bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Horticultural and Tissue Culture Methods for Ex Situ Conservation of Endangered Primula farinosa L.
Authors: Sitek Ewa , Nowak Barbara , Fecowicz Michał , Gajewski Zbigniew , Dańda Piotr , Kapała Krzysztof , Kozik-Dąbek Barbara
Published: April 2020

Our study aimed at active conservation of the last location of Primula farinosa, an endangered species in Poland, and assessed reproduction by seeds and plant propagation on sterile media in tissue culture conditions. We identified gibberellic acid (GA3) as the key factor stimulating germination of P. farinosa seeds. Growing juvenile plants under controlled temperature of 18/16 °C day/night yielded good quality plant material without mycorrhization. In tissue culture, the most favorable medium for shoot propagation was MS supplemented with the lowest tested concentration of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA; 0.05 mg dm−3) and 6-benzyl-aminopurine (BAP; 0.1 mg dm−3). The rooting ability of shoots was high and comparable for all auxins used. 2C DNA content of seed-derived and micropropagated plants did not indicate any change in the ploidy level during in vitro cultivation. Plants derived from seeds and tissue cultures were compared in a 2-year study. Of all the characteristics compared, only the number of flowers per inflorescence was lower for micropropagated plants when compared with the seed-origin plants in the first year of observation. The difference was of transient nature and was not observed in the second year of the study. Effective protocols for in vivo and in vitro propagation of P. farinosa were developed, which can be used in practical species protection.
Combined therapy: rifaximin-α and arabinogalactan with lactoferrin combination effectively prevents recurrences of symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease
Authors: Pietrzak Anna Maria , Banasiewicz Tomasz , Skoczylas Krzysztof , Dziki Adam , Szczepkowski Marek
Published: April 2020

Introduction: Background: Diverticulosis is the most common finding in the GI tract. Nearly half of the people with diverticula
experience symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease (SUDD).
Aims: The primary endpoints of our study were to assess the effectiveness of combined therapy with rifaximin-α and
arabinogalactan-lactoferrin in symptom reduction and normalization of bowel movements. The secondary endpoints were
an assessment of efficacy in SUDD recurrence prevention and patients’ compliance to the combined therapy.
Methods: A retrospective observational survey study was performed in 2019 among physicians experienced in diverticular
disease (DD) treatment in Poland. Patients with previous episodes of recurrences treated with combined therapy (cyclic
rifaximin-α at least 400 mg b.i.d/7 days/every month and continuous arabinogalactan-lactoferrin supplementation 1 sachet
daily) were assessed after 3 and 6 months regarding symptoms’ resolution in the three-point scale. The patients’ SUDD history,
diagnostic methods, treatment, and results, as well as patients’ compliance were evaluated.
Results: 281 patients met inclusion criteria, and were further evaluated (67.6% women, median age 65 years). After 6 months
of combined treatment, there was a statistically significant reduction in the total severity score (median from 1.7 [max 3 points] to
0.26; P < 0.0001; sum from 8.5 [max 15 points] to 1.28; P < 0.0001) and improvement in each symptom score. Stool frequency
statistically normalized in every group. As many as 31.7% had complete symptom resolution. Patients’ compliance with the
therapy was very good and good in 92.9% of cases.
C onclusions and discussion: Combination therapy with cyclic rifaximin-α and continuous arabinogalactan combined with
lactoferrin are effective in SUDD treatment in terms of symptom resolution, bowel movement normalization, prevention of
recurrences with very good patient’s compliance.
Elevated preoperative levels of CA 19-9 and CA 125 predicts overall survival time in the pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Single institution series.
Authors: Hogendorf Piotr , Skulimowski Aleksander , Durczyński Adam , Kumor Anna , Poznańska Grażyna , Poznańska Agnieszka , Oleśna Aleksandra , Rut Joanna , Øvereng Juliebø Siri , Szmiel Aneta , Strzelczyk Janusz
Published: April 2020

Background:
Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease, being the fourth cause of cancer-related death worldwide.
Several studies have investigated the use of multiple cancer biomarkers, such as C 19-9, CA 125, and CEA, as prognostic factors for overall survival in pancreatic cancer. CA 125 seems to have superior predictive utility in selected groups of PDAC patients.

Material and methods:
We retrospectively analyzed data collected from 129 patients admitted to our Department due to diagnosis with pancreatic cancer. Prior to the survival analysis, the preliminary assessment of pre-treatment levels of biomarkers was carried out. The overall survival time was defined as that elapsing from the admission date to the date of death.

Results:
The patients mean age was 62 +/- 9.5 years, while the median overall survival (OS) was 7mo 12d. As for tumor localization, most of the patients had PDAC within the head of the pancreas (n=93), followed by PDAC of the pancreatic body (n=15), pancreatic tail (n=14) and both pancreatic body and tail (n=7). Ninety-five patients had an unresectable tumor and 34 were diagnosed with a resectable tumor (tab.1).
The statistically significant correlation was found for CA 125 (ρ=-0.355 p<0.001) and CA 19-9 (ρ=-0.225 p=0.012). We chose the following cut-off points: CA 125>=20 IU/mL was considered as high, and CA 19-9>=200 IU/mL as significantly elevated. In the univariate analysis in the Kaplan-Meier survival model, adjusted for age, both elevated biomarkers were statistically significant prognostic factors of OS (CA 125<20 median OS- 10mo 3d vs. CA 125>=20- 4mo 17d p=0.001) and (CA19-9<200 median OS- 8mo 3d vs. CA 19-9>=200- 4mo 20d p=0.001). Patients’ gender and, PDAC resectability and its localization were not statistically significant prognostic factors (log rank test p=0.8; p=0.108 and p=0.578 respectively). In the age-adjusted multivariate analysis, both biomarkers remained significant- CA 125>=20 (HR: 1.73 95%CI 1.27-2.58 p=0.006) CA 19-9>=200 (HR: 1.78 95%CI 1.19-2.66 p=0.005)

Conclusions:
Our study proves the utility of the pretreatment assessment of CA 125 because its level is tightly correlated with OS. It may be hypothesized that the pretreatment measurement of both CA 19-9 and CA 125 can provide the valuable information about patients’ prognosis.
New chimney design
Gains from use od a diffuser
Authors: Noakowski Piotr , Lavrentyev Vladimir
Published: April 2020

Hadek Company developed with the support of the Expert Office Exponent a new chimney type based on the concrete windshield protection by a Pennguard™ lining. The technology denoted as the New Chimney Design (NCD) had been used in power stations in many countries. Due to this success Hadek commissioned to Exponent a new study on gains from the use of a diffuser. The results prove that the flue gas draft can be substantially increased without an increase in the overall cost.
Fra “fransk feminisme” til norsk kjønnsforskning. En eksplorativ studie av tekst og terminologi i Pax forlags franske sakprosautgivelser (1990-2000)
Authors: Gjesdal Anje Müller
Published: April 2020

På 1990-tallet var Norge preget av en sterk vekst i studentkullene, og en styrking av humanioras stilling. Dette førte til et godt marked for oversatte sakprosautgivelser, og en gyllen alder for Pax Forlag. Artikkelen undersøker i hvilken grad denne perioden satte spor etter seg i norsk fagspråk innen de humanistiske fagene, eksemplifisert med kjønnsforskning. Artikkelen presenterer en eksplorativ og kvalitativ studie av termen ‘kjønn’, ved å sammenlikne et utvalg sakprosaoversettelser fra fransk utgitt på Pax Forlag med terminologi for kjønnsforskning, som er utviklet av relevante fagmiljøer i samarbeid med Språkrådet. I tillegg undersøker artikkelen Delphys (1996) tese om at “fransk feminisme” er en nordamerikansk oppfinnelse som gir en unyansert fremstilling av feministisk teori og praksis i Frankrike. Materialet er hentet fra Nasjonalbibliotekets digitale samlinger. Den eksplorative studien viser at det i noen grad er samsvar mellom Pax-utgivelsene og dagens kjønns-forskningsterminologi, og at Pax-utgivelsene skiller seg ut når det gjelder fokus på seksualitet. Selv om det analyserte materialet er begrenset, tyder studien på at de franske sakprosaoversettelsene har hatt begrenset påvirkning på dagens terminologi.
Contribution and Distribution Flexibility and Tax Pass-Through Entities
Authors: Freudenberg Brett , Borden Bradley T.
Published: April 2020

The way jurisdictions design their tax systems for business operations can be a contentious issue, as they try to balance the competing goals of raising sufficient tax revenue without unduly inhibiting commercial investment and activities. Such tax design can be of particular importance for small and medium enterprises, which due to their size, inherent characteristics, and resources can struggle with tax compliance. Those attributes can also make business tax regressive. A number of countries around the world have adopted business entities that utilise corporate characteristics, such as liability protection for members and separate legal entity status, but have the characteristic of tax pass-through, with members assessed directly on the income and losses of the entity. Examples include limited liability partnerships (LLPs) in the United Kingdom, look-through companies in New Zealand, and limited liability companies (LLCs) in the United States.In some jurisdictions, these tax pass-through entities have been extremely popular, which in part has been attributed to flexibility for the members in terms of governance and the facilitation of contributions and subsequent distributions. This flexibility is arguably a desired commercial feature of business entities. However, such flexibility with contributions and distributions is seen as a potential risk to tax revenue as there is concern with artificial engineering in order to lower the overall tax burden. This has led to tax integrity measures, which by their very nature can potentially restrict flexibility.For example, LLCs and their members are subject to greater (and potentially more complex rules) when it comes to measuring the cost basis of their membership interests; this then influences members’ ability to utilise allocated losses and the tax treatment of distributions. The flexibility of contributions and distributions for LLPs in the United Kingdom has also raised concerns with the introduction of tax integrity measures. By comparison, the United States’ older tax pass-through entity, the S Corporation, with only one class of membership interest, has fewer integrity rules governing allocations.This Article will critically assess how the flexibility of contributions and distributions by these tax pass-throug entities affects the tax rules that apply to their members. We argue that the flexibility of contributions and distributions appears to be a key characteristic demanded by business entities both for commercial and tax reasons. However, investors need to be cognitive of the inherent complexity and costs that this flexibility may entail. Additionally, it is important for governments and revenue authorities not to unduly restrict flexibility with complex tax integrity rules as it is a fine balance between commercialand revenue needs.
Bacterial Skin Abscess
Authors: Malih Radhi Mohammed , Malik AL-Rubea Fatima , Khazal Kadhim Hindi Nada , Hamza Kh. AL-Jubori Rusull
Published: April 2020

Patients with skin and soft tissue infections may appear with the abscess. Erroneous diagnosis of these entities is common, and should carefully consider the possible alternative diagnoses. Risk for developing skin abscess factors includes disruption of the skin barrier, edema, venous insufficiency, and immune suppression. However, healthy individuals who have no risk factors may also develop these diseases. The most common microbiologic cause of abscess, a commonly group Streptococcus or Streptococcus pyogenes; Staphylococcus aureus (including methicillin-resistant strains) is a notable but less common cause. The most common microbiologic cause of skin abscess is S. aureus; a skin abscess can be caused by more than one pathogen. The diagnosis is based on skin abscess usually on the clinical manifestations. It must be subject to patients with disposable abscess incision and drainage, with a test of culture and susceptibility of materials wet. There is no justification for the blood of patients in the cultures of the abovementioned circumstances. It can be a useful radiographic examination to determine whether the skin abscess is present (via ultrasound) to distinguish cellulitis from osteomyelitis (via magnetic resonance imaging). There may be a justification for radiological assessment in patients with immune suppression, diabetes, venous insufficiency, or lymphedema in patients with persistent symptoms of systemic lymphatic obstruction.
Characterization and Virulence of Candida Isolated from Children with Dental Caries and Its Susceptibility to Various Antimicrobial Agents
Authors: Beena M.S.
Published: April 2020

Candida is known to be associated with early colonization of cariogenic microorganisms leading to dental caries and there is a need to determine the effectiveness of various chemotherapeutic agents against it. The study is aimed to isolate, characterize Candida from the dental plaque of children with dental caries, to study its virulence factors and the antimicrobial activity of coconut oil, probiotics, 0.2% chlorhexidine and ketoconazole on C. albicans. Samples were collected using sterile cotton swabs from children with dental caries and streaked on Sabouraud’s dextrose agar plates and incubated at 37°C for 24 h. Candidal colonies were isolated, species identified, and virulence factors tested, and its susceptibility to 0.2% chlorhexidine, probiotics, coconut oil, and ketoconazole was determined using disc diffusion method. C. albicans was the predominant species isolated, and virulence factors such as phospholipase, hemolysin, germ tube, and hyphal formation were seen. The mean zone of inhibition for chlorhexidine was found to be 21.8 mm, for coconut oil it was 16.8 mm, for probiotics it was 13.5 mm, and for ketoconazole it was 22.3 mm. The difference between the groups was not statistically significant. Thus chlorhexidine and coconut oil were found to exhibit significant antimicrobial activity which is comparable with ketoconazole.
Forensic Chemistry and Toxicology
Authors: Mishra Amarnath
Published: April 2020

The current chapter deals with forensic chemistry & toxicology which is completely based on the introduction and classification of poisons and their impacts on the body and the factors affecting them and detection and examination of poisons. The purpose of this chapter is to discuss their mode of action and function once they reached in the human body. The impacts of poisons are severe and even cause death if not treated properly.
Overview of Some Intelligent Control Structures and Dedicated Algorithms
Authors: Chang Kuo-Chi , Chu Kai-Chun , Lin Yuh-Chung , Pan Jeng-Shyang
Published: April 2020

Automatic control refers to the use of a control device to make the controlled object automatically run or keep the state unchanged without the participation of people. The guiding ideology of intelligent control is based on people’s way of thinking and ability to solve problems, in order to solve the current methods that require human intelligence. We already know that the complexity of the controlled object includes model uncertainty, high nonlinearity, distributed sensors/actuators, dynamic mutations, multiple time scales, complex information patterns, big data process, and strict characteristic indicators, etc. In addition, the complexity of the environment manifests itself in uncertainty and uncertainty of change. Based on this, various researches continue to suggest that the main methods of intelligent control can include expert control, fuzzy control, neural network control, hierarchical intelligent control, anthropomorphic intelligent control, integrated intelligent control, combined intelligent control, chaos control, wavelet theory, etc. However, it is difficult to want all the intelligent control methods in a chapter, so this chapter focuses on intelligent control based on fuzzy logic, intelligent control based on neural network, expert control and human-like intelligent control, and hierarchical intelligent control and learning control, and provide relevant and useful programming for readers to practice.
Role of Plant Carbonic Anhydrases under Stress Conditions
Authors: N. Rudenko Natalia , M. Borisova-Mubarakshina Maria , K. Ignatova Lyudmila , P. Fedorchuk Tatiana , M. Nadeeva-Zhurikova Elena , N. Ivanov Boris
Published: April 2020

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are enzymes catalyzing the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide with the generation of protons and bicarbonate. The components of the reaction are involved in almost all metabolic processes in higher plants and algae, maintaining the balance of electrolytes and pH, gluconeogenesis, lipogenesis, ethylene synthesis, and others. The CAs may take part in transmitting signals to activate cascades of protective response genes. Our findings reveal significant changes in the content of carbonic anhydrase gene transcripts in response to changes in environmental conditions. Here we discuss the functions of CAs located in the plasma membrane, chloroplast envelope, chloroplast stroma, and in thylakoids in plant protection under stress conditions, such as high illumination, low and high concentration of carbon dioxide in the environment, drought, and salinity.
Inherited Ventricular Arrhythmias, the Channelopathies and SCD: Current Knowledge and Future Speculations - Risk Stratification, Management Plans and Future Speculations
Authors: Abdulrhman Al Abdulgader Abdullah
Published: April 2020

Channelopathy constitutes significant proportion of SCD worldwide (around 10% or 370,000 deaths annually). It was creating a mysterious group of diseases until the second half of the last century when Anton Jervell and Fred Lange-Nielsen described Jervell Lange-Nielsen syndrome in 1957. It was late until 1995 where genetic characterization commenced. Later on, the massive genetic information with the discovery of genetic heterogeneity and allelic het¬erogeneity was a major victory in the field. The basic sciences in cellular electrophysiology and genetics complemented by meticulous clinical detection and the different clinical trials in the field opened a new era of wide therapeutic choices for clinicians. The knowledge obtained from the different experimental platforms especially the induced pluripotent stem cells is promising. The revolutionary move in SCD and channelopathies is described where correlation between the arrhythmogenesis and fluctuation in SGMA is established and must be investigated. The observation of the arrhythmogenicity of SGMA fluctuation and its effect on HRV together with the differential effect of certain sympathovagal tones (more sympathetic innervation is favoring VT/VF in LQTS1, LQTS2 and SQTS but not BrS or ERS) are all future directions to optimize our preventive, diagnostic as well as therapeutic options of SCD and channelopathy in humans.
Influence of organic fertilizers on potato yield and quality in different humidity years
Authors: Burakova Auksė , Bakšienė Eugenija , Ražukas Almantas
Published: April 2020

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of organic fertilizers on the potato tubers yield and nutrient accumulation. Experiments were carried out at the Vokė Branch of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry in 2016–2018. The experiments were performed in stationary concrete cylindrical 24 lysimeters on sandy loam and loamy sand Haplic Luvisol, with a surface area of 1.75 m2 and a test soil layer of 1.35 cm. Fertilization with three randomized replications on each side of lysimeters were the following: 1) control (no fertilizer); 2) NPK organic fertilizers (Provita, phosphorite powder, potassium magnesia); 3) 40 t ha–1 sapropel; 4) 60 t ha–1 manure. The results of the experiments suggest that 40 t ha–1 sapropel and 60 t ha–1 manure fertilizers increase potato tuber yields in both soils (sandy loam soil and loamy sand soil). Inserted NPK fertilizers produced the highest yield (in 2017 and 2019) of a small fraction of potato tubers. The findings suggest that during the drier period, in 2019, the accumulation of all elements increased about 0.7–7 times in both soils. The starch content in the tubers was dependent mostly on the meteorological conditions.
Concentrations of nitrogen and organic carbon in different uses of Terric Histosol
Authors: Staugaitis Gediminas , Šarka Andrius
Published: April 2020

In 2016–2019 in Eastern Lithuania, in Naujienos Terric Histosol (HSs-d), where natural and cultural meadows are grown and areas of cereal crops are annually cultivated, monitoring sites were installed. There at different times of the year at different Histosol depth – 0–30, 30–60 and 60– 90 cm layers, organic carbon (Corg.), total nitrogen (Nsum.) and mineral nitrogen (Nmin) concentration and their relationship were investigated. The studies have shown that the highest Nmin concentration was found in natural meadows areas, followed by cultural meadows areas, and finally cereal crops areas; in Terric Histosol at the 0–30 cm depth, mean concentrations were obtained, 100.7, 88.3 and 79.0 mg kg–1, respectively. The highest Nmin concentration was observed in the first days of July. It was 137.6 and 105.4 mg kg–1 in natural and cultural meadows areas, respectively. In deeper Terric Histosol layers, the Nmin concentration in cereal crops areas was slightly different. At the 30–60 cm depth, it ranged from 45.6 to 102.2 mg kg–1 over the years, and at the 60–90 cm depth from 55.1 to 87.2 mg kg–1. Nitrate formed the major part of mineral nitrogen in the studied Terric Histosol – 49.7–91.0%. Corg. concentration at the 0–30 cm depth in natural meadows areas was 41.2%, in cultural meadows areas it was 35.6% and in cereal crops areas 19.4%. The same sequence of Nsum. concentration was found – 3.04, 2.18 and 1.97%, and C:N ratio – 13.6, 16.3 and 9.8%. At deeper Terric Histosol layers the values of these indicators differed slightly between the crops areas. The Nmin concentration at 0–30 and 30–60 cm depth correlated best with the C:N ratio (r0–30 cm = 0.872**, r30–60 cm = 0.562*), Nsum. concentration (r0–30 cm = 0.618*, r30–60 cm = 0.568*) and to a lesser extent with the Corg. concentration (r0–30 cm = 0.341, r30–60 cm = 0.564*).
Management of the elements of technology for growing of sunflower in the Right-Bank Steppe of Ukraine
Authors: Pinkovsky Hennady , Tanchyk Semen
Published: April 2020

The article presents the results of scientific research on the management of technology elements and the influence of factors on the productivity of sunflower in the Right-Bank Steppe of Ukraine. The studies were conducted in the fields of the Institute of Agriculture of the Steppe NAAS, which is located in the black earth zone of the Right-Bank Steppe of Ukraine. The level of sunflower productivity is determined by the conditions of water and nutrient conditions of soil. Water regime is formed by the weather conditions, the amount of soil moisture reserves, the amount and intensity of rainfall during the year, incl. during the growing season. The moisture reserves available to plants in the meter layer of soil before sowing, in the flowering phase and before harvesting were different during the years of research, varied in terms of sowing and depended on the density of standing plants. Of particular importance for sunflower plants is the content of available moisture in the 0–100 сm layer of soil after the formation of baskets. During this period, sunflower intensively consumes available moisture from deeper layers of soil. The amount of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium varied significantly over the years and under the influence of different fertilizer backgrounds. Application of nitrogen fertilizers in combination with phosphorus and potassium, N40P40K40 + PP and N40P40K40, improves soil nutrition and creates more favourable conditions for growing and developing sunflower plants and maintaining soil fertility. Under these conditions, the LG 55.82 hybrid with a plant density of 60 housand/ha formed the highest yield for the first sowing period – 3.85 t/ha. Considering the economic indicators, it is efficient to grow LG 54.85 and LG 55.82 hybrids for the first sowing period. Forward and LG 56.32 sunflower hybrids provide the highest economic performance for the third sowing period. Among the hybrids, it is most economically apropriate to grow LG 55.82 when sowing at soil temperature of 5–6°C and plant density of 60 thousand/ha. The net profit in this variant was 22043 UAH/ha, and the level of profitability was 224.1%. The energy efficiency ratio was the highest in the first sowing period of the LG 55.82 hybrid – 4.44.
Effectiveness Assessment of Non-Specialized Vessel Acquisition and Operation Projects, Considering Their Suitability for Oversized Cargo Transportation
Authors: Melnyk Oleksiy , Malaksiano Mykola
Published: April 2020

At present, shipowners have to take active measures to improve the efficiency of their fleet to remain competitive on the freight market. In this respect, the development of a shipping company’s fleet is immensely important due to the ability of such vessels to operate with maximum efficiency and flexibility when the structure of cargo flow is heterogeneous. At the same time, fuel expenses account for a considerable part of shipping company expenses. Fuel consumption greatly depends on ship speed. Therefore, the efficiency of maritime shipping can be greatly increased by choosing optimal speed. The purpose of this research is to develop a methodology for justifying the selection of shipping company fleet expansion projects based on cargo flow structure characteristics, considering the possibility of slow steaming ship operation. Net Present Value and Profitability Index were taken into account to compare the efficiency of acquisition and operation projects pertaining to ships with significantly different deadweight and market values.
La profesionalización del fútbol durante el Gobierno Revolucionario de las Fuerzas Armadas en Perú (1968-1975)
Authors: Vila Benites Gisselle , Panfichi Aldo
Published: April 2020

Objective/Context: This article analyzes the professionalization of soccer in Peru during the Revolutionary Government of the Armed Forces, first phase (1968-1975). Originality: This research contributes to the history of sport in Latin America and shows how sport was an arena for political dispute between the reformist military government and football club owners, who were characterized by their patrimonialist approach to club management. This perspective challenges approaches that see the military’s intervention on sports as exemplifying relations of mere manipulation. Methodology: The analysis focuses on the patrimonialist management practices of football club owners in Peru and how these were challenged by the Revolutionary Government of the Armed Forces. The sources used include newspaper archives, interviews with former professional football club managers during the period 1968-1975, the set of decrees issued at that time to regulate sports, and secondary literature. Conclusions: The professionalization of football was the main strategy used by the Government to break the practices of patrimonial control over football clubs in Peru. This process was part of a broader reformist political project by the military, which sought to transform the traditional structures of Peruvian society. The intervention involved three mechanisms: the promotion of amateur sports, the reformulation of professional soccer tournament rules and the granting of labor rights and managerial functions to soccer players.
Behavioral evidence for memory replay of video episodes in the macaque
Authors: Zuo Shuzhen , Wang Lei , Shin Jung Han , Cai Yudian , Zhang Boqiang , Lee Sang Wan , Appiah Kofi , Zhou Yong-di , Kwok Sze Chai
Published: April 2020

Humans recall the past by replaying fragments of events temporally. Here, we demonstrate a similar effect in macaques. We trained six rhesus monkeys with a temporal-order judgement (TOJ) task and collected 5000 TOJ trials. In each trial, the monkeys watched a naturalistic video of about 10 s comprising two across-context clips, and after a 2 s delay, performed TOJ between two frames from the video. The data are suggestive of a non-linear, time-compressed forward memory replay mechanism in the macaque. In contrast with humans, such compression of replay is, however, not sophisticated enough to allow these monkeys to skip over irrelevant information by compressing the encoded video globally. We also reveal that the monkeys detect event contextual boundaries, and that such detection facilitates recall by increasing the rate of information accumulation. Demonstration of a time-compressed, forward replay-like pattern in the macaque provides insights into the evolution of episodic memory in our lineage.
Immune response of human cultured cells towards macrocyclic Fe2PO and Fe2PC bioactive cyclophane complexes
Authors: Salazar-Medina Alex J. , Velazquez-Contreras Enrique F. , Sugich-Miranda Rocio , Santacruz Hisila , Navarro Rosa E. , Rocha-Alonzo Fernando , Islas-Osuna Maria A. , Chen Patricia L. , Christian Sarah G.B. , Romoser Amelia A. , Dindot Scott V. , Sayes Christie M. , Sotelo-Mundo Rogerio R. , Criscitiello Michael F.
Published: April 2020

Synthetic molecules that mimic the function of natural enzymes or molecules have untapped potential for use in the next generation of drugs. Cyclic compounds that contain aromatic rings are macrocyclic cyclophanes, and when they coordinate iron ions are of particular interest due to their antioxidant and biomimetic properties. However, little is known about the molecular responses at the cellular level. This study aims to evaluate the changes in immune gene expression in human cells exposed to the cyclophanes Fe2PO and Fe2PC. Confluent human embryonic kidney cells were exposed to either the cyclophane Fe2PO or Fe2PC before extraction of RNA. The expression of a panel of innate and adaptive immune genes was analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. Evidence was found for an inflammatory response elicited by the cyclophane exposures. After 8 h of exposure, the cells increased the relative expression of inflammatory mediators such as interleukin 1; IRAK, which transduces signals between interleukin 1 receptors and the NFκB pathway; and the LPS pattern recognition receptor CD14. After 24 h of exposure, regulatory genes begin to counter the inflammation, as some genes involved in oxidative stress, apoptosis and non-inflammatory immune responses come into play. Both Fe2PO and Fe2PC induced similar immunogenetic changes in transcription profiles, but equal molar doses of Fe2PC resulted in more robust responses. These data suggest that further work in whole animal models may provide more insights into the extent of systemic physiological changes induced by these cyclophanes.
Controversial Provision for the Nominative Ending
Authors: Mocci Davide , Pontillo Tiziana
Published: April 2020

The present joint contribution offers a tentative comprehensive re-interpretation of Pāṇini’s rule A 2.3.46, and shows how that rule teaches the application of the nominative ending without making use of the notion of “subject,” a notion that belongs to other grammatical systems, but not to Pāṇini’s. We discuss the controversial domain of some segments of its wording by attempting to adhere to Pāṇini’s framework and his usus scribendi.

In particular, we read the first constituent of the compound prātipadikārtha­ liṅgaparimāṇavacana­ as a genitive (prātipadikasya) depending on a dvandva made up of three constituents, i.e., artha­, liṅga­, and parimāṇavacana­, and we take parimāṇa­ as denoting a quantity (‘one’, ‘two’, or ‘many’) that, combining with vacana­ (‘signifying’), is substantially equivalent to the concept of grammatical number in modern linguistics.

We finally show that our reading of A 2.3.46 is able to generate the nominative endings affixed to the subject and (nominal) predicate of a nominal sentence: as a consequence, nominal sentences might actually not have been neglected by Pāṇini.
Murderer of Sennacherib, yet Again
Authors: Knapp Andrew
Published: April 2020

Who was responsible for the murder of Sennacherib? This question fascinated Assyriologists for most of the twentieth century, until a new interpretation of an obscure, fragmentary letter convinced many that a disenfranchised elder son of Sennacherib, Urad-Mullissu, had hatched the conspiracy. Since the (re)publication of this text in 1980 by Simo Parpola, near consensus has developed about these events. In this paper I reexamine the issue and revive the theory that Esarhaddon, Sennacherib’s son and successor, may have been behind the assassination, rather than his elder brother. I do not question the coherence of Parpola’s interpretation, but I suggest that the field may place undue confidence in a single broken, decontextualized letter. More importantly, the evidence implicating Esarhaddon is ample. I extend six arguments that point toward Esarhaddon’s guilt, most of which are derived from Esarhaddon’s own account of events in his famous Nineveh A inscription. I do not propose that we can establish Esarhaddon’s guilt conclusively at this remove, but I conclude that the weight of this evidence equals, if not surpasses, that which points to a plot concocted by Urad-Mullissu.
Beyond the Cairo Edition
Authors: Sinai Nicolai
Published: April 2020

This essay reviews two recent volumes containing editions of important early quranic codices. One of these is the so-called Sanaa Palimpsest, whose lower text at present remains our only known material witness to a recension of the quranic text that is different from the canonical one; the other is the Codex Amrensis. The essay devotes particular attention to the question of the textual relationship between the Quran’s standard text and that documented by the lower layer of the Sanaa Palimpsest, and to Asma Hilali’s claim that the Sanaa Palimpsest never constituted a full quranic codex but only “a collection of disparate leaves.”
Hindu Law and Society
Authors: Nemec John
Published: April 2020

Hindu Law is the first comprehensive study of the Sanskrit-language literatures on dharma since the publication of P. V. Kane’s five-volume History of Dharmaśāstra. The present essay offers a detailed review of this significant new work’s contents and its contributions to the study of the Dharmaśāstras. Particular attention is paid to the various places where Hindu Law revises the historical record or furnishes new insight into religious and other practices, symbols, and social institutions defined by dharmaśāstric works. This essay concludes with a suggestion for future research, which is made possible in no small part by the contributions of the volume here under review.
Phoenicians in the Iberian Peninsula and the Matter of Tartessos
Authors: Rubio Gonzalo
Published: April 2020

In Greek and Roman sources, Tartessos designates a geographical area and a legendary kingdom that flourished in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula between the eighth and seventh centuries BCE. For decades, much research on pre-Roman Iberia has gravitated around the nature of Tartessos as an historical or mythical polity, its possible location, and the archaeological identification of Tartessic material culture. It seems now increasingly clear that what the Greeks called Tartessos was inextricably linked to the presence of Phoenician culture in the area. It is thus only fitting that the first book about the subject to be published in English approaches the evidence with a special focus on patterns and phenomena of cultural and economic contact between the Phoenicians and the locals.
Learning Styles and Critical Thinking among Undergraduates of University of Port Harcourt
Authors: Orluwene Goodness Wobihiele , Sunday Dorathy
Published: April 2020

The study was based on the prediction of critical thinking using learning styles. It was guided by two research questions and two null hypotheses. A sample of 393 third years undergraduates selected from four faculties in the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria was used for the study. Data was collected from two adopted instruments tagged Cornell Critical Thinking Test (CCTT) Level Z and the Learning Style Questionnaire (LSQ). The face validation of the two instruments was conducted by three experts in Measurement and Evaluation. Reliability analysis of the CCTT using Kuder-Richardson 20 yielded a coefficient of 0.81, while the LSQ had a split-half coefficient of 0.77. Data were analyzed using stepwise multiple regression analysis. Result obtained indicated that pragmatist and reflector learning styles were significant predictors of critical thinking while theorist and activist were not significant predictors. Based on these results, appropriate recommendations and conclusions were drawn.
The Role of PET/CT in the Investigation of Fever of Unknown Origin
Authors: Kotsiri Ioanna , Panotopoulos Charalampos , Magiorkinis E.
Published: April 2020

Aims: Fever of unknown origin (FUO) remains a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. The current diagnostic approach includes a detailed medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests and imaging techniques (chest X-ray, ultrasound, CT, MRI). 18F-FDG PET/CT (18fluoro-deoxyglucose PET/CT) is a non-invasive diagnostic imaging technique, which is widely used in oncology. The purpose of our narrative review was to summarize the knowledge for the diagnostic role of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the diagnostic approach of patients with FUO, as reported in the literature.

Methodology: We undertook a search of literature published in PubMed until February 2019.

Results: Various studies showed that 18F-FDG PET/CT could play an important role as a second-line explorative technique in the diagnosis of patients with FUO. 18F-FDG PET/CT presents high diagnostic accuracy in large vessel vasculitis, in orthopedic prosthetic infections, in chronic osteomyelitis and in prosthetic valve endocarditis. However, 18 -FDG/PET has some limitations such as the assessment of urine tract due to the excretion into the urine but also become of the high glucose metabolism in some organs such as the brain.

Conclusions: Overall, PET/CT gains increasing interest in the diagnosis of FUO and should be considered by the clinicians in the exploration of those patients.
Recent Progress in Solid Electrolytes for Energy Storage Devices
Authors: Ye Tingting , Li Luhe , Zhang Ye
Published: April 2020

With the rapid advances in safe, flexible, and even stretchable electronic products, it is important to develop matching energy storage devices to more effectively power them. However, the use of conventional liquid electrolytes produces volatilization and leakage that are dangerous and requires strict packaging layers that are typically rigid. To this end, solid electrolytes that can overcome these problems have attracted increasing attention in recent decades. In this review article, three main types of solid electrolytes (i.e., inorganic, polymer, and composite electrolytes) are first described and compared in terms of their structures and properties. The advantages of solid electrolytes to make safe, flexible, stretchable, wearable, and self‐healing energy storage devices, including supercapacitors and batteries, are then discussed. The remaining challenges and possible directions are finally summarized to highlight future development in this field.
Tuning the Rigidity of Silk Fibroin for the Transfer of Highly Stretchable Electronics
Authors: Huang Jun , Wang Liu , Jin Yuming , Lu Peng , Wang Lin‐Lin , Bai Ningning , Li Gang , Zhu Pang , Wang Yan , Zhang Jianming , Wu Zhigang , Guo Chuan Fei
Published: April 2020

The transfer of stretchable electrodes or devices from one substrate to another thin elastomer is challenging as the elastic stamp often yields a huge strain beyond the stretchability limit of the electrodes at the debonded interface. This will not happen if the stamp is rigid. However, a rigid material cannot be used as the substrate for stretchable electrodes. Herein, silk fibroin with tunable rigidity (Young's modulus can be changed from 134 kPa to 1.84 GPa by controlling the relative humidity) is used to transfer highly stretchable metal networks as highly conformable epidermal electrodes. The silk fibroin stamp is tuned to be rigid during peeling, and then be soft and highly stretchable as a substrate when laminated on moisturized human skin. In addition, the epidermal electrodes exhibit no skin irritation or inflammation after attaching for over 10 d. The high compliance results in a lower interface impedance and lower noises of the electrode in measuring electromyographic signals, compared with commercial Ag‐AgCl gel electrodes. The strategy of tuning the rigidity at different stages of transfer is a general method that can be extended to the transfer of other stretchable electrodes and devices for epidermal electronics, human machine interfaces, and soft robotics.
Simultaneous Power Conversion Efficiency and Stability Enhancement of Cs2AgBiBr6 Lead‐Free Inorganic Perovskite Solar Cell through Adopting a Multifunctional Dye Interlayer
Authors: Yang Xiaoqing , Chen Yonghui , Liu Pengyun , Xiang Huimin , Wang Wei , Ran Ran , Zhou Wei , Shao Zongping
Published: April 2020

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are highly promising next‐generation photovoltaic devices because of the cheap raw materials, ideal band gap of ≈1.5 eV, broad absorption range, and high absorption coefficient. Although lead‐based inorganic‐organic PSC has achieved the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.2%, the toxic nature of lead and poor stability strongly limits the commercialization. Lead‐free inorganic PSCs are potential alternatives to toxic and unstable organic‐inorganic PSCs. Particularly, double‐perovskite Cs2AgBiBr6‐based PSC has received interests for its all inorganic and lead‐free features. However, the PCE is limited by the inherent and extrinsic defects of Cs2AgBiBr6 films. Herein, an effective and facile strategy is reported for improving the PCE and stability by introducing an N719 dye interlayer, which plays multifunctional roles such as broadening the absorption spectrum, suppressing the charge carrier recombination, accelerating the hole extraction, and constructing an appropriate energy level alignment. Consequently, the optimizing cell delivers an outstanding PCE of 2.84%, much improved as compared with other Cs2AgBiBr6‐based PSCs reported so far in the literature. Moreover, the N719 interlayer greatly enhances the stability of PSCs under ambient conditions. This work highlights a useful strategy to boost the PCE and stability of lead‐free Cs2AgBiBr6‐based PSCs simultaneously, accelerating the commercialization of PSC technology.
Cellulose‐Based Flexible Functional Materials for Emerging Intelligent Electronics
Authors: Zhao Dawei , Zhu Ying , Cheng Wanke , Chen Wenshuai , Wu Yiqiang , Yu Haipeng
Published: April 2020

There is currently enormous and growing demand for flexible electronics for personalized mobile equipment, human–machine interface units, wearable medical‐healthcare systems, and bionic intelligent robots. Cellulose is a well‐known natural biopolymer that has multiple advantages including low cost, renewability, easy processability, and biodegradability, as well as appealing mechanical performance, dielectricity, piezoelectricity, and convertibility. Because of its multiple merits, cellulose is frequently used as a substrate, binder, dielectric layer, gel electrolyte, and derived carbon material for flexible electronic devices. Leveraging the advantages of cellulose to design advanced functional materials will have a significant impact on portable intelligent electronics. Herein, the unique molecular structure and nanostructures (nanocrystals, nanofibers, nanosheets, etc.) of cellulose are briefly introduced, the structure–property–application relationships of cellulosic materials summarized, and the processing technologies for fabricating cellulose‐based flexible electronics considered. The focus then turns to the recent advances of cellulose‐based functional materials toward emerging intelligent electronic devices including flexible sensors, optoelectronic devices, field‐effect transistors, nanogenerators, electrochemical energy storage devices, biomimetic electronic skins, and biological detection devices. Finally, an outlook of the potential challenges and future prospects for developing cellulose‐based wearable devices and bioelectronic systems is presented.
Nano‐spaced Gold on Glassy Carbon Substrate for Controlling Cell Behavior
Authors: Chauhan Gaurav , Ángeles Alejandro Lujambio , Gonzalez‐González Everardo , Kulkarni Manish M. , Cardenas‐Benitez Braulio , Jiménez Martín Francisco , Trujillo‐de Santiago Grissel , Alvarez Mario M. , Madou Marc , Martinez‐Chapa Sergio O.
Published: April 2020

This approach involves the synthesis of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) within the carbonizing photoresist (SU8) to achieve GNPs trapped glassy carbon (GNPs‐GC) substrates. Surface size distribution and interparticle separation of GNPs is primarily controlled by changing the metal precursor concentration. Chemical stability and fabrication control are achieved by selecting sodium tetrachloroaurate (NaAuCl4) over a more conventional aurochloric acid (HAuCl4) as the gold precursor. Seeding of gold nuclei in a photocrosslinking polymer is a classical representation of simultaneous homogeneous and heterogeneous nucleation. GNPs growth during the carbonization process is tracked and explained using pertinent mechanisms. With the nanoparticle spacing ranging from 260 to 50 nm, GNPs‐GC thin films are employed as interfaces for fibroblast cell adhesion. GNPs act as potential anchor points for cell adhesion and their nanoscale arrangement regulates the structural behavior of the cells. GNPs' density‐dependent fibronectin physisorption significantly improves cell adhesion and proliferation. Intraparticle spacing around 160 nm offers ideal biointerface for fibroblast attachment and spreading. Fabrication of 3D GNPs composite carbon microelectromechanical systems is achieved as a demonstration of the studied GNPs‐GC synthesis mechanism. Sub‐micron patterning of GNPs‐GC combined with its biofunctional nature presents vast opportunities in the field of bioelectronics, biophotonics, and lab/organ‐on‐a‐chip technology.
High‐Performance Photo‐Induced Spatial Terahertz Modulator Based on Micropyramid Silicon Array
Authors: Wen Qi‐Ye , He Yu‐Lian , Yang Qing‐Hui , Yu Peng , Feng Zheng , Tan Wei , Wen Tian‐Long , Zhang Ya‐Xin , Chen Zhi , Zhang Huai‐Wu
Published: April 2020

Reconfigurable conductive pattern created by photoexcitation of high‐resistivity semiconductor provides a powerful approach to realize broadband spatial terahertz modulators (STM), which are highly demanded for constructing cost‐effective and compact terahertz (THz) system. Here a high performance all‐optical STM is proposed and realized based on silicon micropyramid arrays (Si‐MPA), which not only enhances the light harvesting across a broad wavelength range, but also greatly increases the active area for THz modulation. Upon illuminating the Si‐MPA by light with various wavelengths, modulation depth (MD) of four times larger than that of bare silicon is achieved. A maximum MD of 93.8% is obtained under 638 nm laser with a low power density of 1 W cm−2. Reconfigurable THz imaging system based on the Si‐MPA modulator and a single‐element detector is constructed, with which precise THz beam mapping and fast real‐time imaging with 225 pixels are demonstrated. This Si‐MPA‐based STM with large MD at low illumination power density is promising for many THz applications including imaging, beam shaping, holographic projection, etc.