bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Antioxidant Activity In vivo and Ex Vivo of Tautomeric Pair of Polyprenylated Benzophenone - Garcinielliptone FC (Platonia insignis Mart Seeds)
Authors: da Silva Oliveira George Laylson , das Dores Alves de Oliveira Maria , da Conceição Oliveira Prado Maria , de Barros Falcão Ferraz Alexandre , da Silva José Carlos Correia Lima , da Costa Junior Joaquim S. , dos Santos C. L da Silva Ana Paula 
Published: September 2018

Background:Garcinielliptone FC corresponds to a polyprenylated acylphloroglucinol having a benzophenonic core (diphenylmethanone) substituted with isoprenyl(s) group(s) (3-methyl-2-butenyl) and 2-isopropenyl-hex-5-enyl.Objective:The present work evaluated the antioxidant activity of garcinielliptone FC (GFC) in vitro against non-biological radicals [2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) and 2,2'-azinobis-3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS•+)] and ex vivo against oxidative damage induced by AAPH (2,2'-azobis-2-methylpropionamidine dihydrochloride) and iron/citrate ion in erythrocytes and mitochondria, respectively.Methods:In addition to the protective effect, the main biochemical indexes of oxidative stress, such as lipid peroxidation through the formation of Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT) activity and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels.Results:According to the results obtained in erythrocytes, the antioxidant results at concentrations of 0.1, 0.3, 0.7, 1.5 and 3.0 mM were 26.34 ± 0.68, 43.39 ± 2.17, 62.27 ± 2.17, 86.69 ± 0.47 and 92.89 ± 0.45%, respectively, where GFC reduced the rate of oxidative hemolysis when compared to AAPH (p<0.05). The antioxidant activity observed in erythrocytes was also seen in mitochondria in which GFC reduced mitochondrial swelling by increasing the absorbance when compared to iron/citrate ion complex (p<0.05). In both biological models, GFC had an antioxidant effect on erythrocyte and mitochondrial redox balance when analyzing oxidative stress biomarkers, such as reduction of lipid peroxidation and inhibition of depletion in the activity of SOD, CAT and GSH levels.Conclusion:In conclusion, GFC had in vitro and ex vivo antioxidant activity against oxidative damage induced in erythrocytes and mitochondria acting on the erythrocytic and mitochondrial redox balance.
Thermally Activated Noble Metal Nanoparticles Incorporated in Electrospun Fiber-based Drug Delivery Systems
Authors: Fazio Enza , Ridolfo Alessandro , Neri Giulia 
Published: September 2018

Background:
Nanosystems based on PEG-PLGA copolymer have attracted increasing interest
in several biomedicine fields, due to their unique properties. Commonly, PEG-PLGA copolymer
was used to formulate nanoparticles (NPs) for drug delivery applications. Only recently, the engineering
of polymeric nanofibrous membrane able to be use like drug nanocarrier was investigated.

Objective:
The goal of this work is the development of two new drug delivery systems based on
PEGylated-PLGA nanofibrous scaffolds, obtained by electrospinning deposition, simultaneous loaded
with: i) silibinin, a therapeutic agent, ii) Au/Ag and iii) non-toxic Fe2O3 magnetic nanoparticles. Another
interest aspect of the present work regards how the morphological structure can influence the
drug release which has been fine-tuned by two external stimuli: a light source and a magnetic field.

Methods:
Noble metal nanocolloids were prepared in water by the pulsed laser ablation technique.
The PEG-PLGA@Au/Ag-SLB added with Fe2O3-PVA nanofibers were fabricated by the electrospinning
deposition method.

Results:
The use of “Surface Plasmon Resonance”-mediated localized photothermal effect, determined
by the nanoparticles resonant absorption of visible radiation, allows to these systems to be able
to employ for photothermal drug delivery therapies in proximity of tumor cells. All data obtained
about the fiber scaffolds are compared to NPs based on the same PEG-PLGA copolymer, loaded with
silibinin, Fe2O3 and Au/Ag nanoparticles alternatively. Nanofibers respects to NPs, showed interesting
sustained responsive silibinin release for at least 60 h, without the burst effect. A diffusion-based theoretical
model approach allowed to precisely describe the release mechanism.

Conclusion:
The effective and controlled silibilin drug release, upon application of either light irradiation
or magnetic field for a definite time interval, has been demonstrated. Under the light stimulus, the
fiber-shaped nanosystem reached a cumulative drug release value as high as 70% in the long time. On
the overall, the information obtained could be useful to design suitable “on demand” nanocomposites
in view of a therapeutic treatments protocol that requires a fast pharmacological action.
LC-MS/MS Determination of Evodiamine in Plasma and Its Pharmacokinetics in Rats after Administration in the Form of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles
Authors: Feng Yi , Yin Huanli , Zhao Xue , Wu Min 
Published: September 2018

Background:
A sensitive, reliable liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LCMS/
MS) method has been developed and applied to detect the evodiamine (EVO) in rat plasma after
animals were given EVO directly. However there is almost no research on the detection of EVO after
animals were given EVO-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (EVO-SLN).

Objective:
In this study, a more sensitive and rapid modified LC-MS/MS method for the quantification
of EVO in rat blood was developed and validated to evaluate the role of SLN in vivo.

Methods:
Plasma samples were taken from animals orally administered EVO-SLN or free EVO, proteins
were extracted using diethyl ether containing the internal standards (IS) arbidol hydrochloride, and
the mixture was fractionated by liquid chromatography. Quantitative detection of EVO was based on
gradient elution in a mobile phase of acetonitrile-0.2% formic acid in water (70:30, v/v).

Results:
The calibration curve was linear (r2>0.999, n=9) over the concentration range from 0.1 to 250
ng/mL. Peaks in triple-quadrupole MS were detected for EVO at m/z 304.2→134.1 and for IS at m/z
479.1→343.0. Mean recovery of EVO was more than 93%. Intra and inter-day precision were within
2.7%. In pharmacokinetics studies, EVO-SLN exhibited much higher bioavailability and absorption
than free EVO.

Conclusion:
The developed method in this work can provide a sensitive, effective and rapid process for
the analysis of EVO in whole blood samples. The pharmacokinetics results suggest that the usefulness
of SLN for improving oral bioavailability of poorly soluble drugs.
Development and Validation of Stability Indicating HPLC Method for the Determination of Impurities in the Sterile Mixture of Cefoperazone and Sulbactam
Authors: Ivaturi Ramu , Sastry Thuttagunta Manikya , Sunkara Satyaveni 
Published: September 2018

Background:
Cefoperazone Sulbactam injection is a cephalosporin antibiotic with a β-
lactamase inhibitor used in the treatment for intra abdominal infections, Urinary track infections, surgical
infections, etc. The combination is not official in any of the pharmacopeia for their content and impurities
determination.

Introduction:
The present study involves the development of a simple, rapid, accurate, sensitive and
stability indicating RP-HPLC method for the quantitative estimation of Cefoperazone Sulbactam mixture
and its impurities in bulk and pharmaceutical dosage forms.

Methods:
0.005 M Tetrabutyl ammonium hydroxide buffer solution pH adjusted to 6.80 and Acetonitrile
combination has been used in a gradient programme with a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min. The retention
time of Cefoperazone and Sulbactam were observed at around 8.5 and 19.5 minutes respectively. The
UV detection was carried out at a wavelength of 230 nm. The chromatographic separation was achieved
using Waters xbridge C18-150*4.6 mm, 3.5 µm HPLC column. The method has been validated according
to the current International Council for Harmonization (ICH) guidelines for the method validation
parameters such as Specificity, linearity, range, accuracy, precision, robustness and sensitivity.

Results:
The validation results indicate that the method is specific, as the known impurities and other
impurities formed during the forced degradation studies were not co-eluting with the main components.
Moreover, all these impurities were found to be spectrally pure, proving the stability indicating power
of the method. The linearity and range of the method is in the range of 0.01-150%, highly accurate
(100.2%), precise (<1%) and robust.

Conclusion:
The proposed method was accurate and specific for the quantitative analysis of Cefoperazone
and Sulbactam and their related impurities in the sterile mixture. Hence the proposed method can
be used for the quantification of impurities in routine as well as stability analysis in the development as
well as quality control laboratories.
Food Web Structure Informs Potential Causes of Bimodal Size Structure in a Top Predator
Authors: Searle Peter C. , Verde Joshua A. , Belk Mark C. 
Published: September 2018

Background:
Assemblages of fishes in lakes and reservoirs in the western USA are dominated by non-native, large-bodied, piscivorous fishes that lack a shared evolutionary history. Top predators in these crowded systems are often characterized by unstable population dynamics and poor somatic growth rates. One such assemblage is in Fish Lake, located in southern Utah, USA, in which introduced lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush, Walbaum) exhibit a bimodal growth pattern. A few lake trout in Fish Lake grow rapidly to large size typical of the species; whereas, most never grow beyond 600 mm total length.

Objective:
To inform competitive interactions in this evolutionarily novel fish assemblage that might cause the low recruitment to large body size in lake trout, we characterized trophic niche (from stable isotope analysis of C and N) of all fishes in the lake.

Methods:
We used a Bayesian mixing model to describe the trophic niche and infer diet of lake trout and their potential prey, and we used Bayesian ellipse analysis to identify potential areas of high competition within the food web. Large lake trout feed mostly on small lake trout and splake (Salvelinus namaycush, Walbaum x Salvelinus fontinalis, Mitchill) despite availability of abundant yellow perch. (Perca flavescens, Mitchill). Small lake trout and splake feed mostly on zooplankton and exhibit substantial overlap of their trophic niche implying competition for food. Yellow perch and Utah chub (Gila atraria, Girard; formerly an important food item for lake trout in Fish Lake) exhibit extreme overlap of their trophic niche implying strong competitive interactions.

Results:
Our data suggest that lack of recruitment to large body size in lake trout may result from a reduction in availability of Utah chub resulting from competitive interactions with yellow perch, and increased competition from introduced splake for available prey.

Conclusion:
Management actions that may help ameliorate the poor somatic growth rates of most lake trout include efforts to reduce perch populations or increase vulnerability of perch to predation by lake trout, and removal of splake as a competitor of small lake trout.
Anti-mitotic Activity of the Benzothiazole-pyrazole Hybrid Derivatives
Authors: Bhat M. , Belagali S.L. , Kumar N.K.H. , Jagannath S. 
Published: September 2018

Background:Nitrogen-containing heterocyclics are abundant in natural products and also in synthetic drug molecules because of a variety of applications and superior pharmacological profile action. Pyrazoles are the integral architects of many of the heterocyclic compounds with superior biological activity.Methods:Two series of the pyrazole conjugated Benzothiazole derivatives were synthesized. The pyrazoles were synthesized by the Vilsmeier-Haack reaction and then conjugated with benzothiazole hydrazine and hydrazide by imine bond formation. The synthesized compounds were screened for anti-mitotic activity using Allium assay.Results:Here, the anti-mitotic activity, the percentage of cell division and the percentage of inhibition compared to the control were calculated. Compound 4b (-OMe), 4c (-OH), 5b (-OMe), 5c (- OH) and 5d (-CH3) had electron donating groups which showed excellent activity, was followed by 4f and 5f where they contain p-Bromo substitution, showing moderate activity.Conclusion:In the two series, benzothiazole linked to pyrazole through the hydrazide bridging (5a-5i) had superior to hydrazine bridging (4a-4i). The observed chromosomal aberrations are because of the structural morphology and binding sites of the molecule with the chromosome.
Usability Challenges for Health and Wellness Mobile Apps: Mixed-Methods Study Among mHealth Experts and Consumers (Preprint)
Authors: Liew Mei Shan , Zhang Jian , See Jovis , Ong Yen Leng 
Published: September 2018

BACKGROUND

By 2019, there will be an estimated 4.68 billion mobile phone users globally. This increase comes with an unprecedented proliferation in mobile apps, a plug-and-play product positioned to improve lives in innumerable ways. Within this landscape, medical apps will see a 41% compounded annual growth rate between 2015 and 2020, but paradoxically, prevailing evidence indicates declining downloads of such apps and decreasing “stickiness” with the intended end users.

OBJECTIVE

As usability is a prerequisite for success of health and wellness mobile apps, this paper aims to provide insights and suggestions for improving usability experience of the mobile health (mHealth) app by exploring the degree of alignment between mHealth insiders and consumers.

METHODS

Usability-related major themes were selected from over 20 mHealth app development studies. The list of themes, grouped into 5 categories using the Nielsen usability model, was then used as a framework to identify and classify the responses from mHealth expert (insider) interviews. Responses from the qualitative phase were integrated into some questions for a quantitative consumer survey. Subsequently, categorical data from qualitative mHealth insider interviews and numerical data from a quantitative consumer survey were compared in order to identify common usability themes and areas of divergence.

RESULTS

Of the 5 usability attributes described in Nielsen model, Satisfaction ranked as the top attribute for both mHealth insiders and consumers. Satisfaction refers to user likability, comfort, and pleasure. The consumer survey yielded 451 responses. Out of 9 mHealth insiders’ top concerns, 5 were similar to those of the consumers. On the other hand, consumers did not grade themes such as Intuitiveness as important, which was deemed vital by mHealth insiders. Other concerns of the consumers include in-app charges and advertisements.

CONCLUSIONS

This study supports and contributes to the existing pool of mixed-research studies. Strengthening the connectivity between suppliers and users (through the designed research tool) will help increase uptake of mHealth apps. In a holistic manner, this will have a positive overall outcome for the mHealth app ecosystem.
Physical Characteristics of Cocoa Butter and Palm Stearin Mixture in Milk Chocolate System
Authors: Jati Misnawi 
Published: September 2018

Chocolate products for consumption in tropical areas frequently become soft and tend to bloom due to melting and migration of fat contained, the product becomes dully and less interesting. Fat fraction determines chocolate texture, appearance and its handling. Objective of this research is to study the characteristic of mixed fat of cocoa butter, milk fat and stearin; in which the latest was added into a chocolate formula expected to increase its physical characteristic. Response Surface Methodology design was used for the study at stearin concentration of 10–60 g kg-1 and lecithin of 1–7 g kg-1. Parameters of the study were fat melting point, chocolate hardness and preference on chocolate texture and overall acceptance. Result of the study showed that the stearin concentration significantly altered chocolate physical characteristic, where the lecithin concentration did not influence. The presence of stearin in milk chocolate system showed fat eutectic phenomenon. Substitution of cocoa butter with stearin up to concentration of 35 g kg-1 in the formulation showed a clear eutectic; however, at higher concentrations the phenomenon was compensated by the increase in stearin crystal seed which raised melting point and hardness. This result also clearly indicated that cocoa butter substitution with palm stearin to obtain resistant chocolate should be designed in a range of 43–60 g kg-1 in its formulation, equal to 15–18% from cocoa butter added.Key words : chocolate, cocoa butter, stearin, eutectic, solidifier, emulsifier, melting point, texture.
Effectiveness of Sex Pheromone in Controlling Cocoa Pod Borer, Conopomorpha cramerella (Snell.)
Authors: Sulistyowati Endang 
Published: September 2018

Cocoa pod borer (CPB, Conopomorpha cramerella nell.) is a dangerous pest of cocoa which seriously reduce cocoa production mainly in Southeast Asia and Pasific. Prevention of CPB attack can be done by pod sleeving to prevent CPBs lay eggs on pod, or reduction of source of CPB infestation by using pheromone or kairomone as attractant in an insect trap. A preliminary research using sex pheromone has been conducted at endemic cocoa area infested by CPB in East Java. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of sex pheromonesin controlling CPB. Trial was arranged by randomized completely block design in four treatments and four blocks as replication. Four densities trap/ha (0, 4, 8, and 12 traps/ha) were used as a treatments. Sex pheromone trap consisted of synthetic pheromone (lure) and sticky liner was hanged on 0.5 m above the cocoa canopy. The results showed that the number of CPB captured during four months was significantly decreased. The number of CPB captured per trap during the first two months in the treatment of 0, 4, 8 and 12 traps/ha were 0, 6.5, 4.72, and 5.58 CPBs, respectively. Four months after treatment, the number of CPB captured in the respective treatments was reduced to 0, 0.25, 0.6, and 0.96 CPBs. Estimate calculation on yield loss due to CPB attack showed that before treatment the yield loss ranged 37.4—45.6%, however six months after treatment, the yield loss in treatment plots decreased to 9.4—21%, whereas on control 38.47%. Use of sex pheromones to attract CPB at a density of 4 traps/ha reduced yield losses due to CPB damage by 67.7%. The significant correlation betweenthe number of CPB captured with the damage intensity followed regression equation of Y = - 0,00044X + 0,32059. Use of sex pheromone for monitoring or masstrapping of CPB, as a component in IPM of CPB is promising, due to its nature for specific target, environmentally friendly, effectiveness, and economic values.Key words: cocoa, cocoa pod borer, Conopomorpha cramerella, integrated pest management, biological control, sex pheromone
Performance of a Big Scale Green House Type Dryer for Coffee Drying Process
Authors: Widyotomo Sukrisno 
Published: September 2018

Dying is one of important steps in coffee processing to produce good quality. Greenhouse is one of artificial drying alternatives that potential for coffee drying method cause of cleans environmental friendly, renewable energy sources and chippers. Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute has developed and testing a big scale greenhouse type dryer for fresh coffee cherries and wet parchment coffee drying process. Greenhouse has 24 m length, 18 m width, also 3 m high of the front side and 2 m high of the rear side. The maximum capacity of greenhouse is 40 tons fresh coffee cherries. Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) used as greenhouse roof that combined with I and C profile of steel. Fresh coffee cherries and wet parchment coffee from Robusta variety use as main materials in this research. The treatment of this research was 30 kg/m2, 60 kg/m2 and 90 kg/m2 for coffee density. String process has done by manual, two times a day in the morning and in the afternoon. As control, fresh coffee cherries and wet parchment coffee has dried by fully sun drying method. The result showed that a big scale greenhouse has heat drying efficiency between 29.9-58.2% depend on type and density of coffee treatments. On the full sunny day, greenhouse has produced maximum drying air temperature up to 52oC. In radiation cumulative level 4-5 kW-jam/m2 per day, 12.9-38.8 tons fresh coffee cherries or wet parchment coffee with 58-64% moisture content can be dried to 12% moisture content for 6 up to 14 days drying process. Slowly drying mechanism can be avoided negative effect to degradation of quality precursor compound. Capacity of the dryer can be raise and fungi can be reduce with application of controllable mechanical stirring in the greenhouse. Keywords: greenhouse, coffee, drying, quality
Existence of entomopathogen fungi, Beauveria bassiana as an endophyte in cacao seedlings
Authors: Sulistyowati Endang , Nur AINI Febrilia 
Published: September 2018

Beauveria bassiana is one of the entomopathogen fungi which is known as biological control agent of cocoa pod borer and cocoa mirids (Helopeltis spp.). Because of its effectiveness in the fields is still not consistent, so we conduct a research with the objective to know the possibility of Beauveria bassiana to be established as a endophyte. Various fungal entomopathogens have already been reported as endophytes and the various methods used to inoculate the plants with B. bassiana were partially effective. The research has been conducted in laboratory of Plant Protection, Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute by inoculating of cocoa seeds and cocoa nursery with B. bassiana suspension. The trial was arranged by randomized complete block design with a factorial arrangement. The factor were spore concentration of B. bassiana (0; 2; and 4 g/ 10 l) and cocoa varieties (family of ICS 60, TSH858, and hybrid). The trial were use four replications. The results showed that the fungal entomopathogen B. bassiana was established as an endophyte in cocoa seedling, both from cocoa seeds and nursery application. Percentage of existence of B. bassiana colonies as endophytes one month after seeds application were ICS 60 amounted to 93.3 % both on concentration treatments, while the families of TSH 858 by 80 % and 86.67 % respectively in 2 g and 4 g per 10 l of B. bassiana spores concentration treament.. The lowest percentage was in hybrids, which amounted to 66.67% and 50%. B. bassiana colonies was exixtence as an endophyte in culture from root, stem and leaves of cocoa seedling up to 5 months post inoculation. While the application on nursery by soil drenshing, leaf spraying, and stem injection , it was known that B. bassiana colonies were found in the tissues of leaves, stems, and roots until two months after application. Colonies of B. bassiana as endophytes still exsist until six weeks after nursery was planted in the field.