bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
STUDY OF THE INFLUENCE OF SAVINASE®EVITY16L ENZYME ON BIOFILMS FORMATION OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS ON STAINLESS STEEL WITH DIFFERENT ROUGHNESS
Authors: Kukhtyn Mykola , Kravcheniuk Khrystyna , Beyko Ludmila , Horiuk Yulia , Skliar Oleksandr , Kernychnyi Serhii
Published: April 2019

Microbial films formation on the dairy equipment creates a serious problem, because they are difficult to eliminate by washing and disinfecting means that results in contaminating dairy products by microorganisms. The aim of the work was to study the influence of Savinase®Evity 16L proteolytic enzyme on the process of destructing biofilms, formed by Staphylococcus aureus on stainless steel with different surface roughness.

It has been established, that surface roughness of stainless steel influences the process of Savinase®Evity 16L enzyme penetration in a hollow and prevents the destruction of the biofilm matrix, created by Staphylococcus aureus.

It has been revealed, that after the influence of a proteolytic enzyme on Staphylococcus aureus biofilms, created on steel with roughness 0,16±0,018 mcm, the density decreased in 4,0 times (р≤0,05), comparing with a condition before processing. At roughness 0,63±0,087 mcm the density of formed biofilms decreased at the effect of Savinase®Evity 16L in 3,3times (р≤0,05) and the biofilm was characterized as a weak one. At the same time at stainless steel surfaces with roughness 2,68–0,95mcm, the density of biofilms decreased in 2,3–2,1times (р≤0,05), comparing with a condition before processing, and they were characterized as ones of the middle density. It has been also revealed, that the degradation intensity of biofilms under the influence of Savinase®Evity 16L enzyme at roughness 2,68–0,95 mcm was 1,7–1,9 times (р≤0,05) lower than at the surface with roughness 0,16±0,018 mcm.

So, the revealed degradation features of a biofilm, created by Staphylococcus aureus at surfaces of stainless steel of different roughness at the influence of Savinase®Evity 16L proteolytic enzyme give a possibility to substantiate the addition of proteolytic enzymes to the composition of washing means for dairy production. It is also offered to process the surface to the roughness no more than 0,63 mcm for producing food steel for raising the effectiveness of biofilms destruction by enzymes and for the sanitary processing.
INVESTIGATION OF USING NATURAL AROMATIZERS OF LEMON ESSENTIAL OIL IN AYURVEDIC CULINARY
Authors: Frolova Natalya , Sуlka Irуna , Nemirich Aleksandra , Kuzmin Oleg
Published: April 2019

There was considered a possibility of using natural aromatizers in ayurvedic culinary, namely fractions that act as a product of lemon essential oil. There was presented the component ratio and characteristic of a fragrance of a terpene fraction and terpenoid one, obtained by the gas-chromatographic analysis on a nozzle column with a stable dynonyl phthalate fraction by the standard method.

A classic salad sauce “Vinaigrette” was chosen as a research subject. The introduction of natural aromatizers was conducted at the final stage of mixing olive oil and other ingredients of the dish. The optimal amount of aromatizers was determined empirically by sensor analysis results. During the studies, it has been established, that a fraction of lemon essential oil No. 1 must be introduced in amount 0,1 g for 1000 g of the ready product, a fraction of lemon essential oil No. 2 – 0,125 g for 1000 g of the ready product.

As far as terpenes and terpenoids of lemon essential oil are natural substances of the initial raw material, stimulating food juices extraction, it allows to state about the activation of so-called “digestive fire” at using the aromatized sauce.
Evaluating CROPGRO‐Soybean Performance for Use in Climate Impact Studies
Authors: Carbone Gregory J. , Mearns Linda O. , Mavromatis Theodoros , Sadler E. John , Stooksbury David
Published: April 2019

Researchers frequently use crop simulation models to estimate the impacts of climate change on agricultural production. While most models used for this purpose have been validated thoroughly at the research plot level, few studies have evaluated them for multiple years and sites and with inputs commonly used in climate impact studies. Here, we examine how well CROPGRO‐Soybean performs across space and time using cultivar coefficients provided with the model, estimates of solar radiation, and soil inputs that were estimated from readily available soil surveys. Modeled yield for three maturity groups was compared with that observed from 8 to 23 yr at eight agricultural experiment stations in the southeastern United States. The model was evaluated with respect to its ability to replicate the mean and standard deviation of observed yield. The mean squared deviation (MSD), weighted according to the number of years at each station, was 0.42 (Mg ha−1)2. The model simulated mean yield and the magnitude of interannual yield variability very well. The component of MSD related to the pattern of interannual variability contributed most to MSD. Our results support the use of crop models in studies that require accurate simulation of the temporal mean and variance of yields.
Spatial–Temporal Analysis of Yield and Soil Factors in Two Four‐Crop–Rotation Fields in the Sacramento Valley, California
Authors: Perez‐Quezada J. F. , Pettygrove G. S. , Plant R. E.
Published: April 2019

Data were analyzed from two 30‐ha laser‐leveled commercial fields in the Sacramento Valley, California, for crops grown between 1995 and 1999. Crops were wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.), and corn (Zea mays L.). One of the fields had a wheat–tomato–bean–sunflower rotation while the other had a wheat–tomato–sunflower–corn rotation during the same period. Yield data were collected with a commercial yield monitor, except for tomato yield data, which were collected with an experimental yield monitor. After georeferencing, interpolation, and correction of yield‐monitored data, analysis was performed on grid cells representing an area of 20‐m square. Soil cores were extracted from the fields on a 60‐m square grid. Yield and sand content were both separated into large‐ and small‐scale components by median polish. Persistent large‐scale trends in yield, which were consistent with large‐scale trends in sand content, were observed. Six 2‐yr comparisons via linear regression were performed in each field. Yield of one crop was a poor predictor of yield of another crop grown in another year, but after standardizing and averaging the yields, areas with the same average performance tended to be clustered together spatially. The standardized yields were also analyzed using K‐means clustering. This provided a different spatial configuration of clusters from that of the standardized average but also a high level of spatial autocorrelation, which shows that both methods may be helpful in delineating management zones at the scale normally used by growers.
Sprinkler‐Induced Flower Losses and Yield Reductions in Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)
Authors: Burke John J.
Published: April 2019

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) pollen is highly sensitive to water, rupturing within 1 to 2 min of contact. Flowers sprayed with known volumes of water showed that a single spray with 1 mL of water reduced seed set by 55%. Additional spray applications resulted in further losses and ultimately flower shedding. Field studies in 2000 and 2001 used a center pivot equipped with sprinklers and drag socks to determine the effect of timing and water application methods on fruit losses. Treatments included different application times (0800 to 1000 h, 1000 to 1200 h, 1200 to 1400 h, and 1400 to 1600 h) with 77 m3 of water. The plots were irrigated eight times from 1 Aug. to 1 Sept. 2000 and 11 times from 10 July to 21 Aug. 2001. Flowers were tagged before irrigation and tracked throughout the season. No significant differences in fruit losses were observed in the 0800‐ to 1000‐h treatment; however, fruit losses progressively increased under the sprinkler treatments compared with the drag sock treatments as the day progressed. Maximum fruit losses occurred in the 1400‐ to 1600‐h treatments. The time course of sprinkler‐induced fruit losses tracked the opening of the flower and dehiscence of the pollen. Evaluation of seasonal lint yields showed a 21% reduction in 2000 and 11% yield reduction in 2001 under sprinkler irrigation compared with drag sock irrigation. These results emphasize the need to use production practices that limit water contact with open cotton flowers.
Comparing many-body approaches against the helium atom exact solution
Authors: Li Jing , Drummond N. D. , Schuck Peter , Olevano Valerio
Published: April 2019

Over time, many different theories and approaches have been developed
to tackle the many-body problem in quantum chemistry, condensed-matter
physics, and nuclear physics. Here we use the helium atom, a real system
rather than a model, and we use the exact solution of its Schrödinger
equation as a benchmark for comparison between methods. We present new
results beyond the random-phase approximation (RPA) from a renormalized
RPA (r-RPA) in the framework of the self-consistent RPA (SCRPA)
originally developed in nuclear physics, and compare them with various
other approaches like configuration interaction (CI), quantum Monte
Carlo (QMC), time-dependent density-functional theory (TDDFT), and the
Bethe-Salpeter equation on top of the \boldsymbol{GW}𝐆𝐖
approximation. Most of the calculations are consistently done on the
same footing, e.g. using the same basis set, in an effort for a most
faithful comparison between methods.
El capital estructural como generador de valor financiero en las pymes
Authors: De Freitas Yannine , Pérez Hasbun Deisy del Carmen , Vera Uzcategui Ana María
Published: April 2019

En la era del conocimiento, las organizaciones se basan en recursos intangibles claves para su desarrollo, por lo que es importante establecer en las pequeñas y medianas empresas (pymes), estrategias para generar valor financiero desde su capital estructural. La investigación se basó en el estudio de los constructos teóricos de Mantilla (2004), bajo un enfoque epistemológico cuantitativo, empirista, también llamado paradigma positivista aplicativo, con un diseño transaccional, no experimental y de campo, considerando para el estudio la población de las pymes del municipio Carirubana del estado Falcón, Venezuela, con una muestra de cuatrocientas ochenta y ocho (488) empresas encuestadas. Para el análisis e interpretación de resultados se utilizó la estadística descriptiva; fueron expuestos mediante tablas que reflejan una interacción del capital humano con el estructural, que desarrolla y hace posible lograr los objetivos a través del uso de herramientas organizacionales y la toma de decisiones individuales. Aunque las empresas refieren conocer los componentes del capital estructural, existe poca precisión para identificarlos en estas mismas, tal es el caso de la propiedad intelectual, presente en las organizaciones, lo cual, denota algunas debilidades relacionadas con los secretos comerciales, las marcas registradas y de servicios, elementos que deben ser considerados, cuando las Pymes procuren organizarse y administrar su conocimiento y recursos a través de pautas o guías que les permitan trazar el camino para reconocer al capital intelectual.
Actualidad socioeconómica del Oriente Antioqueño y su proyección de crecimiento articulado con el papel de la Universidad de Antioquia seccional Oriente Antioqueño
Authors: Marulanda Marín Diana Patricia , Martínez Herrera José Alfredo
Published: April 2019

El siguiente texto busca hacer un análisis de las tendencias socioeconómicas recientes de la subregión del Oriente, de acuerdo con su base económica y sus recursos disponibles, las condiciones de vida de sus habitantes, su infraestructura y los servicios con que cuenta; así mismo, de la articulación que ha tenido la región con algunos entes territoriales como lo es la Universidad de Antioquia.

Este escrito es un insumo para que los gobiernos locales y la Universidad de Antioquia sigan trabajando de manera conjunta con el sector productivo, y determinen hacia qué sectores apuntar y cómo se van a orientar los esfuerzos públicos y privados para fortalecer los indicadores de competitividad de la región.

Por lo anterior, en las secciones subsiguientes se presenta un análisis de los informes presentados en el Anuario Estadístico de Antioquia para los años 2015 a 2017 (Gobernación de Antioquia 2015–2017) referidos a la subregión del Oriente, con el fin de realizar un diagnóstico socioeconómico de la región y con ello, plasmar, hacia dónde deben apuntarle las capacidades de la región.

El análisis se basa en la revisión de las cifras del Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE, 2017), del DAP–Departamento Nacional de Planeación 2017, en especial se han tomado los datos de la información oficial de la Gobernación de Antioquia (Anuario Estadístico de Antioquia para los años 2015 a 2017), e informes de la Cámara de Comercio del Oriente Antioqueño – CCOA del año 2016.
Force majeure events and stock market reactions in Ukraine
Authors: Maria Caporale Guglielmo , Plastun Alex , Makarenko Inna
Published: April 2019

This paper examines reactions in the Ukrainian stock market to force majeure events, which are divided into four groups: economic force majeure, social force majeure, terrorist acts, natural and technological disasters. More specifically, using daily data for the main Ukrainian stock market index (namely PFTS) over the period from January 1, to December 31, 2018 this study investigates whether or not force majeure events create (temporary) inefficiencies and there exist profitable trading strategies based on exploiting them. For this purpose, cumulative abnormal returns and trading simulation approaches are used in addition to Student’s t-tests. The results suggest that the Ukrainian stock market absorbs new information rather fast. Negative returns in most cases are observed only on the day of the event. The only exception is technological disasters, the market needing up to ten days to react fully in this case. Despite the presence of a detectable pattern in price behavior after force majeure events (namely, a price decrease on the day of the event) no profitable trading strategies based on it are found as their outcomes do not differ from those generated by random trading.
Geochemical controls on the distribution of radio-trace elements in groundwater resources of Shir-Kuh granitoid aquifer, central Iran
Authors: Yazdizadeh Bahareh , Jafari Hadi , Bagheri Rahim
Published: April 2019

Granitic groundwaters are important resources in arid regions. However, they are not always pure due to having appreciable amounts of trace elements. The present study was conducted to investigate chemical compositions for finding controls on distribution of heavy metals and natural radioelements (U and Th) in groundwater resources of Shir-Kuh granitoid aquifer (SGA), central Iran. Thirty water samples were collected and analyzed for major and trace elements. The average values of electrical conductivity (EC) and pH are 624 μs/cm and 7.5, respectively. The dominant groundwater type is Ca-HCO3, as a result of the calcite dissolution and biotite weathering. Principal component analysis in support of mass balance studies recognizes dissolution of fracture-filling sediments and rock mineral weathering as the main factors enhancing major ions in SGA. These processes also release trace elements in decreasing order of Sr > Ba > Sn > W > Cu > U > Zn > Th. Weathering of biotite enclosing accessory minerals of monazite and zircon is introduced as the main source of radio-trace elements in SGA. Health concerns are currently related to U in drinking groundwater, as the maximum concentration (13.6 μg/L) approaches the Iranian drinking standard of 15 μg/L, in response to the oxidizing nature of the groundwater, calcite dissolution-related mobilization, and the degree of the water–rock interactions.
The state of cachexia in immunocompromised patients. View from the nurse. Review of own experience
Authors: Leshchuk N. P. , Pimenova O. V. , Shamsutdinova M. S. , Abrosimov A. B. , Shelikhov L. N.
Published: April 2019

Introduction. Today, the problem of nutritional deficiency (ND) in children undergoing conditioning therapy and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) remains relevant. The main goal for success is the interaction of doctors of various specialties, nurses and clinical psychologists. In the treatment process, a nurse occupies one of the key places; the process of passing nutritional support and returning to normal nutritional status depend on her knowledge, qualifications and skills. Materials and methods. Thirty-eight immunocompromised patients were included in the study (patients of the HSCT unit who received conditioning therapy). According to nutritional status: in 18 patients, ND was noted on day –1 before HSCT, in 10 patients, ND was noted on + 5–7th days after HSCT, and in 10 children, normal nutritional status remained. In terms of the incidence of adverse complications of chemotherapy (CT): nausea, vomiting, mucositis, and diarrhea were noted mainly in the age group up to 3 years; the presence of pain is more pronounced in children from 3 to 10 years; A change in the taste of the food intake was more present in the age group from 10 to 18 years. Results. The majority of patients (75 %) who received conditioning therapy and after HSCT had ND. Between the day +1 and + 7th day, mixed nutritional support was assigned after the HSCT. With the development of complications after chemotherapy, recommendations and measures were developed to reduce the effects of the treatment. Findings. Due to screening for ND and a multidisciplinary approach, nutritional support is a necessary component when conducting various types of antitumor treatment, which in turn improves the results of treatment and the quality of life of patients. On the part of the nursing staff, recommendations on the management of patients with ND and direct training of their legal representatives were actively applied.
Late effects of antitumor treatment on the nervous system
Authors: Muftakhova G. M. , Merishavyan O. B.
Published: April 2019

This article is devoted to the analysis of problems related to the state of the nervous system in patients who have survived malignant neoplasm in childhood. The main diseases and pathological conditions that can develop in this population are considered. The risks of the development of pathological changes in the nervous system, treatment and prevention are described. Separately analyzed issues of peripheral neuropathy, Raynaud’s syndrome, chronic pain.
MUC1 Story: Great Expectations, Disappointments and the Renaissance
Authors: Syrkina Marina S. , Vassetzky Yegor S. , Rubtsov Mikhail A.
Published: April 2019

In the course of studying human mucin MUC1, the attitude towards this molecule has been changing time and again. Initially, the list of presumable functions of MUC1 was restricted to protecting and lubricating epithelium. To date, it is assumed to play an important role in cell signaling as well as in all stages of oncogenesis, from malignant cell transformation to tumor dissemination. The story of MUC1 is full of hopes and disappointments. However, the scientific interest to MUC1 has never waned, and the more profoundly it has been investigated, the clearer its hidden potential turned to be disclosed. The therapeutic potential of mucin MUC1 has already been noted by various scientific groups at the early stages of research. Over forty years ago, the first insights into MUC1 functions became a strong ground for considering this molecule as potential target for anticancer therapy. Therefore, this direction of research has always been of particular interest and practical importance. More than 200 papers on MUC1 were published in 2016; the majority of them are dedicated to MUC1-related anticancer diagnostics and therapeutics. Here we review the history of MUC1 studies from the very first attempts to reveal its functions to the ongoing renaissance.
Antibody Fragments as Potential Biopharmaceuticals for Cancer Therapy: Success and Limitations
Authors: Kholodenko Roman V. , Kalinovsky Daniel V. , Doronin Igor I. , Ponomarev Eugene D. , Kholodenko Irina V.
Published: April 2019

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are an important class of therapeutic agents approved for the therapy of many types of malignancies. However, in certain cases applications of conventional mAbs have several limitations in anticancer immunotherapy. These limitations include insufficient efficacy and adverse effects. The antigen-binding fragments of antibodies have a considerable potential to overcome the disadvantages of conventional mAbs, such as poor penetration into solid tumors and Fc-mediated bystander activation of the immune system. Fragments of antibodies retain antigen specificity and part of functional properties of conventional mAbs and at the same time have much better penetration into the tumors and a greatly reduced level of adverse effects. Recent advantages in antibody engineering allowed to produce different types of antibody fragments with improved structure and properties for efficient elimination of tumor cells. These molecules opened up new perspectives for anticancer therapy. Here, we will overview the structural features of the various types of antibody fragments and their applications for anticancer therapy as separate molecules and as part of complex conjugates or structures. Mechanisms of antitumor action of antibody fragments as well as their advantages and disadvantages for clinical application will be discussed in this review.
Ag+ Complexes as Potential Therapeutic Agents in Medicine and Pharmacy
Authors: Hecel Aleksandra , Kolkowska Paulina , Krzywoszynska Karolina , Szebesczyk Agnieszka , Rowinska-Zyrek Magdalena , Kozlowski Henryk
Published: April 2019

Silver is a non-essential element with promising antimicrobial and anticancer properties. This work is a detailed summary of the newest findings on the bioinorganic chemistry of silver, with a special focus on the applications of Ag+ complexes and nanoparticles. The coordination chemistry of silver is given a reasonable amount of attention, summarizing the most common silver binding sites and giving examples of such binding motifs in biologically important proteins. Possible applications of this metal and its complexes in medicine, particularly as antibacterial and antifungal agents and in cancer therapy, are discussed in detail. The most recent data on silver nanoparticles are also summarized.
Phytochemistry, Pharmacological Activities, Toxicity and Clinical Application of Momordica cochinchinensis
Authors: Lan Hai-Yue , Zhao Bin , Shen Yu-Li , Li Xiao-Qin , Wang Su-Juan , Zhang Li-Jun , Zhang Hong
Published: April 2019

Momordica cochinchinensis (Lour.) Spreng (M. cochinchinensis) is a deciduous vine that grows in
Southeast Asia. It is known as gac in Vietnam and as Red Melon in English. Gac is reputed to be extremely benificial
for health and has been widely used as food and folk medicine in Southeast Asia. In China, the seed of M.
cochinchinensis (Chinese name: Mu biezi) is used as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of
various diseases. More than 60 chemical constituents have been isolated from M. cochinchinensis. Modern pharmacological
studies and clinical practice demonstrate that some chemical constituents of M. cochinchinensis
possess wide pharmacological activities, such as anti-tumor, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, etc. This paper
reviews the phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, toxicity, and clinical application of M. cochinchinensis,
aiming to bring new insights into further research and application of this ancient herb.
Heat Shock Protein 70 kDa as a Target for Diagnostics and Therapy of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases
Authors: Konstantinova Ekaterina V. , Chipigina Natalia S. , Shurdumova Marina H. , Kovalenko E.I. , Sapozhnikov Alexander M.
Published: April 2019

Acute focal ischemia is a main factor of pathogenesis of a number of widespread cardiovascular and
cerebrovascular diseases, in particular, myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke. It is known that under the
conditions of ischemia expression of intracellular heat shock proteins (HSPs), especially HSP70, grows greatly
irrespective of the cell type. This stress-induced cell response is connected with cytoprotective properties of
HSP70. The protective functions of HSP70 contribute to the cell survival under adverse conditions and inhibit
development of programmed cell death. It was shown, that the level of HSP70 increases in cardiomyocytes and
brain cells in response to ischemia, that was connected with cardioprotective and neuroprotective effects. Besides,
in recent years, clinical studies of HSP70 have demonstrated elevated level of HSP70 in peripheral blood lymphocytes
in groups of patients with ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction. This review indicates that HSP70
can serve as a target for developing new approaches to diagnostics and therapy of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular
diseases.
Valproic Acid and the Liver Injury in Patients with Epilepsy: An Update
Authors: Guo Hong-Li , Jing Xia , Sun Jie-Yu , Hu Ya-hui , Xu Ze-Jun , Ni Ming-Ming , Chen Feng , Lu Xiao-Peng , Qiu Jin-Chun , Wang Tengfei
Published: April 2019

Background:

Valproic acid (VPA) as a widely used primary medication in the treatment of epilepsy is
associated with reversible or irreversible hepatotoxicity. Long-term VPA therapy is also related to increased risk
for the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In this review, metabolic elimination pathways
of VPA in the liver and underlying mechanisms of VPA-induced hepatotoxicity are discussed.

Methods:

We searched in PubMed for manuscripts published in English, combining terms such as “Valproic
acid”, “hepatotoxicity”, “liver injury”, and “mechanisms”. The data of screened papers were analyzed and summarized.

Results:

The formation of VPA reactive metabolites, inhibition of fatty acid β-oxidation, excessive oxidative
stress and genetic variants of some enzymes, such as CPS1, POLG, GSTs, SOD2, UGTs and CYPs genes, have
been reported to be associated with VPA hepatotoxicity. Furthermore, carnitine supplementation and antioxidants
administration proved to be positive treatment strategies for VPA-induced hepatotoxicity.

Conclusion:

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and routine liver biochemistry monitoring during VPA-therapy,
as well as genotype screening for certain patients before VPA administration, could improve the safety profile of
this antiepileptic drug.
2,4-Thiazolidinediones as PTP 1B Inhibitors: A Mini Review (2012-2018)
Authors: Verma Sant Kumar , Yadav Yatesh Sharad , Thareja Suresh
Published: April 2019

2,4-thiazolidinedione (TZD) scaffold is a synthetic versatile scaffold explored by medicinal
chemists for the discovery of novel molecules for the target-specific approach to treat or manage
number of deadly ailments. PTP 1B is the negative regulator of insulin signaling cascade, and its diminished
activity results in abolishment of insulin resistance associated with T2DM. The present review
focused on the seven years journey (2012-2018) of TZDs as PTP 1B inhibitors with the insight
into the amendments in the structural framework of TZD scaffold in order to optimize/design potential
PTP 1B inhibitors. We have investigated the synthesized molecules based on TZD scaffold with potential
activity profile against PTP 1B. Based on the SAR studies, the combined essential pharmacophoric
features of selective and potent TZDs have been mapped and presented herewith for further design and
synthesis of novel inhibitors of PTP 1B. Compound 46 bearing TZD scaffold with N-methyl benzoic
acid and 5-(3-methoxy-4-phenethoxy) benzylidene exhibited the most potent activity (IC50 1.1 µM).
Imidazolidine-2,4-dione, isosteric analogue of TZD, substituted with 1-(2,4-dichlorobenzyl)-5-(3-(2,4-
dichlorobenzyloxy)benzylidene) (Compound 15) also endowed with very good PTP inhibitory activity
profile (IC50 0.57 µM). It is noteworthy that Z-configuration is essential in structural framework
around the double bond of arylidene for the designing of bi-dentate ligands with optimum activity.
Exploring Signaling Pathways and Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Approaches Using Genetic Models
Authors: Khader Shorooq , Thyagarajan Anita , Sahu Ravi P.
Published: April 2019

Despite available treatment options, the overall survival rates of pancreatic cancer patients remain dismal. Multiple counter-regulatory pathways have been identified and shown to be involved in interfering with the efficacy of therapeutic agents. In addition, various known genetic alterations in the cellular signaling pathways have been implicated in affecting the growth and progression of pancreatic cancer. Nevertheless, the significance of other unknown pathways is yet to be explored, which provides the rationale for the intervention of new approaches. Several experimental genetic models have been explored to define the impact of key signaling cascades, and their mechanisms in the pathophysiology as well as treatment approaches of pancreatic cancer. The current review highlights the recent updates, and significance of such genetic models in the therapeutic efficacy of anti-tumor agents including the standard chemotherapeutic agents, natural products, cell signaling inhibitors, immunebased therapies and the combination of these approaches in pancreatic cancer.
Topoisomerase Inhibitors and Targeted Delivery in Cancer Therapy
Authors: You Fei , Gao Changshou
Published: April 2019

DNA topoisomerases are enzymes that catalyze the alteration of DNA topology with transiently induced DNA strand breakage, essential for DNA replication. Topoisomerases are validated cancer chemotherapy targets. Anticancer agents targeting Topoisomerase I and II have been in clinical use and proven to be highly effective, though with significant side effects. There are tremendous efforts to develop new generation of topoisomerase inhibitors. Targeted delivery of topoisomerase inhibitors is another way to reduce the side effects. Conjugates of topoisomerases inhibitors with antibody, polymer, or small molecule are developed to target these inhibitors to tumor sites.
Effects of Motivational Interview on Awareness, Attitude, and Practice of Breast Self-examination in High-risk Women: A Clinical Trial Study
Authors: Bahmani Fatemeh , Vakilian Katayon , Faramarzi Mahbobeh
Published: April 2019

Background:

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy and the leading
cause of death among women throughout the world. The incidence of breast cancer has been increasing
in Iran and the disease has been the most prevalently registered cancer in the country during
the past decade.

Objective:

Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of motivational interviewing (MI)
on awareness, attitude, and practice of breast self-examination (BSE) in high-risk women.

Methods:

This randomized clinical trial recruited 60 rural women at higher risk of breast cancer in
Babol, Iran in 2016. Thirty women from two randomly selected villages were assigned to the MI
group. Two other villages were also randomly selected and 30 of their female residents were allocated
to the control group. Eligible people were first identified by referring to the villages’ health
centers. The participants were recruited using a table of random numbers and their informed consent
was obtained. In the MI group, five 90-minutes weekly sessions of MI were held. Conventional
training was conducted in the control group. All subjects completed a researcher-made questionnaire
at baseline (before the intervention), at the end of the study, and three months later. Data were
analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance, and Bonferroni, Friedman, Wilcoxon, and
chi-square tests.

Results:

In the MI group, there were significant increases in women's mean scores of awareness in
the first and second follow-ups compared to the baseline. Moreover, the mean score of attitude toward
BSE in the MI group increased at the end of the study (P<0.001). The positive performance of
the participants was significantly different between the MI and control groups at the end of the
study (86.7% vs. 16.7%; P<0.001) and three months later (83.3% vs. 13.3%; P<0.001).

Conclusion:

MI can be used alongside conventional trainings to promote and motivate screening
behaviors.
Recent Trends in the Development of Green Microextraction Techniques for the Determination of Hazardous Organic Compounds in Wine
Authors: Kalogiouri Natasa P. , Samanidou Victoria F.
Published: April 2019

Background:

The sample preparation is the most crucial step in the analytical method development. Taking this into account, it is easily understood why the domain of sample preparation prior to detection is rapidly developing. Following the modern trends towards the automation, miniaturization, simplification and minimization of organic solvents and sample volumes, green microextraction techniques witness rapid growth in the field of food quality and safety. In a globalized market, it is essential to face the consumers need and develop analytical methods that guarantee the quality of food products and beverages. The strive for the accurate determination of organic hazards in a famous and appreciated alcoholic beverage like wine has necessitated the development of microextraction techniques.

Objective:

The objective of this review is to summarize all the recent microextraction methodologies, including solid phase extraction (SPE), solid phase microextraction (SPME), liquid-phase microextraction (LPME), dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME), stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE), matrix solid-phase dispersion (MSPD), single-drop microextraction (SDME) and dispersive solid phase extraction (DSPE) that were developed for the determination of hazardous organic compounds (pesticides, mycotoxins, colorants, biogenic amines, off-flavors) in wine. The analytical performance of the techniques is evaluated and their advantages and limitations are discussed.

Conclusion:

An extensive investigation of these techniques remains vital through the development of novel strategies and the implication of new materials that could upgrade the selectivity for the extraction of target analytes.
Chemical Fingerprint Analysis and Simultaneous Determination of Nucleosides and Amino Acids in Kang Fu Xin Liquid by High Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array Detector
Authors: Wang Yuwen , Li Shuping , Zhang Liuhong , Qi Shenglan , Guan Huida , Liu Wei , Cheng Xuemei , Liu Li , Cheng Liang , Wang Changhong
Published: April 2019

Background and Objective:

Kang Fu Xin liquid (KFX) is an official preparation made from
the ethanol extract product from P. Americana. The present quality control method cannot control the
quality of the preparation well. The aim of the present study is to establish a convenient HPLC method
for multicomponents determination combined with fingerprint analysis for quality control of KFX.

Methods:

An HPLC-DAD method with gradient elution and detective wavelength switching program
was developed to establish HPLC fingerprints of KFX, and 38 batches of KFX were compared and
evaluated by similarity analysis (SA), hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), and principal component
analysis (PCA). Meanwhile, six nucleosides and three amino acids, including uracil, hypoxanthine, uric
acid, adenosine, xanthine, inosine, tyrosine, phenylalanine and tryptophan in KFX were determined
based on the HPLC fingerprints.

Results:

An HPLC method assisted with gradient elution and wavelength switching program was established
and validated for multicomponents determination combined with fingerprint analysis of KFX.
The results demonstrated that the similarity values of the KFX samples were more than 0.845. PCA
indicated that peaks 4 (hypoxanthine), 7 (xanthine), 9 (tyrosine), 11, 13 and 17 might be the characteristic
contributed components. The nine constituents in KFX, uracil, hypoxanthine, uric acid, adenosine,
xanthine, inosine, tyrosine, phenylalanine and tryptophan, showed good regression (R2 > 0.9997) within
test ranges and the recoveries of the method for all analytes were in the range from 96.74 to 104.24%.
The limits of detections and quantifications for nine constituents in DAD were less than 0.22 and 0.43
μg•mL-1, respectively.

Conclusion:

The qualitative analysis of chemical fingerprints and the quantitative analysis of multiple
indicators provide a powerful and rational way to control the KFX quality for pharmaceutical companies.
Analytical Method Development for Coq10 Determination in Human Plasma Using HPLC-UV and HPLC/MS/MS
Authors: Zozina Vladlena I. , Melnikov Evgeniy S. , Goroshko Olga A. , Krasnykh Liudmila M. , Kukes Vladimir G.
Published: April 2019

Background:

CoQ10 is a very important compound which is found in every tissue of our organism. It participates in the processes of cellular respiration and ATP production. Also, it acts as a strong antioxidant. In an organism, it is represented in two forms: oxidized (ubiquinone) and reduced (ubiquinol). Its low blood level may be a signal for a list of diseases.

Materials and Methods:

This study developed and compared two methods of CoQ10 determination in order to find the fastest and the most convenient one. The first one involved HPLC-UV with the wavelength of ubiquinone determination equivalent to 290 nm and 275 nm for ubiquinol, respectively. The second one was carried out on an HPLC/MS/MS system utilizing Electrospray Ionization (ESI) and triple quadrupole mass analyzer for quantification in MRM positive mode.

Results:

Two methods of ubiquinol and ubiquinone determination were developed and validated. HPLC-UV included sample preparation based on liquid-liquid extraction. The LLOQ was 0.50 µg/ml. HPLC-MS/MS method sample preparation was based on protein precipitation. The LLOQ was 0.10 µg/ml.

Conclusion:

During the investigation, a conclusion was drawn that the HPLC-UV method is too insensitive for simultaneous determination of ubiquinol and ubiquinone. Furthermore, ubiquinol is very unstable and during exogenous factors’ exposure, it rapidly turns into ubiquinone. While, the HPLCMS/ MS method turned out to be sensitive, selective, rapid as it provides an accurate determination of both forms of CoQ10 in spiked human plasma.
Evaluation of Hemostatic Behavior of Micro and Nano Gelatin/Silica Hybrid in Severe Bleeding
Authors: Chenani M. , Behnamghader A. , Khorasani M. , Ahmadinejad M.
Published: April 2019

Background:

The pH variation of the injury site is an important factor in the failure of styptic
and its structural damage. In this study, the behaviour of a gelatin-silica hybrid in severe bleeding was
evaluated under different pH values. On the other hand, the effect of the hybrid particle size, which is one
of the key physical properties of the hybrid, has been studied in rapid control of haemostasis.

Method: The hybrid haemostatic behaviour varied drastically by changing the particle size, so that the
hybrid containing SiO2 with the average particle size of about 1 micro-meter (Hyb Gel-MSiO2) demonstrated
very poor ability in platelet adhesion in neutral pH, about 24%. Also, the aPTT was not
shorter than the normal time, whereas reduction of the particle size beyond a certain limit (with nanometer
SiO2 for Hyb Gel-NSiO2) led to both increasing platelet adhesion to 32% and very considerable
reduction of aPTT.

Results: Alignment of all results showed that the particle size reduction improves the haemostatic
behaviour of the hybrid toward its best performance by controlling excessive bleeding. By changing
the pH for a certain particle size, structural integrity, and thereby the hybrid haemostatic behaviour
changed dramatically. Therefore, the nano-hybrid showed the most blood absorption (around 470%) in
natural pH and acceded to a coherent structure. The results demonstrated that in alkaline or acidic
environment, the hybrid haemostatic behaviour was limited. Based on the results of this study, it was
found that changes in the hybrid behaviour in acidic pH were much more drastic than in alkaline pH,
and also the hybrid with the optimum particle size (Hyb Gel-NSiO2) can maintain the structural integrity
with rapid haemostasis (<3 seconds).

Conclusion: Based on the objective that the pH at the injury site change to the alkaline side, the resulting
hybrid has an excellent ability to control excessive bleeding and can be proposed for further in
vivo studies as a novel styptic.
The Pleiotropic Effects of Statins in Endocrine Disorders
Authors: De La Cruz Javier A. , Mihos Christos G. , Horvath Sofia A. , Santana Orlando
Published: April 2019

Background:

The 3-Hydroxy-3-MethylGlutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors, better known as statins, are used extensively in the treatment of dyslipidemia and cardiovascular risk reduction. They have also demonstrated a variety of non-lipid lowering, or pleiotropic effects. Pertaining to the endocrine system the benefits of statins can extend to patients with the polycystic ovarian syndrome and thyroid disease. However, there is also increasing evidence that statin use can lead to deleterious effects in different organs, including worsening glycemia and the development of diabetes mellitus.

Objective:

The aim of this review is to describe the most relevant and updated evidence regarding the pleiotropic effects of statins in endocrine disorders.

Methods:

We did a systematic review of scientific articles published in PubMed regarding the effects of statins on the different aspects of the endocrine system up until June 5th of 2018.

Results:

We identified preliminarily 61 publications, of which 4 were excluded due to having abstract format only, and 5 were excluded for not containing pertinent information to the study.

Conclusion:

Several aspects of the endocrine system have been shown to be influenced by the pleiotropic effects that statins exert, however, the benefits of statins on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality largely outweigh this deleterious effect, and statin therapy should continue to be recommended.
Heart Disease Prediction System using Ensemble of Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Rajendran Nandhini Abirami , Vincent Durai Raj
Published: April 2019

Background:

Diagnosing diseases is an intricate job in medical field. Machine learning
when applied to health care is capable of early detection of disease which would aid to provide early
medical intervention. In heart disease prediction, machine learning techniques have played a
significant role. Analysis of disease has become vital in health care sectors. The massive data collected
by healthcare sectors are preprocessed and analyzed to discover the underlying information
in the data for effective decision making and to provide proper medical intervention. The success
of machine learning in medical industry is its capability in analyzing the huge amount of data gathered
by the health sector and its effectiveness in decision making. Since medical field involves too
many manual processes it has become necessary to automate these procedures. Remarkable advancements
in electronic medical records have made it possible. Diagnosing diseases is an intricate
job in medical field.

Objective:

The objective of this research is to design a robust machine learning algorithm to predict
heart disease. The prediction of heart disease is performed using Ensemble of machine learning algorithms.
This is to boost the accuracy achieved by individual machine learning algorithms.

Methods:

Heart Disease Prediction System is developed where the user can input the patient details
and the prediction for the particular patient is made using the model developed. The model will
predict the output to be either normal or risky. Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Classification
and Regression Trees (CART), Support Vector Machines (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) and
Naïve Bayes classifier are used as base learners. These algorithms are combined using random forest
as the meta classifier.

Results:

The predictions of classifier are combined using random forest algorithm. The accuracy is
lifted from 85.53 % to 87.64 % which is an impressive improvement on accuracy.

Conclusion:

Various techniques were adopted to preprocess the data to suite the requirement of
analysis. Feature selections were made to optimize the performance of machine learning algorithms.
Ensemble prediction gave better accuracy when combined using Random forest algorithm
as combiner. Better feature selection techniques can be applied to further improve the accuracy.
Optical Characterization of Al-doped ZnO Films via Sol-gel Method Using Spectroscopic Ellipsometry
Authors: Aghkonbad Ehsan M. , Sedghi Hassan , Aghgonbad Maryam M.
Published: April 2019

Background:

Al-doped ZnO thin films are considered as a promising alternative to ITO
in optoelectronic applications. In this work, Al-doped ZnO thin films were prepared using sol-gel
spin coating technique.

Experimental:

The optical properties of the films such as refractive index, extinction coefficient,
dielectric function and the absorption coefficient were examined using spectroscopic ellipsometry
method in the wavelength range of 300 to 900 nm. The effect of Al doping on ZnO thin films with
different Al concentrations was significant. Tauc relation was used to estimate the optical band
gap energy of the films.

Results:

The calculated values of band gap energy were obtained between 3.10 to 3.25 eV. Also
the fraction of voids was calculated using Aspnes theory.

Conclusion:

The free carrier concentration value was obtained in the order of 1019 cm-3.
Improving Sentiment Analysis using Hybrid Deep Learning Model
Authors: Pandey Avinash Chandra , Rajpoot Dharmveer Singh
Published: April 2019

Background:

Sentiment analysis is a contextual mining of text which determines viewpoint of
users with respect to some sentimental topics commonly present at social networking websites. Twitter is
one of the social sites where people express their opinion about any topic in the form of tweets. These tweets
can be examined using various sentiment classification methods to find the opinion of users. Traditional sentiment
analysis methods use manually extracted features for opinion classification. The manual feature extraction
process is a complicated task since it requires predefined sentiment lexicons. On the other hand,
deep learning methods automatically extract relevant features from data hence; they provide better performance
and richer representation competency than the traditional methods.

Objective:

The main aim of this paper is to enhance the sentiment classification accuracy and to reduce the
computational cost.

Method:

To achieve the objective, a hybrid deep learning model, based on convolution neural network and
bi-directional long-short term memory neural network has been introduced.

Results:

The proposed sentiment classification method achieves the highest accuracy for the most of the datasets.
Further, from the statistical analysis efficacy of the proposed method has been validated.

Conclusion:

Sentiment classification accuracy can be improved by creating veracious hybrid models. Moreover,
performance can also be enhanced by tuning the hyper parameters of deep leaning models.