bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Saikosaponin A attenuates neural injury caused by ischemia/reperfusion
Authors: Wang Xinying , Yang Guofeng
Published: July 2020

Background

Inflammation is involved in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced neurological damage. Saikosaponin A (SSa), extracted from Radix bupleuri, has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory effects. This article aimed to investigate whether SSa could ameliorate neuroinflammation mediated by ischemic stroke and the underlying mechanism.

Methods

Rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was employed in this study, and the cognitive and motor functions were detected by behavioral tests. Inflammatory cytokines in the serum were detected by ELISA kits. The expression levels of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) in the brain tissues were assayed with Western blot.

Results

Our results showed that SSa pretreatment could significantly reduce brain damage, improve neurological function recovery, and decrease the water content of brain tissues when compared with the model group. SSa pretreatment significantly reduced the serum HMGB1 level and downregulated the contents of inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1 beta, and interleukin-6. Furthermore, SSa pretreatment could attenuate the decreased TLR4 and nucleus NF-κB in the brain of MCAO rats. The protein level of HMGB1 in the nucleus was significantly upregulated in the SSa pretreatment group.

Conclusion

Our results suggested that the pretreatment with SSa provided significant protection against cerebral I/R injury in rats via its anti-inflammation property by inhibiting the nucleus HMGB1 release.
Anreize, Kognition, Kultur und die symbolische Choreographie der Gesellschaft
Authors: Esser Hartmut
Published: July 2020

Der Beitrag befasst sich mit verschiedenen Versuchen der Soziologisierung der ökonomischen Theorie bzw. der Rational-Choice-Theorie angesichts der zahlreichen Hinweise auf eine deutlich „begrenzte Rationalität“ und der damit verbundenen Anomalien, besonders aus Experimenten der sogenannten Verhaltensökonomie. Der konkrete Bezug ist der Vorstoß, den Herbert Gintis 2017 in seinem Buch „Individuality and Entanglement“ macht, wo er das Konzept eines „korrelierten Gleichgewichts“ über eine, wie er es nennt, symbolische „Choreographie“ durch sozial geteilte kulturelle Schemata und Skripte als Kern einer weiteren Erweiterung der Rational-Choice-Theorie platziert und der Soziologie anempfiehlt, dem unter Beibehaltung der anderen inhaltlichen Annahmen und methodischen Instrumentarien von Ökonomie und Rational-Choice-Theorie zu folgen. Der Artikel systematisiert und bewertet den Vorschlag vor dem Hintergrund früherer und neuerer Beiträge der Kognitionswissenschaften, der (Kultur-)Soziologie und von Teilen der Rational-Choice-Theorie, die diese Fragen selbst seit einiger Zeit aufgeworfen und in Richtung einer übergreifenden Handlungstheorie und Mikrofundierung der Sozialwissenschaften als Ganzes auszuarbeiten begonnen haben.
Sichtbarkeit und Bewertung
Authors: Krüger Anne K. , Hesselmann Felicitas
Published: July 2020

In der Soziologie des Wertens und Bewertens wird Sichtbarkeit, d. h. wer wen wann auf welche Weise sehen kann, als wesentlicher Aspekt von Bewertungsverfahren diskutiert. Indem theoretische Perspektiven auf Sichtbarkeit mit aktueller Forschung zu Bewertungsverfahren zusammengebracht werden, nimmt der Artikel die Kalibrierung von Sichtbarkeit in und durch Bewertungsverfahren in den Blick. Er zeigt unterschiedliche Sichtbarkeitskonstellationen auf, die spezifische Wirkungsweisen – Anerkennung, Kontrolle, Singularisierung – entfalten können, und verdeutlicht, wie die gezielte Herstellung von (Un-)Sichtbarkeit erstens darüber entscheidet, was oder wer wie bewertet wird, und zweitens dabei selbst zu einem wesentlichen Ergebnis von Bewertungsverfahren wird.
Ternary plumbides ATPb2 (A = Ca, Sr, Ba, Eu; T = Rh, Pd, Pt) with distorted, lonsdaleite-related substructures of tetrahedrally connected lead atoms
Authors: Klenner Steffen , Bönnighausen Judith , Pöttgen Rainer
Published: July 2020

The plumbides CaTPb2 (T = Rh, Pd), EuTPb2 (T = Rh, Pd, Pt), SrTPb2 (T = Rh, Pd, Pt) and BaTPb2 (T = Pd, Pt) were obtained by direct reactions of the elements in sealed tantalum tubes in an induction furnace. The moisture sensitive polycrystalline samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction. They crystallize with the orthorhombic MgCuAl2-type structure, space group Cmcm. The structures of CaRhPb2 (a = 433.78(3), b = 1102.06(8), c = 798.43(6) pm, wR = 0.0285, 432 F2 values and 16 variables) and EuPdPb2 (a = 457.24(5), b = 1158.27(13), c = 775.73(8), wR = 0.0464, 464 F2 values and 16 variables) were refined from single crystal X-ray diffractometer data. The characteristic structural motif is the distorted tetrahedral substructure built up by the lead atoms with Pb–Pb distances of 326–327 pm in CaRhPb2 and of 315–345 pm in EuPdPb2. With increasing size of the alkaline earth (Eu) cation, the lead substructure becomes more anisotropic with a shift of the [TPb2] polyanions from three- to two-dimensional, leading to significantly increased moisture sensitivity. Temperature dependent magnetic susceptibility studies reveal Pauli paramagnetism for SrRhPb2, SrPtPb2, BaPdPb2 and BaPtPb2. EuRhPb2 and EuPdPb2 are Curie–Weiss paramagnets with stable divalent europium as is also evident from 151Eu Mössbauer spectra. EuRhPb2 is a ferromagnet with T
C = 17.7(2) K, while EuPdPb2 orders antiferromagnetically at T
N = 15.9 K. This is in agreement with the full magnetic hyperfine field splitting of the 151Eu Mössbauer spectra at T = 6 K.
Modulation of antibiotic resistance by the essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum L. in association with light-emitting diodes (LED) lights
Authors: Silva Leandro Maria Karollyna do N. , Rocha Janaína E. , Bezerra Camila F. , Freitas Priscilla R. , Feitosa Jessica Horana F. , Bezerra Viviane B. , Barros Rizelle de O. , Leandro Livia Maria G. , Aguiar José Junior dos S. , Pereira Paulo S. , Christofoli Marcela , Ribeiro-Filho Jaime , Iriti Marcello , Coutinho Henrique Douglas M. , Matias Edinardo Fagner F.
Published: July 2020

This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial and antibiotic-enhancing effects of the essential oil obtained from Ocimum gratissimum L. (OEOg) alone or in association with light-emitting diodes (LED) lights. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and its chemical composition analysed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The antibacterial and antibiotic-enhancing activities against multiresistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were evaluated by the gaseous contact method. The analysis of the photoinductive effect on the antibacterial activity of the OEOg and antibiotics was assessed through exposure to different LED lights (red, blue and yellow). The phytochemical analysis identified five compounds, including eugenol, as the major constituent. The OEOg caused a significant inhibition of the halo, indicating a direct antibacterial effect. Exposure to the LED lights significantly enhanced the activity of the OEOg against E. coli. On the other hand, the action of the essential oil against S. aureus was enhanced by exposure to both blue and yellow lights. The effects of LED light exposure on the activity of conventional antibiotics varied significantly according to the drug and the bacterial strain. However, most combinations of LED lights and the OEOg presented synergistic effects against resistant bacterial strains, indicating enhanced antibacterial activity. Thus, these in vitro findings suggest that both OEOg and LED lights have promising antibacterial effects. Nevertheless, further research is required to evaluate in vivo the potential of these therapies for the treatment of infectious skin diseases.
Topiroxostat ameliorates oxidative stress and inflammation in sepsis-induced lung injury
Authors: Fu Haiying , Zhang Junjie , Huang Mayu
Published: July 2020

Sepsis-induced lung injury was the most common cause of death in patients. Topiroxostat, a novel xanthine oxidoreductase inhibitors, possessed obvious organ protectives effects. Xanthine oxidase played a vital role in acute lung injury. The study aimed to investigate the roles of Topiroxostat in sepsis-induced lung injury. The sepsis rats were established using cecum ligation and perforation. The lung damage induced by sepsis was evaluated by Hematoxylin and Eosin staining and lung tissue wet to dry ratio. The oxidative stress was detected by measurement of reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase and superoxide dismutase (SOD). The pro-inflammatory mediators, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and monocyte chemotactic protein 1, were measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. The cell apoptosis in lung was detected by TUNNEL staining and western blot analysis of apoptosis-related proteins including pro-apoptosis proteins, Bax, cleaved caspase9, cleaved caspase3 and anti-apoptosis protein Bcl2. The results showed that Topiroxostat significantly reduced lung damage, along with decreased oxidative stress, inflammation response and apoptosis in sepsis rats. Topiroxostat exerted markedly protective effects in sepsis-induced lung injury and could be an antioxidant in treating sepsis-induced lung injury.
Beteiligung von Analysten und Erstellung von Research-Berichten im Rahmen von Börsengängen im Spannungsfeld von Regulierung und Markterwartungen
Authors: Meyer Andreas
Published: July 2020

Seit dem IPO-Boom im Zuge der New-Economy-Euphorie in den späten 1990er und frühen 2000er Jahren war die Rolle von Analysten und den von ihnen erstellten sog. Research-Berichten bei Börsengängen (IPOs) immer wieder Gegenstand der öffentlichen Diskussion. Dabei werden eine Vielzahl unterschiedlicher Themen erörtert. Das Spektrum reicht vom Zugang der Anleger zu Research-Berichten über die Unabhängigkeit der Analysten bis hin zur Frage der Integration von Analysten in den Transaktionsprozess. Standen in den frühen 2000er Jahren Fehlentwicklungen in den USA und die Reaktion von Gesetzgeber und Aufsichtsbehörden im Vordergrund, wurden in den letzten Jahren die rechtlichen Rahmenbedingungen für Research in Europa wiederholt neu geregelt – zuletzt in der Marktmissbrauchsverordnung (MAR) und in der überarbeiteten Finanzmarktrichtlinie (MiFID II). Dabei spielten die Besonderheiten von Börsengängen indes keine entscheidende Rolle. Dazu hat jedoch die britische Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) besondere Regeln für den britischen Markt eingeführt. Die Rahmenbedingungen von IPO-Research sind also von einem zersplitterten Regelwerk geprägt, tradierte Usancen der internationalen Marktpraxis kommen hinzu. Der folgende Beitrag unternimmt den Versuch, einen Überblick über diese Vorgaben zu schaffen sowie Herausforderungen und Trends aufzuzeigen.
Journalism teaching and experiential learning
Authors: Kartveit Kate
Published: July 2020

TV-journalism can never be thought successfully entirely on a theoretical basis. The students must experience the professions challenges and difficulties by exercising and experiencing the TV-journalistic methods, TV-tools and TVaesthetics in practice in order to achieve skills within TV-journalism. The article discusses how Kolb’s learning circle successfully provides a pedagogic approach in practical journalism learning and teaching. Kolb experiential learning theory says that ideally the learning process represents a learning cycle or spiral where the learner touches four bases in process, that means a cycle of experiencing, reflecting, thinking, and acting. Kolb describes four different learning styles or learning preferences. This refers to four different ways of experiencing the learning process. Every learner has a preference to learn in different ways andthe learning circle offers the learners to fulfil the learning process no matter what starting point the learner prefers. This approach focuses on journalism training as growing a person from the inside, whereas conventional teaching and training is the transfer of capability into a person from the outside.
Keywords: coaching, conventional learning, David A. Kolb, Experience Based Learning Systems, Experiential Learning Theory, International TV-program, journalism studies, learning cycle, learning process, pedagogical approach, TV-journalism.
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Collective memory as a resource in Russian information warfare against Latvia
Authors: Krēķis Jānis
Published: July 2020

The paper analyses articles from the Russian language news­paper “Vesti Segodnya”, which are devoted to the war in Ukraine. The paper consists of two parts. The first part of this paper explains how the conceptu­alization of the information warfare has evolved during the second half of the 20th century and how the term “information warfare” is defined in Rus­sia. Then, by looking at the theoretical foundations of collective memory, it demonstrates how collective memory has been incorporated into news stories to create resonance with current events in Ukraine. It is concluded that the usage of collective memory can be identified in articles devoted to the war in Ukraine to resonate with conflict in eastern Ukraine.
Background and Proposed Design for a Metformin Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Suppression Trial
Authors: Dalman Ronald L , Lu Ying , Mahaffey Kenneth W , Chase Amanda J , Stern Jordan R , Chang Robert W
Published: July 2020

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) may lead to rupture and death if left untreated. While endovascular or surgical repair is generally recommended for AAA greater than 5–5.5 cm, the vast majority of aneurysms detected by screening modalities are smaller than this threshold. Once discovered, there would be a significant potential benefit in suppressing the growth of these small aneurysms in order to obviate the need for repair and mitigate rupture risk. Patients with diabetes, in particular those taking the oral hypoglycaemic medication metformin, have been shown to have lower incidence, growth rate, and rupture risk of AAA. Metformin therefore represents a widely available, non-toxic, potential inhibitor of AAA growth, but thus far no prospective clinical studies have evaluated this. Here, we present the background, rationale, and design for a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of metformin for growth suppression in patients with small AAA.
Antibacterial Potential of Six Lichen Species against Enterococcus durans from Leather Industry
Authors: Berber Didem , Türkmenoğlu İpek , Sesal Nüzhet Cenk
Published: July 2020

Antibacterial resistant bacteria are a significant problem in the hide or skin soaking process due to their destructive properties on finished leather. Lichens may be a solution to overcome this resistance problem.Enterococcus durans(99.86%) was isolated from soak liquor samples. For screening of possible antibacterial effects of lichen acetone extracts, six lichen species (Hypogymnia tubulosa,H. physodes,Evernia divaricata, Pseudevernia furfuracea, Parmelia sulcataandUsneasp.) were examined by nine-fold dilution againstE. durans.H. tubulosa,H. physodesandE. divaricataextracts showed antibacterial effects at the concentrations of 240 μg ml−1, 120 μg ml−1and 60 μg ml−1whereas the extracts ofP. furfuraceahad an antibacterial effect at 240 μg ml−1and 120 μg ml−1. On the other hand,P. sulcatahad no antibacterial effect. The most successful lichen extract was determined to beUsneasp. at the concentrations of 240 μg ml−1, 120 μg ml−1, 60 μg ml−1, 30 μg ml−1and 15 μg ml−1. In conclusion, lichen extracts seem to have potential antibacterial efficacies againstE. durans.
Utilidad percibida de los mapas conceptuales por estudiantes de educación superior
Authors: Chambi Mescco Edith
Published: July 2020

El presente estudio tuvo como propósito identificar la utilidad de los mapas conceptuales que perciben los estudiantes de primer ciclo de estudios generales de una universidad pública peruana. Los estudiantes elaboraron diversos mapas conceptuales para representar su comprensión conceptual a través del programa Cmap Tools. La metodología de este estudio corresponde al enfoque cuantitativo, por lo que se aplicó el Concept Mapping Questionnaire (CMQ), en su versión en español, a 70 estudiantes matriculados en el periodo académico 2019-I. Los resultados muestran que la mayor parte de los estudiantes consideran que los mapas conceptuales son útiles en alguna y gran medida, principalmente porque les ha ayudado a aclarar las interrelaciones que hay entre los contenidos de la asignatura, a pensar de forma independiente y a comprender mejor sus aprendizajes.
Generalized mathematical model of cancer heterogeneity v1
Authors: Naito Motohiko
Published: July 2020

The number of reports on mathematical modeling related to oncology is increasing with advances in oncology. Even though the field of oncology has developed significantly over the years, oncology-related experiments remain limited in their ability to examine cancer. To overcome this limitation, in this study, a stochastic process was incorporated into conventional cancer growth properties to obtain a generalized mathematical model of cancer growth. Further, an expression for the violation of symmetry by cancer clones that leads to cancer heterogeneity was derived by solving a stochastic differential equation. Monte Carlo simulations of the solution to the derived equation validate the theories formulated in this study. These findings are expected to provide a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of cancer growth, with Monte Carlo simulation having the potential of being a useful tool for oncologists.
A conditional heteroscedastic VaR approach with alternative distributions
Authors: Serrano Bautista Ramona , Mata Mata Leovardo
Published: July 2020

Objective: The purpose of this paper is to explored different distributions in conditional Value at Risk (VaR) modeling as an option in the Mexican market.
Methodology: We estimate a GARCH model under the Gaussian, Normal Inverse Gaussian, Skew Generalized t and the Stable distribution assumption, then we implement the model in predicting one-day ahead VaR and finally we examine the performance among the four VaR models during a period of high volatility.
 
Results: The backtesting result confirms that the stable-VaR approach outperforms the other models in the VaR’s prediction at 99% confidence level.
Limitations: Although the VaR is a widely used risk measure is not a coherent risk measure, for this reason, a natural extension of our work should be to estimate the expected shortfall and this may produce different insights.
Conclusions: Our findings reveal that models that consider some empirical characteristic of financial returns such as leptokurtic, volatility clustering and asymmetry improve the VaR predicting capacity. This finding is important in the search of more robust approaches for VaR estimates.
 

Recepción: 09/08/2018
Aceptación: 31/10/2019
Optimization of Magnetic Properties of Magnetic Microwires by Post-Processing
Authors: Zhukova Valentina , Corte-León Paula , Gonzalez-Legarreta Lorena , Talaat Ahmed , Blanco Juan Maria , Ipatov Mihail , Olivera Jesus , Zhukov Arcady
Published: July 2020

The influence of post-processing conditions on the magnetic properties of amorphous and nanocrystalline microwires have been thoroughly analyzed, paying attention on the influence of magnetoelastic, induced and magnetocrystalline anisotropies on the hysteresis loops of Fe-, Ni- and Co-rich microwires. We showed that magnetic properties of glass-coated microwires can be tuned by the selection of appropriate chemical composition and geometry in as-prepared state or further considerably modified by appropriate post-processing, which consists of either annealing or glass-coated removal. Furthermore, stress-annealing or Joule heating can further effectively modify the magnetic properties of amorphous magnetic microwires owing to induced magnetic anisotropy. Devitrification of microwires can be useful for either magnetic softening or magnetic hardening of the microwires. Depending on the chemical composition of the metallic nucleus and on structural features (grain size, precipitating phases) nanocrystalline microwires can exhibit either soft magnetic properties or semi-hard magnetic properties. We demonstrated that the microwires with coercivities from 1 A/m to 40 kA/m can be prepared.
The Uncertainties Underlying Herd Immunity against COVID-19
Authors: Rahimi Farid , Talebi Bezmin Abadi Amin
Published: July 2020

Herd immunity happens when a relatively large proportion of a population becomes infected by an agent, subsequently recovers, and attains immunity against the same agent. That proportion thus indirectly protects the naïve population by preventing the spread of the infection. Herd immunity has been suggested to interrupt and control the COVID-19 pandemic. However, relying on establishing herd immunity can be catastrophic considering the virulence and lethality of SARS-CoV-2. Meanwhile our understanding of the pathogenesis, case-fatality rate, transmission routes, and antiviral therapy for COVID-19 remains limited now. Interrupting or slowing the COVID-19 transmission seems more opportune than vaccination, antiviral therapy, or herd immunity, all of which will take some time to yield. Thus, social distancing, face-masking, and hygiene are the most appropriate immediate countermeasures. Because the social fabrics, economic implications, and local demands of various nations are unique, early relaxation of restrictions may seem hasty particularly when fatality rates are high, or when the healthcare systems could be inadequate or become inundated. Conclusively, avoiding any overwhelmingly risky approach in fighting the pandemic is prudent.
The nature and kinetics of 2,4-dimethylphenol adsorption in aqueous solution on biochar derived from Sargassum boveanum macroalgae
Authors: Nazal Mazen K. , Rao Durga , Abuzaid Nabeel
Published: July 2020

Many industries produce 2,4-dimethylphenol (DMP) compound in the wastewater which is persistent, toxic, and carcinogenic. Therefore, an adsorbent was prepared by carbonizing a dried Sargassum boveanum macroalgae. The prepared biosorbent was investigated for adsorptive removal of DMP from aqueous solution. After carbonization, the biochar derived from S. boveanum macroalgae (BCM) removed almost 100% of DMP adsorbate. Effects of contact time, solution pH, adsorbate concentration, adsorbent mass, and temperature have been studied. It has been found that, within the experimental conditions, the maximum adsorption capacity is 17 mg/g, rate of adsorption follows pseudo-second order kinetics and the adsorption isotherm experimental data fit the Freundlich model. The thermodynamic parameters were calculated and it has been found that the adsorption of DMP on BCM is endothermic and thermodynamically favorable, and in addition the surface of BCM adsorbent shows affinity to the DMP molecules. The BCM adsorbent has the capability to remove around 65% of DMP from high saline seawater contaminated with DMP. Moreover, the prepared BCM adsorbent was reusable for at least four times in seawater for removal of DMP contaminant.
AÇÕES DE EDUCAÇÃO ALIMENTAR E NUTRICIONAL COM GRUPOS EM VULNERABILIDADE SOCIAL: RELATO DE EXPERIÊNCIA
Authors: Testoni Chaves Pereira Nadia Cristina , Hüther da Costa Kelly , Kaio Silva Nunes Ruan , Larissa Borges Patricia , Do Nascimento Albuquerque Ivana , Barth Almeida Elisabeth , Reiser Guedes Mariana , Henn Rosana
Published: July 2020

Introdução: O aumento da incidência de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis evidencia a necessidade de ações educativas que promovam melhora na qualidade de vida, diminuição da insegurança alimentar e prevenção de agravos nutricionais. Objetivo: Estimular a adoção de hábitos alimentares saudáveis e transmitir demais informações relevantes para a autonomia alimentar. Metodologia: O projeto de extensão vinculado ao curso de Nutrição promoveu aplicação de oficinas no decorrer do ano de 2019, realizadas por acadêmicos supervisionados por professores. Os beneficiados foram frequentadores do Centro de Arte e Lazer e Centro de Referência de Assistência Social do município de Itajaí-SC, sendo estes idosos e indivíduos em vulnerabilidade social, respectivamente. Contaram com participação de acadêmicos bolsistas, voluntários e estagiários de Nutrição em Saúde Coletiva, proporcionando a interface ensino e extensão. Os temas abordados foram adaptados de acordo com as demandas de cada local e público específico. Resultados: As oficinas desenvolvidas neste projeto oportunizaram a vivência de educação alimentar e nutricional a acadêmicos de nutrição, proporcionando ampliação do conhecimento teórico e prático obtido na Universidade com troca de experiências com a comunidade. Conclusão: A oportunidade de atuação em uma extensão universitária proporciona experiências únicas que não são adquiridas dentro da sala de aula. Ela estreita os laços entre universitários e a comunidade, tornando os acadêmicos profissionais aptos a praticar a empatia e sensibilidade social, tão importante ao profissional da saúde. Ainda, favorece a autonomia do indivíduo em relação a alimentação saudável e melhora da qualidade de vida. 

Palavras-Chave: Extensão Comunitária; Educação Alimentar e Nutricional; Vulnerabilidade Social.
Heterologous Expression and Characterization of Flavinadenine Dinucleotide Synthetase from Candida famata for Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide Production
Authors: Zhou Guoqiang , Pan Qiaoqiao , Hu Zeyu , Qiu Juanping , Yu Zhiliang
Published: July 2020

Background:

Flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) is a redox-active coenzyme that regulates
several important enzymatic reactions during metabolism. FAD is used in the medicinal and
food industries and FAD supplements have been used to treat some inheritable diseases. FAD can
be biosynthesized from flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP), catalyzed
by FAD synthetase (FADS).

Objective:

The aim of this study was to heterologously express the gene encoding FADS from the
flavinogenic yeast Candida famata (FADSCf) for biosynthesis of FAD.

Methods:

The sequence encoding FADSCf was retrieved and heterologously expressed in
Escherichia coli. The structure and enzymatic properties of recombinant FADSCf were characterized.

Results:

FADSCf (279 amino acids) was successfully expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3), with a theoretical
molecular weight of 32299.79 Da and an isoelectric point of 6.09. Secondary structural analysis
showed that the number of α-helices was 2-fold higher than the number of β-sheets, indicating
that the protein was highly hydrophilic. Under fixed ATP concentration, FADSCf had a Km of
0.04737±0.03158 mM and a Vmax of 3.271±0.79 μM/min/mg. Under fixed FMN concentration,
FADSCf had a Km of 0.1214±0.07464 mM and a Vmax of 2.6695±0.3715 μM/min/mg. Enzymatic reactions
in vitro showed that expressed FADSCf could form 80 mM of FAD per mg of enzyme after
21 hours under the following conditions: 0.5 mM FMN, 5 mM ATP and 10 mM Mg2+.

Conclusion:

Under optimized conditions (0.5 mM FMN, 5 mM ATP and 10 mM Mg2+), the production
of FAD reached 80 mM per mg of FADSCf after a 21-hour reaction. Our results indicate
that purified recombinant FADSCf can be used for the biosynthesis of FAD.
Research Progress of Ring-opening Polymerization of ε-caprolactone Initiated by Degradable Biopolymers
Authors: Li Fenghong , Shi Yan , Li Pengzhen , Jiang Tianci
Published: July 2020

The article reviews the research progress in the preparation of polycaprolactone
through the ring-opening polymerization of ε-caprolactone initiated by biopolymers in recent
years. The structure characteristics of starch, cellulose, chitosan, polyhydroxyalkanoates,
and polylactic acid, the reaction mechanism, the preparation method, and the application
of ε-caprolactone are introduced. Finally, the future development of new polycaprolactone
copolymers is prospected.
Developmental Strategies of Curcumin Solid Dispersions for Enhancing Bioavailability
Authors: Tran Phuong H.L. , Tran Thao T.D.
Published: July 2020

Background:

Although curcumin has been demonstrated to be beneficial in treating various diseases,
its low solubility, chemical stability and bioavailability limit its application, especially in cancer therapy.

Methods:

Solid dispersions have been utilized in the last few decades to improve the bioavailability and stability
of curcumin.

Results:

However, there is a lack of summaries and classifications of the methods for preparing curcumin with
this technology. The current review aims to overview the strategies used to develop solid dispersions containing
curcumin for improving drug delivery. The classification of techniques for creating solid dispersions for curcumin
was summarized, including systems for protecting curcumin degradation despite its chemical stability. The
applications of advanced nanotechnologies in recent studies of solid dispersions were also discussed to explain
the roles of nanoparticles in formulations.

Conclusion:

This overview of recent developments in formulating solid dispersions for improving curcumin
bioavailability will contribute to future studies of curcumin for clinical development.
COVID-19 and the impact of virtual social networks: knowledge transfer or public panic (Preprint)
Authors: Pourmohammadi Kimia , Hakimzadeh Seyyed , Bastani Pivand
Published: July 2020

BACKGROUND

Under these circumstances, social media is constantly covering the news and the related information via films, voices, clips, and texts; however, these reports are sometimes challenging outbreak response efforts. For instance, the misinformation and conspiracy theories spread via social media have generated panic and mistrust among the general public, diverted attention away from the outbreak response, and impeded the activities of health-care workers (6). Another evidence shows that many public safety agencies and organizations face the challenge of reducing the spread of false information distributed via social media (9).
Accordingly, the aim of this study was to analyze the contents of information shared via virtual social media over the three weeks since the formal confirmation of COVID-19 outbreak in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

OBJECTIVE

According to the effective role of social media in communicating risk information to the public, the aim of this study was to analyze the contents of information shared via virtual social media over the three weeks since the formal confirmation of COVID-19 outbreak in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

METHODS

This qualitative discourse analysis was conducted on the contents of three more common virtual social networks (Instagram, WhatsApp, and Telegram) from Feb20 to March 11, 2020 in Iran. Four steps of defining the research question and selecting the content of analysis, gathering information and theory on the context, analyzing the content for themes and patterns and reviewing the results and drawing conclusions were conducted.

RESULTS

Based on the results, the contents of social media in the analysis duration were allocated four main categories related to the COVID-19 outbreak including political, social, health, and economic issues

CONCLUSIONS

It seems that all three social Medias have an effective role to share public information, especially those that are related to the public health and health education but at the same time, the analyzed social media have created the sense of panic and fear, particularly in the scopes of social, economic, and political issues.
THE EFFECT OF PROJECT BASED LEARNING TO THE STUDENTS’ SPEAKING ABILITY
Authors: Mafruudloh Naajihah , Fitriati Rahima
Published: July 2020

Project based learning (PBL) is an appropriate and applicable learning method in all levels of education. In this method, the lecturer acts as a facilitator or the one who takes a main role in teaching and learning process. The aim of PBL is to solve problems and develop students’ critical thinking. It also encouraged the students’ way of thinking in doing or creating something.  This method was implemented in English for Management class at. It was expected to make the students to be more creative facilitated by a discussion, sharing, and collaboration work. The aim of this study was to describe the implementation of PBL in non-English department class (Management department class) and to know the effect of PBL in students’ speaking ability. There were 25 students selected as the sample. The methodology used pre-experimental design. Data were collected by observation to answer the first research question and test to answer the second research question. The acquired quantitative data were analysed statistically by paired sample T-test. The research found a significant effect of PBL to the students’ speaking ability. It was also an effective methodology in teaching speaking because it made the students to be more active and innovative in doing the task and joining the class.  Thus, it is strongly recommended to apply this teaching method in speaking class as an alternative way to improve students’ speaking competency.
Phrasal Verbs in Learner English: A Corpus-based Study of Lithuanian and Polish Learners of English
Authors: Garbatovič Božena , Grigaliūnienė Jonė
Published: July 2020

Phrasal verbs, though very common in the English language, are acknowledged as difficult to acquire by non-native learners of English. The present study examines this issue focusing on two learner groups from different mother tongue backgrounds, i.e. Lithuanian and Polish advanced students of English. The analysis is conducted based on Granger’s (1996) Contrastive Interlanguage Analysis methodology, investigating the Lithuanian and Polish components of the International Corpus of Learner English, as well as the Louvain Corpus of Native English Essays. The results obtained in the study prove that both learner groups underuse phrasal verbs compared with native English speakers. It is concluded that this could be due to the learners’ limited repertoire of phrasal verbs as they employ significantly fewer phrasalverb types than native speakers. Furthermore, it is noticed that learners face similar stylistic, semantic and syntactic difficulties in the use of this language feature. In particular, the analysis shows that such errors might be caused by native language interference, as well as the inherent complexity of phrasal verbs. The present study not only helps to account for the challenges that are common to those language groups which lack phrasal verbs in their linguistic repository, but also provides insights into the understanding of advanced learner language.
English-Latvian Dictionaries in the Age of Electronic Lexicography
Authors: Karpinska Laura
Published: July 2020

In the 21st century the advantages of electronic dictionaries have been widely acknowledged. Electronic dictionaries form an important branch of contemporary lexicography, however, in general English-Latvian lexicography print dictionaries still outnumber the electronic ones since there is only one large English-Latvian dictionary with complex microstructure and two differing user interfaces that is available in the electronic medium. The aim of the study is to analyse the major general English-Latvian electronic dictionary, determine its type and assess the compliance of this dictionary with the standards of contemporary electronic lexicography. The analysis focuses on the evaluation of dictionary microstructure, the accessibility of information, the adaptability of user interface, the use of dictionary-internal and external links and the sources of lexicographical data in the general English-Latvian electronic dictionary. The analysis reveals that even though the microstructure of the electronic dictionary is essentially based on a print dictionary, it has been supplemented by information from various other sources. The dictionary applies some innovative features of contemporary electronic lexicography, but various improvements related to the presentation of some metalinguistic elements, unity of microstructure, diversity of search options, use of dictionary-internal and external links, application of corpus data and multimodality would be necessary to enhance its correspondence to the standards of contemporary electronic lexicography.
Industria relacional y economía de la contribución
Authors: Paláu Castaño Luis Alfonso
Published: July 2020

Bernard Stiegler

«La transformación de los modos de vida que se puso en funcionamiento desde comienzos del siglo XX con las public relations, que debían conducir a lo que luego de la Segunda Guerra Mundial se llamó marketing, constituirá una verdadera factura de las existencias individuales y colectivas por parte de las industrias de servicios, cuyas primeras y principales fueron las industrias culturales.»
Long-term Cost-Effectiveness of Dexcom G6 Real-time Continuous Glucose Monitoring Versus Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes in the U.K.
Authors: Roze Stéphane , Isitt John , Smith-Palmer Jayne , Javanbakht Mehdi , Lynch Peter
Published: July 2020

OBJECTIVE

A long-term health economic analysis was performed to establish the cost-effectiveness of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (RT-CGM) (Dexcom G6) versus self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) alone in U.K.-based patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

The analysis used the IQVIA CORE Diabetes Model. Clinical input data were sourced from the DIAMOND trial in adults with T1D. Simulations were performed separately in the overall population of patients with baseline HbA1c ≥7.5% (58 mmol/mol), and a secondary analysis was performed in patients with baseline HbA1c ≥8.5% (69 mmol/mol). The analysis was performed from the National Health Service health care payer perspective over a lifetime time horizon.

RESULTS

In the overall population, G6 RT-CGM was associated with a mean incremental gain in quality-adjusted life expectancy of 1.49 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) versus SMBG (mean [SD] 11.47 [2.04] QALYs versus 9.99 [1.84] QALYs). Total mean (SD) lifetime costs were also pounds sterling (GBP) 14,234 higher with RT-CGM (GBP 102,468 [35,681] versus GBP 88,234 [39,027]) resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of GBP 9,558 per QALY gained. Sensitivity analyses revealed that the findings were sensitive to changes in the quality-of-life benefit associated with reduced fear of hypoglycemia and avoidance of fingerstick testing as well as the HbA1c benefit associated with RT-CGM use.

CONCLUSIONS

For U.K.-based T1D patients, the G6 RT-CGM device is associated with significant improvements in clinical outcomes and, over patient lifetimes, is a cost-effective disease management option relative to SMBG on the basis of a willingness-to-pay threshold of GBP 20,000 per QALY gained.
A Case Study On Predicting The Environmental Impacts Of Untreated Effluent Generated From Tannery Industrial Estate In Dhaka, Bangladesh
Authors: Masum Shakil A. , Islam Md. Sultanul
Published: July 2020

Significant amounts of heavy metals in the directly discharged wastewater released from the newly built tannery industrial site in Dhaka, Bangladesh are reported. Despite their detrimental impacts on public health and natural ecosystem, no environmental impact study is yet conducted. Therefore, information on safe discharge rates are not available. In this study, the extent of pollution around the industrial site is investigated for four representative trace metals. Temporal and spatial distributions of chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) have been predicted using a numerical model with the aim to estimate safe discharge of these metal contaminants. From multiple simulation runs it has been estimated that a discharge of0.026 m3 of wastewater per day can lead to high levels of Cr and Pb accumulation, exceeding the regulatory standard limits, in the study area. Whilst As and Cd concentrations remain below the advised limits in most cases at this rate. However, an order of magnitude reduction in the total discharge rate, i.e.,0.0026 m3 per day, results into the metal accumulation below the recommended guidelines in all cases. Elevated concentration of Pb is found to be limited to the top 0.5 m of the soil as compared to Cr, As and Cd, which exhibit larger spread along the depth of the soil. The relative dominance of the metal contamination follows the sequence: Pb>Cr>As>Cd as sorbed concentration in soil aggregates and Cr>Pb>As>Cd as aqueous concentration in soil porewater. Further investigations that are essential for a comprehensive environmental impact assessment have been highlighted.
Phytochemical Analysis and Efficacy Of Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis) and Mint (Mentha Spicata) Extracts Against Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera Frugiperda) on Baby Corn (Zea Mays)
Authors: Kalinda Redempta S. , Rioba Naomi B.
Published: July 2020

Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda, J.E. Smith) is a pest with devasting effects on maize. A laboratory biassay was conducted to analyse the phytochemicals and determine the efficacy of M. spicata and R. officinalis extracts on FAW. Treatments were laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 3 replications. The factors included solvent [Methanol (Me), dichloromethane (DCM), distilled water (Di)] and the plant species (M. spicata and R. officinalis). Coragen SC 200 (Co) and Distilled water (Di) were the positive and negative controls, respectively. FAW rearing, plant extract preparation and phytochemical screening were done using standard procedure. Data collection and analysis was done using standard procedures. The extract yield was highest for R. officinalis regardless of the solvent used. Me-R. officinalis and Di-M. spicata extracts yielded the highest. Saponins, glycosides, alkaloid, flavonoids and tannins. Flavonoid contents were 7.9036 mg/mL and 6.0073 ± 0.6117 mg/mL in methanolic extract of M. spicata and R. officinalis, respectively. M. spicatha and R. officinalis extracts caused 100% mortality to 3rd instar larvae. Based on the findings, both M. spicata and R. officinalis have several secondary metabolites that confer insecticidal activity of the plants against FAW, hence should be evaluated under field conditions.
No significant risk of hematological malignancy in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1: single center study of children and adults
Authors: Marjańska Agata , Styczyński Jan , Jatczak-Gaca Agnieszka , Wysocki Mariusz
Published: July 2020

Background/Aim

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is characterized by the occurrence of multisystem tumors. The objective of this study was to analyze the demographic and oncological profile of 830 NF1-individuals regarding prevalence, type, and spectrum of malignancy.

Patients and methods

The medical records of patients diagnosed with NF1 with a median age of 22.1 years (range: 0.8–81.6 years) who were followed up for malignancies from 1999 to 2018 were retrospectively reviewed.

Results

The prevalence of malignancy occurring in patients diagnosed with NF1 was 34.8% (289/830). The most common types of neoplasia encompassed tumors strictly associated with NF1, including plexiform neurofibromas (PNF; 200/830; 24.1%) and optic pathway gliomas (91/830; 11%). The prevalence of PNFs-transforming to malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNST) was 3.5% (7/200). The prevalence of other tumors was 4.8% (40/830). One patient was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), thus the risk of hematological malignancies among all patients with NF1 was 0.1% (1/830). In the population of patients with malignancies, 43/289 (14.9%) individuals were diagnosed with more than one malignancy.

Conclusions

The odds ratio (OR) of malignancy in a studied cohort of patients with NF1 was 23 (p < 0.001), while the OR of hematological malignancy was 5.1 (p = 0.1) in comparison with the general population.
Contribution of fruit, vegetables, whole cereals, and legumes to total fibre intake in adult Croatian Dalmatian population
Authors: Sarić Marijana Matek , Ljubičić Marija , Lapčić Ivana , Guiné Raquel Pinho Ferreira
Published: July 2020

There is compelling evidence that fruit, vegetables, whole cereals, and legumes make about 80 % of the total food fibre intake and have a potential to help in the prevention of a number of diseases. The aim of our study was to estimate total fibre intake from consumption of this fibre-rich food, partly reported in our earlier study in Croatian adult population. Current data analysis involved a non-probabilistic sample of 1,034 adult participants from Dalmatia, Croatia who responded to a validated food frequency questionnaire between October 2014 and March 2015. We also analysed the sales data obtained from three shopping centres in the Zadar area (Croatian coast) to establish a list of most frequently bought fruit, vegetables, whole cereals, and legumes and to calculate dietary fibre (DF) intake for each of the top-selling items and conversion factors for each food group. We then used these conversion factors to calculate individual total fibre intake (TFI) in our population. It was 11.4 g per person per day, which is less than half the recommended dietary requirements. On average, respondents reported to consume one piece of fruit and one meal of vegetables a day, which is less than half the daily recommendation for either. 25.8 % of respondents reported no consumption of whole cereals at all, and only 0.2 % of the population consumed the recommended 3–5 servings of whole grains or legumes a day. We also observed significantly higher consumption of fruit and whole grains/legumes in women than men. Our findings alert to poor dietary fibre intake in Croatian adult population, which is similar to other western countries and points to issues deeply rooted in these economies. However, our findings may be either an over- or under-estimation and need to be verified through longitudinal research on a wider sample using more precise tools.
Two equal collinear cracks in magneto-electro-elastic materials: A study of electric and magnetic poling influences
Authors: Jangid Kamlesh
Published: July 2020

In this paper, the problem of two equal collinear cracks is analytically studied for two-dimensional (2D) arbitrarily polarized magneto-electro-elastic materials. The electric and magnetic poling directions make arbitrary angles with the crack line. The Stroh's formalism and complex variable methodology is utilized to reduce the problem into non-homogeneous Riemann Hilbert problem. This numerical problem is then comprehended with the Riemann Hilbert way to obtain the intensity factors for stress, electric displacement and magnetic induction. A numerical contextual analysis is displayed for the BaTiO
3 – CoFe
2
O
4 composite. The numerical examination demonstrates that the change in electric/magnetic poling directions influences the intensity factors.
A modified invariant subspace method for solving partial differential equations with non-singular kernel fractional derivatives
Authors: Touchent Kamal Ait , Hammouch Zakia , Mekkaoui Toufik
Published: July 2020

In this work, the well known invariant subspace method has been modified and extended to solve some partial differential equations involving Caputo-Fabrizio (CF) or Atangana-Baleanu (AB) fractional derivatives. The exact solutions are obtained by solving the reduced systems of constructed fractional differential equations. The results show that this method is very simple and effective for constructing explicit exact solutions for partial differential equations involving new fractional derivatives with nonlocal and non-singular kernels, such solutions are very useful to validate new numerical methods constructed for solving partial differential equations with CF and AB fractional derivatives.