bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimates, populares
Authors: Robb M. A.
Published: December 2018

Cicero's Pro Sestio 96 defines
optimates
and
populares
as two antithetical political types. The definition has traditionally been taken, with little attention to its specific context in the speech, to indicate that a distinction using these labels was generally made in late republican Rome. Although most modern models of late republican politics make heavy use of the terms, there is considerable divergence over their precise significance.
Patria potestas
Authors: Stevenson Tom
Published: December 2018

A survey of the outlines of
patria potestas
(“paternal power”) in ancient Rome, concentrating on its main legal, social, and ideological ramifications.
Apollonios of Perge
Authors: Fried Michael N.
Published: December 2018

Apollonios of Perge, along with Euclid and Archimedes, was one of the greatest mathematicians of the Hellenistic period. The work for which he is best known is his Conics in Eight Books. Even in the ancient period, this was a celebrated work and was the reason Apollonios came to be known as the “great geometer.” Most of his other works seem to have been geometrical in character, but there are some which may have been of a more general nature, and there is a reference to work he may have done in astronomy.
Embryology
Authors: Kapparis Konstantinos
Published: December 2018

More than a dozen studies have survived in the corpus of ancient Greek medical authors dedicated to the study of prenatal life, the processes of fertilization, fetal development and pregnancy; moreover, abundant material can be found in gynecological and anatomical treatises. Earlier studies were interested in the fetus and the question of human identity before birth in relation to the debate on induced abortion. Since the 1980s, an interest in antenatal life was linked to ancient gynecological treatises and their importance for the study of Women and Gender in the ancient world. The legacy of Hippocratic embryology, and its impact upon medieval and early European and Arabic works has also attracted attention for its philosophical and ontological extensions. Although ancient embryological theory was influenced by Greek cultural stereotypes, it attempted to provide rational explanations to the processes of antenatal life, and thus set the foundation for future progress on the subject. Simultaneously it provides valuable commentary on the gender relations and stereotypes of the ancient Greeks, and as such it constitutes an important source for women's studies and the Social and Cultural history of the ancient Greek world.
Paleopathology
Authors: Fornaciari Gino
Published: December 2018

The word paleopathology, derived from the Greek
palaios
,
pathos
, and
logos
, meaning literally “study of ancient diseases,” was coined in 1892/3 by the German physicist R. W. Schufeldt and has appeared in the Standard Dictionary of Funk and Wagnall since 1895. However, it was Sir Armand Ruffer who made the word popular, using it in his extensive studies on Egyptian mummies. Paleopathology can be defined as the discipline that studies the diseases of past populations through the examination of ancient human remains, both skeletonized and mummified.
Herbal, ancient Near East
Authors: Scurlock JoAnn
Published: December 2018

Overview of the medical‐botanical reference works of ancient Mesopotamia.
von Soden, Wolfram (1908–1996)
Authors: Beckman Gary
Published: December 2018

An overview of the career of the Assyriologist Wolfram von Soden.
Ariovistus
Authors: Nice Alex
Published: December 2018

Ariovistus (died ca. 54
bce
) was a Germanic king at the time of Julius Caesar's Gallic campaigns. He was recognized as a king and ally of Rome in 59
bce
. He assisted the Arverni and Sequani in their struggle against the Aedui. Ariovistus subsequently settled over 120,000 Germans in Gallic territory. After the Aedui appealed to Julius Caesar, he fought and was defeated by the Romans at the battle of Vesontio in 58
bce
.
Auctoritas
Authors: Hölkeskamp Karl‐J.
Published: December 2018

The concept of
auctoritas
is a legal as well as social, political, and moral term with a broad range of explicit meanings and implicit connotations: it can denote “approval,” “authorization” and “sanction,” magisterial “guidance” and authoritative “advice,” and, more specifically, the “right” and “power” of a person or a body politic “to approve,” “authorize,” and “sanction” an action, and in its legal sense, “right” or “title of ownership.”
Auctoritas
is wielded by individuals of superior social standing, especially prominent political figures and the holders of magistracies, but is also exercised by institutions and other bodies, in particular the Senate as a whole, the group of senior senators known as
principes civitatis
, and the patrician members of the body (
senatus auctoritas
,
patrum auctoritas
).
Secundus the Silent
Authors: Hafner Markus
Published: December 2018

Secundus the Silent, a celebrated, yet possibly mythical, philosopher and sage who probably lived in the second century
ce
. He took an oath of silence, which he refused to break, even when threatened by the Emperor Hadrian, but he eventually agreed to produce written responses to the emperor's twenty cosmological and ethical questions. The oldest testimony, the
Bios Sekoundou
, is a papyrus fragment dating to the second or third centuries
ce
. The rich later manuscript tradition points to an enduring and keen interest in this wise man's deeds and words by both a Christian and an early Islamic readership.
Hyginus Gromaticus, surveyor
Authors: Guillaumin Jean‐Yves
Published: December 2018

Hyginus Gromaticus wrote one of the most important Latin treatises about the theory and practices of Roman centuriation. Using many contemporary examples from Roman colonies, he explains how to establish a system of
limites
, gives the meaning of the abbreviations carved on the stones, with a great deal of didactic illustrations.
Crum, Walter Ewing (1865–1944)
Authors: Cromwell Jennifer
Published: December 2018

Walter Crum was one of the foremost scholars of Coptic. His
Coptic Dictionary
is an indispensable tool for Coptic linguistics and philology. During the course of producing his major work, he published several thousand texts, mainly of a non‐literary nature, which are vital for the study of daily life throughout Egypt in Late Antiquity and the Islamic period.
Legal documents, Coptic
Authors: Richter Tonio Sebastian
Published: December 2018

Coptic, the written norm of the native language of Egypt from ca. 300ceuntil ca. 1300ce, entered into the production of private legal documents in the later sixth centuryce,a domain hitherto dominated by Greek. After the Arab conquest of Egypt (642ce) when the use of Greek for private writing ceased, Coptic became the major language in this field and went on to maintain its leading role during the first century of thehijra. The reformation of the administrative bureaucracy by the Arab government, the formation and refinement of Islamic private law, and the advancement of Arabic literacy and education during the eighth centurycelead to an increase of private legal instruments drawn up in Arabic also by Coptic‐speaking Christian Egyptians from the ninth centuryceonward.
Court, qadi
Authors: Tillier Mathieu
Published: December 2018

In the Muslim tradition, the qadi is a judge instituted by the ruler. In the first centuries of Islam, every great metropolis had a qadi who dispensed justice in a public place, especially in civil matters, according to rules defined by Muslim jurists. He soon became also the main administrator of properties in Islamic cities.
Pomponius (Sextus Pomponius)
Authors: Cascione Cosimo
Published: December 2018

Sextus Pomponius was a Roman jurist active in the mid‐second century
ce
. He was likely a teacher and was certainly a very prolific author, writing on both civil and praetorian law, but also on the history of law, producing the important short manual entitled
Enchiridium
(a portion of which survives in
J
ustinian's Digest), that has served as a model through the centuries.
Alfenus (Publius Alfenus Varus)
Authors: Turelli Giovanni
Published: December 2018

This entry provides an overview of the life of P. Alfenus Varus and his importance in the development of Roman private law. It places Alfenus in the context of the last century of the Roman Republic, especially, insofar as possible, contemporary intellectual developments.
Aventine
Authors: Nice Alex
Published: December 2018

Aventine (
Mons Aventinus
) was the most southerly of Rome's seven hills. Ancus Marcius added the hill to the city but it was not until the reign of Claudius that it was included in the
pomerium
. The hill had a special position in Roman myth because of its connections with Hercules and with Romulus and Remus. In the historical period, it was home to a number of temples and other religious sites, pagan and Christian. The area was well‐populated in antiquity by rich and poor alike. Ancient and modern sources have regarded the Aventine as a plebeian stronghold but this may be a convenient fiction based on Gaius Gracchus’ occupation of the hill in 121
bce
.
Predicting the changes in the structure of food demand in China
Authors: Zheng Zhihao , Henneberry Shida R. , Zhao Yinyu , Gao Ying
Published: December 2018

A complete demand system is estimated separately for urban and rural residents using a two‐stage almost ideal demand system–quadratic almost ideal demand system model and pooled provincial and time‐series data from 2000 to 2012. The estimated demand elasticities with respect to income and demographic variables are then used to predict the changes in the structure of food demand in China for the year 2030. Results of this study suggest that, as per capita incomes grow further while both urbanization and population aging continue their upward trends, the shares of expenditures on foods away from home are expected to rise while the shares of spending on foods at home would decline, and that at‐home food budget shares of grains are expected to continue decreasing whereas at‐home food budget shares of foods with animal origins and fruits would be on the rise. Thus, food security in China has been transformed into feed grain security.
Valuing switching options in international grain marketing
Authors: Johansen Stephan , Wilson William
Published: December 2018

An important strategy for commodity trading firms is geographical diversification through acquisitions and greenfield development, often justified with the quest for multiple origins. This strategy can be interpreted as a “switching option” which tend to be undervalued using traditional valuation techniques. This paper develops a stochastic binomial real options model to value networks of export elevators. It is applied to soybean trading for shipments from ports in the United States, Brazil, and Ukraine. The paper estimates the value of the option of being able to switch origins in export trade. This option value is substantial and is determined partly by margin distributions and correlations among these.
Measuring the cost of capital in cooperative businesses
Authors: Royer Jeffrey S.
Published: December 2018

Cooperatives usually cannot employ market‐based methods for valuating equity capital and must rely instead on accounting‐based methods. This paper assesses several approaches for valuating cooperative equity and suggests that the rate of return on equity is an appropriate measure of the opportunity cost of equity because it determines the levels of cash patronage refunds, equity retirement, and growth a cooperative can maintain. Simulations are used to explore the relationship between various measures and the rate of growth and demonstrate that the rate of return on equity is the only measure invariant with respect to changes in the growth rate. Calculations for US cooperatives show that the rate of return on equity results in a higher cost of equity than estimates based on the opportunity cost of funds and confirm that equity is more expensive than borrowed capital. A numerical example illustrates the early redemption of member equities at a discount.
How can the productivity of Indonesian cocoa farms be increased?
Authors: Tothmihaly Andras , Ingram Verina
Published: December 2018

This study investigates the Indonesian cocoa production to reveal the possibilities for poverty alleviation. We estimate, using 1,290 panel observations from 722 households and stochastic frontier analysis, the technical efficiency of cocoa production and disaggregate productivity growth. Our results indicate that the average efficiency of the cocoa farmers is 50%. Farmers' educational attainment and their experience in cocoa farming are significant factors increasing efficiency. We also find that the productivity of Indonesian cocoa farms increased by 75% between 2001 and 2013. Technical efficiency growth and the increased chemicals use supported by government subsidies were responsible for the majority of this gain. Furthermore, large distortions in input allocation were found. Hence, policies that encourage the efficient use of farm inputs would be highly beneficial. Weather‐ and pests‐induced volatility in cocoa production could be decreased by promoting agricultural research on drought‐ and disease‐resistant cocoa varieties (EconLit citations: D24, O13, Q12).
Comparative outcomes of myeloablative and reduced‐intensity conditioning allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for therapy‐related acute myeloid leukemia with prior solid tumor: A report from the acute leukemia working party of the European society for blood and bone marrow transplantation
Authors: Lee Catherine J. , Labopin Myriam , Beelen Dietrich , Finke Jürgen , Blaise Didier , Ganser Arnold , Itälä‐Remes Maija , Chevallier Patrice , Labussière‐Wallet Hélène , Maertens Johan , Yakoub‐Agha Ibrahim , Bourhis Jean‐Henri , Mailhol Audrey , Mohty Mohamad , Savani Bipin N. , Nagler Arnon
Published: December 2018

Therapy‐related acute myeloid leukemia (t‐AML) arises as a late complication following antecedent solid tumors or hematologic diseases and their associated treatments. There are limited data regarding risk factors and outcomes following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) for t‐AML following a prior solid tumor, and furthermore, the impact of myeloablative (MAC) vs reduced‐intensity conditioning (RIC) on survival is unknown. The acute leukemia working party (ALWP) of the European society for blood and bone marrow transplantation (EBMT) performed a large registry study that included 535 patients with t‐AML and prior solid tumor who underwent first MAC or RIC allogeneic HCT from 2000‐2016. The primary endpoints of the study were OS and LFS. Patients receiving RIC regimens had an increase in relapse incidence (hazard ratio [HR], 1.52; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02‐2.26; P = 0.04), lower LFS (HR, 1.52; 95% CI 1.12‐2.05, P = 0.007), and OS (HR, 1.51; CI 1.09‐2.09; P = 0.012). There were no differences in NRM and GRFS. Importantly, LFS and OS were superior in patients receiving ablative regimens due to a decrease in relapse. As NRM continues to decline in the current era, it is conceivable that outcomes of HCT for t‐AML with prior solid tumor may be improved by careful patient selection for myeloablative regimens.
The use of ROI overlays and a semi‐automated method for measuring cortical area in ImageJ for histological analysis
Authors: Dominguez Victoria M. , Agnew Amanda M.
Published: December 2018

A major part of histologic studies is the use of high resolution imaging for data collection and analysis. ImageJ, a freely available software from the NIH designed for image analysis, has many features that are not well‐known among bone histologists and can be incredibly beneficial in terms of stream‐lining data collection and maximizing limited resources. The aims of this technical note are twofold: (a) to describe methods for image annotation and measurement using region of interest overlays in ImageJ, and (b) to present a new code for a semi‐automated method of measuring cortical bone areas from high resolution cross‐sectional images also using ImageJ.
Safety (and Power) in Numbers: Negotiation with Groups
Authors: Honeyman Chris , Schneider Andrea Kupfer
Published: December 2018

Last month in these pages we introduced some examples from our new book, the culmination of 15 years' work in the Canon of Negotiation Initiative which we run, and whose overall arc of discovery we discussed in the first issue in this three‐part series. “A Canon Is Revised: Has the Negotiation Field Come of Age?” 36 Alternatives 147 (November 2018)(available at https://bit.ly/2zG6X1K).
Good Luck Has Arrived: Positive Emotions Means Successful Mediation Is at Hand
Authors: Creo Robert A.
Published: December 2018

When you enter a state of mind dominated by joy, you usually feel all is right and good.
In vivo metabotropic glutamate receptor type 5 abnormalities localize the epileptogenic zone in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Lam Jack , DuBois Jonathan M. , Rowley Jared , González‐Otárula Karina A. , Soucy Jean‐Paul , Massarweh Gassan , Hall Jeffery A. , Guiot Marie‐Christine , Rosa‐Neto Pedro , Kobayashi Eliane
Published: December 2018

Objective

Surgical specimens from patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) show abnormalities in tissue concentrations of metabotropic glutamate receptor type 5 (mGluR5). To clarify whether these abnormalities are specific to the epileptogenic zone (EZ), we characterized in vivo whole‐brain mGluR5 availability in MTLE patients using positron emission tomography (PET) and [11C]ABP688, a radioligand that binds specifically to the mGluR5 allosteric site.

Methods

Thirty‐one unilateral MTLE patients and 30 healthy controls underwent [11C]ABP688 PET. We compared partial volume corrected [11C]ABP688 nondisplaceable binding potentials (BPND) between groups using region‐of‐interest and whole‐brain voxelwise analyses. [18F]Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET was acquired in 15 patients, for whom we calculated asymmetry indices of [11C]ABP688 BPND and [18F]FDG uptake to compare lateralization and localization differences.

Results

[11C]ABP688 BPND was focally reduced in the epileptogenic hippocampal head and amygdala (p < 0.001). Patients with hippocampal atrophy showed more extensive abnormalities, including the ipsilateral temporal neocortex (p = 0.006). [11C]ABP688 BPND showed interhemispheric differences of higher magnitude and discriminated the epileptogenic structures more accurately when compared to [18F]FDG uptake, which showed more widespread hypometabolism. Among 23 of 25 operated patients with >1 year of follow‐up, 13 were seizure‐free (Engel Ia) and showed significantly lower [11C]ABP688 BPND in the ipsilateral entorhinal cortex.

Interpretation

[11C]ABP688 PET provides a focal biomarker for the EZ in MTLE with higher spatial accuracy compared to [18F]FDG PET. Focally reduced mGluR5 availability in the EZ might reflect receptor internalization or conformational changes in response to excessive extracellular glutamate, supporting a potential role for mGluR5 as therapeutic target in human MTLE. Ann Neurol 2019; 1–11 ANN NEUROL 2019;85:218–228.
Influence of laponite on the drug loading and release performance of LbL polyurethane/poly(acrylic acid) multilayers
Authors: Shi Haizhu , Zhang Rui , Feng Shun , Wang Jide
Published: December 2018

A facile way to fabricate clay‐based multilayers was introduced. Compared to other works, poly(acrylic acid)–laponite nanocomposites (PAA‐Lap) were used as a membrane component instead of Lap alone. Coupled with water‐soluble polyurethane (PU), a series of PU/PAA‐Lap multilayer films were fabricated via layer‐by‐layer assembly containing different contents of Lap. The effect of clay content on the loading and release behavior of PU/PAA‐Lap multilayers was investigated in various pH solutions with cationic methylene blue as the indicator. It was found that the introduction of Lap can influence the charge density, swelling rate, and pH stability of the film. When the content of Lap in the film was increased to a certain degree, the main adsorption mechanism changed from chemical to physical adsorption, but the releasing mechanism had no change. We hope this method can be used as a model for the fabrication of clay‐based polymer drug delivery systems in low‐pH environments. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47348.
Preparation and characterization of a novel environmentally friendly coal dust suppressant
Authors: Jin Hu , Nie Wen , Zhang Haihan , Liu Yanghao , Bao Qiu , Wang Hongkun , Huang Dongmei
Published: December 2018

To mitigate the dust dispersion pollution in the open‐pit coal mines, this study experimentally develops a novel environmentally friendly coal dust suppressant. The experiment uses naturally biodegradable soybean protein isolate (SPI) as the main material and utilizes anion surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) to modify SPI. In the carboxymethylcellulose sodium and sodium silicate and other auxiliary agents, this process produces gives rise to the SDS‐SPI coal dust suppressant. Experimental characterization of the developed dust suppressant reveals that the viscosity of the 5% dust suppressant solution can reach 24.6 mPa s. Correspondingly, the compressive strength reaches 0.48 MPa, and the dust suppression efficiency can reach 93.47% with the presence of force 9 wind. Furthermore, this study uses Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) to analyze the dust suppression mechanism of the developed dust suppressant. It is observed that a layer of compact hardened shell is formed at the surface of the coal powder treated with the newly developed dust suppressant. Also, there exists a strong cementing effect among dust particles, yielding a decent cementing performance. Therefore, the present dust suppressant can effectively suppress dust dispersion in the open‐pit coal mines, allowing a mitigation of the environmental pollution. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2019,136, 47354.
Effect of ethanol in the coagulation bath on the structure and performance of PVDF‐g‐PEGMA/PVDF membrane
Authors: Tang Yulan , Sun Jian , Li Shaofeng , Ran Zhilin , Xiang Yingxue
Published: December 2018

This report investigated the effect of ethanol content in the coagulation bath on the surface composition, membrane pore size structure, pure water flux, and permeability of the amphiphilic polymer polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)‐g‐poly (ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PEGMA)‐modified PVDF membrane. The study found that pore size and their distribution and, as a result, membrane permeability, can also be easily controlled by adjusting ethanol content in the coagulation bath. Membrane water fluxes formed by the coagulation baths with 0, 10, 20, and 30% of ethanol were 1843.65, 2774.61, 4391.88, and 5142.35 L (m−2·h−1). When the content of ethanol in the coagulation bath is high, the surface enrichment of PEGMA slightly decreases, and the surface becomes rougher. Thus, the decrease of the hydrophilic functional groups on the surface of the membrane and the increase of the roughness leads to the deterioration of the hydrophilicity of the membranes surface. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47380.
Structural changes during 3D printing of bioderived and synthetic thermoplastic materials
Authors: Pop Mihai Alin , Croitoru Cătălin , Bedő Tibor , Geamăn Virgil , Radomir Irinel , Cos,nit,ă Mihaela , Zaharia Sebastian Marian , Chicos, Lucia Antoaneta , Milos,an Ioan
Published: December 2018

Three‐dimensional (3D) printing processes are nowadays leading the charge in transforming traditional art, engineering, and manufacturing processes. In this study, the structural and thermal behavior of commercially available filaments composed of synthetic poly(acrylonitrile‐co‐butadiene‐co‐styrene) thermoplastic as well as poly(lactic acid) and poly(lactic acid)/polyhydroxyalcanoate reinforced with bamboo (Bambusa sp.) wood flour composite biothermoplastics were assessed by differential scanning calorimetry and infrared spectroscopy, aiming to understand the modifications that occur at the molecular level during their 3D printing. It has been determined that the biothermoplastic materials undergo both molecular reorientations related to tacticity increase and crystallinity decrease when submitted to 3D printing extrusion, while the synthetic thermoplastic undergoes crosslinking due to its butadiene component. All of the studied materials present good water stability (with water uptake values between 0.8% and 24%), and the water absorption follows a pseudo‐Fickian mechanism. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci.2019.
Effect of spent sulfite liquor on urea–formaldehyde resin performance
Authors: Ferreira Ana Maria , Pereira João , Almeida Margarida , Ferra João , Paiva Nádia , Martins Jorge , Carvalho Luísa H. , Magalhães Fernão D.
Published: December 2018

Combination of urea–formaldehyde (UF) resins with technical lignins has been often reported in the literature. However, the actual implications of this approach have not been effectively addressed yet. In this work, unmodified thick spent sulfite liquor (TSSL) and hydroxymethylated TSSL (TSSLH) were incorporated in a standard UF resin in different amounts (10 and 20%) and at different stages. When 10% of TSSLH was incorporated after the synthesis, the produced particleboards performed equivalently to when 90% of UF resin was used. In all other cases tested, combining UF resin with TSSL/TSSLH actually led to lower internal bond strengths. The results evidence that addition of TSSL or TSSLH does not have a beneficial effect on UF bonding performance. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47389.
Rapid synthesis of high strength cellulose–poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) biocompatible composite films via microwave crosslinking
Authors: Sonker Amit Kumar , Rathore Kalpana , Teotia Arun Kumar , Kumar Ashok , Verma Vivek
Published: December 2018

The present study describes microwave (MW)‐assisted rapid synthesis of biocompatible poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composite films that demonstrate synergy between reinforcement and crosslinking. Bacterial cellulose (5% w/w) nanowhiskers (reinforcement) and tartaric acid 35% (w/w) (crosslinker) are incorporated in PVA to prepare crosslinked cellulose–PVA composite films. The properties of thus prepared crosslinked cellulose–PVA composite films are compared with samples crosslinked with conventional hot air oven heating (CH). Crosslinking by both of the methods reduces water absorption of PVA by around an order of magnitude and improves its thermal stability. An increase in strength from 42 (PVA) to 172 MPa and 159 MPa for MW and CH crosslinked samples, respectively is also observed. Although composites prepared using MW and CH show similar properties, MW takes only 14 min compared to 2 h in case of CH. Notably, the prepared composites demonstrate hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility, and may also be explored for biomedical applications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47393.
Reactive cyclic phosphonamide flame retardant for epoxy resins
Authors: Li Zhun , Liu Chuanchuan , Cao Weihong , Yao Qiang
Published: December 2018

To take the advantage of reactivity of five‐membered cyclic phosphorus compounds, 1,2,3‐tri‐phenyl‐1,3,2‐diazaphospholidine‐2‐oxide (TPDPO) was explored as a reactive flame retardant for epoxy resins (EPs). Through model compounds, it has been established that TPDPO selectively reacts with the secondary hydroxyl group and is inert toward both aryl amino groups and epoxide groups. The result of Soxhlet extraction supports that TPDPO is permanently bonded to the cured EPs. At a loading of only 8 wt % (0.74 wt % phosphorus), TPDPO enables the cured epoxy to achieve a UL‐94 V0 rating. The thermogravimetric analysis–Fourier transform infrared analyses of the gaseous products suggest that the excellent flame retardancy of EP–TPDPO is partly due to the enhanced dehydration process of the epoxy. Also an increased char yield and the formation of a coherent char layer contribute to the good fire performance of EP–TPDPO. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2020, 137, 47411.
TPU/PLA blend foams: Enhanced foamability, structural stability, and implications for shape memory foams
Authors: Ahmed Mohammad Faisal , Li Yan , Yao Zhen , Cao Kun , Zeng Changchun
Published: December 2018

A series of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU)/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) blends are studied in terms of morphological, thermal, and rheological properties by scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and rheometry. Using supercritical CO2 batch foaming, the foamability of the blends is systematically investigated. It is found that the 80/20 (wt %/wt %) TPU/PLA blend (TPU80%) shows vastly enhanced foamability over a wide range of foaming conditions to produce foams with a myriad of cellular morphology. The foamability enhancement results from the improved cell nucleation and growth, and the changes in the polymer microstructure. Compared to elastic TPU foams, the TPU80% retain their shapes 3.4 times better. Mechanism for the enhanced stability is proposed and verified using Kohlrausch–Williams–Watts model. The materials developed in the study and the mechanistic understanding of the shape fixation process may facilitate the advancement of elastomeric foams in conventional use as well as in novel shape memory applications. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47416.
Novel hydrophilic N‐halamine polymer with enhanced antibacterial activity synthesized by inverse emulsion polymerization
Authors: Wang Xiao , Hao Xiufeng , Chang Dan , Zhu Chongyi , Chen Lili , Dong Alideertu , Gao Ge
Published: December 2018

N‐halamine‐based antibacterial agents have high efficiency and rechargeable antibacterial properties. However, their applications are limited due to their complex synthetic process and fuzzy antibacterial mechanism. In this study, a novel N‐halamine antibacterial polymer was synthesized by inverse emulsion polymerization and characterized by Fourier transform infrared, nuclear magnetic resonance, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Due to the difficulty of purification, most of the subjects studied previously were hydrophobic polymers, while little research on hydrophilic polymers. In this experiment, this difficulty was overcome by controlling the dosage of sodium hypochlorite and methods of dialysis. Because of the complex cell structure of Gram‐negative bacteria, it is difficult for N‐halamines to release the oxidizing chlorine into the cell. However, the hydrophilic N‐halamines can solve this problem, which showed a stronger antibacterial effect on Gram‐negative Escherichia coli synthesized in this study. In addition, the particle size and hydrophilic property of the polymer were changed by changing the amount of initiator, and the differences in their antibacterial properties were studied. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47419.
Preparation and structure of rare earth/thermoplastic polyurethane fiber for X‐ray shielding
Authors: Lou Pengfei , Teng Xiaobo , Jia Qingxiu , Wang Yiqing , Zhang Liqun
Published: December 2018

Rare earth/polypropylene (PP)/thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) fibers were prepared by melting spinning with different mass ratios of PP to TPU. Then the rare earth/TPU shielding fiber was obtained by removing the PP matrix phase from the blend fiber using xylene. The fibers were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analyzer (TG), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Short fibers were compression‐molded for the test of lead equivalent. The results showed that the lead equivalent of the rare earth/TPU composite fibers was 0.19 mmPb when the mass ratio of PP/TPU increased to 60/40. At this mass ratio, the X‐ray shielding performance of the fiber was the best. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47435.
Production of a novel N‐terminal PEGylated crisantaspase
Authors: Torres‐Obreque Karin , Meneguetti Giovanna Pastore , Custódio Débora , Monteiro Gisele , Pessoa‐Junior Adalberto , de Oliveira Rangel‐Yagui Carlota
Published: December 2018

Crisantaspase is an asparaginase enzyme produced by Erwinia chrysanthemi and used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in case of hypersensitivity to Escherichia coli l‐asparaginase (ASNase). The main disadvantages of crisantaspase are the short half‐life (10 H) and immunogenicity. In this sense, its PEGylated form (PEG‐crisantaspase) could not only reduce immunogenicity but also improve plasma half‐life. In this work, we developed a process to obtain a site‐specific N‐terminal PEGylated crisantaspase (PEG‐crisantaspase). Crisantaspase was recombinantly expressed in E. coli BL21(DE3) strain cultivated in a shaker and in a 2‐L bioreactor. Volumetric productivity in bioreactor increased 37% compared to shaker conditions (460 and 335 U L−1 H−1, respectively). Crisantaspase was extracted by osmotic shock and purified by cation exchange chromatography, presenting specific activity of 694 U mg−1, 21.7 purification fold, and yield of 69%. Purified crisantaspase was PEGylated with 10 kDa methoxy polyethylene glycol‐N‐hydroxysuccinimidyl (mPEG‐NHS) at different pH values (6.5–9.0). The highest N‐terminal pegylation yield (50%) was at pH 7.5 with the lowest poly‐PEGylation ratio (7%). PEG‐crisantaspase was purified by size exclusion chromatography and presented a KM value three times higher than crisantaspase (150 and 48.5 µM, respectively). Nonetheless, PEG‐crisantaspase was found to be more stable at high temperatures and over longer periods of time. In 2 weeks, crisantaspase lost 93% of its specific activity, whereas PEG‐crisantaspase was stable for 20 days. Therefore, the novel PEG‐crisantaspase enzyme represents a promising biobetter alternative for the treatment of ALL.
A bioeconomy perspective for natural sweetener Stevia
Authors: Ciriminna Rosaria , Meneguzzo Francesco , Pecoraino Mario , Pagliaro Mario
Published: December 2018

The ‘sweet herb’ (El Caa‐ehe), used by the Guaraní tribes living in the forests of today's eastern Paraguay and southern Brazil, is rapidly emerging as a natural sweetener that is an alternative both to sugar and synthetic sweeteners, well beyond Japan where it has been widely used since the mid‐1970s. Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) Bertoni contains very sweet steviol glycosides in its leaves, which do not add calories and do not cause an increase in blood sugar levels. The glycoside that is most abundant in the leaves, stevioside, has high reactive oxygen species quenching activity and several properties that are beneficial to health. Rapid advances in green chemistry technology allow the production of stevia extracts that are devoid of any liquorice‐like after taste. Their high chemical and physical stability enables them to be used in baked and beverage food products and this supports the large‐scale use of stevia as a natural sweetener. Addressing bioeconomic aspects ranging from production to product formulation, this study identifies the last obstacles prior to general adoption of S. rebadudiana as a sweetener that is beneficial for health. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Sensitive determination of monoamine neurotransmitters, their main metabolites and precursor amino acids in different mouse brain components by liquid chromatography–electrospray tandem mass spectrometry after selective sample clean‐up
Authors: Sørensen Lambert K. , Johannsen Mogens
Published: December 2018

For the assessment of diets and supplements formulated for the treatment of phenylketonuria, a highly sensitive and selective method was developed and validated for the quantification of dopamine (DA), serotonin (5‐HT), 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), 5‐hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5‐HIAA), phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan in mouse cerebellum, brain stem, hypothalamus, parietal cortex, anterior piriform cortex and bulbus olfactorius. Samples were extracted by deproteinization with acetonitrile, and the extracts were cleaned up by strong anion exchange and weak cation exchange applied sequentially. The substances were detected by rapid liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Matrix components were largely removed by the clean‐up, resulting in low matrix effects. The lower limits of quantification for an extracted tissue mass of 100 mg were 0.3, 0.3, 0.2 and 2 ng/g for DA, 5‐HT, 5‐HIAA and DOPAC, respectively. The mean true extraction recoveries were 80–102%. The relative intra‐laboratory reproducibility standard deviations were generally <11% at concentrations of 20–1000 ng/g for DA, 5‐HT, 5‐HIAA and DOPAC and 7% at concentrations of 5–50 μg/g for the amino acids. This method was successfully used in a phenylketonuria mice study including nearly 300 brain tissue samples and for small sample masses (for example, 2 mg of bulbus olfactorius).
Identification of the absorbed components and their metabolites of Tianma‐Gouteng granule in rat plasma and bile using ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography combined with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Zhang Hongye , Duan Shaorong , Wang Lu , Liu Jing , Qi Wen , Yuan Dan
Published: December 2018

Tianma‐Gouteng granule (TGG), a Chinese herbal formula preparation, is clinically used for the treatment of cardio‐cerebrovascular diseases such as hypertension, cerebral ischaemia, acute ischaemic stroke and Parkinson's disease. Although few reports have been published concerning the absorbed prototype components of TGG, the possible metabolic pathways of TGG in vivo remain largely unclear. In this study, a method using UPLC–Q/TOF MS was established for the detection and identification of the absorbed prototype components and related metabolites in rat plasma and bile after oral administration of TGG at high and normal clinical dosages. A total of 68 components were identified or tentatively identified in plasma and bile samples, including absorbed prototypes and their metabolites. The major absorbed components were gastrodin, isorhynchophylline, rhynchophylline, isocorynoxeine, corynoxeine, geissoschizine methyl ether baicalin, baicalein, wogonoside, wogonin, geniposidic acid, leonurine, 2,3,5,4′‐tetrahydroxystilbene‐2‐O‐β‐d‐glucoside and emodin. The main metabolic pathways of these components involved phase I (isomerization, hydrolysis and reduction) and phase II (glucuronidation and sulfation) reaction, and the phase II biotransformation pathway was predominant. The present study provides rich information on the in vivo absorption and metabolism of TGG, and the results will be helpful for further studies on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of TGG.
Activation of NF‐κB signaling pathway during HCG‐induced VEGF expression in luteal cells
Authors: Zhang Zhenghong , Huang Yuxiu , Zhang Jingwei , Liu Zhaoyuan , Lin Qingqiang , Wang Zhengchao
Published: December 2018

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an essential role in luteal angiogenesis, the present study therefore utilized luteal cells cultured in vitro to further investigate the activation and contribution of nuclear factor (NF)‐κB to VEGF expression induced by human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG). The present results showed HCG induced VEGF expression as well as hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF)‐1α mRNA and protein expressions, which was blocked by NF‐κB inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC). Further analysis found that these increases of VEGF and HIF‐1α mRNA induced by HCG were also blocked by NF‐κB siRNA transfection, which was consistent with PDTC treatment. However, HIF‐1α siRNA treatment significantly decreased HCG induced‐VEGF expression with no effect on NF‐κB mRNA expression. Furthermore, combination of HIF‐1α siRNA and PDTC treatment did not further decrease VEGF mRNA expression, and the result of chromatin immunoprecipitation indicated NF‐κB may regulate HIF‐1α transcription through binding with its promoter. Taken together, the present results clearly demonstrated that NF‐κB was activated to regulate VEGF expression by increasing HIF‐1α transcription in luteal cells treated with HCG. Therefore, the present study provided a new and important mechanism of luteal angiogenesis during the formation of corpus luteum in mammals.
Multidrug resistance phenotype: Relation between phenotype induction and its characteristics in erythroleukemia cells
Authors: Soares Fernanda Saldanha , Lettnin Aline Portantiolo , Wagner Eduardo Felipe , Mattozo Francielly Hafele , Carrett‐Dias Michele , Rumjanek Vivian Mary Barral Dodd , Filgueira Daza Moraes Vaz Batista , de Souza Votto Ana Paula
Published: December 2018

Chemotherapy may be followed by multiple drug resistance (MDR). This is an obstacle in the treatment of cancer. It is therefore essential to understand the mechanisms underlying tumor resistance, especially those involved in the cell target/MDR relationship. To investigate this, the effects of exposing cells to UVB (to target DNA), UVA, and H2O2 (to target the cell membrane) were observed in K562 (non MDR) and FEPS (MDR) cell lines. The K562 cells were more sensitive to UVA than the FEPS cells. The FEPS cell line was more resistant to H2O2 than K562, only presenting cytotoxicity 72 h after being exposed to 40 mM, with no ROS increase until 48 h. Both cell lines were sensitive to UVB, presenting cytotoxicity after 24 h, mainly by apoptosis, and showed an increase in ROS levels. Our results indicate that agents acting on DNA may be able to overcome the MDR phenotype.
Distance‐based depths for directional data
Authors: Pandolfo Giuseppe , Paindaveine Davy , Porzio Giovanni C.
Published: December 2018

Directional data are constrained to lie on the unit sphere ofℝqfor someq ≥ 2. To address the lack of a natural ordering for such data, depth functions have been defined on spheres. However, the depths available either lack flexibility or are so computationally expensive that they can only be used for very small dimensionsq. In this work, we improve on this by introducing a class of distance‐based depths for directional data. Irrespective of the distance adopted, these depths can easily be computed in high dimensions too. We derive the main structural properties of the proposed depths and study how they depend on the distance used. We discuss the asymptotic and robustness properties of the corresponding deepest points. We show the practical relevance of the proposed depths in two applications, related to (i) spherical location estimation and (ii) supervised classification. For both problems, we show through simulation studies that distance‐based depths have strong advantages over their competitors.The Canadian Journal of Statistics46: 593–609; 2018 © 2018 Société statistique du Canada
Parsimonious graphical dependence models constructed from vines
Authors: Joe Harry
Published: December 2018

Multivariate models with parsimonious dependence have been used for a large number of variables, and have mainly been developed for multivariate Gaussian. Graphical dependence model representations include Bayesian networks, conditional independence graphs, and truncated vines. The class of Gaussian truncated vines is a subset of Gaussian Bayesian networks and Gaussian conditional independence graphs, but has an extension to non‐Gaussian dependence with (i) combinations of continuous and discrete random variables with arbitrary univariate margins, and (ii) accommodation of latent variables. To illustrate the importance of graphical models with latent variables that do not rely on the Gaussian assumption, the combined factor‐vine structure is presented and applied to a data set of stock returns.The Canadian Journal of Statistics46: 532–555; 2018 © 2018 Société statistique du Canada
Imagery rescripting in individuals with binge‐eating behavior: An experimental proof‐of‐concept study
Authors: Dugué Rebecca , Renner Fritz , Austermann Marit , Tuschen‐Caffier Brunna , Jacob Gitta A.
Published: December 2018

Objective

Mental imagery is more strongly related to emotions than verbal cognitions. Binge eating is associated with dysfunctional emotional regulation. However, cognitive therapy techniques have focused on verbal cognitions. This proof‐of‐concept study compares a traditional cognitive therapy technique, cognitive restructuring (CR), with imagery rescripting (IR) in individuals with binge‐eating disorder or bulimia nervosa.

Method

Thirty‐six participants were asked to recall an idiosyncratic mental image of social rejection. They were then randomly assigned to a single session of CR or IR. Ratings of positive and negative emotions, and impact on rational and emotional core beliefs were administered prior to and after imagery recall, after the experimental intervention, and 1 week later. Eating disorder psychopathology was measured before and 1 week after the experimental intervention.

Results

Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed that after the experimental intervention, negative emotions and core beliefs had significantly decreased in CR and IR. Both groups also showed an increase in positive emotions that lasted until 1‐week follow‐up.

Discussion

This study suggests that CR and IR as an experimental intervention have comparable impact on distress and rational and emotional core beliefs. The feasibility of IR has been demonstrated. The effect of imagery recall on CR needs further investigation.
Effort expenditure for rewards task modified for food: A novel behavioral measure of willingness to work for food
Authors: Racine Sarah E. , Horvath Sarah A. , Brassard Sarah L. , Benning Stephen D.
Published: December 2018

Objective

Binge eating and associated eating disorders are characterized by abnormalities in reward processing. One component of reward is willingness to expend effort to obtain a reinforcer. The Effort Expenditure for Rewards Task (EEfRT) is a widely used behavioral measure of willingness to work for money. We sought to modify the EEfRT to examine willingness to work for food reward and to preliminarily examine the association between binge eating and effort expenditure for food.

Method

Participants were 63 females recruited to span the spectrum of binge‐eating severity. The modified EEfRT required participants to make a series of choices between an easier, low‐reward option (one portion of food) and a harder, high‐reward option (between two to five portions of food). Each trial also varied on probability of winning.

Results

Participants self‐reported engagement in the task, working hard at easy and hard tasks, and making choices based on reward probability and magnitude. As with the original EEfRT, probability, reward magnitude, and their interaction predicted the likelihood of choosing the hard task. Across two different measures, binge‐eating symptoms interacted with reward magnitude, such that those with high binge eating used reward magnitude more to make trial choices than those with low binge eating.

Discussion

These data provide initial support for the validity of the EEfRT modified for food as a behavioral measure of willingness to work for food reward. The impact of binge eating on effort expenditure must be replicated in samples of patients with eating disorders.