bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Conservation Agriculture and Maize Production Risk: The Case of Mozambique Smallholders
Authors: Kidane Simon M. , Lambert Dayton M. , Eash Neal S. , Roberts Roland K. , Thierfelder Christian 
Published: March 2019

Farming systems in southern Africa are characterized by substantial exposure to external risks to crop production. Compounding these external risks are the effects of climate change, soil degradation, and soil fertility decline that mandates developing sustainable intensification practices to address these issues. In 17 target communities of central Mozambique from 2008–2011, we evaluated the performance of conservation agriculture practices (CAPs) to assess the risk perceptions of smallholder farmers regarding these technologies. The study used the results from 638 farms representing three agro‐ecological regions. Net returns were generated for each practice and compared using non‐parametric procedures. Risk‐preferred technologies were identified using mean‐variance, stochastic dominance, and stochastic efficiency with respect to risk function criterion. The results suggest that maize yields were higher for the CAPs systems at low and high elevation sites as compared with conventional tillage practices. Yield variability was also lower in higher elevation areas. At higher elevations, direct seeding was risk‐preferred, ranking higher by risk‐averse farmers than conventional tillage practices. Risk preferences were ambiguous at lower elevations. However, defining producer utility with a power utility function allowed for comparisons of the technologies over a range of risk‐aversion levels. At intermediate and higher altitudes, the direct seeding technology dominated the basin and conventional tillage practices. In low altitudes, and assuming producers were extremely risk‐averse, the conventional practice might be preferred over CAP technologies. These findings have implications with respect to selecting areas where CAPs are known to out‐perform conventional tillage systems before outscaling technology transfer programs to smallholders.Core Ideas

Four‐year on‐farm experiments were conducted on 638 smallholder farms in Mozambique.
The field treatments compared yields from conservation agriculture and conventional tillage systems.
Net returns from each system were compared to conventional farmer tillage practices.
The analysis identified risk‐preferred technologies.
The conservation agriculture system was preferred by risk‐averse producers farming at higher elevations.
Cover Crop Species and Cultivars for Drill‐Interseeding in Mid‐Atlantic Corn and Soybean
Authors: Caswell Katherine , Wallace John M. , Curran William S. , Mirsky Steven B. , Ryan Matt R. 
Published: March 2019

Core Ideas
Annual ryegrass and orchardgrass performed similarly in field corn.
Medium red clover was the most consistent legume species in field corn.
No effect of annual ryegrass cultivar was observed in field corn.
Annual ryegrass was the most consistent species in soybean.
ABSTRACTDrill‐interseeding is becoming a viable method for integrating cover crops in no‐till corn (Zea mays L.) production in the Mid‐Atlantic region. Development of best management practices for drill‐interseeding cover crops into no‐till grain crops requires greater understanding of cover crop performance at the species and cultivar level. Experiments were conducted at multiple Mid‐Atlantic locations (Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York) in two consecutive growing seasons (2013–2014, 2014–2015) to evaluate establishment and performance of drill‐interseeded: (i) grass and legume cover crop species (n = 8) and annual ryegrass [Lolium perenne L. spp. multiflorum (Lam.) Husnot] cultivars (n = 10) in field corn, and (ii) grass and legume cover crop species (n = 6) in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr]. Fall biomass production of drill‐interseeded cover crops was higher and less variable among locations in field corn than soybean. Annual ryegrass, orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), medium red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), and crimson clover (Trifolium incarntum L.) produced greater mean fall biomass than other species in field corn, but variable winter hardiness of crimson clover resulted in less spring biomass than alternative species. No differences were observed among annual ryegrass cultivars. Annual ryegrass, medium red clover, and crimson clover produced greater mean fall biomass than other species in soybean across locations. Our results highlight the viability of a narrow suite of cover crop species for interseeding in Mid‐Atlantic no‐till grain systems and point to the need for development of agronomic practices that facilitate greater niche complementarity between cover and cash crops.
Occurrence of norovirus genogroups I and II in recreational water from four beaches in Belém city, Brazilian Amazon region
Authors: de Deus Danielle Rodrigues , Teixeira Dielle Monteiro , dos Santos Alves Jainara Cristina , Smith Vanessa Cavaleiro , da Silva Bandeira Renato , Siqueira Jones Anderson Monteiro , de Sá Morais Lena Líllian Canto , Resque Hugo Reis , Gabbay Yvone Benchimol 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the presence of norovirus (NoV) in recreational waters of four estuarine beaches located in Mosqueiro Island, Belém city, Brazilian Amazon, during two years of monitoring (2012 and 2013). NoV particles were concentrated on filtering membrane by the adsorption-elution method and detected by semi-nested RT-PCR (reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) and sequencing. NoV positivity was observed in 37.5% (39/104) of the surface water samples, with genogroup GI (69.2%) occurring at a higher frequency than GII (25.7%), with a cocirculation of both genogroups in two samples (5.1%). This virus was detected in all sampling points analyzed, showing the highest detection rate at the Paraíso Beach (46.2%). Statistically, there was a dependence relationship between tide levels and positive detection, with a higher frequency at high tide (46.7%) than at low tide (25%) periods. Months with the highest detection rates (April 2012 and April/May 2013) were preceded by periods of higher precipitation (March 2012 and February/March 2013). Phylogenetic analysis showed the circulation of the old pandemic variant (GII.4-US_95-96) and GI.8. The NoV detection demonstrated viral contamination on the beaches and evidenced the health risk to bathers, mainly through recreational activities such as bathing, and highlighted the importance of including enteric viruses research in the recreational water quality monitoring.
Modern Approach to Medical Diagnostics - the Use of Separation Techniques in Microorganisms Detection
Authors: Chylewska Agnieszka , Ogryzek Małgorzata , Makowski Mariusz 
Published: March 2019

Background:Analytical chemistry and biotechnology as an interdisciplinary fields of science have been developed during many years and are experiencing significant growth, to cover a wide range of microorganisms separation techniques and methods, utilized for medical therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. Currently scientific reports contribute by introducing electrophoretical and immunological methods and formation of devices applied in food protection (avoiding epidemiological diseases) and healthcare (safety ensuring in hospitals).Methods:Electrophoretic as well as nucleic-acid-based or specific immunological methods have contributed tremendously to the advance of analyses in recent three decades, particularly in relation to bacteria, viruses and fungi identifications, especially in medical in vitro diagnostics, as well as in environmental or food protection.Results:The paper presents the pathogen detection competitiveness of these methods against conventional ones, which are still too time consuming and also labor intensive. The review is presented in several parts following the current trends in improved pathogens separation and detection methods and their subsequent use in medical diagnosis.Discussion:Part one, consists of elemental knowledge about microorganisms as an introduction to their characterization: descriptions of divisions, sizes, membranes (cells) components. Second section includes the development, new technological and practical solution descriptions used in electrophoretical procedures during microbes analyses, with special attention paid to bio-samples analyses like blood, urine, lymph or wastewater. Third part covers biomolecular areas that have created a basis needed to identify the progress, limitations and challenges of nucleic-acid-based and immunological techniques discussed to emphasize the advantages of new separative techniques in selective fractionating of microorganisms.
Microorganisms Isolated from Stored Meat in India, with Potential Antimicrobial Activity against Food Pathogens
Authors: Thangavel Gokila , Thiruvengadam Subramaniyan 
Published: March 2019

Background:World Health Organization has estimated that 1 in 10 people fall ill and 4, 20, 000 die every year from eating contaminated food. Food pathogens like Escherichia, Salmonella, Staphylococcus and Listeria pose a serious threat to human health.Objective:The objective was to isolate microbes from meat stored at refrigerated conditions and evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the cell-free supernatant against food pathogens.Methods:Chicken and Pork samples were procured and stored at refrigerated conditions (4-7ºC) for 2 weeks. The samples were plated on to Nutrient agar (NA) and De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe (MRS) agar for isolation of aerobic and lactic acid bacteria. Cell-free supernatants of the isolates were screened for antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus by microtiter plate assay. The 5 most - effective strains were screened for hemolytic activity and identified by 16s rRNA sequencing.Results:A total of 110 strains were isolated, out of which the top 5 most - effective strains were all from MRS agar. They showed 88-90% inhibition against E. coli and S. typhimurium, whereas 60 to 70 % against S. aureus and L. monocytogenes. These strains were found to be non - hemolytic and were identified as Leuconostoc spp. namely, L. mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides J18, CP003101; L. mesenteroides LM2; L. mesenteroides ATCC 8293, CP000414; L. gelidum subsp. gasicomitatum LM G 18811 and L. mesenteroides; LM2, AY675249.Conclusion:Leuconostoc are known to be effective in controlling foodborne pathogens and therefore, these strains have the potential for application in food and human.
Comparison of Fentanyl, Remifentanil, Sufentanil and Alfentanil in Combination with Propofol for General Anesthesia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
Authors: Sridharan Kannan , Sivaramakrishnan Gowri 
Published: March 2019

Background:
Opioid analgesics are commonly used along with propofol during general
anesthesia. Due to the dearth of data on the quality of anesthesia achieved with this combination,
the present meta-analysis was carried out.

Methods:
Electronic databases were searched for appropriate studies using a suitable search strategy.
Randomized clinical trials comparing the combination of remifentanil/sufentanil/alfentanil
with propofol with fentanyl and propofol, were included. The outcome measures were as follows:
total propofol dose to achieve the desired general anesthesia; time of onset and duration of general
anesthesia; depth of general anesthesia; and recovery time (time for eye-opening and time taken for
extubation). Risk of bias was assessed and Forest plots were generated for eligible outcomes. The
weighted mean difference [95% confidence intervals] was used as the effect estimate.

Results:
Fourteen studies were included in the systematic review and 13 were included in the metaanalysis.
Statistically significant differences were observed for remifentanil in comparison to fentanyl
when combined with propofol: Propofol dose (in mg) -76.18 [-94.72, -57.64]; time of onset of
anesthesia (min) -0.44 [-0.74, -0.15]; time taken for eye-opening (min) -3.95 [-4.8, -3.1]; and time
for extubation (min) -3.53 [-4.37, -2.7]. No significant differences were observed for either sufentanil
or alfentanil about the dose of propofol required and due to scanty data, pooling of the data
could not be attempted for other outcome measures for either sufentanil or alfentanil.

Conclusion:
To conclude, we found that remifentanil has a statistically significant anesthetic profile
than fentanyl when combined with propofol. Scanty evidence for both alfentanil and sufentanil
precludes any such confirmation.
New Monitoring Strategy for the Quality Control in the Processing Practice ofScutellariae Radix
Authors: Huang Qi , Cheng Chunsong , Li Lili , Peng Daiyin , Zhang Cun 
Published: March 2019

Background:Scutellariae Radix (Huangqin) is commonly processed into 3 products for different clinical applications. However, a simple analytical method for quality control has rarely been reported to quickly estimate the degree of processing Huangqin or distinguish differently processed products or unqualified Huangqin products.Objective:To study a new strategy for quality control in the processing practice of Huangqin.Methods:Seven kinds of flavonoids that mainly exist in Huangqin were determined by HPLC-DAD. Chromatographic fingerprints were established to study the variation and discipline of the 3 processed products of Huangqin. PCA and OPLS-DA were used to classify differently processed products of Huangqin.Results:The results showed that baicalin and wogonoside were the main components in the crude and the alcohol Huangqin herb while baicalein and wogonin mainly existed in carbonized Huangqin. The results of mathematical statistics revealed that the processing techniques can make the quality of medicinal materials more uniform.Conclusion:This multivariate monitoring strategy is suitable for quality control in the processing of Huangqin.
Enhanced Oral Bioavailability of Ibrutinib Encapsulated Poly (Lactic-co- Glycolic Acid) Nanoparticles: Pharmacokinetic Evaluation in Rats
Authors: Alshetaili Abdullah S. , Ansari Mohammad J. , Anwer Md. K. , Ganaie Majid A. , Iqbal Muzaffar , Alshahrani Saad M. , Alalaiwe Ahmad S. , Alsulays Bader B. , Alshehri Sultan , Sultan Abdullah Saleh 
Published: March 2019

Background:
The poor oral bioavailability of newly discovered chemical entities and marketed
formulations are usually related to poor aqueous solubility or poor permeability, leading to drug
failure in the development phases or therapeutic failure in a clinical setting. However, advancement in
drug formulations and delivery technologies have enabled scientists to improve the bioavailability of
formulations by enhancing solubility or permeability.

Objective:
This study reports the enhancement of the oral bioavailability of ibrutinib (IBR), a poorly
soluble anticancer drug in Wistar albino rats.

Methods:
IBR loaded nanoparticles were formulated through the nanoprecipitation method by utilizing
poly lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) as a safe, biodegradable and biocompatible polymer, and poloxamer
or pluronic 127 as a stabilizer. Animals were administered with a dose of 10 mg/kg of IBR suspension
or an equivalent amount of IBR loaded nanoparticles. Plasma samples were extracted and analyzed by
state of the art UPLC-MS/MS technique. Pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters and bioavailability were
calculated by non-compartmental analysis.

Results:
There was an approximately 4.2-fold enhancement in the oral bioavailability of IBR-loaded
nanoparticles, as compared to the pure IBR suspension. The maximum plasma concentration (Cmax;
574.31 ± 56.20 Vs 146.34 ± 5.37 ng/mL) and exposure (AUC; 2291.65 ± 263.83 vs 544.75 ± 48.33 ng*
h/mL) of IBR loaded nanoparticles were significantly higher than those exhibited through pure IBR
suspension.

Conclusion:
The outcomes of the present study suggested the potential of PLGA nanoparticles in the
enhancement of bioavailability and the therapeutic efficacy of IBR.
Metformin as a Radiation Modifier; Implications to Normal Tissue Protection and Tumor Sensitization
Authors: Mortezaee Keywan , Shabeeb Dheyauldeen , Musa Ahmed E. , Najafi Masoud , Farhood Bagher 
Published: March 2019

Background:Nowadays, ionizing radiation is used for several applications in medicine, industry, agriculture, and nuclear power generation. Besides the beneficial roles of ionizing radiation, there are some concerns about accidental exposure to radioactive sources. The threat posed by its use in terrorism is of global concern. Furthermore, there are several side effects to normal organs for patients who had undergone radiation treatment for cancer. Hence, the modulation of radiation response in normal tissues was one of the most important aims of radiobiology. Although, so far, several agents have been investigated for protection and mitigation of radiation injury. Agents such as amifostine may lead to severe toxicity, while others may interfere with radiation therapy outcomes as a result of tumor protection. Metformin is a natural agent that is well known as an antidiabetic drug. It has shown some antioxidant effects and enhances DNA repair capacity, thereby ameliorating cell death following exposure to radiation. Moreover, through targeting endogenous ROS production within cells, it can mitigate radiation injury. This could potentially make it an effective radiation countermeasure. In contrast to other radioprotectors, metformin has shown modulatory effects through induction of several genes such as AMPK, which suppresses reduction/ oxidation (redox) reactions, protects cells from accumulation of unrepaired DNA, and attenuates initiation of inflammation as well as fibrotic pathways. Interestingly, these properties of metformin can sensitize cancer cells to radiotherapy.Conclusion:In this article, we aimed to review the interesting properties of metformin such as radioprotection, radiomitigation and radiosensitization, which could make it an interesting adjuvant for clinical radiotherapy, as well as an interesting candidate for mitigation of radiation injury after a radiation disaster.
Hydrolyzed Rutin Decreases Worsening of Anaplasia in Glioblastoma Relapse
Authors: de Oliveira Carlos Tadeu Parisi , Colenci Renato , Pacheco Cesar Cozar , Mariano Patrick Moro , do Prado Paula Ribeiro , Mamprin Gustavo Pignatari Rosas , Santana Maycon Giovani , Gambero Alessandra , de Oliveira Carvalho Patrícia , Priolli Denise Gonçalves 
Published: March 2019

Background:
Gliomas are aggressive and resilient tumors. Progression to advanced stages
of malignancy, characterized by cell anaplasia, necrosis, and reduced response to conventional surgery
or therapeutic adjuvant, are critical challenges in glioma therapy. Relapse of the disease poses a considerable
challenge for management. Hence, new compounds are required to improve therapeutic response.
As hydrolyzed rutin (HR), a compound modified via rutin deglycosylation, as well as some
flavonoids demonstrated antiproliferative effect for glioblastoma, these are considered potential epigenetic
drugs.

Objective:
The purpose of this study was to determine the antitumor activity and evaluate the potential
for modifying tumor aggressivity of rutin hydrolysates for treating both primary and relapsed glioblastoma.

Methods:
The glioblastoma cell line, U251, was used for analyzing cell cycle inhibition and apoptosis
and for establishing the GBM mouse model. Mice with GBM were treated with HR to verify antitumor
activity. Histological analysis was used to evaluate HR interference in aggressive behavior and
glioma grade. Immunohistochemistry, comet assay, and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance
(TBARS) values were used to evaluate the mechanism of HR action.

Results:
HR is an antiproliferative and antitumoral compound that inhibits the cell cycle via a p53-
independent pathway. HR reduces tumor growth and aggression, mainly by decreasing mitosis and necrosis
rates without genotoxicity, which is suggestive of epigenetic modulation.

Conclusion:
HR possesses antitumor activity and decreases anaplasia in glioblastoma, inhibiting progression
to malignant stages of the disease. HR can improve the effectiveness of response to conventional
therapy, which has a crucial role in recurrent glioma.
Has Barack Obama Changed his Language in Later Life? A Case Study of -ing/-in Variation and the MOUTH Vowel
Authors: Lei Xinyun , Liu Siqi 
Published: March 2019

This paper aims to explore whether individual speakers can change their language at the phonological level across their lifespan, especially after the critical period, by conducting a longitudinal study on U.S. President Barack Obama at three time points in his middle years: 1995 (age 34), 2008 (age 47), and 2014 (age 53). The two phonological variants -ing/-in and the /aw/ vowel were investigated. Our data were collected from three formal TV interviews with Barack Obama, available on YouTube. We transcribed the first 14– 17 minutes of each interview as our research samples. A quantitative analysis was conducted on word-final -ing/-in and the F1 and F2 of /aw/ by employing Multivariate Analysis and a Fisher’s Exact Test. As Obama identifies with being an African American, he is expected to use the alveolar variant at a higher rate than the velar nasal. However, according to our results for -ing/-in , Obama shows almost no change in our data. This could be accounted for by his occupations, including that of lecturer and president, requiring the use of the standard language as well as by the stability of the variables -ing/-in themselves. However, in contrast to previous findings that -ing tends to be favoured in nouns, while -in is preferred in verbs (Wagner 2012b), our research showed no such preference, possibly because of the relatively formal speech style. As for Obama’s /aw/ vowel, the data reveal a dramatic change in both lowering and fronting from age 34 to 47, while no difference is found between the ages of 47 and 53. Geographical relocation and social mobility could account for this linguistic change. To conclude, these patterns indicate the possibilities of individuals changing their language across their lifespan; and several motivating factors, such as geographical and social class mobility, style of speech, and accommodation, tend to affect the courses of the change.