bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparative assessment of antimicrobial, antiradical and cytotoxic activities of cannabidiol and its propyl analogue cannabidivarin
Authors: Russo Chiara , Lavorgna Margherita , Nugnes Roberta , Orlo Elena , Isidori Marina 
Published: November 2021

AbstractCannabidiol and cannabidivarin are phytocannabinoids produced by Cannabis indica and Cannabis sativa. Cannabidiol has been studied more extensively than its propyl analogue cannabidivarin. Therefore, we performed a battery of in vitro biological assays to compare the cytotoxic, antiradical and antibacterial activities of both cannabinoids. Potential mitochondrial metabolism alterations, DNA synthesis inhibition, and plasma membrane damage were studied by MTT assay, BrdU-ELISA and LDH assay of cancer and normal human cells exposed to cannabinoids. ABTS and DPPH assays were performed to observe the effects of the cannabinoids on free radicals. Microbial susceptibility tests were performed to study the activity of the cannabinoids in two bacterial species implicated in human infections, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The results showed that the cannabinoids induced medium levels of cytotoxicity in cancer and normal cells at concentrations ranging from 15.80 to 48.63 and from 31.89 to 151.70 µM, respectively, after 72 h of exposure. Cannabinoids did not exhibit a strong antioxidant capacity in scavenging ABTS or DPPH radicals. No evident differences were observed between the two cannabinoids in antimicrobial activity, except with respect to S. aureus, which showed greater susceptibility to cannabidiol than to cannabidivarin after 72 h of exposure.
NTCU induced pre-malignant and malignant stages of lung squamous cell carcinoma in mice model
Authors: Zakaria Muhammad Asyaari , Rajab Nor Fadilah , Chua Eng Wee , Selvarajah Gayathri Thevi , Masre Siti Fathiah 
Published: November 2021

AbstractMice have served as an excellent model to understand the etiology of lung cancer for years. However, data regarding dual-stage carcinogenesis of lung squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) remain elusive. Therefore, we aim to develop pre-malignant (PM) and malignant (M) lung SCC in vivo using N-nitroso-tris-chloroethylurea (NTCU). BALB/C mice were allotted into two main groups; PM and M groups which received treatment for 15 and 30 weeks, respectively. Then, the mice in each main group were allotted into three groups; control, vehicle, and cancer (n = 6), which received normal saline, 70% acetone, and 0.04 M NTCU by skin painting, respectively. Histopathologically, we discovered a mix of hyperplasia, metaplasia, and dysplasia lesions in the PM group and intracellular bridge; an SCC feature in the M group. The M group was positive for cytokeratin 5/6 protein which confirmed the lung SCC subtype. We also found significantly higher (P < 0.05) epithelium thickness in the cancer groups as compared to the vehicle and control groups at both the PM and M. Overall, this study discovered that NTCU is capable of developing PM and M lung SCC in mice model at appropriate weeks and the vehicle group was suggested to be adequate as control group for future research.
Biocompatible graphene-zirconia nanocomposite as a cyto-safe immunosensor for the rapid detection of carcinoembryonic antigen
Authors: Lin Lih Poh , Tham Shiau-Ying , Loh Hwei-San , Tan Michelle T. T. 
Published: November 2021

AbstractGraphene-based materials have gained remarkable attention in numerous disciplines owing to their unique electrochemical properties. Out of various hybridized nanocomposites, graphene-zirconia nanocomposite (GZ) was distinctive due to its biocompatibility.
Zirconia nanoparticles serve as spacers that reduce the stacking of graphene and improve the electrochemical performance of the material. Considering that lungs and skin suffer the greatest exposure to nanoparticles, this study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the as-synthesized GZ nanocomposites on MRC5 (lung cells) and HaCaT (skin cells) via morphological observation and cell viability assay using 3-(4,5 dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-(2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) tetrazolium (MTT). GZ-treated cells showed a comparable proliferation rate and morphology with untreated cells under microscopic evaluation. Based on MTT results, the IC50 values of GZ were > 500 µg/ml for MRC5 and HaCaT cells. The excellent biocompatibility was the supremacy of GZ over other nanocomposites applied as electrode materials in biosensors. GZ was functionalized with biolinker for the detection of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). The proposed immunosensor exhibited good responses towards CEA detection, with a 4.25 pg/ml LOD and correlation coefficient of R2 = 0.99 within a linear working range from 0.01 to 10 ng/ml. The performance of the immunosensor to detect CEA present in human serum was also evaluated. Good recovery of CEA was found, suggesting that the proposed immunosensor possess a high affinity to CEA even in a complex biological matrix, rendering it a promising sensing platform for real sample analysis and open a new way for the detection of cancer-associated proteins.
AMPK activator O304 improves metabolic and cardiac function, and exercise capacity in aged mice
Authors: Ericsson Madelene , Steneberg Pär , Nyrén Rakel , Edlund Helena 
Published: November 2021

AbstractAge is associated with progressively impaired, metabolic, cardiac and vascular function, as well as reduced work/exercise capacity, mobility, and hence quality of life. Exercise exhibit positive effects on age-related dysfunctions and diseases. However, for a variety of reasons many aged individuals are unable to engage in regular physical activity, making the development of pharmacological treatments that mimics the beneficial effects of exercise highly desirable. Here we show that the pan-AMPK activator O304, which is well tolerated in humans, prevented and reverted age-associated hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, and improved cardiac function and exercise capacity in aged mice. These results provide preclinical evidence that O304 mimics the beneficial effects of exercise. Thus, as an exercise mimetic in clinical development, AMPK activator O304 holds great potential to mitigate metabolic dysfunction, and to improve cardiac function and exercise capacity, and hence quality of life in aged individuals.
Unidirectional spin Hall magnetoresistance in epitaxial Cr/Fe bilayer from electron-magnon scattering
Authors: Nguyen Thanh Huong Thi , Nguyen Van Quang , Jeong Seyeop , Park Eunkang , Jang Heechan , Lee Nyun Jong , Lee Soogil , Park Byong-Guk , Cho Sunglae , Lee Hyun-Woo , Hong Jung-Il , Kim Sanghoon 
Published: November 2021

AbstractUnidirectional Spin Hall magnetoresistance (USMR) is a non-linear phenomenon recently observed in ferromagnet (FM)/nonmagnetic metal (NM) bilayer structures. Two very different mechanisms of USMR have been proposed; one relies on the current-direction-dependence of electron-magnon scattering in a FM layer, and the other on the current-direction-dependence of the spin accumulation at the FM/NM interface. In this study, we investigate the USMR in epitaxial Cr/Fe bilayers finding that the USMR is significantly enhanced when the Fe magnetization is aligned to a particular crystallographic direction where the magnon magnetoresistance (MMR) by the electron-magnon scattering becomes stronger. This highlights the importance of the electron-magnon scattering for the understanding of USMR in Cr/Fe bilayers. Our result also suggests a route to enhance the efficiency of magnon generation in the magnonic devices. Lastly, we discuss the Ising-type spin exchange as a possible origin of the crystallographic direction dependences of the USMR and the MMR.
CFNet: Context fusion network for multi‐focus images
Authors: Zhang Kang , Wu Zhiliang , Yuan Xia , Zhao Chunxia 
Published: November 2021

AbstractMulti‐focus image fusion aims to generate a clear image by fusing multiple source images. Existing deep learning‐based fusion methods often neglect the context information resulting in the loss of detail information. To address this issue, a context fusion network to merge multi‐focus images, namely CFNet, is proposed. Specifically, a context fusion module is proposed to make full use of low‐level pixels and high‐level semantic features. Particularly, the pyramid fusion mechanism and cross‐scale transfer strategy are adopted to ensure the visual and semantic consistency of the fused image. Meanwhile, to extract salient features more effectively, a spatial attention mechanism is introduced to enhance these features. Further, the pyramid loss is used to progressively refine the fused features at each scale. Experimental results show that the proposed method is superior to some existing methods in both qualitative and quantitative evaluation.
Pathophysiology of Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Authors: Green David 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe antiphospholipid syndrome is characterized by antibodies directed against phospholipid-binding proteins and phospholipids attached to cell membrane receptors, mitochondria, oxidized lipoproteins, and activated complement components. When antibodies bind to these complex antigens, cells are activated and the coagulation and complement cascades are triggered, culminating in thrombotic events and pregnancy morbidity that further define the syndrome. The phospholipid-binding proteins most often involved are annexins II and V, β2-glycoprotein I, prothrombin, and cardiolipin. A distinguishing feature of the antiphospholipid syndrome is the “lupus anticoagulant.” This is not a single entity but rather a family of antibodies directed against complex antigens consisting of β2-glycoprotein I and/or prothrombin bound to an anionic phospholipid. Although these antibodies prolong in vitro clotting times by competing with clotting factors for phospholipid binding sites, they are not associated with clinical bleeding. Rather, they are thrombogenic because they augment thrombin production in vivo by concentrating prothrombin on phospholipid surfaces. Other antiphospholipid antibodies decrease the clot-inhibitory properties of the endothelium and enhance platelet adherence and aggregation. Some are atherogenic because they increase lipid peroxidation by reducing paraoxonase activity, and others impair fetal nutrition by diminishing placental antithrombotic and fibrinolytic activity. This plethora of destructive autoantibodies is currently managed with immunomodulatory agents, but new approaches to treatment might include vaccines against specific autoantigens, blocking the antibodies generated by exposure to cytoplasmic DNA, and selective targeting of aberrant B-cells to reduce or eliminate autoantibody production.
Synergistic Effect of a Prolonged Combination Course of Tranexamic Acid and Dexamethasone Involving High Initial Doses in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Xu Hong , Xie Jinwei , Yang Jingli , Huang Zeyu , Wang Duan , Pei Fuxing 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThe optimal regimes of tranexamic acid (TXA) and dexamethasone (DXM) in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are still uncertain. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of a prolonged course of intravenous TXA and DXM involving a high initial dose in TKA. Patients who underwent primary TKA at our center were randomized to receive one of four regimes: control (group A), prolonged course of TXA (B), prolonged course of DXM (C), or the combination of a prolonged course of TXA and DXM (D). The four groups were compared in primary outcomes (fibrinolytic and inflammatory markers, knee function, postoperative pain levels, and consumption of opioids) and secondary outcomes (blood loss, maximal drop in hemoglobin, coagulation, fasting blood glucose, and complications). A total of 162 patients were enrolled. On postoperative days 2 and 3, fibrinolytic markers were lower in groups B and D than in groups A and C; inflammatory markers were lower in groups C and D than in groups A and B. Inflammatory markers were lower in group B than in group A on postoperative day 3. Postoperative pain levels and oxycodone consumption were lower, and knee function was better in groups C and D. The four groups did not differ in any of the secondary outcomes. A prolonged course of intravenous TXA and DXM involving high initial doses can effectively inhibit postoperative fibrinolytic and inflammatory responses, reduce pain, and improve knee function after TKA.
Making sense of girls empowerment in Sierra Leone: a conversation
Authors: Ibrahim Aisha Fofana , James Alice , Kabba Mariatu , Kamara Aminata , Menzel Anne , Spencer-Coker Nicky 
Published: November 2021

AbstractThis Testify article features a conversation about the emancipatory potentials and pitfalls of girls empowerment as practiced, experienced, and judged by Sierra Leonean activists. We – two scholars and four activists – discussed views on and experiences of girls empowerment approaches that have been interpreted in critical scholarly literature as a form of neoliberal responsibilization. Also within this critical literature, there is often the notion that these approaches may yet create openings for emancipatory agency and counter-conduct. However, it remains unclear whether this happens and to what extent. Our conversation centres activists’ views on the academic critique of girls empowerment and raises a number of questions, including: Why do many feminist activists in Sierra Leone embrace girls empowerment approaches? What do they see in them? How do they interpret and practice them? Where do they see potentials and pitfalls? And what is the role of donors?
Recontextualising the style of naming in nomenclature
Authors: Rummy Paul , Rummy Jessica Thevamalar 
Published: November 2021

AbstractIn this paper, we brought compelling clarities as to why the current practices of binomial nomenclature should be revised and adjusted by the scientific governing bodies. We highlighted the current emphasis on Latinisation and Greek forms for scientific names has given fewer possibilities for the inclusion of cultural and native scientific names. With regard to zoological matters, we further pointed out that the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN) has an obligation to rationalise the applicability and suitability of the existing Articles and Recommendations in the Code. The Code has been designed to assist scientists in naming an organism with its guidelines. However, the practicality of the Articles and Recommendations need to be further explained in order to reduce several misperceptions within the scientific community; which include the correct usage of Latinised and Greek language forms that can be quite confusing to those who are not well-versed in the structures. The discussion also underlined the novelty of having more localised and hybridised scientific names, and the necessity to avoid norms of abusive, offensive and colonising names since the Code did not emphasise enough on the level of integrity needed with the naming procedures. We further illustrated the magnitude of having a gender-neutral naming system in the world of nomenclature, as the current practices of Latinised and Greek forms are heavily navigated towards masculine naming styles. We also suggest that the non-compulsory Recommendation section of the Code to be made relevant, and perhaps mandatory in some cases, with an infinite approach to accentuate beyond inclusivity and diversity.
Online triage tool improves the efficiency of a sexual health service
Authors: Munro Thomas , Anderson-Smith Bronnie , Lu Heng , Worth Heather H. , Knight Vickie 
Published: November 2021

Background Rising demand for sexual health services requires publicly funded service providers to ensure they are seeing members of priority populations. Sydney Sexual Health Centre in New South Wales, Australia developed an innovative online triage tool called ‘Am I OK?’ to support this goal. Methods This paper outlines the findings of a review that examined the use of the triage tool using retrospective cross-sectional analysis of 2017 data. Results The tool has achieved its purpose in ensuring that non-priority populations are referred to other services, consequently saving a significant amount (approximately 6 months equivalent) of phone triage nurse time. Conclusion More work may need to be done to ensure that the tool is not creating a barrier for priority populations wishing to access the service.
Cone photoreceptor dysfunction in retinitis pigmentosa revealed by optoretinography
Authors: Lassoued Ayoub , Zhang Furu , Kurokawa Kazuhiro , Liu Yan , Bernucci Marcel T. , Crowell James A. , Miller Donald T. 
Published: November 2021

Significance
Many blinding diseases afflict photoreceptors, specialized cells in the retina that capture and transduce light to initiate vision. Biomarkers that are sensitive to photoreceptor health are crucial for early detection and effective treatment monitoring of these diseases yet remain elusive. Here, we develop an optical biomarker, based on optoretinographic photoreceptor responses to light stimulation, that reflects the degree of dysfunction of individual cone photoreceptors in patients with retinitis pigmentosa (RP), the most common inherited retinal degenerative disease. Our results show that this biomarker may be beneficial for assessing the functionality of remaining retinal cells in RP patients and for assessing efficacy of treatments such as gene therapy and stem cell transplantation for RP and other diseases afflicting photoreceptors.
Areal variation in Middle High German
Authors: Becker Carsten , Schallert Oliver 
Published: November 2021

AbstractUsing theCorpus der altdeutschen Originalurkunden‘Corpus of Old German Original Charters’ (Wilhelm et al. 1932–2004), we will show that charters offer valuable information on dialectological differences during the Middle High German period. This text genre is unsurpassed in terms of its geographical resolution even though it faces certain challenges due to its partially formulaic style. With two well-known phenomena, i.e. inflected forms of the infinitive (‘gerunds’) and so-called ‘contracted’ verbs likehaben/hân‘have’, we will show how these materials can be analysed and put into perspective with other sources like the newMittelhochdeutsche GrammatikbyKlein, Solms & Wegera (2018).
Globodera pallida
. [Distribution map].
Authors: CABI  , EPPO  
Published: November 2021

Abstract

A new distribution map is provided for
Globodera pallida
(Stone) Behrens. Chromadorea: Tylenchida: Heteroderidae. Hosts: Solanaceae, especially potato (
Solanum tuberosum
), tomato (
S. lycopersicum
) and aubergine (
S. melongena
). Information is given on the geographical distribution in Africa (Algeria, Kenya, Morocco, Tunisia), Asia (India, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand, Indonesia, Java, Japan, Hokkaido, Pakistan, Turkey), Europe (Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Crete, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Sicily, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Mainland, Madeira, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales), North America (Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador, Costa Rica, Panama, United States, Idaho), Oceania (New Zealand), South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Falkland Islands, Peru, Venezuela).
Inkjet printed organic light-emitting diodes employing organometal-halide perovskite as hole transport layer
Authors: Liu Lei , Zhang Dongyu , Chu Tao , Jian Yihua , Yu Fan , Wang Yan , Gao Qiang , Yi Cong , Zhang Qin , Sun Litao , Cui Zheng 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Due to their narrow spectrum and high photoluminescence quantum yield, organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite materials have become an important emitter for light-emitting diodes (LED). In addition to the perovskite emitters, other perovskite materials such as methyl lead ammonium chloride (MAPbCl3) with high charge mobility can potentially be used as excellent charge transport materials. In this work, phosphorescence LED devices in which MAPbCl3 was employed as hole transport layer (HTL) was designed and fabricated by inkjet printing (IJP) process. Ethanolamine was added to the poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly-(styrenesulfonate) hole injection layer (HIL) to control the crystallization process and to suppress the surface defects of MAPbCl3. In addition, polyethylene oxide was doped into MAPbCl3 to improve the printability and the quality of film formation. The ‘blurred interface’ concept was successively applied to enable for the first time the IJP of three layers (HIL, HTL and emitter layers) in the LEDs. The fabricated multilayer LEDs achieved the maximum external quantum efficiency of 8.9%, maximum current efficiency of 30.8 cd A−1, and maximum power efficiency of 10.7 lm W−1. A 40 × 40 mm2 OLED light emitting device was successfully fabricated by IJP technology.
Intra- and inter-fraction relative range verification in heavy-ion therapy using filtered interaction vertex imaging
Authors: Hymers Devin , Kasanda Eva , Bildstein Vinzenz , Easter Joelle , Richard Andrea , Spyrou Artemis , Höhr Cornelia , Mücher Dennis 
Published: November 2021

Abstract
Heavy-ion therapy, particularly using scanned (active) beam delivery, provides a precise and highly conformal dose distribution, with maximum dose deposition for each pencil beam at its endpoint (Bragg peak), and low entrance and exit dose. To take full advantage of this precision, robust range verification methods are required; these methods ensure that the Bragg peak is positioned correctly in the patient and the dose is delivered as prescribed. Relative range verification allows intra-fraction monitoring of Bragg peak spacing to ensure full coverage with each fraction, as well as inter-fraction monitoring to ensure all fractions are delivered consistently. To validate the proposed filtered interaction vertex imaging (IVI) method for relative range verification, a 16O beam was used to deliver 12 Bragg peak positions in a 40 mm poly-(methyl methacrylate) phantom. Secondary particles produced in the phantom were monitored using position-sensitive silicon detectors. Events recorded on these detectors, along with a measurement of the treatment beam axis, were used to reconstruct the sites of origin of these secondary particles in the phantom. The distal edge of the depth distribution of these reconstructed points was determined with logistic fits, and the translation in depth required to minimize the χ
2 statistic between these fits was used to compute the range shift between any two Bragg peak positions. In all cases, the range shift was determined with sub-millimeter precision, to a standard deviation of the mean of 220(10) μm. This result validates filtered IVI as a reliable relative range verification method, which should be capable of monitoring each energy step in each fraction of a scanned heavy-ion treatment plan.