bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alternative Molecular-Based Diagnostic Methods of Plant Pathogenic Fungi Affecting Berry Crops—A Review
Authors: Malarczyk Dominika , Panek Jacek , Frąc Magdalena
Published: March 2019

Increasing consumer awareness of potentially harmful pesticides used in conventional agriculture has prompted organic farming to become notably more prevalent in recent decades. Central European countries are some of the most important producers of blueberries, raspberries and strawberries in the world and organic cultivation methods for these fruits have a significant market share. Fungal pathogens are considered to be the most significant threat to organic crops of berries, causing serious economic losses and reducing yields. In order to ameliorate the harmful effects of pathogenic fungi on cultivations, the application of rapid and effective identification methods is essential. At present, various molecular methods are applied for fungal species recognition, such as PCR, qPCR, LAMP and NGS.
Bacteria Death and Osteoblast Metabolic Activity Correlated to Hydrothermally Synthesised TiO2 Surface Properties
Authors: Jaggessar Alka , Mathew Asha , Tesfamichael Tuquabo , Wang Hongxia , Yan Cheng , Yarlagadda Prasad KDV
Published: March 2019

Orthopaedic surgery comes with an inherent risk of bacterial infection, prolonged antibiotic therapy and revision surgery. Recent research has focused on nanostructured surfaces to improve the bactericidal and osseointegrational properties of implants. However, an understanding of the mechanical properties of bactericidal materials is lacking. In this work, the surface properties of hydrothermal TiO2 nanostructured surfaces are investigated for their effect on bactericidal efficiency and cellular metabolic activity of human osteoblast cells. TiO2 nanostructures, approximately 307 nm in height and 14 GPa stiffness, were the most effective structures against both gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria. Statistical analysis significantly correlated structure height to the death of both bacteria strains. In addition, the surface contact angle and Young’s modulus were correlated to osteoblast metabolic activity. Hydrophilic surfaces with a contact angle between 35 and 50° produced the highest cellular metabolic activity rates after 24 h of incubation. The mechanical tests showed that nanostructures retain their mechanical stability and integrity over a long time-period, reaffirming the surfaces’ applicability for implants. This work provides a thorough examination of the surface, mechanical and wettability properties of multifunctional hydrothermally synthesised nanostructured materials, capable of killing bacteria whilst improving osteoblast metabolic rates, leading to improved osseointegration and antibacterial properties of orthopaedic implants.
Evaluation of the Behavior of Phenolic Compounds and Steviol Glycosides of Sonicated Strawberry Juice Sweetened with Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni)
Authors: Šic Žlabur Jana , Dobričević Nadica , Brnčić Mladen , Barba Francisco J. , Lorenzo Jose M. , Franco Daniel , Atanasov Atanas G. , Voća Sandra , Rimac Brnčić Suzana
Published: March 2019

In this study, the influence of stevia addition and sonication processing parameters on the phenolic content and profile as well as the steviol glycosides of strawberry juice-based samples was investigated. For this purpose, three matrices—control samples of strawberry juices without green stevia powder (CS), strawberry juices with green stevia powder (JGSP), and sonicated juices with green stevia powder (SJGSP)—were prepared. For sonication purposes, different conditions regarding probe diameters (7 mm and 22 mm), amplitudes (50%, 75%, and 100%), and time (15 min, 20 min, and 25 min) were tested. The results that were obtained upon the measurement of the total phenolic content, total flavonoids, steviol glycosides, and antioxidant capacity showed significant differences according to the matrices evaluated, obtaining overall higher values in the samples with stevia added. Moreover, when sonication was evaluated, it was found that a higher amplitude (100%), a larger probe diameter (22 mm), and a longer sonication period (25 min) led to higher values. Flavones such as luteolin and apigenin were identified and quantified in JGSP and SJGSP, while they were not found in CS. Besides these phenolic compounds, kaempferol, quercetin, pyrogallic acid, 4-methylcatechol, and 4-methoxybenzoic acid were also identified and quantified. Similarly to the total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, and total antioxidant capacity, an increased amount of these compounds was found in SJGSP, especially after using the most intense sonication conditions. Therefore, the use of sonication together with stevia added could be a useful tool to preserve strawberry juices, increasing at the same time the sweetness and the antioxidant value of the beverages.
Systematically Characterize the Anti-Alzheimer’s Disease Mechanism of Lignans from S. chinensis Based on In-Vivo Ingredient Analysis and Target-Network Pharmacology Strategy by UHPLC–Q-TOF-MS
Authors: Wei Mengying , Liu Yuanyuan , Pi Zifeng , Li Shizhe , Hu Mingxin , He Yang , Yue Kexin , Liu Tianshu , Liu Zhiqiang , Song Fengrui , Liu Zhongying
Published: March 2019

Lignans from Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill can ameliorate cognitive impairment in animals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, the metabolism of absorbed ingredients and the potential targets of the lignans from S. chinensis in animals with AD have not been systematically investigated. Therefore, for the first time, we performed an in-vivo ingredient analysis and implemented a target-network pharmacology strategy to assess the effects of lignans from S. chinensis in rats with AD. Ten absorbed prototype constituents and 39 metabolites were identified or tentatively characterized in the plasma of dosed rats with AD using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Based on the results of analysis of the effective constituents in vivo, the potential therapeutic mechanism of the effective constituents in the rats with AD was investigated using a target-network pharmacology approach and independent experimental validation. The results showed that the treatment effects of lignans from S. chinensis on cognitive impairment might involve the regulation of amyloid precursor protein metabolism, neurofibrillary tangles, neurotransmitter metabolism, inflammatory response, and antioxidant system. Overall, we identified the effective components of lignans in S. chinensis that can improve the cognitive impairment induced by AD and proposed potential therapeutic metabolic pathways. The results might serve as the basis for a fundamental strategy to explore effective therapeutic drugs to treat AD.
Interactive Effects of Light and Melatonin on Biosynthesis of Silymarin and Anti-Inflammatory Potential in Callus Cultures of Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn.
Authors: Shah Muzamil , Ullah Muhammad Asad , Drouet Samantha , Younas Muhammad , Tungmunnithum Duangjai , Giglioli-Guivarc’h Nathalie , Hano Christophe , Abbasi Bilal Haider
Published: March 2019

Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. is a well-known medicinal herb, primarily used in liver protection. Light strongly affects several physiological processes along with secondary metabolites biosynthesis in plants. Herein, S. marianum was exploited for in vitro potential under different light regimes in the presence of melatonin. The optimal callogenic response occurred in the combination of 1.0 mg/L α-naphthalene acetic acid and 0.5 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine under photoperiod. Continuous light associated with melatonin treatment increased total flavonoid content (TFC), total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant potential, followed by photoperiod and dark treatments. The increased level of melatonin has a synergistic effect on biomass accumulation under continuous light and photoperiod, while an adverse effect was observed under dark conditions. More detailed phytochemical analysis showed maximum total silymarin content (11.92 mg/g dry weight (DW)) when placed under continuous light + 1.0 mg/L melatonin. Individually, the level of silybins (A and B), silydianin, isolsilychristin and silychristin was found highest under continuous light. Anti-inflammatory activities were also studied and highest percent inhibition was recorded against 15-lipoxygenase (15-LOX) for cultures cultivated under continuous light (42.33%). The current study helps us to better understand the influence of melatonin and different light regimes on silymarin production as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in S. marianum callus extracts.
Activity of Estafietin and Analogues on Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania braziliensis
Authors: Sülsen Valeria P. , Lizarraga Emilio F. , Elso Orlando G. , Cerny Natacha , Sanchez Alberti Andrés , Bivona Augusto E. , Malchiodi Emilio L. , Cazorla Silvia I. , Catalán César A. N.
Published: March 2019

Sesquiterpene lactones are naturally occurring compounds mainly found in the Asteraceae family. These types of plant metabolites display a wide range of biological activities, including antiprotozoal activity and are considered interesting structures for drug discovery. Four derivatives were synthesized from estafietin (1), isolated from Stevia alpina (Asteraceae): 11βH,13-dihydroestafietin (2), epoxyestafietin (3a and 3b), 11βH,13-methoxyestafietin, (4) and 11βH,13-cianoestafietin. The antiprotozoal activity against Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania braziliensis of these compounds was evaluated. Epoxyestafietin was the most active compound against T. cruzi trypomastigotes and amastigotes (IC50 values of 18.7 and 2.0 µg/mL, respectively). Estafietin (1) and 11βH,13-dihydroestafietin (2) were the most active and selective compounds on L. braziliensis promastigotes (IC50 values of 1.0 and 1.3 μg/mL, respectively). The antiparasitic activity demonstrated by estafietin and some of its derivatives make them promising candidates for the development of effective compounds for the treatment of Chagas disease and leihsmaniasis.
3′-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-α,4,2′,4′,6′-pentahydroxy-dihydrochalcone, from Bark of Eysenhardtia polystachya Prevents Diabetic Nephropathy via Inhibiting Protein Glycation in STZ-Nicotinamide Induced Diabetic Mice
Authors: Pérez Gutierrez Rosa , García Campoy Abraham , Paredes Carrera Silvia , Muñiz Ramirez Alethia , Mota Flores José , Flores Valle Sergio
Published: March 2019

Previous studies have shown that accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) can be the cause of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in diabetic patients. Dihydrochalcone 3′-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl α,4,2′,4′,6′-pentahydroxy–dihydrochalcone (1) is a powerful antiglycation compound previously isolated from Eysenhardtia polystachya. The aim was to investigate whether (1) was able to protect against diabetic nephropathy in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice, which displayed renal dysfunction markers such as body weight, creatinine, uric acid, serum urea, total urinary protein, and urea nitrogen in the blood (BUN). In addition, pathological changes were evaluated including glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the kidney, as well as in circulation level and pro-inflammatory markers ICAM-1 levels in diabetic mice. After 5 weeks, these elevated markers of dihydrochalcone treatment (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg) were significantly (p < 0.05) attenuated. In addition, they ameliorate the indices of renal inflammation as indicated by ICAM-1 markers. The kidney and circulatory AGEs levels in diabetic mice were significantly (p < 0.05) attenuated by (1) treatment. Histological analysis of kidney tissues showed an important recovery in its structure compared with the diabetic group. It was found that the compound (1) attenuated the renal damage in diabetic mice by inhibiting AGEs formation.
The Asymmetric A3(Aldehyde–Alkyne–Amine) Coupling: Highly Enantioselective Access to Propargylamines
Authors: Mo Jia-Nan , Su Junqi , Zhao Jiannan
Published: March 2019

The recent developments in asymmetric A3 (aldehyde–alkyne–amine) coupling has been summarized in this review. Several interesting modifications of the ligands enabled the highly enantioselective synthesis of chiral propargylamines, which are further used in the construction of nitrogen-containing chiral building blocks.
Composition and Rheological Properties of Polysaccharide Extracted from Tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) Seed
Authors: Shao Huimin , Zhang Hui , Tian Yanjun , Song Zibo , Lai Phoency F. H. , Ai Lianzhong
Published: March 2019

A polysaccharide was extracted in high yield from tamarind (Tamarindus indica L.) seed (TSP) by acidic hot water extraction and ethanol precipitation. It was composed of 86.2% neutral polysaccharide, 5.4% uronic acid and 1.3% protein. The molecular weight of TSP was estimated to be about 1735 kDa, with glucose, xylose, and galactose in a molar ratio of 2.9:1.8:1.0 as the major monosaccharides. The steady shear and viscoelastic properties of TSP aqueous solutions were investigated by dynamic rheometry. Results revealed that TSP aqueous solution at a concentration above 0.5% (w/v) exhibited non-Newtonian shear-thinning behavior. Dynamic oscillatory analysis revealed that 10% (w/v) TSP showed as a “weak gel” structure. Apparent viscosities and viscoelastic parameters of TSP solutions decreased drastically in an alkaline solution of pH > 10, but slightly influenced by acidic solution, high temperature and the presence of salt ions and sucrose. These results indicated that TSP possessed excellent pH-resistance and thermo-stability, which might be suitable for applications in acidic beverages and high-temperature processed foodstuffs.
Cube-Related Corner Coalesced Nets
Authors: Diudea Mircea V.
Published: March 2019

Finite or periodic structures containing the cube motif can be synthesized and transformed into a variety of structures both at the theoretical and real, experimental level. The rhombellation topo-geometric operation may be used to transform the cube-shape into larger units and then build light (spongy) structures with larger voids. Hyper-clusters are polyhedral structures which nodes are polyhedral structures (the same or different ones). The paper presents some hypothetical spongy structures related to the cubic primitive pcu-net, with defects induced by cutting-off some atoms and/or bonds so that only corners are shared between two cubes. A diamondoid hyper-structure containing cube-coalesced corners was proposed for an eventual synthesis. The discussed structures are described in topological terms, particularly by sequential vertex connectivity and ring environment.
Microwave-Driven Synthesis of Iron-Oxide Nanoparticles for Molecular Imaging
Authors: Fernández-Barahona Irene , Muñoz-Hernando Maria , Herranz Fernando
Published: March 2019

Here, we present a comprehensive review on the use of microwave chemistry for the synthesis of iron-oxide nanoparticles focused on molecular imaging. We provide a brief introduction on molecular imaging, the applications of iron oxide in biomedicine, and traditional methods for the synthesis of these nanoparticles. The review then focuses on the different examples published where the use of microwaves is key for the production of nanoparticles. We study how the different parameters modulate nanoparticle properties, particularly for imaging applications. Finally, we explore principal applications in imaging of microwave-produced iron-oxide nanoparticles.
Efficient Conversion of Cane Molasses Towards High-Purity Isomaltulose and Cellular Lipid Using an Engineered Yarrowia lipolytica Strain in Fed-Batch Fermentation
Authors: Wang Zhi-Peng , Wang Qin-Qing , Liu Song , Liu Xiao-Fang , Yu Xin-Jun , Jiang Yun-Lin
Published: March 2019

Cane molasses is one of the main by-products of sugar refineries, which is rich in sucrose. In this work, low-cost cane molasses was introduced as an alternative substrate for isomaltulose production. Using the engineered Yarrowia lipolytica, the isomaltulose production reached the highest (102.6 g L−1) at flask level with pretreated cane molasses of 350 g L−1 and corn steep liquor of 1.0 g L−1. During fed-batch fermentation, the maximal isomaltulose concentration (161.2 g L−1) was achieved with 0.96 g g−1 yield within 80 h. Simultaneously, monosaccharides were completely depleted, harvesting the high isomaltulose purity (97.4%) and high lipid level (12.2 g L−1). Additionally, the lipids comprised of 94.29% C16 and C18 fatty acids, were proved suitable for biodiesel production. Therefore, the bioprocess employed using cane molasses in this study was low-cost and eco-friendly for high-purity isomaltulose production, coupling with valuable lipids.
Molecular Characterization of Arabinoxylan from Wheat Beer, Beer Foam and Defoamed Beer
Authors: Li Jie , Du Jinhua
Published: March 2019

This research was to explore the distribution and some molecular characterization of arabinoxylan in wheat beer (B), beer foam (BF) and defoamed beer (DB) because of the crucial influences of arabinoxylan on wheat beer and its foam. The purified arabinoxylan from B, BF, and DB were fractionated by ethanol of 50%, 67%, 75%, and 80%. The monosaccharide composition, substitution degree (Ara/Xyl ratio, A/X), and average degrees of polymerization (avDP) of arabinoxylan were investigated. Molecular weight and microstructure were also involved in this study by GPC-LLS and SEM, respectively. Under the same ethanol concentration, the arabinoxylan content in the BF was higher than the other two, respectively, and it was precipitated in BF fraction with 50% ethanol which accounted for 80.84% of the total polysaccharides. Meanwhile, the greatest substitution degree (A/X) and highest value of avDP of the arabinoxylan was found in all beer foam fractions regardless of the concentration of ethanol used. The average degrees of polymerization (avDP) of arabinoxylan displayed a significant difference (p < 0.05) among B, BF, and DB. Furthermore, arabinoxylan presented varied microstructure with irregular lamellas and spherical structures and the weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of arabinoxylan showed the lowest values in BF, while the largest values were shown in DB. Therefore, arabinoxylan was more accumulated in beer foam, especially in 50% ethanol, characterised by greater value of A/X and avDP, as well as lower Mw. It was suggested that the arabinoxylan played important roles in maintaining wheat beer foam characteristics.
Own-Synthetize Nanoparticles to Develop Nano-Enhanced Phase Change Materials (NEPCM) to Improve the Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Authors: Barreneche Camila , Martín Marc , Calvo-de la Rosa Jaume , Majó Marc , Fernández A. Inés
Published: March 2019

The use of adequate thermal energy storage (TES) systems is an opportunity to increase energy efficiency in the building sector, and so decrease both commercial and residential energy consumptions. Nano-enhanced phase change materials (NEPCM) have attracted attention to address one of the crucial barriers (i.e. low thermal conductivity) to the adoption of phase change materials (PCM) in this sector. In the present study two PCM based on fatty acids, capric and palmitic acid, were nano-enhanced with low contents (1.0 wt.%, 1.5 wt.% and 3.0 wt.%) of copper (II) oxide (CuO) nanoparticles. Copper (II) oxide (CuO) was synthesized via coprecipitation method obtaining 60–120 nm diameter sized nanoparticles. Thermal stability and high thermal conductivity were observed for the nano-enhanced phase change materials (NEPCM) obtained. Experimental results revealed remarkable increments in NEPCM thermal conductivity, for instance palmitic acid thermal conductivity was increased up to 60% with the addition of 3 wt.% CuO nanoparticles. Moreover, CuO nanoparticles sedimentation velocity decreases when increasing its content.
Antifungal Activity of Eugenol Derivatives against Botrytis Cinerea
Authors: Olea Andrés F. , Bravo Angelica , Martínez Rolando , Thomas Mario , Sedan Claudia , Espinoza Luis , Zambrano Elisabeth , Carvajal Denisse , Silva-Moreno Evelyn , Carrasco Héctor
Published: March 2019

Botrytis cinerea is a worldwide spread fungus that causes the grey mold disease, which is considered the most important factor in postharvest losses in fresh fruit crops. Consequently, the control of gray mold is a matter of current and relevant interest for agricultural industries. In this work, a series of phenylpropanoids derived from eugenol were synthesized and characterized. Their effects on the mycelial growth of a virulent and multi-resistant isolate of B. cinerea (PN2) have been evaluated and IC50 values for the most active compounds range between 31–95 ppm. The antifungal activity exhibited by these compounds is strongly related to their chemical structure, i.e., increasing activity has been obtained by isomerization of the double bond or introduction of a nitro group on the aromatic ring. Based on the relationship between the fungicide activities and chemical structure, a mechanism of action is proposed. Finally, the activity of these compounds is higher than that reported for the commercial fungicide BC-1000 that is currently employed to combat this disease. Thus, our results suggest that these compounds are potential candidates to be used in the design of new and effective control with inspired natural compounds of this pathogen.
Metabolomic Profiling of the Desiccation-Tolerant Medicinal Shrub Myrothamnus flabellifolia Indicates Phenolic Variability Across Its Natural Habitat: Implications for Tea and Cosmetics Production
Authors: Bentley Joanne , Moore John P. , Farrant Jill M.
Published: March 2019

The leaves and twigs of the desiccation-tolerant medicinal shrub Myrothamnus flabellifolia are harvested for use in traditional and commercial teas and cosmetics due to their phenolic properties. The antioxidant and pharmacological value of this plant has been widely confirmed; however, previous studies typically based their findings on material collected from a single region. The existence of phenolic variability between plants from different geographical regions experiencing different rainfall regimes has thus not been sufficiently evaluated. Furthermore, the anthocyanins present in this plant have not been assessed. The present study thus used an untargeted liquid chromatography-tandem-mass spectrometry approach to profile phenolics in M. flabellifolia material collected from three climatically distinct (high, moderate, and low rainfall) regions representing the western, southern, and eastern extent of the species range in southern Africa. Forty-one putative phenolic compounds, primarily flavonoids, were detected, nine of which are anthocyanins. Several of these compounds are previously unknown from M. flabellifolia. Using multivariate statistics, samples from different regions could be distinguished by their phenolic profiles, supporting the existence of regional phenolic variability. This study indicates that significant phenolic variability exists across the range of M. flabellifolia, which should inform both commercial and traditional cultivation and harvesting strategies.
Cu(I)/Ionic Liquids Promote the Conversion of Carbon Dioxide into Oxazolidinones at Room Temperature
Authors: Qiu Jikuan , Zhao Yue , Zhao Yuling , Wang Huiyong , Li Zhiyong , Wang Jianji , Jiao Tiantian
Published: March 2019

Recently, the efficient chemical fixation of carbon dioxide (CO2) into high value chemicals without using noble metal catalysts has become extremely appealing from the viewpoint of sustainable chemistry. In this work, a one-pot three component reaction of propargylic alcohols, anines and CO2 that can proceed in an atom economy and environmentally benign manner by combination of CuI and tetrabutylphosphonium imidazol ([P4444][Im]) as a catalyst was described. Catalysis studies indicate that this catalytic system is an effective catalyst for the conversion of CO2 into oxazolidinones at room temperature and ambient pressure without any solvent. The results provide a useful way to design novel noble metal-free catalyst systems for the transformation of CO2 into other valuable compounds.
Physicochemical Compatibility and Stability of Linezolid with Parenteral Nutrition
Authors: Tomczak Szymon , Stawny Maciej , Dettlaff Katarzyna , Kieliszek Maria , Słomińska Daria , Jelińska Anna
Published: March 2019

Patients referred to intensive care units (ICU) require special care due to their life-threatening condition, diseases and, frequently, malnutrition. Critically ill patients manifest a range of typical physiological changes caused by predominantly catabolic reactions in the body. It is necessary to provide the patients with proper nutrition, for example by administering total parenteral nutrition (TPN). The addition of linezolid to TPN mixtures for patients treated for linezolid-sensitive infections may reduce the extent of vascular access handling, resulting in a diminished risk of unwanted catheter-related infections. The compatibility and stability studies were conducted of linezolid in parenteral nutrition mixtures of basic, high- and low-electrolytic, high- and low-energetic and immunomodulatory composition. Mixtures containing linezolid were stored at 4–6 °C and 25 °C with light protection and at 25 °C without light protection for 168 h. In order to evaluate changes in the concentration of linezolid a previously validated reversed-phase HPLC method with UV detection was used. It was found that linezolid was stable at 4–6 °C in the whole course of the study whereas at 25 °C it proved stable over a period of 24 h required for administration of parenteral nutrition mixtures. The TPN mixtures demonstrated compatibility with linezolid and suitable stability, which were not affected by time or storage conditions.
Nondestructive Determination of Diastase Activity of Honey Based on Visible and Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Huang Zhenxiong , Liu Lang , Li Guojian , Li Hong , Ye Dapeng , Li Xiaoli
Published: March 2019

The activities of enzymes are the basis of evaluating the quality of honey. Beekeepers usually use concentrators to process natural honey into concentrated honey by concentrating it under high temperatures. Active enzymes are very sensitive to high temperatures and will lose their activity when they exceed a certain temperature. The objective of this work is to study the kinetic mechanism of the temperature effect on diastase activity and to develop a nondestructive approach for quick determination of the diastase activity of honey through a heating process based on visible and near-infrared (Vis/NIR) spectroscopy. A total of 110 samples, including three species of botanical origin, were used for this study. To explore the kinetic mechanism of diastase activity under high temperatures, the honey of three kinds of botanical origins were processed with thermal treatment to obtain a variety of diastase activity. Diastase activity represented with diastase number (DN) was measured according to the national standard method. The results showed that the diastase activity decreased with the increase of temperature and heating time, and the sensitivity of acacia and longan to temperature was higher than linen. The optimum temperature for production and processing is 60 °C. Unsupervised clustering analysis was adopted to detect spectral characteristics of these honeys, indicating that different botanical origins of honeys can be distinguished in principal component spaces. Partial least squares (PLS) and least squares-support vector machine (LS-SVM) algorithms were applied to develop quantitative relationships between Vis/NIR spectroscopy and diastase activity. The best result was obtained through Gaussian filter smoothing-standard normal variate (GF-SNV) pretreatment and the LS-SVM model, known as GF-SNV-LS-SVM, with a determination coefficient (R2) of prediction of 0.8872, and root mean square error (RMSE) of prediction of 0.2129. The overall results of this paper showed that the diastase activity of honey can be determined quickly and non-destructively with Vis/NIR spectral methods, which can be used to detect DN in the process of honey production and processing, and to maximize the nutrient content of honey.
Vitamin C Can Shorten the Length of Stay in the ICU: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Hemilä Harri , Chalker Elizabeth
Published: March 2019

A number of controlled trials have previously found that in some contexts, vitamin C can have beneficial effects on blood pressure, infections, bronchoconstriction, atrial fibrillation, and acute kidney injury. However, the practical significance of these effects is not clear. The purpose of this meta-analysis was to evaluate whether vitamin C has an effect on the practical outcomes: length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) and duration of mechanical ventilation. We identified 18 relevant controlled trials with a total of 2004 patients, 13 of which investigated patients undergoing elective cardiac surgery. We carried out the meta-analysis using the inverse variance, fixed effect options, using the ratio of means scale. In 12 trials with 1766 patients, vitamin C reduced the length of ICU stay on average by 7.8% (95% CI: 4.2% to 11.2%; p = 0.00003). In six trials, orally administered vitamin C in doses of 1–3 g/day (weighted mean 2.0 g/day) reduced the length of ICU stay by 8.6% (p = 0.003). In three trials in which patients needed mechanical ventilation for over 24 hours, vitamin C shortened the duration of mechanical ventilation by 18.2% (95% CI 7.7% to 27%; p = 0.001). Given the insignificant cost of vitamin C, even an 8% reduction in ICU stay is worth exploring. The effects of vitamin C on ICU patients should be investigated in more detail.
Interventions Aimed at Increasing Dairy and/or Calcium Consumption of Preschool-Aged Children: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Srbely Victoria , Janjua Imtisal , Buchholz Andrea C. , Newton Genevieve
Published: March 2019

Dairy product consumption is important during childhood, as dairy products provide nutrients to support growth and development. However, a high proportion of children globally are not meeting recommended daily intakes, which may have long-term health implications. Accumulating evidence suggests that interventions aimed at instilling healthy lifestyle habits are most effective when initiated during the preschool years. Therefore, the purpose of the review was to identify the characteristics of effective dairy and/or calcium interventions targeting preschool-aged children. A systematic literature review identified 14 intervention studies published between 1998–2018 addressing dairy/calcium intakes in the preschool population (1.5 to 5 years). Intervention reporting was assessed using intervention intensity, behavior change techniques and Workgroup for Intervention Development and Evaluation Research (WIDER), with the quality of studies evaluated using risk of bias and Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE). Five of the 14 studies included in the review reported significant improvements in children’s dairy (4/5) or calcium (1/5) intake. Characteristics that may enable intervention effectiveness include the delivery of interventions in one setting (preschool facility), using specific behavior change techniques (environmental restructuring and teach to use prompts/cues), and targeting both parent and child. Overall, the interventions assessed demonstrated variable success and highlighted the need for developing effective interventions designed to increase dairy and/or calcium intakes in preschool-aged children.
Embodiment: The Ecology of Mind
Authors: Dumouchel Paul
Published: March 2019

Following a suggestion from G. Bateson, this article enquires into the consequence of the idea of embodiment in philosophy of mind, taking seriously the notion of an ecology of mind. In the first half of this article, after distinguishing between the biological and the systemic approaches to ecology, I focus on three characteristics of the systemic approach. First, that a system is an abstract object that is multiply embodied in a collection of physically distinct heterogeneous objects. Second, that there is a form of circular causality between the level of the elements and that of the system as a whole, as some characteristics of the elements partake in the explanation of how the system functions, while the requirement of the system explains why the elements have the characteristics that they do. The third is the ontological uncertainty that we sometimes find in ecology, where the same term is used to designate both a central component of the ecological system and the system as a whole. In the second half, beginning with a critique of the theory of mind approach, I look into the consequences of conceiving that mind is embodied in a collection of physically distinct heterogeneous objects that interact as elements of a system, rather than enclosed in an individual body.
The Dynamics of Cytokinin Changes after Grafting of Vegetative Apices on Flowering Rapeseed Plants
Authors: Tarkowská Danuše , Filek Maria , Krekule Jan , Biesaga-Kościelniak Jolanta , Marciñska Izabela , Popielarska-Konieczna Marzena , Strnad Miroslav
Published: March 2019

Despite numerous studies, the role of hormones in the induction of shoot apical meristem leading to reproductive development, especially regarding thermoperiodic plants, is still not fully understood. The key problem is separating the effects of the low temperature required for vernalization from those responsible for low temperature stress. An earlier experiment demonstrated the correlation between an increase of cytokinin level in the apical parts of winter rapeseed and the transition time into their reproductive phase during vernalization, i.e., low temperature treatment. From data obtained from the presented experiments, this study aims to contribute to the understanding the role of cytokinins in the induction of flowering based on the grafting of vegetative apical parts of winter rapeseed (scion) on the reproductive (stock) winter and spring genotypes. On the basis of analyses carried out using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry in combination with microscopic observation of changes at the apical meristem, it was indicated that the increase in the amount of trans-zeatin and trans- and cis-zeatin-O-glucoside derivatives appeared in the early stages of apex floral differentiation. During further development, the content of all investigated cytokinins passed through the maximum level followed by their decrease. The final level in reproductive apices was found to be higher than that in vegetative ones.
Characterization of JsWOX1 and JsWOX4 during Callus and Root Induction in the Shrub Species Jasminum sambac
Authors: Lu Ying , Liu Zhuoyi , Lyu Meiling , Yuan Yuan , Wu Binghua
Published: March 2019

Plant regeneration in vitro and the underlying molecular regulatory network are of great interest to developmental biology, and have potential applications in agriculture and biotechnology. Cell growth and re-differentiation during de novo organogenesis require the activation and reprogramming of stem cells within the stem cell niche of the tissues. The WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) factors play important roles in the maintenance and regulation of plant stem cells and are involved in many developmental processes. However, in woody species such as the Jasminum sambac, little is known about the involvement of WOX genes in de novo organogenesis. Here we show that two WOXs, JsWOX4 and JsWOX1, are implicated in callus proliferation and root regeneration, respectively. The expression of both, together with another member JsWOX13, are upregulated during later stage of callus formation. The JsWOX4 is associated with callus proliferation, or cell division during the redifferentiation. The overexpression of this gene results in up-regulation of JsWOX13 and another homeobox gene. The JsWOX1 plays a role in root primordium initiation, as its overexpression leads to more rooty calli and more roots per callus. JsWOX1 also possibly acts upstream of JsWOX4 and JsWOX13 transcriptionally. Our results provide further evidence regarding the functions of WOX genes in organogenesis in a woody plant.
A Review on Si Uptake and Transport System
Authors: Kaur Harmanjit , Greger Maria
Published: March 2019

Silicon (Si) was long listed as a non-essential component for plant growth and development because of its universal availability. However, there has been a resurgence of interest in studying the underlying uptake and transport mechanism of silicon in plants because of the reported dynamic role of silicon in plants under stressed environmental conditions. This uptake and transport mechanism is greatly dependent upon the uptake ability of the plant’s roots. Plant roots absorb Si in the form of silicic acid from the soil solution, and it is moved through different parts of the plant using various influx and efflux transporters. Both these influx and efflux transporters are mostly found in the plasma membrane; however, their location and pattern of expression varies among different plants. The assessment of these features provides a new understanding of different species-dependent Si accumulations, which have been studied in monocots but are poorly understood in other plant groups. Therefore, the present review provides insight into the most recent research exploring the use of Si transporters in angiosperms and cryptogams. This paper presents an extensive representation of data from different families of angiosperms, including monocots and eudicots. Eudicots (previously referred to as dicots) have often been neglected in the literature, because they are categorized as low/intermediate Si accumulators. However, in this review, we attempt to highlight the accumulating species of different plant groups in which Si uptake is mediated through transporters.
Effect of Morphology of Calcium Carbonate on Toughness Behavior and Thermal Stability of Epoxy-Based Composites
Authors: Yang Guijun , Heo Young-Jung , Park Soo-Jin
Published: March 2019

In this study, the modification of an epoxy matrix with different amounts of cube-like and rod-like CaCO3 nanoparticles was investigated. The effects of variations in the morphology of CaCO3 on the mechanical properties and thermal stability of the CaCO3/epoxy composites were studied. The rod-like CaCO3/epoxy composites (EP-rod) showed a higher degradation temperature (4.5 °C) than neat epoxy. The results showed that the mechanical properties, such as the flexural strength, flexural modulus, and fracture toughness of the epoxy composites with CaCO3 were enhanced by the addition of cube-like and rod-like CaCO3 nanoparticles. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the composites were enhanced by increasing the amount of CaCO3 added but decreased when the filler content reached 2%. The fracture toughness Kic and fracture energy release rate Gic of cube-like and rod-like CaCO3/epoxy composites (0.85/0.74 MPa m1/2 and 318.7/229.5 J m−2, respectively) is higher than the neat epoxy (0.52 MPa m1/2 and 120.48 J m−2).
Immersion Enthalpy of Activated Carbon–Cyclohexane and Activated Carbon–Hexane. Difference in the Solid–Liquid Interaction Enthalpy Due to the Structure of the Solvent
Authors: Hernández-Monje Diana , Giraldo Liliana , Moreno-Piraján Juan Carlos
Published: March 2019

The enthalpy of immersion for five activated carbons (with different surface chemistry) in cyclohexane and hexane was determined in order to observe the intensity of the solid–liquid interaction. The enthalpy of immersion was related to the properties of activated carbons, such as micropore volume, total basic groups content, and the EoWo product, that characterized each solid-liquid system. The values for the immersion enthalpy were between −21.2 and −91.7 J g−1 for cyclohexane and between −16.4 and −66.1 J g−1 for hexane. It showed greater interaction between the cyclohexane and the activated carbons and it was related to the properties of this adsorbate, such as molecular size and molecular arrangement. The difference in the enthalpy of immersion between the solvents per unit of micropore volume for the set of activated carbons was calculated obtaining a value of −487 J cm−3.
Unsteady Nano-Liquid Spray with Thermal Radiation Comprising CNTs
Authors: Gul Taza , Khan Waqar , Tahir Mehwish , Bilal Rubi , Khan Ilyas , Nisar Kottakkaran
Published: March 2019

Carbon nanotubes play a significant role in improving the thermal efficiency of common liquids. The objective of this research is to examine the thin film spray over the surface of a vertical tube through carbon nanotubes (CNTs) nanofluids. Processes for the preparation of the nanofluid and the stable dispersion of the CNTs in water were followed from the available experimental literature. The thickness of the spray pattern was kept variable to control the stability of the spray pattern and to accomplish the suitable heat transmission under the effects of a magnetic field. The pressure supply and rate of the spray were also calculated as a function of the liquid film thickness. The basic governing equations were transformed into nonlinear differential equations by using suitable similarity transformations. The numerical outcomes were obtained by means of the BVPh 2.0 package of the optimal scheme. The influences of the physical quantities like spray rate and variable thickness on the dimensionless velocity, temperature, pressure distribution, Nusselt number were investigated and the results are compared with the existing literature. The comparison was found to be in good agreement. The present results showed that the single-walled carbon nanotubes are more efficient in the enhancement of heat transfer rate compared to the multi-walled carbon nanotubes.
Terminomics Methodologies and the Completeness of Reductive Dimethylation: A Meta-Analysis of Publicly Available Datasets
Authors: Hurtado Silva Mariella , Berry Iain J. , Strange Natalie , Djordjevic Steven P. , Padula Matthew P.
Published: March 2019

Methods for analyzing the terminal sequences of proteins have been refined over the previous decade; however, few studies have evaluated the quality of the data that have been produced from those methodologies. While performing global N-terminal labelling on bacteria, we observed that the labelling was not complete and investigated whether this was a common occurrence. We assessed the completeness of labelling in a selection of existing, publicly available N-terminomics datasets and empirically determined that amine-based labelling chemistry does not achieve complete labelling and potentially has issues with labelling amine groups at sequence-specific residues. This finding led us to conduct a thorough review of the historical literature that showed that this is not an unexpected finding, with numerous publications reporting incomplete labelling. These findings have implications for the quantitation of N-terminal peptides and the biological interpretations of these data.
Mongolian Buddhist Scholars’ Works on Infectious Diseases (Late 17th Century to the Beginning of the 20th Century)
Authors: Norov Batsaikhan
Published: March 2019

The Qing period saw both the flowering of Buddhism in Mongolia as well as the arrival of new infectious diseases such as smallpox and syphilis which had reached epidemic levels by the 17th to early 20th centuries. During that critical period, a considerable number of Mongolian Buddhist scholars produced a substantial amount of works dedicated to the ways of fighting epidemics. This paper explores the efforts of Mongolian Buddhist scholars in countering this new threat, within the unique social and political milieu of the time. Smallpox spread severely reduced the Mongolian population and could have influenced the change of political control in the region, as several prominent Mongolian leaders who fought against Qing domination were themselves victims of smallpox epidemics. Similarly, at the beginning of the 20th century, around half the Mongolian population was infected by syphilis and, as a result, the population further declined in numbers. Tibetan Buddhist medicine, which was introduced to Mongolia from Tibet, was enriched by Mongolian traditional medical practices and fused with traditional Mongolian and Chinese medical knowledge during Mongolian scholars’ search for preventive methods against infectious diseases. This article examines the works of three renowned Mongolian Buddhist scholars who dealt with issues of infectious diseases: Ye shes dpal ‘byor, Chakhar Géshé Lobsang Tsültim, and Lobsang chos ‘phel.
Mortality Projections for Small Populations: An Application to the Maltese Elderly
Authors: Menzietti Massimiliano , Morabito Maria Francesca , Stranges Manuela
Published: March 2019

In small populations, mortality rates are characterized by a great volatility, the datasets are often available for a few years and suffer from missing data. Therefore, standard mortality models may produce high uncertain and biologically improbable projections. In this paper, we deal with the mortality projections of the Maltese population, a small country with less than 500,000 inhabitants, whose data on exposures and observed deaths suffers from all the typical problems of small populations. We concentrate our analysis on older adult mortality. Starting from some recent suggestions in the literature, we assume that the mortality of a small population can be modeled starting from the mortality of a bigger one (the reference population) adding a spread. The first part of the paper is dedicated to the choice of the reference population, then we test alternative mortality models. Finally, we verify the capacity of the proposed approach to reduce the volatility of the mortality projections. The results obtained show that the model is able to significantly reduce the uncertainty of projected mortality rates and to ensure their coherent and biologically reasonable evolution.
COSMO-SkyMed Staring Spotlight SAR Data for Micro-Motion and Inclination Angle Estimation of Ships by Pixel Tracking and Convex Optimization
Authors: Filippo Biondi
Published: March 2019

In past research, the problem of maritime targets detection and motion parameter estimation has been tackled. This new research aims to contribute by estimating the micro-motion of ships while they are anchored in port or stationed at the roadstead for logistic operations. The problem of motion detection of targets is solved using along-track interferometry (ATI) which is observed using two radars spatially distanced by a baseline extended in the azimuth direction. In the case of spaceborne missions, the performing of ATI requests using at least two real-time SAR observations spatially distanced by an along-track baseline. For spotlight spaceborne SAR re-synthesizing two ATI observations from one raw data is a problem because the received electromagnetic bursts are not oversampled for onboard memory space saving and data appears like a white random process. This problem makes appearing interlaced Doppler bands completely disjointed. This phenomenon, after the range-Doppler focusing process, causes decorrelation when considering the ATI interferometric phase information retransmitted by distributed targets. Only small and very coherent targets located within the same radar resolution cell are considered. This paper is proposing a new approach where the micro-motion estimation of ships, occupying thousands of pixels, is measured processing the information given by sub-pixel tracking generated during the coregistration process of two re-synthesized time-domain and partially overlapped sub-apertures generated splitting the raw data observed by a single wide Doppler band staring spotlight (ST) SAR map. The inclination of ships is calculated by low-rank plus sparse decomposition and Radon transform of some region of interest. Experiments are performed processing one set of COSMO-SkyMed ST SAR data.