bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inhibitory effect of aqueous extracts of raw and roasted Sesamum indicum L. seeds on key enzymes linked to type-2 diabetes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) and Alzheimer's disease (acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase)
Authors: Talabi Justina , Adeyemi Sekinat , Awopetu Sefunmi , Ajiboye Basiru Olaitan , Ojo Oluwafemi Adeleke 
Published: April 2018

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seeds are nutritional food, but researches have limited knowledge about the antioxidant, antidiabetic and anticholinesterase activities of the seed. This study was conducted to determine the antioxidant activity, enzyme inhibitory potential (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory property of aqueous extracts of raw and roasted sesame seeds. Antioxidant activities were analyzed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging property, 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenthiazoline-6- sulphonic acid (ABTS) scavenging ability, iron chelating ability and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Anti-Alzheimer's potential was determined using acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase enzyme inhibition assay. The results showed that the total phenolic and flavonoid contents were higher in the roasted S. indicum sample with the values of 19.81mg/100g and 17.19 mg/100g respectively. The raw S. indicum sample showed higher antioxidant activity in DPPH, and iron chelation assays; while roasted S. indicum sample showed higher in the reducing power and ABTS scavenging activity. However, anticholinesterase activity was higher in the roasted S. indicum sample than in the raw S. indicum sample. The extracts inhibited α-amylase activity in a concentration-dependent manner (20 - 100 µg.mL-1). The raw sample (16.55 ±0.89%) had higher inhibitory α-amylase activity compared to the roasted sample (15.78 ±0.48%) at 100 µg.mL-1. Inhibition of α-glucosidase was higher in the roasted sample at 100 µg.mL-1 (19.40 ±0.26%) compared to the raw sample at the same concentration (3.65 ±0.52%). These findings suggest that S. indicum L. is not only nutritious but also showed potential pharmacological properties.
In vitro antioxidant potential and inhibitory effect of hydro-ethanolic extract from African black velvet tamarind (Dialium indium) pulp on type 2 diabetes linked enzymes
Authors: Afolabi Olakunle Bamikole , Oloyede Omotade Ibidun , Ojo Abiodun Ayodele , Onansanya Amos Adeyinka , Agunbiade Shadrach Oludare , Ajiboye Bashir Olaitan , Johnson Jonathan , Peters Omolara Abosede 
Published: April 2018

The alarming rate of diabetes mellitus (DM) globally is bothersome and has drawn the search light of researchers on naturally endowed phytonutrients being an alternative in managing the menace. Therefore, the current study was designed to investigate some antioxidant parameters embedded in the extract of Dialium indium (DI) fruit pulp and also, to elucidate its antidiabetic potentials through the inhibition of two key carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes such as α-amylase and intestinal α-glucosidase. Hydro-ethanolic extract of DI fruit pulp was used for the antioxidants and enzyme inhibitory bioassays through various convectional antioxidant assay methods in vitro. In the results, total phenolic content of the extract had; 6.74 ±3.38 mg GAE.g-1, total flavonoid contents; 0.02 ±0.01 mg QE.g-1 and FRAP; 0.84 ±0.47 mg AAE.g-1 dried sample. Also, there was a marked significant (p <0.05) difference observed in the inhibition of α-amylase and intestinal α-glucosidase by the different concentrations of the extract used in concentration-dependent manner with their different EC50. The inhibition demonstrated against these two carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes possibly could be through the embedded antioxidant potentials of the fruit pulp and this if properly harnessed, it could be helpful in the management of type 2 diabetes.
Spiritual Practitioners, Storytelling Markets, and the Economics of Consolation in Wharton's Postwar Fiction
Authors: Toth Margaret A. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractIn this article, I look at how a particular type of fictional character that I refer to as a spiritual practitioner—a woman who presents herself as medium, clairvoyant, or spiritual guide and earns a living through that role—makes its way into Edith Wharton's postwar writing. In the first section of the article, I examine two works that suggest that issues of faith and power, both gendered and economic, are central to Wharton's postwar fiction: A Son at the Front and “The Looking Glass.” Here I interrogate what I call the economics of consolation in these narratives, analyzing the arrangements—both emotional and financial—that spring up between Wharton's spiritual practitioners and the clients who seek comfort from them. In the second section, I show that Wharton is attuned to the dangers of occult economics, a claim I build through a reading of Hudson River Bracketed. Wharton uses the spiritual practitioner Grandma Scrimser to offer a meta-commentary on the spiritually bankrupt postwar publishing industry. Wharton parallels Grandma's career as an artist of sorts with that of Vance Weston, the more obvious author in the novel. As such, she invites us to read spiritual work as an allegory for modern authorship and readership.
The Dark Side of the Moon: Edith Wharton's Fictional Treatment of Islam inIn Moroccoand “The Seed of the Faith”
Authors: Obeidat Marwan M. , al-Shalabi Nazmi 
Published: April 2018

AbstractEdith Wharton's travel book In Morocco (1919) and short story “The Seed of the Faith” (1919) both resulted from her trip to Morocco in 1917. Yet ironically, the fictional short story may have come closer to the truth than the nonfictional travel book, which follows many of the orientalist patterns inherited from nineteenth-century travel writing to the Muslim east. The orientalism of In Morocco seems to hinge on Wharton's portrayal of Islam as a culture and a politics rather than as a religion, which leads to a fictionalized view. The short story, however, portrays the problematic nature of such views and their imposition on the Moroccan Muslims.
Religious Texts in Edith Wharton's Library
Authors: Liming Sheila 
Published: April 2018

Abstract
In many ways, the story of Edith Wharton's library starts with religion. Wharton received copies of religious texts—including The Book of Common Prayer and works like the Lutheran theologian Richard Rothe's Stille Stunden—as presents when she was a young girl, and these volumes formed the bedrock of a library collection that was fated to grow and expand over the years. This body of religious texts furthermore indicates how Wharton, as she matured, let curiosity guide her beyond the bounds of her Episcopalian upbringing. To her collection of sacred texts and books about Christianity, Wharton added volumes about religion in ancient Greece, the history of monastic orders like the Jesuits and the Franciscans, and “Mohammedanism,” better known as Islam.
UNTANGLING BINARIES: WHERE CANADA SITS IN THE “21st CENTURY DEBATE”
Authors: Gallagher Tiffany L. , Rowsell Jennifer 
Published: April 2018

This article examines the extent to which the competencies of the 21st century learner are reflected in the learning outcomes within the English language arts curriculum standards documents for the Canadian provinces. Manifest summative content analysis was used to code learning outcomes in accordance with themes derived from the competencies of 21st century learners. For all provinces, there were few learning outcomes that required students to use digital resources to access information or create knowledge / solutions; there were no learning outcomes related to competencies in the context of core subjects or using social media to communicate and learn. Espoused learning pedagogies need to be galvanized into English language arts curriculum standards that are consistent with 21st century and digital literacy learning competencies.
Escola: Um espaço de revelação da violência doméstica contra crianças e adolescentes
Authors: Elsen Ingrid , Navas Sanches Próspero Elisete , Navas Sanches Elizabeth , Floriano Cristiano José , Sgrott Bruna Cristina 
Published: April 2018

A violência doméstica contra crianças e adolescentes (VDCA) acompanha a trajetória humana desde os mais antigos registros, e tornou-se parte do cotidiano das famílias. Atualmente, é considerada um grave problema de saúde pública, haja vista a forma disseminada e intensificada com que tem se caracterizado. Com o objetivo de identificar, junto ao corpo docente, as percepções relacionadas à VDCA no âmbito escolar, realizou-se um estudo exploratório descritivo, de natureza qualitativa. Foram entrevistados docentes e orientadores pedagógicos de duas escolas públicas municipais de Itajaí (SC), que atendem alunos do ensino fundamental. Os dados foram coletados por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas, realizadas no período de outubro de 2007 a fevereiro de 2008, totalizando 14 professores e cinco orientadores pedagógicos entrevistados. A análise das falas dos entrevistados trouxe à tona o tema “a escola como ambiente favorável à proteção dos direitos da criança e do adolescente e de revelação da situação de violência doméstica”, além das cinco categorias a seguir: (1) os professores conhecem o fenômeno da violência; (2) os professores detectam no cotidiano escolar que as crianças sofrem violência; (3) a violência gera sentimentos ambíguos nos professores; (4) a VDCA é um fenômeno que poderia ser mais bem enfrentado na escola; e (5) da suspeita de VDCA à notificação: um processo pouco participativo. Os resultados oferecem subsídios para que o espaço escolar seja examinado com mais atenção e novas estratégias sejam criadas e implantadas, tornando-o mais participativo, democrático e com o comprometimento de todos os envolvidos.
Large Rotations of Crustal Blocks in the Tjörnes Fracture Zone of Northern Iceland
Authors: Horst A. J. , Karson J. A. , Varga R. J. 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe interpretation of uppermost crustal deformation near oceanic transform faults is based on bathymetric lineaments and earthquake focal mechanisms, and relatively little is known about the detailed kinematics within the transform tectonized zone. The Tjörnes Fracture Zone is a broad zone of deformation produced by right‐lateral transform shearing in north Iceland and is partly exposed on land providing the opportunity to study shallow‐level crustal structure of mid‐Miocene, thick, oceanic‐like crust formed by subaerial spreading. A pronounced structural curvature of lava and dike orientations near the Húsavík‐Flatey Fault within the transform zone is well documented, yet of controversial origin. In order to develop an assessment of deformation near the transform zone, samples of lavas and dikes were collected from 182 paleomagnetic sites within eight structural localities across the deformation zone on the Flateyjarskagi Peninsula. A progressive clockwise increase in locality mean remanence declinations over more than 10 km south of the fault broadly mimics the structural curvature of lava and dike orientations. Rotation estimates based on inclined rotation axes indicate significant clockwise rotation (74° ± 7° to 96° ± 9°) of multiple crustal blocks. When combined, all data from 108 sites within the deformed zone <12 km to the Húsavík‐Flatey Fault yield a best fit inclined axis rotation of 55° ± 7°. The paleomagnetic data and field relationships are consistent with a modified bookshelf faulting model, with relatively small (~1 km across) independently rotated crustal blocks with variable, and in some cases large‐magnitude rotations found within 10 km to the transform fault zone. Similar crustal deformation and comparable amounts of rotation may be present near other oceanic transforms, where accessibility and surficial deposits may limit documentation of more complex fault structures.
Discordance Between Population Impact of Musculoskeletal Disorders and Scientific Representation: A Bibliometric Study
Authors: Perruccio Anthony V. , Yip Calvin , Power J. Denise , Canizares Mayilee , Badley Elizabeth M. 
Published: April 2018

ObjectiveMusculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a leading cause of healthy years lost due to premature mortality and disability. Our objective was to investigate whether MSDs were commensurably represented within the published health literature.MethodsMEDLINE bibliometric data were retrieved for 2011 and 2016. The 25 disease branches, including MSDs, were ranked according to published article counts, proportion of all publications, and increase in publications from 2011 to 2016. Rankings were also considered within 5 groupings of general health journals: geriatrics and gerontology, general and internal medicine, multidisciplinary sciences, primary health care, and public health.ResultsThere were 532,283 MEDLINE publications in 2016, a 16% increase over 2011. In 2016, MSDs ranked 13th in publication count, unchanged from 2011. The increase of 11% in MSD publications from 2011 was below the overall increase. Of 2016 publications, only 7% were MSD indexed, dropping from 7.3% in 2011. MSD‐indexed publications had their highest ranking (8th) within geriatrics and gerontology, and lowest (19th) within public health.ConclusionMSDs appear underrepresented in the published health literature generally, and specifically within public health, despite their significant population impact. A broader focus on noncommunicable diseases associated with mortality omits noncommunicable diseases such as MSDs that are leading contributors to high morbidity and high costs, and such omission likely contributes to the neglect of recognizing MSDs as a health priority.
Capillary Nanostamping with Spongy Mesoporous Silica Stamps
Authors: Schmidt Mercedes , Philippi Michael , Münzner Maximilian , Stangl Johannes M. , Wieczorek René , Harneit Wolfgang , Müller‐Buschbaum Klaus , Enke Dirk , Steinhart Martin 
Published: April 2018

AbstractClassical microcontact printing involves transfer of molecules adsorbed on the outer surfaces of solid stamps to substrates to be patterned. Spongy mesoporous silica stamps are prepared that can be soaked with ink and that are topographically patterned with arrays of submicron contact elements. Multiple successive stamping steps can be carried out under ambient conditions without ink refilling. Lattices of fullerene nanoparticles with diameters in the 100 nm range are obtained by stamping C60/toluene solutions on perfluorinated glass slides partially wetted by toluene. Stamping an ethanolic 1‐dodecanethiol solution onto gold‐coated glass slides yields arrays of submicron dots of adsorbed 1‐dodecantethiol molecules, even though macroscopic ethanol drops spread on gold. This outcome may be related to the pressure drop across the concave ink menisci at the mesopore openings on the stamp surface counteracting the van der Waals forces between ink and gold surface and/or to reduced wettability of the 1‐dodecanethiol dots themselves by ethanol. The chemical surface heterogeneity of gold‐coated glass slides functionalized with submicron 1‐dodecanethiol dots is evidenced by dewetting of molten polystyrene films eventually yielding ordered arrays of polystyrene nanoparticles.
Are Electrospun Fibrous Membranes Relevant Electrode Materials for Li‐Ion Batteries? The Case of the C/Ge/GeO2 Composite Fibers
Authors: Pantò Fabiola , Fan Yafei , Stelitano Sara , Fazio Enza , Patanè Salvatore , Frontera Patrizia , Antonucci Pierluigi , Pinna Nicola , Santangelo Saveria 
Published: April 2018

AbstractSelf‐supporting paper‐like membranes consisting of carbon/germanium dioxide (C/GeO2) fibers are prepared via electrospinning of solutions with different germanium load (2.50−4.25 wt%), followed by carbonization at 550−700 °C, and are evaluated as anode materials in lithium ion batteries. The investigation of the physicochemical properties of the membranes by several characterization techniques shows that, as expected, with increasing carbonization temperature better graphitized and less nitrogen‐rich C fibers are obtained, containing Ge0 and/or reduced oxide phases along with GeO2 nanoparticles. These characteristics, combined with the cold pressing of the as‐spun membrane that noticeably reduces the hollow space within the fibres giving rise to a more compact and tight structure, lead to initial discharge volumetric capacities (≈1390–3580 mAh cm−3) much higher than commercial graphite anodes. In particular, the membrane prepared from solution with 4.25 wt% Ge‐load by cold‐pressing and carbonization at 700 °C, is able to deliver ≈1500 mAh cm−3 after 50 cycles at 50 mA g−1 with a Coulombic efficiency close to 100%. Nevertheless, the anodes exhibit poor rate capability. This is because the carbonization at high temperature promotes outward diffusion and subsequent coalescence of Ge‐clusters in larger particles, with the structure of the fibers made fragile by the formation of voids within them.
A Biopolymer Heparin Sodium Interlayer Anchoring TiO2 and MAPbI3 Enhances Trap Passivation and Device Stability in Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: You Shuai , Wang Hui , Bi Shiqing , Zhou Jiyu , Qin Liang , Qiu Xiaohui , Zhao Zhiqiang , Xu Yun , Zhang Yuan , Shi Xinghua , Zhou Huiqiong , Tang Zhiyong 
Published: April 2018

AbstractTraps in the photoactive layer or interface can critically influence photovoltaic device characteristics and stabilities. Here, traps passivation and retardation on device degradation for methylammonium lead trihalide (MAPbI3) perovskite solar cells enabled by a biopolymer heparin sodium (HS) interfacial layer is investigated. The incorporated HS boosts the power conversion efficiency from 17.2 to 20.1% with suppressed hysteresis and Shockley–Read–Hall recombination, which originates primarily from the passivation of traps near the interface between the perovskites and the TiO2 cathode. The incorporation of an HS interfacial layer also leads to a considerable retardation of device degradation, by which 85% of the initial performance is maintained after 70 d storage in ambient environment. Aided by density functional theory calculations, it is found that the passivation of MAPbI3 and TiO2 surfaces by HS occurs through the interactions of the functional groups (COO−, SO3−, or Na+) in HS with undersaturated Pb and I ions in MAPbI3 and Ti4+ in TiO2. This work demonstrates a highly viable and facile interface strategy using biomaterials to afford high‐performance and stable perovskite solar cells.
Iron‐Catalyzed Synthesis of Indenones through Cyclization of Carboxamides with Alkynes
Authors: Ilies Laurean , Arslanoglu Yasin , Matsubara Tatsuaki , Nakamura Eiichi 
Published: April 2018

AbstractThe iron/diphosphine‐catalyzed annulation of a carboxamide possessing a bidentate directing group with an internal alkyne proceeds in the presence of phenylzinc halide as a base at 40 °C to produce a variety of indenone derivatives. The reaction proceeds through iron‐catalyzed C−H bond activation of the carboxamide, followed by insertion of the alkyne into the resulting iron intermediate, and cyclization accelerated by the presence of Lewis acidic ZnII. The reaction of naphthalene and anthraceneamide yields π‐conjugated indenone derivatives.
Self‐Assembled Cyclic Structures from Copper(II) Peptoids
Authors: Ghosh Totan , Fridman Natalia , Kosa Monica , Maayan Galia 
Published: April 2018

AbstractMetal–ligand coordination is a key interaction in the self‐assembly of both biopolymers and synthetic oligomers. Although the binding of metal ions to synthetic proteins and peptides is known to yield high‐order structures, the self‐assembly of peptidomimetic molecules upon metal binding is still challenging. Herein we explore the self‐assembly of three peptoid trimers bearing a bipyridine ligand at their C‐terminus, a benzyl group at their N‐terminus, and a polar group (N‐ethyl‐R) in the middle position (R=OH, OCH3, or NH2) upon Cu2+ coordination. X‐ray diffraction analysis revealed unique, highly symmetric, dinuclear cyclic structure or aqua‐bridged dinuclear double‐stranded peptoid helicates, formed by the self‐assembly of two peptoid molecules with two Cu2+ ions. Only the macrocycle with the highest number of intermolecular hydrogen bonds is stable in solution, while the other two disassemble to their corresponding monometallic complexes.
Bulky Diamine Ligand Promotes Cross‐Coupling of Difluoroalkyl Bromides by Iron Catalysis
Authors: An Lun , Xiao Yu‐Lan , Zhang Shu , Zhang Xingang 
Published: April 2018

AbstractAlthough iron‐catalyzed cross‐coupling of Grignard reagents with alkyl halides has been well established, the adoption of the reaction for fluoroalkylations has not been reported because traditional catalytic systems often lead to defluorination reactions. Described herein is the investigation of an iron‐catalyzed cross‐coupling between arylmagnesium bromides and difluoroalkyl bromides with modified N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethyl‐ethane‐1,2‐diamine (TMEDA) as a ligand. The use of this bulky diamine, in which a butylene is substituted at one carbon atom of the ethylene backbone in TMEDA, enables the iron‐catalyzed difluoroalkylation under mild reaction conditions with a wide range of difluoroalkyl bromides, including vulnerable bromodifluoromethane, thus providing a general and cost‐efficient route for applications in medicinal chemistry.
Ectopic Germinal Center–Like Structures in Minor Salivary Gland Biopsy Tissue Predict Lymphoma Occurrence in Patients With Primary Sjögren's Syndrome
Authors: Sène Damien , Ismael Sophie , Forien Marine , Charlotte Frédéric , Kaci Rachid , Cacoub Patrice , Diallo Abdourahmane , Dieudé Philippe , Lioté Frédéric 
Published: April 2018

ObjectiveTo determine risk factors for primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS)–associated lymphoma in a multicenter cohort of patients, with analysis of the predictive power of previously reported risk factors, including the presence of ectopic germinal center (GC)–like structures in minor salivary gland (MSG) biopsy tissue.MethodsOne hundred fifteen patients with primary SS were included, and MSG biopsy tissue from these patients was retrospectively examined, focusing on the presence of ectopic GC‐like structures. Epidemiologic, clinical, biologic, immunologic, and histologic data were collected at the time of diagnosis of primary SS. Patients with non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) were compared with those without NHL during the follow‐up period, using a Cox proportional hazards multiple regression model.ResultsNHL was diagnosed in 8 patients (6.96%), and ectopic GC‐like structures in 19 patients (16.5%). The presence of ectopic GC‐like structures was associated with a 7.8‐fold increased risk of lymphoma occurrence (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.73–34.86 [P = 0.0075]). Other independent predictors included a positive cryoglobulin test result (hazard ratio [HR] 7.10, 95% CI 1.74–28.92 [P = 0.006]), male sex (HR 28.73, 95% CI 4.46–144.87 [P = 0.0004]), sensorimotor neuropathy (HR 35.48, 95% CI 5.79–217.39 [P = 0.0001]), and splenomegaly (HR 19.9, 95% CI 4.4–90 [P = 0.0001]).ConclusionThe presence of ectopic GC‐like structures in MSG biopsy tissue is associated with the risk of lymphoma in patients with primary SS. These data reinforce the major role of MSG biopsy tissue in primary SS, for the identification a priori of a subgroup of patients with the highest risk of lymphoma.