De Gruyter

The small GTPase Rheb was originally detected as an immediate early response protein whose expression was induced by NMDA-dependent synaptic activity in the brain. Rheb’s activity is highly regulated by its GTPase activating protein (GAP), the tuberous sclerosis complex protein, which stimulates the conversion from the active, GTP-loaded into the inactive, GDP-loaded conformation. Rheb has been established as an evolutionarily conserved molecular switch protein regulating cellular growth, cell volume, cell cycle, autophagy, and amino acid uptake. The subcellular localization of Rheb and its interacting proteins critically regulate its activity and function. In stem cells, constitutive activation of Rheb enhances differentiation at the expense of self-renewal partially explaining the adverse effects of deregulated Rheb in the mammalian brain. In the context of various cellular stress conditions such as oxidative stress, ER-stress, death factor signaling, and cellular aging, Rheb acti...

Two different models allowing the calculation of reaction products are confronted with data from α-particle induced reactions. Both models contain a pre-equilibrium part and an equilibrium or compound nucleus part. The models are the exciton model in form of a code written by the author and TALYS. The other model is the intranuclear cascade model in form of the Liege-Saclay formulation incorporated in the PHITS code. The data are angle-integrated proton spectra from reactions with α-particle energies below 720 MeV and excitation functions from multi neutron emission with α-particle energies below 200 MeV.

Among the classified neglected infectious diseases, the Ebola virus (EboV) remains a challenging epidemic. This deadly virus has been reported as a category A bioweapon organism by the World Health Organization due to the serious threat it poses. To date, Ebola drug discovery proves challenging. Proteins need to be targeted at the relevant biologically active site for drug or inhibitor binding to be effective. Due to insufficient experimental data to confirm the biologically active binding site for novel protein targets, researchers often rely on computational prediction methods to identify binding sites. Many computational studies have attempted to identify the biological active site for EboV proteins, however, the methods employed are not sufficiently validated. This has prompted us to provide a comprehensive molecular understanding of the various targets of the EboV, including three-dimensional structures, active site identification and further validation. Herein we report the ac...

Urbanisation creates challenges and opportunities for wildlife. Globally, small carnivores have colonised urban spaces, but we do not know whether or how sympatric carnivores partition resources in order to co-exist. We studied the diet and degree of dietary overlap of two sympatric herpestid mongooses – yellow, Cynictis penicillata, and slender, Galerella sanguinea mongoose – in a small urban nature area in South Africa. The composition of 2600 yellow and 2000 slender mongoose scats was sampled over a year in an Eco-Estate, where wildlife have contact with humans, and a Nature Estate, where contact is reduced. We analysed the frequency of occurrence of invertebrates, mammals, birds, plants and anthropogenic items in scats. Invertebrates and mammals were most abundant for both species in the Nature Estate and for slender mongoose in the Eco-Estate, while anthropogenic items were more prevalent in yellow mongoose scats in the Eco-Estate. Both species included anthropogenic items in t...

This study investigates the relationships between exports and economic growth in the United Arab Emirates. Understanding these relationships is important for purposes of establishing appropriate growth and development policies and strategies. The study uses an augmented Cobb–Douglas production function to examine the causality between non-oil exports, re-exports and economic growth over the period 1981–2012. To investigate the existence of a long-run relationship between the variables, the study performs the Johansen cointegration test, while the direction of the short-run causality is examined by applying the Granger causality test in a vector error correction model framework. A modified Wald test in an augmented vector autoregressive model is applied in order to find the direction of the long-run causality. This research provides evidence in support of an indirect short-run uni-directional causality from economic growth to re-exports, through physical capital accumulation and impo...

Nowadays, biodiesel is promoted as an alternative and renewable fuel. The mass-transfer limited transesterification reaction is commonly used for biodiesel production, but it could benefit from process intensification technologies. The Simultaneous Mixer-Separator (SMS) is a novel process intensification reactor capable of integrating the mixing and separation of reactants within a single unit. The current study aims to determine the ideal parameters for continuous biodiesel production using an SMS setup that was exclusively designed and fabricated in-home for enhanced biodiesel production. The research statistically analyzed the effect of the space between the rotor and the bottom of reactor (h) (0.7, 1.0, 1.3 cm), the diameter ratio between the rotor and the stator (Dr/Ds) (0.5, 0.7, 0.9), and the frequency of the rotor’s rotary speed (R f ) (20, 40, 60 Hz) on biodiesel yield using the Response Surface Methodology (RSM). Optimal oil to fatty acid methyl ester(FAME) conversion of 9...

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mechanisms of cracking and failure in fiber metal laminates (FMLs) subjected to 3-point bending. Two types of laminates, based on the glass/epoxy and carbon/epoxy composites, were selected for the study. The paper presents the failures of matrix and fibers as well as the effects of different thicknesses of metal layers on the tested laminates. The mechanisms of failure observed for the two tested types of fibers with uniform thickness of aluminum sheets seem similar. The results demonstrate that the tested laminates exhibit the following failure modes: fiber breakage, matrix cracking, fiber/matrix debonding, delamination, and anodic layer failure. Given the behavior of aluminum under the compressive and tensile stresses, the aluminum layer acts as a barrier preventing FML failure during bending. In addition to aluminum layer thickness, the fiber type and composite layer directions are also important factors to be considered.

Due to the benefits of Raman amplifier (RA) for long-haul Ultra Wideband (UW)-WDM optical communications systems, we are studying and investigating how to widen the bandwidth and flatten the gain of RA by testing it in a new wider range of wavelengths (1.4 μm≤1. 1.4 μm≤2. 1.45 μm≤3. 1.65 μm≤4. 1.43 μm≤Different model sizes are used and analyzed to get wider bandwidth and more flat gain.

This study provides econometric evidence about the impact that new chemical entity (NCE) launches had on premature mortality from 17 diseases in 9 Middle Eastern and African countries during the period 2007–2015. The greater the relative number of NCEs for a disease launched in a country, the greater the subsequent relative decline in premature mortality from that disease, controlling for the average rate of mortality decline in each country and from each disease. An 8-year increase in the number of post-1992 NCEs ever launched is estimated to have reduced the number of years of potential life lost before age 75 (YPLL75) in 2015 by 9.5 %. This is approximately half of the 18.9 % reduction in YPLL75, and about one-third of the 29.7 % reduction in the premature mortality rate. In the absence of 8 previous years of NCE launches, 2.80 million additional YPLL before age 75 would have been lost in 2015. Expenditure on new drugs per life-year below age 75 gained in 2015 from the drugs was ...

The weak resonances at + 22 and + 49 ppm appearing in the 31P NMR spectrum of melts or solutions of (PPh)5 that have been attributed previously in the literature to “dimeric” and “monomeric phenylphosphorus” are caused by (PPh)6 and (PPh)4, respectively. This was proved by comparison with the 31P NMR parameters of related compounds and by 31P NMR spectroscopic investigation of authentic samples of (PPh)6 and (PPh)4, the latter of which was prepared in high yield from (Me3Si)PhP–PPh–PPh(SiMe3) and PhPCl2. (PEt)4 and mixed-substituted phenyl-ethyl-cyclotetraphosphanes exhibit similar chemical shifts as (PPh)4, corresponding mixed-substituted cyclohexaphosphanes have similar chemical shifts as (PPh)6. Generally, cyclophosphanes establish an equilibrium between (PR)n-species of different ring-size. Probably, the ring-interconversion proceeds via a multi-center mechanism. No 31P NMR spectroscopic evidence for the existence of free PPh or P2Ph2 under the conditions described could be dete...

In transformers, in addition to the primary and secondary coils, there are several other important components and accessories in which the insulating material is one of the most critical components of a transformer. Sufficient insulation between different active parts are necessary for safe operation. Adequate insulation, it is not only necessary to insulate the coils from each other, or from the core and tank, but also guarantees the safety of the transformer against accidental surges, but with the growth in size and complexity of power stations, transformer is facing insulation problems. The evaluation of the transformer overload capacities certainly leads to complex variables that affect the operating life of the power and distribution transformer. In this study, the long-life calculation is performed on the basis of two experiments, which are related to the insulation degradation of the mineral oil and cellulose paper such as by adding different types of nano-particles to the mi...

Objectives We compared the laboratory and clinical symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), other viral (beside COVID-19), and bacterial conjunctivitis patients with the values of controls. Methods Twenty COVID-19, 15 other viral, 15 bacterial patients, and 15 control group were included in the study. COVID-19 was diagnosed with the real time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction while the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test was used in the detection of other viral agents. Bacterial agents were determined with the detection of the agent. The ophthalmologic examination of all cases was carried out by direct penlight, and the anterior segment evaluation was performed. The laboratory findings of all cases included in the study were obtained from the hospital records. Results It was determined that 5% conjunctivitis and 5% diplopia developed in patients diagnosed with COVID-19, 20% conjunctivitis developed in patients due to other viral agents, and 66.6% conjuncti...

In this experimental investigation the laser surface texturing of tool steel of type 90MnCrV8 has been conducted. The 5-axis highly dynamic laser precision machining centre Lasertec 80 Shape equipped with the nano-second pulsed ytterbium fibre laser and CNC system Siemens 840 D was used. The planar and spherical surfaces first prepared by turning have been textured. The regular array of spherical and ellipsoidal dimples with a different dimensions and different surface density has been created. Laser surface texturing has been realized under different combinations of process parameters: pulse frequency, pulse energy and laser beam scanning speed. The morphological characterization of ablated surfaces has been performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique.The results show limited possibility of ns pulse fibre laser application to generate different surface structures for tribological modification of metallic materials. These structures were obtained by varying the proc...

This paper investigates the nexus between life insurance and suicide behavior by applying semiparametric instrumental variable regressions to OECD cross-country data from 1980 to 2002. The novelty of our analysis lies in the use of cross-country variations in the lengths of the suicide exemption period in policies and foreign market shares in life insurance industries as identifying instruments for life insurance demand. We find that, for the majority of observations, there exists a positive causality from life insurance demand to suicide. This result suggests the existence of adverse selection and moral hazards in life insurance markets in OECD countries.

This paper argues that the concept of dignity should be understood as a concept that we use to describe an aggregate of values and qualities of a person or thing that deserves esteem and respect. The primary value that creates the right to have dignity is life. The degree of dignity a life form has depends on its place in the evolutionary scale. Human beings are the highest form of life so they possess the highest degree of dignity.

The critical energy release rate, defined as G c = 2γ+γ p (where γ is the cohesive energy and γ p is the plastic work), is widely used as a macroscopic fracture criterion. During embrittlement of aluminum by gallium, impurity segregation is localized to a small region along the grain boundary and the bulk plastic properties are unaffected. Yet, the critical energy release rate (which is predominantly described by the plastic work [γ p ] since γ p > > γ) significantly decreases. In this work, we recognize that as the cohesive energy (γ) decreases during corrosion due to an increase in impurity concentration, the stress needed at the notch tip to form the crack decreases, and this, in turn, decreases the plastic work by reducing dislocation emission at the notch tip. We study two different models proposed in the past that can capture this dependence of γ p on γ during liquid metal (Ga) embrittlement of aluminum alloy (Al 7075). The parameters in these models are computed from first principles atomistic calculations and recent experiments. We compare and contrast these models on their ability to describe various aspects of embrittlement such as fracture toughness, K IC , and subcritical value of stress intensity, K Iscc. Extension of the approach to predict threshold fatigue crack initiation in Al7075 is suggested.

MZI switches are well-known devices for high speed communication applications. A lot of researchers have designed MZI switches by using lithium niobate and potassium niobate material. But the major problem of using these type of material includes high insertion losses and required high switching voltage. So, in this research paper we have designed a 2×2 electro-optic switch using optical waveguide designed with Titanium (Ti) diffused in Strontium barium niobate (SBNO3) material which can operate at wavelength of 1.3 um. Results show that the proposed structure gives better output in terms of extinction ratio (=29.9 db) as well as for insertion losses (≤0.018). Further, we have designed various optical gates i. e. XNOR, XOR and AND optical gates and their performance is also evaluated by varying electrode voltages. It is inferred from the results that the proposed model gives better results even in terms of output power which can be used for commercial purpose.

The main objective of this work is to characterize the performance of an interferometric fibre sensor which has been designed in order to register rotational phenomena, both in seismological observatories and engineering constructions. It is based on a well-known Sagnac effect which enables to detect one-axis rotational motions in a direct way and without any reference system. The presented optical fibre sensor – FOSREM allows to measure a component of rotation in a wide range of signal amplitude form 10

2015 is the year that the United Nations has declared as the International Year of Light. Light-based technologies change our economies and lifestyles. They become vital in our daily lives. Also the winners of the latest Nobel Prizes focus on photonics. The Nobel Prize for physics had been awarded to Isamu Akasaki, Hiroshi Amano and Shuji Nakamura who developed the blue LED. Stefan Hell, Eric Betzig and William Moerner won the Nobel Prize for chemistry for super-resolved fluorescence microscopy with a resolution far beyond Abbe's diffraction limit of about half the wavelength (200 nanometers). Pushing optical microscopy into the nanodimension with certain fluorescent molecules, microscopy "turned" into nanoscopy. A resolution below 10 nm has been achieved in fluorescence nanoscopy using visible light. But microscopes and nanoscopes are not just analytical tools. They can also operate as highly precise nanomaching tools with features sizes below 100 nanometers even when operating in the near infrared (NIR). Non-linear optics, in particular multiphoton effects, made that possible. The PhD student and later Nobel Prize Winner Maria Göppert predicted multiphoton effects in the late twenties of the last century. It took about 30 years until the first laser was built to prove her hypothesis by the generation of second harmonic generation (SHG) and two-photon fluorescence in 1961. Again 30 years later the first two-photon laser microscope was built utilizing a femtosecond dye laser. One decade later, multiphoton tomographs became medical devices and the first stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscope was realized. Both systems were based on titanium:sapphire femtosecond laser technology. With the new millennium, femtosecond NIR laser systems became novel micromachining tools in material production and in refractive eye surgery. And within the last 10 years, femtosecond NIR laser technology "turned" micromachining into nanomachining. These novel nonlinear photonic nanoprocessing tools are based on two-photon and STED-lithography as well as on multiphoton ionization and plasma formation. In-bulk nanoprocessing became feasible when using non-ultraviolet (UV) laser radiation. This book refers to the latest developments in laser-produced sub-100 nanometer features, typically with femtosecond NIR laser systems. 15 research groups consisting of engineers and natural scientists describe the basics of femtosecond laser-material interaction and the interior of the novel nanotools. Technical and biomedical applications such as STED-lithography to develop protein nanoanchors, production of ultrathin resists, biochemical sensors and scaffolds, laser-induced periodic nanostructures for friction control in titanium and steel as well as virus-free optical reprogramming of cells are demonstrated. vi | Foreword 1

In this paper, we propose a method to segment the thyroid from a set of 2D ultrasound images. We extended an active contour model in 2D to generate a 3D segmented thyroid volume. First, a preprocessing step is carried out to suppress the noise present in US data. Second, an active contour is used to segment the thyroid in each of the 2D images. Finally, all the segmented thyroid images are passed to a 3D reconstruction algorithm to obtain a 3D model of the thyroid. We obtained an average segmentation accuracy of 86.7% in six datasets with a total of 703 images.

The present paper deals the application of Taguchi method with grey relational analysis to optimize the machining parameters with multiple responses in electrochemical machining (ECM) of Al/B4C metal matrix composites. Experiments were conducted on a Metatech ECM setup and L27 orthogonal array was chosen for the experiments. The electrochemical machining parameters namely applied voltage, feed rate, electrolyte concentration and reinforcement content were optimized based on multiple responses, i.e. material removal rate, surface roughness and radial over cut. The morphology of the machined surfaces was studied with scanning electron micrographs. The optimum machining parameters are calculated by using grey theory and results are compared with ANOVA. The results show that the feed rate and electrolyte concentration are the most significant parameters which affect the multiple machining responses simultaneously. Experimental results show that the responses in ECM can be improved effec...

BSLK Die Bekenntnisschriften der evangelisch-lutherischen Kirche (Los escritos confesionales de Ia Iglesia evangélico-luterana) CA Confessio Augustana can. canon CIC Codex Iuris Canonici COD Conciliorum oecumenicorum decreta CSEL Corpus scriptorum ecclesiasticorum latinorum DH Denzinger-Hünermann: Enchiridion symbolorum DV Vaticano II-"Dei Verbum" DwU Dokumente wachsender Übereinstimmung (Documentos de concordancia progresiva) EEK Evangelischer Erwachsenenkatechismus (VELKD) (Catecismo evangélico para adultos) FC Ep Formula Concordiae, Epitome FC SD Formula Concordiae, Solida Declaratio GA Gemeinsame römisch-katholische/evangelischlutherische Kommission: "Das geistliche Amt in der Kirche"

In this paper we discuss the optical response of laser-written plasmonic colours on silver coated via the atomic layer deposition of alumina. These colours are due to nanoparticles distributed on a flat surface and on a surface with periodic topographical features (i.e. ripples). The colours are observed to shift with increasing alumina film thickness. The colours produced by surfaces with ripples recover their original vibrancy and hue after the deposition of film of thickness ~60 nm, while colours arising from flat surfaces gradually fade and never recover. Analysis of the surfaces identifies periodic topographical features to be responsible for this behaviour. Finite-difference time-domain simulations unravel the role played by the alumina thickness in colour formation and confirm the rotations and recovery of colours for increasing alumina thickness. The coloured surfaces were evaluated for applications in colourimetric and radiometric sensing showing large sensitivities of up t...

Sequence-to-structure relation is one of the major objects of the analysis of protein folding problem. The pair of two small proteins (domains) of similar structure (β-hairpin/α-helix/β-hairpin) generated by the chains of similar length (about 60 amino acids) with very low sequence similarity (15%) is the object of the comparable analysis of 3D structure. The criterion for similarity estimation is the status of polypeptide chain with respect to the hydrophobic core structure. The fuzzy oil drop model is applied to reveal the differentiated status of fragments of the well-defined secondary structure. This analysis allows the interpretation of the structure in other than the geometric form as it is made based on secondary structure classification. The two compared highly similar proteins appear to be different with respect to the hydrophobic core structure.

This qualitative study reports on teachers in the Western Cape as they attempt to embed information literacy in their classrooms. It explores how teachers come to understand information literacy and the extent to which they change their beliefs about guiding research projects in a more concerted way. The research questions were: (1) how do teachers understand information literacy education? (2) how do teachers make their information literacy explicit in the classroom? and (3) at what level are teachers’ web knowledge and skills? The teachers, who were part of an information literacy education course, formed a purposive sample. The data for this study emanated from solicited, reflective journals which participants kept over a period of eight to 10 weeks. Information seeking and use theory and an inquiry-based approach to learning frame this research. Motivation for the study is rooted in a curriculum which embodies information literacy characteristics. Traditionally, information lite...

For regenerative purposes, there is a high demand for viable and active cells. A big issue is to have enough viable cells available at any given time. One solution is cryopreservation. In this context, DMSO is used as cryoprotective agent (CPA) along with fetal bovine serum for nutrient supply and stress shielding effects. To use these cells for human clinical studies, it is important to eliminate the serum to prevent foreign immune reactions and virus transmittance and DMSO for its toxic effect. In this study a serum free cryopreservation solution and protocol has been established. The combination of methylcellulose and poloxamer 188 provide the basis for the new CPA. Other additves are

Annexin A13 is the founder member of the vertebrate family of annexins, which are comprised of a tetrad of unique conserved domains responsible for calcium-dependent binding to membranes. Its expression is restricted to epithelial intestinal and kidney cells. Alternative splicing in the N-terminal region generates two isoforms, A13a and A13b, differing in a deletion of 41 residues in the former. We have confirmed the expression of both isoforms in human colon adenocarcinoma cells at the mRNA and protein levels. We have cloned, expressed, and purified human annexin A13a for the first time to analyze its structural characteristics. Its secondary structure and thermal stability differs greatly from the A13b isoform. The only tryptophan residue (Trp

Plant hormones play important roles in controlling how plants grow and develop. While metabolism provides the energy needed for plant survival, hormones regulate the pace of plant growth. Strigolactones (SLs) were recently defined as new phytohormones that regulate plant metabolism and, in turn, plant growth and development. This group of phytohormones is derived from carotenoids and has been implicated in a wide range of physiological functions including regulation of plant architecture (inhibition of bud outgrowth and shoot branching), photomorphogenesis, seed germination, nodulation, and physiological reactions to abiotic factors. SLs also induce hyphal branching in germinating spores of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), a process that is important for initiating the connection between host plant roots and AMF. This review outlines the physiological roles of SLs and discusses the significance of interactions between SLs and other phytohormones to plant metabolic responses.

In this article, we endeavour to think spatially about the texture of infants’ everyday lives and their ways of ‘doing’ belonging in the babies’ room in an Australian early childhood education and care centre. Drawing on data from a large, multiple case-study project, and on theorisations of space that reject Euclidean notions of space as empty, transparent, relatively inert containers into which people, objects practices and artefacts are inserted, and instead emphasise space as complex, dynamic and relational, we map the navigating movements (Massumi, 2002) of baby Nadia. Through the telling of ‘stories-so-far’ (Massey, 2005), we convey how Nadia, as part of a constellation or assemblage of human and non-human beings, found ways to intensify space and to mobilise new vantage points, thus expanding the spatial possibilities of what we initially took to be a particularly confined and confining space.

We demonstrate yellow laser emission using silicate glass fiber as the gain medium. By employing core pumping using widely available GaN diode lasers with emission at 445 nm, we show that Dy 3+-doped aluminosilicate glass fiber can be readily excited creating sufficient gain at 581 nm. In this proof of concept demonstration, the maximum output power generated was 3 mW with a slope efficiency approximately 1.8% with respect to injected pump. This first in class demonstration opens a new field within fiber laser research.

The research studies were carried out to enhance the incorporation of G. arboreum and G. barbadense genes for disease resistance and quality traits respectively into G. hirsutum through DNA-mediated embryo transformation technique. The self fertilized flower/ovaries of the recipient were injected with the donors DNA solutions irradiated at low doses ie. 2.5 Gy of gamma rays. The result of D 1 and D 2 generation revealed the enhanced incorporation and preservation of the donor parent traits into the recipient. Higher percentage of CLCV resistant plants and plants with increased quality traits were obtained from the irradiation DNA treatments. The transformed genotypes had higher yield and other economic traits better as compared to recipient. Moreover the expression of qualitative traits of the donor i.e. petal spot, pollen colour and flower colours were observed in D 2 generation.

Background Automated unit-dose dispensing system (ADS) of oral solid medication is a complex and sensitive production process in the drug distribution system. Hence, an appropriate training of hospital pharmacy technicians (HPT) is essential. A basic training (observational and practical) of 3 weeks is first organized to evaluate the HPT, followed by an interview with both the pharmacist and the HPT chief. The importance of the human factor (daily routine and repetitive tasks) showed by the risks analysis within this process has led us to search new learning methods to keep the team engaged. An e-learning training was selected in order to further complete the HPT initial training but also as a continuous training to the HPTs who are already working in the ADS process. Process and Methods The e-learning tool was developed using the Google® platform and includes four theoretical training modules (Google® Slides): Module 1 “General organization”, Module 2 “Automatic preparation machine...

Main objective of this paper is to present ananalysis of necessity of providing expansion joints in the plain cement concrete pavement considering the climate and weather conditions of Vietnam. This study would help in the proper designing of expansion joints of highways and airport roads and thus can improve life span of cement concrete pavements to be constructed in Vietnam.

In this paper, our first goal is to rigorously define a Lévy process pinned at random time. Our second task is to establish the Markov property with respect to its completed natural filtration and thus with respect to the usual augmentation of the latter. The resulting conclusion is the right-continuity of completed natural filtration. Certain examples of such process are considered.

The frequent combination of declinable stems with one another to form compounds which then are treated as if simple, in respect to accent, inflection, and construction, is a conspicuous feature of the [Vedic] language, from its earliest period. (Whitney 1889: 480) 1 Preliminaries Greek and Vedic are languages whose accent-system is neither a stress-accent nor that of a tone language, but something in between. In Vedic, for instance, the Indish grammarians do not talk of strength, but of pitch (udā tta `high, prominent´). But pitch seems to be accompanied by some strengthening. Just as in English, where the position of stress can be used as a derivational device to signal the syntactic category of a word (engl. contrást vs. cóntrast with distinctive stress) 2 , this kind of stress also fulfils contrastive functions in differentiating parts of speech; compare Vedic ésa-m. `the act of seeking or going after´ vs. e1á-`gliding, running, hastening´. As Wackernagel (1905: 19) states, barytonesis is generally characteristic of nouns in Vedic. But adjectives, too, often have a contrastive word stress. If 1 I owe critical remarks to Sergio Neri.

Propolis has known as an aromatic resin which possesses several health beneficial properties such as antimicrobial and antioxidant due to bioactive and its complex composition. Propolis has been utilized in the form of extract; however, the application in food is limited due to its insolubility in water and undesirable sensory characteristics. Encapsulation of propolis using spray drying method with addition maltodextrin with or without arabic gum could reduce the undesirable sensory characteristic, protect bioactive compounds, and increase its availability in water-soluble matrices. The total bioactive compounds were evaluated before and after the drying process in order to know the ability of matrices wall to protect it. Physical properties such as hygroscopicity and surface structure were evaluated. Maltodextrin and arabic gum ratio affect phenolic content which is in a range of 0.0425–0.0445%, and also flavonoid content in a range of 0.00273–0.00415%. The coating agent ratio als...

Judah Halevi and Abraham ibn Ezra are two of the most celebrated pre-modern Jewish figures of all time. Born in late eleventh-century Spain, their lives intersected on several occasions. However, there is also an extensive web of folk narratives and traditions that have been told about them from the Middle-Ages to the present day which links them to each other through their imagined biographies. In fact, many stories were told about them separately depicting various facets of each man’s character. Here, however, we show that unlike other stories, those that bring them together revolve around a specific type of activity common to both; namely, poetry. Furthermore, their hagiographies tend to reproduce the typical milestones characteristic of biographies of saints and cultural heroes (Noy 1975): the prenatal legend, the biographical legend, the posthumous legend, events associated with the hero’s descendants, and events associated with the hero’s possessions. In this case, however, we...