bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Polysaccharide-based hydrogels with tunable composition as 3D cell culture systems
Authors: Gentilini Roberta , Munarin Fabiola , Bloise Nora , Secchi Eleonora , Visai Livia , Tanzi Maria Cristina , Petrini Paola 
Published: December 2020

Background: To date, cell cultures have been created either on 2-dimensional (2D) polystyrene surfaces or in 3-dimensional (3D) systems, which do not offer a controlled chemical composition, and which lack the soft environment encountered in vivo and the chemical stimuli that promote cell proliferation and allow complex cellular behavior. In this study, pectin-based hydrogels were developed and are proposed as versatile cell culture systems. Methods: Pectin-based hydrogels were produced by internally crosslinking pectin with calcium carbonate at different initial pH, aiming to control crosslinking kinetics and degree. Additionally, glucose and glutamine were added as additives, and their effects on the viscoelastic properties of the hydrogels and on cell viability were investigated. Results: Pectin hydrogels showed in high cell viability and shear-thinning behavior. Independently of hydrogel composition, an initial swelling was observed, followed by a low percentage of weight variation and a steady-state stage. The addition of glucose and glutamine to pectin-based hydrogels rendered higher cell viability up to 90%-98% after 1 hour of incubation, and these hydrogels were maintained for up to 7 days of culture, yet no effect on viscoelastic properties was detected. Conclusions: Pectin-based hydrogels that offer tunable composition were developed successfully. They are envisioned as synthetic extracellular matrix (ECM) either to study complex cellular behaviors or to be applied as tissue engineering substitutes.
Teaching Modern Jewish Ethics Through Role-Play
Authors: Claussen Geoffrey D. 
Published: December 2020

AbstractThis article considers the use of role-playing pedagogy in an undergraduate Jewish Ethics course, focusing on a course activity in which students represented diverse modern Jewish thinkers and debated how Jews should understand particular moral virtues. As an example, this article describes a class in which students represented seven modern Jews with diverse perspectives on altruistic love, kindness, and compassion and engaged in character with questions regarding gender, violence, and who is included in the commandment to love one's fellow, among other issues. This article explores how such role-playing engaged students and challenged them to think critically about the views of others, the construction of virtue, the diversity of modern Jewish ethical traditions, and their own approaches to ethics.
GROUNDWATER VULNERABILITY TO AGROCHEMICAL CONTAMINATION
Authors: Soares Rogério Barbosa , Silva Samiria Maria Oliveira , Souza Filho Francisco de Assis de , Studart Ticiana Marinho de Carvalho , Frota Renata Locarno 
Published: December 2020

This research aimed at evaluating groundwater vulnerability to agrochemical contamination. To that end, we developed an index called Hydric Vulnerability and Agrochemical Contamination Index (HVACI), which integrates a geographic information system and fuzzy logic to measure catchment vulnerability to agrochemical contamination. Our case study investigates two sub-basins, the Baixo Jaguaribe and the Médio Jaguaribe, in the state of Ceará, Brazil. We built a logical relationship matrix involving economic and environmental information as a tool to enhance public managers’ decision-making capabilities. Evaluation was based on four categories of vulnerability — high, medium-high, medium-low, and low —, and we found that the joint area of the Baixo Jaguaribe and Médio Jaguaribe sub-basins presented the following levels of risk contamination: 80.3% of the area had low vulnerability, 3.5% had medium-low vulnerability, 3.0% had medium-high vulnerability, and 13.2% had high vulnerability. Geographically, the municipalities with high vulnerability to contamination by pesticides were Aracati, Icapuí, Limoeiro do Norte, Tabuleiro do Norte, and Quixeré. Therefore, HVACI is an important tool for directing environmental management efforts toward areas identified as highly vulnerable to agrochemical contamination.
AVALIAÇÃO DE NUTRIENTE LIMITANTE DA PRODUÇÃO ALGAL EM RESERVATÓRIOS DO SEMIÁRIDO BRASILEIRO
Authors: Wiegand Mário Cesar , Do Nascimento Antônia Tatiana Pinheiro , Costa Alexandre Cunha , Neto Iran Eduardo Lima 
Published: December 2020

A sobrecarga de nutrientes em reservatórios artificiais pode representar um risco para a saúde humana e para a biodiversidade aquática. Assim, o estado trófico de um reservatório é uma característica importante para o entendimento das suas condições ambientais e seus possíveis usos. Sua descrição pode ser feita com base na concentração de nutrientes, principalmente o fósforo. Dessa forma, este trabalho testou a hipótese de que o fósforo total é o nutriente limitante do crescimento fitoplanctônico em reservatórios do semiárido brasileiro. Três modelos empíricos foram utilizados para inferir o status de nutriente limitante. Além disso, uma análise de regressão linear múltipla foi utilizada para estabelecer a relação de causalidade entre nutrientes (nitrogênio total — NT e fósforo total — PT) e a produção algal. Os resultados não confirmaram a hipótese. Conforme dois modelos utilizados, o NT foi o fator preponderante para a produção algal em cerca de 60% dos reservatórios, fato também observado na análise de regressão linear. Segundo o critério de Carlson, a herbivoria pode ser um importante fator do desenvolvimento algal. Assim, nossos resultados mostraram que a eutrofização por ambos os nutrientes, relevantemente o NT, e a herbivoria merecem ser considerados.
The Yichun Ta-Sn-Li Deposit, South China: Evidence for Extreme Chemical Fractionation in F-Li-P-Rich Magma
Authors: Pollard Peter J. 
Published: December 2020

Abstract
The Yichun Ta-Sn-Li deposit occurs within the 9.5-km2 Yashan Igneous Complex, which is made up of felsic, peraluminous intrusions including two-mica, Li-mica, and topaz-lepidolite granites. The topaz-lepidolite granite forms a thin sheet confined to the upper part of the Li-mica granite and is separated from the host metasediments by a marginal pegmatite. The topaz-lepidolite granite is characterized by the presence of snowball textures in which quartz, K-feldspar, and topaz phenocrysts contain albite laths and rare lepidolite and columbite arranged along growth zones. These textures indicate simultaneous crystallization of these phases and attest to the subsolvus character of the topaz-lepidolite granite. Minor and accessory phases in the topaz-lepidolite granite include amblygonite, cassiterite, columbite-tantalite, microlite, wodginite, zircon, monazite, and pollucite.
The topaz-lepidolite granite is characterized by low SiO2 (68.6–69.7 wt %), TiO2 (0.01 wt %), Fe2O3(total) (0.15–0.33 wt %), MgO (0.01–0.05 wt %), and CaO (0.15–0.19 wt %), whereas Al2O3 (17.97–18.26 wt %), Li2O (0.90–2.09 wt %), P2O5 (0.43–0.54 wt %), and F (1.09–2.30 wt %) are all very high. Na2O ≫ K2O due to both high Na2O (5.18–6.30 wt %) and low K2O (2.63–3.05 wt %). The topaz-lepidolite granite contains extremely high concentrations of Rb (&gt;3,300 ppm), Cs (&gt;340 ppm), Sn (&gt;140 ppm), and Ta (&gt;120 ppm), with very low Zr/Hf and Nb/Ta.
Gaps of &gt;3.5 wt % SiO2 and &gt;2.5 wt % Al2O3 together with large increases in F, Li2O, and P2O5 between the Li-mica and topaz-lepidolite granites are not compatible with an evolution by Rayleigh fractionation processes. It is proposed instead that early crystallization of the Li-mica granite led to the formation of an Si-poor, Al-, Na-, and flux-rich boundary layer whose low viscosity and density allowed effective separation from the remaining melt and crystals. This melt concentrated incompatible elements including tin and tantalum and accumulated in the upper part of the magma chamber where it crystallized the sheet-like bodies of marginal pegmatite and topaz-lepidolite granite.
The uppermost part of the topaz-lepidolite granite consists of aplite and overlying quartz lepidolite rock, which is composed mainly of quartz, lepidolite, albite, K-feldspar, topaz, amblygonite, cassiterite, and columbite. Compared to the topaz-lepidolite granite the aplite and quartz-lepidolite rock shows a number of complementary element enrichments and depletions. The quartz-lepidolite rock is enriched in Fe, Mn, K, Rb, Cs, Li, F, Ba, Sr, Ti, Zr, Nb, W, Th, and Sm. The formation of the quartz-lepidolite rock is interpreted to result from separation of an F- and Li-rich alkaline phase, which accumulated beneath the already crystallized marginal pegmatite. Complementary to this was crystallization of the strongly peraluminous sodic aplite with the highest tantalum contents measured in this study.
Una visión crítica de la Ley Orgánica 2/2018, de 5 de diciembre, de reforma de la LOREG para garantizar el derecho de sufragio de todas las personas con discapacidad
Authors: Gálvez Muñoz Luis A. 
Published: December 2020

En este trabajo se realiza un análisis abiertamente crítico de la Ley Orgánica 2/2018, de 5 de diciembre, de reforma de la Ley Orgánica 5/1985, de 19 de junio, el Régimen Electoral General, para garantizar el derecho de sufragio de todas las personas con discapacidad, y en virtud de la cual se ha suprimido la previsión de evaluación de la capacidad para ejercer el sufragio de las personas objeto de un proceso de modificación de capacidad o de internamiento psiquiátrico, además de dejar sin efecto las resoluciones judiciales vigentes de incapacidad electoral e introducir una declaración general sobre el ejercicio del sufragio. La crítica a la Ley de reforma se estructura en torno a tres argumentos: primero, la falacia de la incompatibilidad de la previsión derogada con la Convención de Derechos de las Personas con Discapacidad de 2006 y la Constitución; segundo, la injusta desconsideración, por el contrario, del papel que esta norma cumplía en el sistema jurídico en términos de derechos y bienes constitucionales; y, tercero, la forma inadecuada en que se han articulado las disposiciones complementarias, con los negativos efectos jurídicos que ello conlleva.
Effect of dietary oil fromCamelina sativaon the growth performance, fillet fatty acid profile and gut microbiome of gilthead Sea bream (Sparus aurata)
Authors: Huyben David , Rimoldi Simona , Ceccotti Chiara , Montero Daniel , Betancor Monica , Iannini Federica , Terova Genciana 
Published: December 2020

BackgroundIn the last two decades, research has focused on testing cheaper and sustainable alternatives to fish oil (FO), such as vegetable oils (VO), in aquafeeds. However, FO cannot be entirely replaced by VOs due to their lack of omega-3 (n-3) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA), particularly eicosapentaenoic (EPA; 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic (DHA; 22:6n-3) acids. The oilseed plant,Camelina sativa, may have a higher potential to replace FO since it can contains up to 40% of the omega-3 precursorsα-linolenic acid (ALA; 18:3n-3) and linoleic acid (LA; 18:2n-6).MethodsA 90-day feeding trial was conducted with 600 gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) of 32.92 ± 0.31 g mean initial weight fed three diets that replaced 20%, 40% and 60% of FO with CO and a control diet of FO. Fish were distributed into triplicate tanks per diet and with 50 fish each in a flow-through open marine system. Growth performance and fatty acid profiles of the fillet were analysed. The Illumina MiSeq platform for sequencing of 16S rRNA gene and Mothur pipeline were used to identify bacteria in the faeces, gut mucosa and diets in addition to metagenomic analysis by PICRUSt.Results and ConclusionsThe feed conversion rate and specific growth rate were not affected by diet, although final weight was significantly lower for fish fed the 60% CO diet. Reduced final weight was attributed to lower levels of EPA and DHA in the CO ingredient. The lipid profile of fillets were similar between the dietary groups in regards to total saturated, monounsaturated, PUFA (n-3 and n-6), and the ratio of n-3/n-6. Levels of EPA and DHA in the fillet reflected the progressive replacement of FO by CO in the diet and the EPA was significantly lower in fish fed the 60% CO diet, while ALA was increased. Alpha and beta-diversities of gut bacteria in both the faeces and mucosa were not affected by any dietary treatment, although a few indicator bacteria, such asCorynebacteriumandRhodospirillales, were associated with the 60% CO diet. However, lower abundance of lactic acid bacteria, specificallyLactobacillus, in the gut of fish fed the 60% CO diet may indicate a potential negative effect on gut microbiota. PICRUSt analysis revealed similar predictive functions of bacteria in the faeces and mucosa, although a higher abundance ofCorynebacteriumin the mucosa of fish fed 60% CO diet increased the KEGG pathway of fatty acid synthesis and may act to compensate for the lack of fatty acids in the diet. In summary, this study demonstrated that up to 40% of FO can be replaced with CO without negative effects on growth performance, fillet composition and gut microbiota of gilthead sea bream.
Noise Attenuation Using Vegetal Supported Barriers and Buffers Zones in Obio/Akpor, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Authors: Ogoro Mark , Ezinne Idika Sandra , Chukwudi Dollah Osademe 
Published: December 2020

Noise pollution is an unwanted sound which degrades the quality of our environment therefore, making the environment we live and work unpleasant for living. This situation is not different in Port Harcourt metropolis in the wake of increased human activities, which has resulted to and accelerates noise level. This situation has led to the adoption of possible measures to check noise levels using vegetal cover supported barriers. Hence, the need to examine environmental noise exposure attenuation using vegetal cover and its supported barriers. Environmental research design was employed and a total of twelve samples were collected for each barrier types with the aid of the digital noise meter (EXTECH instrument digital sound meter with RS232) to measure noise level in decibels (dBA). Findings revealed that areas with bare surfaces across its property corridor witnessed did not decrease noise levels at destination while surface with vegetation such as lawns within its property boundary corridor witnessed reduced noise levels of destination. It is therefore, recommended that vegetal surfaces walls should be encouraged to support erected noise barrier walls across the urban space in the bid of attenuating urban noise and make urban regions/areas more habitable.
Isolation and Characterization of a Novel p,p’-DDT-Degrading Bacterium: Aeromonas sp. Strain MY1 from Agricultural Soil
Authors: Murtala Y. , Nwanguma B. C. , Ezeanyika L. U. S. 
Published: December 2020

Background: Despite the banned on the use of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and other Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) by the Stockholm Convention for their toxicity, emerging shreds of evidence have indicated that DDT is, however, still in use in developing countries. This might increase the global burden of DDT contamination and its hazardous effects.
Aim: This study focused on the isolation and characterization of p,p’-DDT-degrading bacterium from a tropical agricultural soil.
Methodology: Standard isolation procedure was used for the screening and isolation of the strain. The 16S rRNA and phylogenetic analyses were used to identify the isolate and established protocols were followed to characterize the strain.
Results: A new strain belonging to the genus Aeromonas was isolated from agricultural soil using minimal salt-p,p’-DDT enrichment medium. The 16S rRNA sequencing was used to identify the strain and the partial sequence was deposited in the NCBI GenBank as Aeromonas sp. Strain MY1. This mesophilic isolate was capable of utilizing up to 50 mgL-1 of p,p’-DDT as the sole carbon source at an optimum pH of 7.5 and optimum temperature of 35 °C within 120 h under aerobic conditions. Fe2+ (0.2 mgL-1) demonstrated a stimulatory effect on the p,p’-DDT degradation capacity by the strain MY1. However, Zn, Cu, Pb, Hg, Ag and Cr ions have demonstrated various patterns of inhibitory effect on the p,p’-DDT degradation capacity of the isolate at 0.2 mgL-1. The strain MY1 could be a promising candidate for the bioremediation of p,p’-DDT contaminant.
Conclusion: Aeromonas sp. strain MY1 was capable of utilizing p,p’-DDT as a sole carbon source under aerobic conditions. The utilization capacity of the strain was influenced by some heavy metals. Fe was found to enhance the p,p’-DDT utilization capacity of the isolate at a lower concentration. While Zn, Cu, Pb, Hg, Ag and Cr showed various patterns of inhibitory effect.
Pharmacovigilance in Cameroon: Past, Present and Future Developments in Unlocking the Drug Development Process
Authors: Fokunang Estella Achick Tembe , Njeba Bruna , Essi Marie Jose , Abondo Rose Ngono , Nyuki Banin Andrew , Fokunang Lovet Benyella , Kaba Nubia , Ondoua Marie-Thérèse Abena , Duerr Ralf , Fokunang Charles Ntungwen 
Published: December 2020

The drug discovery and development processes are designed to guarantee that drugs are efficacious, nontoxic and of high standards of quality for human consumption. However, patient’s population with access to drugs at approval is only a fraction of the final target population. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the safety of medicines is generally only achieved after the marketing authorization of the drug, followed by pharmacovigilance or post marketing surveillance. Pharmacovigilance (PHV) is defined by WHO as “the science and activities that deals with the detection, assessment, understanding and prevention of the adverse drug reactions or any other possible drug-related interactions”. Health professionals, patients, drug manufacturers and drug regulatory authorities are therefore highly involved in the practice of PHV.
Cameroon imports 95 % of drugs and health care products. Therefore, an effective mastery of the knowledge, attitude and practice of PHV will help to elaborate the development of our pharmacovigilance systems. This paper gives an overview of pharmacovigilance in Cameroon for unlocking the drug development process focusing on the past, present and future.
Increased Rates of Obstetric Complications Prior to Systemic Sclerosis Diagnosis
Authors: Chung Melody P. , Kolstad Kathleen D. , Dontsi Makdine , Postlethwaite Debbie , Manwani Poonam , Zhao Hongyu , Kesh Sumana , Simard Julia F. , Chung Lorinda 
Published: December 2020

ObjectiveTo investigate whether obstetric complications prior to systemic sclerosis (SSc) diagnosis are more common in SSc patients compared to the general obstetric population.MethodsA case–control study was performed at Kaiser Permanente Northern California to compare prior obstetric complications in adult women who later developed SSc (cases) with women from the general obstetric population who did not develop SSc (controls; matched 10:1 by age and year of delivery) from 2007 to 2016. Exposures included past hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (preeclampsia, eclampsia, gestational hypertension), premature rupture of membranes (PROM), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), maternal infections, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, and preterm birth. Fischer's exact tests were used to compare categorical variables. Conditional logistic regression models estimated the odds ratio (OR), and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the outcome SSc.ResultsSeventeen SSc cases and 170 non‐SSc controls were identified, with median maternal age at delivery 34 years (range 23–46 years) and median time from delivery to SSc diagnosis 2 years (range 0.2–7.3 years). Women with SSc were more likely to be Hispanic and Black. Prior obstetric complications appeared higher in women with an eventual SSc diagnosis compared to controls (70.6% versus 50%), including hypertensive disorders (17.7% versus 9.4%), PROM (11.8% versus 4.1%), IUGR (5.9% versus 1.8%), maternal infection (29.4% versus 14.1%), NICU admissions (23.5% versus 7.7%), and preterm delivery (29.4% versus 21.8%). Women with SSc had a higher odds of delivering infants requiring NICU admission (OR 4.7 [95% CI 1.2–18.8]).ConclusionWomen who eventually develop SSc had trends toward more complicated pregnancy histories before overt diagnosis.
Reprintable Polymers for Digital Light Processing 3D Printing
Authors: Zhu Guangda , Hou Yi , Xu Jian , Zhao Ning 
Published: December 2020

Abstract3D printing is becoming a disruptive technology and shows great potential for various practical applications. Specially, digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing demonstrates advantages in high resolution and high efficiency. However, extensive production of infusible and insoluble thermosets in DLP printing causes serious resource waste and environmental problems after its disposal. Herein, a reprintable linear polymer is reported for repeatable DLP printing. Taking advantage of the dissolution of linear polymer in its monomer, printed objects can be recycled into liquid resin and reprinted via the same DLP. Polymerization kinetics and printing resolution of recycled resins and mechanical properties of reprinted polymers retain identical as the original. The thermoplastic nature of linear polymer endows 3D objects with welding and reshaping property. Recyclable composites are also successfully fabricated, and sustainable usage of high‐value fillers comes true. This strategy helps to address environmental issues arising from unprocessable thermosets and may contribute to an efficient materials recycling.
Use of Elastic, Porous, and Ultrathin Co‐Culture Membranes to Control the Endothelial Barrier Function via Cell Alignment
Authors: Yoo Jin , Kim Tae Hee , Park Sangun , Char Kookheon , Kim Soo Hyun , Chung Justin J. , Jung Youngmee 
Published: December 2020

AbstractPorous membranes used in co‐culture enable the in vitro partitioning of cellular microenvironments, while still permitting physical and biochemical crosstalk between cells. Thus, features of the co‐culture membrane are crucial for recapitulating the physiological functions of co‐cultured cells. This study presents elastic, porous, and ultrathin membranes (EPUMs), which enhance cell–cell interactions and control cell alignment with surface topology created by stretching the membranes. The EPUM is fabricated using poly(lactide‐co‐caprolactone) as the base material, and the porous feature is endowed by a vapor‐induced phase separation process induced by the presence of hygroscopic salt. Owing to its elastic property, the membrane can be stretched, and the deformed porous structures on the membrane surfaces act as nanostructured topographical cues, resulting in cell alignment. By co‐culturing human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) on the opposite sides of the membrane, rapid endothelialization occurs through the membranes, as compared to the commercial membranes. Furthermore, the stretched membranes induce the alignment of hMSCs and HUVECs and ultimately exhibit enhanced endothelial barrier function. The co‐culture membrane developed in this study may provide an effective tool for recapitulating endothelial basement membranes with a controllable endothelial barrier function.