bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimizing Irrigation and Fertilization of Gardenia jasminoides for Good Growth and Minimal Leaching
Authors: Bayer Amanda , Ruter John , van Iersel Marc W.
Published: February 2019

Excessive irrigation and leaching are of increasing concern in container plant production. It can also necessitate multiple fertilizer applications, which is costly for growers. Our objective was to determine whether fertilizer and irrigation water can be applied more efficiently to reduce leachate volume and nutrient content without negatively impacting aboveground growth of Gardenia jasminoides ‘MAGDA I’. Plants were fertilized with one of three rates of a controlled-release fertilizer (subplots) (Florikan 18–6–8, 9–10 month release; 18.0N–2.6P–6.6K) [100 (40 g/plant), 50 (20 g/plant), and 25% of bag rate (10 g/plant)] and grown in 5.4-L containers outside for 137 days. Soil moisture sensor-controlled, automated irrigation was used to provide plants with one of four irrigation volumes (whole plots) (66, 100, 132, or 165 mL) at each irrigation event. All plants were irrigated when the control treatment (66 mL irrigation volume, 100% fertilizer treatment) reached a volumetric water content (VWC) of 0.35 m3·m−3. Plants in the different irrigation treatments were irrigated for 2, 3, 4, or 5 minutes, thus applying 66, 100, 132, or 165 mL/plant in the different irrigation treatments. Fertilizer rate had a greater effect on aboveground growth than irrigation volume with the 25% fertilizer rate resulting in significantly lower shoot dry weight (18.7 g/plant) than the 50% and 100% rates (25.3 and 27.3 g/plant respectively). Growth index was also lowest in the 25% fertilizer rate. Leachate volume varied greatly during the growing season due to rainfall and irrigation volume effects on leachate were most evident during the third, eighth, and ninth biweekly leachate collections, during which there was minimal or no rainfall. For these collections the control treatment of 66 mL resulted in minimal leachate (less than 130 mL over the 2-week leachate collection period), whereas leachate volume increased with increasing irrigation volumes. Pore water electrical conductivity (EC), leachate EC, NO3-N content, and PO4-P content were all highest with the 100% fertilizer rate, with the 66 mL irrigation treatment having the highest leachate EC for all fertilizer treatments. Cumulative leachate volumes for the 66 and 100 mL irrigation treatments were unaffected by fertilizer rate, whereas the 132 and 165 mL had greater leaching at the 25% fertilizer rate. Lower irrigation volumes resulted in reduced water and nutrient leaching and higher leachate EC. The higher leachate EC was the result of higher concentration of nutrients in less volume of leachate. The results of this study suggest that a combination of reduced fertilizer rates (up to 50%) and more efficient irrigation can be used to produce salable plants with reduced leaching and thus less environmental impact.
Spectral Effects of Artificial Light on Plant Physiology and Secondary Metabolism: A Review
Authors: Ouzounis Theoharis , Rosenqvist Eva , Ottosen Carl-Otto
Published: February 2019

With the expeditious development of optoelectronics, the light-emitting diode (LED) technology as supplementary light has shown great advancement in protected cultivation. One of the greatest challenges for the LED as alternative light source for greenhouses and closed environments is the diversity of the way experiments are conducted that often makes results difficult to compare. In this review, we aim to give an overview of the impacts of light spectra on plant physiology and on secondary metabolism in relation to greenhouse production. We indicate the possibility of a targeted use of LEDs to shape plants morphologically, increase the amount of protective metabolites to enhance food quality and taste, and potentially trigger defense mechanisms of plants. The outcome shows a direct transfer of knowledge obtained in controlled environments to greenhouses to be difficult, as the natural light will reduce the effects of specific spectra with species or cultivar-specific differences. To use the existing high-efficiency LED units in greenhouses might be both energy saving and beneficial to plants as they contain higher blue light portion than traditional high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps, but the design of light modules for closed environment might need to be developed in terms of dynamic light level and spectral composition during the day to secure plants with desired quality with respect to growth, postharvest performance, and specific metabolites.
Molecular Characterization and Functional Analysis of an AGAMOUS-like Gene CiAG from Pecan
Authors: Zhang Jiyu , Wang Min , Mo Zhenghai , Wang Gang , Guo Zhongren
Published: February 2019

The floral homeotic C-function gene AGAMOUS (AG) has been shown to be critical in the determination of stamen and carpel identity in Arabidopsis. In the present study, a new homologue of AGAMOUS gene from pecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch], denoted by CiAG, was isolated and its function was characterized. The complementary DNA (cDNA) of CiAG contains an open reading frame of 687 base pairs (bp) encoding 227 amino acids. Multiple sequence comparisons revealed that CiAG had the typical MIKC structure. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that CiAG is closely related to C-lineage AG. The expression of CiAG was highly accumulated in the reproductive tissues (staminate flowers, pistillate flowers, and fruitlets) than in vegetative tissues (leaves and current-growth branches). Arabidopsis overexpressing CiAG exhibited earlier flowering. The homeotic transformations of petals into stamen organs were observed in 35S::CiAG transgenic plants. All these results indicated that CiAG plays a key role in the process of flower development of pecan.
Genetic Diversity Among Accessions of Cucurbita pepo Resistant to Phytophthora Crown Rot
Authors: Vincent Michael Njung’e , Moon Pamela , Fu Yuqing , Meru Geoffrey
Published: February 2019

Phytophthora capsici Leonian, the causal agent of Phytophthora crown rot in squash (Cucurbita pepo L.), is an economically important pathogen worldwide. Currently, no C. pepo cultivars immune to the pathogen are commercially available, but sources of resistance to Phytophthora crown rot have been identified in a set of 16 C. pepo plant introductions (PIs). Knowledge of the genetic relationships among these accessions and their relatedness to economically important morphotypes of C. pepo would inform breeders’ best strategies for introgressing resistance; however, this information is currently lacking. The goal of the current study was to determine genetic diversity among the resistant accessions and their genetic relatedness to susceptible morphotypes of subspecies pepo (Zucchini and Pumpkin) and texana (Acorn, Straightneck, and Crookneck) using 39 SSR markers. The markers revealed 132 alleles averaging 4.40 alleles per locus and had a mean polymorphic information content (PIC) and gene diversity of 0.44 and 0.49, respectively. CMTp235 had the highest PIC and gene diversity of 0.80 and 0.82, respectively. Hierarchical clustering by UPGMA and principal coordinate analysis (PCOA) revealed grouping into two major C. pepo subspecies, texana and pepo, with all the resistant accessions grouping in the latter. In order of increasing genetic distance (GD), the resistant accessions were least distant to Zucchini (GD = 0.34), followed by Pumpkin (GD = 0.40), Crookneck (GD = 0.56), Acorn (GD = 0.60), and Straightneck (GD = 0.61) morphotypes. Mean GD among the resistant accessions was 0.31 and was highest between PIs 615142 and 615132 (0.61). Based on genetic similarity, PIs 174185 and 181761 (disease severity ≤1.4) would be the best sources of resistance for transfer into subspecies texana and pepo, respectively. Overall, the results presented here support a closer genetic relationship between the resistant accessions and morphotypes of subspecies pepo than those of subspecies texana.
Preharvest Abscisic Acid Application to Alleviate Chilling Injury of Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) during Cold Storage
Authors: Satpute Aditi , Meyering Bryce , Albrecht Ute
Published: February 2019

Fresh-cut sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is highly sensitive to low temperatures during postharvest storage. This study investigates whether preharvest foliar application of different concentrations of abscisic acid (ABA) can increase tolerance of the commercial basil varieties ‘Di Genova’ and ‘Nufar’ to chilling injury (CI) during postharvest storage at 3.5 °C and at 7 °C. Experiments were conducted under greenhouse and commercial open-field conditions in southwest Florida during the 2017/2018 growing season. Our results showed that greenhouse-grown plants were less affected by CI during 9 days of storage at 3.5 °C when treated with 1000 mg/L or 1500 mg/L ABA and at 7 °C storage compared with the water control, but effects varied by experiment. Preharvest applications of 1000 mg/L ABA were sufficient in reducing CI during cold storage at 3.5 °C in basil grown under open-field conditions; however, at 7 °C postharvest storage, chilling-induced damage did not differ between ABA and untreated plants. Electrolyte leakage analysis of leaves confirmed the beneficial effects of ABA on alleviating chilling-induced injury. Under greenhouse conditions, preharvest applications of 1000 mg/L ABA were more effective when plants were harvested at 1300 or 1530 hr than at 1100 hr. Our results suggest that 1000 mg/L foliar preharvest applications of ABA in combination with afternoon harvest are an effective strategy to alleviate CI damage during postharvest storage at temperatures less than 4 °C and to extend the shelf life of greenhouse or field-grown, fresh-cut basil.
Planting Depth and Seed Size Affect Edamame Emergence Individually
Authors: Crawford Laura E. , Williams Martin M.
Published: February 2019

Edamame growers currently rely heavily on planting depth recommendations for grain-type soybean, despite stark differences in seed characteristics between the two types of cultivars, most notably seed size. Therefore, the objective of the study was to determine the effects of planting depth and seed size on edamame emergence. A popular edamame cultivar used in commercial production was sorted into “small” (23.7 g/100-seed) and “large” (36.8 g/100-seed) seed-size classes, then planted at depths of 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 5.0 cm in field experiments. Experiments were conducted in four environments as a split-plot experimental design with four replications. Seed size did not influence total emergence; however, small seed emerged 10% faster than large seed. Although planting depth recommendations for grain-type soybean are 3.2 to 4.5 cm, our results showed edamame emerged more completely and quicker at the shallowest depths examined. The research could be expanded to capture greater diversity in growing environments and crop cultivars; however, the vegetable industry now has research-based information to guide preliminary recommendations regarding appropriate planting depth of edamame.
Deep Soil Cores Reveal Large End‐of‐Season Residual Mineral Nitrogen Pool
Authors: Hirsh Sarah M. , Weil Ray R.
Published: February 2019

Core Ideas

Residual mineral N in 0‐ to 210‐cm‐deep soil following summer crops was evaluated.

Soils contained a mean of 253 kg ha−1 mineral N, 115 kg ha−1 as NO3–N.

55% of mineral N was 90‐ to 210‐cm deep, where it is most at risk for leaching loss.

More residual NO3–N remained after soybean than after corn.

Awareness of residual deep N levels is essential to develop N conservation practices.

The amount of mineral N remaining after cash crops informs agronomic and conservation practices. Few studies investigate mineral N below 30 cm, yet deeper N is more at risk for leaching to groundwater. We found, on average, 253 kg ha−1 of mineral N, 115 kg ha−1 in the NO3–N form, remaining after summer cash crop growth in the mid‐Atlantic region. Of this residual mineral N, 55% was 90 to 210 cm deep. More residual NO3–N remained after soybean than after corn. These substantial pools of mineral N remaining deep in the soil profile after productive cash crops, even unfertilized soybean, suggest that practices should be designed to scavenge residual N from deep soil layers in the fall, before it is lost over winter.
Overexpression of ALDH21 from Syntrichia caninervis Moss in Upland Cotton Enhances Fiber Quality, Boll Component Traits, and Physiological Parameters during Deficit Irrigation
Authors: Yang Honglan , Zhang Dawei , Zhang Daoyuan , Bozorov Tohir A. , Abdullaev Alisher A. , Wood Andrew J. , Wang Jiancheng , Li Xiaoshuang , Zhao Jinyi
Published: February 2019

Plants have evolved complex molecular, cellular, and physiological mechanisms to respond to environmental stressors. Genetic manipulationhas represented an important potential method for improving water deficit tolerance in crops. Aldehyde dehydrogenases are involved in cellular responses to oxidative stress to protect against a variety of environmental stressors. The Syntrichia caninervis Mitt. ALDH21 gene plays a role in plant responses to abiotic stresses, and overexpression of this gene in tobacco (Nicoiana tabacum L.) and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) decreases their sensitivity that improves tolerance to drought and salt stresses. To test the possibility that transgenic cotton constitutively expressing ScALDH21 may be suitable for cultivating under water deficit conditions, phenotype, physiological response, and yield of transgenic ScALDH21 cotton were measured in managed treatment plots and under field conditions. Overexpression of ScALDH21 in cotton resulted in higher net photosynthetic rate, less cellular damage, more cellular protective compounds, and enhanced growth compared with nontransgenic (NT) cotton under drought stress in managed treatment plots. Yield of transgenic cottons under deficit irrigation condition was increased above that for NT plants measured under full irrigation conditions. Under field conditions, transgenic cotton yield increased ∼10.0% under full irrigation and ∼18.0% under deficit irrigation conditions compared with NT. Fiber quality of transgenic cotton lines was also improved compared with NT under both full and deficit irrigation. These results suggest that transgenic ScALDH21 cotton is a viable candidate material for improving crop yields in water‐limited agricultural production systems.
Estimating Soil Particle Density using Visible Near‐infrared Spectroscopy and a Simple, Two‐compartment Pedotransfer Function
Authors: Marakkala Manage Lashya P. , Katuwal Sheela , Norgaard Trine , Knadel Maria , Moldrup Per , de Jonge Lis W. , Greve Mogens Humlekrog
Published: February 2019

Core Ideas

The two‐compartment pedotransfer function successfully predicted soil particle density.

Vis–NIR showed slightly poorer performance than the two‐compartment function for predicting soil ρd.

Spectroscopy or OM based pedotransfer models gave better estimates of ρd when a wide range in soil OM data was used.

The average particle density (ρd) is a fundamental soil property, used for calculating the total porosity. Traditional ρd measurement by pycnometer method is tedious and time‐consuming. In this study, visible–near‐infrared (vis–NIR) spectroscopy and a simple two‐compartment linear and curvilinear pedotransfer function only requiring knowledge of soil organic matter content (OM) were tested and compared as alternative, indirect, rapid, and cost‐effective methods. Soil ρd was measured by water pycnometer on 179 soils representing a wide range of OM (0.002–0.767 kg kg−1), whereas soil spectra were measured on air‐dry samples by vis–NIR spectroscopy. The ρd models were developed using partial least squares regression with leave‐one‐out‐cross‐validation using vis–NIR spectral data, and a simple two‐compartment pedotransfer function, ρd = A(OM) + B(1 − OM) using the OM content. Predictive abilities of these two methods were tested using three different datasets: (i) minerals soils (OM < 0.1 kg kg−1), (ii) organic soils (OM > 0.1 kg kg−1), and (iii) all soils. Calibrating the two‐compartment pedotransfer function for the entire dataset gave expected values for the individual particle densities of OM (A = 1.244 g cm−3) and mineral particles (B = 2.615 g cm−3). The vis–NIR spectroscopy model successfully predicted soil ρd for the entire dataset (R2 = 0.87, RMSECV = 0.10 g cm−3), with a poorer performance than the two‐compartment linear model (R2 = 0.96, RMSE = 0.06 g cm−3). Using only the mineral soils data did not suffice to obtain realistic and accurate vis–NIR spectroscopy (R2 = 0.62, RMSECV = 0.02 g cm−3) or OM based (R2 = 0.80, RMSE = 0.02 g cm−3) models for ρd, illustrating the importance of the wide range of OM content considered in the present study.
Bounds to Air‐Flow Patterns during Cyclic Air Injection into Partially Saturated Soils Inferred from Extremum States
Authors: Ben-Noah Ilan , Friedman Shmulik P.
Published: February 2019

Core Ideas

The problem of periodic air injection from a point source into the soil is analyzed.

Air content and pressure are bounded by extremum states of instantaneous water relaxation.

Air‐flow pattern determined by two soil parameters and cycle period.

Use of simplified analytical solutions enables a preliminary design of an aeration system.

Soil‐aeration procedures are widely used as an environmental practice for soil and groundwater remediation (removal of volatile compounds and enhancement of biological treatment) and less frequently as an agricultural practice to prevent root O2 deficiency. Analytical solutions to problems of air flow in the soil allow a phenomenological analysis of the physical problem and the effects of the governing parameters, which in turn enables a more systematic design tool for soil‐aeration systems. We present solutions for the air‐pressure distributions resulting from harmonic (sinusoidal) or square‐wave (step‐pulse) air injection into infinite and semi‐infinite (with an atmospheric pressure at the soil surface) soil domains. The approach presented here suggests using exact (analytical) solutions to extreme (unrealistic) conditions, setting the boundaries of the physical span of the flow problem. The simplified analytical solutions, based on assuming instantaneous water relaxation or, alternatively, assuming stagnant water are used to analyze the effects of different air‐injection modes (constant, harmonic, and step‐pulse) on the air‐pressure distribution and radius of influence (ROI) for different values of the governing parameters: source depth, cycle period, and the soil's air‐conductivity parameters. For long cycle periods, square‐pulse and harmonic air injection can increase the maximal ROI compared with that resulting from steady air injection.
On the Information Content of Cosmic‐Ray Neutron Data in the Inverse Estimation of Soil Hydraulic Properties
Authors: Brunetti Giuseppe , Šimůnek Jiří , Bogena Heye , Baatz Roland , Huisman Johan Alexander , Dahlke Helen , Vereecken Harry
Published: February 2019

Core Ideas

Cosmic‐ray neutron data are used to inversely estimate soil hydraulic properties.

The forward neutron operator COSMIC is coupled with the vadose zone model HYDRUS‐1D.

Bayesian analyses confirm the information content of cosmic‐ray neutron data.

Observations of soil moisture content from remote sensing platforms can be used in conjunction with hydrological models to inversely estimate soil hydraulic properties (SHPs). In recent years, cosmic‐ray neutron sensing (CRNS) has proven to be a reliable method for the estimation of area‐average soil moisture at field scales. However, its use in the inverse estimation of the effective SHPs is largely unexplored. Thus, the main objective of this study was to assess the information content of aboveground fast‐neutron counts to estimate SHPs using both a synthetic modeling study and actual experimental data from the Rollesbroich catchment in Germany. For this, the forward neutron operator COSMIC was externally coupled with the hydrological model HYDRUS‐1D. The coupled model was combined with the Affine Invariant Ensemble Sampler to calculate the posterior distributions of effective soil hydraulic parameters as well as the model‐predictive uncertainty for different synthetic and experimental scenarios. Measured water contents at different depths were used to assess estimated SHPs. The analysis of both synthetic and actual CRNS data from homogenous and heterogeneous soil profiles, respectively, led to confident estimations of the shape parameters α and n, while higher uncertainty was observed for the saturated hydraulic conductivity. Furthermore, results demonstrated that neutron data are less influenced by local sources of uncertainty compared with near‐surface point measurements. The simultaneous use of CRNS and water content data further reduced the overall uncertainty, opening up new perspectives for the combination of CRNS with other remote sensing techniques for the inverse estimation of the effective SHPs.
Trabalho e Pedagogia
Authors: Kulesza Wojciech Andrzej
Published: February 2019

Neste artigo procura-se analisar o desdobramento histórico da chamada “escola do trabalho” a partir de sua implantação pioneira na Rússia revolucionária, identificando suas relações com a pedagogia ocidental e seus reflexos na educação brasileira. Relacionando a concepção geral de que o trabalho deve ser contemplado pela escola com o desenvolvimento industrial europeu, percebe-se claramente a vinculação dessa ideia com o aparecimento do movimento renovador na educação a partir da segunda metade do século XIX. As consequências pedagógicas derivadas da inclusão do trabalho como princípio educativo, sintetizado pela fórmula do “aprender fazendo”, estão presentes nas principais tendências pedagógicas contemporâneas, influindo decisivamente na formulação do currículo escolar. Focalizando especificamente a educação básica, identificam-se diversas metodologias do ensino inspiradas por essa orientação figurando na prática escolar. Por fim, as racionalizações teóricas desenvolvidas são aplicadas para analisar a situação atual da relação entre trabalho e educação na escola secundária brasileira.
Como ler sobre como as palavras mudam de sentido?
Authors: Honesko Vinícius
Published: February 2019

O presente ensaio levanta algumas hipóteses de leitura para o texto Como as palavras mudam de sentido, de Antoine Meillet. Apresenta como as leituras de Meillet, feitas autores franceses importantes do século XX, têm em alguma medida conexões diretas ou indiretas com a obra do linguista. Exibe alguns pontos importantes das análises de Meillet sobre as mudanças da língua e os conecta com uma dimensão política. Assim, destaca como dessa leitura particular de Meillet – feita sobretudo a partir desses seus descendentes importantes – , é possível reler sua obra com e contra ele. Expõe como as questões da mudança da língua bem como os modos de compreender tal mudança são, mais do que um problema epistemológico, uma questão política que em nada perdeu sua atualidade.
Why does Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Need Long-term Management?
Authors: Ruan Xiangyan , Li Meng , Mueck Alfred O.
Published: February 2019

Background:

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a frequent female reproductive endocrine disease.
It has been associated with a number of severe reproductive and metabolic abnormalities. However, there are still
open questions especially regarding the best long-term management.

Methods:

We summarized the literature focused on the symptoms and negative long-term consequences of untreated
PCOS and the existing options for the treatment. We reviewed the Pubmed and China National Knowledge
Infrastructure databases and the relevant literature for the last 20 years. Included in this review also are new
results of own (published) research and own experience from treating daily more than 100 PCOS patients.

Results:

Obesity is one of the most common findings. It can cause abnormal ovulations which can lead to infertility.
Important long-term consequences can be adverse pregnancy outcomes. There is an agreement that the risk of
endometrial cancer can be increased. Insulin resistance, important within the pathophysiology of PCOS, predisposes
patients to metabolic dysfunction and increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Lifestyle modifications
including dietary changes, exercise and weight loss are first-line interventions for many patients. Well known
drug treatments such as metformin, oral contraceptives, etc. should be selected according to the individual situation
and patients' needs. Regarding newer methods in the long-term management of PCOS, we found that orlistat
may help to achieve weight loss and to improve lipid and glucose metabolism.

Conclusion:

In addition to pharmacological interventions, long-term standardized individualized management of
PCOS patients is needed to achieve fertility and to reduce the risk of metabolic related diseases.
Pharmacological Adjuncts to Vitrectomy Surgery
Authors: Savastano Maria C. , Savastano Alfonso , Rizzo Stanislao
Published: February 2019

Pharmacological adjuncts to vitrectomy surgery are useful tools to better deal with surgery. Their introduction
has enriched the therapeutic choice before, during and after operations. Although several classifications
could be made to frame adjuncts to vitrectomy, we preferred to divide the pharmacological adjuncts to
vitrectomy surgery for therapeutic use in the pre-operatory procedure (neo-adjuvant), for intraoperative use and
for post-operatory practice (adjuvant). This type of classification allowed us to explore all the adjuncts based on
the timing of their use. The actual interest in vitrectomy surgery is giving rise to considerable interest in new
molecules with and without the pharmacological effect that will soon be available for the aid of vitreoretinal
surgery.
Proteasome Inhibitors in Cancer Therapy and their Relation to Redox Regulation
Authors: Sari Gulce , Okat Zehra , Sahin Ali , Karademir Betul
Published: February 2019

Redox homeostasis is important for the maintenance of cell survival. Under physiological conditions, redox system works in a balance and involves activation of many signaling molecules. Regulation of redox balance via signaling molecules is achieved by different pathways and proteasomal system is a key pathway in this process. Importance of proteasomal system on signaling pathways has been investigated for many years. In this direction, many proteasome targeting molecules have been developed. Some of them are already in the clinic for cancer treatment and some are still under investigation to highlight underlying mechanisms. Although there are many studies done, molecular mechanisms of proteasome inhibitors and related signaling pathways need more detailed explanations. This review aims to discuss redox status and proteasomal system related signaling pathways. In addition, cancer therapies targeting proteasomal system and their effects on redox-related pathways have been summarized.
Molecular Understanding of the Cardiomodulation in Myocardial Infarction and the Mechanism of Vitamin E Protections
Authors: Zarkasi Khairul Anwar , Jen-Kit Tan , Jubri Zakiah
Published: February 2019

:

Myocardial infarction is a major cause of deaths globally. Modulation of several molecular mechanisms occurs during the initial stages of myocardial ischemia prior to permanent cardiac tissue damage, which involves both pathogenic as well as survival pathways in the cardiomyocyte. Currently, there is increasing evidence regarding the cardioprotective role of vitamin E in alleviating the disease. This fat-soluble vitamin does not only act as a powerful antioxidant; but it also has the ability to regulate several intracellular signalling pathways including HIF-1, PPAR-γ, Nrf-2, and NF-κB that influence the expression of a number of genes and their protein products. Essentially, it inhibits the molecular progression of tissue damage and preserves myocardial tissue viability. This review aims to summarize the molecular understanding of the cardiomodulation in myocardial infarction as well as the mechanism of vitamin E protection.
In Silicoandin VitroEvaluation of Deamidation Effects on the Stability of the Fusion Toxin DAB389IL-2
Authors: Zarkar Nasrin , Khalili Mohammad Ali Nasiri , Ahmadpour Fathollah , Khodadadi Sirus , Zeinoddini Mehdi
Published: February 2019

Background:

DAB389IL-2 (Denileukin diftitox) as an immunotoxin is a targeted pharmaceutical protein and is the first immunotoxin approved by FDA. It is used for the treatment of various kinds of cancer such as CTCL lymphoma, melanoma, and Leukemia but among all of these, treatment of CTCL has special importance. DAB389IL-2 consists of two distinct parts; the catalytic domain of Diphtheria Toxin (DT) that genetically fused to the whole IL-2. Deamidation is the most important reaction for chemical instability of proteins occurs during manufacture and storage. Deamidation of asparagine residues occurs at a higher rate than glutamine residues. The structure of proteins, temperature and pH are the most important factors that influence the rate of deamidation.

Methods:

Since there is not any information about deamidation of DAB389IL-2, we studied in silico deamidation by Molecular Dynamic (MD) simulations using GROMACS software. The 3D model of fusion protein DAB389IL-2 was used as a template for deamidation. Then, the stability of deamidated and native form of the drug was calculated.

Results:

The results of MD simulations were showed that the deamidated form of DAB389IL-2 is more unstable than the normal form. Also, deamidation was carried by incubating DAB389IL-2, 0.3 mg/ml in ammonium hydrogen carbonate for 24 h at 37o C in order to in vitro experiment.

Conclusion:

The results of in vitro experiment were confirmed outcomes of in silico study. In silico and in vitro experiments were demonstrated that DAB389IL-2 is unstable in deamidated form.
Phytochemical Constituents of Guggul and their Biological Qualities
Authors: Kumar Vijay , Singh Simranjeet , Singh Ravindra
Published: February 2019

:

In the herbal drug pharmaceutical industry, guggul is enjoying emergent consumer acceptance
around the world. In the Indian market, more than fifty formulations of guggul have been
introduced by well-known brands including Himalaya, Patanjali and Baidyanath Pharmaceuticals.
Basically, guggul is the gum resin from Commiphora wightii (syn. Commiphora Mukul). It has been
used to treat various ailments including obesity, osteoarthritis, arthritis, constipation, liver disorders,
inflammation, anemia, diabetes, etc. Including medicinal properties, it is used as a good binding
agent and mixed in various herbal formulations. To review the major phytochemical, medicinal properties
and analytical methods involved in the detection of guggul by using the exhaustive bibliographic
research by means of various scientific engines and databases. Guggul contained approximately
66 phytochemical including gallic acid, quercetin, and guggulsterones E and Z. These phytochemicals
have a wide range of pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antibacterial, antimutagenic,
antivenom and antitumor. It has been noticed that the mode of action of guggulsterone has
not been fully explored. Pharmacology and toxicological studies are very few. These works have
shown huge literature gap, which is to be fulfilled through the detailed in-vivo and in-vitro studies.
Pathophysiology of Type 2 Diabetes in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Valaiyapathi Badhma , Gower Barbara , Ashraf Ambika P.
Published: February 2019

Background:

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (DM) in children is disturbingly increasing
in parallel with the increasing childhood obesity. Better knowledge regarding the pathophysiology of
type 2 DM in children is paramount to devise an effective management plan.

Objective:

Discuss the pathophysiology of type 2 DM in children and adolescents.

Methods and Results:

This is a comprehensive review of the literature on this topic. Type 2 DM in
childhood is viewed as a continuum of insulin resistance (IR) which is determined by an underlying genetic
predisposition, intrauterine environment, excessive food consumption, continued rapid weight
gain, and poor lifestyle. Besides IR, this is compounded by multiple metabolic defects including β-cell
dysfunction and inadequate insulin secretion, α-cell dysfunction, hyperglucagonemia and increased hepatic
glucose production, lipotoxicity, inflammation, deficiencies in incretin production and action, and
increased renal glucose reabsorption. The confluence of genetic and environmental factors underscores
the complexity in disease progression.

Conclusion:

A consistent single risk factor for type 2 DM is obesity and related IR and therefore it is
essential to curtail the progression of obesity. It is important to investigate the role of stringent dietary
and nutritional approaches, medications that enhance β-cell function and insulin sensitivity.
Growth of Diabetes Research in United Arab Emirates: Current and Future Perspectives
Authors: Shieb Mohamad , Koruturk Sema , Srivastava Ankita , Mussa Bashair M.
Published: February 2019

Background:

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the most prevalent metabolic diseases in
the UAE. During the last two decades, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has experienced tremendous
development in all fields including DM research. The present study sheds light on the growth in DM
research in UAE and represents a guide for DM researchers to create more focused future directions
in DM research.

Objective:

The main objective of the present study is to investigate and document the changes that
occurred in DM research in the UAE over the last two decades.

Methods:

Several research databases were reviewed and all the articles that involved any form of DM
research within the UAE were selected. Inclusion criteria were: (i) Research studies related to DM
and conducted by institutions based in UAE (ii) Research studies related to DM and conducted in the
population of UAE and (iii) Research articles related to DM and the authors (principal investigators or
co-investigators) are from UAE.

Results:

Between the years of 1996 and 2000, there was an average of 6.4 articles about DM being
published per year. This pattern changed dramatically between years 2011 to 2015 where an average
of 22.8 articles were being published. In addition, a significant increase was noticed in the year 2015
with 42 articles published per year. It was also found that 46.8% articles involved clinical study,
12.1% were basic research, 17.5% cross-sectional studies, 8.91% reviews, 8.2% were cohort and all
the other types of research represented about 5.58%.

Conclusion:

Significant progress has been noticed in DM research in the UAE during the last two
decades. Based on the findings of the present study, more focus should be given to the case reports
and clinical trials.
Virtual Screening for Type II B Inhibitors of B-RafV600E Kinase
Authors: Qiu Kai-Xiong , Zhang Wen , Yu Fang , Li Wei , Sun Zhong-Wen , Zhang Shu-Qun , Chen Ya-Juan , Xie Hui-Ding
Published: February 2019

Background:

B-RafV600E kinase was identified as an important target in current cancer treatment,
and the type II B inhibitors show good qualities in preclinical studies. Therefore, it is very important
to discover novel II B inhibitors of B-RafV600E kinase.

Methods:

In order to discover novel II B inhibitors of B-RafV600E kinase, virtual screening against ZINC
database was performed by using a combination of pharmacophore modelling, molecular docking, 3DQSAR
model and binding free energy (ΔGbind) calculation studies. The inhibitory activities against A375
cell lines of the hit compounds were tested by using MTT assay.

Results:

Five promising hit compounds were obtained after screening, and all the five hit compounds
showed good inhibitory rates against A375 cell lines.

Conclusion:

The combined approach of the virtual screening in our work is effective, which can be used to
discover novel inhibitors with a new skeleton. In addition, the five compounds obtained from the screening
showed good inhibitory rates against A375 cell lines, which can be considered to develop new II B inhibitors
of B-RafV600E kinase.
Molecularly Imprinted Polymer and Computational Study of (E)-4-(2- cyano-3-(dimethylamino)acryloyl)benzoic Acid from Poly(ethylene terephthalate) Plastic Waste
Authors: Fahim Asmaa M. , Wasiniak Bartłomiej , Łukaszewicz Jerzy P.
Published: February 2019

Background:

Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are utilized in the separation of a
pure compound from complex matrices. A stable template-monomer complex generates MIPs with
the highest affinity and selectivity for the template. In this investigation, degradation of
Poly(ethylene terephthalate) PET afforded the (E)-4-(2-cyano-3-(dimethylamino) acryloyl) benzoic
acid (4) (TAM) which used TAM as template which interacts with Methacrylic Acid (MAA)
monomer, in the presence of CH3CN as progen. The TAM-MMA complex interactions are dependent
on stable hydrogen bonding interaction between the carboxylic acid group of TAM and the
hydroxyl group of MMA with minimal interference of porogen CH3CN. The DFT/B3LYP/6-31+G
model chemistry was used to optimize their structures and frequency calculations. The binding energies
between TAM with different monomers showed the most stable molar ratio of 1:4 which was
confirmed through experimental analysis.

Methods:

The present work describes the synthesis of (E)-4-(2-cyano-3-(dimethylamino) acryloyl)
benzoic acid (4) (TAM) from PET waste and formation of molecularly imprinted polymer from
TAM with the methacrylic acid monomer. The optimization of molecular imprinted was stimulated
via DFT/B3LYP/6-31G (d). The imprinted polymer film was characterized via thermal analysis, pore
size, FT-IR and scanning electron microscopy.

Results:

The most stable molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) showed binding energy of
TAM(MMA4)=-2063.456 KJ/mol with a small value of mesopores (10-100 Å). Also, the sorption
capability of TAM-MIPs showed 6.57 mg/g using STP-MIP-9VC. Moreover, the average pore size
ranged between 0.2-1 nm with the BET surface about 300 m2/g.

Conclusion:

The proposed TAM exhibited a high degree of selectivity for MMA in comparison with
other different monomers through hydrogen bond interaction, which was thermally stable, good reproducibility
and excellent regeneration capacity and elucidated in the computational study and analytical
analysis.
A New Synthetic Spiroketal: Studies on Antitumor Activity on Murine Melanoma Model In Vivo and Mechanism of Action In Vitro
Authors: Fuggetta Maria P. , Spanu Pietro , Ulgheri Fausta , Deligia Francesco , Carta Paola , Mannu Alberto , Trotta Veronica , De Cicco Rosanna , Barra Adriano , Zona Enrica , Morelli Franco
Published: February 2019

Background:

In a previous study, we synthesised a new spiroketal derivative, inspired to natural products, that has shown high antiproliferative activity, potent telomerase inhibition and proapoptotic activity on several human cell lines.

Objective:

This work focused on the study of in vivo antitumor effect of this synthetic spiroketal on a murine melanoma model. In order to shed additional light on the origin of the antitumor effect, in vitro studies were performed.

Methods:

Spiroketal was administered to B16F10 melanoma mice at a dose of 5 mg/Kg body weight via intraperitoneum at alternate days for 15 days. Tumor volume measures were made every 2 days starting after 12 days from cells injection. The effects of the spiroketal on tumor growth inhibition, apoptosis induction, and cell cycle modification were investigated in vitro on B16 cells. HIF1α gene expression, the inhibition of cells migration and the changes induced in cytoskeleton conformation were evaluated.

Results:

Spiroketal displayed proapoptotic activity and high antitumor activity in B16 cells with nanomolar IC50. Moreover it has shown to inhibit cell migration, to strongly reduce the HIF1α expression and to induce strongly deterioration of cytoskeleton structure. A potent dose-dependent antitumor efficacy in syngenic B16/C57BL/6J murine model of melanoma was observed with the suppression of tumor growth by an average of 90% at a dose of 5 mg/kg.

Conclusion:

The synthesized spiroketal shows high antitumor activity in the B16 cells in vitro at nM concentration and a dose-dependent antitumor efficacy in syngenic B16/C57BL/6J mice. The results suggest that this natural product inspired spiroketal may have a potential application in melanoma therapy.
A Current Perspective of Schistosomiasis in Association with Colorectal Carcinogenesis
Authors: Abdalkareem Eshtiyag Abdalla , Yin Khoo Boon
Published: February 2019

Background:

Schistosomiasis is one of the parasitic infections that are often found in humans. More than approximately 200 million people are infected with Schistosomiasis in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa, South America and Asian countries. Literature has long been suggesting the correlation between Schistosomiasis and colorectal malignancy. There is a considerable directory supporting the etiological relation between Schistosoma japonicum infection and colorectal cancer in the Far East, however, the available data about the role of Schistosoma mansoni that can initiate the carcinogenesis of colorectal remain insignificant.

Objective:

As such, more studies of this disease should be conducted comprehensively for corporate social responsibility internationally.

Methods:

The present study reviewed the available data about the role of Schistosoma, including S. mansoni in association with the carcinogenesis of colorectal.

Results:

The study shows the possible evidence of epidemiology, pathology, molecules and immunopathology associated with Schistosomal infections and colorectal cancer. The infections are apparently getting little attention nor support worldwide due to the geographical barriers and some political issues because it mainly occurs in the people living in the bottom billion and happens in the endemic regions only.

Conclusion:

The in-depth study of this infectious disease will tailor early diagnosis, novel prescription drugs and cost-effective strategies for the treatment of infectious disease colorectal cancer, and hence eradicate the disease in the endemic regions.
You Get What You Pay for on Health Care Question and Answer Platforms: Nonparticipant Observational Study (Preprint)
Authors: Ameri Fatemeh , Keeling Kathleen , Salehnejad Reza
Published: February 2019

BACKGROUND

Seeking health information on the internet is very popular despite the debatable ability of lay users to evaluate the quality of health information and uneven quality of information available on the Web. Consulting the internet for health information is pervasive, particularly when other sources are inaccessible because of time, distance, and money constraints or when sensitive or embarrassing questions are to be explored. Question and answer (Q&A) platforms are Web-based services that provide personalized health advice upon the information seekers’ request. However, it is not clear how the quality of health advices is ensured on these platforms.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to identify how platform design impacts the quality of Web-based health advices and equal access to health information on the internet.

METHODS

A total of 900 Q&As were collected from 9 Q&A platforms with different design features. Data on the design features for each platform were generated. Paid physicians evaluated the data to quantify the quality of health advices. Guided by the literature, the design features that affected information quality were identified and recorded for each Q&A platform. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and unbiased regression tree methods were used for the analysis.

RESULTS

Q&A platform design and health advice quality were related. Expertise of information providers (beta=.48; P=.001), financial incentive (beta=.4; P=.001), external reputation (beta=.28; P=.002), and question quality (beta=.12; P=.001) best predicted health advice quality. Virtual incentive, Web 2.0 mechanisms, and reputation systems were not associated with health advice quality.

CONCLUSIONS

Access to high-quality health advices on the internet is unequal and skewed toward high-income and high-literacy groups. However, there are possibilities to generate high-quality health advices for free.
Software for Teaching through Interactive Demonstrations about Converging Lenses
Authors: Mihas Pavlos
Published: February 2019

In this paper, Software is presented for teaching through interactive demonstrations about lenses. At first we explore lenses constructed by two spherical surfaces. We explore the ray diagrams and wave fronts. Then there is a page for understanding the thick lens model. We introduce a step by step procedure to find the focal length and find the principal planes and finally the use of the focal length and principal points to construct the image. There is a page for finding the position of the image not by the formula but by the method we use on an actual experiment: We move the screen back and forth until we can get the sharpest possible image. This is done by finding the minimum of a standard deviation of the position of the rays for a given position of the screen. Then there is a simulation of an experiment for finding the focal length. This uses a macro to simulate the finding of several image points b for several object points a. These values are used first in the graphical representation of the image point as a function of b and the image points as a function of a. With suitable least square fits we get two lines with parameters that give values for the focal length and principal plane. Then there is a simulation of two experiments of finding the focal length of a lens. The spreadsheet calculates the distance b vs a, the image y, and there ar graphs of y as a function of a and y as a function of b from which we find 1) a hyperbolic fit for y vs a and a linear fit for y vs b from which we calculate the focal distance, 2) it calculates 1/a and 1/b and then finds a linear fit and a parabolic fit for the data. Also we get the same parameters by finding the cuts of lines uniting the point (a,0) and (0,b).. 3) there is a plot of a+b vs a and then the points are fitted with a hyperbola whose asymptotes give the sum of focal length and principal planes. Then there is a page where we can see two lenses for which the shape can change to have a perfect focusing at a given distance. These two lenses are based on Huygens’ ideas, Spherical and Huygen Lenses.
Em defesa da educação pública: 30 anos da Constituição Federal
Authors: Scheibe Leda , Campos Roselane Fátima
Published: February 2019

Neste ano de 2018 comemoramos 30 anos de promulgação da Constituição Federal, conhecida como Constituição Cidadã pelos avanços consideráveis nos direitos sociais. Todavia, observamos, nos últimos anos, o avanço de forças políticas conservadoras – no campo da economia, pela ascensão de políticas de austeridade fiscal ancoradas num receituário de corte ultraliberal e, no campo cultural, pela acelerada propagação de um ideário neoconservador, expressando-se, sobretudo, sob a forma de um fundamentalismo religioso cujas concepções e ações colocam em risco
PARADIGMA INTEGRASI-INTERKONEKSI DI TENGAH KOMPLEKSITAS PROBLEM KEMANUSIAAN
Authors: Labaso Syahrial
Published: February 2019

This article tries to describe the concept of integration-interconnection of science as a meeting point to integrating the mind and revelation. A concept which is positioning human mind and revelation as entities that are not dichotomous, but as relationships that complement to each other, as well as an effort to answer the complexity of the human problems which require a comprehensive and holistic process of settlement. Through critical-analytical studies of the concepts of integration-interconnection of science from various experts, the results of the study show that the term, forms, and implementations of this scientific paradigm are very diverse. Integration is not a single paradigm concept that is suitable in various life contexts, but a dynamic concept. The context in which human a being live will determine the patterns and forms of integration. Space and time, the types of problems and needs, and human creativity in responding the various life problems greatly determine the format and form of this paradigm.