bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of a Chemical-free Floatation Technology for the Purification of Vein Graphite and Characterization of the Products
Authors: Kumara Gamaralalage R. A. , Pitawala Herath Mudiyanselage G. T. A. , Karunarathne Buddika , Mantilaka Mantilaka Mudiyanselage M. G. P. G. , Rajapakse Rajapakse Mudiyanselage G. , Huang Hsin-Hui , De Silva K. Kanishka H. , Yoshimura Masamichi 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
A novel and simple flotation technique has been developed to prepare high-purity graphite from impure graphite. In this method, a suspension of powdered graphite (PG) is dispersed and stirred in water without adding froth formers or supportive chemicals. This makes fine particles of graphite to move upwards and float on water. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis reveals that the floated graphite (FG) has a lower c-axis parameter, indicating the removal of interlayer impurities. A notable increase in the intensity ratio of the D band to G band in the Raman spectra indicates that the FG has more edge defects due to their smaller crystallite sizes. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) analysis shows the number of layers in FG has been reduced to 16 from 68 in PG. The absence of C = O vibration of Fourier Transformed Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy in treated and untreated samples suggests that layers of them are not significantly oxidized. However, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic (XPS) analysis shows the presence of C-O-C ether functionalities, possibly on edge planes. Further, the product has higher purity with increased carbon content. Therefore, the technique is useful in the value enhancement of graphite, the reduction of the chemical cost of the conventional techniques, environmental friendliness, and improvement of its applications.
Aortic knob diameter in chest radiographs of healthy adults in Uganda.
Authors: Magera Steven , Sereke Senai Goitom , Okello Emmy , Ameda Faith , Erem Geoffrey 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Background
The burden of cardiovascular diseases, such as aortic and degenerative diseases grows in the aging population. Chest radiograph still plays an important role in the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. Aortic knob diameter in chest radiographs can be used to evaluate early changes of the aortic structure and together with clinical and laboratory findings. This study was aimed at determining the mean values of aortic knob diameter among healthy adults in Uganda.
Methods
We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study in three selected hospitals in Kampala Uganda. All participants had normal chest radiographs without radiological evidence of cardiovascular disease. Chest radiograph findings extracted included aortic knob diameter, aortic arch diameter, transverse heart diameter and transverse thoracic diameter. All films were independently examined by two experienced radiologists.
Results
We analyzed chest radiograph findings of 294 participants, of which 204 (69.4%) were male. Aortic knob diameter increased with age (p – 0.000). The mean aortic knob diameter of males was higher than for females (3.14±0.34cm versus 2.77±0.37cm, p – 0.000). The mean aortic knob diameter on the digital screen were higher than plain films (3.03±0.393cm versus 2.96±0.392cm, p – 0.000). Aortic knob diameter positively correlated with age (p – 0.000) and aortic arch diameter (p – 0.000). Aortic knob diameter also correlated positively with transverse thoracic diameter (p – 0.05), transverse heart diameter (p – 0.05) and cardiothoracic ratios (p – 0.05).
Conclusion
The aortic knob diameter was higher in males and there was a positive correlation with age, aortic arch diameter, transverse heart diameter and transverse thoracic diameter. Aortic knob diameter measurements should be done on digital screen than printed x ray films.
Nicotine has a therapeutic window of effectiveness in a Drosophila melanogaster model of Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Mannett Brady S. , Capt Braden , Pearman Krista , Buhlman Lori M. , VandenBrooks John M. , Call Gerald B. 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Strong epidemiological evidence and studies in models of Parkinson’s disease (PD) suggest that nicotine may be therapeutically beneficial in PD patients. However, a number of clinical trials utilizing nicotine in PD patients have had mixed results, indicating that either nicotine is not beneficial in PD patients, or an important aspect of nicotine therapy was absent. Here we show that continuous early nicotine administration improves both climbing and flight deficiencies present in homozygous park25 mutant PD model Drosophila melanogaster. Using a new climbing assay, we identify several climbing deficiencies in this PD model that are improved or rescued by nicotine treatment. Amongst these benefits, it appears that nicotine improves the ability of the park25 flies to descend the climbing vial by being able to climb down more. Importantly, we show that in order for nicotine benefits on climbing and flight to happen, nicotine administration must occur in a discrete time frame following adult fly eclosure: within one day for climbing or five days for flight. This therapeutic window of nicotine administration may help to explain its lack of efficacy in human clinical trials, suggesting a need to test earlier nicotine therapy in PD patients.
Extracellular vesicles isolated from dsRNA sprayed barley plants exhibit no growth inhibition or gene silencing in Fusarium graminearum
Authors: Schlemmer Timo , Lischka Richard , Biedenkopf Dagmar , Koch Aline 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
Incorporating a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-expressing transgene into plants or applying dsRNA by spraying it onto plant leaves successfully protects plants against invading pathogens with RNA interference (RNAi). How dsRNAs or siRNAs are transferred between donor host cells and recipient fungal cells is largely unknown It is speculated that plant extracellular vesicles (EVs) function as RNA shuttles between plants and their interacting pathogens. Recently, we found that EVs isolated from HIGS or SIGS plants contained dsRNA-derived siRNAs. In this study, we evaluated whether isolated EVs from RNA-sprayed barley ( Hordeum vulgare ) plants affected the growth of the phytopathogenic ascomycete Fusarium graminearum ( Fg ). Encouraged by our previous finding that dropping barley-derived EVs on Fg cultures caused fungal stress phenotypes, we conducted an in vitro growth experiment in microtiter plates where we co-cultivated Fg with plant EVs isolated from dsRNA-sprayed barley leaves. We observed that co-cultivation of Fg macroconidia with barley EVs did not affect fungal growth. Furthermore, plant EVs containing SIGS-derived siRNA appeared not to affect Fg growth and showed no gene silencing activity on FgCYP51 genes. We conclude that either the amount of spray-derived sRNA was insufficient to induce target gene silencing (SIGS) in Fg or Fg uptake of plant EVs from liquid cultures was inefficient or impossible.
»Mehr als das« – ein programmatischer Titel auch in gattungstheoretischer Hinsicht
Authors: Leiß Judith 
Published: September 2021

Artikelbeginn:[English title and abstract below]
Dieses Buch ist so Mindfuck. [...] [D]ieses Buch lebt davon, dass man keinen Plan hat. Dass man, genau wie der Protagonist, keine Ahnung hat, was da eigentlich abgeht. [...] Wie der Protagonist hinterfragt man das, was man kennt, denkt sich zwischendurch »wtf« und ist sich einschließlich des Endes nie so ganz sicher, was jetzt eigentlich Sache ist. (Weltentraeumerin 2019)
Dieses Urteil der LovelyBooks-Rezensentin Weltentraeumerin über Patrick Ness’ Mehr als das (engl. EA More Than This) ist insofern repräsentativ, als fast alle der etwas ausführlicheren Rezensionen auf der Plattform hervorheben, dass die Lektüre dieses Buches mehr Fragen aufwirft als sie beantwortet.

Patrick Ness’s More Than ThisA Hybrid of Postmodern Utopia and Adolescent Novel
The novel More Than This (2013) by Patrick Ness is an enthralling but potentially disconcerting text; the construction principle of which seems to be deliberate confusion. It tells the story of 16-year-old Seth who drowns in the first chapter of the book and then finds himself in a desolate, abandoned place, wondering whether he is still alive or in some version of hell – or somewhere in between – and dreaming his last dream in the moment of death. Or might Seth have woken up from what could be called a collective dream, a virtual reality that has become the safe haven for humanity after the physical world has become uninhabitable? Neither the protagonist nor the reader is given a conclusive answer. This article addresses the literary strategies that are deployed in the novel to create this plurality of possible readings. Specific attention is paid to the way in which structural elements of the utopian novel and the adolescent novel are combined and hybridised. Drawing on the concept of heterotopia as a postmodern utopian subgenre, it is argued that More Than This can be read as an aesthetic realisation of a post-modern frame of mind, generating what Jean-François Lyotard calls the differend, and thereby offering readers the opportunity to consciously endure radical plurality.
Adaptive method for the solution of 1D and 2D advection–diffusion equations used in environmental engineering
Authors: Szymkiewicz Romuald , Gąsiorowski Dariusz 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
The paper concerns the numerical solution of one-dimensional (1D) and two-dimensional (2D) advection–diffusion equations. For the numerical solution of the 1D advection–diffusion equation, a method, originally proposed for the solution of the 1D pure advection equation, has been developed. A modified equation analysis carried out for the proposed method allowed increasing of the resulting solution accuracy and, consequently, to reduce the numerical dissipation and dispersion. This is achieved by proper choice of the involved weighting parameter being a function of the Courant number and the diffusive number. The method is adaptive because for uniform grid point and for uniform flow velocity, the weighting parameter takes a constant value, whereas for non-uniform grid and for varying flow velocity, its value varies in the region of solution. For the solution of the 2D transport equation, the dimensional decomposition in the form of Strang splitting technique is used. Consequently, this equation is reduced to a series of the 1D equations with regard to x- and y-directions which next are solved using the aforementioned method. The results of computational experiments compared with the exact solutions confirmed that the proposed approaches ensure high solution accuracy of the transport equations.
Prediction of longitudinal and transverse profiles of pressure flushing cones using artificial intelligence and data pre-processing
Authors: Daryaee Mehdi , Ahmadi Farshad , Peykani Peyman , Zayeri Mohammadreza 
Published: September 2021

AbstractOne of the most critical issues in dam reservoir management is the determination of sediment level after flushing operation. Artificial intelligence (AI) methods have recently been considered in this context. The present study adopts four AI approaches, including the Feed-Forward Neural Network (FFNN), Cascade Feed-Forward Neural Network (CFFNN), Gene Expression Programming (GEP), and Bayesian Networks (BNs). Experimental data were exploited to train and test the models. The results revealed that the models were able to estimate the post-flushing sediment level accurately. FFNN outperformed the other models. Furthermore, the importance of model inputs was determined using the τ-Kendall (τ–k), Random Forest (RF), and Shannon Entropy (SE) pre-processing methods. The initial level of sediment was found to be the most important input, while the orifice output flow rate was observed to have the lowest importance in modeling. Finally, inputs of higher weights were introduced to the FFNN model (as the best predictive model), and the analysis of the results indicated that the exclusion of less important input variables would have no significant impact on model performance.
Facile synthesis of ZnO/CuO/Ag2O ternary metal oxide nanocomposite for effective photodegradation of organic water pollutants
Authors: Meena Parmeshwar Lal , Poswal Krishna , Surela Ajay Kumar , Saini Jitendra Kumar 
Published: September 2021

AbstractThe current study is focused on fabrication of a ternary metal oxide nanocomposite (ZnO/CuO/Ag2O) as an efficient and superior photocatalyst by step-wise implanting of p-type CuO and Ag2O semiconductors onto an n-type semiconductor (ZnO) via a chemical method. The structural and textural characteristics of the manufactured samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy combined with electron dispersive spectroscopy (FESEM-EDS) and UV–visible spectroscopy. The photocatalytic performance of the fabricated ternary nanocomposite was tested against the photocatalytic degradation of crystal violet (CV) and rhodamine B (RhB) organic dyes under solar light irradiation. The ternary nanocomposite demonstrated about 99.05% and 97.38% degradation efficiency toward CV and RhB dyes under solar light irradiation in a time period of 105 min. The calculated rate constants (k, min−1) for degradation under solar light over the ZnO/CuO/Ag2O nanocomposite were 4.26 and 3.61 times higher than the k value obtained over ZnO nanoparticles for CV and RhB dyes, respectively. The main reactive species taking part in the photodegradation processes were •OH and •O2− over ZnO/CuO/Ag2O photocatalysts under solar light illumination. Furthermore, the recycle experiments confirmed good reusability and photo-stability of the ZnO/CuO/Ag2O ternary nanocomposite.
Phycoremediation of pollutants from secondary treated coke-oven wastewater using poultry litter as nutrient source: a cost-effective polishing technique
Authors: Rai Abhilasha , Sen Aniket , Sarkar Biswajit , Chakrabarty Jitamanyu , Mondal Bikash Kumar , Dutta Susmita 
Published: September 2021

Abstract
This article focuses on the phycoremediation of pollutants from secondary treated coke-oven effluent through a green and economical route. A microalgal sample was collected and identified as a consortium of Chlorella sp. and Synechococcus sp. The culture cost was reduced by using poultry litter extract as supplementary material to BG-11 medium. Since the major pollutants present in real secondary treated coke-oven wastewater are phenol, ammoniacal-N (NH4+) and cyanide, several matrices were designed with these three major pollutants by varying their initial concentrations such as phenol (2–10 mg/L), cyanide (0.3–1 mg/L) and NH4+ (100–200 mg/L), termed as simulated secondary treated coke-oven wastewater. Maximum removal was observed with individual solutions of phenol (4 mg/L), cyanide (0.6 mg/L) and NH4+ (175 mg/L), while maximum removal in simulated secondary treated coke-oven wastewater was observed at higher concentrations of phenol (8 mg/L) and cyanide (0.8 mg/L) and the same concentration of NH4+ (175 mg/L). A consortium was found effective to meet statutory limits of pollutants. Kinetic model was developed for predicting growth of consortium and observed that the poultry litter extract-enriched BG-11 medium showed higher values of maximum specific growth rate (0.56 per day) and carrying capacity (1,330 mg/L) than that in BG-11 medium only.
MiR-218-5p Mediates Myocardial Fibrosis after Myocardial Infarction by Targeting CX43
Authors: Sun Bing , Zhao Cuimei , Mao Yu 
Published: September 2021

Background:
Myocardial fibrosis after myocardial infarction (MI) has been considered a core factor
in the deterioration of cardiac function. Previous studies have shown that miRNA plays an important role in
various pathophysiological processes of the heart. However, the role of miRNA in myocardial fibrosis regulation
after MI remains unclear. In the present study, we documented that miR-218-5p was significantly decreased
in myocardial fibroblasts after MI.

Methods:
The miRNA expression profiles of MI were downloaded from GEO Datasets. The expression of a
fibrosis-related gene in vivo and in vitro was analyzed by RT-PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemical
staining.

Results:
Total 7 up- and 9 downregulated common miRNAs were found in the two profiles. Among these
common genes, miR-218-5p was downregulated in the MI mice. MiR-218-5p mediated the myocardial fibrosis
in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, we found that GJA1 (CX43) may be the target of miR218-5p, and overexpressed
CX43 can partly block the function of miR-218-5p in fibrosis inhibition.

Conclusion:
Our results suggested that miR-218-5p plays an important role in myocardial fibrosis after MI by
targeting CX43. Thus, miR-218-5p promises to be a potential diagnosis and treatment of myocardial fibrosis
after MI.
Electrosprayed Nanoparticles as Drug Delivery Systems for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Malik Sairish , Subramanian Sundarrajan , Hussain Tanveer , Nazir Ahsan , Ramakrishna Seeram 
Published: September 2021

Background:
Nanotechnology is a tool being used intensely in the area of drug delivery systems in
the biomedical field. Electrospraying is one of the nanotechnological methods, which is growing due to its importance
in the development of nanoparticles comprising bioactive compounds. It is helpful in improving the
efficacy, reducing side effects of active drug elements, and is useful in targeted drug delivery. When compared
to other conventional methods like nanoprecipitation, emulsion diffusion, and double emulsification, electrospraying
offers better advantages to produce micro/nanoparticles due to its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and
single-step process.

Objective:
The aim of this paper is to highlight the use of electrosprayed nanoparticles for biomedical applications.

Methods:
We conducted a literature review on the usage of natural and synthetic materials to produce nanoparticles,
which can be used as a drug delivery system for medical purposes.

Results:
We summarized a possible key role of electrosprayed nanoparticles in different therapeutic applications
(tissue regeneration, cancer).

Conclusion:
The modest literature production denotes that further investigation is needed to assess and validate
the promising role of drug-loaded nanoparticles through the electrospraying process as noninvasive materials in
the biomedical field.
Effects of Urtica dioica on Metabolic Profiles in Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Clinical Trials
Authors: Kolahi Ali-Asghar , Sahebkar Amirhossein , Tabrizi Reza , Sekhavati Eghbal , Nowrouzi-Sohrabi Peyman , Rezaei Shahla , Tabari Parinaz , Ghoran Salar Hafez , Jamali Navid , Jalali Mohammad , Moosavi Mahsa , Bettampadi Deepti , Safiri Saeid 
Published: September 2021

Background:Several studies have investigated the effect of Urtica dioica (UD) consumption on metabolic profiles in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); however, the findings are inconsistent. This systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials were performed to summarize the evidence of the effects of UD consumption on metabolic profiles in patients with T2DM.Methods:Eligible studies were retrieved from searches of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases until December 2019. Cochran (Q) and I-square statistics were used to examine heterogeneity across included clinical trials. Data were pooled using a fixed-effect or random-effects model and expressed as weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI).Results:Among 1485 citations, thirteen clinical trials were found to be eligible for the current metaanalysis. UD consumption significantly decreased levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG) (WMD = - 17.17 mg/dl, 95% CI: -26.60, -7.73, I2 = 93.2%), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) (WMD = -0.93, 95% CI: - 1.66, -0.17, I2 = 75.0%), C-reactive protein (CRP) (WMD = -1.09 mg/dl, 95% CI: -1.64, -0.53, I2 = 0.0%), triglycerides (WMD = -26.94 mg/dl, 95 % CI = [-52.07, -1.82], P = 0.03, I2 = 90.0%), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (WMD = -5.03 mmHg, 95% CI = -8.15, -1.91, I2 = 0.0%) in comparison to the control groups. UD consumption did not significantly change serum levels of insulin (WMD = 1.07 μU/ml, 95% CI: -1.59, 3.73, I2 = 63.5%), total-cholesterol (WMD = -6.39 mg/dl, 95% CI: -13.84, 1.05, I2 = 0.0%), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) (WMD = -1.30 mg/dl, 95% CI: -9.95, 7.35, I2 = 66.1%), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) (WMD = 6.95 mg/dl, 95% CI: -0.14, 14.03, I2 = 95.4%), body max index (BMI) (WMD = -0.16 kg/m2, 95% CI: -1.77, 1.44, I2 = 0.0%), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (WMD = -1.35 mmHg, 95% CI: -2.86, 0.17, I2= 0.0%) among patients with T2DM.Conclusion:UD consumption may result in an improvement in levels of FBS, HbA1c, CRP, triglycerides, and SBP, but did not affect levels of insulin, total-, LDL-, and HDL-cholesterol, BMI, and DBP in patients with T2DM.
Analytical Methods for the Quantification of Cisplatin, Carboplatin, and Oxaliplatin in Various Matrices over the Last Two Decades
Authors: Hrichi Hajer , Kouki Noura , Tar Haja 
Published: September 2021

Background:Platinum derivatives, including cisplatin and its later generations carboplatin, and oxaliplatin remain the most largely used drugs in the therapy of malignant diseases. They exert notable anticancer activity towards numerous types of solid tumors such as gastric, colorectal, bladder, ovary, and several others. The chemotherapeutic activity of these compounds, however, is associated with many unwanted side effects and drug resistance problems, limiting their application and effectiveness. Proper dosage is still an inherent problem, as these drugs are usually prescribed in small doses.Objective:Several analytical methods have been reported for the accurate quantification of cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin and their metabolites either alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic drugs, in different matrices, such as pharmaceutical formulations, biological fluids, cancer cells, and environmental samples. The main goal of this review is to systematically study the analytical methods already used for the analysis of cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin in various matrices during the last two decades.Results and Conclusion:In the literature, reviews showed that numerous analytical methods, such as electroanalytical, UV-visible spectrophotometry, chromatographic, fluorescence, atomic absorption spectrophotometry, and other spectroscopic methods combined with mass spectrometry were used for the determination of these compounds in various matrices.