blitum and their combinations were cooled and kept in the fridge at 4oCs. Elemental analysis was done for the raw, boiled and boiled-fried samples using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) under standard conditions using wavelengths of 248.3nm for iron and 324.2nm for copper. Paired t-test was used to compare the iron and copper levels of the boiled and boiled-fried vegetables while the independent t-test was done to assess the levels of iron and copper in the raw, boiled and boiled fried samples. Results: Boiled-fried samples recorded higher content of iron and copper than the boiled ones. A combination of Amaranthus blitum-Crotolaria occloreuca boiled without lye boiled-fried with lye, and boiled-fried without lye had the highest copper contents of 1.66mg/100gram, 4.56mg/100gram, and 4.56mg/100gram respectively, compared to Amaranthus blitum alone (3.48mg/100gram) and Crotolaria occloreuca (0.42mg/100gram). A combination of Amaranthus blitum-Crotolaria occloreuca boiled in non-lye water, and those boiled-fried with and without lye had the highest extractable iron of 557mg/100g, 859.2mg/100g, and 859.2mg/100g respectively. Iron content was high in the Solanum scabrum (281.1mg/100g), and Crotolaria occloreuca (110/100g), Amaranthus blitum (108mg/100g) boiled-fried with lye. It was possible that iron was leached from the cooking utensils and absorbed by the vegetables.Conclusion: The results of this study clearly demonstrated that vegetable combinations of Amaranthus blitum-Crotolaria occloreuca had a higher content of copper. Vegetable combinations exposed to different treatments had higher levels of iron and copper. This could be attributed different nutrient-nutrient interactions between different vegetables combinations. Key Words: Food grade lye, Crotalaria occroleuca, Solanum scabrum, Vigna unguiculata, Amaranthus blitum, iron, copper.
Effects of Portabella mushrooms on collagen-induced arthritis, inflammatory cytokines, and body composition in dilute brown non-agouti (DBA1) mice
Authors: Peterson Sandra , Lucas Edralin A. , Traore Djibril , Christopher Lawrance , French Christine , Clarke Stephen L. , Lightfoot Stanley A. , Smith Brenda J. , Kuvibidila Solo
Published: December 2019

Background: Exotic mushrooms have long been used in Asia for treatment and/or prevention of chronic diseases due to their immunomodulatory properties. However, the health benefits of portabella mushrooms (PM) (brown Agaricus bisporous), on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) and associated complications, (i.e. loss of lean mass, increased fat mass and inflammatory cytokines), have not been previously investigated.Methods: We investigated CIA pathogenesis, body composition and plasma levels of IL- 6, TNF-α and sICAM1 in DBA1 female mice fed either the AIN76 diet or the same diet fortified with 5% lyophilized PM (n=19-20/group). Ten mice/group were immunized with 100 µg bovine collagen type II on day 42 of the protocol, followed by 50 µg lipopolysaccharides on day 62, and euthanized on day 73-74. Cytokines were measured by ELISA.Results: Compared to baseline diet, PM had: no protective effect from CIA since all collagen-immunized mice developed severe edema, bone erosion, and mononuclear cell infiltration in paws. In mice with and those without CIA, feeding a PM-fortified diet resulted in higher percent of body fat than feeding the baseline diet (p<0.05). After CIA induction, PM provided the following beneficial effects: (a) a smaller reduction in lean mass and absolute thymus weight; (b) a higher fat mass loss; and (c) lower plasma TNF-α levels (p <0.05). PM-fortification did not alter plasma IL-6 and sICAM1 regardless of CIA status; but it increased in vitro IL-6 secretion by mitogen-treated spleen cells.Conclusion: Our data suggest that PM may reduce plasma TNF-α, attenuate lean mass loss and thymus atrophy associated with arthritis, and protect spleen cell function assessed by IL-6 secretion. However, PM-fortification did not attenuate overall CIA pathogenesis which may be due to lack of effect on plasma IL-6. Decreased TNF-α without alterations in IL-6 may reduce the risk of other conditions associated with chronic inflammation such as cardiovascular disease.Key words: portabella mushrooms, inflammatory cytokines, collagen-induced arthritis, body composition, TNF-α, IL-6, thymus, DBA1 mice.
The effect of industrial processing of salmon oil on its ability to reduce serum concentrations of oxidized low-density lipoprotein- β2-glycoprotein-I complex in a mouse model
Authors: Framroze Bom , Sawant Sagar
Published: December 2019

Background: Circulating serum levels of oxidized low-density lipoprotein, β2-glycoprotein I complex (oxLDL-GP), have been previously correlated with adverse cardiovascular events and have been shown to be reduced by consumption of enzymatically liberated extra virgin salmon oil (EVSO). This mouse study measured the changes in the oxLDL-GP lowering effect when consuming EVSO with varying levels of EPA+DHA (eicosapentenoic acid and docosahexenoic acid) as well as when consuming EVSO that was subjected to various processing treatments commonly carried out during fish oil production.Methods: Sprague Dawley mice were fed a diet containing eight different EVSO’s incorporated into a normal diet at the Human Equivalent Dose (HED) of 1000 mg for 8 weeks. Serum was collected at the start and at the end of the trial and the oxLDL-GP concentrations were measured using an ELISA assay. Statistical analysis of the results was carried out using a 1-tail, paired Student t-Test.Results: In order to lower circulatory oxLDL-GP levels, the mice had to consume a minimum of 80 mg per day HED of EPA+DHA. Heat treatment of the EVSO did not affect this bioactivity but hydrolysis with acid or base and re-esterification to the triglyceride form or significant oxidation (rancidity) rendered the oil inactive on this important cardio-vascular disease (CVD) biomarker.Conclusions: This result shows that harsh processing conditions on fish oils can lead to the destruction of biological efficacy in spite of increasing the concentration of typical fish oil bioactive constituents such as EPA+DHA. It also lends support to the developing nutrition theory that eating highly-refined, processed or concentrated-ingredient supplements derived from functional foods may not be able to reproduce their full nutritive and health-benefiting effects.Keywords: Oxidized-LDL; processing; Salmon; Oil; omega-3; rancidity
In-vitro screening of acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of extracts from Palestinian indigenous flora in relation to the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Ali-Shtayeh Mohammed Saleem , Jamous Rana Majed , Abu Zaitoun Salam Yousef , Qasem Iman Basem
Published: December 2019

Background: Cholinesterase inhibitory therapy serves as a strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Several acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) are used for the symptomatic treatment of AD. These compounds have been reported to have adverse effects, including gastrointestinal disturbances. This study was therefore partly aimed at investigating in vitro possible AChEIs in herbal medicines traditionally used in Palestine to treat cognitive disorders, and to point out the role of these plants as potential sources for development of newly potent and safe natural therapeutic agents of AD. Assay of AChE activity plays an important role in vitro characterization of drugs including potential treatments for AD. The most widely used method, is based on Ellman’s method. The reactant used in this method shows chemical reactivity with oxime antidots and thiol leading to false positive reactions. A new alternative assay could be of high interest.Methods: The effect on AChE activity of 92 extracts of 47 medicinal plants were evaluated using a new micro-well plate AChE activity (NA-FB) and Ellman’s assays. In addition, antioxidant activity using DPPH was determined.Results: The main advantages of the new method (NA-FB) is that the colorimetric change is better observable visually allowing spectrophotometric as well as colorimetric assay, and does not show any chemical reactivity with thiol. 67.4% and 37% of extracts inhibited AChE by >50% using the NA-FB and Ellman’s assays, respectively. Using NA-FB assay, 84 extracts interacted reversibly with the enzyme, of which Mentha spicata (94.8%), Foeniculum vulgare (89.81), and Oxalis pes-caprae (89.21) were most potent, and 8 showed irreversible inhibition of  which leaves of Lupinus pilosus (92.02%) were most active. Antioxidant activity was demonstrated by 73 extracts Majorana syriaca (IC50 0.21mg/ml), and Rosmarinus officinalis (0.38) were the most active.Conclusions: NA-FB assay has shown to be simple, accurate, sensitive, spectrophotometric and colorimetric, and superior to Ellman’s, and therefore can be used efficiently for qualitative and quantitative studies of AChEI activities of extracts. Palestinian flora have shown to be a rich source for, new and promising agents (AChEIs) for the treatment of AD Further studies are needed to isolate and identify the active compounds responsible for AChEI activities.Keywords: Alzheimer's disease, ACh, medicinal plants, β-naphthyl acetate, micro-well plate AChE activity Assay (NA-FB)
Safety test of a supplement, 5-aminolevulinic acid phosphate with sodium ferrous citrate, in diabetic patients treated with oral hypoglycemic agents
Authors: Yamashita Naohide , Watanabe Atai , Kondo Hikaru , Kawata Satofumi , Tanaka Tohru , Nakajima Motowo
Published: December 2019

Objective: This study aimed to examine the safety of 5-aminolevulinic acid phosphate (5-ALA) with sodium ferrous citrate (SFC) in diabetic patients treated with one or more oral hypoglycemic agents (OHAs).Background: Recent intervention studies performed in the USA and Japan have shown that a nutritional supplement of 5-ALA with SFC efficiently reduced blood glucose levels in pre-diabetic population without any adverse events. Thus, it was anticipated that 5-ALA with SFC may potentially be taken as a beneficial supplement by diabetic patients who were being treated with OHA therapy. Nevertheless, it is important to examine its safety and efficacy in diabetic population.Methods: This study was a prospective single-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled and parallel-group comparison study. Medically treated diabetic patients between the ages of 30 and 75 were recruited from the Tokyo metropolitan area of Japan and 45 subjects were selected after screening. These subjects were randomly assigned to three groups: daily intake of 15mg 5-ALA, 50mg 5-ALA, and a placebo (n=15, respectively). The supplement or placebo was administered for 12 weeks followed by a four week washout period. The primary endpoint was safety and  occurrence of hypoglycemic attack, while the secondary endpoint was changes of fasting blood glucose (FBG) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Results: Adverse events related to 5-ALA with SFC were not observed in all the groups. Abnormalities in blood and urine tests were not observed either. Significant decrease in FBG was not detected in all the groups. However, there was a small but significant decrease in HbA1c at 4 and 8 week in the 15 mg 5-ALA group. Significant decrease in HbA1c was not observed in the 50 mg 5-ALA group, although a tendency to decrease after 4 weeks was apparent.Conclusion: 5-ALA with SFC is a safe and potentially beneficial supplement if taken by diabetic patients treated with OHAs.Trial registration: UMIN 000008038Key words: type 2 diabetes, 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA), sodium ferrous citrate (SFC), oral hypoglycemic agent (OHA), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting blood glucose (FBG)
Secretion of angiopoietin-like 4 protein from intestinal cells
Authors: Nielsen Soren Drud , Jessen Randi , Kastrup Dalsgaard Trine , Young Jette Feveile
Published: December 2019

Background: Angiopoietin-like 4 (ANGPTL4) has been suggested to play a role in lipid metabolism as a regulatory protein of lipoprotein lipase activity. Intestinal secretion of ANGPTL4, which is regulated by fatty acids, may inhibit the activity of circulating lipoprotein lipase; but, recent studies suggest that it could also inhibit pancreatic lipase in the gut and thereby reduce intestinal uptake of lipids. Secretion of the ANGPTL4 protein to either the lumen or tissue/blood side of the intestinal epithelial layer would indicate possible modes of action.Methods: Caco-2 cells were grown on permeable membranes and cultured for 21 days to spontaneously differentiate into an intact monolayer of intestinal cells, mimicking the epithelial cell layer lining the intestinal wall. Cells were treated with 9 mM butyrate and the time dependent gene expression and protein secretion to the apical and basolateral side was analysed over a time-course of 24 hours. Possible feedback from ANGPTL4 protein was investigated by adding 0.25 ng/ml recombinant ANGPTL4 protein to culture media.Results: Butyrate-induced ANGPTL4 gene expression increased in Caco-2 cells after 2 hours, reaching a plateau of approximately 6 fold after 6-24 hours, while the ANGPTL4 protein secretion to both the apical and basolateral sides was increased 18-24 hours after stimulation. A negative feedback on apical and basolateral secretion was observed in the presence of recombinant ANGPTL4 on the apical and basolateral sides, respectively.Conclusion: The present study indicates that, upon exposure to butyrate, the monolayer of epithelial cells secretes the ANGPTL4 protein to both the tissue/blood (basolateral) side and the luminal (apical) side of the monolayer which, in an in vivo situation, may be interpreted as potential inhibition of both the circulating and pancreatic lipase.Keywords: Angiopoietin-like 4, Caco-2, Permeable membrane, Protein, Secretion, Intestine, Negative feedback
The effect of extracts of Irvingia gabonensis (IGOB131) and Dichrostachys glomerata (Dyglomera™) on body weight and lipid parameters of healthy overweight participants
Authors: Azantsa Boris , Kuate Dieudonne , Chakokam Raoul , Paka Ghislain , Bartholomew Barbara , Nash Robert
Published: December 2019

Background: Previous work reported the benefits of extracts of 2 Cameroonian spices – Irvingia gabonensis and Dichrostachys glomerata— on obese people with metabolic syndrome. Considering the physio-metabolic changes that accompany obesity, the present study investigates the effects of these extracts on healthy overweight participants over an 8-week test period.Methods: The study was an 8 week randomized double-blind, placebo controlled design involving 48 overweight (BMI 26 – 30) participants (27 females and 19 males), divided into 3 groups – placebo, 300 mg I. gabonensis extract (IGOB131), or 300 mg D. glomerata extract (DyglomeraTM). Capsules containing the placebo or the test formulations were administered once daily before the main meal of the day. No major dietary changes or changes in physical activity were demonstrated during the study. Weight and blood lipid parameters were measured at baseline, and at the 4 and 8 weeks interval.Results: Compared to the placebo group, there were significant (p<0.05) reductions in weight of participants in both test groups over the 8 week period. However, these significant changes were not observed in the initial 4 weeks, even though the lipid parameters in the test groups changed significantly (p<0.05).Conclusion: The extracts of Irvingia gabonensis and Dichrostachys glomerata, at a dose of 300 mg per day, were effective in reducing weight and positively modifying lipid parameters in healthy overweight participants.Keywords: Overweight, Dichrostachys, Irvingia, waist-hip circumference, blood lipids.
Schwul-lesbische Klassenpolitiken: mit Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) politische Solidarität unter Bedingungen von Differenz denken
Authors: Nüthen Inga
Published: December 2019

Die Londoner Gruppe Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) war Teil eines breiten Solidaritätsnetzwerks zur Unterstützung des großen Streiks der Bergbaugemeinden 1984/85 in Großbritannien. Ihre Politiken lese ich als schwul-lesbische Klassenpolitiken, die eine Gegenüberstellung von Identitäts- und Klassenpolitiken überwinden, ohne dabei auf Politiken der Sichtbarkeit zu verzichten. Zentral dafür ist das Begehren nach solidarischen Beziehungsweisen. Dieses fungiert als utopisches Moment einer Gemeinschaft und eines Allgemeinen, die in den Beziehungen selbst erst entstehen, die begehrt werden. Im Anschluss an diese Politiken lässt sich Solidarität als politische Solidarität konzipieren, die nicht auf einer gemeinsamen Identität aufbaut, sondern auf ähnlichen Unterdrückungserfahrungen und einer gemeinsamen Opposition zu neoliberalen Politiken. Zur Herausforderung wird hierbei das Spannungsverhältnis zwischen Einheit und Differenz. Unter den Bedingungen von Differenz wird Solidarität schließlich als ‚solidarity to come‘ gefasst.
Eingeschränkte Solidarität – Feminismus zwischen Ableism und Intersektionalität
Authors: Achtelik Kirsten
Published: December 2019

Wie kann Solidarität innerhalb und zwischen verschiedenen Bewegungen hergestellt und aufrechterhalten werden? Dieser Frage geht der Text anhand der Kontroversen in der Frauenbewegung um behindertenpolitische Themen nach, insbesondere in Bezug auf humangenetische Beratungsstellen und Pränataldiagnostik. Dazu werden vier Texte von Feministinnen mit und ohne Behinderung vorgestellt und auf ihre Appelle zur Solidarität befragt, die zwischen den beiden feministischen Kongressen gegen Reproduktionstechnologien ab Mitte der 1980er Jahre entstanden sind. Hier ist besonders interessant, wer in Bezug auf welche Ziele und Werte an wessen Solidarität appelliert. Die Anwendung des zentralen feministischen Slogans „Das Private ist politisch“ auf die eigene Bewegung durch Feministinnen mit Behinderung und die autonome Strömung ermöglichte eine Kritik an internalisierter Behindertenfeindlichkeit/Ableism und an einem eindimensionalen und exklusiven Selbstbestimmungsbegriff in den Debatten um pränatale Diagnostik und Abtreibung. Diese Aufforderung zur Selbstkritik und die Vorschläge zur Entwicklung eines komplexeren und inklusiveren Selbstbestimmungsbegriffs wurden teilweise ignoriert oder auch mit Verratsvorwürfen begegnet. Die Konflikte sowie die Solidaritätsaufrufe zeigen, dass praktische Solidarität eher zwischen verschiedenen Bewegungsströmungen möglich ist als zwischen ganzen Bewegungen.
„The Power of Food to Bring People Together and Create Common Ground“. Affektive Dissonanz und transnationale Solidarität in einem Ernährungsnetzwerk
Authors: Franke Esther M. , Wember Carla
Published: December 2019

Wie entstehen kollektives Handeln und Solidaritäten jenseits von Identitätspolitik? Dies ist Ausgangsfrage und Erkenntnisinteresse dieses Artikels, der sich der Entstehung von subjektiven und kollektiven Räumen der Bewegung in und durch geteilte lebensweltliche Sphären zuwendet. Aufbauend auf Material, das in einer empirischen Studie im Ernährungsnetzwerk in Toronto, Kanada, gewonnen wurde, wird argumentiert, dass durch Problematisierungen geteilter lebensweltlicher Anliegen, wie hier Ernährung, Räume für eine Politisierung jenseits von Identitätspolitik entstehen. Diese Räume produzieren „affektive Dissonanzen“ (Hemmings 2012), die transnationale solidarische Praktiken ermöglichen. Affektive Dissonanzen werden verstanden als (körperliche) Erfahrung von Divergenz zwischen Ontologie und Epistemologie, also der Differenz zwischen der gefühlten Wahrnehmung des eigenen Seins in der Welt und den Bedingungen eines lebbaren Lebens. Wie über affektive Dissonanzen solidarische Praktiken entstehen ist dabei zentrales Augenmerk des Artikels. Es wird gezeigt, dass materialisierte Ungleichheiten, für die Deutungsangebote bestehen – wie in diesem Fall rassistisch produzierte (ökonomische) Marginalisierung –, affektive Dissonanzen explizierbar machen, während andere (in diesem Fall die Verbindung, Naturalisierung und Abwertung von Weiblichkeit mit Sorge) zwar diffus gefühlt jedoch nicht eingeordnet werden können. Damit, so das Argument, wird die Existenz eines Deutungsangebots zu einer zentralen Schnittstelle von affektiver Dissonanz und Solidarität jenseits von Identitätspolitik.
Representation of Residuated Semigroups in Some Algebras of Relations (The Method of Canonical Models)
Authors: Buszkowski Wojciech , Kołowska-Gawiejnowicz Mirosława
Published: December 2019

We prove some theorems on representation of residuated semigroups and monoids in algebras of binary relations. One of them has been proved in Andréka and Mikulás [3], and the others are new, though also closely related to some results in [3]. The main novelty of this paper is a simple method of proof, based upon a construction of canonical models for Lambek calculi by means of labeled formulas, whereas [3] uses graph-theoretic constructions. We handle labeled formulas in a way similar to Kurtonina [15] and the second author [14], but we make no use of Labeled Deductive Systems, which is an essential simplification.
Petri Nets, Commutative Context-Free Grammars, and Basic Parallel Processes
Authors: Esparza Javier
Published: December 2019

The paper provides a structural characterisation of the reachable markings of Petri nets in which every transition has exactly one input place. As a corollary, the reachability problem for this class is proved to be NP-complete. Further consequences are: the uniform word problem for commutative context-free grammars is NP-complete; weak-bisimilarity is semidecidable for Basic Parallel Processes.
A New Version of the Rule Induction System LERS
Authors: Grzymala-Busse Jerzy W.
Published: December 2019

A new version of the rule induction system LERS is described and compared with the old version of LERS. Experiments were done for comparison of performance for both versions of LERS and the two other rule-induction systems: AQ15 and C4.5. The new LERS system performance is fully comparable with performance of the other two systems.
Relations algebras in qualitative spatial reasoning
Authors: Düntsch Ivo , Wang Hui , McCloskey Stephen
Published: December 2019

The formalization of the “part – of” relationship goes back to the mereology of S. Leśniewski, subsequently taken up by Leonard & Goodman (1940), and Clarke (1981). In this paper we investigate relation algebras obtained from different notions of “part-of”, respectively, “connectedness” in various domains. We obtain minimal models for the relational part of mereology in a general setting, and when the underlying set is an atomless Boolean algebra.
On the Complexity of Perfect Models of Logic Programs
Authors: Dudakov Sergey M.
Published: December 2019

In this paper we investigate computational complexity of the PERF-consistency and PERF-entailment problems for ground normal logic programs. In [3] it is proved that these problems belong to Σ2 P and II2 P correspondingly. The question of obtaining more accurate results was left as open. We prove that both problems belong to Δ2 P. Lower bounds on the complexity of these problems are also established in terms of a new complexity class D2 which is a subset of Δ2 P. It is shown that PERF-consistency is a D2-complete problem and PERF-entailment is co-D2-complete.
Membrane Computing with External Output
Authors: Păun Gheorghe , Rozenberg Grzegorz , Salomaa Arto
Published: December 2019

A membrane computing system (also called P system) consists of computing cells which are organized hierarchically by the inclusion relation: cells may include cells, which again may include cells, etc. Each cell is enclosed by its membrane. Each cell is an independent computing agent with its own computing program, which produces objects. The interaction between cells consists of the exchange of objects through membranes. The output of a computation is a partially ordered set of objects which leave the system through its external membrane. The fundamental properties of computations in such P systems with external output are investigated. These include the computing power, normal forms, and basic decision problems.
Representation of Irrelevance Relations by Annotated Graphs
Authors: Paz Azaria , Geva Robert Y. , Studený Milan
Published: December 2019

Irrelevance relations are sets of statements of the form: given that the ‘value’ of Z is known, the ‘values’ of Y can add no further information about the ‘values’ of X. Undirected Graphs (UGs), Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs) and Chain Graphs (CGs) were used and investigated as schemes for the purpose of representing irrelevance relations. It is known that, although all three schemes can approximate irrelevance, they are inadequate in the sense that there are relations which cannot be fully represented by anyone of them. In this paper annotated graphs are defined and suggested as a new model for graphical representation. It is shown that this new model is a proper generalization of the former models: any irrelevance relation that can be represented by either one of the previous models can also be represented by an annotated graph, and there are relations that can be represented by an annotated graph but cannot be represented by either one of the former models. The question of whether this new model is powerful enough to represent all the irrelevance relations, as well as some other related questions, is still open.
Formal Asynchronous Systems Modelling
Authors: Kohn Markus , Schmeck Hartmut
Published: December 2019

In this paper a formal model for asynchronous systems behaviour is presented which is suited for representing all levels of abstraction appearing in the design process. Based on a structural abstraction of asynchronous computation systems called asynchronous nets the behaviour of an asynchronous system can be represented by a set of so called abstract computations. It is shown how basic properties of such systems, and in particular, delay-insensitive behaviour, could be determined by investigating properties of abstract computations. Finally, it is demonstrated that the model enables formal verification of asynchronous systems over different levels of abstraction.
A New Approach to Preferential Structures
Authors: Schlechta Karl , Gourmelen Laurent , Motré Stéphanie , Rolland Olivier , Tahar Bensalah
Published: December 2019

This paper deals with some fundamental concepts and questions of preferential structures. Traditionally, a model for preferential reasoning is a strict partial order on the set of classical models of the language; in this article it will be a total order on the classical models. Instead of representing non-monotonic inference relations by individual partial orders, we represent them by sets of total orders. We thus stay close to the way completeness proofs are done in classical logic. Our new approach will also justify multiple copies (or labelling functions) present in most work on preferential structures. A representation result for the finite case is proven; for the infinite case it remains an open question.
Rough Mereology in Information Systems with Applications to Qualitative Spatial Reasoning
Authors: Polkowski Lech , Skowron Andrzej
Published: December 2019

Rough Mereology has been proposed as a paradigm for approximate reasoning in complex information systems. Its primitive notion is that of a predicate of rough inclusion which gives for any two entities of discourse the degree in which one of them is a part of the other. Rough Mereology may be regarded as an extension of Rough Set Theory as it proposes to argue in terms of similarity relations induced from a rough inclusion instead of reasoning in terms of more strict indiscernibility relations. Rough Mereology is also a generalization of Mereology i.e. a theory of reasoning based on the notion of a part. Classical languages of mathematics are of two-fold kind: the language of set theory (naive or formal) expressing classes of objects as sets consisting of ”elements”, ”points” etc. suitable for objects perceived as built of ”atoms” and applied to structures perceived as discrete and the language of part relations suitable for e.g. continuous objects like solids, regions, etc. where two objects are related to each other by saying that one of them is a part of the other. Mereological theories for reasoning about complex structures are at the heart of Qualitative Spatial Reasoning. In this paper, we study basic aspects of Rough Mereology in Information Systems. Mereology makes the distinction between entities perceived as individuals (singletons), to which the part predicate may be applied, and entities perceived as distributive classes (sets, lists, general names etc.) of entities. This distinction is made formal and precise within Ontology i.e. Theory of Being based on the primitive notion of the copula is which is also a basic ingredient of theories for Spatial Reasoning. The practical aim of Ontology is to elaborate a system of concepts (notions, names, sets of entities) about which the reasoning is carried out. Therefore, we begin our study with an analysis of a simple rough set-based Ontology (the template ontology) in Information Systems and in this setting we present our approach to Mereology in Information Systems. In this framework we introduce Rough Mereology and we present some ways for defining rough inclusions. We demonstrate applications of Rough Mereology to approximate reasoning taking as the case subject Qualitative Spatial Reasoning. We address here some of its mereo-topological as well as mereo-geometrical aspects.
Rough Set Algebras as Description Domains
Authors: Cīrulis Jānis
Published: December 2019

Study of the so called knowledge ordering of rough sets was initiated by V.W. Marek and M. Truszczynski at the end of 90-ies. Under this ordering, the rough sets of a fixed approximation space form a domain in which every set ↓ is a Boolean algebra. In the paper, an additional operation inversion on rough set domains is introduced and an abstract axiomatic description of obtained algebras of rough set is given. It is shown that the resulting class of algebras is essentially different from those traditional in rough set theory: it is not definable, for instance, in the class of regular double Stone algebras, and conversely.
A Doctrine of Cognitive Informatics (CI)
Authors: Wang Yingxu , Kinsner Witold , Anderson James A. , Zhang Du , Yao Yiyu , Sheu Philip , Tsai Jeffrey , Pedrycz Witold , Latombe Jean-Claude , Zadeh Lotfi A. , Patel Dilip , Chan Christine
Published: December 2019

Cognitive informatics (CI) is the transdisciplinary enquiry of cognitive and information sciences that investigates into the internal information processing mechanisms and processes of the brain and natural intelligence, and their engineering applications via an interdisciplinary approach. CI develops a coherent set of fundamental theories and denotational mathematics, which form the foundation for most information and knowledge based science and engineering disciplines such as computer science, cognitive science, neuropsychology, systems science, cybernetics, software engineering, knowledge engineering, and computational intelligence. This paper reviews the central doctrine of CI and its applications. The theoretical framework of CI is described on the architecture of CI and its denotational mathematic means. A set of theories and formal models of CI is presented in order to explore the natural and computational intelligence. A wide range of applications of CI are described in the areas of cognitive computers, cognitive properties of knowledge, simulations of human cognitive behaviors, cognitive complexity of software, autonomous agent systems, and computational intelligence.