bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interdependency and Vulnerability of Multipartite Networks under Target Node Attacks
Authors: Cai Qing , Pratama Mahardhika , Alam Sameer
Published: November 2019

Complex networks in reality may suffer from target attacks which can trigger the breakdown of the entire network. It is therefore pivotal to evaluate the extent to which a network could withstand perturbations. The research on network robustness has proven as a potent instrument towards that purpose. The last two decades have witnessed the enthusiasm on the studies of network robustness. However, existing studies on network robustness mainly focus on multilayer networks while little attention is paid to multipartite networks which are an indispensable part of complex networks. In this study, we investigate the robustness of multipartite networks under intentional node attacks. We develop two network models based on the largest connected component theory to depict the cascading failures on multipartite networks under target attacks. We then investigate the robustness of computer‐generated multipartite networks with respect to eight node centrality metrics. We discover that the robustness of multipartite networks could display either discontinuous or continuous phase transitions. Interestingly, we discover that larger number of partite sets of a multipartite network could increase its robustness which is opposite to the phenomenon observed on multilayer networks. Our findings shed new lights on the robust structure design of complex systems. We finally present useful discussions on the applications of existing percolation theories that are well studied for network robustness analysis to multipartite networks. We show that existing percolation theories are not amenable to multipartite networks. Percolation on multipartite networks still deserves in‐depth efforts.
Dance Training Improves Cytokine Secretion and Viability of Neutrophils in Diabetic Patients
Authors: Borges Leandro , Passos Maria E. P. , Silva Maysa B. B. , Santos Vinicius C. , Momesso César M. , Pithon-Curi Tania C. , Gorjão Renata , Gray Stuart R. , Lima Kauê C. A. , de Freitas Paulo B. , Hatanaka Elaine
Published: November 2019

Background. Evidence suggests that exercise improves neutrophil function. The decreased functional longevity of neutrophils and their increased clearance from infectious sites contribute to the increased susceptibility to infection and severity of infection observed in patients with diabetes.Objective. Herein, we investigated the effects of a dance program on neutrophil number, function, and death in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and healthy volunteers.Methods. Ten patients with T2DM and twelve healthy individuals participated in a moderate-intensity dance training program for 4 months. The plasma levels of leptin, free fatty acids (FFAs), tumour necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-1β(IL-1β), and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra); neutrophil counts; extent of DNA fragmentation; cell membrane integrity; and production of TNF-α, interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and IL-1βin neutrophils were measured before and after training.Results. Training reduced plasma levels of TNF-α(1.9-fold in controls and 2.2-fold in patients with T2DM) and CRP (1.4-fold in controls and 3.4-fold in patients with T2DM). IL-1ra levels were higher in the control group (2.2-fold) after training. After training, neutrophil DNA fragmentation was decreased in patients with T2DM (90%), while the number of neutrophils increased (70% in controls and 1.1-fold in patients with T2DM).Conclusion. Dance training is a nonpharmacological strategy to reduce inflammation and improve neutrophil clearance in patients with T2DM.
Shenqi Jiangtang Granule Ameliorates Kidney Function by Inhibiting Apoptosis in a Diabetic Rat Model
Authors: Zhang Qian , Xiao Xinhua , Zheng Jia , Li Ming , Yu Miao , Ping Fan , Wang Tong , Wang Xiaojing
Published: November 2019

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a major microvascular complication of diabetes. In addition to moderating hyperglycemia, Shenqi Jiangtang Granule (SJG) had a beneficial effect on kidney function in a clinical trial. However, the mechanism involved remains unclear. This study was conducted to identify the underlying molecular mechanisms. A diabetic rat model was generated by using a high-fat diet and streptozotocin (STZ) injection. Then, rats were given SJG at dosages of 400 mg/kg/d or 800 mg/kg/d by gavage for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks of treatment, blood glucose, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and 24-h urinary albumin were measured. Histochemical staining and TdT-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assays were performed in kidney. Kidney genomic expression in the SJG-treated group and diabetic group was detected by using a genome expression microarray. We found that SJG treatment reduced blood glucose, serum creatinine, BUN, and 24-h urinary albumin and affected kidney histology. The gene array revealed that the expression of 99 genes increased and the expression of 91 genes decreased in the HSJG group, compared with those of in the diabetic group. Pathway and gene ontology analysis of the differentially expressed genes showed an enrichment of the apoptosis pathway. SJG treatment reduced TUNEL- and caspase-3-positive cells in diabetic kidneys. SJG upregulated Bcl-2 and regucalcin expressions and reduced casp3 and Apaf1 expressions in diabetic rats. Our results suggest that SJG exerts a renal protective effect through the inhibition of cell apoptosis in a diabetic rodent model.
Developing Statistical Optimization Models for Urban Competitiveness Index: Under the Boundaries of Econophysics Approach
Authors: Dönmez Cem Çağrı , Atalan Abdulkadir
Published: November 2019

The purpose of this research was to establish the urban competitiveness index (UCI) by using the statistical optimization method for the econophysics approach. With this technique, economic data regarding urban areas and the factors affecting UCI have been determined. The research covers 30 urban centres located in 15 countries worldwide. Urban centres with the gross domestic product per capita of $10,000 or more were taken into consideration. The significant levels of the factors were determined with the statistical optimization method, and optimum values were calculated with the developed optimization models. Re‐index values were calculated and compared with the results of PricewaterhouseCoopers and World Economic Forum. According to the results, the high UCI value of these locations depends not only on economic data but also on high values of social factors. Thus, those locations are becoming the centre of attraction for investments and capital with increasing competitiveness.
Dynamic Resistance Training Improves Cardiac Autonomic Modulation and Oxidative Stress Parameters in Chronic Stroke Survivors: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Gambassi Bruno Bavaresco , Coelho-Junior Hélio José , Paixão dos Santos Camila , de Oliveira Gonçalves Ivan , Mostarda Cristiano Teixeira , Marzetti Emanuele , Sotão Samir Seguins , Uchida Marco Carlos , De Angelis Kátia , Rodrigues Bruno
Published: November 2019

Stroke survivors are at substantial risk of recurrent cerebrovascular event or cardiovascular disease. Exercise training offers nonpharmacological treatment for these subjects; however, the execution of the traditional exercise protocols and adherence is constantly pointed out as obstacles. Based on these premises, the present study investigated the impact of an 8-week dynamic resistance training protocol with elastic bands on functional, hemodynamic, and cardiac autonomic modulation, oxidative stress markers, and plasma nitrite concentration in stroke survivors. Twenty-two patients with stroke were randomized into control group (CG,n=11) or training group (TG,n=11). Cardiac autonomic modulation, oxidative stress markers, plasma nitrite concentration, physical function and hemodynamic parameters were evaluated before and after 8 weeks. Results indicated that functional parameters (standing up from the sitting position (P=0.011) and timed up and go (P=0.042)) were significantly improved in TG. Although not statistically different, both systolic blood pressure (Δ=−10.41 mmHg) and diastolic blood pressure (Δ=−8.16 mmHg) were reduced in TG when compared to CG. Additionally, cardiac autonomic modulation (sympathovagal balance–LF/HF ratio) and superoxide dismutase were improved, while thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and carbonyl levels were reduced in TG when compared to the CG subjects. In conclusion, our findings support the hypothesis that dynamic resistance training with elastic bands may improve physical function, hemodynamic parameters, autonomic modulation, and oxidative stress markers in stroke survivors. These positive changes would be associated with a reduced risk of a recurrent stroke or cardiac event in these subjects.
The Effect of Yttrium Addition on the Microstructures and Electrical Properties of CuMn Alloy Thin Films
Authors: Lee Ho-Yun , He Chi-Wei , Lee Ying-Chieh
Published: November 2019

In this study, we fabricated thin-film resistors using CuMn and yttrium targets by DC/RF magnetron cosputtering. CuMnY-resistive thin films were deposited onto glass and Al2O3 substrates. The electrical properties and microstructures of CuMn alloy films with different yttrium content were investigated. The CuMnY films were annealed at temperature ranging from 250°C to 350°C in N2 atmosphere. The phase variation, microstructure, film thickness, and constitutional analysis of CuMnY films were characterized using X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and related energy dispersive X-ray analyses (XRD, FESEM, and HRTEM/EDX). It was found that CuMnY alloy films separated into two parts after annealing. The first part is the MnO phase on the bottom side of the film. The second part is an amorphous structure on the upper side of the film. The MnO phase is a microcrystalline that exists in CuMn films, which is dependent on the Y content and annealing temperature. CuMn alloy films with 15.7% yttrium addition annealed at 300°C exhibited higher resistivity ∼4000 μΩ-cm with −41 ppm/°C of temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR).
Shape-Depended Biological Properties of Ag3PO4 Microparticles: Evaluation of Antimicrobial Properties and Cytotoxicity in In Vitro Model—Safety Assessment of Potential Clinical Usage
Authors: Steckiewicz Karol P. , Zwara Julia , Jaskiewicz Maciej , Kowalski Szymon , Kamysz Wojciech , Zaleska-Medynska Adriana , Inkielewicz-Stepniak Iwona
Published: November 2019

Implant-related infections are an emerging clinical and economic problem. Therefore, we decided to assess potential clinical usefulness and safety of silver orthophosphate microparticles (SOMPs) regarding their shape. We synthesized and then assessed antimicrobial properties and potential cytotoxicity of six shapes of SOMPs (tetrapod, cubes, spheres, tetrahedrons, branched, and rhombic dodecahedron). We found that SOMPs had a high antimicrobial effect; they were more efficient against fungi than bacteria. SOMPs exerted an antimicrobial effect in concentrations not toxic to mammalian cells: human fetal osteoblast (hFOB1.19), osteosarcoma (Saos-2), mouse preosteoblasts (MC3T3-E1), skin fibroblast (HDF), and mouse myoblast (C2C12). At higher concentration SOMPs, induced shape- and concentration-dependent cytotoxicity (according to MTT and BrdU assays). Tetrapod SOMPs had the smallest effect, whereas cubical SOMPs, the highest on cell viability. hFOB1.19 were the most resistant cells and C2C12, the most susceptible ones. We have proven that the induction of oxidative stress and inflammation is involved in the cytotoxic mechanism of SOMPs. After treatment with microparticles, we observed changes in levels of reactive oxygen species, first-line defense antioxidants-superoxide dismutase (SOD1, SOD3), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX4), metalloproteinase (MMP1, MMP3), and NF-κB protein. Neither cell cycle distribution nor ultrastructure was altered as determined by flow cytometry and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. In conclusion, silver orthophosphate may be a safe and effective antimicrobial agent on the implant surface. Spherical-shaped SOMPs are the most promising for biomedical application.
Adaptive Saturated Neural Network Tracking Control of Spacecraft: Theory and Experimentation
Authors: Xia Kewei , Lee Taeyang , Park Sang-Young
Published: November 2019

An adaptive saturated neural network (NN) controller is developed for 6 degree-of-freedom (6DOF) spacecraft tracking, and its hardware-in-the-loop experimental validation is tested on the ground-based test facility. To overcome the dynamics uncertainties and prevent the large control saturation caused by the large tracking error at the beginning operation, a saturated radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) is introduced in the controller design, where the approximate error is counteracted by an adaptive continuous robust term. In addition, an auxiliary dynamical system is employed to compensate for the control saturation. It is proved that the ultimate boundedness of the closed-loop system is achieved. Besides, the proposed controller is implemented into a testbed facility to show the final operational reliability via hardware-in-the-loop experiments, where the experimental scenario describes that the simulator is tracking a planar trajectory while synchronizing its attitude with the desired angle. Experimental results illustrate that the proposed controller ensures that the simulator can track a preassigned trajectory with robustness to unknown inertial parameters and disturbances.
Significance of Gastric Wall Thickening Detected in Abdominal CT Scan to Predict Gastric Malignancy
Authors: Akbas A. , Bakir H. , Dasiran M. F. , Dagmura H. , Ozmen Z. , Yildiz Celtek N. , Daldal E. , Demir O. , Kefeli A. , Okan I.
Published: November 2019

Background. Early diagnosis of gastric cancer is one of the most important parameters affecting the survival of the disease. In this study, we aimed to stress the importance of antrum wall thickness in CT examination.Method. The study included 111 patients between ages of 18 and 95 who had antral wall thickening in computed tomography and also had endoscopic evaluation performed in the same clinic. The patients were divided into two groups as benign and malignant according to the pathology results. The thickness of the antrum wall in computed tomography, hemoglobin and albumin levels, and age was compared among these two groups. Parameters with significant differences were further analyzed by multivariate analysis using logistic regression analysis.Results. Of the 111 patients included in the study, 57 were male and 54 were female. Mean age was 65 years. Fifty-one patients were classified as benign and 60 patients as malignant. Mean age of the malignant patients was 70, while that of benign patients was 59 (p<0.05). Antrum wall thickness was 13.68 ± 3.27 mm in malignant patients and 9.22 ± 2.17 mm in benign patients (p<0.05). Similarly, hemoglobin level was significantly different in malignant and benign patients (10.78 ± 1.57 g/dl and 12.64 ± 1.43 g/dl, respectively;p<0.05). Albumin levels were 3.36 ± 0.57 mg/dl in malignant patients and 3.97 ± 0.57 mg/dl in benign patients (p<0.05).Conclusion. Evaluation of antrum wall thickness, age, hemoglobin, and albumin values together may contribute to distinguishing the benign and malignant pathologies involving this region in patients with suspected stomach wall thickening in abdominal CT scan.
Multiple Severe Toxicities of L-Asparaginase and Their Innovative Management during Induction Therapy of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in an Adult Patient
Authors: Beziat Guillaume , Tavitian Suzanne , Picard Muriel , Faguer Stanislas , Recher Christian , Huguet Françoise
Published: November 2019

L-asparaginase is a key chemotherapeutic agent in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). It is also known for multiple and severe specific toxicities, without consensual management. We report the case of a 51-year-old man treated with L-asparaginase for recently diagnosed T-cell ALL. During the treatment, he developed a coma due to multifactorial diffuse cerebral edema, by hepatic encephalopathy, cerebral venous thrombosis, and hyperammonemia, all linked to toxicity of L-asparaginase. Specific and innovative treatments were employed to manage these toxicities: supplementation with L-carnitine, thiamine, and pyridoxine for hepatic toxicity, perfusion of sodium benzoate to decrease ammonemia, and extrahepatic albumin-based dialysis sessions, along with anticoagulation. The patient improved within two weeks and is currently alive 13 months later, in first complete remission, without sequelae, on an alleviated chemotherapy regimen.
Markov Chain Modeling of HIV, Tuberculosis, and Hepatitis B Transmission in Ghana
Authors: Twumasi Clement , Asiedu Louis , Nortey Ezekiel N. N.
Published: November 2019

Several mathematical and standard epidemiological models have been proposed in studying infectious disease dynamics. These models help to understand the spread of disease infections. However, most of these models are not able to estimate other relevant disease metrics such as probability of first infection and recovery as well as the expected time to infection and recovery for both susceptible and infected individuals. That is, most of the standard epidemiological models used in estimating transition probabilities (TPs) are not able to generalize the transition estimates of disease outcomes at discrete time steps for future predictions. This paper seeks to address the aforementioned problems through a discrete-time Markov chain model. Secondary datasets from cohort studies were collected on HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and hepatitis B (HB) cases from a regional hospital in Ghana. The Markov chain model revealed that hepatitis B was more infectious over time than tuberculosis and HIV even though the probability of first infection of these diseases was relatively low within the study population. However, individuals infected with HIV had comparatively lower life expectancies than those infected with tuberculosis and hepatitis B. Discrete-time Markov chain technique is recommended as viable for modeling disease dynamics in Ghana.
Prediction Model of the Key Components for Lodging Resistance in Rapeseed Stalk Using Near-Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy (NIRS)
Authors: Kuai Jie , Xu Shengyong , Guo Cheng , Lu Kun , Feng Yaoze , Zhou Guangsheng
Published: November 2019

The chemical composition of rape stalk is the physiological basis for its lodging resistance. By taking the advantage of NIRS, we developed a rapid method to determine the content of six key composition without crushing the stalk. Rapeseed stalks in the mature stage of growth were collected from three cultivation modes over the course of 2 years. First, we used the near-infrared spectroscope to scan seven positions on the stalk samples and took their average to form the spectral data. The stalks were then crushed and sieved; then the ratio of carbon and nitrogen, ratio of acid-insoluble lignin and lignin, and the content of soluble sugar and cellulose were determined using the combustion method, weighing method, and colorimetric method, respectively. The partial least squares regression (PLSR) method was used to establish a prediction model between the spectral data and the chemical measurements, and all models were evaluated by an internal interaction verification and an external independent test set sample. To improve the accuracy of the model and reduce the computing time, some optimization methods have been applied. Some outliers were removed, and then the data were preprocessed to determine the best spectral information band and the optimal principal component number. The results showed that elimination of outliers effectively improved the precision of the prediction model and that no spectral pretreatment method exhibited the highest prediction accuracy. In summary, the NIRS-based prediction model could facilitate the rapid nondestructive detection in the key components of rapeseed stalk.
Dual-Mechanism ERK1/2 Inhibitors Exploit a Distinct Binding Mode to Block Phosphorylation and Nuclear Accumulation of ERK1/2
Authors: Kidger Andrew M. , Munck Joanne M. , Saini Harpreet K. , Balmanno Kathryn , Minihane Emma , Courtin Aurelie , Graham Brent , O'Reilly Marc , Odle Richard , Cook Simon J.
Published: November 2019

The RAS-regulated RAF-MEK1/2-ERK1/2 signaling pathway is frequently deregulated in cancer due to activating mutations of growth factor receptors, RAS or BRAF. Both RAF and MEK1/2 inhibitors are clinically approved and various ERK1/2 inhibitors (ERKi) are currently undergoing clinical trials. To date, ERKi display two distinct mechanisms of action (MoA): catalytic ERKi solely inhibit ERK1/2 catalytic activity, whereas dual mechanism ERKi additionally prevents the activating phosphorylation of ERK1/2 at its T-E-Y motif by MEK1/2. These differences may impart significant differences in biological activity because T-E-Y phosphorylation is the signal for nuclear entry of ERK1/2, allowing them to access many key transcription factor targets. Here, we characterized the MoA of five ERKi and examined their functional consequences in terms of ERK1/2 signaling, gene expression, and antiproliferative efficacy. We demonstrate that catalytic ERKi promote a striking nuclear accumulation of p-ERK1/2 in KRAS-mutant cell lines. In contrast, dual-mechanism ERKi exploits a distinct binding mode to block ERK1/2 phosphorylation by MEK1/2, exhibit superior potency, and prevent the nuclear accumulation of ERK1/2. Consequently, dual-mechanism ERKi exhibit more durable pathway inhibition and enhanced suppression of ERK1/2-dependent gene expression compared with catalytic ERKi, resulting in increased efficacy across BRAF- and RAS-mutant cell lines.
Trabecular trichoblastoma in a domestic cat (Felis catus domesticus, Linnaeus 1758)
Authors: Freitas Thaís Fercher de , Jorge Siria Da Fonseca , Silva Maria Eduarda Monteiro , Mendes Fernando Luis Fernandes , Lemos Tatiana Didonet
Published: November 2019

Trichoblastoma is characterized as a benign cutaneous neoplasm that originates in the trichoblastic epithelium of the hair bulb. The present report describes the case of a 4-year-old cross breed neutered male cat that had a history of a slow, freely movable, ulcerated, slow growing, solitary cutaneous nodule located on the left scapular region. Histopathological evaluation showed neoplastic cells arranged in cohesive nests or palisades with eosinophilic and scant cytoplasm. Based on the microscopic findings, a diagnosis of trabecular trichoblastoma was made. The treatment of choice consisted of total surgical excision of the mass with safe surgical margins. Tumor recurrence was not observed.
Perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes com paralisia cerebral atendidos na AACD - São Paulo
Authors: Binha Anny Michelly Paquier , Maciel Simone Carazzato , Bezerra Carla Cristine Andrade
Published: November 2019

Paralisia cerebral (PC) abrange um grupo de síndromes clínicas de causa multifatorial caracterizadas por déficit motor, algumas vezes com disfunção postural. Objetivos: Caracterizar a população dos novos pacientes da clínica de PC na instituição, de Janeiro-2012 a Dezembro-2014. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo. Avaliados 743 prontuários eletrônicos de pacientes atendidos em consultas iniciais de PC, sendo elegíveis 614 casos. Resultados: Sexo: feminino = 47,4%, masculino = 52,6%. Idade em anos: 29,5% menores de 2; 34% de 2 a 4; 15,5% de 4 a 6; 16,3% de 6 a 12; 4,6% 12 a 18; 0,2% ≥ 18 anos. Ao nascimento 50,7% eram pré-termo e 45% termo. Peso: 9,1% classificados como extremo baixo peso, 16,8% muito baixo peso, 21,8% baixo peso, 43,6% peso adequado, 2,3% macrossômicos. Tipo de parto predominante: cesáreo (56,5%). Classificação clínica e topográfica dos pacientes: 13,4% Hemiparéticos espásticos, 33,9% Diparéticos espásticos, 12,2% Tetraparéticos espásticos, 0,5% Monoparéticos espásticos, 5,9% Discinéticos/atáxicos, 5,7% PC mista, 1% hipotônicos. Em 55,5% das famílias não recebiam auxílio doença. Sobre atendimentos especializados observou-se que para 97,7% dos pacientes tratava-se da primeira consulta com um médico Fisiatra. Conclusão: Maioria das gestantes realizaram pelo menos o número mínimo adequado de consultas de pré-natal. Parto cesariano predominou. Nascimentos pré-termo foi ligeiramente superior comparado com a termo. Tipo de PC predominou o tipo Diparético espástico, com GMFCS nas faixas de 1 a 5 equivalente. Mais da metade das famílias ainda sem acesso a benefício social.
Arte reabilitação em mulheres amputadas utilizando o mito de Pandora como recurso facilitador de autoestima e qualidade de vida
Authors: Scorachio Flavia Rodrigues de Souza , Teng Teresa Kam , De Conti Márcia Gallo , Freire Tania Cristina , Ingham Sheila Jean McNeill
Published: November 2019

A amputação é um evento traumático que repercute intensamente na vida da pessoa acometida. A dificuldade em lidar com a nova realidade pode contribuir negativamente para a autoestima e reabilitação do indivíduo, afetando a sua qualidade de vida. A Arteterapia por meio dos recursos expressivos pode ser um canal facilitador e promotor de aspectos resilientes para a superação do trauma. Objetivo: Averiguar a influência da Arteterapia na autoestima e qualidade de vida em mulheres amputadas. Grupo formado por 8 mulheres amputadas, entre 35 a 65 anos. Método: Divididos em 2 grupos (4 indivíduos no grupo de intervenção e 4 indivíduos no grupo controle). Instrumentos de avaliação: WHOQOL- Bref (World Health Organization Quality of Life), Escala de Autoestima Rosemberg (EAR), o Desenho da Figura Humana e Relatos das Participantes. As atividades foram desenvolvidas com base no mito de Pandora, em 11 oficinas arteterapêuticas com 1 hora de duração, uma vez por semana no setor de Arte-Reabilitação, AACD – Ibirapuera, São Paulo. Resultados: Estatisticamente não foram observadas diferenças significantes entre os momentos inicial e final para os domínios de Whoqol Bref e EAR, em ambos os grupos; porém, o grupo intervenção apresenta um movimento de melhora na autoestima, especialmente no quesito autodepreciação. Qualitativamente foram observadas através do discurso das participantes melhorias de autoestima e possibilidade de melhoria na qualidade de vida das participantes. Conclusão: A arteterapia, junto com a equipe interdisciplinar, pode contribuir positivamente para o processo de reabilitação em mulheres amputadas ajudando a promover a autoestima e qualidade de vida.
Respiratory function in patients with lumbar stenosis
Authors: Chaves Cláudia Valéria de Melo Pereira , Alves Vera Lúcia dos Santos , Meves Robert , Caffaro Maria Fernanda Silber
Published: November 2019

Degenerative diseases of the spine are conditions that involve loss of structure and normal function of the spine and may lead to worsening functional capacity, decreased exercise tolerance, and reduced quality of life due to neurogenic lameness and chronic low back pain. The choice of arthrodesis is due to the presence of evolutionary neurological injury or intractable pain. Objective: To analyze and compare spirometric values ​​and respiratory muscle strength in patients with lumbar stenosis. Method: cross-sectional study with 38 patients of both sexes, divided into a group of 19 operated patients and another group of 19 patients awaiting surgery, aged between 50 and 80 years, who were evaluated by spirometry and manovacuometry. Results: In our study, it was observed that pulmonary function was within the reference values, considering that the group of operated patients presented better performance in spirometry and manovacuometry. Conclusion: operated patients showed improvement in lung function compared to non-operated patients.
Theatres of Control: The Performance of Algorithms and the Question of Governance
Authors: Otto Ulf
Published: November 2019

Algorithms must be understood in regard to the governance of populations by means of numbers. Turbo Pascal's Algorithmen, a recent performance that experiments with sorting its audience, raises the question of governance and technology in the context of performance. Aesthetic innovation and individual experience are no longer at stake for performance within digital cultures, but rather the constitution and governance of collectivities.
Making the ‘Mughal’ Soldier: Ethnicity, Identification, and Documentary Culture in Southern India, c. 1600-1700
Authors: Dayal Subah
Published: November 2019

This article evaluates provincial documentary culture in the Deccan (south-central India) prior to the incorporation of this region into Mughal Hindustan in 1687. It investigates the production and content of ʿarz-o-chehrah (muster rolls), one among many documentary genres that verified the Mughal soldier and his horse circulating on the front lines of uncertain conquest. From these materials, a previous generation of scholars distilled a taxonomy of self-contained “sub-national or ethnic” or “racial” groups (“Irani,” “Turani,” “Afghan,” “Rajput,” “Deccani,” “Indian Muslim,” and “Miscellaneous”) that confirmed narratives about the Mughal nobility found in chronicle histories. However, these modern construals of “ethnicity” remain difficult to map onto the actual ones found on descriptive rolls nor do they tell us how everyday interactions between provincial scribes and the soldier-subject transformed these categories. Social identifications underwent changes when imperial officials, scribes, and soldiers shared a war front with the armies of the regional, independent Deccan sultanates. Finer degrees of specificity characterized “northern” soldiers’ labels while “southern” cavalry were defined through broad, essentialized groupings, reflecting the changing profiles of cavalry recruitment. By analyzing social identifications, this article charts the making of a pan-subcontinent system of soldier recruitment wherein the state-making processes of northern and southern India began to mirror each other, widening the ways of defining and seeing the ‘Mughal’ soldier. This unique piece of paper bound two individual creatures, man and horse, whose identities were both separate and united, into a mutually-dependent relationship. These double portraits of man and horse functioned as proxies for pay slips and not simply as pre-modern identification cards. In doing so, they also provide a window into one instance of the uneven, ambiguous professionalization of mercenary-soldiers taking place across the early modern world.
The Jewish Ahl al-Adab of al-Andalus
Authors: Decter Jonathan
Published: November 2019

This article studies the use of adab and related terminology among medieval Jewish authors with particular attention to shifts in cultural and religious sensibilities, matters of group cohesion and self-definition, and the contours of adab discourse across religious boundaries. The article demonstrates that, although Jews in the Islamic East in the tenth century internalized adab as a cultural concept, it was in al-Andalus that Jews first self-consciously presented themselves as udabā. The article focuses on works of Judeo-Arabic biblical exegesis, grammar, and poetics as well as Hebrew poetry composed after the style of Arabic poetry.
The Provisional Measures Orders in International Environmental Disputes: A Case for International Courts and Tribunals
Authors: Bendel Justine
Published: November 2019

This article examines the ways in which international courts and tribunals should utilise their powers to prescribe provisional measures in the context of environmental disputes. The article makes the case that the system of dispute resolution has the capacity to adapt to the specific needs of environmental disputes. By analysing the key features of provisional measures and extracting new judicial trends, new light is shed on two core issues: first, this article develops a theoretical framework within which provisional measures should be understood in order to achieve their aim. Second, it shows how a certain level of judicial creativity in the design of provisional measures can have implications on whether such measures can be enforced through innovative cooperation with other institutional bodies. As a result, this article argues that provisional measures can fill the gap of enforcement in international environmental law and become a pivotal instrument in environmental protection.
Good White People: Settler Colonial Anxiety and the Endurance of Racism
Authors: Slater Lisa
Published: November 2019

The focus of this essay is the racialised political emotions of ‘good white people’. I examine what Berlant names ‘public feelings’, focusing on the way emotional states are part of communal experiences. My interest is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ repeated calls for mainstream Australia to genuinely engage with political and cultural difference, and listen. Such claims often make ‘good white people’ anxious. They protest, insist they are trying but don’t know what to do. Good white people’s anxiety is much more telling than the stories that are told about bad racists. Thus, it is a productive site to analyse the cultural dynamics of settler–Indigenous relations, and to understand how race structures Australian culture and the endurance of racism.
“The good and evill dayes of the moneth to worke in”: Lunaries in European Magic Manuscripts
Authors: Chardonnens László Sándor
Published: November 2019

Hemerology, the study of the auspicious and inauspicious qualities of time, plays a role in the astral magic that entered medieval European magic from Arabic sources, although in other areas of magic it seems to have been less present. Yet in three isolated and independent cases from fifteenth-century Germany and early modern England, lunaries, a type of hemerology that originated from the field of divination and prognostication, were adapted to introduce hemerological aspects to a variety of magical practices. These lunaries are here published and analyzed in light of their mantic origins and recontextualized magic uses.
Genethlialogy, Katarchoscopy, and Astrological Authorities in John Tzetzes’s Allegories of the “Iliad”
Authors: Komorowska Joanna
Published: November 2019

In his Allegoriae Iliadis, John Tzetzes makes frequent use of contemporary astrological teachings: he references planetary aspects, transits, and the respective positions of luminaries, and several important passages of the Iliad are treated as openly astrological in nature. In Tzetzes’s poem, both life and death are decided by changing positions of stars, Alexander (Paris) is favored by Aphrodite (the planet Venus), and Hector is protected by Zeus (the planet Jupiter). The idea of royal birth (or imperial horoscope) plays an important part in Tzetzes’s exploration of the myth of Heracles, and the tropical nature of the sign of Libra, due to the sun’s entry into it at the autumnal equinox, is reflected in the (non-)efficiency of the Greek ramparts. This article considers these references to astrological lore against the wider background of the surviving Fachliteratur and thus seeks to provide insight into Tzetzes’s attitude toward astrology, and, simultaneously, into his own knowledge of the lore.
Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticle-Crosslinked Peptide Hydrogels for Three-Dimensional Culture and Differentiation of MC3T3-E1 Osteoblasts
Authors: Xu Yingjie , Wu Xin , Wang Shuyi , Yang Changzhou , Li Ying , Cao Yi
Published: November 2019

Hydrogels have been widely used to mimic the biochemical and mechanical environments of native extracellular matrices for cell culture and tissue engineering. Among them, self-assembling peptide hydrogels are of special interest thanks to their great biocompatibility, designability
and convenient preparation procedures. In pioneering studies, self-assembling peptide hydrogels have been used for the culture of bone marrow cells. However, the low mechanical stability of peptide hydrogels seems to be a drawback for these applications, as bone marrow cells prefer hard substrates
for osteogenic differentiation. In this work, we explored the use of hydroxyapatite (HAP)-peptide hybrid hydrogels for three-dimensional (3D) culture and differentiation of osteogenic MC3T3-E1 cells. We used HAP nanoparticles as crosslinkers to increase the mechanical stability of peptide
hydrogels. Meanwhile, HAP provided unique chemical cues to promote the differentiation of osteoblasts. A phosphate group was introduced to the self-assembling peptide so that the peptide fibers could bind to HAP nanoparticles specifically and strongly. Rheological characterization indicated
that the hybrid hydrogels were mechanically more stable than the hydrogels containing only peptides and can be used for long term cell culture. Moreover, the hydrogels were biocompatible and showed very low cytotoxicity. The favorable mechanical properties of the hybrid hydrogels and the chemical
properties of HAP synergistically supported the differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells. Based on these characterizations, we believe that these hybrid hydrogels can potentially be used as scaffolds for cartilage and bone regeneration in the future.
Preparation and Effect of (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane-Coated LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 Cathode Material for Lithium Ion Batteries
Authors: Shin Mi-Ra , Lee Seon-Jin , Kim Seong-Jae , Hong Tae-Whan
Published: November 2019

Surface coating using (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) has been applied to improve the electrochemical properties of LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 (NCM523) cathode materials. The APTES coating layer on the surface of NCM523 protects the direct
contact area between the cathode material and the electrolyte, and facilitates the presence of electrons through the abundance of electron-rich amine groups, thereby improving electrochemical performance. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the existence of APTES coating layers on the
surface of NCM523 cathode materials, revealing three peaks—N1s, O1s, and Si1s—that were not identified in bare NCM523. In addition, the discharge capacities of the bare electrode and the APTES-coated NCM523 electrode were 121.06 mAh/g and 156.43 mAh/g, respectively. To the best
of our knowledge, the use of an APTES coating on NCM523 cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries has never been reported.
Distinct Levels of Adhesion Energy of In-Situ Grown CuO Nanostructures
Authors: Kaur Gurjinder , Baishya Amlan , Manoj Kumar R. , Lahiri Debrupa , Lahiri Indranil
Published: November 2019

CuO nanostructures were reported for a myriad of applications in diverse areas such as high Tc superconductors, field emitters, catalysts, gas sensors, magnetic storage, biosensors, superhydrophobic surfaces, energy materials etc. In all these applications, structural
stability of the nanostructures is very important for efficient functioning of devices with a longer lifetime. Hence, it is necessary to understand the adhesion energy of these nanostructures with their substrates. In this research work, a variety of CuO nanostructures were synthesized directly
on Cu foil substrate by varying only the concentration of the reagents. CuO nanostructures, thus grown, were subjected to a nano-scratch test to quantify their adhesion strength with Cu substrate. The adhesion energy was observed to be highest for nanorods and lowest for nanoribbons among
all the CuO nanostructures synthesized in this work. Results of this research will be useful in predicting the service life and in improving the efficiency of CuO nanostructure-based devices.
Magnesium Aluminate Nanoparticles for Chemical Detoxification of Sarin and Soman
Authors: Prasad G. K. , Pandey L. K. , Praveen Kumar J. , Ganesan K. , Acharya J. , Gupta A. K.
Published: November 2019

The solutions of Mg(NO3)2, Al(NO3)3, and (NH4)2CO3 were mixed at pH 8 and then heated at 95 °C for 4 h, aged at room temperature for 16 h, and calcined at 650 °C for 4 h to obtain magnesium aluminate
nanoparticles. The obtained materials exhibited spinel structure with the particle size being 6 to 26 nm. The nanoparticles demonstrated type IV nitrogen adsorption isotherm, typical of mesoporosity with a surface area of 325 m2/g. They were utilized for studies on chemical detoxification
of deadly chemical warfare agents such as sarin and soman. Our results showed that the magnesium aluminate nanoparticles effectively decontaminated more than 99% of sarin and soman within 8–10 min when used at a ratio of 1:50–60% w/w.
Benzoyl Halide as Alternative Precursor for Synthesis of Lead Free Double Perovskite Cs3Bi2Br9 Nanocrystals
Authors: Kumar Ashish , Rawat S. S. , Swami Sanjay Kumar , Singh Vidya Nand , Srivastava Ritu
Published: November 2019

Ternary bismuth halides are interesting functional materials closely related to Pb halide perovskite photovoltaic material, and are widely sought after due to reduced toxicity of Bi compared to Pb. There are several reports on synthesis of Cs3Bi2Br9
nanocrystals (NCs) due to its being relatively stable compared to lead perovskite. Cs3Bi2Br9 nanocrystals have been synthesised using benzoyl bromide as an precursor using hot injection process at two different temperatures of 120 °C and 160 °C. Samples
have been characterized for its structural, optical, microstructural and luminescent properties using X-ray diffraction, (XRD) UV-Vis spectroscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy and photoluminescent spectroscopy. XRD showed formation of Cs3Bi2Br9
phase with mono-crystalline structure. UV-Vis showed two types of band gap in the visible region which shows that the material can be used for photovoltaic applications. HRTEM confined the particles to be composed of nanocrystals with ˜5 nm particles in the samples grown at 120 °C
and it the particles joined together yield various structures composed of nanoparticles. The time resolved photoluminescence shows average life times of 3.067 ns and 4.761 ns for samples grown at two different temperatures. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report where benzoyl
halide has been used as alternative precursor for the synthesis of lead free double perovskite Cs3Bi2Br9 nanocrystals which have many applications.
Incorporation and Use of Earth Remote Sensing Imagery within the NOAA/NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit
Authors: Molthan Andrew L. , Schultz Lori A. , McGrath Kevin M. , Burks Jason E. , Camp J. Parks , Angle Kelsey , Bell Jordan R. , Jedlovec Gary J.
Published: November 2019

Severe weather events including tornadoes, damaging winds, hail, and their combination produce changes in land surface vegetation and urban settings that are frequently observed through remote sensing. Capabilities continue to improve through a growing constellation of governmental and commercial assets, increasing the spatial resolution of visible, near to shortwave infrared, and thermal infrared remote sensing. Here, we highlight cases where visual interpretation of imagery benefitted severe weather damage assessments made within the NOAA/NWS Damage Assessment Toolkit. Examples demonstrate utility of imagery in assessing tracks and changes in remote areas where staffing limitations or access prevent a ground-based assessment.
Precipitation Extremes: Trends and Relationships with Average Precipitation and Precipitable Water in the Contiguous United States
Authors: Kunkel Kenneth E. , Karl Thomas R. , Squires Michael F. , Yin Xungang , Stegall Steve T. , Easterling David R.
Published: November 2019

Trends of extreme precipitation (EP) using various combinations of average return intervals (ARIs) of 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 years with durations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 30 days were calculated regionally across the contiguous United States. Changes in the sign of the trend of EP vary by region as well as by ARI and duration, despite the statistically significant upward trends for all combinations of EP thresholds when area averaged across the contiguous United States. Spatially, there is a pronounced east-to-west gradient in the trends of the EP with strong upward trends east of the Rocky Mountains. In general, upward trends are larger and more significant for longer ARIs, but the contribution to the trend in total seasonal and annual precipitation is significantly larger for shorter ARIs because they occur more frequently. Across much of the contiguous United States, upward trends of warm-season EP are substantially larger than those for the cold season and have a substantially greater effect on the annual trend in total precipitation. This result occurs even in areas where the total precipitation is nearly evenly divided between the cold and warm seasons. When compared with short-duration events, long-duration events—for example, 30 days—contribute the most to annual trends. Coincident statistically significant upward trends of EP and precipitable water (PW) occur in many regions, especially during the warm season. Increases in PW are likely to be one of several factors responsible for the increase in EP (and average total precipitation) observed in many areas across the contiguous United States.
Atmospheric Circulation Response to Short-Term Arctic Warming in an Idealized Model
Authors: Hell Momme C. , Schneider Tapio , Li Camille
Published: November 2019

Recent Arctic sea ice loss in fall has been posited to drive midlatitude circulation changes into winter and even spring. Past work has shown that sea ice loss can indeed trigger a weakening of the stratospheric polar vortex, which can lead to delayed surface weather changes. But the mechanisms of such changes and their relevant time scales have remained unclear. This study uses large ensembles of idealized GCM simulations to identify how and over what time scales the atmospheric circulation responds to short-term surface heat flux changes in high latitudes. The ensemble-mean response of the atmospheric circulation is approximately linear in the amplitude of the surface forcing. It is also insensitive to whether the forcing is zonally asymmetric or symmetric, that is, whether stationary waves are generated or not. The circulation response can be decomposed into a rapid thermal response and a slower dynamic adjustment. The adjustment arises through weakening of vertical wave activity fluxes from the troposphere into the stratosphere in response to polar warming, a mechanism that differs from sudden stratospheric warmings yet still results in a weakened stratospheric circulation. The stratospheric response is delayed and persists for about 2 months because the thermal response of the stratosphere is slow compared with that of the troposphere. The delayed stratospheric response feeds back onto the troposphere, but the tropospheric effects are weak compared with natural variability. The general pathway for the delayed response appears to be relatively independent of the atmospheric background state at the time of the anomalous surface forcing.
Then and Now—A Look Inside the Lives of 11 Women Presidents of the IADR
Authors: Shaddox L. , Letra A.
Published: November 2019

Extraordinary women scientists—past, current, and elected presidents of the International Association for Dental Research (IADR)—showcase pathways for success and leadership. In this series of autobiographical essays, these women of various cultural backgrounds with diverse areas of research describe their journeys in the passionate pursuit of excellence, despite the frequent obstacles and challenges. Through interviews and in their own words, we recap highlights of their dental research journeys and inspirations, their career trajectories toward the IADR presidency, and the benefits and challenges that they faced in their careers and personal lives. The purpose of this special issue is to honor these women, their life journeys, and how they have contributed to oral health research.
Perspectives on Entrepreneurship and Macromarketing: Introduction to the Special Issue
Authors: Morrish Sussie C. , Eggers Fabian , Covin Jeffrey G. , Ali Abdul
Published: November 2019

Introduction to the Special Issue on Entrepreneurship and Macromarketing.