bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sensitive Electrochemical Determination of Trifluralin at a Disposable Pencil Graphite Electrode
Authors: Gege Ümit , Karakaya Serkan , Dilgin Yusuf 
Published: March 2021

AbstractA sensitive differential pulse (DP) voltammetric method has been proposed for the determination of trifluralin (TFA) based on both its reduction and oxidation at a disposable pencil graphite electrode (PGE). DP voltammograms recorded under optimized conditions show that oxidation and reduction peak currents increased linearly in the range from 1.0 to 75.0 μM and from 0.50 to 100.0 μM TFA, respectively. LOD and sensitivity values have been determined as 0.39 μM and 11170 μA mM−1 cm−2 for oxidation and as 0.20 μM and 22167 μA mM−1 cm−2 for reduction. The acceptable recovery values (95.2–104.8 %) were obtained from real water samples.
An aerial robotic system for inventory of stockpile warehouses
Authors: Gago Reynaldo M. , Pereira Matheus Y. A. , Pereira Guilherme A. S. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThis article describes the development and evaluation of an aerial robotic system for smart inventory of stockpile warehouses. The system was developed to automatically measure piles of different bulk materials, such as phosphorus and potassium compounds, which are stored in bays of different sizes inside a warehouse. This warehouse configuration is very common among fertilizer and animal food industries in Brazil. While an inventory can be executed by a human technician, the insalubrious environment, the imprecision of the manual volume estimation, and the time spent by the technician to access the information motivate the automation of the process. The proposed system uses a multirotor electrical drone that navigates autonomously inside the warehouse while it acquires light detection and ranging (LIDAR) point cloud data. This data is used to build a three‐dimensional (3D) model of the environment, which is then processed to identify the stockpiles of material and calculate their volumes. Since the environment is GPS‐denied and its characteristics, including symmetry, illumination and texture, do not favor visual‐ or LIDAR‐based localization, a drone navigation strategy that relies on relative positioning with respect to simple structures of the warehouse was developed. This article also presents our approach for autonomous stockpile volume estimation, which was numerically evaluated both in simulation and with real data, yielding in accuracy and precision of about 98%. The results presented in the article show that the aerial system is able to substitute the previously adopted manual procedure, highly increasing its accuracy, repeatably and safety, and drastically reducing its time of execution and cost.
A Black Woman's Flight Poem
Authors: Isoke Zenzele 
Published: March 2021

Abstract“A Black Woman's Flight Poem” represents an experimental poetic exploration into how we might give language to Black femme ethnographic world making in our own tongues, and on our own terms. Written with undergraduate and graduate students in feminists and African and African Diasporic students in mind, I use the term Black ethnography to signify emotionally and politically engaged scholarly reflections that are used to build knowledge about contemporary Black social life using volitional ethnographic travel, toward the aim of producing knowledge about geographical difference and cultural resiliency in Black/African diasporic communities worldwide. Please note that I am not a professional poet, but that I have encouraged advanced undergraduate and doctoral students in my feminist studies courses to use alternative linguistic format and poets in order to grapple with the complexity of Black social theory. My hope is that this poem will inspire students to revisit and practice new/old ways of writing Black feminist ethnography. From a pedagogical perspective, I try to position poetry as a non‐violent, and more inclusive alternative to the standard (argumentative) formal essay for imagining and writing Black ethnography.
Black Feminist Plots before the Plantationocene and Anthropology's “Regional Closets”
Authors: Jegathesan Mythri 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn 2015, Donna Haraway introduced the Plantationocene concept as an alternative to the Anthropocene in Environmental Humanities. Engaging Black feminist scholars who were thinking about the plantation before Haraway's Plantationocene, this article argues that a transregional centering of Black feminist scholarship within plantation studies is a mutually productive and ethical endeavor that affirms the rightful place of Black feminist scholars in the field of anthropology and builds more robust transnational feminist forms of restorative justice. Analyzing Black, Indigenous and feminist critiques of the Plantationocene, this article is a “reparative reading” (Sedgewick 2003) response to Lynn Bolles' call to identify the “ways of ‘miseducation’ in anthropology” (Bolles 2013, 58) and seeks to repair the erasure of Black feminists' contributions to plantation studies outside the Americas and Afro‐Caribbean contexts, specifically in South Asian studies. Situating new research among landless, minority Tamil plantation residents through a re‐reading of plots on Sri Lanka's tea plantations, I suggest that thinking alongside Black feminist scholarship outside plantation studies' “regional closets” (Alexander 2005) is not only an ethical choice but also one of co‐survival and liberation within the white habitus (Bonilla‐Silva, Goar, and Embrick 2006) of anthropology.
Spleen glia are a transcriptionally unique glial subtype interposed between immune cells and sympathetic axons
Authors: Lucas Tawaun A. , Zhu Li , Buckwalter Marion S. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractGlia are known to play important roles in the brain, the gut, and around the sciatic nerve. While the gut has its own specialized nervous system, other viscera are innervated solely by autonomic nerves. The functions of glia that accompany autonomic innervation are not well known, even though they are one of the most abundant cell types in the peripheral nervous system. Here, we focused on non‐myelinating Schwann cells in the spleen, spleen glia. The spleen is a major immune organ innervated by the sympathetic nervous system, which modulates immune function. This interaction is known as neuroimmune communication. We establish that spleen glia can be visualized using both immunohistochemistry for S100B and GFAP and with a reporter mouse. Spleen glia ensheath sympathetic axons and are localized to the lymphocyte‐rich white pulp areas of the spleen. We sequenced the spleen glia transcriptome and identified genes that are likely involved in axonal ensheathment and communication with both nerves and immune cells. Spleen glia express receptors for neurotransmitters made by sympathetic axons (adrenergic, purinergic, and Neuropeptide Y), and also cytokines, chemokines, and their receptors that may communicate with immune cells in the spleen. We also established similarities and differences between spleen glia and other glial types. While all glia share many genes in common, spleen glia differentially express genes associated with immune responses, including genes involved in cytokine‐cytokine receptor interactions, phagocytosis, and the complement cascade. Thus, spleen glia are a unique glial type, physically and transcriptionally poised to participate in neuroimmune communication in the spleen.
Super‐resolution shadow imaging reveals local remodeling of astrocytic microstructures and brain extracellular space after osmotic challenge
Authors: Arizono Misa , Inavalli V.V.G. Krishna , Bancelin Stéphane , Fernández‐Monreal Mónica , Nägerl U. Valentin 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThe extracellular space (ECS) plays a central role in brain physiology, shaping the time course and spread of neurochemicals, ions, and nutrients that ensure proper brain homeostasis and neuronal communication. Astrocytes are the most abundant type of glia cell in the brain, whose processes densely infiltrate the brain's parenchyma. As astrocytes are highly sensitive to changes in osmotic pressure, they are capable of exerting a potent physiological influence on the ECS. However, little is known about the spatial distribution and temporal dynamics of the ECS that surrounds astrocytes, owing mostly to a lack of appropriate techniques to visualize the ECS in live brain tissue. Mitigating this technical limitation, we applied the recent SUper‐resolution SHadow Imaging technique (SUSHI) to astrocyte‐labeled organotypic hippocampal brain slices, which allowed us to concurrently image the complex morphology of astrocytes and the ECS with unprecedented spatial resolution in a live experimental setting. Focusing on ring‐like astrocytic microstructures in the spongiform domain, we found them to enclose sizable pools of interstitial fluid and cellular structures like dendritic spines. Upon experimental osmotic challenge, these microstructures remodeled and swelled up at the expense of the pools, effectively increasing the physical interface between astrocytic and cellular structures. Our study reveals novel facets of the dynamic microanatomical relationships between astrocytes, neuropil, and the ECS in living brain tissue, which could be of functional relevance for neuron–glia communication in a variety of (patho)physiological settings, for example, LTP induction, epileptic seizures or acute ischemic stroke, where osmotic disturbances are known to occur.
Association between health expenditures, economic growth and environmental pollution: Long‐run and causality analysis from Asian economies
Authors: Nasreen Samia 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThis study examines the association between health expenditures, economic growth (EG) and environmental pollution in Asia both at panel and country level. The separate impact of EG and environmental pollution on public and private health expenditures (PRHEs) are also examined. In doing so the panel cointegration tests with the level break, common correlated effects mean group and heterogeneous panel causality test are employed. The study covers 20 Asian economies and time‐period from 1995 to 2017. The results provide evidence in support of a long run association between selected variables. The results explain that EG and environmental pollution are positively associated with total health expenditures as well as with public and PRHEs in all countries. However, the magnitude of environmental pollution coefficient is greater from EG coefficient, thus indicate that environmental pollution is the key determinant in increasing national health expenditures. Causality results demonstrate the existence of two‐way causality between health expenditures and EG and unidirectional causality flowing from environmental pollution to health expenditures in Asian economies. Findings of this study have provided some important suggestions to policy makers which can be used to minimize the risk of environmental pollution on health in Asian economies.
Perceptions among Muslims regarding fasting, medication use and provider engagement during Ramadan in the United States
Authors: Alshehri Ahmed M. , Barner Jamie C. , Wong Shui Ling , Ibrahim Kemi R. , Qureshi Sana 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBackgroundMuslims with chronic diseases tend to fast during Ramadan, although Islam allows them not to fast. Therefore, understanding their perceptions and how they manage their health, especially as a minority population, is very important.ObjectiveTo examine Muslims' (1) perceptions of fasting exemptions, (2) medication usage behaviour, (3) perceptions of relationships with healthcare providers and (4) factors impacting health management during Ramadan.MethodThis was a qualitative study employing four focus groups (two groups of women and two groups of men). Adult Muslims (aged 18 years or more) with chronic diseases were invited to participate. Participants were asked open‐ended questions about their fasting ability, medication usage behaviours, healthcare access and collaboration with providers during Ramadan. Trained researchers conducted the focus groups interviews in both English and Arabic. Each focus group was recorded, and three investigators independently transcribed the data and extracted themes and categories. Coding terminology issues were resolved through discussion.ResultsTwenty‐five Muslims with chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, renal failure and anaemia) participated. The most prominent themes/subthemes were as follows: (1) fasting exemption (e.g., uncontrolled medical conditions), (2) fasting nonexemption (e.g., controlled medical conditions), (3) nonoral medication use during Ramadan, (4) healthcare provider involvement during Ramadan, and (5) factors impacting health management during Ramadan.ConclusionMuslim patients perceive fasting as an important religious practice, so they tend to self‐modify their medication‐taking behaviours. Educating pharmacists and other healthcare providers about Muslim culture, especially their strong desire to fast, may lead to Muslims better managing their medications and viewing pharmacists and other healthcare providers as knowledgeable healthcare providers.
Pulsating hydromagnetic flow of Casson fluid in a vertical channel filled with non‐Darcian porous medium
Authors: Kumar Challa Kalyan , Srinivas Suripeddi 
Published: March 2021

AbstractThis paper analyzes the Joule heating, Dufour number, and Soret number effects on hydromagnetic pulsatile flow of a Casson fluid in a vertical channel filled with a non‐Darcian porous medium. The governing partial differential equations (PDEs) of the Casson fluid flow are transformed to ordinary differential equations (ODEs) using perturbation technique and solved by employing shooting method with Runge–Kutta (R–K) fourth‐order technique using MATHEMATICA function NDSolve. The influence of Forchheimer number, Casson fluid parameter, Dufour number, radiation parameter, and Soret number on flow variables has been studied and the numerical results obtained are presented. The results reveal that the velocity rises with the rise of Darcy number, whereas it decreases for a given rise in the Forchheimer number. Furthermore, the temperature distribution enhances by increasing the Dufour number.
River network travel time is correlated with dissolved organic matter composition in rivers of the contiguous United States
Authors: Hosen Jacob D. , Allen George H. , Amatulli Giuseppe , Breitmeyer Sara , Cohen Matthew J. , Crump Byron C. , Lu YueHan , Payet Jérôme P. , Poulin Brett A. , Stubbins Aron , Yoon Byungman , Raymond Peter A. 
Published: March 2021

AbstractMost terrestrial allochthonous organic matter enters river networks through headwater streams during high flow events. In headwaters, allochthonous inputs are substantial and variable, but become less important in streams and rivers with larger watersheds. As allochthonous dissolved organic matter (DOM) moves downstream, the proportion of less aromatic organic matter with autochthonous characteristics increases. How environmental factors converge to control this transformation of DOM at a continental scale is less certain. We hypothesized that the amount of time water has spent travelling through surface waters of inland systems (streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs) is correlated to DOM composition. To test this hypothesis, we used established river network scaling relationships to predict relative river network flow‐weighted travel time (FWTT) of water for 60 stream and river sites across the contiguous United States (3090 discrete samples over 10 water years). We estimated lentic contribution to travel times with upstream in‐network lake and reservoir volume. DOM composition was quantified using ultraviolet and visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. A combination of FWTT and lake and reservoir volume was the best overall predictor of DOM composition among models that also incorporated discharge, specific discharge, watershed area, and upstream channel length. DOM spectral slope ratio (R2 = 0.77) and Freshness Index (R2 = 0.78) increased and specific ultraviolet absorbance at 254 nm (R2 = 0.68) and Humification Index (R2 = 0.44) decreased across sites as a function of FWTT and upstream lake volume. This indicates autochthonous‐like DOM becomes continually more dominant in waters with greater FWTT. We assert that river FWTT can be used as a metric of the continuum of DOM composition from headwaters to rivers. The nature of the changes to DOM composition detected suggest this continuum is driven by a combination of photo‐oxidation, biological processes, hydrologically varying terrestrial subsidies, and aged groundwater inputs.
Assessment of the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and apoptotic potential of flurbiprofen in HeLa and HepG2 cell lines
Authors: Bakır Elçin , Çal Tuğbagül , Aydın Dilsiz Sevtap , Canpınar Hande , Eken Ayşe , Ündeğer Bucurgat Ülkü 
Published: March 2021

AbstractIn the literature, the anticancer potential of flurbiprofen isn't fully understood. In this study, the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and apoptotic effects of flurbiprofen were evaluated in human cervical and liver cancer cells. Cytotoxicity was measured by 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, and it was observed that cytotoxicity increased in a concentration‐ and time‐dependent manner. Genotoxicity was determined using alkaline Comet assay. DNA damage increased in a concentration‐dependent manner. Early apoptosis was evaluated using real‐time polymerase chain reaction, and it was found that apoptotic gene levels increased while antiapoptotic gene levels decreased. Late apoptosis and cell cycle analyzes were determined using flow cytometry. No evidence of late apoptosis was observed, and no significant arrest was found in the cell cycle. In conclusion, it seems that flurbiprofen has a cytotoxic, genotoxic, and apoptotic effects in both human cancer cell lines. Moreover, the findings indicate that flurbiprofen is effective at the gene level and induces apoptosis with an intracellular pathway.
LIMONADA: A database dedicated to the simulation of biological membranes
Authors: Crowet Jean‐Marc , Buchoux Sébastien , Belloy Nicolas , Sarazin Catherine , Lins Laurence , Dauchez Manuel 
Published: March 2021

AbstractCellular membranes are composed of a wide diversity of lipid species in varying proportions and these compositions are representative of the organism, cellular type and organelle to which they belong. Because models of these molecular systems simulated by MD steadily gain in size and complexity, they are increasingly representative of specific compositions and behaviors of biological membranes. Due to the number of lipid species involved, of force fields and topologies and because of the complexity of membrane objects that have been simulated, LIMONADA has been developed as an open database allowing to handle the various aspects of lipid membrane simulation. LIMONADA presents published membrane patches with their simulation files and the cellular membrane it models. Their compositions are then detailed based on the lipid identification from LIPID MAPS database plus the lipid topologies and the force field used. LIMONADA is freely accessible on the web at https://limonada.univ-reims.fr/.
Procoagulant platelets: Generation, characteristics, and therapeutic target
Authors: Chu Yaxin , Guo Han , Zhang Yuncong , Qiao Rui 
Published: March 2021

AbstractPlatelets play a pivotal role in hemostasis. Activated platelets are classified into two groups, according to their agonist response: aggregating and procoagulant platelets. Aggregating platelets consist of activated integrin αIIbβ3 and stretch out pseudopods to further attract platelets to the site of injury by connecting with fibrinogen. They mainly gather in the core of the thrombus and perform a secretory function, such as releasing adenosine diphosphate (ADP). Procoagulant platelets promote the formation of thrombin and fibrin by interacting with coagulation factors and can thus be considered as the connector between primary and secondary hemostasis. In addition to their functions in blood coagulation, procoagulant platelets play a proinflammatory role by releasing platelet microparticles and inorganic polyphosphate. Considering these important functions of procoagulant platelets, this subpopulation warrants detailed study to analyze their potential in preventing human diseases. This review summarizes the generation and important characteristics of procoagulant platelets, as well as their potential for preventing the adverse effects associated with current antiplatelet therapies.
Assessment of the role of zinc in the prevention of COVID‐19 infections and mortality: A retrospective study in the Asian and European population
Authors: Ali Nurshad , Fariha Khandaker A. , Islam Farjana , Mohanto Nayan C. , Ahmad Iftekhar , Hosen Mohammad J. , Ahmed Shamim 
Published: March 2021

AbstractSeveral studies have demonstrated an association between individual zinc status and viral respiratory infections; however, evidence regarding COVID‐19 is still missing or insufficient. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between the prevalence of zinc deficiency and COVID‐19 cases and deaths per million population in the Asian and European countries. The COVID‐19 data from two different time points, that is, May 30 and June 30, 2020 for the Asian population and May 15 and June 15, 2020 for the European population, were analyzed to determine the correlation with the estimated zinc deficiency for these two continents. The prevalence of zinc deficiency was about two times higher in the Asian population (mean 17.5%) than in the European population (mean 8.9%). A significant positive correlation (p < .05) was observed between the prevalence of zinc deficiency and COVID‐19 cases at both time periods for the Asian population. However, the correlation between zinc deficiency prevalence and COVID‐19 deaths was not significant in the Asian population. In contrast, a significant but negative correlation (p < .05 for all cases) was observed for zinc deficiency with both COVID‐19 cases and deaths per million population at both time periods in the European countries. Considering the direct antiviral properties of zinc, it can be suggested that zinc supplementation may be beneficial for most of the population, especially older people and those who are at risk of COVID‐19 infections. In conclusion, there is not enough evidence on the association between individual zinc status and COVID‐19 infections and mortality. Therefore, cohort studies and randomized controlled trials are required to test this hypothesis.
Changes in stability and in vitro digestion of egg‐protein stabilized emulsions and β‐carotene gels in the presence of sodium tripolyphosphate
Authors: Li Junhua , Wang Chenying , Chang Cuihua , Jiao Han , Su Yujie , Gu Luping , Yang Yanjun , Yu Haitao 
Published: March 2021

AbstractBACKGROUNDEgg proteins are effective emulsifiers and gelators in food systems. However, the physicochemical stability and control release properties of egg‐protein stabilized emulsions and gels need to be further improved. The potential of sodium tripolyphosphate (St) to improve the functionality of egg proteins was evaluated.RESULTSThe emulsions with St had smaller particle sizes and higher zeta potential, leading to better physical stability. Furthermore, the oxidation stability increased with increasing St contents, possibly due to its metal chelating capacity and the improved emulsifying activity of whole‐egg dispersions. Phosphate had a positive impact on the chemical stability of β‐carotene in whole‐egg liquids and gels, decreasing the degradation during thermal treatment. The gel made with St was firm and broke down slowly, leading to a low rate of digestion and β‐carotene release in simulated gastric fluid.CONCLUSIONThis study shows that St is useful to improve the egg proteins stabilized emulsions and gels, which is applicable in the development of emulsion‐based food grade gel products. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry