bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Investigation of Limbs Exercise as a Treatment in Improving the Psychomotor Speed in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Jiang Hao , Chen Shihui , Wang Lina , Liu Xiaolei
Published: October 2019

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of therapeutic structured limb exercises intended to improve psychomotor speed in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: Forty-four patients with mild cognitive impairment who met the inclusion criteria were selected and assigned randomly to either an experimental group (22 patients) or a control group (22 patients). The numbers of participants were selected based on the calculated sample effect size (N = 38). The study involved a 10-week intervention, in which participants completed structured limb exercises during 60-min training sessions delivered three times per week. Forty-one subjects completed the experimental programme. Scores in the Finger Tapping Test (FTT), Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT) and Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), along with electroencephalography (EEG) data, were collected before, during and after the intervention. The experimental and control groups were compared using repeated measures analysis of variance. Results: The patients with MCI in the experimental group achieved significantly improved scores in the FTT, the PPT and all dimensions of the MoCA. Moreover, these patients exhibited significant increases in the alpha and beta EEG wave power values in all brain areas of MCI patients, indicating that limb exercise training positively influenced their brain functions. Conclusions: The results conclude that a structured therapeutic limb exercise intervention can effectively improve psychomotor speed in patients with MCI and mitigate declines in cognitive function. This training intervention appears to be effective as a treatment for community-dwelling patients with MCI.
Multisources of Energy Contracting Strategy with an Ecofriendly Factor and Demand Uncertainties
Authors: Hamze Abbas , Ouazene Yassine , Chebbo Nazir , Maatouk Imane
Published: October 2019

This study presents a mathematical formulation to optimize contracting capacity strategies of multisources of energy for institutional or industrial consumers considering demand uncertainties. The objective consists of minimizing the total costs composed of the different types of energy contract capacity costs, penalty price, and an ecofriendly factor. The penalty price is charged on the demand of energy exceeding the total contract capacities. The ecofriendly factor encourages the use of renewable energy and reduces the traditional energy used in the optimal mix of energy sources. The proposed model is tested based on demand of energy inspired from real data. These numerical experiments are analyzed to illustrate the impact of encouraging the use of renewable energy sources by introducing the ecofriendly factor and the influence of penalty price and uncertainty in the demand of energy. The results show that in the presence of low penalty price or low uncertainty a large amount of ecofriendly support is needed for using more renewable energy sources in the optimal contract capacity combination.
The Effect of the Addition of Apulian black Chickpea Flour on the Nutritional and Qualitative Properties of Durum Wheat-Based Bakery Products
Authors: Pasqualone Antonella , De Angelis Davide , Squeo Giacomo , Difonzo Graziana , Caponio Francesco , Summo Carmine
Published: October 2019

Historically cultivated in Apulia (Southern Italy), Apulian black chickpeas are rich in bioactive compounds such as anthocyanins. This type of chickpea is being replaced by modern cultivars and is at risk of genetic erosion; therefore, it is important to explore its potential for new food applications. The aim of this work was to assess the effect of the addition of Apulian black chickpea wholemeal flour on the nutritional and qualitative properties of durum wheat-based bakery products; namely bread, “focaccia” (an Italian traditional bakery product similar to pizza), and pizza crust. Composite meals were prepared by mixing Apulian black chickpea wholemeal flour with re-milled semolina at 10:90, 20:80, 30:70, and 40:60. The rheological properties, evaluated by farinograph, alveograph, and rheofermentograph, showed a progressive worsening of the bread-making attitude when increasing amounts of chickpea flour were added. The end-products expanded less during baking, and were harder and darker than the corresponding conventional products, as assessed both instrumentally and by sensory analysis. However, these negative features were balanced by higher contents of fibre, proteins, and bioactive compounds, as well as higher antioxidant activity.
The Honey Volatile Code: A Collective Study and Extended Version
Authors: Karabagias Ioannis K. , Karabagias Vassilios K. , Badeka Anastasia V.
Published: October 2019

Background: The present study comprises the second part of a new theory related to honey authentication based on the implementation of the honey code and the use of chemometrics. Methods: One hundred and fifty-one honey samples of seven different botanical origins (chestnut, citrus, clover, eucalyptus, fir, pine, and thyme) and from five different countries (Egypt, Greece, Morocco, Portugal, and Spain) were subjected to analysis of mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in combination with headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME). Results: Results showed that 94 volatile compounds were identified and then semi-quantified. The most dominant classes of compounds were acids, alcohols, aldehydes, esters, ethers, phenolic volatiles, terpenoids, norisoprenoids, and hydrocarbons. The application of classification and dimension reduction statistical techniques to semi-quantified data of volatiles showed that honey samples could be distinguished effectively according to both botanical origin and the honey code (p < 0.05), with the use of hexanoic acid ethyl ester, heptanoic acid ethyl ester, octanoic acid ethyl ester, nonanoic acid ethyl ester, decanoic acid ethyl ester, dodecanoic acid ethyl ester, tetradecanoic acid ethyl ester, hexadecanoic acid ethyl ester, octanal, nonanal, decanal, lilac aldehyde C (isomer III), lilac aldehyde D (isomer IV), benzeneacetaldehyde, alpha-isophorone, 4-ketoisophorone, 2-hydroxyisophorone, geranyl acetone, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, 1-(2-furanyl)-ethanone, octanol, decanol, nonanoic acid, pentanoic acid, 5-methyl-2-phenyl-hexenal, benzeneacetonitrile, nonane, and 5-methyl-4-nonene. Conclusions: New amendments in honey authentication and data handling procedures based on hierarchical classification strategies (HCSs) are exhaustively documented in the present study, supporting and flourishing the state of the art.
Comparing the Effect of Dipeptidyl-Peptidase 4 Inhibitors and Sulfonylureas on Albuminuria in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Prospective Open-Label Study
Authors: Cheng Po-Chung , Hsu Shang-Ren , Kuo Jeng-Fu , Cheng Yun-Chung , Liu Yu-Hsiu , Tu Shih-Te
Published: October 2019

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) leads to substantial morbidity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Evidence suggests that antidiabetic drug dipeptidyl-peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors may be able to attenuate albuminuria, whereas the influence of sulfonylureas on albuminuria remains unclear. This prospective open-label study investigated the effect of DPP-4 inhibitors and sulfonylureas on urinary albumin excretion, which is a marker of renal microvascular abnormality. A total of 101 participants with newly diagnosed T2DM were enrolled. In addition to metformin therapy, 45 patients were assigned to receive DPP-4 inhibitors and 56 to receive sulfonylureas. Urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) was significantly reduced in recipients of DPP-4 inhibitors after 24 weeks (29.2 µg/mg creatinine vs. 14.9 µg/mg creatinine, P < 0.001), whereas urinary ACR was not significantly changed by sulfonylureas (39.9 µg/mg creatinine vs. 43.2 µg/mg creatinine, P = 0.641). The effect on albuminuria occurred even though both treatment groups had a similar change in serum glycated hemoglobin A1c (−1.87 % vs.−2.40 %, P = 0.250). Therefore, in diabetic patients the addition of DPP-4 inhibitors lowered urinary albumin excretion compared to sulfonylureas, and attenuation of albuminuria may be a consideration when choosing between antidiabetic medications.
Global Transcriptional Response of Three Highly Acid-Tolerant Field Strains of Listeria monocytogenes to HCl Stress
Authors: Horlbog Jule Anna , Stevens Marc J. A. , Stephan Roger , Guldimann Claudia
Published: October 2019

Tolerance to acid is of dual importance for the food-borne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes: acids are used as a preservative, and gastric acid is one of the first defenses within the host. There are considerable differences in the acid tolerance of strains. Here we present the transcriptomic response of acid-tolerant field strains of L. monocytogenes to HCl at pH 3.0. RNAseq revealed significant differential expression of genes involved in phosphotransferase systems, oxidative phosphorylation, cell morphology, motility, and biofilm formation. Genes in the acetoin biosynthesis pathway were upregulated, suggesting that L. monocytogenes shifts to metabolizing pyruvate to acetoin under organic acid stress. We also identified the formation of cell aggregates in microcolonies as a potential relief strategy. A motif search within the first 150 bp upstream of differentially expressed genes identified a novel potential regulatory sequence that may have a function in the regulation of virulence gene expression. Our data support a model where an excess of intracellular H+ ions is counteracted by pumping H+ out of the cytosol via cytochrome C under reduced activity of the ATP synthase. The observed morphological changes suggest that acid stress may cause cells to aggregate in biofilm microcolonies to create a more favorable microenvironment. Additionally, HCl stress in the host stomach may serve as (i) a signal to downregulate highly immunogenic flagella, and (ii) as an indicator for the imminent contact with host cells which triggers early stage virulence genes.
CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Gene Replacement in the Fungal Keratitis Pathogen Fusarium solani var. petroliphilum
Authors: Lightfoot Jorge D. , Fuller Kevin K.
Published: October 2019

Fungal keratitis (FK) is a site-threatening infection of the cornea associated with ocular trauma and contact lens wear. Members of the Fusarium solani species complex (FSSC) are predominant agents of FK worldwide, but genes that support their corneal virulence are poorly understood. As a means to bolster genetic analysis in FSSC pathogens, we sought to employ a CRISPR/Cas9 system in an FK isolate identified as Fusarium petroliphilum. Briefly, this approach involves the introduction of two components into fungal protoplasts: (1) A purified Cas9 protein complexed with guide RNAs that will direct the ribonuclease to cut on either side of the gene of interest, and (2) a “repair template” comprised of a hygromycin resistance cassette flanked by 40 bp of homology outside of the Cas9 cuts. In this way, Cas9-induced double strand breaks should potentiate double homologous replacement of the repair template at the desired locus. We targeted a putative ura3 ortholog since its deletion would result in an easily discernable uracil auxotrophy. Indeed, 10% of hygromycin-resistant transformants displayed the auxotrophic phenotype, all of which harbored the expected ura3 gene deletion. By contrast, none of the transformants from the repair template control (i.e., no Cas9) displayed the auxotrophic phenotype, indicating that Cas9 cutting was indeed required to promote homologous integration. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the in vitro Cas9 system is an easy and efficient approach for reverse genetics in FSSC organisms, including clinical isolates, which should enhance virulence research in these important but understudied ocular pathogens.
A Dengue Vaccine: Will It be Accepted and Is It Feasible? Lessons from Barranquilla, Colombia, and Merida, Venezuela
Authors: McMahon Elizabeth , Encinales Liliana , Navarro Encinales Carlos , Vielma Silvana , Pacheco Nelly , Avendaño Echavez Lil Geraldine , Acosta Rodríguez Sandra , Calderon Milena , Encinales Sanabria Silvia , Encinales Sanabria Lorena , Serrano Bernal Ericka , Gonzaléz Coba Andrés , Jiménez Dennys , Simon Gary , Chang Aileen Y.
Published: October 2019

With one vaccine on the market and others in clinical trials, policy makers in dengue endemic regions face the decision of whether to introduce a dengue vaccine in their communities. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that individualized assessments be conducted before any vaccine introduction to evaluate disease burden and the strength of current vaccination programs. This study seeks to aid in that decision-making process by examining the acceptability and feasibility of dengue vaccine introduction in Barranquilla, Colombia, and Merida, Venezuela. Surveys were administered February–June of 2018 for three groups: patients (n = 351), health professionals (n = 197), and government officials (n = 26). In Barranquilla, most respondents reported dengue to be a moderate-severe problem, that a dengue vaccine would be useful in their communities, and that their current vaccination programs could handle the addition of a new vaccine. In Venezuela, respondents were less likely to view dengue as a major concern and listed multiple barriers to not just dengue vaccine introduction, but to providing current vaccines as well. Further work is needed in Colombia to more objectively assess the country’s readiness as a whole for a future dengue vaccine. As political and social unrest continues in Venezuela, however, future initiatives should focus on trust and capacity building. This study can serve as a framework for future assessments of the acceptability and feasibility of a dengue vaccine in both targeted areas and on larger scales.
Microscopic Blue Sapphire in Nelsonite from the Western Adirondack Mountains of New York State, USA
Authors: Darling Robert S. , Gordon Jessica L. , Loew Ellis R.
Published: October 2019

Microscopic, non-gem quality, grains of blue sapphire (corundum) have been identified in a small (1–2 cm wide), discontinuous, dike of nelsonite hosted by aluminous feldspathic gneiss. The gneiss was excavated during the construction of a hydroelectric plant on the Black River at Port Leyden, NY (western Adirondack Highlands). The sapphire location is 250 m NE of the Port Leyden nelsonite deposit. The small dike may represent a separate intrusion of nelsonite or one sheared from the main nelsonite orebody during Ottawan (circa 1050 Ma) deformation and metamorphism. The sapphires range in size from 0.1 to 2.0 mm, and commonly show parting, pleochroism, and hexagonal oscillatory zoning (from deep blue to clear). Electron microprobe analysis shows comparable levels of Fe in both clear (0.71–0.75 wt. %) and blue (0.38–0.77 wt. %) portions of grains, but clear sections have significantly lower TiO2 levels (0.002–0.011 wt.%) compared to blue sections (0.219–0.470 wt. %). Cr2O3 abundances range from 0.006 to 0.079 wt. % whereas V2O3 abundances range from 0.010 to 0.077 wt. % in blue sapphires. Small amounts of MgO were detected in one of the clear corundum grains (0.013 wt. %) and two of the six blue grains (0.001–0.015 wt. %), but the remaining five grains were below the limit of detection. Ga2O3, however, was detected in five out of six blue-colored grains (0.026–0.097 wt. %) but was below the limits of detection for clear grains. Optical spectroscopic data collected on the blue sapphire grains show broad absorbance in the yellow, orange, and red part of the spectrum (~565–740 nm) consistent with intervalence charge transfer between the next nearest neighbor Fe2+ and Ti4+. A magmatic origin of the sapphire grains is supported by petrologic and trace element data from the blue sapphires, but Cr abundances are inconsistent with this interpretation. Sapphire in a nelsonite host rock represents a new type of occurrence.
Synthesis of Lignin-based Phenol Terminated Hyperbranched Polymer
Authors: Longe Lionel , Garnier Gil , Saito Kei
Published: October 2019

In this work, we proved the efficient synthesis of a bio-based hyper-branched polyphenol from a modified lignin degradation fragment. Protocatechuic acid was readily obtained from vanillin, a lignin degradation product, via alkaline conditions, and further polymerised to yield high molecular weight hyperbranched phenol terminated polyesters. Vanillic acid was also subjected to similar polymerisation conditions in order to compare polymerisation kinetics and differences between linear and hyperbranched polymers. Overall, protocatechuic acid was faster to polymerise and more thermostable with a degradation temperature well above linear vanillic acid polyester. Both polymers exhibited important radical scavenging activity (RSA) compared to commercial antioxidant and present tremendous potential for antioxidant applications.
Prenylquinones in Human Parasitic Protozoa: Biosynthesis, Physiological Functions, and Potential as Chemotherapeutic Targets
Authors: Verdaguer Ignasi , Zafra Camila , Crispim Marcell , Sussmann Rodrigo , Kimura Emília , Katzin Alejandro
Published: October 2019

Human parasitic protozoa cause a large number of diseases worldwide and, for some of these diseases, there are no effective treatments to date, and drug resistance has been observed. For these reasons, the discovery of new etiological treatments is necessary. In this sense, parasitic metabolic pathways that are absent in vertebrate hosts would be interesting research candidates for the identification of new drug targets. Most likely due to the protozoa variability, uncertain phylogenetic origin, endosymbiotic events, and evolutionary pressure for adaptation to adverse environments, a surprising variety of prenylquinones can be found within these organisms. These compounds are involved in essential metabolic reactions in organisms, for example, prevention of lipoperoxidation, participation in the mitochondrial respiratory chain or as enzymatic cofactors. This review will describe several prenylquinones that have been previously characterized in human pathogenic protozoa. Among all existing prenylquinones, this review is focused on ubiquinone, menaquinone, tocopherols, chlorobiumquinone, and thermoplasmaquinone. This review will also discuss the biosynthesis of prenylquinones, starting from the isoprenic side chains to the aromatic head group precursors. The isoprenic side chain biosynthesis maybe come from mevalonate or non-mevalonate pathways as well as leucine dependent pathways for isoprenoid biosynthesis. Finally, the isoprenic chains elongation and prenylquinone aromatic precursors origins from amino acid degradation or the shikimate pathway is reviewed. The phylogenetic distribution and what is known about the biological functions of these compounds among species will be described, as will the therapeutic strategies associated with prenylquinone metabolism in protozoan parasites.
Cellulose Nanocrystal Isolation from Hardwood Pulp using Various Hydrolysis Conditions
Authors: Lin Kuan-Hsuan , Enomae Toshiharu , Chang Feng-Cheng
Published: October 2019

To expand the application field of the pulping industry, this study conducted a series of sample preparations for processing cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) from a dry hardwood pulp to achieve optimal sulfuric acid hydrolysis. The properties of laboratory-prepared pulp CNCs (P-CNCs) were investigated with different preparation conditions including sulfuric acid concentrations, hydrolysis temperatures, and hydrolysis durations. Results showed a gradient of color changes observed with the increase of hydrolysis duration and temperature. Under certain conditions, the derived P-CNCs exhibited nanoscale dimensions, detected by transmission electron microscopy, and a crystallinity index similar to commercial products. In addition, the surface sulfate groups were assumed to be contributed by sulfuric acid hydrolysis. However, a high acid concentration and long hydrolysis processing duration introduced more sulfate groups on the derived P-CNCs, which may have acted as flame retardants and, thus, increased the amount of char residue.
Modulation of Adipogenesis and Oxidative Status by Quercetin and Ochratoxin A: Positive or Negative Impact on Rat Adipocyte Metabolism?
Authors: Dobrocsyova Viktoria , Krskova Katarina , Capcarova Marcela , Zorad Stefan
Published: October 2019

(1) Background: Impaired adipose tissue function leads to the development of metabolic disorders. Reactive oxygen species play a key role in the regulation of adipogenesis and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by adipocytes. Quercetin (QCT) regulates adipogenesis by affecting the redox state of preadipocytes. Ochratoxin A (OTA) is one of the most prevalent mycotoxins contaminating food. It has cytotoxic, genotoxic, pro-inflammatory, and anti-adipogenic effects. Antioxidants are believed to protect cells from the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity induced by OTA. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of QCT and OTA application on preadipocyte differentiation, oxidative status, and adipocyte metabolism. (2) Methods: Primary rat preadipocytes were isolated from subcutaneous adipose tissue of Wistar rats. Gene expressions were determined by qPCR. Cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, glucose uptake, and lipid accumulation were determined using commercially available kits. (3) Results: A dose-dependent inhibitory effect of QCT on adipogenic differentiation was observed, which was accompanied by a decrease in ROS production. Reduced ROS formation is closely related to impaired glucose uptake by adipocytes. (4) Conclusions: The results of this study indicate a key role of ROS in regulating adipogenesis and metabolic pathways, which is affected by the application of QCT and/or OTA.
ε-Polylysine Inhibits Shewanella putrefaciens with Membrane Disruption and Cell Damage
Authors: LAN Weiqing , ZHANG Nannan , LIU Shucheng , CHEN Mengling , XIE Jing
Published: October 2019

ε-Polylysine (ε-PL) was studied for the growth inhibition of Shewanella putrefaciens (S. putrefaciens). The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ε-PL against S. putrefaciens was measured by the broth dilution method, while the membrane permeability and metabolism of S. putrefaciens were assessed after ε-PL treatment. Additionally, growth curves, the content of alkaline phosphatase (AKP), the electrical conductivity (EC), the UV absorbance and scanning electron microscope (SEM) data were used to study cellular morphology. The impact of ε-PL on cell metabolism was also investigated by different methods, such as enzyme activity (peroxidase [POD], catalase [CAT], succinodehydrogenase [SDH] and malic dehydrogenase [MDH]) and cell metabolic activity. The results showed that the MIC of ε-PL against S. putrefaciens was 1.0 mg/mL. When S. putrefaciens was treated with ε-PL, the growth of the bacteria was inhibited and the AKP content, electrical conductivity and UV absorbance were increased, which demonstrated that ε-PL could damage the cell structure. The enzyme activities of POD, CAT, SDH, and MDH in the bacterial solution with ε-PL were decreased compared to those in the ordinary bacterial solution. As the concentration of ε-PL was increased, the enzyme activity decreased further. The respiratory activity of S. putrefaciens was also inhibited by ε-PL. The results suggest that ε-PL acts on the cell membrane of S. putrefaciens, thereby increasing membrane permeability and inhibiting enzyme activity in relation to respiratory metabolism and cell metabolism. This leads to inhibition of cell growth, and eventually cell death.
Synthesis and Cytotoxic Activity of New 1,3,4-Thiadiazole Thioglycosides and 1,2,3-Triazolyl-1,3,4-Thiadiazole N-glycosides
Authors: Alminderej Fahad M. , Elganzory Hussein H. , El-Bayaa Mohamed N. , Awad Hanem M. , El-Sayed Wael A.
Published: October 2019

New 1,3,4-thiadiazole thioglycosides linked to substituted arylidine systems were synthesized via glycosylation of the prepared 1,3,4-thiadiazole thiol compounds. Click strategy was also used for the synthesis of new 1,3,4-thiadiazole and 1,2,3-triazole hybrid glycosides by reaction of the acetylenic derivatives with different glycosyl azids followed by deacetylation process. The cytotoxic activities of the prepared compounds were studied against HCT-116 (human colorectal carcinoma) and MCF-7 (human breast adenocarcinoma) cell lines using the MTT assay. The results showed that the key thiadiazolethione compounds 2 and 3, the triazole glycosides linked to p-methoxyarylidine derivatives 14 and 15 in addition to the free hydroxyl glycoside 20 were found potent in activity comparable to the reference drug doxorubicin against MCF-7 human cancer cells. The acetylenic derivative 2 and glycoside 20 were also found highly active against HCT-116 cell lines.
Evaluation of Cyclic Peptide Inhibitors of the Grb7 Breast Cancer Target: Small Change in Cargo Results in Large Change in Cellular Activity
Authors: Sang Jianrong , Kulkarni Ketav , Watson Gabrielle M. , Ma Xiuquan , Craik David J. , Henriques Sónia T. , Poth Aaron G. , Benfield Aurélie H. , Wilce Jacqueline A.
Published: October 2019

Grb7 is an adapter protein, overexpressed in HER2+ve breast and other cancers, and identified as a therapeutic target. Grb7 promotes both proliferative and migratory cellular pathways through interaction of its SH2 domain with upstream binding partners including HER2, SHC, and FAK. Here we present the evaluation of a series of monocyclic and bicyclic peptide inhibitors that have been developed to specifically and potently target the Grb7 SH2-domain. All peptides tested were found to inhibit signaling in both ERK and AKT pathways in SKBR-3 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. Proliferation, migration, and invasion assays revealed, however, that the second-generation bicyclic peptides were not more bioactive than the first generation G7-18NATE peptide, despite their higher in vitro affinity for the target. This was found not to be due to steric hindrance by the cell-permeability tag, as ascertained by ITC, but to differences in the ability of the bicyclic peptides to interact with and penetrate cellular membranes, as determined using SPR and mass spectrometry. These studies reveal that just small differences to amino acid composition can greatly impact the effectiveness of peptide inhibitors to their intracellular target and demonstrate that G7-18NATE remains the most effective peptide inhibitor of Grb7 developed to date.
Modulating Immune Response with Nucleic Acid Nanoparticles
Authors: Durbin Jake K. , Miller Daniel K. , Niekamp Julia , Khisamutdinov Emil F.
Published: October 2019

Nano-objects made of nucleic acids are becoming promising materials in the biomedical field. This is, in part, due to DNA and RNA self-assembly properties that can be accurately computed to fabricate various complex nanoarchitectures of 2D and 3D shapes. The nanoparticles can be assembled from DNA, RNA, and chemically modified oligonucleotide mixtures which, in turn, influence their chemical and biophysical properties. Solid-phase synthesis allows large-scale production of individual oligonucleotide strands with batch-to-batch consistency and exceptional purity. All of these advantageous characteristics of nucleic-acid-based nanoparticles were known to be exceptionally useful as a nanoplatform for drug delivery purposes. Recently, several important discoveries have been achieved, demonstrating that nucleic acid nanoparticles (NANPs) can also be used to modulate the immune response of host cells. The purpose of this review is to briefly overview studies demonstrating architectural design principles of NANPs, as well as the ability of NANPs to control immune responses.
Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Some Characteristic Constituents from the Vine Stems of Spatholobus suberectus
Authors: Liu Xiao-Yan , Zhang You-Bo , Yang Xiu-Wei , Yang Yan-Fang , Xu Wei , Zhao Wei , Peng Kai-Feng , Gong Yun , Liu Ni-Fu , Zhang Peng
Published: October 2019

The dried vine stems of Spatholobus suberectus are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating gynecological and cardiovascular diseases. In this study, five new compounds named spasuberol A (2), homovanillyl-4-oxo-nonanoate (5), spasuberol C (6), spasuberoside A (14), and spasuberoside B (15), together with ten known compounds (1, 3, 4, 7–13), were isolated from the dried vine stems of S. suberectus. Their chemical structures were analyzed using spectroscopic assays. This is the first study interpreting the detailed structural information of 4. The anti-inflammatory activity of these compounds was evaluated by reducing nitric oxide overproduction in RAW264.7 macrophages stimulated by lipopolysaccharide. Compounds 1 and 8–10 showed strong inhibitory activity with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 5.69, 16.34, 16.87, and 6.78 μM, respectively, exhibiting higher activity than the positive drug l-N6-(1-iminoethyl)-lysine (l-NIL) with an IC50 value of 19.08 μM. The IC50 values of inhibitory activity of compounds 2 and 4–6 were 46.26, 40.05, 45.87, and 28.29 μM respectively, which were lower than l-NIL, but better than that of positive drug indomethacin with an IC50 value of 55.44 μM. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that assayed compounds with good anti-inflammatory activity, such as 1, 6, 9, and 10 at different concentrations, can reduce the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of some pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). The anti-inflammatory activity and the possible mechanism of the compounds mentioned in this paper were studied preliminarily.
Arsenic Removal from Arsenopyrite-Bearing Iron Ore and Arsenic Recovery from Dust Ash by Roasting Method
Authors: Cheng Rijin , Zhang Hua , Ni Hongwei
Published: October 2019

In most cases, arsenic is an unfavorable element in metallurgical processes. The mechanism of arsenic removal was investigated through roasting experiments performed on arsenopyrite-bearing iron ore. Thermodynamic calculation of arsenic recovery was carried out by FactSage 7.0 software (Thermfact/CRCT, Montreal, Canada; GTT-Technologies, Ahern, Germany). Moreover, the arsenic residues in dust ash were recovered by roasting dust ash in a reducing atmosphere. Furthermore, the corresponding chemical properties of the roasted ore and dust ash were determined by X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry, and scanning electron microscopy, coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The experimental results revealed that the arsenic in arsenopyrite-bearing iron ore can be removed in the form of As2O3(g) in an air or nitrogen atmosphere by a roasting method. The efficiency of arsenic removal through roasting in air was found to be less than that in nitrogen atmosphere. The method of roasting in a reducing atmosphere is feasible for arsenic recovery from dust ash. When the carbon mass ratio in dust ash is 1.83%, the arsenic removal products is almost volatilized and recovered in the form of As2O3(g).
Equilibrium and Kinetic Studies of Biosorptive Removal of 2,4,6-Trichlorophenol from Aqueous Solutions Using Untreated Agro-Waste Pine Cone Biomass
Authors: Siva Kumar Nadavala , Asif Mohammad , Poulose Anesh Manjaly , Suguna Madala , Al-Hazza Mansour I.
Published: October 2019

The present work discusses the adsorptive removal of a phenolic pollutant, i.e., 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP), using low cost untreated agricultural waste pine cone powder (PCP). The present biosorbent was thoroughly characterized with the help of FTIR, SEM, XRD, and CHN analysis. The presence of amine (-NH2), hydroxyl (-OH) and carbonyl (C=O) functional groups was detected by the FTIR analysis. The important biosorption factors like agitation time, biomass dosage, initial adsorbate concentration, and the initial pH were examined by batch studies. The biosorption kinetic process was fast, reaching equilibrium in 75 min. The experimental kinetic data revealed an excellent agreement with the pseudo second order (PSO) model. On the other hand, the Langmuir isotherm model best described the equilibrium data with the maximum biosorption capacity (qmax) of 243.90 mg/g. These values are better than the adsorption capacities of most agro-based untreated adsorbents previously reported in the literature. Owing to fast removal rates and high biosorption capacity, PCP can be used for cost-effective treatment of TCP from aqueous streams.
Arsenic Removal from Mining Effluents Using Plant-Mediated, Green-Synthesized Iron Nanoparticles
Authors: Karimi Pari , Javanshir Sepideh , Sayadi Mohammad Hossein , Arabyarmohammadi Hoda
Published: October 2019

Arsenic contamination in industrial and mining effluents has always been a serious concern. Recently, nano-sized iron particles have been proven effective in sorptive removal of arsenic, because of their unique surface characteristics. In this study, green synthesis of iron nanoparticles was performed using a mixed extract of two plant species, namely Prangos ferulacea and Teucrium polium, for the specific purpose of arsenic (III) removal from the aqueous environment. Results of UV-visible spectrometry, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses confirmed the formation of iron nanoparticles from Prangos ferulacea (Pf) and Teucrium polium (Tp) extracts. The synthesized Fe nanoparticles morphology was studied via microscopy imaging. The particle size was 42 nm, as assessed by dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. Adsorption experiments were also designed and performed, which indicated 93.8% arsenic removal from the aqueous solution at 200 rpm agitation rate, 20 min agitation time, pH 6, initial concentration of 0.1 g/L, and adsorbent dosage of 2 g/L. Adsorption isotherm models were investigated, and the maximum uptake capacity was determined to be about 61.7 mg/g. The kinetic data were best represented by the pseudo-second kinetic model (R2 = 0.99). The negative value of Gibbs free energy, the enthalpy (−7.20 kJ/mol), and the entropy (−57 J/mol·K) revealed the spontaneous and exothermic nature of the adsorption process. Moreover, the small quantity of the activation energy confirmed the physical mechanism of arsenic adsorption onto iron nanoparticles and that the process is not temperature sensitive.
Omar Nieto. Teoría general de lo fantástico: del fantástico clásico al posmoderno. Ciudad de México: Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México, 2015
Authors: Elías Guadalupe
Published: October 2019

Los orígenes de Teoría general de lo fantástico, como apuntan Lauro Zavala en su prólogo (15) y el autor en la introducción (21), están en el proyecto de posgrado que éste presentó en 2005 en la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Lo que entonces preocupaba a Omar Nieto era analizar la obra de cuatro autores: el mexicano Ricardo Garibay y los argentinos Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortázar y, tentativamente, Adolfo Bioy Casares. Al iniciar esta investigación, señala Nieto, se dio cuenta de que no había un consenso en torno a las teorías de lo fantástico...
Alfons Gregori I Gomis, la dimensión política de lo irreal. El componente ideológico en la narrativa fantástica española y catalana. Poznań: Wydawnictwo Naukowe UAM, 2015
Authors: Martínez Vela Marlon
Published: October 2019

El libro se centra en el análisis de textos fantásticos escritos en español y catalán desde finales del siglo xix hasta el xxi. A este estudio, el autor añade aspectos ideológicos para ampliar la posibilidad de lectura de lo fantástico en los cuentos de autores españoles y catalanes de renombre, como Emilia Pardo Bazán, Miguel de Unamuno, Miguel Sawa, Pío Baroja, Luis Valera, Noel Clarasó, Álvaro Cunqueiro, Juan José Millás, José María Merino, Cristina Fernández Cubas y José María García Hernández —todos ellos en lengua castellana...
An Analysis of Pre-Service Teachersâ€™ Lesson Plan
Authors: Maiza Masfa
Published: October 2019

Lesson plan is one of the pivotal parts in learning process since it provides the instructions in the classroom. This study deals with the investigation of the aspects of pre-service teachersâ€™ lesson plans based on 2013 Curriculum. It used descriptive qualitative research. As many as ten lesson plans by five pre-service teachers were analysed using document analysis based on theory of Brown (2001) namely goals, objectives, materials and equipment, procedures and evaluation to collect data. The result shows that they are good in creating goals, material and equipment and procedure, but they should improve their ability in creating objectives and evaluation. In short, they are able to design English lesson plans based on its characteristics of 2013 curriculum
TRANSFORMATION APPRECIATION OF MONODRAMA "LADY SWETTENHAM" AND "GREEN LIGHT"
Authors: Ishak Ismaliza
Published: October 2019

This article is aimed at analyzing the transformation method applied by two selected monodrama actors, Sabera Shaik in monodrama theater "Lady Swettenham" and Shahrul Mizad Asyaari in the monodrama theater "Waiting for the Green Light". This study takes into account some of the transformation methods used for conveying appreciation and visually inspiring the audience. Through the survey method of secondary and premature data and directly involved in the spectacle, the illustration is clearly detailed through scientific analysis in the performance of monodrama acting. These two presentations can illustrate the success of the transformation method and are indirectly made between the basic recommendations to the solo acting method. Using the Imitation theory approach by Albert Bandura and method acting (Stanislavski) this approach can be used as a benchmark for non-realistic acting representation.
READING & CULTURE; THE CONNECTION
Authors: Zainal Abidin Husna Zayani , Mohamad Maslawati
Published: October 2019

Reading is one of the essential skills needed to be literate. Reading abilities allow learners to gain new information, widen knowledge and improve communication and language skills. However, the education system in Malaysia is still facing the issue of reading incompetency among pupils especially on reading comprehension. This case study aimed to identify the factors that affect reading comprehension ability of Year 3 Orang Asli pupils of the Temuan tribe. The respondents involved five years 3 pupils from a primary school located in Shah Alam, Selangor and one parent for each pupil. They were chosen through purposive sampling based on their background as Orang Asli and their low proficiency level. The research instruments used for this study were field notes, document analysis, and individual semi-structured interviews of the pupils and the parents. The main findings show that the cultural background does contribute to the reading comprehension challenges of the respondents. The implication derived from this study is that teachers need to be made aware of the reasons for reading comprehension challenges among the Orang Asli pupils in order for them to be able to integrate the suitable reading comprehension strategies in the ESL teaching and learning activity.
LEARNING SCENARIO QURAN RECITATION STUDENT WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES (MODERATE FUNCTIONALITY)
Authors: Saleh Rabiatuladawiyah , Sahad Mohd Nizam
Published: October 2019

Qur’an recitation is one of the components of Islamic Education for special education pupils with learning difficulties. The instruction of the Qur'an recitation for special education pupils is different when compared to average pupils. This paper discusses the Qur'an recitation learning scenario for special needs pupils with learning difficulties of moderate functional learning. Moreover, there are some challenges that teachers need to face in teaching Quran recitation to these pupils. However, the shortcomings of these pupils can be overcome through different learning compared to the natural ones. Therefore, pupils with learning problems will not be neglected in the study of the Qur'an.
THE IMPACT OF RURAL TOURISM ON THE LOCAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Authors: Ab. Majid Rohayu , Said Rosli , Basrah Noraliza , Ab Rahim Norbaya
Published: October 2019

Rural tourism activities are actively and increasingly pursued. Organizing various programs and activities of interest in rural tourism activities has sparked a great phenomenon to the outside community. However, this activity has a considerable impact on various communities, whether negative or positive. The purpose of this paper was to identify the extent to which this impact exists in a rural tourism area in the district of Kuala Selangor, Malaysia. The theoretical framework has generated four main components of impact and 26 sub-components. A total of 200 respondents were interviewed. The results found that 21 elements are statistically significant. It also highlights the correlation between these elements and the demographic profile. Overall, the cultural impact is more significant than the other impact such as economic, social and environmental.
Promociones de precios y su relación con las decisiones de compra del consumidor
Authors: Colín Flores Carlos Gabriel
Published: October 2019

En este trabajo se estudió la relación que existe entre las promociones de precios y la toma de decisiones de compra del consumidor para una muestra de 258 de participantes que compraron bienes de consumo duradero en tiendas departamentales en la Ciudad de México, con y sin promociones de precios. En la investigación se empleó el análisis de asociación mediante tablas de contingencia y el análisis de varianza, que sirvieron para identificar el perfil del comprador de productos con promoción de precios, encontrando que el consumidor de bienes duraderos que es más sensible al precio es quien compra productos en promoción, además de que las mujeres y las personas con menor nivel de ingresos son los segmentos poblacionales que compran en mayor proporción bienes con promoción de precios. Asimismo, se encontró que los consumidores que compran productos con promoción son los que mejor conocen y recuerdan los precios de los artículos adquiridos. Los hallazgos de este trabajo pueden aplicarse en las empresas comercializadoras de bienes duraderos con venta al detalle, para hacer más efectiva la venta de productos en promoción, dirigiendo la comunicación a los grupos susceptibles a comprar con promociones de precios y, por otra parte, puede tomarse como referencia para investigar el comportamiento del consumidor con otro tipo de bienes y canales de compra.
Análisis y proyección de los rendimientos accionarios de Pfizer, en el período 2018-2020, mediante redes neuronales diferenciales
Authors: Aja Kindelan Alfonso , Mata Mata Leovardo , Beltrán Godoy Jaime Humberto
Published: October 2019

En este trabajo se utiliza una red neuronal diferencial (DNN, por sus siglas en inglés) para proyectar los rendimientos accionarios de Pfizer en el período 2018-2020. El modelo emplea datos trimestrales, al cierre del período, del precio de la acción de la empresa (P), ventas netas (VN), activos totales (AT) y cuentas
por cobrar (CC). Los resultados señalan una bondad de ajuste superior de las DNN frente a los métodos convencionales, pues el error en el pronóstico out sample es inferior al 5 %. Este hallazgo contribuye con evidencia empírica para afirmar que las DNN ofrecen mayor robustez predictiva de los rendimientos accionarios de Pfizer.
Bonos verdes versus bonos convencionales: ¿existe una demanda diferenciada en México?
Authors: Arellano Cadena Rogelio , Pérez Delgado Lucía
Published: October 2019

¿Es la demanda de bonos verdes diferente a la demanda de bonos convencionales? A partir del estudio seminal de Fama y French (2007) quienes consideraron que la demanda de activos financieros, además de criterios de rendimiento y riesgo, podría explicarse por motivos no pecuniarios, diversos trabajos han intentado responder a esta pregunta (Asian Bond Monitor, 2018; Ehlers y Packer, 2017; Reboredo, Quintela y Otero, 2017; Östlund, 2015, y Zerbib, 2016, 2019). La mayoría de los resultados indican que los bonos verdes otorgan un rendimiento inferior a aquel pagado por los bonos convencionales. Ello hace concluir que sí existe una demanda diferenciada de este tipo de bonos. Hasta ahora, no se cuenta con estudios que realicen esa comparación para el caso de México.

El presente análisis pretende cerrar esa brecha, intentando identificar si existe una diferenciación por parte de los inversionistas en México entre su demanda de un bono verde y de un bono convencional. Para ello, se utilizan las posturas de compra (ask price) para dichos bonos emitidos por la misma institución, ya sea en la misma fecha o con el mismo plazo de vencimiento. Los resultados sugieren que la distribución de las posturas de compra difiere entre uno y otro tipo de bono y que, cuando los bonos tienen el mismo plazo de vencimiento, los inversionistas están dispuestos a aceptar rendimientos ligeramente inferiores en bonos verdes.
Law & Economics as a Theory of Decision Making in Legal Contexts – Decision Theoretical Foundations, Their Misinterpretations and Excessive Claims of Economic Analysis of Law
Authors: Małecka Magdalena
Published: October 2019

The article treats law & economics as a proposal of a theory of decision making in legal settings. It is emphasized that the distinction between two approaches in economic analysis of law: the neoclassical and the behavioral one, is made with reference to two different theories of decision making applied in the realm of each approach. The neoclassical approach is based on the theory of expected utility, whereas the behavioral one – on prospect theory. According to the scholars on both sides, application of decision theory might be helpful in influencing behavior by legal norms in a more sophisticated way. The claim of the article is that law & economics scholars misinterpret the assumptions and propositions of the theories and/or formulate excessive claims, if they argue that decision theoretical findings provide knowledge about the way in which people’s decisions are influenced by law.
Intertemporal Issues in Administrative Law and Concept of Retroactivity in Law
Authors: Mikołajewicz Jarosław , Skoczylas Andrzej
Published: October 2019

In essence, this study aims at presenting basic intertemporal problems of administrative law. These problems are extremely complex and, despite a commonly held view on the alleged poorer theoretical issues in the field of administrative law, intertemporal issues in administrative law demonstrate an even greater level of complexity compared with such a well-developed discipline as civil law. This state of affairs stems from the very nature of this branch of law. Presumably, this is why within the field of administrative law we may encounter application of not only all basic descriptive principles of administrative law, but also of those principles that are particular in a certain aspect (e.g. the principle of validity, the principle of lex mitior retro agit). It is equally important to mention that intertemporal decisions are made also in the field of administrative law; the content of these decisions is only partially (if at all) determined by positive law.
Expediente
Authors: Editorial Equipe
Published: October 2019

A Revista Aurora foi criada durante o segundo semestre de 2007 pelos estudantes do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Sociais da UNESP-Marília. Como um ambiente de aprendizagem e aperfeiçoamento de práticas editoriais a revista é gerenciada pelos discentes e supervisionada pelo professor coordenador do programa. Além disso, contamos com pareceristas externos à unidade e a editoração fornecida pelo Laboratório Editorial da UNESP (Campus Marília). A Revista Aurora tem por objetivo principal constituir-se como meio de difusão e discussão de temas clássicos e contemporâneos das Ciências Sociais, buscando sempre promoção constante do diálogo entre os núcleos dessa área do conhecimento, Antropologia, Ciência Política e Sociologia, bem como com outros campos das humanidades, como Filosofia, História, Relações Internacionais e Economia.