bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mitigation of aflatoxin B1- and sodium arsenite-induced cytotoxicities in HUC-PC urinary bladder cells by curcumin and Khaya senegalensis
Authors: Olugbami Jeremiah Olorunjuwon , Damoiseaux Robert , Odunola Oyeronke Adunni , Gimzewski James Kazimierz 
Published: May 2020

Abstract

Background
Concomitant exposure to environmental/occupational toxicants such as aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and arsenic in some regions of the world has been well reported. Therefore, this calls for the assessment of the efficacy of agents such as phytochemicals, which are already known for their ethno-medicinal uses in prophylaxis/remediation. We investigated the possible cytotoxic bio-interactions between AFB1 and sodium arsenite (SA) in urinary bladder cells. We also assessed the cytoprotective effects of curcumin and the ethanol stem bark extract of Khaya senegalensis (K2S).

Methods
The cells were exposed to graded levels of AFB1, SA, curcumin, and K2S for 24, 48, and 72 h. Subsequently, using optimum toxic concentrations of AFB1 and SA, respectively, the influence of non-toxic levels of curcumin and/or K2S was tested on exposure of the cells to AFB1 and/or SA. Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide staining technique was used to determine the end-points due to cytotoxicity with changes in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels determined using Promega’s CellTiter-Glo luminescent assay.

Results
Co-treatment of the cells with AFB1 and SA resulted in synergy in cytotoxic effects. Cytotoxicity was reduced by 3.5- and 2.9-fold by pre-treatment of the cells with curcumin and K2S before treatment with AFB1, while post-treatment resulted in 1.1- and 2.6-fold reduction, respectively. Pre-exposure of the cells with curcumin and K2S before treatment with SA ameliorated cytotoxicity by 3.8- and 3.0-fold, but post-treatment caused a 1.2- and 1.3-fold reduction, respectively.

Conclusions
Pre-treatment of the cells with either curcumin or K2S exhibited cytoprotective effects by ameliorating AFB1- and SA-induced cytotoxicity with inferred tendencies to prevent carcinogenesis.
Antidepressant-like effect of Albizia zygia root extract in murine models
Authors: Kumbol Victor Wumbor-Apin , Abotsi Wonder Kofi Mensah , Biney Robert Peter 
Published: May 2020

Abstract

Background

Albizia zygia (DC.) J.F. Macbr. (Leguminosae) has been used to treat mental disorders in traditional African medicine. Nonetheless, there is limited scientific evidence to justify its present use. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antidepressant activity of the hydroethanolic extract of A. zygia roots (AZE) in murine models.

Methods
AZE was evaluated in the tail suspension test, forced swim test, and the repeated open-space swim test of depression. In order to elucidate the mechanisms of action, the activity of AZE was re-evaluated after treating mice with selective inhibitors of monoamine biosynthesis. The potential of AZE to influence spontaneous locomotion was also examined.

Results
AZE (100–1000 mg/kg, p.o.) reduced the immobility time of mice in the tail suspension and forced swim tests (at least p < 0.05). In the repeated open-space swim test, AZE reduced the immobility time (at least p < 0.05) while concomitantly increasing the distance swam by mice (p < 0.01). However, the antidepressant-like activity of AZE was attenuated by α-methyl-para-tyrosine and reserpine (p < 0.0001) but not para-chlorophenylalanine.

Conclusions
The results of this study indicate that AZE possesses antidepressant-like properties and support the traditional use of AZE for the treatment of depression.
Modulatory effect of Polyalthia longifolia leaves against cadmium-induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity in rats
Authors: Oyeyemi Ajibade O. , Oseni Olatunde A. , Babatunde Adebimpe O. , Molehin Olorunfemi R. 
Published: May 2020

Abstract

Background
Cadmium serves as a major pollutant in the environment and it has been documented for its widespread harmful effects. This study sought to investigate the prophylactic and the curative effects of aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of Polyalthia longifolia against cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Methods
Animals in group I served as the normal control and administered distilled water only for 14 days, group II was administered cadmium (4 mg/kg/body weight) for 7 days, groups III and IV rats served as the prophylactic group and were pre-treated with P. longifolia aqueous and methanolic leaf extract for 7 days and then exposed to cadmium for another 7 days, serving as pre-treatment group, groups V, VI, VII, and VIII served as curative groups and were first exposed to cadmium for 7 days and then post-treated with 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight of aqueous extract and 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight of methanolic extract P. longifolia for another 7 days.

Results
Pre- and post-treatment with both extracts of P. longifolia revealed a significant hepatoprotective ability by decreasing the alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase, acid phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transferase enzymatic activities were elevated due to cadmium intoxication. Pre- and post-treatment with aqueous and methanolic extract of P. longifolia extract significantly decreased hepatic malondialdehyde levels, together with an improvement in the antioxidant status of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase, and reduced glutathione of rats exposed to cadmium. Histopathology examinations also confirm the above biochemical findings.

Conclusion
The findings from this work suggested that P. longifolia may be beneficial in ameliorating the cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative stress in rats.
Effectiveness of yogic visual concentration (Trataka) on cognitive performance and anxiety among adolescents
Authors: Sherlee J. Ida , David Anita 
Published: May 2020

Abstract

Background
Cognition is the mental process of acquiring knowledge, understanding senses and synchronizing all the electrical activity that is constantly received and generated through the eye. Purpose of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of yogic visual concentration (Trataka) on cognitive performance and anxiety among adolescents studying in selected schools at Chennai.

Methodology
This study was designed to assess cognitive performance and anxiety among students using quantitative approach. True Experimental study design was used for this study. Pretest assessment of cognitive performance and anxiety was done by standardized tools (Stroop color word test, Hamilton anxiety scale) for Experimental and Control groups. Intervention of yogic visual concentration (Trataka) was experimented in one group. Control group were kept on routine activities. Post test assessment of cognitive performance and anxiety by standardized tools was performed on experimental and control groups. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The 0.05 level of significance was used.

Results
A significant difference in the mean difference of color word score, color score, word score and inference score between the study and control groups at the level of p<0.0001 was observed. Results indicate an association in the cognitive performance (word) with background variables such as, gender, father’s occupation in the study group during the post test and no association in the control group. There were no associations between anxiety cognitive performance (color and word) and demographic variables in both groups.

Conclusion
The study concluded that there is a greater effect on Yogic visual concentration (Trataka) on cognitive performance and anxiety among adolescent students, therefore the study proved the hypothesis.
Immediate effect of Kapalbhathi pranayama on short term heart rate variability (HRV) in healthy volunteers
Authors: Lalitha S. , Maheshkumar K. , Shobana R. , Deepika C. 
Published: May 2020

Abstract

Objectives

Kapalbhathi Pranayam (Kapal = forehead; bhati = shining) is a breathing exercise that has been practiced to cleanse the frontal brain in traditional practices like yoga. Still, there exists a dearth of literature on the effect of Kapalbhathi pranayama on physiological systems. So this present study was carried out to find the immediate effect of “kapalbhathi Pranayam” practice for the period of 5 min on cardiac autonomic function among the healthy volunteers.

Materials and methods
Apparently 50 healthy volunteers includes both sex were participated. They were randomly divided into Pranayama (n−25) and control (n−25) group. Pranayama group was practiced kapalbhathi pranayama 5 min (5 cycles) and control group was allowed to do normal breathing (12–16 breath/min). Lead II ECG was recorded for 5 min using simple AD converter before, immediately after practice and 20 min of recovery period.

Results
One way Analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post hoc test was done using R statistical software. There was a significant (p < 0.05) parasympathetic withdrawal (Root Mean Square of the Successive Differences (RMSSD) – p < 0.04 and HF n.u – p < 0.05) was found in the pranayama group immediately after practice and its was changed to parasympathetic domination (RMSSD – p < 0.04 and HF n.u – p < 0.05) after 20 min of recovery period.

Conclusion
The present study suggested that though there was parasympathetic withdrawal immediately after practicing kapalbhathi pranayama, 20 min after the recovery period showed a parasympathetic domination in the pranayama group subjects. However, further studies are required to warrant the findings of this study.
On the triple tensor product of prime-power groups
Authors: Jafari S. Hadi , Hadizadeh Halimeh 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
Let G be a finite p-group, and let

⊗
3

G

{\otimes^{3}G}

be its triple tensor product.
In this paper, we obtain an upper bound for the order of

⊗
3

G

{\otimes^{3}G}

, which sharpens the bound given by G. Ellis and A. McDermott, [Tensor products of prime-power groups, J. Pure Appl. Algebra 132 1998, 2, 119–128].
In particular, when G has a derived subgroup of order at most p, we classify those groups G for which the bound is attained.
Furthermore, by improvement of a result about the exponent of

⊗
3

G

{\otimes^{3}G}

determined by G. Ellis [On the relation between upper central quotients and lower central series of a group, Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 353 2001, 10, 4219–4234], we show that, when G is a nilpotent group of class at most 4,

exp

(

⊗
3

G
)

{\exp(\otimes^{3}G)}

divides

exp
⁡

(
G
)

{\exp(G)}

.
A convergent numerical method to recover the initial condition of nonlinear parabolic equations from lateral Cauchy data
Authors: Le Thuy Thi Thu , Nguyen Loc Hoang 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
We propose a new numerical method for the solution of the problem of the reconstruction of the initial condition of a quasilinear parabolic equation from the measurements of both Dirichlet and Neumann data on the boundary of a bounded domain. Although this problem is highly nonlinear, we do not require an initial guess of the true solution. The key in our method is the derivation of a boundary value problem for a system of coupled quasilinear elliptic equations whose solution is the vector function of the spatially dependent Fourier coefficients of the solution to the governing parabolic equation. We solve this problem by an iterative method. The global convergence of the system is rigorously established using a Carleman estimate. Numerical examples are presented.
The care of pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic – response of a large health system in metropolitan New York
Authors: Rochelson Burton , Nimaroff Michael , Combs Adriann , Schwartz Benjamin , Meirowitz Natalie , Vohra Nidhi , Klein Victor R. , Santandreu Orlando , Kramer Mitchell , Mootabar Navid , Serur Eli , Spiryda Lisa , Berlin Scott , Chervenak Frank 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThe rapid progression of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak presented extraordinary challenges to the US health care system, particularly straining resources in hard hit areas such as the New York metropolitan region. As a result, major changes in the delivery of obstetrical care were urgently needed, while maintaining patient safety on our maternity units. As the largest health system in the region, with 10 hospitals providing obstetrical services, and delivering over 30,000 babies annually, we needed to respond to this crisis in an organized, deliberate fashion. Our hospital footprint for Obstetrics was dramatically reduced to make room for the rapidly increasing numbers of COVID-19 patients, and established guidelines were quickly modified to reduce potential staff and patient exposures. New communication strategies were developed to facilitate maternity care across our hospitals, with significantly limited resources in personnel, equipment, and space. The lessons learned from these unexpected challenges offered an opportunity to reassess the delivery of obstetrical care without compromising quality and safety. These lessons may well prove valuable after the peak of the crisis has passed.
Template matching route classification
Authors: Kinney Mitchell 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThis paper details a route classification method for American football using a template matching scheme that is quick and does not require manual labeling. Pre-defined routes from a standard receiver route tree are aligned closely with game routes in order to determine the closest match. Based on a test game with manually labeled routes, the method achieves moderate success with an overall accuracy of 72% of the 232 routes labeled correctly.
Understanding draws in Elo rating algorithm
Authors: Szczecinski Leszek , Djebbi Aymen 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThis work is concerned with the interpretation of the results produced by the well known Elo algorithm applied in various sport ratings. The interpretation consists in defining the probabilities of the game outcomes conditioned on the ratings of the players and should be based on the probabilistic rating-outcome model. Such a model is known in the binary games (win/loss), allowing us to interpret the rating results in terms of the win/loss probability. On the other hand, the model for the ternary outcomes (win/loss/draw) has not been yet shown even if the Elo algorithm has been used in ternary games from the very moment it was devised. Using the draw model proposed by Davidson in 1970, we derive a new Elo-Davidson algorithm, and show that the Elo algorithm is its particular instance. The parameters of the Elo-Davidson are then related to the frequency of draws which indicates that the Elo algorithm silently assumes games with 50% of draws. To remove this assumption, often unrealistic, the Elo-Davidson algorithm should be used as it improves the fit to the data. The behaviour of the algorithms is illustrated using the results from English Premier League.
Introduction: Shades of partitivity: Formal and areal properties
Authors: Ihsane Tabea , Stark Elisabeth 
Published: May 2020

AbstractAt the heart of this special issue are partitive elements (i. e., partitive articles, partitive pronouns, and partitive case markers) which can express different “shades” of partitivity, namely true partitivity, pseudopartitivity, or indefiniteness, that is, the absence of a part-whole relation in the meaning, in contrast to (pseudo)partitivity. Since these partitive elements express (at least) two such notions, as they can be truly partitive but often are not, the questions around partitivity are complex, interrelated and challenging. This special issue, with a strong and wide crosslinguistic (typological) coverage, deals with two overarching topics: first, the geographical distribution of partitive elements and the identification of potential instances of language contact, and, second, sometimes in combination with the first topic, the formal description and explanation of different partitive constructions.
Indefinite determiners in informal Italian: A preliminary analysis
Authors: Cardinaletti Anna , Giusti Giuliana 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
This paper presents the results of a pilot study on the distribution of indefinite determiners in contexts with narrow scope interpretation in current informal Italian. It individuates the available forms and presents their diatopic distribution. The research is based on data collected through an online questionnaire designed to detect optionality. The results show that in narrow scope indefinite contexts, i. e., negative statements, both the zero determiner and the definite article are widespread throughout the country. The partitive determiner is only found in episodic sentences and is limited to restricted geographic areas. In all contexts and areas, a large degree of optionality is found. In some context and area, however, it is possible to identify one form more prominent than the others. This can be related to the context, which may favour some specialized meaning of one specific form, e. g., saliency and small quantity, or to diatopic variation due to language contact with the dialect, as shown by comparing present-day informal Italian with the dialectal data reported in AIS and analysed in (Cardinaletti and Giusti. 2018. Indefinite determiners: Variation and optionality in Italo-Romance. In Diego Pescarini & Roberta D’Alessandro (eds.), Advances in Italian dialectology: Sketches of Italo-Romance grammars, 135–161. Amsterdam: Brill).
Contact-induced change in the languages of Europe: The rise and development of partitive cases and determiners in Finnic and Basque
Authors: Luraghi Silvia , De Smit Merlijn , Igartua Iván 
Published: May 2020

AbstractThis paper explores the hypothesis of contact-induced change for the rise of the partitive case in Finnic languages and of the partitive case/determiner in Basque. On the basis of the well-established Indo-European partitive-genitive case and taking into account the lack of such a basis on the Uralic side, we argue that the partitive case in Finnic languages has arisen as a result of Balto-Slavic influence. Concerning the Basque partitive determiner, we likewise suggest a contact scenario (with Romance languages) as being responsible for the development of an entire system of determiners, including the definite and possibly the indefinite article as well as the partitive marker, which originates in an old ablative ending but crucially lacks the morphological properties characteristic of Basque inflectional markers.
Layers of (un)boundedness: The aspectual–quantificational interplay of quantifiers and partitive case in Finnish object arguments
Authors: Huumo Tuomas 
Published: May 2020

AbstractI present an account of the interplay between quantifiers and the partitive–accusative case alternation in Finnish object marking, with special reference to the aspectual and quantificational semantics of the clause. The case alternation expresses two oppositions (in affirmative clauses): (a) bounded (accusative) vs. unbounded (partitive) quantity, (b) culminating (accusative) vs. non-culminating (partitive) aspect. The quantifiers analyzed are of two main types: (i) mass quantifiers (e. g.,paljon‘a lot of’,vähän‘(a) little’), which quantify a mass expressed by a mass noun or a plural form, (ii) number quantifiers (e. g.,moni‘many’,usea‘a number of’), which quantify a multiplicity of discrete entities expressed by a count noun in the singular or plural. Finnish mass quantifiers only quantify nominals in the partitive, while number quantifiers agree with the quantified nominal in number and case and are used throughout the case paradigm. With a mass quantifier, the partitive form of the quantified nominal expresses unbounded quantity, which the quantifier then renders bounded (quantized). This is why object phrases with mass quantifiers behave like accusative objects: they express a bounded quantity together with culminating aspect. Number quantifiers quantify both accusative and partitive objects, in the singular and plural. Such objects are able to express aspect and quantity at two levels: (i) that of the individual component events which concern one entity each; (ii) that of the higher-order event which concerns the whole quantity expressed. I argue that the case marking of the object relates primarily to level (i), while the meaning of the number quantifier relates to level (ii). This is why a number quantifier typically renders the quantity bounded and the aspect culminating at level (ii), even when the partitive case expresses unboundedness or lack of culmination at level (i).
Bretona-marking of (internal) verbal arguments: A result of language contact?
Authors: Stark Elisabeth , Widmer Paul 
Published: May 2020

AbstractWe discuss a potential case of borrowing in this paper: Bretona- ‘of’, ‘from’ marking of (internal) verbal arguments, unique in Insular Celtic languages, and reminiscent of Gallo-Romancede/du- (anden-) arguments. Looking at potential Gallo-Romance parallels of three Middle Breton constructions analyzed in some detail (awith indefinite mass nominals in direct object position,a-marking of internal arguments under the scope of negation,a[allomorphsan(ez)-/ahan-] with personal pronouns for internal arguments, subjects (mainly of predicative constructions) and as expletive subjects of existential constructions), we demonstrate that even if there are some semantic parallels and one strong structural overlap (aanddeunder the scope of negation), the amount of divergences in morphology, syntax and semantics and the only partially fitting relative chronology of the different constructions do not allow to conclude with certainty that language-contact is an explanation of the Breton facts, which might have come into being also because of internal change (bound to restructuring of the pronominal system in Breton). More research is necessary to complete our knowledge ofa-marking in Middle Breton and Modern Breton varieties and on the precise history of Frenchen, in order to decide for one or the other explanation.
Convergence and divergence in the expression of partitivity in French, Dutch, and German
Authors: Sleeman Petra , Ihsane Tabea 
Published: May 2020

Abstract
This paper focusses on the so-called partitive pronoun in French and Dutch, and the corresponding data in German, a language which is assumed not to have partitive pronouns in its standard, in contrast to certain dialectal varieties. Taking the diverse uses of the French partitive pronoun en as a starting point, we investigate the corresponding constructions in Dutch and German. The ultimate aim of the paper is to develop an analysis accounting for the similarities and differences between these languages in relation to the presence/absence of the partitive pronoun. To reach our objectives, we rely on data collected in a Grammaticality Judgment Test taken by native speakers of French, Dutch and German. We put together theory and experimental data in a crosslinguistic perspective investigating three languages that differ in their uses of partitive elements and formalize the results in a model in which the partitive pronoun can replace different portions of the nominal structure.