bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Hepato-protective and Nephron-Protective Potential of Euphorbia nivulia Buch.-Ham. Against Carbon Tetrachloride-induced Toxicity in Sprague Dawley Rats
Authors: Younus Muhammad , Hasan Muhammad Mohtasheemul , Ahmad Khalil , Haq Ihsanul , Ahmad Rizwan , Nasir Bakht , Amin Adnan , Shirazi Jafir Hussain , Hanif Muhammad , Shaheen Ghazala , Ejaz Syeda Abida , Habiba Ume 
Published: April 2021

Background: Euphorbia nivulia Buch.-Ham (En) is one of the members of Euphorbiaceae family that is rich in phytochemicals including flavonoids, triterpenes and polyphenolics.
Purpose: To evaluate hepato-nephronprotective potential of Euphorbia nivulia.
Study Design: Sprague Dawley rats were used as animal models in the study.
Methods: En hydro alcoholic extract was standardized and managed in high dose (300 mgkg−1 body weight (BW) and low dose (150 mgkg−1 BW) to Sprague Dawley rats, administered with CCl4 (1mlkg−1BW). Silymarin (50 mgkg−1 BW) was taken as positive control. The treatments were given thrice a week. Consequently, blood and hepatic homogenates were collected after 4 weeks of treatment. While the situation of kidney was explored through measurement of serum creatinine, serum urea, sodium and albumin levels. Hepatic and renal samples of rats treated with both 150 and 300 mg/kg of the extract were used for tissue pathological study.
Results: En extract revealed dose dependent moderate level of shelter against CCl4 intoxicated hepato-nephrotoxicity as directed from the acquired results. The decrease of the albumin levels by the maximum dose of the extract exceeded similar to that attained with Silymarin, and the protecting effects of the extract against oxidative destruction were evaluated. Examination of serum show significant (p < 0.05) elevation in the level of aspartate transaminase(AST), alkaline phosphatase(ALP), alanine transaminase(ALT), whereas decline were noted for albumin in CCl4 treated rats. Histopathological cuts and damages were seen in hepatic cells and kidney of rats managed by CCl4. But, co-administration of En extract, dose dependently, improved the CCl4-carried hepatic harms in these limits.
Conclusion: These effects propose that the phyto-ingredients of En extract with known polyphenols were able to improve the oxidative stress brought along with CCl4 and may be a useful healing mediator to manage oxidative stress related disorders like hepato-nephro toxicity.
Effects of ambient air dehumidification, air temperature, and drying duration on rough rice quality and pasting properties using fluidized bed and fixed bed dryers
Authors: Luthra Kaushik , Sadaka Sammy , Atungulu Griffiths 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBackground and objectivesHigh humidity ambient air is a common phenomenon in the United States ​Mid‐​South region, resulting in a delay in the drying process to avoid rewetting rough rice. Ambient air dehumidification could have the potential to overcome this challenge and result in a continuous drying process. Therefore, the present study explored the effects of ambient air dehumidification, air temperature, and drying duration on rough rice quality and pasting properties in a fluidized bed and fixed bed drying systems.FindingsA fluidized bed and a fixed bed drying systems were used to study the effects of dehumidification settings (with and without), air temperature (40°C, 45°C, and 50°C), and drying duration (30 min, 45 min, and 60 min) on rice quality and pasting properties in triplicates. Silica gel was used as a desiccant for ambient air dehumidification. The results showed that the range of moisture removal to be 4.5 to 7.1 (%, dry basis) for 1 hr in a fluidized bed rice drying. The maximum water absorbed by air achieved 0.382 and 0.434 kg for fluidized bed and fixed bed dryers, respectively, after 60 min of drying, at 50°C, and with air dehumidification. The peak viscosity of rough rice was lower for all fluidized bed experiments (2,712.8 cP) than the fixed bed drying experiments (2,815.8 cP).ConclusionsThe results showed that head rice yield and rice whiteness did not reduce in fluidized bed drying significantly than the fixed bed drying. Head rice yield was negatively correlated with rice whiteness. Ambient air dehumidification improved moisture removal from rough rice and can be employed during humid conditions. Pasting properties also supported the notion of attaining good quality rice dried in a fluidized bed system compared with a fixed bed drying system. Head rice yield was positively correlated with the peak and trough viscosities signifying the increase in milling yield with the rice water‐absorbing capacity and resistance to cooking textural breakdown.Significance and noveltyThe study proved that utilizing dehumidified air in a fluidized bed drying system could dehydrate rough rice without reducing quality. The system successfully utilized silica gel to dehumidify ambient air, allowing continuous ambient air in‐bin on‐farm drying of rough rice.
Some Thoughts about Following Leith's Orders
Authors: Bolles A. Lynn 
Published: April 2021

AbstractAnthropologist A. Lynn Bolles shares her experiences of the way in which Leith Mullings shaped her life and the lives of others. Bolles reflects on how Mullings would forcefully and emphatically create pathways and support systems to encourage Bolles and other sister‐scholars to grow and lead within professional spaces she was often surprised to find herself in.
Thermoalkalophilic recombinant esterase entrapment in chitosan/calcium/alginate‐blended beads and its characterization
Authors: Tercan Çisem , Sürmeli Yusuf , Şanlı‐Mohamed Gülşah 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBACKGROUNDEsterases (EC 3.1.1.1), a class of hydrolases, degrade the ester bonds of lipids into alcohol and carboxylic acids and synthesize carboxylic ester bonds. They are used in a variety of biotechnological, industrial, environmental, and pharmaceutical applications due to their many valuable properties. Particularly, extremophilic esterases with many superior properties are of great interest for various reactions. Immobilization of enzymes may provide some advantages over free enzymes not only to improve the properties of enzymes but also to increase the reusability of biocatalyst in industrial applications. Therefore, many different immobilization applications for enzymes have been reported in various studies. To our knowledge, a thermophilic esterase has not so far been immobilized by entrapment using chitosan/calcium/alginate‐blended beads. Here, we reported the immobilization of thermoalkalophilic recombinant esterase by entrapment using chitosan/calcium/alginate‐blended beads, and then the entrapped esterase was characterized biochemically in details.RESULTSIn the present study, a thermophilic recombinant esterase was immobilized by entrapment in chitosan/calcium/alginate‐blended beads for the first time. The 0.5 mg mL−1 purified recombinant esterase was entrapped in 1% chitosan, 2% alginate, and 0.7 M CaCl2 blended beads. The results showed that immobilization yield and entrapment efficiency of the entrapped esterase were 69.5% and 80.4%, respectively. SEM micrograph showed that the surface of the beads resembled a mesh and very compact structures. Chitosan/calcium/alginate‐blended beads exhibited an 18.8% swelling ratio and had a moderate porous structure. The entrapment technique highly enhanced the thermostability of the esterase and shifted its optimum temperature from 65 to 80 °C. The immobilized esterase was very stable in a wide range of pH (8.5–11) displaying maximum activity at pH 9. ZnCl2 slightly increased the activity of immobilized esterase whereas several metal ions reduced the enzyme activity. When the enzyme was immobilized in chitosan/calcium/alginate‐blended beads, its Km increased about 2 times and Vmax value decreased almost 1.5 times. Immobilization allowed repeated uses of the esterase having good operational stability in a continuous process.CONCLUSIONThe results revealed that the immobilization of a thermophilic recombinant esterase by entrapment in chitosan/calcium/alginate‐blended beads exhibited considerably better compared to other immobilization processes with various entrapment strategies. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Lignin‐modifying enzymes: a green and environmental responsive technology for organic compound degradation
Authors: da Silva Vilar Débora , Bilal Muhammad , Bharagava Ram Naresh , Kumar Ajay , Kumar Nadda Ashok , Salazar‐Banda Giancarlo R , Eguiluz Katlin Ivon Barrios , Romanholo Ferreira Luiz Fernando 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe applications of enzymes have reached an increasing prominence in the scenario of biocatalysis, stimulated mainly by advances in biotechnological processes to obtain products of high added value. The justification for this is the relevant growth of industrial activities that promote the production of various organic contaminants. Thus, enzymes offer the potential to improve industrial processes used in the food, pharmaceutical, textile, pulp and paper sectors. Specifically, the lignin‐modifying enzymes (LMEs) produced by white rot fungi are versatile biocatalysts. Due to their high specificity, a higher yield of biotechnological processes can be achieved, allowing one to obtain biodegradable products and reducing the amount of waste generated. Thus, evaluating the ligninolytic capacity of these enzymes can be a practical approach from the point of view of bioremediation to develop sustainable procedures in the treatment of recalcitrant organic compounds. In this context, this review provides an overview of the use of LMEs in industrial applicability, as well as their potential in contaminant degradation. Besides, this approach emerges to elucidate further the mechanisms of action and properties of LMEs, which have been gaining relevance in the context of lignocellulosic biorefinery. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Discrimination of soils managed with different sources of fertilization and plant species in organic and conventional farming through near‐infrared spectroscopy and chemometrics
Authors: Souza Monique , Trapp Talita , Junges Diéssica L , Lima Andria P , Brunetto Gustavo , da Silva Kazama Daniele C , Loss Arcângelo , dos Santos Thiago S , Lourenzi Cledimar R , Comin Jucinei J 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe combination of near‐infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and chemometrics can be used to group or discriminate soils based on spectral response. In this study, we conducted discrimination and classification analyses on soils managed with different sources of fertilization and plant species grown in organic and conventional farming systems.RESULTSPrincipal component analysis explained 96% (PC1) and 3% (PC2) of the data variability and separated the soil samples of organic and conventional management systems. The wavenumbers that contributed most to the separation of the management systems were in the range of 3600 and 7300 cm−1, especially the absorption peaks of 3700 and 4600 cm−1(characteristic of CH and NH combinations), and 5200 and 7000 cm−1(typical of OH combinations). Machine learning analysis usingk‐nearest neighbor and random forest algorithms was efficient in classifying soil samples according to management system with an accuracy of 97.8% and can therefore be used for future classification studies.CONCLUSIONBased on the results, we strongly recommend the use of NIR spectroscopy associated with chemometrics for discriminating soils grown withMalus domestica,Musaspp.,Oryza sativaandSolanum tuberosumL. under organic and conventional management systems through spectral response. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Novel use of Kombucha consortium to reduce Escherichia coli in dairy shed effluent
Authors: Laurenson Seth , Villamizar Laura , Ritchie Willis , Scott Sonya , Mackay Mike 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBACKGROUNDFaecal contamination from dairy farm effluent is a major risk to water quality in New Zealand. In this experiment we have tested the efficacy of Kombucha SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast), to reduce the concentration of Escherichia coli in dairy shed effluent (DSE).RESULTSKombucha SCOBY was highly effective in lowering the number of E. coli colony forming units (CFUs) to levels that were undetectable. The decrease in CFUs occurred rapidly within 48 h of Kombucha SCOBY being inoculated to the effluent matrix and was accompanied by a corresponding decline in pH.CONCLUSIONWe conclude that Kombucha SCOBY was effective in reducing the abundance of E. coli in DSE due to its effect on solution pH. Further work is required to assess the practicality of treating DSE with Kombucha SCOBY within a farm environment where effluent management and climatic complexities are important. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Polyaryletherketone in energy conversion and storage devices – a highly tailorable material with versatile properties
Authors: Feroze Gooty Saleha Wasim , Nalajala Naresh , Neergat Manoj 
Published: April 2021

AbstractPolymers have been a highly useful class of material for the last few decades owing to their ease of bulk production and fabrication. With the myriad of applications in day to day life, they have also found an important role in energy conversion and storage devices, not just as a housing material of the device but with an important role in the energy conversion process. Among the several polymers used in this area, polyaryletherketones (PAEKs) are one of the most versatile materials owing to their easy tailorability. The ether and ketone groups can be introduced in the main polymer chain in several ways to achieve the desired material properties. The main role of a polymer in an energy conversion device is that of a barrier to avoid the mixing of reactants and to selectively transport ions from one electrode to the other to maintain charge neutrality. The polymer membrane finds application in various electrochemical energy conversion devices such as fuel cells, lithium ion batteries, redox flow batteries, supercapacitors etc. The main focus of this work is to briefly review the extent of development in the PAEKs in various energy conversion and storage devices. © 2021 Society of Industrial Chemistry.
Introduction of a cold sensitivity‐conferring mutation into the RTA‐Bddsx hybrid system of Bactrocera dorsalis for establishment of a thermally controllable homozygous line
Authors: Dai Shu‐Mei , Huang Chun‐Yen , Chang Cheng 
Published: April 2021

AbstractBACKGROUNDFor efficient control of the economically important fruit pest Bactrocera dorsalis, a hybrid system combining ricin toxicity and sex‐related alternative splicing of the doublesex gene has been developed. This system exhibits the expected female‐specific lethal effect; however, the transgenic females do not survive, making it difficult to raise stable homozygous lines. Since modification of ricin toxin A chain (RTA) through a single‐residue change (Gly212 > Arg212) leads to cold‐sensitive posttranslational repression of its toxicity, we utilized this unique property to obtain RTA‐Bddsx females that survive at low temperature for line maintenance.RESULTSIn transient expression experiments using embryonic injection, two groups treated with RTAcs‐derived DNA (LERQcs and RTAcs) exhibited temperature‐dependent effects. The toxicity was higher at 29 °C than at 18 °C. The proportion of males was close to 50% at 18 °C in all the tested groups except LERQcs‐treated flies, which exhibited a high proportion of males (over 70%) at 29 °C. The results indicate the cold‐sensitive responses of RTA and further suggest a female‐specific lethal effect. Subsequently, 14 putative RTAcs‐Bddsx transgenic Ds‐Red+ G1 males were identified, and female‐specific lethal effects were observed in Ds‐Red+ G2 and G3 lines under cultivation at 29 °C but not at 18 °C. The male ratio can be increased to up to 95% in G3 line 001, indicating that RTAcs functions well in B. dorsalis.CONCLUSIONThe improved RTAcs‐Bddsx system with conditional toxicity represents a novel and promising step toward the practical control of B. dorsalis. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
Translingual Disciplinary Literacies: Equitable Language Environments to Support Literacy Engagement
Authors: Stewart Mary Amanda (Mandy) , Hansen‐Thomas Holly , Flint Patricia , Núñez Mariannella 
Published: April 2021

AbstractThe burgeoning work of translanguaging and bilingualism has much to offer adolescent learning spaces in order to provide bi/multilingual students more equitable opportunities to engage in disciplinary literacy at the high school level, particularly where there are many low‐incidence languages. Drawing from critical theories in both literacy and language research, we conducted this three‐year study in two U.S. high schools (grades 9–12) in order to promote language equity and literacy engagement for emergent bilinguals and heritage speakers. We provided an intensive year of graduate courses on language, literacy, and equity for 27 teachers from various disciplines and school roles. Through analyzing their coursework, observations of their classes, and follow‐up surveys, we documented how their heteroglossic language ideologies were nurtured, how they enacted translingual disciplinary literacies, and what benefits they perceived from this instructional approach. The findings illustrate how schools might overcome previously unquestioned monoglossic standards and linguistically oppressive systems through a whole‐school translingual disciplinary literacies approach. Providing nuanced descriptions of how teachers engaged in translingual disciplinary literacy in various disciplines, we make a case for constructivist disciplinary literacy teacher education grounded in heteroglossic ideologies. We also draw connections from language equity to literacy engagement, suggesting that a translingual disciplinary literacies approach is a necessary instructional innovation to effect change in high school learning spaces for bi/multilingual learners. Finally, as our field pursues language equity and literacy engagement, like the teachers in this study, we must also critically evaluate our own ideologies toward literacy and language.
Daidzein modulates cocaine-reinforcing effects and cue-induced cocaine reinstatement in CD-1 male mice
Authors: Martin Miquel , Gutiérrez-Martos Miriam , Cabrera Roberto , Langohr Klaus , Maldonado Rafael , Farre Magi , de la Torre Rafael 
Published: April 2021

ABSTRACT
Rationale
Cocaine addiction is a chronic relapsing disorder that lacks of an effective treatment. Isoflavones are a family of compounds present in different plants and vegetables like soybeans that share a common chemical structure. Previous studies have described that synthetic derivatives from the natural isoflavone daidzin can modulate cocaine addiction, by a mechanism suggested to involve aldehyde-dehydrogenase (ALDH) activities.

Objectives
Based on these previous studies, we investigated the effects of three natural isoflavones, daidzin, daidzein, and genistein, on the modulation of the cocaine reinforcing effects and on cue-induced reinstatement in an operant mouse model of cocaine self-administration.

Results
Chronic treatment with daidzein or genistein decreased operant responding to obtain cocaine intravenous infusions. On the other hand, daidzein and daidzin, but not genistein, were effective in decreasing cue-induced cocaine reinstatement. Complementary studies revealed that daidzein effects on cocaine reinforcement were mediated through a mechanism that involved dopamine type-2/3 receptors (DA-D2/3) activities.

Conclusions
Our results suggest that these natural compounds alone or in combination can be a potential therapeutic approach for cocaine addiction. Further clinical studies are required in order to ascertain their potential therapeutic use.
The intensity of kelp harvesting shapes the population structure of the foundation species Lessonia trabeculata along the Chilean coastline
Authors: Gouraguine Adam , Moore Pippa , Burrows Michael T. , Velasco Eliana , Ariz Luis , Figueroa-Fábrega Luis , Muñoz-Cordovez Rodrigo , Fernandez-Cisternas Italo , Smale Dan , Pérez-Matus Alejandro 
Published: April 2021

AbstractKelp are foundation species that support high levels of biodiversity and, either directly or indirectly provide a wide range of ecological goods and services to human society. In recent decades, due to the high demand for kelp-derived products such as alginate, commercial wild harvesting has increased, leading to declines of kelp biomass in some regions. Chile accounts for 40% of the global kelp harvest, with the subtidal kelp, Lessonia trabeculata being one of the main target species. Currently, however, there is a lack of information on how different degrees of harvesting intensity, governed by distinct management regimes and their enforcement influences L. trabeculata populations. Here we examined the effect different management regimes, characterised by distinct levels of exploitation of kelp and kelp-associated fauna, have on L. trabeculata density and morphology along ~ 1600 km of the Chilean coastline. The findings demonstrated that harvesting intensity likely influences both L. trabeculata density and morphology. Juvenile density of L. trabeculata was five times higher in the most harvesting-affected areas, while kelp morphology values, including holdfast diameter, number of stipes and total length, were always higher in the less-intensively harvested areas. Our study suggests that different degrees of protection can influence density and morphology of subtidal L. trabeculata populations, which in turn has important implications for the conservation of the kelp forest ecosystems and management of this important fishery.
Mutational analyses of novel rat models with targeted modifications in inflammatory bowel disease susceptibility genes
Authors: Men Hongsheng , Hankins Miriam A. , Bock Anagha S. , Beaton Benjamin P. , Davis Daniel J. , Chesney Kari L. , Bryda Elizabeth C. 
Published: April 2021

AbstractMutations and single base pair polymorphisms in various genes have been associated with increased susceptibility to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We have created a series of rat strains carrying targeted genetic alterations within three IBD susceptibility genes: Nod2, Atg16l1, and Il23r, using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology. Knock-out alleles and alleles with known human susceptibility polymorphisms were generated on three different genetic backgrounds: Fischer, Lewis and Sprague Dawley. The availability of these rat models will contribute to our understanding of the basic biological roles of these three genes as well as provide new potential IBD animal models.
On Polyhedral Realization with Isosceles Triangles
Authors: Eppstein David 
Published: April 2021

AbstractAnswering a question posed by Joseph Malkevitch, we prove that there exists a polyhedral graph, with triangular faces, such that every realization of it as the graph of a convex polyhedron includes at least one face that is a scalene triangle. Our construction is based on Kleetopes, and shows that there exists an integer i such that all convex i-iterated Kleetopes have a scalene face. However, we also show that all Kleetopes of triangulated polyhedral graphs have non-convex non-self-crossing realizations in which all faces are isosceles. We answer another question of Malkevitch by observing that a spherical tiling of Dawson (Renaissance Banff, Bridges Conference, pp. 489–496, 2005) leads to a fourth infinite family of convex polyhedra in which all faces are congruent isosceles triangles, adding one to the three families previously known to Malkevitch. We prove that the graphs of convex polyhedra with congruent isosceles faces have bounded diameter and have dominating sets of bounded size.