bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reversible Fluorescent Turn-on Sensors for Fe3+ based on a Receptor Composed of Tri-oxygen Atoms of Amide Groups in Water
Authors: Wang Jiaoliang , Long Liping , Xiao Guing , Fang Fang
Published: December 2018

Compounds Rh6G-1 and RhB-2 with a novel receptor composed of tri-oxygen atoms of amide groups were designed and synthesized as new reversible fluorescent sensors for Fe3+. The prominent features of the novel sensor Rh6G-1 include a large fluorescence turn-on response in essentially pure water at room temperature, high sensitivity, high selectivity, a limit of detection, cell membrane permeability, and low cytotoxicity. These desirable attributes enable us to successfully employ the new sensor Rh6G-1 for Fe3+ bioimaging in living cells.
Testing the symmetry of a dependence structure with a characteristic function
Authors: Bahraoui Tarik , Bouezmarni Taoufik , Quessy Jean-François
Published: December 2018

This paper proposes competing procedures to the tests of symmetry for bivariate copulas of Genest, Nešlehová and Quessy (2012). To this end, the null hypothesis of symmetry is expressed in terms of the copula characteristic function that uniquely determines the copula of a given bivariate population with continuous marginal distributions. Then, test statistics based on L2 weighted distances computed from an empirical version of the copula characteristic function are proposed. Their asymptotic behavior is derived under the null hypothesis as well as under general alternatives. In particular, it is established that these rank statistics behave asymptotically as first-order degenerate V-statistics under the null hypothesis and this large-sample representation is exploited in order to provide suitably adapted multiplier bootstrap versions for the computation of p-values. The simulations that are reported show that the new tests are more powerful than the competing methods based on the empirical copula introduced by Genest, Nešlehová and Quessy (2012).
A sharp inequality for Kendall’s τ and Spearman’s ρ of Extreme-Value Copulas
Authors: Trutschnig Wolfgang , Mroz Thomas
Published: December 2018

We derive a new (lower) inequality between Kendall’s τ and Spearman’s ρ for two-dimensional Extreme-Value Copulas, show that this inequality is sharp in each point and conclude that the comonotonic and the product copula are the only Extreme-Value Copulas for which the well-known lower Hutchinson-Lai inequality is sharp.
UltraHigh Bit-Rate Hybrid DWDM Optical System Design Using DP-QPSK Modulation
Authors: Pradhan Subhrajit , Patnaik Bijayananda , Panigrahy Rashmita Kumari
Published: December 2018

In this work, an optical hybrid communication system is proposed. It is a combination of diffused link (DL) configuration of free space optics (FSO) setup and fiber optic setup. It is a 16-channel dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) system, with 400 Gbps/channel data rate. It uses dual polarization-quadrature phase shift keying (DP-QPSK) modulation technique for all the setups. Bit error rate (BER), eye diagram, quality actor (Q-factor), optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR), optical spectrum analyzer (OSA) signals are considered as performance parameters of the proposed system. It is found that the link distance is 340 m for DL setup and 1,000 km for fiber setup. The system will be very much useful for solving first mile, last mile problem with long distance optical communication applications in 5 G era.
Digital laser micro- and nanoprinting
Authors: Li Qingfeng , Grojo David , Alloncle Anne-Patricia , Chichkov Boris , Delaporte Philippe
Published: December 2018

Laser direct writing is a well-established ablation technology for high-resolution patterning of surfaces, and since the development of additive manufacturing, laser processes have also appeared very attractive for the digital fabrication of three-dimensional (3D) objects at the macro-scale, from few millimeters to meters. On the other hand, laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) has demonstrated its ability to print a wide range of materials and to build functional micro-devices. For many years, the minimum size of laser-printed pixels was few tens of micrometers and is usually organized in two dimensions. Recently, new approaches have been investigated, and the potential of LIFT technology for printing 2D and 3D sub-micrometer structures has become real. After a brief description of the LIFT process, this review presents the pros and cons of the different digital laser printing technologies in the aim of the additive nanomanufacturing application. The transfer of micro- and nano-dots in the liquid phase from a solid donor film appears to be the most promising approach to reach the goal of 3D nanofabrication, and the latest achievements obtained with this method are presented and discussed.
Biotransformation of a major beer prenylflavonoid – isoxanthohumol
Authors: Bartmańska Agnieszka , Tronina Tomasz , Popłoński Jarosław
Published: December 2018

Microbial transformations of isoxanthohumol (1), a beer prenylated flavonoid, by 51 fungi were investigated. Many of the tested fungi cultures were capable of effective transformation of 1. Mucor hiemalis and Fusarium oxysporum converted isoxanthohumol (1) into isoxanthohumol 7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (3) and (2R)-2″-(2″′-hydroxyisopropyl)-dihydrofurano[2″,3″:7,8]-4″,5-hydroxy-5-methoxyflavanone (4), respectively. No product was obtained in the transformation of 1 by Absidia glauca conducted in a phosphate buffer. In the same medium, Beauveria bassiana converted isoxanthohumol (1) to isoxanthohumol 7-O-β-d-4″′-O-methylglucopyranoside (2).
Acquired Tracheo-Esophageal Fistula : A Rare Case Report of the Neglected Denture
Authors: Bin Asnawi Sharir Asrul , Bin Doi Mohamad , Shaker Abdul Rahman Hikmet , Azman Mawaddah Binti
Published: December 2018

Introduction: Dentures are common accidental ingested foreign body (FB) especially among the elderly. It is frequent to have foreign body impacted at esophagus in adults however it is very unusual to have Tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) caused by the denture. The diagnosis of TEF is challenging due to two reasons. Firstly, most of the dental prosthesis is radiolucent and not visible in the routine radiological investigation. Secondly, a patient with a history of swallowed dentures prosthesis may be asymptomatic initially and develops symptoms over time. On the contrary, the prolonged history of FB in the esophagus with TEF has a higher risk of developing serious complications such as pneumonia and lung abscess.Case Presentation: We report a case of a 62-year-old gentleman with a background history of hypertension and temporal lobe epilepsy presented with a history of choking on taking solid and liquid associated with significant weight loss past 2 months. He had lost his denture for almost 1 year during sleep. Endoscopic examination of the larynx showed normal anatomy but pooling of saliva. CT thorax showed a foreign body within a tracheoesophageal fistula. OGDS showed denture within a well-formed tracheoesophageal fistula. He had acquired TEF secondary to the dentures. Conclusion: Symptomatic elderly who lose their denture during sleep should not be neglected. They need immediate medical assessment thus will reduce further debilitating complications. Failing to identify and treat this condition urgently, the patient will suffer acquired trachea-oesophageal fistula on which the treatment is challenging and the morbidity and mortality are high.
Iatrogenesis in the Intensive Care
Authors: Kosukhina Oksana I. , Kachenkova Ekaterina S. , Germanov Gennadiy N. , Zbrueva Yuliya V.
Published: December 2018

The problem of iatrogenesis in the medical practice is still urgent: according to published data, in healthcare institutions of the Ministry of Public Health of the Russian Federation, about 50.0% of errors in medical care are made by surgeons; among these errors, diagnostic errors prevail (80.0 %) due to improper examination of patients and lack of follow up. Together with surgeons, anesthesiologists and intensivists are in the top five of physicians who demonstrated the greatest number of defects in medical care (about 30.0%).The purpose of our study is prevention of iatrogenesis in the intensive care unit (ICU).Materials and methods. We analyzed findings of the forensic examination and evaluation of medical care of a patient with knife wounds.Results. We determined the immediate cause of death, and describe the causal link between the outcome and identified defects in the medical care.Conclusion. Preventing the iatrogenesis in ICU is right strategy to improvemethe medical care quality.
The Development and Application of the Acrylamide Kind Polymers for Tertiary Oil Recovery in China
Authors: Xue Junjie  , Guo Donghong  , Hou Qingfeng
Published: December 2018

As many oilfields shift from high permeability and medium-high permeability to low permeability and ultra-low permeability, the complexity and specificity of their formation channels increase, and the requirements on injectivity and liquidity of polymer flooding become increasingly stricter. This paper, from the perspective of the molecular configuration of poly(acrylamide) (PAM), gives an introduction to their respective characteristics, and analyzes the applicability of PAMs in tertiary oil recovery on the basis of the applications of polymer flooding in China. The study suggests that, on the one hand, the problem that urgently needs to be solved at present is achieving the viscosification of polymers with medium-low molecular weight or low molecular weight in high-temperature and high-salt conditions; on the other hand, researchers shall change their original research thoughts, shift from large-scale design of original PAM products to one-to-one “customized” research on and development for meeting specific oilfield demands from the perspective of polymer molecular structure.
The Impact of Financial Development on Investment: a Review of International Literature
Authors: Muyambiri Brian , Odhiambo Nicholas M.
Published: December 2018

This article summarises the empirical literature on the impact of financial development on investment. It presents a topical analysis of empirical research that focuses mainly on the interaction between financial development and investment, determinants and measurement of both financial development and investment, and empirical findings on the relationship between the two variables under discussion. The study concludes that most of the research done on the relationship between financial development and investment is highly skewed towards assessing the relationship using mostly bank-based financial development indicators, as compared to the market-based financial development indicators. Given the number of studies assessed, the impact of financial development on investment appears to be inconclusive, at best. Moreover, the study shows that the relationship between these two macroeconomic variables seems to differ from country to country; it is dependent on the proxies used to measure the level of financial development, as well as the methodology employed.
Developmental Outcomes in Duarte Galactosemia
Authors: Carlock Grace , Fischer S. Taylor , Lynch Mary Ellen , Potter Nancy L. , Coles Claire D. , Epstein Michael P. , Mulle Jennifer G. , Kable Julie A. , Barrett Catherine E. , Edwards Shannan M. , Wilson Elizabeth , Fridovich-Keil Judith L.
Published: December 2018

OBJECTIVES:

For decades, infants with Duarte galactosemia (DG) have been identified by newborn screening (NBS), but whether they should be treated with dietary restrictions of galactose has remained unknown. To clarify, we conducted a study of dietary and developmental outcomes in 206 children with DG (case patients) and 144 controls, all of whom were 6 to 12 years old.

METHODS:

We recruited case patients from states where they were identified by NBS; unaffected siblings served as controls. Diet in infancy was ascertained by retrospective parent surveys; developmental outcomes were assessed in 5 domains, yielding 73 outcome measures for each child. We divided subjects randomly into independent discovery (n = 87) and validation (n = 263) sets. We tested the discovery set to order the 73 outcome measures by ascending P values and tested the 10 outcomes with the lowest P values for possible association with DG in the validation set. We also tested these same 10 outcomes for possible association with milk exposure in infancy among case patients in the validation set.

RESULTS:

None of the 73 outcomes tested in the discovery set revealed significant association with DG, and none of the 10 outcomes tested in the validation set revealed either significant association with DG or significant association with milk exposure among children with DG.

CONCLUSIONS:

Through our results, we demonstrated that there were no significant differences in outcomes tested between case patients and controls or among case patients as a function of milk exposure in infancy. In this study, we provide a long-needed foundation of knowledge for health care providers, families, and NBS professionals seeking to make evidence-based decisions about DG.
Amor, humor: Noel Rosa e Oswald de Andrade
Authors: Andrade Ênio Bernardes de
Published: December 2018

Este artigo propõe o estudo de algumas canções passionais de compositor Noel Rosa, sob a ótica da dualidade “amor/humor” apresentada no contexto das proposições estéticas da poesia Pau-Brasil, de Oswald de Andrade. Tais análises apontam para uma das marcas de confluência entre as obras dos dois autores, cujas linguagens aproximam a poesia da fala cotidiana, distanciando as formas poéticas da aura sublime e da retórica ornamental que costumavam caracterizar o canto e a escrita. Demonstra-se a astúcia criativa do Poeta da Vila, que, no casamento perfeito entre texto e melodia, cria sentidos inesperados nos quais o discurso amoroso é contaminado pela ironia e pelo humor. *** Love, humor: Noel Rosa and Oswald de Andrade ***This paper proposes the study of selected songs by Noel Rosa, from the “love/humor” duality perspective presented in the Pau-Brasil poetry aesthetic by Oswald de Andrade. Such analysis points out to one of the confluence marks between the work of the two artists, whose language approximate poetry and everyday speech, distancing the aura of sublime poetic forms from the ornamental rhetoric which used to characterize singing and writing. Therefore, we can see Rosa’s creative wit that, in the perfect partnership between text and melody, creates unexpected meanings in which love is contaminated by irony and humor.Keywords: song; poetry; humor; Noel Rosa; Oswald de Andrade.
Átmeneti kettős látás és szemizombénulás fogászati érzéstelenítést követően
Authors: Seres László , Pethő Gyöngyi , Pető Zoltán , Pető Tünde
Published: December 2018

Abstract:

Dental anaesthesia is one of the most frequently performed medical procedures. Although the frequency of ocular complications is low, these can be alarming and can potentially give rise to medicolegal issues. Dentists and oral surgeons should be well-informed of these adverse reactions. Ophthalmologists and emergency physicians might be required for appropriate care of these patients. Fortunately, most ocular complications related to dental anesthesia are transient. Differential diagnosis includes stroke and intracranial hemorrhage and so vital signs are to be closely monitored. The planned surgical procedure can be carried out once the patient is fully informed and gave consent. The psychological aspect of such unexpected complication must be managed appropriately. We report a case with diplopia and ophthalmoplegia of a reversible and temporary nature. We also include a literature review of ophthalmologic complications after intraoral local anaesthesia in this paper. Orv Hetil. 2018; 159(52): 2212–2216.
Studies on the Gall Characteristics of Dryocosmus kuriphilus in Chestnut Genotypes in Yalova and Bursa Provinces of Turkey
Authors: GENÇER Nimet S. , MERT Cevriye
Published: December 2018

The Asian chestnut gall wasp Dryocosmus kuriphilus is a global pest of chestnut (Castanea spp.). It has been spreading in Turkey’s forests and orchards since 2014. This pest imposes a big threat to the Turkish chestnut industry, which is among the top producers in the world. Its gall morphology has been related to pest pressure and host cultivar, thus eventually modulating plant damage with heavy impact on growth and fruit production. We compared gall characters (position on plant organ, ratios, dimensions, volumes, number of larval chambers) in wild Castanea sativa, two local cultivars and a Euro Japanese hybrid. Overall, leaf galls were more common (55.36%), followed by the stem (19.6%) and leaf stipule galls (15.29%). The mean number of chamber and volume value of gall types were 1.52-5.93 and 0.43-2.15 cm3, respectively. The highest values were observed in ‘stem gall’. The more gall formation was observed in the wild chestnut trees and ‘Marigoule’ than the other local varieties.
Prolonged Water Deficit Stress and Methyl Jasmonate-Mediated Changes in Metabolite Profile, Flavonoid Concentrations and Antioxidant Activity in Peppermint (Mentha × piperita L.)
Authors: ABDI Gholamreza , SHOKRPOUR Majid , KARAMI Leila , SALAMI Sayed Alireza
Published: December 2018

Peppermint (Mentha × piperita L.) infusion is one of the main important sources of antioxidants. This antioxidant property can be enhanced by using elicitors and inducing abiotic stress. This study was conducted to evaluate the foliar application of Methyl Jasmonate (50 µM) and water deficit stress (no stress, mild stress and moderate stress as 100, 75 and 50% of field capacity, respectively) and their interactions on cultivated peppermint on plant growth, secondary metabolite and antioxidant capacity of infusions made under different treatment. Water deficit stress treatments increased flavonoid contents and total phenolic as well as antioxidant capacity significantly. Some phenolic compound such as luteolin, naringenin, coumaric acid, and quercetin were detected only in some drought and Methyl Jasmonate treatments. Also, fewer amino acids such as L-serine, Threonine, 4-aminobutiric acid, 5-oxo-L-proline and unsaturated fatty acids were identified. Also, foliar application of 50 µM Methyl Jasmonate treatment improved plant growth parameters and metabolite profile such as carbohydrates and amino acids in non-stress and stress conditions. Therefore, inducing water stress and applying MeJA is recommended to enhance the biologic properties of peppermint and improve bioactive compounds and the antioxidant capacity of peppermint infusions.
The Proteome Response of Salt-Sensitive Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) Genotype to Salt Stress
Authors: DOLATABADI Nima , TOORCHI Mahmoud , VALIZADEH Mostafa , BANDEHAGH Ali
Published: December 2018

Productivity of rapeseed (Brassica napus L.), the third most important oilseed crop, was reduced more than other crops under the salt stress higher than the threshold. Thus, breeding, especially at seedling stage, seems necessary. Plants under salt stress, by synthesis of essential metabolites, specific structural proteins or enzymes of metabolic pathways deal with the stress. To identify the molecular mechanisms of salt responsiveness in rapeseed, ‘Option500’ a salt-sensitive genotype was exposed to 0, 150, and 300mM NaCl during the seedling stage. An increase in proline and the Na+ content of leaf and a reduction in shoot dry weight, plant height, K+ content and K+/Na+ ratio were observed. Protein expression changes were examined by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE). Out of 110 protein spots identified by 2-DE gels, 37 spots showed significant abundant changes based on induction factor (IF), and 7 spots were recognized significantly at 5% probability level, which 1 and 6 spots were up and down-regulated, respectively. By using LC-MS/MS mass spectrometry analysis, proteins were identified which are involved in energy production and photosynthesis. Activity of enzymes involved in energy production decreased under stress, while the abundance of Phosphoribulokinase (PRK) -an important enzyme in the pentose phosphate pathway- increased.
Nutritional and Biological Value of Five Edible Flower Species
Authors: STEFANIAK Anna , GRZESZCZUK Monika Elżbieta
Published: December 2018

The introduction of edible flowers into our menu and their consumption significantly increases as a result of decorative, taste or aroma qualities. Current research on the chemical composition of edible flowers indicates a high content of vitamins, mineral compounds, essential oils, fibre, mucilage and other compounds characterized by a very high antioxidant activity. The aim of the experiment was to compare the nutritional value and antioxidant activity of three annual and two perennial ornamental plant species with edible flowers: Mimulus x hybridus L. ‘Magic Yellow’ and ‘Magic Red’, Antirrhinum majus L. ‘Cavalier’, Dianthus chinensis L. ‘Chianti’, Hemerocallis x hybrida Hort. and Monarda didyma L. Among the edible flower species compared in the study, M. didyma L. showed the highest nutritional value and antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS). While flowers of D. chinensis L. ‘Chianti’ were characterized by highest content of antioxidants such as L-ascorbic acid, total anthocyanins, total polyphenols and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), H. × hybrida and A.  majus L. ‘Cavalier’ flowers – by the highest content of total soluble sugars and sugar/acid ratio, and M. × hybridus L. ‘Magic Red’ and ‘Magic Yellow’ – by the highest content of total carotenoids.
Genetic Association between Foliage Yield and Contributing Traits in Vegetable Chenopods: Implications for Genetic Improvement
Authors: BHARGAVA Atul , FUENTES Francisco , SHUKLA Sudhir , SRIVASTAVA Shilpi , OHRI Deepak
Published: December 2018

A two-year study was conducted to evaluate the foliage yield potential in 13 germplasm lines of Chenopodium album for 3 successive cuttings. Correlations among foliage yield and its contributing traits, along with path analysis was also worked out. Foliage yield was maximum for C. album IC 107297, followed by C. album H.P. and C. album amaranticolor. The genotype × year interaction was non-significant for all the traits except stem diameter and moisture content. Leaf size, plant height and stem diameter showed significant positive correlation with foliage yield both at phenotypic and genotypic levels in all the cuttings. Chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b showed positive association with carotenoid content and negative association with ascorbic acid in all the cuttings as well as on pooled basis. Significant negative association was observed between leaves/plant and foliage yield at genotypic level in all the cuttings (Ist cutting: -0.472*; IInd cutting: -0.414*; IIIrd cutting: -0.480*) as well as on pooled basis (-0.591**). Protein content negatively affected foliage yield in all the cuttings. Fibre content had high negative value of direct path for pooled data but positively influenced foliage yield indirectly via leaves/plant, stem diameter, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and protein content. Ascorbic acid positively affected yield in Ist cutting as well as on pooled basis. Leaf size had high positive direct effect and significant positive association with foliage yield that indicates a true relationship between these traits. Leaf size also indirectly affected foliage yield in a positive direction through majority of other traits. Thus, direct selection for leaf size should be exercised to bring about improvement in foliage yield in C. album.
Contributions to the Classification of Capsicum annuum L. and Capsicum frutescens L. in West Africa Using Morphological Traits
Authors: OLATUNJI Tomi Lois , AFOLAYAN Anthony Jide
Published: December 2018

In West Africa, the genus Capsicum is represented by two cultivated species namely C. frutescens and C. annuum with different varieties. However, the taxonomic identity of these two species has been unresolved because they are morphologically related. There has been considerable debate on their status as two separate species or just varieties of one species. The  study  was  aimed  at  assessing  the   variability  and  relatedness  among  the four varieties of the two closely related  Capsicum species in West Africa. The varieties used in this study are C. annuum var. abbreviatum, C. annuum var. acuminatum, C. annuum var. grossum and C. frutescens var. baccatum. The varieties were morphologically characterized using 80 quantitative and qualitative standard descriptors from seedling emergence to plant maturity. Data collected were subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS statistical package, descriptive statistics and cluster analysis. The results revealed overlapping similarities in the morphology of the four varieties. Classification analysis based on data collected showed two distinct clusters by grouping varieties sharing close phenotypic similarities into distinct cluster. The differences observed among the varieties majorly in flower and fruit traits do not provide enough evidence to conceive that the collections are two separate species. Our results therefore support the inclusion of C. frutescens var. baccatum as a variety of C. annuum. Additional comparative molecular profiling is needed to fully understand the phylogenetic relationship among the cultivated Capsicum species in this part of the world.
BBX32 Interacts with AGL24 Involved in Flowering Time Control in Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis)
Authors: MA Guan-Peng , ZHAO Da-Qin , WANG Tian-Wen , ZHOU Lin-Bi , LI Gui-Lian
Published: December 2018

B-box (BBX) zinc finger proteins play critical roles in both vegetative and reproductive development in plants. Many BBX proteins have been identified in Arabidopsis thaliana as floral transition regulatory factors, such as CO, BBX7 (COL9), BBX19, and BBX32. BBX32 is involved in flowering time control through repression of COL3 in Arabidopsis thaliana, but it is still elusive that whether and how BBX32 directly interacts with flowering signal integrators of AGAMOUS-LIKE 24 (AGL24) and SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS 1 (SOC1) in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L. ssp. pekinensis) or other plants. In this study, B-box-32(BBX32), a transcription factor in this family with one B-box motif was cloned from B. rapa, acted as a circadian clock protein, showing expression changes during the circadian period. Additional experiments using GST pull-down and yeast two-hybrid assays indicated that BrBBX32 interacts with BrAGL24 and does not interact with BrSOC1, while BrAGL24 does interact with BrSOC1. To investigate the domains involved in these protein-protein interactions, we tested three regions of BrBBX32. Only the N-terminus interacted with BrAGL24, indicating that the B-box domain may be the key region for protein interaction. Based on these data, we propose that BrBBX32 may act in the circadian clock pathway and relate to the mechanism of flowering time regulation by binding to BrAGL24 through the B-box domain. This study will provide valuable information for unraveling the molecular regulatory mechanisms of BrBBX32 in flowering time of B. rapa.
Comparison of Chemical Composition and Colour Parameters of Different Mentha Genus Plants Grown under Organic Conditions
Authors: TARASEVIČIENĖ Živilė , VELIČKA Aloyzas , JARIENĖ Elvyra , PAULAUSKIENĖ Aurelija , KIELTYKA-DADASIEWICZ Anna , SAWICKA Barbara , GAJEWSKI Marek
Published: December 2018

Mentha species are one of the world oldest and popular herbs, that are used in cosmetic and food industry, as well as tea for their medical properties. Due the consumer perception of ecological production and aromatic plants production waste utilization the objective of this work was to determine differences in chemical content and colour among different varieties and parts of Mentha plants ecologically grown in Lithuania. In mint leaves there were determined: content of essential oils, dry matter, soluble solids, ascorbic acid, crude fibre, crude ash, photosynthetic pigments and colour CIE L*a*b* parameters. In the case of mint plants stems, the same analyses were performed except ascorbic acid, soluble solids and colour. The highest content of essential oils were found in Mentha spicata L. ‘Moroccan’ and Mentha piperita L. ‘Glacialis’ leaves, while the least in Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. ‘Variegata’. The content of essential oils in the stems was minor and did not depend on mint variety. Plant parts differ significantly in respect of chemical composition. Amount of dry matter in mint leaves and stems was very similar, while crude ash in the leaves was twice higher than in the stems. Content of crude fibre in the leaves did not differ significantly in all investigated varieties and was 3.6 times lower comparing with the stems. Average ratio of chlorophyll a to b in the leaves was equal to 2.78, while in stems equal to 2.83. The lightest was Mentha suaveolens ‘Variegata’, the darkest Mentha spicata L. ‘Moroccan’ and the greenest Mentha piperita L. ‘Swiss’ leaves. Mints and their parts differ in chemical content and can have widespread usage not only for production of high-value natural products but in addition as alternative fibrous biomass plants.
Extracts of Cherry and Sweet Cherry Fruit as Active Ingredients of Body Wash Formulations
Authors: NIZIOŁ-ŁUKASZEWSKA Zofia
Published: December 2018

As a response to the growing demand of consumers for active, natural ingredients of cosmetic preparations, manufacturers are looking for new raw materials, rich in compounds with high antioxidative activity. In this research an attempt were made to evaluate the content of phenolic compounds, L-ascorbic acid and the antioxidant potential (DPPH•, ABTS•+ method) of aqueous and aqueous-glycerine extracts from cherry (Prunus avium L), and sweet cherry (Prunus cerasus L.). The next stage of this work was the application of analysed extracts to cleaning preparations. The best antioxidant properties were demonstrated for the aqueous-glycerine extract of sweet cherry fruit, which also was exhibit the highest phenol and L-ascorbic acid content. After application of analysed extract aqueous-glycerine extract of sweet cherry fruit to the gel, it was showed high foam stability. The model formulations enriched with the aqueous extracts of cherries and sweet cherries had a higher foaming ability, compared to the formulations containing the aqueous-glycerine extracts. The addition of both cherry and sweet cherry fruit extracts to the formulations resulted in a decrease in viscosity, in comparison with the baseline sample. The highest decline in viscosity (15% in relation to the baseline sample) was noted for the aqueous extract of sweet cherry fruit. None of model formulations, containing analysed extracts, did not induce skin lesions in the epidermal patch tests. The results indicate that the extracts can be used as a valuable cosmetic raw material, which have strong antioxidant ability and at the same time did not adversely affecting the usable properties of the washing gel.
Genetic Study of Native Grapevine Varieties of Northern, Western and Central Greece with the Use of Ampelographic and Molecular Methods
Authors: BINIARI Katerina , STAVRAKAKI Maritina
Published: December 2018

The aim of this study was the identification and discrimination of 49 grapevine varieties that are cultivated in northern, western and central Greece with the use of the ampelographic description and the molecular method RAPD. The grapevine varieties were located in their cultivation centers and the studied samples were collected from productive vineyards of these regions. For the ampelographic description, 22 ampelographic characters were used following a list of descriptors developed by the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV), while for the molecular analysis 8 of the most polymorphic primers were used. The results showed that: (a) there is high degree of genetic heterogeneity among most of the varieties studied, (b) grapevine varieties ‘Xinomavro’ and ‘Zalovitiko’ exhibited identity with both methods used, therefore the latter constitutes a synonym/clone of the former, (c) high degree of genetic similarity was recorded between cv ‘Stavroto’ and ‘Abelakiotiko’, a result enhancing the view that they constitute biotypes/clones of an original/parent variety and originated through the accumulation of mutations, (d) a previous hypothesis is confirmed. This hypothesis states that in the vineyards of northern Greece, different varieties of Vitis vinifera L. as well as hybrids (direct producers) were imported. Names/synonyms were given to these imported varieties and hybrids related to their place of origin or the morphological traits of the grape/berries implying identity among them (‘Mavroudi’, ‘Voulgariko’, ‘Voulgaroudia’, ‘Vapsa’ etc.), while they are different varieties, (e) the combination of the ampelographic description and the molecular method RAPD is very effective in the identification and discrimination of grapevine cultivars.
Assessment of Chemical and Antioxidant Properties of Fresh and Dried Rosehip (Rosa canina L.)
Authors: PAUNOVIĆ Dragana , KALUŠEVIĆ Ana , PETROVIĆ Tanja , UROŠEVIĆ Tijana , DJINOVIĆ Dušica , NEDOVIĆ Viktor , POPOVIĆ-DJORDJEVIĆ Jelena
Published: December 2018

This work aimed to evaluate the nutritional and functional properties of rosehip from Serbia. In respect to that, the content of twenty-three elements in the rosehip along with the soil were determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy and the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) was calculated. The total dry matter, water activity, and the contents of vitamin C, total phenolics and flavonoids were determined. The antioxidant ability of fresh and dried samples was evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. The obtained extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection and gas chromatography – mass spectrometry techniques. In addition, assessment of the impact of thermal treatment on the chemical composition of rosehip was observed. The study revealed that the most abundant elements in rosehip were K, Ca, Mg, P and S with 2963.0, 1820.0, 709.0, 495.0 and 289.8 mg/kg, respectively. The highest BAF values in the system rosehip/soil were for S, K and P. Contents of ascorbic acid, total phenolics, total flavonoids and the antioxidant activity were reduced after the drying process by 56.3%, 20.4%, 31.3%, 21.9%, respectively. Nevertheless, dried rosehip was still a rich source of bioactive compounds with significant antioxidant activity. The presented results support traditional use of rosehip as food with health and nutritional benefits.
Determination of the Effect of Humic Acid on Growth and Development Parameters of Parsley (Petroselinum sativum Hoffm.) Grown in Boron Soil
Authors: TURSUN Tuncay , AKINCI Sener , BOZKURT Esin
Published: December 2018

Boron is an important micronutrient, required for all plant growth, and critical for high yield and quality of crops. The aim of the present research was to determine the effects of boron on pot-grown parsley (Petroselinum sativum Hoffm.). The experimental design consisted of four treatments using Hoagland-Arnon (1950) nutrient solutions with two different boron concentrations (B1 - 15 ppm and B2 - 150 ppm), each with and without 10 ml humic acid addition (HB1 and HB2), and controls with full strength Hoagland-Arnon solutions. Growth analyses of the parsley revealed that 15 ppm boron application caused an increase in root length leaf fresh and dry weight root fresh and dry weight and leaf area compared to control values. 150 ppm B (B2) concentration decreased all growth parameters compared to controls. The two humic acid treatments (HB1 and HB2) did not increase any of those growth parameters either in controls (C) or in the two boron (B1 and B2) concentrations. Analysis by (ICP-MS) revealed that B content in the leaves increased gradually in B1 and B2, as well as in both humic treatments where in HB2 it increased to 99.38% compared to B1. In the leaves, Mn, Zn and Fe contents behaved the same as B, increasing in all treatments, with the amounts in HB2 being significantly greater than in C, B1 and B2 leaves.
Effects of Nitrogen and Potassium Fertilization on Nutrient Content and Quality Attributes of Sweet Cherry Fruits
Authors: UCGUN Kadir
Published: December 2018

Fertilizers are commonly applied to improve the yield and quality in orchards. But unbalanced fertilization negatively affects the nutrient contents of the fruits. Fruits with low energy and high mineral and vitamin contents are significant foods for human nutrition and human health. This study was carried out with ‘0900 Ziraat’ sweet cherry cultivar grafted on ‘Gisela 5’ rootstock in two consecutive years. The effects of different nitrogen (N) and Potassium (K) doses on nutrient content of fruits were investigated. Different doses of N (0, 50, 125 and 250 g N tree-1) and K (0, 50, 125 and 250 g K2O tree-1) were applied beneath the tree canopy in 6 replications and 1 tree in every replication in two consecutive years. Fruit samples were harvested from each tree and fruit colour, firmness, cracking index and nutrient contents (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn and B) were determined. Fruit N content, N:K ratio, L*, a*, C* and firmness values increased with increasing N doses. While K fertilization did not have significant effects on K content and N:K ratio, it negatively influenced the N content of the fruits. It was concluded that N fertilization directly influenced fruit quality attributes, but K fertilization did not have any significant effects on fruit quality parameters.
Allelopathic Effects of Water Extracts of Maize Leaf on Three Chinese Herbal Medicinal Plants
Authors: PENG Xiaobang
Published: December 2018

Plants generate various secondary metabolites named as allelochemicals that can be release into the environment and influence the growth and development of other plants or the same plant. The potential allelopathic effect of maize (Zea mays L.) on seed germination, seedling growth and physiology was investigated with three medicinal plants (Platycodon grandiflorum A.DC, Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge) with different concentrations (0, 0.5%, 1.0%, 2.5%, 5.0%, 10.0%). Low concentrations (0.5%, 1.0%) of maize leaf aqueous extract stimulated the germination and seedling growth (root length, shoot height, fresh weight) of all receptor plants significantly. With the concentration of the aqueous extract increased, the stimulating effects gradually decreased, and even changed into inhibited. The aqueous leachate of maize leaves exerted different allelopathic effects on physiology of different test medicinal plants. For Platycodon grandiflorum A.DC, there was no significant difference in photosynthesis rate at all the tested concentration compared with control. In Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi the lower concentration (0.5%, 1.0%, 2.5%) of leachates stimulated the net photosynthesis rate, yet the higher concentration (5.0%, 10.0%) decreased the net photosynthesis rate, and all the tested concentration have inhibited effects on Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge and decreased its net photosynthesis rate. However, the content of soluble sugar and soluble protein of all receptor plants were stimulated by low concentrations (0.5%, 1.0%, 2.5%) of maize leaf aqueous extract. Allelopathy can affect the seed germination, early seedling growth and physiology of three medicinal plants.
Effect of Environmentally Friendly Nutrition Supply on Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana B.) Production
Authors: TAKÁCS-HÁJOS Mária , RUBÓCZKI Tímea , SZABÓ Fruzsina M. , KISS Annamária
Published: December 2018

The experiment was carried out on raised bed (3 rows) with 33 cm row distance and 25 cm between the plants and 24 plant m-2 density. The plantation was prepared on 28 May, 2015 with about 10 cm high transplants. The soil surface was mulched with wooden chips (5 cm layer). The aim was to evaluate the environmentally friendly fertilizers (Dudarit - 150 g m-2, Sprintalga – 0.04% concentration four times 200 mL per plant). During the vegetation period pruning was applied at 30 cm plant height at the 4th double leaf from the soil surface and two cuttings (13 Aug and 29 Sept). By evaluating the effect of treatment on the leaf surface and chlorophyll content, statistically significant results were not found. Higher SPAD (relative chlorophyll content) value was measured in the middle of the growing period compared to the end of the vegetation when the plants were older and the temperature started to decrease. The positive effect of Dudarit and Sprintalga was clear on the plant height and biomass production. The dried herb yield was higher (4 kg m-2) on treated plots comparing to control (3 kg m-2). Although increased photosynthetic intensity was not detected on treated plots, the plantation showed greater vitality and side shoot improvement to control plots. Under our circumstances, the environmentally friendly fertilization (Dudarit and Sprintalga) has increased the dried leaves yield with 20% by similar stevioside and rebaudioside-A content.
Assessment of Some Sweet Cherry Cultivars in Comparison with Their Genitors under the Conditions of the North-Eastern Area of Romania
Authors: IUREA Elena , SIRBU Sorina , CORNEANU Margareta , BUTAC Mădălina , TITIRICĂ Irina , MILITARU Mădălina
Published: December 2018

Starting with 1981, the objectives of the breeding programmes in the Research Station for Fruit Growing (RSFG) Iaşi, Romania, took into consideration the on-going improvement of the sweet cherry assortment with cultivars having fruit-bearing precocity, with great productions, self-fertile, with decreased trees’ vigour, crown compactness, resistant to anthracnose, monilia, frost and fruit’s cracking, flowering lateness, superior quality of the fruits and ripening time at the extremities of the sweet cherries’ maturation season. As a result of the breeding programmes that took place up till present at RSFG Iaşi, 28 new sweet cherry cultivars, obtained through controlled hybridization, free pollination and conservative clonal selection, were homologated during 1994-2017. The present results refer to a study led during 2015-2017, having as biological material nine sweet cherry cultivars (‘Cetăţuia’, ‘Cătălina’, ‘Golia’, ‘Bucium’, ‘Ştefan’, ‘Iaşirom’, ‘Oana’, ‘Radu’ and ‘Ludovan’) obtained through controlled hybridization. The comparision of the cultivars has been performed versus their genitors ‘Van’ (♀) and ‘Boambe de Cotnari’(♂). There have been taken observations and determinations concerning the trees’ vigour, resistance to frost and anthracnosis, the main growing and fructification phenophases, physical and chemical treats of the fruit. The highest values regarding fruit’s weight (7.5-8.9 g) have been recorded for the ‘Ludovan’, ‘Bucium’, ‘Ştefan’, ‘Iaşirom’ and ‘Golia’ cultivars, while the values of the soluble substance content have been between 15.20-19.25 °Brix, the titratable acidity has been between 0.455-0.764 g malic acid 100 mL-1 of fresh juice and the total content of polyphenols has recorded values between 97.41-574.95 mg GAE 100 mL-1 of fresh juice. The hybridization between ‘Van’ and ‘Boambe de Cotnari’ has allowed the obtaining of valuable cultivars, that got remarked by earliness (‘Cetăţuia’, ‘Cătălina’), decreased trees’ vigour (‘Ştefan’, ‘Golia’), particular quality of the fruits (‘Ludovan’, ‘Iaşirom’, ‘Golia’, ‘Bucium’, ‘Ştefan’, ‘Oana’, ‘Radu’) and resistance to diseases and frost (‘Bucium’, ‘Iaşirom’).
Content of Capsaicinoids and Physicochemical Characteristics of Manzano Hot Pepper Grown in Greenhouse
Authors: PÉREZ-GRAJALES Mario , MARTÍNEZ-DAMIÁN Maria Teresa , CRUZ-ALVAREZ Oscar , POTRERO-ANDRADE Sandra Miryam , PEÑA-LOMELÍ Aureliano , GONZÁLEZ-HERNÁNDEZ Victor Arturo , VILLEGAS-MONTER Angel
Published: December 2018

The hotness of the chili fruit (Capsicum spp.) is mainly due to the presence of capsaicinoids (capsaicin, nordihydrocapsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin). The aim of the present research was to evaluate the content of capsaicinoids and characteristics of physicochemical quality in fruits of manzano hot pepper grown in the greenhouse. The experimental design used was completely randomized with 3 and 4 replications. The parameters evaluated were total capsaicinoids, vitamin C, total carotenoids (TC), total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity, pH, firmness and color of the fruit. Among the hybrids with the highest content of total capsaicinoids and vitamin C, L4XL8 and L5XL7 (27 371 and 21 700 SHU, respectively) stand out as well as L2XL5 with 809.35 mg 100 g-1. On the other hand, L2XL3 stood out for its TC content (1 515.98 μg 100 g-1); L2XL7 and L4Xl7 stood out for the concentration of TSS, maintaining the acidity level without major changes. Additionally, L7XL8 was a material that was characterized to have fruits with greater firmness (2.31 N) and chromaticity of color (intense yellow) of 72.96. Among the evaluated hybrids, there are materials that presented fruits with physical and chemical characteristics of quality, which could be considered important from the commercial point of view or genetic improvement.
DNA Barcoding in Selected Species and Subspecies of Rye (Secale) Using Three Chloroplast Loci (matK, rbcL, trnH-psbA)
Authors: SKUZA Lidia , SZUĆKO Izabela , FILIP Ewa , ADAMCZYK Anastazja
Published: December 2018

DNA barcoding is a relatively new method of identifying plant species using short sequences of chloroplast DNA. Although there is a large number of studies using barcoding on various plant species, there are no such studies in the genus Secale. In this study the plant material consisted of 10 cultivated and non-cultivated species and subspecies of rye genus. Three chloroplast DNA regions (rbcL, matK, trnH-psbA) were tested for their suitability as DNA barcoding regions. Universal primers were used, and sequenced products were analyzed using Neighbor Joining and the Maximum Likelihood in the MEGA 7.1 program. We did not observe high variability in nucleotide sequences within the matK and rbcL regions. Only 2.2% of the sequences showed polymorphism in the rbcL region, while 6.5% in the matK region. The most variable trnH-psbA (15.6%) intergenic region was the most useful for rye barcoding. Individual application of the studied regions did not provide the expected results. None of the regions used in the study allowed the division of rye species and subspecies according to the adopted classification of the genus Secale. The results confirm that the use of matK and rbcL is insufficient for DNA barcoding in rye species, and better discrimination within the genus Secale can be obtained only in combination with the non-coding trnH-psbA sequence. Our results also indicate the necessity of using a different region. All of the new sequences have been deposited in Genbank.
Influence of Different Encapsulation Types of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Physiological Adaptation and Growth Promotion of Maize (Zea mays L.) Subjected to Water Deficit
Authors: YOOYONGWECH Suravoot , CHA-UM Suriyan , TISARUM Rujira , THERAWITAYA Cattarin , SAMPHUMPHUNG Thapanee , AUMTONG Supatida , KINGKAEW Jeerun , PHISALAPHONG Muenduen
Published: December 2018

Under drought environment, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) can serve as a long-term biofertilizer to sustain the water and nutrient availability for the host plants. A study was conducted to check the effect of AMF and the encapsulations of the AMF and an organic fertilizer (Fer) with alginate (Al-FA) and agar-agar (Ag-FA) on maize (Zea mays L.) in response to water deficit conditions. The maximum quantum efficiency of PS II (Fv/Fm) of the maize inoculated with Al-FA and Ag-FA under the water deficit was recorded to be 0.70 and 0.50, respectively. Shoot and root water content of the Al-FA plants were found to be maintained under the water deficit and were better than Ag-FA. Besides, phosphorus content in the root tissues of the Al-FA plants grown under the water deficit stress was 1.56-folds greater than in the Ag-FA plants, thereby promoting the photosynthetic abilities and plant height in the former case. The study indicated that the Al-FA type of encapsulation may perform better than the Ag-FA in case of maize plants, leading to its better development under water limited conditions.