bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Performance Evaluation of Farmers’ Onion Varieties against Purple Blotch Disease
Authors: Parvez Noushad , Choudhary Hardev , Shinde Vaibhavkumar V. , More Vijay G. , Kudtarkar U. S. , Gabhale L. K. , Dhane A. S. , Gangawane S. B. , Maru Bhaumik , Ghole Sandip V. , Pisore Babahaeb N. 
Published: November 2020

Aims: To evaluate the performance of farmers’ onion varieties against purple blotch disease at different locations and to correlate Percent Disease Index with yield attributing and other important traits.
Study Design: Randomized Block Design, Field demonstration.
Place and Duration of Study: National Innovation Foundation- India Gandhinagar Gujarat, Repoli and Palghar research stations of Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli Maharashtra during October 2017 to April 2019.
Methodology: Two farmers’ onion varieties Sona-40 and Sandip were characterized and tested for their response against purple blotch disease under field condition in comparison with location-specific check varieties. Percent Disease Index of purple blotch was observed, compared and correlated with important traits viz. the plant height, leaves per plant, bulb diameter, maturity period, bulb weight, bulb yield and keeping quality. In Maharashtra areas, the study was conducted under Repoli and Palghar conditions during winter (Rabi) 2017, whereas at Gandhinagar Gujarat, it was undertaken in winter (Rabi) 2017 and 2018.
Results: The farmers’ onion cultivars Sandip and Sona-40 were found to be tolerant to the purple blotch disease at all the locations. In Maharashtra and Gujarat, the average Percent Disease Index (PDI) in Sona-40 (12.1%, 12.2%) and Sandip (10.75%, 14.64%) was found significantly lower as compared to the checks respectively. The present studies also confirmed that onion bulb’s yield, weight and keeping quality were significantly correlated with the purple blotch disease.
Conclusion: This study exhibited that the farmers’ onion varieties may perform better against disease infestation such as purple blotch disease. It also confirmed that the response of the onion varieties against purple blotch may vary in different locations. It is shown that the bulb weight, yield and shelf life of bulbs are significantly affected by purple blotch disease.
Predicting Taxpayers Attitudes towards of Indian Tax Payers towards the E-Return Filling: An Empirical Study of Delhi, NCR, India
Authors: Mittal Ruhee , Prakash Bishwajeet , Vishal . 
Published: November 2020

The aim of the present study is to examine the attitude, awareness, perception of the individual tax-payers in Delhi, National Capital Region (NCR) towards the e-filling tax portal started by Government of India (GOI). The study is based on the quantitative variables in which different dimension of Technology acceptance model [1], are taken for assessing the individuals behaviour towards e-filing. The data is collected from 200 individual tax payers through purposively sampling method from Delhi NCR region. The findings of the study indicate that the e-tax filling has reduced the cost, time, convenience, improve the efficiency, and better from traditional method of tax filling procedures. The study reveals that age, education level and gender of the individuals are affecting the attitude, perception and awareness towards the e-tax filling tax system. This study makes a novel attempt to identify or to examine the tax payers’ satisfaction, problems they face in filing ITR online, awareness levels, and their perception towards E-filing system. The work has a relevant practical justification, to evaluate the user’s satisfaction with Online Import Declaration system, used to make it more transparent and secure, both for taxpayers and for the government. In this way, the study contributes to increasing the efficiency of the collection system, making the financing of the public projects more viable, without the need to increase the tax burden.
Phytochemical Screening, Mathematical Analysis and Antimicrobial Activity of Methanolic Seed Extract of Hunteria Umbellata
Authors: Aderele Oluwaseun Raphael , Rasaq Adekunle Kareem , Momoh Johnson Oshiobugie 
Published: November 2020

Aim: The study evaluates the in-vitro antimicrobial activity of Hunteria umbellata against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus sp.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out for three months in 2019 in Biochemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemical Sciences (Biochemistry unit), School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Lagos State Polytechnic, Ikorodu, Lagos- Nigeria.
Methodology: The qualitative and GC-MS analysis of Hunteria umbellata methanolic seed extract were determined using standard procedure. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the disc diffusion method and agar well diffusion method. The experimental data was resampled 1000 times to allow for higher degrees of freedom in carrying out t-test to test for the difference of the effect of in-vitro antimicrobial activity of H. umbellata against E. coli, S. aureus and Streptococcus sp using mathematical software R language (3.6.1 version). Line plots, histogram and t-test are used to explain the effect of antimicrobial activity of H. umbellate on the selected bacteria. MIC and MBC were determined using standard methods.
Results: The Phytochemical analysis of methanolic seed extract of Hunteria umbellata showed the presence of secondary metabolites like saponins, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, phenol among others. GC-MS assay of the H. umbellata seed extract revealed the presence of eight different compounds. Agar well diffusion method was characterized by inhibition zones of 18.36±0.87, 19.13±1.03 and 21.62±2.53 mm for E.coli, S. aureus and Streptococcus sp respectively at 300 mg/ml-1 and 21.70± 1.60, 23.83± 2.64 and 28.57± 1.52 for E.coli, S. aureus and Streptococcus sp respectively at 500 mg/ml. The results of the analysis show that there is a significant difference between the effects of in-vitro antimicrobial activity of H. umbellate on 3001 and 500 mg/ml on each bacteria tested at 5% level of significance. E.coli, S. aureus and Streptococcus sp were tested against 12 standard antimicrobial agents, of which six was sensitive and another six was resistance to E .coli, seven was sensitive, and five was resistance to S. aureus while four was resistance and eight sensitive to Streptococcus sp. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for E.coli, S. aureus, and Streptococcus sp were 250, 125 and 31.25 mgml-1 while their minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were 500, 250 and 125 respectively. MIC and MBC tests showed that H. umbellata methanolic seed extract had noticeable bactericidal effects with MBC/MIC values ranging between 2 to 4. The extract has strong potency against these microorganisms with Streptococcus sp being the most susceptible.
Conclusions: Hunteria umbellata has potential as natural therapeutic agents against E. coli, S. aureus and Streptococcus sp and they may prevent pathogenic diseases.
Effect of MU‐weighted multi‐leaf collimator position error on dose distribution of SBRT radiotherapy in peripheral non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Feng AiHui , Chen Hua , Wang Hao , Gu HengLe , Shao Yan , Duan YanHua , Ying YanChen , Yue Ning Jeff , Xu ZhiYong 
Published: October 2020

AbstractPurposePosition accuracy of the multi‐leaf collimator (MLC) is essential in stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). This study is aimed to investigate the dosimetric impacts of the MU‐weighted MLC positioning uncertainties of SBRT for patients with early stage peripheral non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).MethodsThree types of MLC position error were simulated: Type 1, random error; Type 2, system shift, in which both MLC banks shifted to the left or right direction; and Type 3, in which both MLC banks moved with same magnitudes in the opposite directions. Two baseline plans were generated: an automatic plan (AP) and a manually optimized plan (MP). Multi‐leaf collimator position errors were introduced to generate simulated plans with the preset MLC leaf position errors, which were then reimported into the Pinnacle system to generate simulated plans, respectively. The dosimetric parameters (CI, nCI, GI, etc.) and gEUD values of PTV and OARs were calculated. Linear regression between MU‐weighted/unweighted MLC position error and gEUD was performed to obtain dose sensitivity.ResultsThe dose sensitivities of the PTVs were −4.93, −38.94, −41.70, −55.55, and 30.33 Gy/mm for random, left shift, right shift, system close, and system open MLC errors, respectively. There were significant differences between the MU‐weighted and the unweighted dose sensitivity, which was −38.94 Gy/mm vs −3.42 Gy/mm (left shift), −41.70 Gy/mm vs −3.56 Gy/mm (right shift), −55.55 Gy/mm vs −4.84 Gy/mm (system close), and 30.33 vs 2.64 Gy/mm (system open). For the system open/close MLC errors, as the PTV volume became larger, the dose sensitivity decreased. APs provided smaller dose sensitivity for the system shift and system close MLC errors compared to the conventional MPs.ConclusionsThere was significant difference in dose sensitivity between MU‐weighted and unweighted MLC position error of SBRT radiotherapy in peripheral NSCLC. MU is suggested to be included in the dosimetric evaluation of the MLC misalignments, since it is much closer to clinical radiotherapy.
Contextual loss based artifact removal method on CBCT image
Authors: Xie Shipeng , Liang Yingjuan , Yang Tao , Song Zhenrong 
Published: November 2020

AbstractPurposeCone beam computed tomography (CBCT) offers advantages such as high ray utilization rate, the same spatial resolution within and between slices, and high precision. It is one of the most actively studied topics in international computed tomography (CT) research. However, its application is hindered owing to scatter artifacts. This paper proposes a novel scatter artifact removal algorithm that is based on a convolutional neural network (CNN), where contextual loss is employed as the loss function.MethodsIn the proposed method, contextual loss is added to a simple CNN network to correct the CBCT artifacts in the pelvic region. The algorithm aims to learn the mapping from CBCT images to planning CT images. The 627 CBCT‐CT pairs of 11 patients were used to train the network, and the proposed algorithm was evaluated in terms of the mean absolute error (MAE), average peak signal‐to‐noise ratio (PSNR) and so on. The proposed method was compared with other methods to illustrate its effectiveness.ResultsThe proposed method can remove artifacts (including streaking, shadowing, and cupping) in the CBCT image. Furthermore, key details such as the internal contours and texture information of the pelvic region are well preserved. Analysis of the average CT number, average MAE, and average PSNR indicated that the proposed method improved the image quality. The test results obtained with the chest data also indicated that the proposed method could be applied to other anatomies.ConclusionsAlthough the CBCT‐CT image pairs are not completely matched at the pixel level, the method proposed in this paper can effectively correct the artifacts in the CBCT slices and improve the image quality. The average CT number of the regions of interest (including bones, skin) also exhibited a significant improvement. Furthermore, the proposed method can be applied to enhance the performance on such applications as dose estimation and segmentation.
Identification and functional characterization of novel GDAP1 variants in Chinese patients with Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease
Authors: Chen Cong‐Xin , Li Jia‐Qi , Dong Hai‐Lin , Liu Gong‐Lu , Bai Ge , Wu Zhi‐Ying 
Published: November 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo identify and characterize the pathogenicity of novel variants in Chinese patients with Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease.MethodsMultiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and whole‐exome sequencing (WES) were performed in 30 unrelated CMT patients. Minigene assay was used to verify the effect of a novel splicing variant (c.694+1G>A) on pre‐mRNA. Primary fibroblast cell lines were established from skin biopsies to characterize the biological effects of the novel variants p.L26R and p.S169fs. The mitochondrial structure was observed by an electron microscope. The expression level of protein was analyzed by Western Blotting. Mitochondrial dynamics and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP, Δψm) were analyzed via immunofluorescence study. Mitochondrial ATP levels were analyzed via bioluminescence assay. The rate of oxygen consumption was measured with a Seahorse Bioscience XF‐96 extracellular flux analyzer.ResultsWe identified 10 pathogenic variants in three known CMT related genes, including three novel variants (p.L26R, p.S169fs, c.694+1G>A) and one known pathogenic variant (p.R120W) in GDAP1. Further, we described the clinical features of patients carrying pathogenic variants in GDAP1 and found that almost all Chinese CMT patients with GDAP1 variants present axonal type. The effect of c.694+1G>A on pre‐mRNA was verified via minigene splice assay. Cellular biological effects showed ultrastructure damage of mitochondrial, reduced protein levels, different patterns of mitochondrial dynamics, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), ATP content, and defects in respiratory capacity in the patient carrying p.L26R and p.S169fs in GDAP1.InterpretationOur results broaden the genetic spectrum of GDAP1 and provided functional evidence for mitochondrial pathways in the pathogenesis of GDAP1 variants.
Phenotype–genotype analysis of 242 individuals with RASopathies: 18‐year experience of a tertiary center in Brazil
Authors: Bertola Débora R. , Castro Matheus A. A. , Yamamoto Guilherme L. , Honjo Rachel S. , Ceroni José Ricardo , Buscarilli Michele M. , Freitas Amanda B. , Malaquias Alexsandra C. , Pereira Alexandre C. , Jorge Alexander A. L. , Passos‐Bueno Maria Rita , Kim Chong A. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractWe report the clinical and molecular data of a large cohort comprising 242 individuals with RASopathies, from a single Tertiary Center in Brazil, the largest study from Latin America. Noonan syndrome represented 76% of the subjects, with heterozygous variants in nine different genes, mainly PTPN11, SOS1, RAF1, LZTR1, and RIT1, detected by Sanger and next‐generation sequencing. The latter was applied to 126 individuals, with a positive yield of 63% in genes of the RAS/MAPK cascade. We present evidence that there are some allelic differences in PTPN11 across distinct populations. We highlight the clinical aspects that pose more medical concerns, such as the cardiac anomalies, bleeding diathesis and proliferative lesions. The genotype–phenotype analysis between the RASopathies showed statistically significant differences in some cardinal features, such as craniofacial and cardiac anomalies, the latter also statistically significant for different genes in Noonan syndrome. We present two individuals with a Noonan syndrome phenotype, one with an atypical, structural cardiac defect, harboring variants in genes mainly associated with isolated hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and discuss the role of these variants in their phenotype.
Synthesis and Bioactivity of Guanidinium‐Functionalized Pillar[5]arene as a Biofilm Disruptor
Authors: Guo Shuwen , Huang Qiaoxian , Chen Yuan , Wei Jianwen , Zheng Jun , Wang Leyong , Wang Yitao , Wang Ruibing 
Published: October 2020

AbstractDue to the inherent resistance of bacterial biofilms to antibiotics and their serious threat to global public health, novel therapeutic agents and strategies to tackle biofilms are urgently needed. To this end, we designed and synthesized a novel guanidinium‐functionalized pillar[5]arene (GP5) that exhibited high antibacterial potency against Gram‐negative E. coli (BH101) and Gram‐positive S. aureus (ATCC25904) strains. More importantly, GP5 effectively disrupted preformed E. coli biofilms by efficient penetration through biofilm barriers and subsequent destruction of biofilm‐enclosed bacteria. Furthermore, host–guest complexation between GP5 and cefazolin sodium, a conventional antibiotic that otherwise shows negligible activity against biofilms, exhibited much enhanced, synergistic disruption activity against E. coli biofilms, thus providing a novel supramolecular platform to effectively disrupt biofilms.
Prebiotically Plausible RNA Activation Compatible with Ribozyme‐Catalyzed Ligation
Authors: Song Emilie Yeonwha , Jiménez Eddy Ivanhoe , Lin Huacan , Le Vay Kristian , Krishnamurthy Ramanarayanan , Mutschler Hannes 
Published: October 2020

AbstractRNA‐catalyzed RNA ligation is widely believed to be a key reaction for primordial biology. However, since typical chemical routes towards activating RNA substrates are incompatible with ribozyme catalysis, it remains unclear how prebiotic systems generated and sustained pools of activated building blocks needed to form increasingly larger and complex RNA. Herein, we demonstrate in situ activation of RNA substrates under reaction conditions amenable to catalysis by the hairpin ribozyme. We found that diamidophosphate (DAP) and imidazole drive the formation of 2′,3′‐cyclic phosphate RNA mono‐ and oligonucleotides from monophosphorylated precursors in frozen water‐ice. This long‐lived activation enables iterative enzymatic assembly of long RNAs. Our results provide a plausible scenario for the generation of higher‐energy substrates required to fuel ribozyme‐catalyzed RNA synthesis in the absence of a highly evolved metabolism.
Evaluation of acrylic acid grafting on the loading and release of scopolamine butylbromide from polymeric matrices for future sialorrhea treatment
Authors: Morise Beatriz Tiemi , Mutch Alexandra Louise , Garms Bruna Cambraia , Herculano Rondinelli Donizetti , Grøndahl Lisbeth 
Published: November 2020

AbstractSialorrhea is a disorder which causes an increase in salivation. Scopolamine butylbromide (SBB) can be administrated to treat sialorrhea and its transdermal application minimizes the occurrence of side effects. This work compared SBB adsorption and release from two polymer matrices, polycaprolactone and natural rubber latex, as well as the matrices modified by gamma irradiation‐induced graft copolymerization of acrylic acid (AAc). Grafting with AAc‐introduced carboxylate groups onto the surface of the matrices evident from chemical analysis and resulted in increased hydrophilicity evident from contact angle measurements. SBB adsorbed to the matrices without changing its structure and for the AAc‐grafted matrices this was governed by electrostatic interactions. Higher SBB loading was observed for the AAc‐grafted matrices while SBB release was slower for the non‐grafted matrices than the grafted matrices. The four different matrices produced are candidates for the development of a transdermal drug delivery system.
Aging‐induced structural relaxation in cornstarch plasticized with urea and glycerol
Authors: Šmídová Natália , Šoltýs Alojz , Hronský Viktor , Olčák Dušan , Popovič Ľuboš , Chodák Ivan 
Published: October 2020

AbstractIn present work structural properties and aging of thermoplastic starches prepared by plasticization of cornstarch with urea, glycerol and their mixtures are studied using solid‐state1H NMR and13C NMR spectroscopy and WAXS measurements. Broad line1H NMR spectra reveal phase separation of plasticizers during aging of the samples with the same or higher relative amount of glycerol than the amount of urea. Glycerol in the TPS samples induces motion of starch chain segments, the mobility of which depends on the relative amount of glycerol. At the scale of nm, formation of B‐type crystallites in the samples containing glycerol and also of single‐helical crystallinity in all samples is observed during one‐year aging through cross‐polarization magic angle spinning13C NMR spectra. Urea, when used as the sole plasticizer, prevents the ordering of starch chains in B‐type crystallites. WAXS diffractograms show that regular crystals do not form in any of the samples.
Tools for teaching biochemistry and molecular biology: A parallel session at the IUBMB/PSBMB 2019 “Harnessing Interdisciplinary Education in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” conference
Authors: Chou Chia‐Cheng , Provost Joseph J. , Waye Mary Miu Yee , Yu Gracia Fe B. , Macaulay Janet O. 
Published: October 2020

AbstractApproaches to learning and teaching have been undergoing massive changes. Technology has enabled many innovations while other methods have embedded authentic research approaches or looked to other disciplines. The tools in education session of the conference looked at tools being used to teach biochemistry and molecular biology ranging from online platforms, authentic research experiences to the use of music.
The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry
Authors: Magyari Melinda , Joensen Hanna , Laursen Bjarne , Koch‐Henriksen Nils 
Published: October 2020

AbstractObjectivesThe Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry is the oldest operative and nationwide MS registry. We present The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry with its history, data collection, scientific contribution, and national and international research collaboration.Materials and MethodsDetailed description of data collection, completeness, quality optimizing procedures, funding, and legal, ethical and data protection issues are provided.ResultsThe total number of registered cases with clinical isolated syndrome and multiple sclerosis since 1956 was by start of May 2020 30,023 of whom 16,515 cases were alive and residing in Denmark, giving a prevalence rate of about 284 per 100,000 population. The mean annual number of new cases receiving an MS diagnosis was 649 per year in the period 2010 to 2019. In total, 7,945 patients (48.1%) are receiving disease modifying therapy at the start of May 2020.ConclusionsMultiple Sclerosis registers are becoming increasingly important, not only for epidemiological research but also by quantifying the burden of the disease for the patients and society and helping health care providers and regulators in their decisions. The Danish Multiple Sclerosis Registry has served as data source for a number of scientific publications including epidemiological studies on changes in incidence and mortality, cohort studies investigating risk factors for developing MS, comorbidities and socioeconomic outcomes in the MS population, and observational studies on effectiveness of disease modifying treatments outside the narrow realms of randomized clinical trials.