bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pilates versus resistance training on trunk strength and balance adaptations in older women: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Carrasco-Poyatos María , Ramos-Campo Domingo J. , Rubio-Arias Jacobo A.
Published: November 2019

Background

The neuromuscular decline impact in the functional independence of older women is determining the necessity of implementing new strategies focused on core strength training and postural stability maintenance to promote healthy aging.

Objectives

To define whether Pilates or resistance training is better at improving (a) core isometric and isokinetic muscular strength, and (b) static and dynamic balance, in older women.

Methods

This was a cluster randomized controlled trial. Physically independent older women (60–80 years) from day centers were randomly allocated to Pilates, Muscular and Control Groups (PG, MG and CG) using a block randomization method. Only the research staff performing the assessment and statistical analysis were blinded. Exercise groups trained twice a week (1 h per session) for 18 weeks in a moderate-to-vigorous intensity. Core strength (primary outcome): trunk and hip isometric and hip isokinetic muscular strength (Biodex System III Pro Isokinetic Dynamometer), alongside one leg static balance (portable force platform Kistler 9286AA) and dynamic balance (timed up and go (TUG)) were assessed.

Results

A total of 60 participants were randomized (PG, n = 20; MG, n = 20; CG, n = 20) and 49 completed the trial (PG, n = 16; MG, n = 19; CG, n = 14). Regarding hip isometric extension strength, PG was statistically better than CG (P = 0.004). There were no differences between groups regarding isokinetic strength or balance. Intra-group comparisons showed significant improvements (P < 0.05) in the dynamic balance and trunk and hip isometric extension strength for PG and MG, whereas every hip isokinetic measurement was improved in MG. Exercise programs did not produce any adverse event.

Conclusions

The Pilates training program was more effective for improving isometric hip and trunk extension strength, while the Muscular training program generated greater benefits on trunk and hip isokinetic strength. Moreover, both training programs showed moderate effects for the TUG.

Clinical Trial Registration

The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier: NCT02506491).
Tale of the Eagle
Authors: Brereton Joel P.
Published: November 2019

The Suparṇādhyāya or “The Tale of the Eagle” is a Sanskrit poem dating approximately to the latter part of the first millennium BCE. While the text itself does not become a significant part of the Sanskrit literary tradition, the story it tells does, though in forms preserved in other literature. This paper attempts to understand the purpose of the Suparṇādhyāya and the context for which it was composed. It argues that the text was originally created as an entertainment for young brahmin males who were memorizing the Veda under the direction of a teacher in a Vedic school. It concludes that the text was recited during days off from Veda study not only as an entertainment, but also as an encouragement to continue that study and as an education in the power and importance of the texts the students were memorizing.
Sargon in Samaria
Authors: Aster Shawn Zelig
Published: November 2019

How different were the claims of Assyrian royal inscriptions from actual Neo-Assyrian practice? This essay explores this question by examining two unusual claims made by Sargon II in relation to his rule of Samaria. The first claim, which appears both in the Khorsabad annals and in a Nimrud prism, should be translated “I again settled Samaria, more than (it had) previously (been settled).” Based on the historical reconstruction derived from archaeological data, I argue that this phrase refers to the movement of exiles into areas in the western part of the province of Samaria. These areas in the western part of the province, around the sites of Aphek, Hadid, and Gezer, experienced significant population increases in the Assyrian period. The second passage, in Sargon’s Great Display Inscription from Khorsabad, refers to Sargon’s treatment of non-deported Samaritans. It should be translated “I trained the remnant in their crafts.” The historical reality behind this claim is the shift in agricultural techniques and activities in Samaria as a result of the Assyrian conquest. The Assyrian domination of Samaria required the production of grain surpluses, which needed to be made available in the Aphek-Gezer region in the western part of the province of Samaria.

In each of the claims from the royal inscriptions examined in this essay, we see that the royal inscriptions credit the king with activities performed by the provincial governor. They change the description of the activity to make it “fit for royalty.”
Ibn al-Jawzī and the Cursing of Yazīd b . Muʿāwiya
Authors: Liew Han Hsien
Published: November 2019

This article examines how Muslim religious scholars find space within political and legal discourses to deal with thorny issues such as rebellion. It takes as its case study a treatise by Ibn al-Jawzī (d. 597/1201) regarding the permissibility to curse the second Umayyad caliph Yazīd b. Muʿāwiya . Although written to address the cursing of Yazīd, the treatise also speaks to questions regarding rulership and rebellion. Overall, the article argues that Ibn al-Jawzī adopted a juristically prudent approach to rebellion against an unjust and sinful ruler which synthesizes various elements of the Sunni caliphate discourse and the Islamic legal discourse on the treatment of rebels. This allowed him to shift the debate from one on the permissibility of rebellion to one on the question of legitimacy, thus enabling him to justify actions against Yazīd without overtly condoning the act of rebellion.
“By the Power of the Perfection of Wisdom”
Authors: Ding Yi
Published: November 2019

This paper focuses on the ritual context of the 200,000-line Chinese Great Perfection of Wisdom (Dabore jing; *Mahāprajñāpāramitā-sūtra) at Dunhuang. Beside the fact that the purpose of the mass production of sūtras was to generate merit and then present a “merit gift” for the sponsor, the copies were reused as ritual instruments in the large-scale chanting liturgy called “sūtra-rotation” (zhuanjing). This paper examines the relevant administrative documents and liturgical texts to reconstruct the three modules of the liturgy, i.e., the preparation stage, the pronouncement of a “liturgical script,” and the “long-playing” chanting. By analyzing key passages in the Prajñāpāramitā (Perfection of Wisdom) literature, the paper argues that the Great Perfection of Wisdom was taken as an apotropaic device with unmediated protective power.
A Self‐Branched Lamination of Hierarchical Patronite Nanoarchitectures on Carbon Fiber Cloth as Novel Electrode for Ionic Liquid Electrolyte‐Based High Energy Density Supercapacitors
Authors: Ramu Manikandan , Chellan Justin Raj , Goli Nagaraju , Joaquim Puigdollers , Cristobal Voz , Kim Byung Chul
Published: November 2019

The developments of rationally designed binder‐free metal chalcogenides decorated flexible electrodes are of paramount importance for advanced energy storage devices. Herein, binder‐free patronite (VS4) flower‐like nanostructures are facilely fabricated on a carbon cloth (CC) using a facile hydrothermal method for high‐performance supercapacitors. The growth density and morphology of VS4 nanostructures on CC are also controlled by varying the concentrations of vanadium and sulfur sources along with the complexing agent in the growth solution. The optimal electrode with an appropriate growth concentration (VS4‐CC@VS‐3) demonstrates a considerable pseudocapacitance performance in the ionic liquid (IL) electrolyte (1‐ethyl‐3‐methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate), with a high operating potential of 2 V. Utilizing VS4‐CC@VS‐3 as both positive and negative electrodes, the IL‐based symmetric supercapacitor is assembled, which demonstrates a high areal capacitance of 536 mF cm−2 (206 F g−1) and excellent cycling durability (93%) with superior energy and power densities of 74.4 µWh cm−2 (28.6 Wh kg−1) and 10154 µW cm−2 (9340 W kg−1), respectively. As for the high energy storage performance, the device stably energizes various portable electronic applications for a long time, which make the fabricated composite material open up news for the fabrication of fabrics supported binder‐free chalcogenides for high‐performance energy storage devices.
Palladium‐Catalyzed Carboperfluoroalkylation of Alkynes with Fluoroalkyl Iodides and Arylstannanes
Authors: Upadhyay Nitinkumar Satyadev , Chaładaj Wojciech
Published: November 2019

A tandem Pd‐catalyzed carboperfluoroalkylation through a sequence of iodoperfluoroalkylation and Stille coupling is presented. This novel three‐component transformation proceeds smoothly with excellent regio‐ and stereoselectivities, giving rise to fluoroalkyl‐substituted tri‐ and tetrasubstituted olefins.

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Cancer Cell Membrane‐Camouflaged Micromotor
Authors: Zhang Hongyue , Li Zesheng , Wu Zhiguang , He Qiang
Published: November 2019

A type of cancer cell membrane‐camouflaged and gold nanoshell‐functionalized CaCO3 (CGNCaCO3) micromotor and its ability to modulate immune activity are described. The process used to fabricate these micromotors includes the synthesis of CaCO3 particles, the functionalization of the gold nanoshell, and the fusion of cancer cell membrane vesicles onto the gold nanoshell‐functionalized CaCO3 (GNCaCO3) particles. Due to the benefit of the homotypic binding of the cancer cell membrane, the autonomous movement of CGNCaCO3 micromotors results in their substantial accumulation on cancer cells. The subcutaneous injection of CGNCaCO3 micromotors enhances their immune activity by camouflaging cancer cells. Such CGNCaCO3 micromotors inherit the biological features of natural cancer cells and are able to facilitate a broad range of antigenic and biological processes that common synthetic motors cannot achieve, and thus, these micromotors hold considerable promise for a number of practical biomedical uses.
Injury‐Triggered Blueing Reactions of Psilocybe “Magic” Mushrooms
Authors: Lenz Claudius , Wick Jonas , Braga Daniel , García‐Altares María , Lackner Gerald , Hertweck Christian , Gressler Markus , Hoffmeister Dirk
Published: November 2019

Upon injury, psychotropic psilocybin‐producing mushrooms instantly develop an intense blue color, the chemical basis and mode of formation of which has remained elusive. We report two enzymes from Psilocybe cubensis that carry out a two‐step cascade to prepare psilocybin for oxidative oligomerization that leads to blue products. The phosphatase PsiP removes the 4‐O‐phosphate group to yield psilocin, while PsiL oxidizes its 4‐hydroxy group. The PsiL reaction was monitored by in situ 13C NMR spectroscopy, which indicated that oxidative coupling of psilocyl residues occurs primarily via C‐5. MS and IR spectroscopy indicated the formation of a heterogeneous mixture of preferentially psilocyl 3‐ to 13‐mers and suggest multiple oligomerization routes, depending on oxidative power and substrate concentration. The results also imply that phosphate ester of psilocybin serves a reversible protective function.
Kohlenstoff‐Nanopunkte als Photokatalysatoren für die freie radikalische und ATRP‐basierte radikalische Photopolymerisation mit blauen LEDs
Authors: Kütahya Ceren , Wang Ping , Li Shujun , Liu Shouxin , Li Jian , Chen Zhijun , Strehmel Bernd
Published: November 2019

Kohlenstoff‐Nanopunkte (CDs) fanden Verwendung als Sensibilisator, um die freie radikalische und kontrollierte radikalische Polymerisation auf Basis einer ATRP‐Vorschrift mit blauen LEDs zu initiieren und zu aktivieren. N‐dotierte CDs sind wirksame Photokatalysatoren und Photosensibilisatoren in Kombination mit LEDs, die bei 405 oder 470 nm emittieren. Die Initiierung der freien radikalischen Polymerisation erfolgte durch Kombination von CDs mit einem Iodonium‐ oder Sulfoniumsalz in Tripropylenglycoldiacrylat. Die Polymerisation von Methylmethacrylat durch photoinduzierte ATRP gelang mit CDs und α‐Bromphenylessigsäureethylester unter Verwendung von CuII als Katalysator im ppm‐Bereich. Die erhaltenen Polymere zeigten im betrachteten Zeitfenster eine engere Dispersität und eine Funktionalität der Endgruppen bei ATR‐Experimenten. Die Kinetik erster Ordnung bestätigt zusätzlich eine konstante Konzentration von Polymerradikalen. Es wurde keine bemerkenswerte zytotoxische Aktivität der CDs beobachtet, was ihre Biokompatibilität verdeutlicht.
Crystal Engineering of Room Temperature Phosphorescence in Organic Solids
Authors: Hamzehpoor Ehsan , Perepichka Dmitrii F.
Published: November 2019

We report a series of highly emissive azatriangulenetrione (TANGO) solids in which the luminescent properties are controlled by engineering the molecular packing by adjusting the steric size of substituents. The co‐alignment of “phosphorogenic” carbonyl groups within the π‐stacks results in an almost pure triplet emission in HTANGO, TCTANGO, TBTANGO and TITANGO, while their rotation by ≈60° in the sterically hindered tBuTANGO leads to an almost pure singlet emission. Despite strong π‐interactions, aggregation‐induced quenching and triplet–triplet annihilation are avoided in HTANGO and TCTANGO which display efficient phosphorescence in the solid state. To our knowledge, HTANGO with the solid‐state phosphorescence quantum yield of 42 % at room temperature is the most efficient phosphor composed of the 1st/2nd raw elements only.
Percutaneous endovascular abdominal aneurysm repair: State‐of‐the art
Authors: Abdul Jabbar Ali , Chanda Arijit , White Christopher J. , Jenkins James Stephen
Published: November 2019

Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms emerged initially as an alternative treatment strategy for patients considered to be inoperable or high risk for surgery. The evolution of endovascular techniques has made this technology a safe and less invasive alternative to open surgery for patients with suitable aortic anatomy. This manuscript reviews the current state of the art for endovascular AAA repair techniques, clinical outcomes, guideline recommendations, and future applications.
Ionic Pd/NHC Catalytic System Enables Recoverable Homogeneous Catalysis: Mechanistic Study and Application in the Mizoroki–Heck Reaction
Authors: Eremin Dmitry B. , Denisova Ekaterina A. , Yu. Kostyukovich Alexander , Martens Jonathan , Berden Giel , Oomens Jos , Khrustalev Victor N. , Chernyshev Victor M. , Ananikov Valentine P.
Published: November 2019

Invited for the cover of this issue are Valentine P. Ananikov and co‐workers. The image depicts the dynamic behaviour of a Pd/NHC catalytic system with easy transition from molecular to ionic complex. Read the full text of the article at 10.1002/chem.201903221.
REAL‐t1, an Effective Approach for t1‐Noise Suppression in NMR Spectroscopy Based on Resampling Algorithm
Authors: Song Linhong , Wang Jiannan , Su Xuncheng , Zhang Xu , Li Conggang , Zhou Xin , Yang Daiwen , Jiang Bin , Liu Maili
Published: November 2019

Summary of main observation and conclusion

In multidimensional (nD) NMR spectroscopy, t1 noise usually appears as ridges along indirect dimensions, and affects observation of weak signals. The main source of t1 noise is instrumental instability, which causes random variation of FID amplitude during data acquisitions and introduces random noise‐like peaks into spectrum after Fourier transformation. A number of efforts have been devoted, in order to develop new method or to improve existing approaches for suppressing t1 noise. Herein, we propose a novel t1 noise suppression method based on resampling algorithm for data processing, shortened as REAL‐t1. The method was verified using simulated 2D spectra, and NOESY spectra of sucrose and protein GB1, showing that the spectral quality was improved in all cases. The performance of REAL‐t1 was also compared with another recently proposed method, which showed that these two methods provided similar performance while REAL‐t1 cost much shorter experimental time.
Distance metrics for very large color differences
Authors: Abasi Saeedeh , Amani Tehran Mohammad , Fairchild Mark D.
Published: November 2019

Small, supra‐threshold color differences are typically described with Euclidean distance metrics, or dimension‐weighted Euclidean metrics, in color appearance spaces such as CIELAB. This research examines the perception and modeling of very large color differences in the order of 10 CIELAB units or larger, with an aim of describing the salience of color differences between distinct objects in real‐world scenes and images. A psychophysical experiment was completed to compare directly large color‐difference pairs designed to probe various Euclidean and non‐Euclidean distance metrics. The results indicate that very large color differences are best described by HyAB, a combination of a Euclidean metric in hue and chroma with a city‐block metric to incorporate lightness differences.
The role of chick Ebf genes in the mediolateral patterning of the somites
Authors: EL‐Magd Mohammed A. , Elsayed Shafika A. , El‐Shetry Eman S. , Abdelfattah‐Hassan Ahmed , Saleh Ayman A. , Allen Steve , McGonnell Imelda , Patel Ketan
Published: November 2019

This study was conducted to check whether the three chick Early B‐cell Factor (Ebf) genes, particularly cEbf1, would be targets for Shh and Bmp signals during somites mediolateral (ML) patterning. Tissue manipulations and gain and loss of function experiments for Shh and Bmp4 were performed and the results revealed that cEbf1 expression was initiated in the cranial presomitic mesoderm by low dose of Bmp4 from the lateral mesoderm and maintained in the ventromedial part of the epithelial somite and the medial sclerotome by Shh from the notochord; while cEbf2/3 expression was induced and maintained by Bmp4 and inhibited by high dose of Shh. To determine whether Ebf1 plays a role in somite patterning, transfection of a dominant‐negative construct was carried out; this showed suppression of cPax1 expression in the medial sclerotome and upregulation and medial expansion of cEbf3 and cPax3 expression in sclerotome and dermomyotome, respectively, suggesting that Ebf1 is important for ML patterning. Thus, it is possible that low doses of Bmp4 set up Ebf1 expression which, together with Shh from the notochord, leads to establishment of the medial sclerotome and suppression of lateral identities. These data also conclude that Bmp4 is required in both the medial and lateral domain of the somitic mesoderm to keep the ML identity of the sclerotome through maintenance of cEbf gene expression. These striking findings are novel and give a new insight on the role of Bmp4 on mediolateral patterning of somites.
Organic farming expansion drives natural enemy abundance but not diversity in vineyard‐dominated landscapes
Authors: Muneret Lucile , Auriol Arthur , Bonnard Olivier , Richart‐Cervera Sylvie , Thiéry Denis , Rusch Adrien
Published: November 2019

Organic farming is seen as a prototype of ecological intensification potentially able to conciliate crop productivity and biodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes. However, how natural enemies, an important functional group supporting pest control services, respond to organic farming at different scales and in different landscape contexts remain unclear. Using a hierarchical design within a vineyard‐dominated region located in southwestern France, we examine the independent effects of organic farming and semi‐natural habitats at the local and landscape scales on natural enemies. We show that the proportion of organic farming is a stronger driver of species abundance than the proportion of semi‐natural habitats and is an important facet of landscape heterogeneity shaping natural enemy assemblages. Although our study highlights a strong taxonomic group‐dependency about the effect of organic farming, organic farming benefits to dominant species while rare species occur at the same frequency in the two farming systems. Independently of farming systems, enhancing field age, reducing crop productivity, soil tillage intensity, and pesticide use are key management options to increase natural enemy biodiversity. Our study indicates that policies promoting the expansion of organic farming will benefit more to ecological intensification strategies seeking to enhance ecosystem services than to biodiversity conservation.
Biochemical assessment of patients following ketogenic diets for epilepsy: Current practice in the UK and Ireland
Authors: Schoeler Natasha E. , Simpson Zoe , Whiteley Victoria J. , Nguyen Patty , Meskell Rachel , Lightfoot Kathyrn , Martin‐McGill Kirsty J. , Olpin Simon , Ivison Fiona ,   the Ketogenic Dietitians Research Network (KDRN)
Published: November 2019

Objective

Biochemical assessment is recommended for patients prior to initiating and following a ketogenic diet (KD). There is no published literature regarding current practice in the UK and Ireland. We aimed to explore practice in comparison with international guidelines, determine approximate costs of biochemical testing in KD patients across the UK and Ireland, and promote greater consistency in KD services nationally.

Methods

A survey was designed to determine the biochemical tests requested for patients at baseline, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months + on KD. The survey was circulated to 39 centers across the UK and Ireland.

Results

Sixteen centers completed the survey. Full blood count, electrolytes, calcium, liver function tests (LFTs), lipid profile, and vitamin D were requested at all centers at baseline, in keeping with international guidelines. Bicarbonate, total protein, and urinalysis were less consistently requested. Magnesium and zinc were requested by all centers, despite not being specifically recommended for pre‐diet evaluation in guidelines. Urea and electrolyte profiles and some LFTs were consistently requested at follow‐up, in accordance with guidelines. Other LFTs and renal tests, full blood count, lipid profile, acylcarnitine profile, selenium, vitamin D, and urinalysis were less consistently requested at follow‐up. The mean costs of the lowest and highest number of tests requested at baseline in our participating centers were £167.54 and £501.93; the mean costs of the lowest and highest number of tests requested at 3‐month follow‐up were £19.17 and £450.06.

Significance

Biochemical monitoring of KD patients varies widely across the UK and Ireland and does not fully correspond to international best practice guidelines. With an ongoing drive for cost‐effectiveness within health care, further work is needed to streamline practice while ensuring patient safety.
Transcriptomic Changes in Liver of Juvenile Cynoglossus semilaevis following Perfluorooctane Sulfonate Exposure
Authors: Zhang Linbao , Sun Wei , Chen Haigang , Zhang Zhe , Cai Wengui
Published: November 2019

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is an increasingly important environmental pollutant that is pervasive in the environment. A number of studies have focused on the toxicological effects of PFOS on model fish species (zebrafish and medaka), but little is known about the impact of PFOS on commercially important marine fish. Thus, the present study examined transcriptome responses to PFOS exposure in the liver of juvenile Cynoglossus semilaevis, an important farmed flatfish in China. Then, in response to PFOS challenges, 1695 and 5244 genes were identified as significantly increased and depressed, respectively. Significant expression changes were observed in immune-related genes (cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction, T-helper [Th]17 cell differentiation, and the chemokine nuclear factor-kappa B and T-cell receptor signaling pathways), indicating that immunotoxicity is a key aspect of the effects of PFOS on C. semilaevis. Exposure to PFOS also altered the gene expression levels of hormones (inhibin, insulin, somatostatin, and glucagon), which could lead to severe metabolic and endocrine dysfunction. As expected from previous studies, several phase I and phase II detoxification enzymes were significantly up-regulated, which could facilitate the biotransformation and detoxification of PFOS in C. semilaevis. The present study provides new insights into the molecular toxicology of PFOS in a commercially important fish species. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:556–564. © 2019 SETAC
Teachers' Views of Their Practices Related to Common Core State Standards‐Aligned Assessments
Authors: Buzick Heather M. , Rhoad‐Drogalis Anna , Laitusis Cara C. , King Teresa C.
Published: November 2019

A fundamental claim for Common Core State Standards (CCSS)‐aligned assessments is that they will lead to better teaching practices. The purpose of this study is to seek evidence in support of this claim by surveying teachers about their instructional practices, test preparation strategies, and test score use both before and after the introduction of CCSS‐aligned assessments. Baseline and trend data were collected via five Web‐based surveys, administered over 2 years to elementary and middle school English language arts and mathematics teachers in one state, New Jersey. Responses to the first three surveys (n1 = 402 teachers, n2 = 469 teachers, and n3 = 175 teachers from 4% to 6% of New Jersey schools) are summarized and described; results from the remaining surveys are omitted due to low response. Challenges to collecting empirical evidence in support of the validity argument and theory of action for a new assessment are discussed.
Experimental study on fire properties of interior materials used in low‐floor light‐rail trains
Authors: An Weiguang , Liang Kai , Zhang Taolin , Yin Xiangwei , Cong Yuzhou , Gao Yunji , Cheng Jianwei
Published: November 2019

In this work, cone calorimeter tests were conducted to investigate fire properties of interior materials (floor covering [FC], aluminum plate covered with paint [APCP], light diffuser [LD], and gel coat [GC]) used in low‐floor light‐rail trains. Ignition time (tig) of each material decreases with the increase of radiative heat flux. The decreasing order of the four samples by ignition time under the same radiative heat flux is LD > APCP > FC > GC. The heat release rate (HRR), peak value of HRR (PHRR), time from ignition to PHRR (tp), fire growth rate index (FIGRA), and fire growth index (FGI) rise with the increasing radiative heat flux. For the FC, LD, and GC, single HRR peak is observed in the HRR history while three peaks are observed for APCP. For PHRR, LD > FC > APCP > GC, while for tp, GC < FC < APCP < LD. Under most conditions, the FIGRA and FGI of the FC is the highest among the four materials. Results of this work are beneficial to evaluate fire hazard of low‐floor light‐rail train and determine the emphasis of fire prevention.
Sucrose treatment of mung bean seeds results in increased vitamin C, total phenolics, and antioxidant activity in mung bean sprouts
Authors: Wei Yingying , Wang Xingxing , Shao Xingfeng , Xu Feng , Wang Hongfei
Published: November 2019

Mung bean seeds were soaked in 0.5 g/L of sucrose solution for 24 hr at 25°C and sprayed with this solution every 12 hr during the germination for 5 days. Our results showed that exogenous sucrose significantly increased vitamin C content throughout germination, and sucrose‐treated sprouts had 23% more vitamin C (20.8 mg/100 g FW) than in control sprouts on day 5. This may be related to higher levels of glucose and l‐galactono‐1, 4‐lactone dehydrogenase activity seen in the treated group versus the control. Total phenolic content and activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase were significantly higher in sucrose‐treated mung bean sprouts than the controls, which contributed to the higher antioxidant activity in sucrose‐treated sprouts. These results indicate that exogenous sucrose treatment increases the content of vitamin C and total phenolics, and enhances the antioxidant activity in mung bean sprouts. It suggests that exogenous sucrose treatment could be an effective technique for producing mung bean sprouts with more vitamin C and higher antioxidant capacity.
Dose‐dense adjuvant chemotherapy in HER2‐positive early breast cancer patients before and after the introduction of trastuzumab: Exploratory analysis of the GIM2 trial
Authors: Lambertini Matteo , Poggio Francesca , Bruzzone Marco , Conte Benedetta , Bighin Claudia , de Azambuja Evandro , Giuliano Mario , De Laurentiis Michele , Cognetti Francesco , Fabi Alessandra , Bisagni Giancarlo , Durando Antonio , Turletti Anna , Urracci Ylenia , Garrone Ornella , Puglisi Fabio , Montemurro Filippo , Ceppi Marcello , Del Mastro Lucia ,   the GIM2 investigators
Published: November 2019

Dose‐dense adjuvant chemotherapy is standard of care in high‐risk early breast cancer patients. However, its role in HER2‐positive patients is still uncertain. In this exploratory analysis of the GIM2 trial, we investigated the efficacy of dose‐dense chemotherapy in HER2‐positive breast cancer patients with or without exposure to trastuzumab. In the GIM2 trial, node‐positive early breast cancer patients were randomized to receive four cycles of (fluorouracil)epirubicin/cyclophosphamide followed by four cycles of paclitaxel administered every 2 (dose‐dense) or 3 (standard‐interval) weeks. After approval of adjuvant trastuzumab, protocol was amended in April 2006 to allow use of trastuzumab for 1 year after chemotherapy completion in HER2‐positive patients. The efficacy of dose‐dense chemotherapy in terms of disease‐free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) was assessed according to HER2 status and trastuzumab use. Out of 2,003 breast cancer patients, HER2 status was negative/unknown in 1,551 patients; among the 452 patients with HER2‐positive breast cancer, chemotherapy alone or followed by trastuzumab was given to 320 and 132 patients, respectively. Median follow‐up was 8.1 years. No significant interaction between HER2 status, trastuzumab use and chemotherapy treatment was observed for both DFS (p = 0.698) and OS (p = 0.708). Nevertheless, there was no apparent benefit in the HER2‐positive group treated with trastuzumab (DFS: HR, 0.99; 95% CI 0.52–1.89; OS: HR, 0.95; 95% CI 0.37–2.41). Although dose‐dense chemotherapy was associated with a significant survival improvement in high‐risk breast cancer patients, its benefit appeared to be smaller (if any) in patients with HER2‐positive disease who received adjuvant trastuzumab.
Analyzing the decline of student scores over time in self‐scheduled asynchronous exams
Authors: Chen Binglin , West Matthew , Zilles Craig
Published: November 2019

Background

When students are given a choice of when to take an exam in engineering and computing courses, it has been previously observed that average exam scores generally decline over the exam period. This trend may have implications both for the design of interventions to improve student learning and for data analysis to detect collaborative cheating.

Purpose/Hypothesis

We hypothesize that average exam scores decline over the exam period primarily due to self‐selection effects, where weaker students tend to choose exam times later in the exam period, while stronger students are more likely to choose earlier times.

Design/Method

We collected 31,673 exam records over four semesters from six undergraduate engineering and computing courses that had both synchronous exams (all students at the same time) and asynchronous exams (students choose a time). We analyzed student exam time choice and asynchronous exam scores, using synchronous exam scores in the same course as a control variable.

Results

We find that students with lower scores on synchronous exams generally elect to take asynchronous exams later and that controlling for student ability (via synchronous exams) removes 70% of the decline observed in average asynchronous exam scores over the exam period but does not eliminate the downward trend with time.

Conclusions

We conclude that self‐selection effects are primarily responsible for exam score declines over time, that exam time selection is unlikely to be a useful target for interventions to improve performance, and that there is no evidence for widespread collaborative cheating in the dataset used in this research.
Surfaces of general type with pg=1, q=0, K2=6 and grassmannians
Authors: Fatighenti Enrico
Published: November 2019

We construct examples of surfaces of general type with , and . We use as key varieties Fano fourfolds and Calabi–Yau threefolds that are zero section of some special homogeneous vector bundle on Grassmannians. We link as well our construction to a classical Campedelli surface, using the Pfaffian–Grassmannian correspondence.
NLRB's New Rules for Determining the Appropriateness of Microunits
Authors: Wich Scott
Published: November 2019

As we noted in last month's issue of Management Report, the National Labor Relations Board recently clarified its test for determining when the Board will accept a “microunit” as an appropriate group to organize within an employer's larger workforce. The ruling stopped the International Association of Machinists, which has been trying for years to organize the more than 2,700 workers at a Boeing plant in South Carolina, from representing a microunit of fewer than 200 technicians who are part of the workforce (The Boeing Company, 368 NLRB No. 67 (2019)). This article discusses the Board's new three‐prong test for whether a proposed microunit is appropriate.
Hot deformation behavior and processing maps of iron‐nickel based superalloy
Authors: Fazilatpanah H. , Jahangiri M.R. , Khodabandeh A.R.
Published: November 2019

Hot deformation behavior of iron‐nickel based superalloy (multimet N‐155) was investigated by hot compression tests, carried out in the deformation temperature of 850 °C–1150 °C with strain rates of 0.001–0.1 s−1. The results showed that during the hot deformation of the alloy, under the same temperature, the flow stress rises with the increase of strain rate. At the same strain rate, the flow stress decreases with the increase of the temperature. The constitutive equations of the alloy that describe the flow stress as a function of strain rate and deformation temperature were established and the calculated apparent activation energy was 584.996 Kj/mol. The results of metallographic analysis showed that the amount of dynamic recrystallization in the peak efficiency domain is higher than the other domains. The results also showed that by increase of deformation temperature and/or decrease of strain rate, the volume fraction of dynamic recrystallization increases. Processing maps under different strains were constructed for evaluation of flow instability regime and optimization of processing parameters. The optimum hot working window for alloy was obtained at the temperature range of 925 °C–1050 °C and strain rate of 0.001–0.003 s−1, with peak efficiency of 28 %.
On the nonlinear stability and the existence of selective decay states of 3D quasi‐geostrophic potential vorticity equation
Authors: Esen Oğul , Han Daozhi , Şengül Taylan , Wang Quan
Published: November 2019

In this article, we study the dynamics of large‐scale motion in atmosphere and ocean governed by the 3D quasi‐geostrophic potential vorticity (QGPV) equation with a constant stratification. It is shown that for a Kolmogorov forcing on the first energy shell, there exist a family of exact solutions that are dissipative Rossby waves. The nonlinear stability of these exact solutions are analyzed based on the assumptions on the growth rate of the forcing. In the absence of forcing, we show the existence of selective decay states for the 3D QGPV equation. The selective decay states are the 3D Rossby waves traveling horizontally at a constant speed. All these results can be regarded as the expansion of that of the 2D QGPV system and in the case of 3D QGPV system with isotropic viscosity. Finally, we present a geometric foundation for the model as a general equation for nonequilibrium reversible‐irreversible coupling.
Remarks on nontrivial pullback attractors of the 2‐D Navier‐Stokes equations with delays
Authors: Wang Yongzhong , Yang Xin‐Guang , Lu Yongjin
Published: November 2019

This paper is concerned with some further research on the pullback dynamics for 2‐D Navier‐Stokes equations with delays. By some new definition of generalized Grashof numbers, we presented some sufficient conditions when the pullback attractors of the 2‐D nonautonomous incompressible Navier‐Stokes equations with differential continuous delays become a single trajectory, which is a preparation for the fractal dimension of pullback attractors for our problem with constant or variable delays.
Biocompatible fluorescent polyamine‐based cyclophosphazene hybrid nanospheres for targeted cell imaging
Authors: Akram Raheel , Arshad Anila , Dar Sami Ullah , Basharat Majid , Liu Wei , Zhang Shuangkun , Wu Zhanpeng , Wu Dezhen
Published: November 2019

Fluorescent nanoprobes are highly desirable toolkit for bioimaging applications. This study reports the first example for the synthesis of a nontoxic prototypical fluorescent organic compound 2‐benzo[d]thiazol‐2‐yl)‐3‐(2‐chloro‐4‐(dimethylamino)phenyl)acrylonitrile (BCA) and its entrapment into the poly[cyclotriphosphazene‐co‐polyethyleneimine] cross‐linked (PCPEI) nanospheres named as BCA@PCPEI for targeted cell imaging application. The as‐prepared BCA@PCPEI nanospheres were thoroughly characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and phosphorus‐31 nuclear magnetic resonance (31P‐NMR) analyses. The surface functional analysis of the nanospheres was performed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which proves that the content ratios of elements belong to the precursors concentrations. The as‐prepared nanospheres displayed emission at 606 nm with bright orange fluorescence at any concentration. Moreover, the nanospheres were also less cytotoxic and maintained remarkable cell viability up to 100 μg/mL. Owing to the fluorescence with higher emission, this material has shown excellent cell imaging performance with better targeting ability to HeLa cells.
Clinical profile and outcome of classical Hodgkin lymphoma treated with a risk‐adapted approach in a tertiary cancer center in India
Authors: Parambil Badira Cheriyalinkal , Narula Gaurav , Prasad Maya , Shah Sneha , Shet Tanuja , Shridhar Epari , Khanna Nehal , Laskar Siddhartha , Gujral Sumeet , Sankaran Hari , Banavali Shripad
Published: November 2019

Background

Classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) has excellent survival rates, but late effects are an issue and dictate modern approaches. We analyzed the clinical profile and outcome of cHL treated on a risk‐adapted approach aimed at reducing late effects while improving historical outcomes at our center.

Procedure

Children (≤15 years) consecutively treated for cHL from January 2013 through December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. 18FDG‐PET‐CT–based staging and response assessment was done after two cycles for early response (ERA) and end of chemotherapy (late‐response assessment [LRA]) if not in complete response (CR; Deauville < 4) at ERA. Stages IA/IB/IIA were low risk (LR) and received two cycles of ABVD (adriamycin/bleomycin/vinblastine/dacarbazine). Stages IAX/IBX/IIAX/IIB/IIIA were intermediate risk (IR), and stages IIBE/IIBX/IIIAE/IIIAX/IIIB/IVA/IVB were high risk (HR). Both received two cycles of OEPA (oncocristine/etoposide/prednisolone/adriamycin). Those in ERA‐CR received two cycles of ABVD if LR, and two and four cycles of COPDac (cyclophosphamide/oncocristine/prednisolone/dacarbazine), respectively, for IR and HR. Involved‐field radiotherapy (IFRT) was given to bulky sites and ERA < CR. Those at LRA < CR (Deauville < 3) or progression at any stage received salvage regimens.

Results

In the study period, 126 patients were identified who received the above protocol. There were 12 LR, and 114 advanced staged Hodgkin lymphoma (AHL) (18, IR; 96, HR) of which 91 (79.8%) had bulky sites. Eight (66.6%) LR and 93 (83%) AHL patients achieved ERA‐CRs. IFRT was given to 4 (33.3%) LR patients with ERA < CR, and 92 (80.7%) of AHL (91 bulky sites; 1 ERA < CR). At a median follow‐up of 31 months (range, 17–62), three‐year event‐free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were both 100% for LR, and 94.4% (95% CI, 66.0%–99.2%) for IR, whereas for HR it was 90.3% (95% CI, 82.2%–94.8%) and 92.6% (95% CI, 85.2%–96.4%), respectively.

Conclusions

Children with HL have favorable outcomes with manageable toxicities when treated on a risk‐stratified and adapted approach. A high proportion of AHL have bulky disease necessitating IFRT, a concern that will have to be factored in future strategies.
Sarcopenia: Tilting the Balance of Protein Homeostasis
Authors: Tan Kuan Ting , Ang Seok‐Ting Jamie , Tsai Shih‐Yin
Published: November 2019

Sarcopenia, defined as age‐associated decline of muscle mass and function, is a risk factor for mortality and disability, and comorbid with several chronic diseases such as type II diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Clinical trials showed that nutritional supplements had positive effects on muscle mass, but not on muscle function and strength, demonstrating our limited understanding of the molecular events involved in the ageing muscle. Protein homeostasis, the equilibrium between protein synthesis and degradation, is proposed as the major mechanism underlying the development of sarcopenia. As the key central regulator of protein homeostasis, the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is proposed to be essential for muscle hypertrophy. Paradoxically, sustained activation of mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) is associated with a loss of sensitivity to extracellular signaling in the elderly. It is not understood why sustained mTORC1 activity, which should induce muscle hypertrophy, instead results in muscle atrophy. Here, recent findings on the implications of disrupting protein homeostasis on muscle physiology and sarcopenia development in the context of mTOR/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling are reviewed. Understanding the role of these molecular mechanisms during the ageing process will contribute towards the development of targeted therapies that will improve protein metabolism and reduce sarcopenia.
Analysis and summarizing of discourse in Moroccan sociolect language
Authors: Mansouri Fadoua , Abdelalim Sadiq
Published: November 2019

Moroccan internauts tend these days to use a very new specific language, a new trend of communication on the web, mainly on social media, to express their opinions and exchange their ideas, and that what we greed to call the Moroccan sociolect language given it extensive use by almost all Moroccan netizens.

Since our final purpose is to be able to analyze the opinions of these internauts community, it is mandatory to first understand the language they are using to communicate on the web, thus, in this paper, we present in details the specific features of this Moroccan sociolect language, also we propose a set of steps, models and algorithms to follow in order to understand and summarize a Moroccan sociolect text.
Crystal Structures, Magnetism, and Dye Degradation Catalytic Properties of Copper 2‐Methoxycarboxybenzoate Coordination Complexes
Authors: Jia Jason , LaDuca Robert L.
Published: November 2019

Copper coordination complexes containing the 2‐methoxycarboxybenzoate (2‐mcob) ligand show different topologies depending on the nature of the dipyridyl coligand. [Cu2(2‐mcob)2(ebin)]n (1) [ebin = ethanebis(isonicotinamide)] shows a ladder structure based on anti‐syn bridged [Cu(OCO)]n chain motifs. [Cu2(2‐mcob)2(bbin)(H2O)2] (2) [bbin = butanebis(isonicotinamide)] displays a dimeric molecular structure. [Cu2(2‐mcob)2(hbin)]n (3) [hbin = hexanebis(isonicotinamide)] manifests a ladder structure very similar to that of 1. {[Cu(2‐mcob)(dpa)]·H2O}n (4) [dpa = bis(4‐pyridyl)amine] shows a chain coordination polymer structure. All four materials showed significant promise as heterogeneous degradation catalysts for Congo Red dye in aqueous suspension under ultraviolet irradiation. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility experiments for 1 indicated the presence of weak antiferromagnetic exchange (g = 2.059(2), J = –0.84(2) cm–1). Thermal degradation behavior is also discussed.
Hairy black hole chemistry
Authors: Astefanesei Dumitru , Mann Robert B. , Rojas Raúl
Published: November 2019

Abstract

We study the thermodynamics of an exact hairy black hole solution in Anti- deSitter (AdS) spacetime. We use the counterterm method supplemented with boundary terms for the scalar field to obtain the thermodynamic quantities and stress tensor of the dual field theory. We then extend our analysis by considering a dynamical cosmological constant and verify the isoperimetric inequality. Unlike the thermodynamics of Reissner- Nordström (RN) black hole in this ‘extended’ framework, the presence of the scalar field and its self-interaction makes also the criticality possible in the grand canonical ensemble. In the canonical ensemble, we prove that, in fact, there exist two critical points. Finally we comment on a different possible interpretation that is more natural in the context of string theory.
Rank-initial embeddings of non-standard models of set theory
Authors: Kindvall Gorbow Paul
Published: November 2019

A theoretical development is carried to establish fundamental results about rank-initial embeddings and automorphisms of countable non-standard models of set theory, with a keen eye for their sets of fixed points. These results are then combined into a “geometric technique” used to prove several results about countable non-standard models of set theory. In particular, back-and-forth constructions are carried out to establish various generalizations and refinements of Friedman’s theorem on the existence of rank-initial embeddings between countable non-standard models of the fragment $${\mathrm {KP}}^{{\mathcal {P}}}$$

KP

P

+ $$\Sigma _1^{{\mathcal {P}}}$$

Σ
1
P

-Separation of $${\mathrm {ZF}}$$
ZF
; and Gaifman’s technique of iterated ultrapowers is employed to show that any countable model of $${\mathrm {GBC}} + \text {``}{\mathrm {Ord}}\text { is weakly compact''}$$

GBC
+
``
Ord

is weakly compact''

can be elementarily rank-end-extended to models with well-behaved automorphisms whose sets of fixed points equal the original model. These theoretical developments are then utilized to prove various results relating self-embeddings, automorphisms, their sets of fixed points, strong rank-cuts, and set theories of different strengths. Two examples: The notion of “strong rank-cut” is characterized (i) in terms of the theory $${\mathrm {GBC}} + \text {``}{\mathrm {Ord}}\text { is weakly compact''}$$

GBC
+
``
Ord

is weakly compact''

, and (ii) in terms of fixed-point sets of self-embeddings.
Evaluation of eazyplex® SuperBug CRE Test for Beta-Lactamase Genes Detection in Klebsiella spp. and P. aeruginosa Strains
Authors: Sękowska Alicja , Bogiel Tomasz , Gospodarek-Komkowska Eugenia
Published: November 2019

The multi-drug resistance of Gram-negative rods is one of the most important issues of present medicine. In recent years, more and more strains resistant to the majority or to all possible therapeutic options have been isolated—especially Klebsiella spp. and Pseudomonas spp. representatives. It is very important to detect strains with these phenotypes as quickly and reliably as possible. The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of eazyplex® SuperBug CRE test (Amplex Diagnostics) for the detection of the most important beta-lactam resistance genes. eazyplex® SuperBug CRE test is based on the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method, and detects genes for the following beta-lactamases: KPC, NDM-1, VIM, OXA-48, CTX-M1, CTX-M9 and OXA-181. The study involved 87 strains. For all of the positive strains in the LAMP method, additional PCR were performed to increase the spectrum of ESBLs detected by the genes encoding for enzymes belonging to TEM and SHV families. The results obtained by the tested method and standard PCR were consistent for all Klebsiella spp. strains. The discrepancy between the evaluated test and PCR results was observed for one P. aeruginosa strain. The eazyplex® SuperBug CRE test can be used for quick detection of the most important beta-lactam resistance mechanisms amongst Gram-negative rods.