bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Packaging Materials and Storage Periods on the Protein Content of Three Soybean Varieties from Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
Authors: Obute J. O. , Irtwange S. V. , Vange T. 
Published: November 2019

Soybeans are the leguminous vegetable of the pea family that grows in a tropical, subtropical and temperate climate. Protein and oil are soybeans seed components of great economic value. This work was carried out at the Seed Science Laboratory in the Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Nigeria. It was aimed at assessing the protein content of soybeans stored under ambient condition. The experimental design was factorial in 3x5x6x factorial completely randomized design (CRD) comprising 3 varieties, 5 storage periods and 5 packaging materials by 3 replicates. The varieties investigated were TGx 932- 3F, TGx1904- 6F and TGx1448- 2E stored in cloth, glass bottle, plastic container, low-density polyethene and laminate paper. The storage periods were 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8months Least significant (LSD) at 5% was used to compare the treatment means. The seeds in storage were sampled periodically (2, 4, 6 and 8 months) to determine the protein content. The protein content of the samples was determined according to the standard method. TGx 1448- 2E (V3) had the highest protein content while TGx 1904- 6F (V2) had the least. The highest protein content was recorded in soybeans packaged in a plastic container (43.55) while the least was recorded in soybeans that were not packaged in anything (control). The investigation showed that soybeans stored for 8 months had the highest protein content of 44.01 and the lowest was in 0 months (36.47). It was observed that the protein content increased with increase in storage period. Significant differences ((P<0.05) were observed in all the main effects. The result of the interaction between variety and storage period showed V3 (TGX-1448-2E) had the highest protein content when stored for 8 months and the lowest was V2 (TGX-1904-6F) at 0month (30.8) and the next lowest one was V2 at 2months (36.79). The interaction effect of storage period and packaging material on protein showed that the highest protein content was recorded at 8month and the lowest was recorded at the 0 months (36.467). The interaction effect of variety and packaging material on protein content showed variation. The highest protein content recorded was in V3 (44.795) while the lowest was for V2 (39.847). The highest interaction was between V3 x LDPE (44.795) and the lowest was V2 X laminate paper. However, there were significant differences (P<0.05) in all the interaction effects. The present study revealed that the protein content of stored soybeans varied with storage period, packaging material and variety.
Computational Analysis of the Sequences of LIPE Gene of Selected Ruminants and Non-ruminants
Authors: B. Fatai Rasheed , O. Akinyemi Mabel , Osaiyuwu Osamede Henry 
Published: November 2019

Tropically adapted farm animals are characterized by low meat and milk productivity. Traditionally, mass selection has been widely employed in breeding for improved animal performance. However, improving animal productivity using mass selection is laborious and usually less effective. Advances in molecular techniques such as DNA sequencing analysis provide the opportunity to characterize meat and milk influencing genes, which can lead to faster genetic improvement but often unaffordable and expensive particularly in developing countries. Unlike the wet laboratory analysis, computational molecular analyses is comparatively cheaper in pre-screening of the functional impacts of nonsynonymous single-nucleotide variants of some performance traits-related genes such as hormone-sensitive lipase (LIPE).
A total of fifteen (15) LIPE nucleotide sequences comprising pig (3), cattle (3), water buffalo (2), camel (2), goat (2) and sheep (3) were retrieved from the Genbank. Also, twenty (20) functionally associated genes with the LIPE gene including perilipin 1, 2 & 5 protein kinase cAMP-activated catalytic subunit alpha, protein kinase X-linked were determined using the GeneMANIA.
Functional analysis of non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism using PROVEAN showed that ten amino acid substitutions (S216C, P107del, Q28_P29insRATHVA, S41_S44dup, A640M, S940A, L660I, D86delinsWA, S1000F) in water buffalo and pig (X678E, V789K, G987del, T218K, Q2234del, L278H, Q321del, L1023delinsPKL, P1452V, H1267delinsRFT), nine in sheep (F67_P68delinsVQ, R24G, A247_R248dup, L122L, L144P, S149K, S125S, S224H, G148M) and goats (A450Y, P480H, G490delinsPHQ, L500R, R550del, S100_S101dup, E600S, A700Q, P754delinsQAW) and five in camel (A320A, S210S, L130L, T400T, L440I) were found neutral indicating their beneficial effect while only T110A out of the fifteen amino acid substitutions was found deleterious in cattle. The obtained phylogenetic trees from the nucleotide sequences showed a closer relationship among the members of the Bovidae family particularly the sheep and cattle.
This information may aid future research that aims at the selection of the studied animals for improved meat and milk quality traits.
Prevalence of qnr Genes among Multidrug Resistance Staphylococcus aureus from Clinical Isolates
Authors: B. Abdu Abdulrasheed , Y. Mirabeau Tattfeng 
Published: November 2019

Objectives: Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is regarded as an important aetiological agent of various human infections. Fluoroquinolones are routinely used in the chemotherapeutic management of these infections; nonetheless, in recent years, a growing rate of resistance to these drugs has been reported worldwide. The aims of this study were to isolate and discover the prevalence of plasmid-mediated (qnrA, qnrB, and qnrS) genes among the quinolone-resistant clinical S. aureus isolates in Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
Methods: A total of 25 (31.25%) clinical isolates of S. aureus were collected from hospitalized patients. The bacterial isolates were identified through standard laboratory protocols and further confirmed using the API Staph system (bioMérieux, France) test strips. The antimicrobial susceptibility and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were determined by the standard disk diffusion and serial dilutions methods respectively. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used for detecting qnrA, qnrB, and qnrS genes.
Results: Of the 25 S. aureus isolates, 19(76.00%) were resistant to ampicillin-cloxacillin, while 14 (56.00%) each were resistant to norfloxacin and Amoxicillin, 13 (52.00%) each to gentamicin and erythromycin, 11 (44.00%) were resistant to streptomycin, rifampicin and ciprofloxacin, respectively. The resistance pattern among the isolates to chloramphenicol and levofloxacin were 10 (40.00%) and 7 (28.00%) respectively. All the eleven ciprofloxacin resistant were high-level (1000 µg/mL) resistance isolates and only one (9.00%) of these isolates was positive for the qnrB gene.
Conclusion: The study results were indicative of the presence of low frequency of qnr genes among the clinical isolates of S. aureus in Yenagoa, indicating that other mechanisms are employed in resisting to these fluoroquinolones. This, however, emphasizes the need for establishing discreet policies associated with infection-control measures in hospital settings.
Seasonal Effect on Growth Performance and Leaf Biomass Production of Two Moringa oleifera Lam. Varieties Grown under Sahelian Condition in Burkina Faso
Authors: Kagambèga François Wenemi , Bagagnan Abdoul Rasmane , Ayantunde Augustine , Sawadogo Louis 
Published: November 2019

Aims: An experiment was conducted to compare the growth performance of two varieties of Moringa oleifera (wild variety and PKM-1) under different seasonal period at two locations in northern Burkina Faso, and the potential for improving household nutrition.
Study Design, Place and Duration of Study: Two separate trials corresponding to sowing period (cold and warm) were laid out at each site (Bani and Tougou) in a completely randomized block design with three replicates between December 2017 and September 2018.
Methodology: Each block was subdivided into two plots of 8 m² (separated from each other by 3 m break) intended to receive each variety of Moringa at each sowing period. The seeds were sown with 2 seeds by pit at 2 cm depth with spacing of 0.5 m x 0.5 m in each plot ploughed up to 30 cm. Watering was done daily during the dry season and consisted of applying 24 liters of water in each plot at two times. Vegetative growth measurements (plant height, number of leaves) were done weekly while leaf biomass production was assessed monthly from the 40th day after sowing.
Results: The results showed that seedlings growth parameters and foliar biomass differed significantly (p < 0.001) among the two Moringa oleifera varieties and were influenced by the sowing period and sites. Although the two varieties grew well, Moringa oleifera var PKM-1 grew faster and produced much leaves compared to the wild or local variety. Then, greater growth attributes (height and number of leaves) and foliar biomass were noted for PKM-1.
Conclusion: The warm period (March / April) appear to be the most recommendable period for the growth and biomass accumulation of the two varieties of Moringa oleifera.
Bio-activities of Tetracycline and Algae Food Supplement Algo-Bio® on Escherichia coli Antimicrobial Resistance Isolated from Piglet’s Intestinal Flora
Authors: Kone Amine Naty Tadiogo , Ouattara Baguy Mohamed , Tiekoura Bertin , Konan Fernique Kouadio , Koffi Eugène , Kouadio Innocent Kouamé , Dadie Adjéhi , Guessennd Nathalie Kouadio 
Published: November 2019

Aims: This study aimed at evaluating the effect of Algo-Bio® use on Escherichia coli resistance strains isolated from piglets intestinal flora.
Study Design: Bacteriological study.
Place and Duration of Study: Laboratory of the National Reference Center for antibiotics at Institute Pasteur Côte d’Ivoire, between March 2018 and June 2018.
Methodology: A breeding of three batches of two piglets was carried out, then treatments with tetracycline and Algo-Bio® were administered to them. Enterobacteria was isolated on Mac Conkey medium added up with tetracycline and resistance rates were determined. Escherichia coli resistant strains have been identified and antibiotic susceptibility test was performed using disk diffusion method on Müller-Hinton agar.
Results: Enterobacteria resistance rates increased ranging from 18.4% (D0) to 81.5% (D4) to tetracycline-treated piglets and respectively from 25.7% (D0) to 29% (D4) and from 22.3% (D0) to 24.5% (D4), in control piglets and those treated with Algo-Bio®. Antibiotic susceptibility test of Escherichia coli strains isolated from piglets treated with tetracycline showed high resistance to ceftazidime (83.3%), amoxicillin (76.9%) and tetracycline (92.3%) with 39.4% strains producing ESBL, 23.7% producing PHL and 5.2% of producing CHP on D4. Escherichia coli strains isolated from control piglets and Algo-Bio® treated piglets revealed a decrease of ESBL respectively from 17.6% (D0) to 13.7% (D4) and from 12.5% ​​(D0) to 6.4% (D4).
Conclusion: The study showed that the use of Algo-Bio® does not induce an evolution of antimicrobial resistance in Microbiota strains and consequently this dietary supplement can be used as a good alternative to antibiotics.
The Practice of Marketing Public Relations In Multinational Companies in Indonesia
Authors: Wijaya Lina Sinatra 
Published: November 2019

The growth of public relations and its acceptance as a valuable, sometimes essential, marketing practice is practically universal . This study aims to find out the marketing communication models applied in Multinational companies in Indonesia. The study provides an analysis of the role of marketing public relations in Multinational companies and this study also explores the role of marketing public relations in the multinational or global companies in Indonesia, to establish whether it is considered to be an important function for a multinational company. The data was gathered through in-depth interview and telephone interview technique involving six multinational companies in Indonesia. The result of this study shows that Marketing public relations officers in multinational companies in Indonesia do apply a mixed model of communications in their operations. This mixed model is a mixture of the press agentry and a two-way asymmetrical model. These two models seem to be the models which are applied in most multinational companies in Indonesia, even though they still use external agencies (consultancies) for handling certain issues.
The Effect of Company Performance on Dividend Policy in Manufacturing Companies
Authors: Kusuma Onny , Semuel Hatane 
Published: November 2019

Companies in managing their finances are always faced with three important issues that are interrelated. The three problems are investment decisions, funding decisions and dividend policy decisions. This study will be focusing on dividend policy decision. Not all companies distribute dividend even when they have high profit/liquidity level or because they need money to pay interest. This study investigates and aim to analyze the effect of company performance to dividend policy in manufacturing companies. Company performance used as variables are: profitability, leverage, and liquidity. The author will analyze the direct effect from profitability, leverage, and liquidity with company dividend policy. After that by using liquidity as moderating variable, the author will analyze wether high liquidity level can strengthen company decision to distribute dividends.
The sample for this study are 77 manufacturing industry companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in 2010-2016 which distributed dividends. Research data is taken from annual financial report data published by the sample companies. The data in this study were processed with the help of SEM smartPLS 3.0 model. This study explains the impact of profitability, leverage, and liquidity factors on dividend policy and wether liquidity can be used to strengthen or weaken the relationship between profitability to dividend policy and leverage to dividend policy.
Individual and joint performance of DNA methylation profiles, genetic risk score and environmental risk scores for predicting breast cancer risk
Authors: Guan Zhong , Raut Janhavi R. , Weigl Korbinian , Schöttker Ben , Holleczek Bernd , Zhang Yan , Brenner Hermann 
Published: November 2019

DNA methylation patterns in the blood, genetic risk scores (GRSs), and environmental risk factors can potentially improve breast cancer (BC) risk prediction. We assessed the individual and joint predictive performance of methylation, GRS, and environmental risk factors for BC incidence in a prospective cohort study. In a cohort of 5462 women aged 50–75 from Germany, 101 BC cases were identified during 14 years of follow‐up and were compared to 263 BC‐free controls in a nested case–control design. Three previously suggested methylation risk scores (MRSs) based on methylation of 423, 248, and 131 cytosine‐phosphate‐guanine (CpG) loci, and a GRS based on the risk alleles from 269 recently identified single nucleotide polymorphisms were constructed. Additionally, multiple previously proposed environmental risk scores (ERSs) were built based on environmental variables. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) were estimated for evaluating BC risk prediction performance. MRS and ERS showed limited accuracy in predicting BC incidence, with AUCs ranging from 0.52 to 0.56 and from 0.52 to 0.59, respectively. The GRS predicted BC incidence with a higher accuracy (AUC = 0.61). Adjusted odds ratios per standard deviation increase (95% confidence interval) were 1.07 (0.84–1.36) and 1.40 (1.09–1.80) for the best performing MRS and ERS, respectively, and 1.48 (1.16–1.90) for the GRS. A full risk model combining the MRS, GRS, and ERS predicted BC incidence with the highest accuracy (AUC = 0.64) and might be useful for identifying high‐risk populations for BC screening.
Highly Stereoselective Palladium‐Catalyzed [3+2] Cycloaddition of Vinyl Epoxides and N‐Benzothiazolimines
Authors: Song Xiaoxiao , Gu Mengjie , Chen Xiaoyun , Xu Lei , Ni Qijian 
Published: November 2019

AbstractAn asymmetric [3+2] cycloaddition of racemic vinyl epoxides with N‐benzothiazolimines has been presented under Pd‐catalysis. This transformation provides rapid access to highly functionalized oxazolidine scaffolds in generally good yields along with high stereoselectivities (up to 99% ee, 8.5 : 1 d.r.) under mild conditions. The use of chiral BINAP ligand enabled this asymmetric transformation with a broad substrate tolerance.
Deciphering an Abnormal Layered‐Tunnel Heterostructure Induced by Chemical Substitution for the Sodium Oxide Cathode
Authors: Xiao Yao , Zhu Yan‐Fang , Xiang Wei , Wu Zhen‐Guo , Li Yong‐Chun , Lai Jing , Li Shi , Wang Enhui , Yang Zu‐Guang , Xu Chun‐Liu , Zhong Ben‐He , Guo Xiao‐Dong 
Published: November 2019

AbstractDemands for large‐scale energy storage systems have driven the development of layered transition‐metal oxide cathodes for room‐temperature rechargeable sodium ion batteries (SIBs). Now, an abnormal layered‐tunnel heterostructure Na0.44Co0.1Mn0.9O2 cathode material induced by chemical element substitution is reported. By virtue of beneficial synergistic effects, this layered‐tunnel electrode shows outstanding electrochemical performance in sodium half‐cell system and excellent compatibility with hard carbon anode in sodium full‐cell system. The underlying formation process, charge compensation mechanism, phase transition, and sodium‐ion storage electrochemistry are clearly articulated and confirmed through combined analyses of in situ high‐energy X‐ray diffraction and ex situ X‐ray absorption spectroscopy as well as operando X‐ray diffraction. This crystal structure engineering regulation strategy offers a future outlook into advanced cathode materials for SIBs.
Decolorization and degradation potential of enhanced lignocellulolytic enzymes production by Pleurotus eryngii using cherry waste from industry
Authors: Akpinar Merve , Ozturk Urek Raziye 
Published: November 2019

AbstractLignocellulosic wastes accumulate in large quantities and thus cause environmental issues. Cherry waste (CW) of them collected from industry was used as the substrate to increase production of lignocellulolytic enzymes, laccase (Lac), manganese peroxidase (MnP), lignin peroxidase (LiP), carboxymethyl cellulase (CmCase), xylanase, exoglucanase, β‐glucosidase (BGLA), by Pleurotus eryngii. Then, the decolorizations of some azo dyes were examined. The effects of different concentrations of some compounds, such as copper, iron, Tween 80, ammonium nitrate, and manganese, on the productions of lignocellulolytic enzymes were studied depending on incubation period. The maximum productions of lignocellulolytic enzymes were achieved by performing 5.0 g CW and 1,000 µM Cu2+, 1,000 µM Fe2+, 2.0 g L−1 ammonium nitrate, 180 µM Mn2+ as the inducers. To the results determined under optimized conditions, 3.61, 4.79, 1.86, 1.15, 2.24, and 2.91‐fold increases were respectively obtained for Lac, MnP, LiP, CMCase, xylanase, and BGLA activities. The chemical changes of dye structure during decolorization by lignocellulolytic enzymes extract containing Lac with decolorization performance as 12.6 ± 0.8% were partially characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. This study is important in terms of dye decolorization and degradation by achieving the enhancement of the activities of seven lignocellulolytic enzymes using various inductors.
Real‐world survival of patients with advanced BRAF V600 mutated melanoma treated with front‐line BRAF/MEK inhibitors, anti‐PD‐1 antibodies, or nivolumab/ipilimumab
Authors: Moser Justin C. , Chen Danli , Hu‐Lieskovan Siwen , Grossmann Kenneth F. , Patel Shiven , Colonna Sarah V. , Ying Jian , Hyngstrom John R. 
Published: November 2019

AbstractBackgroundThe optimal treatment sequence for patients with advanced BRAF V600 mutant melanoma is unknown. BRAF/MEK inhibition (BRAF/MEKi), single agent anti‐PD‐1 (aPD‐1) antibodies and combination immune checkpoint inhibition with nivolumab and ipilimumab (niv/ipi) are all approved; however, they have not been prospectively compared. Therefore, we sought to compare overall survival of patients with advanced BRAF mutant melanoma treated with either front‐line BRAF/MEKi, aPD‐1, or niv/ipi.MethodsPatients with advanced BRAF mutant melanoma who had received BRAF/MEKi, niv/ipi, or aPD‐1 in the front‐line setting were identified from a nationwide database comprising de‐identified patient‐level structured and unstructured data derived from electronic health records. Survival was compared using Kaplan‐Meier curves and log‐rank analysis. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression models were used to measure the effect of front‐line treatment, age (>64 or not), LDH (elevated or not), and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status (>1 or not) on survival.ResultsFive hundred and sixty seven patients with advanced disease and treated with front‐line aPD‐1 (n = 162), BRAF/MEKi (n = 297) or niv/ipi (n = 108) were identified. With a median follow‐up of 22.4 months, median overall survival (OS) for patients treated with front‐line niv/ipi was not reached (NR) while median OS for patients treated with aPD‐1 or BRAF/MEKi was 39.5 months and 13.2 months, respectively. Front‐line treatment with PD‐1 and niv/ipi were associated with statistically longer survival than BRAF/MEKi in multivariate analyses.ConclusionsIn our real‐world retrospective analysis, patients with advanced BRAF mutant melanoma treated with front‐line niv/ipi or aPD‐1 had longer survival compared to those treated with front‐line BRAF/MEKi.
Shell Stabilization of Photocatalytic ZnSe Nanorods
Authors: Perry Danielle , Waiskopf Nir , Verbitsky Lior , Remennik Sergei , Banin Uri 
Published: November 2019

AbstractZinc chalcogenides nanostructures are promising newly‐studied materials for photocatalytic reactions such as water reduction for hydrogen generation and photoinitiation of radical polymerization processes. Herein, we introduced a straightforward synthesis of thin ZnS shell on ZnSe nanorods and characterized the resulting core/shell ZnSe/ZnS nanorods by electron microscopy techniques and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Then, the photocatalytic activities of the nanorods were studied by gas chromatography for hydrogen generation and by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for the photoinitiation capability. While such core/shell systems may limit charge transfer to the solution due to the type‐I band alignment, we find that the photochemical stability and photocatalytic activity of this system is significantly enhanced over pristine ZnSe nanorods. ZnSe/ZnS nanorods with Ni(NO3)2 co‐catalyst are used for hydrogen generation and the effects of the nanorods’ surface coating, pH conditions and type of hole scavenger are examined. The best performances were observed for nanorods after ligand stripping with Meerwein′s reagent using ascorbic acid as a hole acceptor at pH 4.5. All three parameters were found to affect the photocatalytic activity. Yet, the surface coating and pH dependence differ from previous reports on cadmium chalcogenides photocatalysts. The origin of their differences is discussed and attributed to the band alignment of the systems and the nature of the co‐catalyst. The stable heavy‐metal free ZnSe/ZnS nanorods system presented here holds promise for various photocatalytic applications.