bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association between eating behavior, anthropometric and biochemical measurements, and pyy hormone levels in obese adolescents in outpatient care 
Authors: Fernandes Simone P. , Alessi Janine , Santos Zilda de Albuquerque , Mello Elza Daniel de
Published: December 2019

Background: Food intake and energy expenditure, as well as short-term satiety signals, can be regulated by the peptide tyrosine tyrosine (PYY) secreted by the gastrointestinal tract. It is also unknown if changes in PYY hormone levels lead to changes in feeding behavior or in body composition. More comprehensive investigation of serum regulation of gut-derived hormone signals, with behavioral and clinical outcomes, are needed to understand the consequences of deregulating the appetite of obese adolescents.Objective: To evaluate the eating behavior of obese adolescents and its association with biochemical, anthropometric and PYY measures. Methods: 51 obese adolescents received counseling for weight management at 12 monthly appointments. Fasting serum PYY levels, total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), insulin and glucose levels, waist circumference (WC) and results from the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ-21) were assessed. Results: Over one year there was a significant increase in PYY levels (p = 0.026); reduction in TC (p = 0.003), TG (p = 0.022), BMI (p = 0.002), BMI z-score (p <0.001) and WC (p = 0.003). During this period there was a decrease in the Uncontrolled Eating score (UE), illustrating that adolescents displayed more self-control (p = 0.008) at the end of the study; however, this result was independent of BMI and BMI z-score (p = 0.407). The reduction in UE was associated with a significant improvement in insulin levels (rs = 0.326; p = 0.020). The reduction in UE was also associated with lower levels of blood glucose (r = 0.332; p = 0.017), and the increase of cognitive restriction, with the reduction of insulin insulin (rs = -0.294 p = 0.036) and TG (r = -0.368; p = 0.008) and an increase in Cognitive Restraint. Conclusions: Our results show that after a year of monitoring weight loss, adolescents had more controlled eating behaviors, increased PYY levels, and reduced weights.
Implementation strategies in pediatric emergency management: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Aregbesola Alex , Abou-Setta Ahmed M. , Jeyaraman Maya M. , Okoli George , Lam Otto , Sibley Kathryn M. , Klassen Terry P.
Published: December 2019

Background : Behaviour change is not simple, and the introduction of guidelines or protocols does not mean that they will be followed. As such, implementation strategies are vital for the uptake and sustainability of changes in medical protocols. Medical or mental emergencies may be fatal, especially in children due to their unique physiological needs. In pediatric emergency settings, where timely decisions are often made, practice change requires thoughtful considerations regarding the best approaches to implementation. As there are many studies reporting on a wide variety of implementation strategies in the pediatric emergency setting, we aim to identify and map their characteristics, especially when successful, in pediatric emergency management (PEM). Methods : We will conduct a scoping review to identify various implementation strategies in PEM using the Arksey and O’Malley framework. We will search Medline (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Cochrane Central (Wiley) and CINAHL (Ebsco) for implementation studies among the pediatric population (≤21 years) in a pediatric emergency setting. Two pairs of reviewers will independently select studies for inclusion and extract data. We will perform a descriptive, narrative analysis on the characteristics of the identified implementation strategies. Discussion : We will present specific characteristics and outcome measures of all included studies in a tabular form. The results of this review are expected to help identify and characterize successful implementation strategies in PEM.
Isolation Of Pectobacterium Carotovorum, Identification With 16s Rrna, Phytase Activity And Characterization Of The Bacteria
Authors: CİNİSLİ Kağan Tolga , KILIÇ Safa Mustafa , Uçar Sevda , CANCA Emre , dikbaş Neslihan
Published: December 2019

Background: Phytases can be produced by animals, plants and microorganisms. However, the most promising ones for commercial use and biotechnological applications are those of microbial origin. Phytases are also used in the preparation of myo-inositol phosphates in the food industry, soil remediation and in the paper industry. Biotechnology, along with the increased use of phytase enzymes, is a highly effective technology that is used today and will be used in the future to produce these enzymes and improve their properties. Results: The aim of this study was to conduct the molecular identification of Pectobacterium carotovorum strains isolated from lettuce to produce phytase from a new microbial source and the characterization of the enzyme. The activity and characterization of the phytase obtained from the bacterium was carried out. Isolation of strains was carried out following incubation at 26 ° C for 48 hours using Nutrient agar (Oxoid). The identification was performed using the 16S rRNA method. The phytase produced from Pectobacterium carotovorum showed the best activity at pH 8.0. The optimum temperature of the phytase obtained from Pectobacterium carotovorum was 60 ° C. Conclusions: In this study, enzymatic activity of phytase was investigated in Pectobacterium carotovorum for the first time. The results showed that it can be used in the industry due to the characteristics of the enzyme produced by Pectobacterium carotovorum. Keywords: Pectobacterium carotovorum, 16S rRNA, Phytase, Characterization
Assessment of risk factors for early childhood caries at different ages in Shandong, China and reflections on oral health education: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Wang Zhifeng , Zhang Meng , Zhang Xinyue , Zhang Yuan , Li Yanan , Shao Chunchun , Xiong Shijiang , Lan Jing
Published: December 2019

Background: The high prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) is widespread around the world, and oral health education (OHE) plays a vital role in preventing ECC. Numerous studies on ECC risk factor assessment have assisted us enrich the content of OHE. The objective of this study, while, was to further assess independent risk factors for ECC at different ages and provide evidence and insight for OHE. Methods : Data about oral health status, and oral health knowledge, attitude, practice (KAP) from the questionnaire completed by caregivers among children 3 to 5 years of age (N=1301) in Shandong province were extracted from the 4 th National Oral Health Survey in China. The association between ECC prevalence and various KAP variables was tested in Chi-square test, bivariate analysis and by multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results: The ECC prevalence in Shandong province was 64.6%, the dmft mean was 3.15. Independent associations with increased risk for ECC were age, feeding method within 6 months of birth, bedtime sugar frequency, the experience of toothache over past one year and dental visit. And feeding methods primarily contribute to the high risk of 3-year-old group, while sugar habits mainly contribute to 5-year-old group. The association between brushing and ECC was not confirmed in this study, and correct cognition was unexpectedly positively correlated with the high risk of ECC. Conclusion: These data provide evidence to suggest that the ECC-related risk factors at different ages are inconsistent, which give some insights for OHE, that is in addition to promoting preventive dental visit, we should also highlight the effect of feeding methods in the early of deciduous dentition and sugar habits in the late stage of deciduous dentition on ECC and the supplement of practice training.
Micronutrient Status of Palestinian School Children Following Salt and Flour Fortification: A cross-sectional Study
Authors: Massad Salwa George , Gebre-Medhin Mehari , Dary Omar , Abdalla Marwah , Holleran Steve , Kamally Wahida , Bordelois Paula , Khammash Umaiyeh , Deckelbaum Richard J.
Published: December 2019

Background In 1996 and in 2006, Palestine initiated salt iodization and multiple micronutrient fortification of wheat flour, respectively as a strategy to prevent deficiencies of these nutrients. In 2009, we assessed the impact of these interventions on the health and nutritional status of schoolchildren residing in the West Bank.Methods We surveyed a sample of 22 schools run by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and the Palestinian Government. We randomly selected students from the first (mean age 6.7 years [SD 0.5]), sixth (11.8 years [0.6]), and ninth grades (14.8 years [0.6]). Data were obtained from 1484 (99%) of 1500 students planned for enrollment.Results Our results suggest that iodine intake appears adequate; there was essentially no iodine deficiency. As to the status of other micronutrients, the main nutritional micronutrient risks for schoolchildren in the West Bank continue to be low serum levels of iron, zinc and vitamin B-12; folate levels were seemingly high.Conclusions Wheat flour and salt fortification has had a major influence on improving the micronutrient status of Palestinian children, for some but not all micronutrients. The recommended key blood and biochemical parameters to be incorporated in the surveillance system are iron, zinc, and vitamin B12.
R-spondin 2 mediates neutrophil egress into the alveolar space through increased lung permeability.
Authors: Jackson Sergio Randell , Costa Maria Fernanda De Mello , Pastore Christopher Frances , Zhao Gan , Weiner Aaron I. , Adams Stephanie , Palashikar Gargi , Quansah Kwaku , Hankenson Kurt , Herbert De'Broski , Vaughan Andrew
Published: December 2019

Objective: R-spondin 2 (RSPO2) is required for proper lung morphogenesis. Our objective was to investigate whether RSPO2 is similarly important in homeostasis of the adult lung. Unexpectedly, we observed changes in neutrophil migration and lung vascular permeability in RSPO2-deficient (RSPO2-/-) mice compared to RSPO2 control (RSPO2+/+) mice, independent of experimental injury/challenge. Here we use multiple methods to quantify these observations to further understand how tonic RSPO2 expression regulates lung homeostasis. Results: Quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis demonstrated significantly higher myeloperoxidase (MPO) expression in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cell content from RSPO2-/- mice compared to RSPO2+/+ mice. Immunocytochemical (ICC) analysis likewise demonstrated significantly more MPO+ cells in BALF from RSPO2-/- mice compared to RSPO2+/+ mice, confirming the increase of infiltrated neutrophils. We then assessed lung permeability/barrier disruption via Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran instillation and found a significantly higher dextran concentration in the plasma of RSPO2-/- mice compared to identically treated RSPO2+/+ mice. These data demonstrate that RSPO2 may be crucial for lung barrier integrity and can facilitate an increase in neutrophil migration from circulation into alveolar spaces due to increased lung permeability/barrier disruption. Our studies suggest additional research is needed to evaluate RSPO2 in scenarios exhibiting either pulmonary edema or neutrophilia.
Transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis provides insights into anthocyanin and pyocyanin accumulation in pear
Authors: Feng Shouqian , Zhang Zhen , Tian Changping , Zhang Ya , Li Chenzhiyu , Li Xi , Yu Qiang , Wang Shuo , Wang Xinyu , Chen Xuesen
Published: December 2019

BackgroundPear is one of the most important fruit crops worldwide. Anthocyanins and procyanidins (PAs) are important secondary metabolic substances that affect the appearance and nutritive quality of pear. However, few studies have focused on the molecular mechanism underlying anthocyanin and PA accumulation in pear.ResultsWe conducted metabolome and transcriptome analyses to identify candidate genes involved in anthocyanin and PA accumulation in young pear fruits of ‘Clapp Favorite’ (CF) and its red mutation variety ‘Red Clapp Favorite’ (RCF). Gene–metabolite correlation analyses revealed a core set of 20 genes for pear anthocyanin and PA accumulation. One gene in the core set, PcGSTF12, was confirmed to be involved in anthocyanin and PA accumulation by complementation of the tt19-7 Arabidopsis mutant. Interestingly, PcGSTF12 was found to be responsible for procyanidin A3 accumulation, but not petunidin 3, 5-diglucoside accumulation, opposite to the function of AtGSTs in Arabidopsis. Transformation with PcGSTF12 greatly promoted or repressed genes involved in anthocyanin and PA biosynthesis, regulation, and transport. Electrophoretic mobility shift and luciferase reporter assays confirmed positive regulation of PcGSTF12 by PcMYB114.ConclusionThese findings identify a core set of genes for pear anthocyanin and PA accumulation. Of these, PcGSTF12, was confirmed to be involved in anthocyanin and PA accumulation. Furthermore, an important anthocyanin and PA regulation node was constructed by two core genes, PcGSTF12 and PcMYB114. These results provide novel insights into anthocyanin and PA accumulation in pear and represent a valuable data set to guide future functional studies and pear breeding.
The expression of the gene associated with β-glucan content, β-amylase and limit dextrinase synthesis as affected by post-heading heat stress in barley
Authors: Ni Shengjing , Zhao Huifang , Zhang Guoping
Published: December 2019

Background: Malt barley shows a dramatic deterioration of malt quality when exposed to heat or high temperature stress during grain-filling stage (post heading), and global change results in the more frequent occurrence of high temperature, posing a severe threat to high-quality malt barley production. In a previous study, we found heat stress during grain-filling stage caused the significant reduction of kernel weight, and the significant increase of protein and β-glucan content, and β-amylase and limit dextrinase (LD) activities, and the effect varied with barley genotypes and the time of heat stress exposure.Results: In this study, we determined the relative expressions of HvCslF6 and HvCslF9 for β-glucan, HvBmy1 for β-amylase and LD gene for limit dextrinase of two barley cultivars（ZU9 and Hua30）under the two heat stress (HS) treatments (32/26℃, day/night), initiated from the 7th day (early grain-filling stage) and the14th day (middle grain-filling stage) after heading. In comparison with normal temperature (24/18℃, day/night), HS treatments significantly up-regulated the relative expression of all four genes, and Hua30 being larger than ZU9. The change pattern of each examined gene for the two barley genotypes under heat stress treatments is completely consistent with that of corresponding malt quality trait as affected by heat stress.Conclusion: The results indicate that the enhancement of β-glucan content, and β-amylase and limit dextrinase activities under high temperature during grain filling stage is at least in part attributed to increased expression of the relevant genes.
Evaluation of medication adherence and its predictors among Ethiopians in Washington, DC.
Authors: Al-Matari Raniya Ali , Maneno Mary , Wingate La' Marcus , Hailemeskel Bisrat , Daftary Monika , Ettienne Earl , Moen Ahmed , Jeronimo Augusto , Nunlee-Bland Gail , Wyche Karen , Tilahun Ermias , Retta Tamrat
Published: December 2019

BackgroundNon-adherence to medication can lead to poor health outcomes. Studies report the rates of medication adherence for US born persons, but little is known about estimates among foreign-born persons; in particular those of Ethiopian descent residing in the US. This study addresses this issue by examining medication adherence and associated factors among Ethiopians. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the level of medication adherence and to assess its predictors among urban adult Ethiopians who were administered a translated and validated Amharic-version of the Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire (SMAQ). The participant had to be 1) Ethiopian 2) understand Amharic language, 3) ages 18 to 85 years, and 4) taking medications continuously to manage a medical condition. Descriptive statistics were used to describe study variables. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate predictors of medication adherence. All analysis was conducted using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for windows version 19 at an alpha level of 0.05. ResultsA total of 163 Ethiopians with chronic diseases were recruited. Their mean age was 56.6 years and the majority were female 54% and born in Ethiopia (95.7%). The overall adherence level in this population was 34.4%. Participants who were less likely to adhere to medications included those who had difficulty in communicating in English (p-value=0. 019). Self-reported high activity level, healthy diet, belief in holy water and spiritual healing, and higher education levels were also found to be statistically significant predictors of medication adherence adjusting for all other variables. ConclusionDifficulty in communicating in English was significantly related to poor medication adherence to in Ethiopian adults and indicates that health care providers should develop patient educational materials in Amharic to better serve these patients. Factors significantly related to medication adherence seem to cluster in self-care (healthy eating, not in relying on some cultural practices for healing as a replacement for medications and being active) in addition to attaining college or above education. Consideration of these factors in developing treatment plans and interventions for this diverse population may yield better outcomes. Key words: Medication adherence, Ethiopian, Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire
What is the impact of the built environment on leisure moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary time among the elderly: A cross-sectional study
Authors: LIU Yue , WANG Lin , WANG Zhu-Ying , WU Zhi-Jian , WANG Hou-Lei , ZHANG Fan , SONG Yan-Li-Qing
Published: December 2019

BackgroundAlthough many studies have reported the association between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), sedentary time (ST), and the built environment (BE) among older adults, little is known about these associations in the Chinese older adult population. The purpose of this study was to investigate how various factors in the built environment of Nanjing’s communities influence leisure moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary time among the elderly.MethodsA multilevel cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2016 to April 2017. Altogether, thirty neighborhoods were selected and 586 individuals aged 60 years or older living in the urban zone of NanJing in Southern China were surveyed. Physical activity was measured using Actigraph GT3 Accelerometer. Built environment variables were measured using ArcGIS software. A multivariate linear regression method was used to analyze the factors influencing leisure moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary time among the elderly.ResultsThe percentage of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity of urban elderly within a 1000-m distance reached 76.12%, indicating this zone as appropriate for the study of urban elderly moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. We found that land-use mix (β=8.800, p=0.001) and distance to fitness venue (β=-5.876, p=0.004) influenced moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Population density (β=13.998, p=0.004) and land-use mix (β=-21.62, p=0.033) use influenced sedentary time.ConclusionsOur findings provide support for the association between the built environment and physical activity among the Chinese elderly. Some characteristics of the built environment including land-use mix and distance to fitness venue may affect MVPA, while other characteristics including population density and land-use mix may impact ST. In formulating urban planning policies, the above factors should be taken into account to promote physical activity in older people, encouraging them to modify their sedentary lifestyle and improving their overall health.
Personal and social patterns predict influenza vaccination decision
Authors: Shaham Adir , Chodick Gabriel , Shalev Varda , Yamin Dan
Published: December 2019

BackgroundSeasonal influenza vaccination coverage remains suboptimal in most developed countries, despite longstanding recommendations of public health organizations. The individual’s decision regarding vaccination is located at the core of non-adherence. We analyzed large-scale data to identify personal and social behavioral patterns for influenza vaccination uptake, and develop a model to predict vaccination decision of individuals in an upcoming influenza season.MethodsWe analyzed primary data from the electronic medical records of a retrospective cohort of 250,000 individuals between the years 2007 and 2017, collected from 137 clinics. Individuals were randomly sampled from the database of Maccabi Healthcare Services. Maccabi’s clients are representative of the Israeli population, reflect all demographic, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups and levels. We used several machine-learning models to predict whether a patient would get vaccinated in the future. Models’ performance was evaluated based on the area under the ROC curve.ResultsThe vaccination decision of an individual can be explained in two dimensions, Personal and social. The personal dimension is strongly shaped by a “default” behavior, such as vaccination timing in previous seasons and general health consumption, but can also be affected by temporal factors such as respiratory illness in the prior year. In the social dimension, a patient is more likely to become vaccinated in a given season if at least one member of his family also became vaccinated in the same season. Vaccination uptake was highly assertive with age, socio-economic score, and geographic location. An XGBoost-based predictive model achieved an ROC AUC score of 0.91 with an accuracy and recall rates of 90% on the test set. Prediction relied mainly on the patient’s individual and household vaccination status in the past, age, number of encounters with the healthcare system, number of prescribed medications, and indicators of chronic illnesses.ConclusionsOur ability to make an excellent prediction of the patient’s decision sets a major step toward personalized influenza vaccination campaigns, and will help shape the next generation of targeted vaccination efforts.
iPNHOT: A knowledge-based approach for identifying protein-nucleic acid interaction hot spots
Authors: Zhu Xiaolei , Liu Ling , He Jingjing , Fang Ting , Xiong Yi , Mitchell Julie C.
Published: December 2019

Background The interaction between proteins and nucleic acids plays pivotal roles in various biological processes such as transcription, translation, and gene regulation. Hot spots are a small set of residues that contribute most to the binding affinity of a protein-nucleic acid interaction. Compared to the extensive studies of the hot spots on protein-protein interfaces, the hot spot residues within protein-nucleic acids interfaces remain less well-studied, in part because mutagenesis data for protein-nucleic acids interaction are not as abundant as that for protein-protein interactions.Results In this study, we built a new computational model, iPNHOT, to effectively predict hot spot residues on protein-nucleic acids interfaces. One training data set and an independent test set were collected from dbAMEPNI and some recent literature, respectively. To build our model, we generated 97 different sequential and structural features and used a two-step strategy to select the relevant features. The final model was built based only on 7 features using a support vector machine (SVM). The features include two unique features such as ∆SASsa 1/2 and esp3, which are newly proposed in this study. Based on the cross validation results, our model gave F1 score and AUROC as 0.725 and 0.807 on the subset collected from ProNIT, respectively, compared to 0.407 and 0.670 of mCSM-NA, a state-of-the art model to predict the thermodynamic effects of protein-nucleic acid interaction. The iPNHOT model was further tested on the independent test set, which showed that our model outperformed other methods.Conclusion In this study, by collecting data from a recently published database dbAMEPNI, we proposed a new model, iPNHOT, to predict hotspots on both protein-DNA and protein-RNA interfaces. The results show that our model outperforms the existing state-of-art models. Our model is available for users through a webserver: http://zhulab.ahu.edu.cn/iPNHOT/ .
High Tunnel and Grafting Effects on Organic Tomato Plant Disease Severity and Root-knot Nematode Infestation in a Subtropical Climate with Sandy Soils
Authors: Frey Craig J. , Zhao Xin , Brecht Jeffrey K. , Huff Dustin M. , Black Zachary E.
Published: December 2019

The U.S. fresh-market tomato industry faces increasing competition from Mexico, which achieves greater productivity and quality due to the use of protected structures. Protected agriculture is limited in humid, subtropical regions of the United States. Although grower interest in high tunnel production has increased in recent years, systematic high tunnel research has not yet been conducted in subtropical Florida. Additionally, although tomato grafting has shown the potential to overcome biotic and abiotic stresses, research of high-tunnel, grafted tomato production in subtropical conditions is lacking. During this 2-year study (Citra, FL), a side-by-side comparison of open field and high tunnel organic tomato production was conducted using a split-split plot design. The most significant benefit of high tunnel production was season extension achieved through the reduction of foliar disease severity, which reduced the area under the disease progress curve by 64% across two seasons. This may be largely attributed to the pronounced reduction in the duration of leaf wetness during the wet months of the growing cycle. Grafting with ‘Multifort’ rootstock reduced the root-knot nematode soil population density by 88% as well as root galling severity, both of which demonstrated the potential for increased levels in the high tunnel production system compared with open field production. The more severe root-knot nematode infestation in high tunnels was likely due to the modification of soil temperatures, which were 2 °C greater during the early part of the season but were reduced after shadecloth application. Compared with the open field, solar radiation was reduced by 23% in the high tunnel before shadecloth application and by 51% after shadecloth application; however, due to the high radiation levels in subtropical Florida, daily light integral levels indicated that light was not limiting for high-quality tomato production. The average wind speed was reduced by 57% in the high tunnel and, together with the reduction in solar radiation, indicated the potential reduction in summer abiotic stress and evapotranspiration within high tunnels. These results revealed that the integrated use of high tunnel and grafting technologies may be important for enhancing fresh-market tomato production in the humid subtropics, especially in organic systems.
Environment, Photosynthesis, and Adventitious Rooting of Manchurian Lilac Cuttings Propagated in Overhead Mist, Submist, and Combination Systems
Authors: Sanchez Olivia , Burnett Stephanie E. , Peterson Bryan J.
Published: December 2019

We propagated manchurian lilac (Syringa pubescens subsp. patula ‘Miss Kim’) vegetatively from stem cuttings using overhead mist, submist, and combination propagation systems. Cuttings were collected when terminal buds were already set, after the period of tender growth that is optimal for lilac propagation. Net photosynthesis (Pn) was recorded to assess whether differences in rooting could be attributed to differences in photosynthetic activity of cuttings within each system. The propagation environment differed significantly among systems, with vapor pressure deficit (VPD) substantially greater for submist systems than for overhead mist or combination systems, and root zones warmer in submist and combination systems than in overhead mist. Pn of cuttings did not differ among systems and was initially low, but increased about when the first root primordia were visible. Rooting percentages were 90% among cuttings in the combination system, with cuttings in overhead mist and submist rooting at lower, but similar, percentages (68% and 62%, respectively). Cuttings in the combination and submist systems produced significantly more and longer roots than those in the overhead mist system, and retained nearly all of their leaves. Overall, the use of systems that provide intermittent mist to the basal end of each cutting was effective for propagating manchurian lilac. Our results demonstrate that cuttings in submist alone experience a much greater VPD than those in overhead mist, but may nonetheless root at comparable percentages and produce superior measures of root system quality. Combination systems show promise for rooting of species like manchurian lilac, because cuttings rooted at high percentages and with consistent root system quality, despite having been collected after the optimal spring period for lilac propagation.
Longer Duration of Short-day Treatment Is Required to Advance Flowering and Fruiting of Decaploid Strawberry ‘Tokun’
Authors: Ruan Jiwei , Wang Guoxian , Ning Gongwei , Yang Chunmei , Li Fan , Tian Linmeng , Wu Lifang
Published: December 2019

Strawberry ‘Tokun’ (2n = 10x =70) is a unique cultivar with special flavors, but its late maturity hampers its extension. To advance flowering and fruiting of this decaploid strawberry, the effects of short-day combined with extra nitrogen (N) nutrition treatments on strawberry ‘Tokun’ plants were studied. Runner plantlets of strawberry ‘Tokun’ were harvested and rooted in tray plugs in June 2016, 2017, and 2018, and established plants were conditioned with short-day (SD; 10 hours) and extra N nutrition. The conditioned plants were transplanted into a tabletop substrate culture system in a plastic greenhouse on 27 Aug., 3 Sept., and 10 Sept. during the 3 years, respectively, and the plants received full-element nutrient solution through the drip tube during the whole experimental period. The number of runners and lateral buds, flowering and fruiting periods, and fruit yield were investigated. Longer duration (6–7 weeks) of the SD treatment (10 hours) could significantly reduce the number of runners and increase the number of lateral buds of strawberry ‘Tokun’, advance flowering and fruiting, and achieve a fruit yield of ≈200 g/plant from November to December. The positive effect of extra N nutrition on flowering and fruiting of strawberry ‘Tokun’ was not found. This study is of great practical importance and guiding significance for cultivation and extension of the decaploid strawberry ‘Tokun’.
Mitigation of the Impact of Vascular Wilt and Soil Hypoxia on Cape Gooseberry Plants by Foliar Application of Synthetic Elicitors
Authors: Chávez-Arias Cristhian Camilo , Gómez-Caro Sandra , Restrepo-Díaz Hermann
Published: December 2019

Physalis peruviana L. crops are exposed to different stress conditions that limit their productivity. Within these conditions, abiotic stress caused by water and biotic stress by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. physali (Foph) are frequent at commercial levels. The foliar application of synthetic elicitors can be a tool to mitigate the negative impacts of these stresses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the interaction between Foph inoculation and three foliar applications of brassinosteroids (BR), salicylic acid (SA), and a commercial elicitor based on botanical extracts (BE) of Echinacea purpurea, Potentilla erecta, and Aloe vera on the physiological [stomatal conductance (gS), leaf water potential (Ψwf), chlorophyll fluorescence, and growth] and biochemical [photosynthetic pigments, malondialdehyde (MDA) production, and proline content] responses of cape gooseberry plants subjected to a 6-day waterlogging period. The established treatments were as follows: 1) waterlogged plants without Foph; 2) waterlogged plants with Foph; 3) waterlogged, noninoculated (Foph−) plants treated foliarly with BR, SA, or BE; and 4) waterlogged, inoculated (Foph+) plants treated foliarly with BR, SA, or BE. The results showed that the foliar application of BR or SA reduced vascular wilt development in plants subjected to a hypoxia period. In addition, three applications of BR, SA, or BE favored gS, Ψwf, growth, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters in cape gooseberry plants under the interaction between Foph and oxygen deficit in the soil. Also, higher photosynthetic pigment and proline contents were observed in plants treated with elicitors under stress combination, whereas a lower MDA production was evidenced in this group of plants. In conclusion, BR, SA, or BE can help mitigate the negative effects of the simultaneous occurrence of Foph and a waterlogging condition for 6 days in cape gooseberry plants.
Bitlis İlinin Doğal Afet Çeşitliliğinin Değerlendirilmesi
Authors: EKİNCİ Rezzan , BÜYÜKSARAÇ Aydın , EKİNCİ Yunus Levent , IŞIK Ercan
Published: December 2019

Bitlis ili hem jeomorfolojik yapısından hem de
iklimsel özelliklerinden dolayı doğal afet türlerinin sıklıkla yaşandığı bir
coğrafyada bulunmaktadır. Ancak, bu coğrafyada günümüze kadar gerekli düzeyde
afet çeşitliliği envanteri çalışmaları ve buna bağlı olarak risk olasılığı
analizleri gerçekleştirilmemiştir. Bu çalışmada bir ilk olarak Bitlis ili sınırları
içinde meydana gelmiş heyelan, çığ düşmesi, kaya düşmesi ve sel gibi çeşitli
doğal afetlerin zamansal ve mekânsal analizi yapılmıştır. Doğal afetlerin
meydana gelmesiyle oluşan zararlar da göz önüne alınarak risk değerleri
hesaplanmış ve buna bağlı olarak risk sınıflandırması yapılmıştır. Risk analizleri
yapabilmek amacıyla olasılık, şiddet ve frekans parametrelerinin kullanıldığı
yöntemlerden biri olan Fine-Kinney yönteminden yararlanılmıştır. İş sağlığı
güvenliği çalışmalarında sıklıkla kullanılan yöntem, doğal afetler risk
analizleri için ilk defa bu çalışmayla uygulanmış ve bu nedenle çalışmanın
amacına uygun olabilecek yeni bir ölçek oluşturmuş ve hesaplamalar yapılmıştır.
Heyelan, kaya düşmesi ve çığ olaylarının eğimli topografyalara sahip aynı
zamanda da bol yağış alan yerleşim alanlarında günlük hayatı tehdit edecek
seviyede olduğu belirlenmiştir. Ülkemizde çığ düşmesi olayından zarar
görebilmeye en meyilli il olan Bitlis için olası bir afet anında
uygulanabilecek acil durum eylemlerinin gerçekleştirilmesi önerilmektedir.
Ayrıca, kaya düşmesi olaylarının yaşanma riskinin yüksek olduğu güney ilçelerde
can ve mal kaybını önlemek amacıyla gerekli tedbirlerin acilen alınması
gerekmektedir. Diğer taraftan, sel olayların ise ciddi bir tehlike arz etmediği
belirlenmiştir.
Üniversite Öğrencilerinin Çevresel Yaklaşımlarını Ölçmeye Yönelik Bir Araştırma: Manisa Celal Bayar Üniversitesi Örneği
Authors: ÇETİN Tülin , TURAN Mustafa Erkan , AYTEKİN Pınar , YURDUSEV Mehmet Ali
Published: December 2019

Sanayinin
ilerlemesi ve teknolojik gelişmeler sonucunda insanoğlu küresel çevre sorunları
ile karşı karşıya kalmıştır. Çevre kirliliği sonucunda doğanın dengesi
bozulurken bazı canlı türleri yok olmuştur. Çevre sorunlarının ve etkilerinin
yoğun olarak hissedilmeye başlanması ile birlikte, insanların çevreye karşı
tutumlarının belirlenmesi de önem kazanmaya başlamıştır. Çevresel tutumların
belirlenmesi amacıyla 15 maddeden oluşan “Yeni Ekolojik Paradigma (New
Ecological Paradigm-NEP)” ölçeği literatürde yaygın olarak kullanılmaktadır. Bu
çalışmada da üniversite öğrencilerinin çevreye yönelik tutumlarını NEP ölçeği
ile belirlemek ve bu tutumların öğrencilerin demografik, ekonomik, spor yapma,
sigara kullanma, çevre dostu ürün tüketme, tasarruf yapma ve çevreyle ilgili
bir derneğe üye olma gibi özellikleri arasındaki ilişkinin belirlenmesi
amaçlanmıştır. Araştırmanın hedef grubu, Manisa Celal Bayar Üniversitesinde
okuyan öğrencilerdir. Araştırmada hazırlanan anket, üniversitede okuyan
öğrenciler arasında kolayda örnekleme yöntemi ile seçilen toplam 420 kişiye
uygulanmıştır. Kullanılan ölçekten “insanlığın üstünlüğü”, “çevresel felaket”,
“doğanın üstünlüğü”, “teknolojik üstünlük” olarak isimlendirilen dört faktör
elde edilmiştir. Ölçekten elde edilen dört faktöre ilişkin demografik
özellikler açısından farklılıkları analiz edebilmek ve spor yapma, sigara
kullanma, çevre dostu ürün tüketme, tasarruf yapma, çevreyle ilgili derneğe üye
olma gibi etkenler arasındaki ilişkileri ortaya koymak amacıyla hipotezler
geliştirilmiştir. Bunun sonucunda geliştirilen hipotezlerden 18 tanesinde
anlamlı bir ilişki olduğu belirlenmiştir.
Chemically oscillating reactions in the formation of botryoidal malachite
Authors: Papineau Dominic
Published: December 2019

The origin of banding patterns in malachite [Cu2CO3(OH)2] is an enduring problem in geology. While the bright green, vivid colors of this mineral have been attributed to the presence of Cu, no specific process has been proposed that can explain the perfect circularly concentric banding and geometrical shapes in botryoidal malachite. These patterns of concentric equidistant laminations are comparable to those arising from chemically oscillating experiments using the classical reactants of the Belousov-Zhabotinsky (B-Z) reaction. Through optical microscopy and micro-Raman imaging, this contribution documents that the geometric centers of the self-similar geometric patterns are often composed of organic matter. Carbon isotopes and trace elements further suggest that non-biological decarboxylation reactions of biological organic matter took place during diagenesis. Hence, the morphological and chemical characteristics of chemically oscillating reactions offer a plausible explanation for the formation of botryoidal malachite and abiotic environmental decarboxylation reactions.
Micro- and nano-size hydrogarnet clusters and proton ordering in calcium silicate garnet: Part I. The quest to understand the nature of “water” in garnet continues
Authors: Geiger Charles A. , Rossman George R.
Published: December 2019

The calcium-silicate garnets, grossular (Ca3Al2Si3O12), andradite (Ca3Fe23+Si3O12), and their solid solutions [Ca3(Alx,Fe1−x3+)2Si3O12], can incorporate various amounts of structural OH–. This has important mineralogical, petrological, rheological, and geochemical consequences and extensive experimental investigations have focused on the nature of “water” in these phases. However, it was not fully understood how OH- was incorporated and this has seriously hampered the interpretation of different research results. IR single-crystal spectra of several nominally anhydrous calcium silicate garnets, both “end-member” and solid-solution compositions, were recorded at room temperature and 80 K between 3000 and 4000 cm–1. Five synthetic hydrogarnets in the system Ca3Al2(SiO4)3-Ca3Al2(H4O4)3-Ca3Fe23+(SiO4)3-Ca3Fe23+(H4O4)3 were also measured via IR ATR powder methods. The various spectra are rich in complexity and show several OH- stretching modes at wavenumbers between 3500 and 3700 cm–1. The data, together with published results, were analyzed and modes assigned by introducing atomic-vibrational and crystal-chemical models to explain the energy of the OH- dipole and the structural incorporation mechanism of OH-, respectively. It is argued that OH- is located in various local microscopic- and nano-size Ca3Al2H12O12- and Ca3Fe23+H12O12-like clusters. The basic substitution mechanism is the hydrogarnet one, where (H4O4)4– ↔ (SiO4)4–, and various local configurations containing different numbers of (H4O4)4– groups define the cluster type. Some spectra also possibly indicate the presence of tiny hydrous inclusion phases, as revealed by OH- modes above about 3670 cm–1. They were not recognized in earlier studies. Published proposals invoking different hypothetical “defects” and coupled-substitution mechanisms involving H+ are not needed to interpret the IR spectra, at least for OH- modes above about 3560 cm–1. Significant mineralogical, petrological, and geochemical consequences result from the analysis and are discussed in the accompanying Part II (this issue) of the investigation.
Winter pruning: option for management against alternaria brown spot (Alteraria alternata f. sp. citri) in Honey Murcott tangor [Citrus reticulata Blanco x C. sinensis (L.) Osbeck]
Authors: Azevedo Fernando Alves de , Milaneze Thiago Fernando , Conceição Patrícia Marluci da , Pacheco Camilla de Andrade , Martinelli Rodrigo , Bastianel Marinês
Published: December 2019

Alternaria brown spot (ABS), caused by Alternaria alternata f. sp. citri, is the main fungal disease plaguing tangerines. The main symptoms are falling leaf and fruit, resulting in the loss of production and quality. The initial symptoms in leaves are characterized by small brown or black spots, surrounded, or not, by yellowish halos. In the fruit, dark cortical patches appear that can easily break. In this study, the winter pruning of the plants was investigated to complementary control of ABS. The experiment was conducted in 10-year-old Honey Murcott tangor plants, where two treatments were applied: pruning in winter and no pruning, using a randomized block design with ten replicates. The treatment of winter pruning was performed before the flowering of the plants (September in Brazil), where the branches were cut close to the trunk, the thicker branches were removed. The chemical control was performed in both treatments. Evaluations of disease severity in fruit were performed using a diagrammatic scale; the disease incidence and area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) were also calculated. The fruit drop and yield (t ha-1) of the plants were quantified, and the temperature and humidity inside the canopy of the plants were measured. Winter pruning had a positive effect on ABS management since it provided a decrease in incidence, severity, and AUDPC values. Fruit fall was reduced, resulting in greater productivity for Honey Murcott tangor plants. The results confirmed the positive effect of winter pruning on the management of alternaria brown spot.
Enhanced efficiency of phosphorus fertilizer in soybean and maize
Authors: Pelá Adilson , Bento Rafael Umbelino , Crispim Lucas Brennon Romão , Jr Roberto dos Anjos Reis
Published: December 2019

Soybeans and maize are the most cultivated crops in tropical soils and require large amounts of phosphate fertilizers. The use of enhanced-efficiency fertilizers is a promising technology to minimize losses of P by fixation in highly weathered tropical soils. The objectives of this study were to evaluate morphological characteristics, soybean P and boron foliar content, yield and agronomic efficiency of P fertilizer in response to P rates and sources in maize and soybean crops. Two P fertilization experiments with the sources Mono-ammonium Phosphate (MAP) and Policote coated MAP were carried out, one in maize (0, 20, 40, 80, 120 and 160 kg P2O5 ha-1) and another in soybean crop (0, 20, 40, 80 and 120 kg P2O5 ha-1). The morphological characteristics, soybean P and boron foliar content, yield and agronomic P fertilizer efficiency were evaluated. The results showed that maize and soybean morphological characteristics, as well as soybean foliar P and boron contents were not influenced by fertilization. P fertilization increased soybean yield. Policote coated MAP was more efficient than MAP (conventional fertilizer) to produce higher maize and soybean yields and higher agronomic efficiency of P use. For higher productivity, we recommend the dose of 102.9 kg P2O5 ha-1 of Policote coated MAP for soybean and 97.6 kg P2O5 ha-1 for maize.
Challenges in chemical management of soybean looper (Chrysodeixis includes) using several insecticides
Authors: Perini Clerison R. , Arnemann Jonas A. , Cavallin Lucas de A. , Guedes Gabriel A. , Marques Rafael P. , Valmorbida Ivair , Silva Karina da , Feltrin Natalie M. , Puntel Leticia , Froehlich Ricardo , Guedes Jerson V. Carus
Published: December 2019

Soybean looper, Chrysodeixis includens (Walker, [1858]) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is the most important caterpillar pest in Brazil due to its high tolerance to insecticides and control failures that have been reported in fields. Based on this, we assessed the performance of several insecticides against C. includens on soybean over three seasons (2014, 2015, and 2016), performing four experiments in southern Brazil. Experiments I / 2014, II / 2015, III / 2016 were carried in completely randomized block designs with eight insecticides. Experiment IV / 2016 was arranged in completely randomized block design in an 8 x 2 factorial arrangement, eight insecticides x two spraying time. Mortality of small (< 1.5 cm) and large (> 1.5 cm) soybean looper larvae was assessed with a vertical beat cloth, sampling in each plot 1.0 m2 at 3, 7 and 10 days after spray. Percentage of defoliation injury was assessed visually comparing to a scale of soybean leaf injury in experiment IV / 2016. Data were subjected to one-way (type I SS) analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the general linear models. The insecticides indoxacarb and chlorfenapyr had consistently high mortality upon small and large larvae of C. includens. Spinosyn, spinosad and spinetoram insecticides showed higher effect over small larvae (< 1.5 cm) than large (> 1.5 cm). Number of spraying was significant for spinetoram and indoxacarb that increased mortality of large larvae (from 4.50 to 2.75 and from 3.75 to 0.87 larvae m-2, respectively) and reduced defoliation injury significantly (from 22.5% to 9.3% and from 14.5% to 3.3%, respectively) with two applications. The treatment chlorfluazuron+acephate showed low defoliation injury in 2016 but did not affect larval density. Chlorfenapyr showed reduced defoliation (3.0%) and low larvae density (1.37 larvae m-2) with only one application. Spinosyns have satisfactory control of small larvae and indoxacarb and chlorfenapyr show high mortality of both sizes, small and large larvae. Therefore, we recommend that 7 days from the first one, a second application should be considered for indoxacarb, and spinetoram to achieve higher mortality. Considering our results, we demonstrate that the satisfactory control of soybean looper larvae is difficult to achieve with most chemical insecticides. It needs a more accurate management strategy of C. includens in soybeans.
The investment model of fixed assets renovation in the agricultural industry: case of Ukraine
Authors: Kolesnik Yana , Dobrovolska Olena , Malyuta Iryna , Petrova Anna , Shulyak Sergiy
Published: December 2019

The present state of the financial market in Ukraine determines a lack of funding for agricultural enterprises. The research aims to find internal sources of funding for the reproduction of fixed assets for agricultural enterprises. The calculation of the depreciation return index is a component of financial analysis of the efficient renovation investment use. It allows controlling its targeting and influence on enterprises in a financial aspect in order to provide a stable position of the enterprise`s investor.Implementation of economic and mathematical modeling using correlation and regression analysis verified a tight correlation between gross profit margins in agriculture and depreciation returns. For this purpose, general indexes were formed that is the primary value of fixed assets at the end of the year; the extent of their depreciation, depreciation and residual value of fixed assets at the end of the year, the average annual value of fixed assets, annual income, investment return and calculated gross profit and depreciation during 2001–2016 were determined. The results of the calculations showed that the funds saved through depreciation (renovation investments), and retained earnings are the financial resources for continuous renovation of fixed assets of agricultural enterprises. Also, attraction to internal reserves should have an impact on the increase of the agricultural enterprises’ profitability and should facilitate the increase of production volumes due to the implementation of innovations.