bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Colonial Under the Covers
Authors: Sheldon Jordyn 
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACT
Developed by KAIROS, the Blanket Exercise is a celebrated educational tool that uses role-play in an attempt to convey Canadian history from an Indigenous perspective.The goals of the exercise speak to a movement towards truth and reconciliation in Canada, but a content analysis exposes that the exercise is limited in its capacities for supporting a movement towards decolonization. Unangax scholar Eve Tuck and K. Wayne Yang remind all scholars and educators that decolonization is not a metaphor. If a process is not specifically oriented toward the repatriation of Indigenous lands, it is not a decolonial process. However, as more settlers come to consider decolonization and mobilize it in pedagogical contexts, it has been employed loosely, liberally and without the necessary care. The incompleteness of the narrative and representations in the Blanket Exercise, exacerbated and facilitated by metaphor, reifies a distorted history of Canada. Rather than disrupt settler colonialism it reproduces it. The KAIROS Blanket Exercise cannot function as a decolonial educational tool as it strategically employs metaphors to disengage the material power of decolonization.
Missed Opportunities: Reflections and Regrets of a Brand-New Professor
Authors: Ruffin Jean Ferguson 
Published: March 2021

ABSTRACT
Very little can prepare a new professor for the angst associated with planning a course full of polarizing content in an online learning environment. Each assignment, discussion board, and course reading is a learning opportunity that can either lead to enlightenment or evoke strong negative reactions that hinder student growth for the entire semester. The primary mode for dialogue in an online course is the discussion board but the discussion board presents unique challenges when the course content is potentially controversial. The professor is not always available to model effective communication and referee discussions that evoke strong, emotional reactions. Further complicating matters is the fear associated with creating a course that generates negative course evaluations—a major concern for a tenure-track professor. The motivation behind this article is to reflect on my first attempt at teaching a course designed to critique social justice issues in education. The article chronicles my planning process, my successes, my fears, and ultimately my own guilt at not pushing the envelope far enough to truly challenge my students to think critically about their own experiences with power and privilege.
De-constructing small clauses: The case of Mandarin Chinese
Authors: Paul Waltraud 
Published: March 2021

Taking up an early observation by Y.-H. Audrey Li (1985) stating the systematic lack of Chinese equivalents for English small clauses (SC) with nominal predicates (They elected John president), this article demonstrates that Chinese lacks SCs altogether. This holds independently of the approach adopted, be it the analysis of SCs as lexical projections with different category labels (cf. Stowell 1981, Matushansky 2019) or the uniform analysis of SCs as PredP (cf. Bowers 1993). In Chinese, there is no root vs non-root asymmetry for predicates: If a category X is not licit as an autonomous predicate in matrix sentences, then it is not licit as predicate elsewhere, i.e. in non-root clauses, either. Furthermore, Chinese has no exceptional case marking verbs, i.e. verbs selecting SC-complements. Claims to the contrary in the literature are based on Chinese translations of English SCs and involve completely different structures. Given the lack of SCs in non-root contexts in Chinese, an analysis postulating SCs for non-verbal predication in matrix sentences does not seem to be warranted.
One-Step Multiplexed Droplet Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction for Quantification of p190 BCR-ABL1 Fusion Transcript in B-Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Authors: Martinez Ryan J. , Kang Qing , Nennig Davis , Bailey Nathanael G. , Brown Noah A. , Betz Bryan L. , Tewari Muneesh , Thyagarajan Bharat , Bachanova Veronika , Mroz Pawel 
Published: March 2021

Context.—
Quantification and detection of the t(9;22) (BCR-ABL1) translocation in chronic myelogenous leukemia and B-lymphoblastic leukemia are important for directing treatment protocols and monitoring disease relapse. However, quantification using traditional reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is dependent on a calibration curve and is prone to laboratory-to-laboratory variation. Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) is a novel method that allows for highly sensitive absolute quantification of transcript copy number. As such, ddPCR is a good candidate for disease monitoring, an assay requiring reproducible measurements with high specificity and sensitivity.

Objective.—
To compare results of ddPCR and RT-qPCR BCR-ABL1 fusion transcript measurements of patient samples and determine if either method is superior.

Design.—
We optimized and standardized a 1-step multiplexed ddPCR assay to detect BCR-ABL1 p190 and ABL1 e10 transcripts. The ddPCR optimization included varying cycle number and primer concentration with standardization of droplet generation and droplet number and analyses to improve data sensitivity. Following optimization, ddPCR measurements were performed on clinical samples and compared with traditional RT-qPCR results.

Results.—
Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction was able to detect the BCR-ABL1 p190 transcript to 0.001% (1:10−5) with a calculated limit of detection and limit of quantitation of 4.1 and 5.3 transcripts, respectively. When tested on patient samples, ddPCR was able to identify 20% more positives than a laboratory-developed 2-step RT-qPCR assay.

Conclusions.—
Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction demonstrated increased detection of BCR-ABL1 compared with RT-qPCR. Improved detection of BCR-ABL1 p190 and the potential for improved standardization across multiple laboratories makes ddPCR a suitable method for disease monitoring in patients with acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia.
Redaktionelt forord
Authors: Ploug Niels 
Published: March 2021

Der er ingen tvivl om, at internettet og den medfølgende digitalisering af vores hverdag er kommet for at blive, og at det samtidig har ændret samfundet, borgernes hverdag, velfærdsstaten, den måde der drives virksomhed på, og den måde vi kommunikerer med hinanden på. Det er samtidig så selvfølgeligt, at yngre læsere ikke har nogen erindring om, at det nogensinde har været anderledes, mens mere modne læsere godt kan huske dengang verden var analog.
Målet med dette nummer af bladet er at stoppe lidt op og tage bestik af den digitale udvikling og dens betydning på væsentlige områder i det danske samfund. Artiklerne er for de flestes vedkommende indlæg for styrelser og organisationer, der har spillet en central rolle i digitaliseringen af Danmark, og er dermed ikke traditionelle forskningsartikler.
In vivo and In vitro Antioxidant Activities of Aqueous and Ethanol Stem Bark Extracts of Vitex doniana on Doxorubicin-induced Oxidative Stress in Rats
Authors: Sulaiman Mohammed Aliyu , Dahiru Daniel , Ibrahim Mohammed Auwal , Hayatu Ahmed Ibrahim 
Published: March 2021

Background: Oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension, myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, atherosclerosis, muscular dystrophy, aging and other associated diseases. Vitex doniana is used in Adamawa, northern Nigeria to treat oxidative stress associated diseases. However, the antioxidative effects of the plant have not been scientifically examined in oxidative stress experimental animal models. The aim of this study is to investigate the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities of aqueous and ethanol stem bark extracts of Vitex doniana in oxidative stress model of rats.
Methods: The study used 35 adult albino rats weighing 175 ± 25 g, of which 30 were induced with oxidative stress by intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin (10 mg/kg) for three consecutive days. Animals were treated by oral administration of silymarin (100 mg/kg) and Vitex doniana aqueous or ethanol extract (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg) for 14 consecutive days before they were sacrificed on the 15th day and blood was analyzed for biochemical indices of oxidative stress.
Results: The results of the phytochemistry showed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, phenols, saponins, terpenoids, glycosides: and total flavonoids (52.70 ± 1.60 mg/ml and 75.40 ± 0.80 mg/ml), total phenols (21.45 ± 1.54 mg/ml and 26.50 ± 1.22 mg/ml) for aqueous and ethanol stem bark extracts respectively. The extracts scavenged DPPH radical, reduced Fe3+ and inhibited lipid peroxidation. Doxorubicin significantly (p<0.05) lowered the levels of SOD, CAT, GR and TAS and significantly (p<0.05) but, increased the level of LPO. Oral treatment with Vitex doniana extracts significantly (p<0.05) increased the activities of CAT, GR, SOD and TAS while LPO was significantly (p<0.05) lowered. Vitex doniana stem bark extracts significantly (p<0.05) improved the biochemical derangements observed in the induced untreated animals in comparable manner to that of Silymarin.
Conclusion: The present study provides the scientific rationale for the use of Vitex doniana stem bark in traditional medicine and has a viable antioxidative capacity both in vitro and in vivo.
Activation of Sirtuin 1 by Ellagic Acid Ameliorates Cisplatin-Induced Apoptosis, Oxidative Stress and Nephrotoxicity
Authors: Neamatallah Thikryat , Eid Basma G. , Bagher Amina M. , Nasrullah Mohammed Z. , Ali Soad S. , Mohammedsaleh Zuhair M. , El-Shitany Nagla A. 
Published: March 2021

Background: Cisplatin (Cis) is a chemotherapeutic agent commonly applied in treating different cancers. However, acute renal injury remains a major side effect of Cis that limits its clinical use. Oxidative stress in renal tissues play a key role in Cis-induced toxicity. This research aimed to investigate the impact of ellagic acid (Ella) on Cis-induced apoptotic renal injury and the possible involvement of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and oxidative stress as a possible protective mechanism.
Methods: Twenty-four Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups (n=6) and treated as follows. The control (Cont) group (0.9% saline), Ella group (10 mg/kg), Cis group (7.5 mg/kg), Ella + Cis group (10 mg/kg + 7.5 mg/kg). Ella was administered 7 days prior to Cis injection. Seventy-two hours later, the rats were sacrificed, and blood and kidney samples were collected. Biochemical analyses were performed on serum and kidney homogenate. The histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses were performed on the formalin preserved kidneys.
Results: Ella significantly decreased serum creatinine and urea levels compared to the Cis group. Furthermore, Ella protects the kidney cortex and medulla against most Cis-induced histopathological changes. Ella significantly decreased kidney contents of malondialdehyde (MDA). Moreover, Ella reversed the Cis-induced reduction of kidney antioxidants, including glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. Ella decreased kidney protein expression of both cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and Bax proteins while increased SIRT1 and Bcl2 expression.
Conclusion: The results revealed a reduction in SIRT1 protein expression in rat renal medullary and cortical tissues following Cis treatment. However, Ella significantly enhanced SIRT1 expression, antioxidants levels, and reduced Cis-induced apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress by increasing the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and reducing the expression of COX-2 and MDA, respectively. These findings provide additional evidence of the antioxidant and antiapoptotic effect of Ella in Cis-induced renal toxicity.
Alterations in Serum Myostatin Levels via Swimming Exercise in High Fructose Mediated Metabolic Syndrome Model
Authors: Karaman Muhammed Emre , Arslan Cengiz , Gürsu Mehmet Ferit , Arat Zelal , Türkoğlu Furkan 
Published: March 2021

Aims: Metabolic syndrome is a table of abdominal diseases characterized by insulin resistance, obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, and it is a serious risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this study was to understand how metabolic syndrome causes a change in myostatin levels, and to understand if swimming exercise have protective and therapeutic effects in fructose mediated metabolic syndrome model by regulating serum myostatin level.
Methodology: A total of 21 Sprague Dawley male rats were used in the study. Metabolic syndrome was induced by adding 30% fructose into drinking water for 5 weeks The rats (6-8 weeks old, weighing 200-250 g) were randomly divided into 3 groups as 7 rats in each cage. Swimming exercises were applied three days a week for six weeks. On exercise days, rats were exercised for 20 minutes in a day. Blood was collected from all animals in aprotinin tubes to be used in the necessary analysis with decapitation. Serum samples obtained after centrifugation were kept at -80 ℃ until the assay were performed. In serum samples, myostatin was measured by ELISA method.
Results: There was a statistically significant difference resulting from G2, which had the highest value in glucose and triglyceride levels between groups. G2 had the lowest HDL levels. Myostatin levels were significantly higher in G2 compared to other groups.
Conclusion: Moderate swimming exercises are protective and therapeutic in preventing chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome. In line with these results, it can be said that swimming exercise is a therapeutic practice that regulates impaired fasting serum glucose, increased TG levels and decreased HDL levels and downregulates serum myostatin levels.
Impact of COVID-Pandemic on the Mental Health of Medical Students of Sindh Province, Pakistan
Authors: Dur-re-Shahwar . , Metlo Marvi , Ahmed Zuheeb , Mughal Zaheer , Shaikh Bilawal , Ahmer Arslan , Sultana Razia , Ain Noor ul , Kobab Farkhanda , Ahmed Tahseen 
Published: March 2021

Introduction: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome is group of viral disease associated with respiratory infection and it has similar symptoms of COVID-pandemic. The first case of SARS was reported in ancient remote areas of China in 2003 and spread throughout the world within short period of time. World Health Organization coordinated with numerous health experts around the globe in order to overcome the pandemic condition.
Methodology: The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted for the period of 06 months from June 2020 to December 2020 at different medical universities of Sindh province. Total 374 study samples were selected and data was collected from the medical students of numerous medical universities of Sindh province and well designated questionnaire was filled by all participants through proper guidelines provided to them. Data was analyzed by using statistical software SPSS version 24.00.
Results: Impact of Covid Pandemic on the mental health of medical students was evaluated by compiling the data from questionnaire filled by them. Frequency of males were 216(%) and females 158(%), mostly people were resident of rural areas with the frequencies of 226 (%) and only 148(%) belongs to urban areas. 114 participants belongs to MBBS degree, 49 belongs to BDS, 72 Nursing, 83 Pharmacy and 56 students belongs to Public Health department of numerous medical universities.
Conclusion: It was concluded that there was bad impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of medical students of Universities from Sindh province. Level of anxiety among the students totally depends upon variables were online classis, examination, ward visits and Assignments. Academic activities along with financial matter had direct impact on the mental health of students.
Study on Total Phenolic, Flavonoid and Antioxidant Capacity of Fish Singgang Extracts
Authors: Jamain Anis Nafisah , Ridzwan Norhaslinda , Jumli Mimie Noratiqah , Hadi Norhayati Abd , Rohin Mohd Adzim Khalili , Arshad Roslan , Bakar Che Abdullah Abu , Latif Ahmad Zubaidi A. 
Published: March 2021

Aim: To evaluate the ash and moisture contents, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant potential of Terengganu singgang extracts.
Study Design: Experimental study.
Place and Duration of Study: Central Laboratory, Tissue Culture Laboratory, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin, Terengganu between April 2019 and July 2019.
Methodology: Samples comprised three types of singgang dishes, which were prepared, cooked, and then extracted with distilled water and ethanol (EtOH) in different strengths, 50%, 70%, and 100%. These singgang samples were chub mackerel (ST), Indian mackerel (SK), and a control sample with no fish(SC). Extracts were analyzed for their moisture and ash content. Also, the total phenolic content (TPC) was assayed using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, while total flavonoid content (TFC) using AlCl3 colorimetric assay, and antioxidant activity using 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) was also evaluated.
Results: Experimental assays showed that the SC sample extracted in 100% EtOH produced the highest yield (3.7%). SK samples were lower than SC and ST in moisture content and ash content with 94.21%, 96.37% and 93.03% moisture content and 0.85%, 0.71%, and 0.96% ash content. Meanwhile, the extract of ST in 100% EtOH yielded the highest TPC (315.0 mg GAE/100g) and T-AC (8.8 U/mL) but the lowest in DPPH scavenging activity (12.2%). On the other hand, the extract of SK in 70% EtOH gave the highest TFC with 6485.3 mg QE/100g. The correlation of TFC and TPC with DPPH and T-AOC assays was positively significant.
Conclusion: In conclusion, the ST extract yielded the best antioxidant capacity.
Dynamical system learning using extreme learning machines with safety and stability guarantees
Authors: Salehi Iman , Rotithor Ghananeel , Yao Gang , Dani Ashwin P. 
Published: March 2021

SummaryThis article presents a continuous dynamical system model learning methodology that can be used to generate reference trajectories for the autonomous systems to follow, such that these trajectories are invariant to a given closed set and uniformly ultimately bounded with respect to an equilibrium point inside the closed set. The autonomous system dynamics are approximated using extreme learning machines (ELM), the parameters of which are learned subject to the safety constraints expressed using a reciprocal barrier function, and the stability constraints derived using a Lyapunov analysis in the presence of the ELM reconstruction error. This formulation leads to solving a constrained quadratic program (QP) that includes a finite number of decision variables with an infinite number of constraints. Theorems are developed to relax the QP with infinite number of constraints to a QP with a finite number of constraints which can be practically implemented using a QP solver. In addition, an active sampling methodology is developed that further reduced the number of required constraints for the QP by only evaluating the constraints at a smaller subset of points. The proposed method is validated using a motion reproduction task on a seven degree‐of‐freedom Baxter robot, where the task space position and velocity dynamics are learned using the presented methodology.
Biomass‐Derived P, N Self‐Doped Hard Carbon as Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalyst and Anode Material for Seawater Batteries
Authors: Kim Jioh , Park Jinkyu , Lee Jisung , Lim Won‐Gwang , Jo Changshin , Lee Jinwoo 
Published: March 2021

AbstractOwing to the demand for low‐cost batteries with safety, Na‐seawater batteries (SWBs) have received considerable attention as a new energy storage system (ESS). In SWB, it is necessary to use an advanced oxygen evolution/reduction reaction (OER/ORR) catalyst for high energy efficiency (EE) in the cathode and a good sodium storage material for a highly reversible capacity in the anode part. In this study, nanostructured and N and P dual‐doped hard carbon is fabricated by simply carbonizing abundant biomass, pine pollen. The oxygen electrocatalytic performance of pine pollen carbon (PPC) for a cathode is confirmed by a seawater half‐cell test, which exhibits the lowest overpotential reported among Pt/C (20 wt%) and commercial hard carbon (HC) electrodes. The sodium‐storage performance of PPC as an anode active material is tested using a coin‐type Na half‐cell, which exhibits a higher reversible capacity than that of the HC electrode. To reduce the manufacturing cost, this SWB, comprising both PPC electrodes at the anode and cathode, are fabricated and shown an EE of 74% and a coulombic efficiency (CE) of 98%. This study proposes a low‐cost and safe ESS system by utilizing seawater as catholyte, bifunctional (OER/ORR, sodiation/desodiation) electrode configuration, and abundantly available biomass carbon.
Imide‐Functionalized Triarylamine‐Based Donor‐Acceptor Polymers as Hole Transporting Layers for High‐Performance Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Li Bolin , Yang Kun , Liao Qiaogan , Wang Yang , Su Mengyao , Li Yongchun , Shi Yongqiang , Feng Xiyuan , Huang Jiachen , Sun Huiliang , Guo Xugang 
Published: March 2021

AbstractDopant‐free hole‐transporting layers (HTLs) are highly desired for realizing efficient and stable perovskite solar cells (PVSCs), but only very few of them can enable power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) over 20%. Herein, two imide‐functionalized triarylamine‐based donor‐acceptor (D‐A) type copolymers, PBTI‐TPA and PTTI‐TPA, are developed and applied as dopant‐free HTLs in inverted PVSCs. The combination of a classic redox‐active triphenylamine donor unit and an electron‐withdrawing oligothiophene imide co‐unit with rigid and planar backbone furnishes the two polymers with quasi‐planar backbone, suitable frontier molecular orbital (FMO) energy levels, favorable thermal stability, appropriate film morphology, and passivation effect. More importantly, the greatly improved hole mobility renders them as promising HTLs for PVSCs. As a result, the undoped PTTI‐TPA‐based inverted PVSCs deliver a remarkable PCE up to 21% as well as negligible hysteresis and substantial long‐term stability, outperforming the devices based on PBTI‐TPA and PTAA. The performance also represents one of the highest PCEs reported to date for PVSCs based on dopant‐free polymeric HTLs. The results highlight the great potentials of oligothiophene imides for constructing donor‐acceptor polymeric HTLs for enabling high‐performance dopant‐free PVSCs.
p‐Menthadienes as Biorenewable Feedstocks for a Monoterpene‐Based Biorefinery
Authors: Tibbetts Joshua D. , Bull Steven D. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractA terpene‐based biorefinery is described that uses crude sulfate turpentine (CST) and gum turpentine (GT) to produce mixtures of p‐menthadienes (p‐MeDs) as biorenewable terpene feedstocks. An acid catalyzed ring opening reaction (6 m aq. H2SO4, 90 °C) is first used to convert the major bicyclic monoterpenes (α‐pinene, β‐pinene, and 3‐carene) in untreated CST (or GT with 5 mol% Me2S) into mixtures of monocyclic p‐MeDs. These unpurified sulfurous p‐MeD mixtures (α‐terpinene, γ‐terpinene, and isoterpinolene) are then used as feedstocks for oxidative aromatization (OA), ozonolysis, Diels–Alder, and hydrogenation reactions to produce p‐cymene, fragrances, anti‐oxidants, drugs, biopolymers, and biofuels. Mechanistic studies of the OA reaction used to convert the p‐MeDs into p‐cymene reveal that p‐cymene hydroperoxide acts as an initiator to produce polar radical intermediates that are stabilized by DMSO generated in situ through aerobic oxidation of Me2S. This enables CST and GT to be converted into biorenewable p‐cymene in 50–60% yields (two steps) using a process that only requires aqueous acid, oxygen, heat, and a final distillation step.