bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Breeding Potential of Thirteen Day‐Neutral Landrace Accessions in an Upland Cotton Breeding Program
Authors: Campbell B. T. , Hugie K. , Hinze L. , Wu J. , Jones D. C. 
Published: June 2019

ABSTRACTAn untapped genetic resource available to cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) breeding programs is represented by the primitive, upland cotton landrace collection. Primarily due to their photoperiodic nature, efforts to utilize these resources have been slow. To complement efforts to develop day‐neutral converted germplasm lines, we identified a number of naturally occurring day neutral landrace genotypes and evaluated their breeding potential when crossed to elite upland germplasm lines and cultivars. The mean performance of parental lines and F2 hybrids along with genetic effect estimates indicate that naturally occurring day‐neutral landrace genotypes provided average agronomic performance while increasing fiber quality performance. Results suggest that crosses derived from naturally occurring day‐neutral genotypes and elite upland lines result in new allelic combinations that interact in both an additive and nonadditive way. However, it appears that several naturally occurring day‐neutral genotypes transmit negatively correlated alleles for agronomic performance and fiber quality that often display opposite additive and nonadditive effects. These negatively correlated allele combinations present a major challenge for cotton breeding programs. Future efforts that determine the percentage of “new” alleles present in the landrace germplasm, along with innovative breeding methods focused on efficiently capturing beneficial alleles, are needed to expand the cotton genetic base.
Field Screening is Effective for Identifying Genetic Resistance to Scald of Barley
Authors: Xi K. , Turkington T. K. , Juskiw P. , Nyachiro J. , Capettini F. 
Published: June 2019

ABSTRACTTo evaluate barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) for resistance to scald by Rhynchosporium commune, field trials including advanced yield tests, yield and germplasm screening (YGS) trials, and race variation (RV) tests were conducted across central Alberta, Canada, from 2010 to 2014. Broad‐sense heritability of scald resistance was estimated using scald severity data from these field trials. Moderate to high heritability estimates, ranging from 0.57 to 0.91, were obtained in 21 of 23 tests, each consisting of two to four sites. The heritability estimates determined were similar among the three types of field trials with the RV test having slightly higher heritability estimates. Genotype plus genotype × environment interaction (GGE) biplot analyses were used to visualize interactions between genotype and environment, and to identify scald‐resistant genotypes. The scald resistance in genotypes identified based on biplots was validated by barley parentage and published data. The identified resistant genotypes are being used in an Alberta‐based breeding program as sources of scald resistance. However, the reactions of some highly resistant cultivars varied with test location. Scald resistance expression depended on the virulence of local scald pathotypes and interactions with variable environmental conditions. Selection for resistance should be effective, as indicated by moderate to high heritability and field validation. Both biotic factors including R. commune pathotypes and other diseases such as the net form of net blotch (Pyrenophora teres. f. teres) and abiotic conditions affected expression of resistance. Screening over multiple years and locations is recommended along with accounting for the development of nontarget diseases.
Idea Factory: the Maize Genomes to Fields Initiative
Authors: Lawrence‐Dill Carolyn J. , Schnable Patrick S. , Springer Nathan M. 
Published: June 2019

ABSTRACTIncreases in agricultural productivity are necessary to meet anticipated demands, and these increases must occur in an environmentally sustainable fashion. However, it has become measurably harder to generate ideas and new approaches that result in real gains. The maize Genomes to Fields (G2F) Initiative seeks to bring together researchers across diverse disciplines to create situations that generate new ideas for research, development, and education. Contact from those interested to learn more about G2F is invited, and inquiries on how to initiate and support research and training at scale are welcome.
Empirical and Predicted Boreal Forest Carbon Pools Following Stem‐Only Harvesting in Quebec, Canada
Authors: Sage Larissa K. , Smith C. Tattersall , Kurz Werner , Thiffault Evelyne , Paré David , Bernier Pierre 
Published: June 2019

Core Ideas
Total ecosystem carbon recovered to pre‐harvest levels after seven decades.
Predicted and observed carbon pools differed most for deadwood and soil.
Modified CBM‐CFS3 initialization and default decay parameters may improve accuracy.
Climate change and global wood products demand raise concerns about boreal forest ecosystem resilience to natural disturbances and harvesting. A chronosequence experiment located in Forêt Montmorency, Quebec was used to evaluate the effects of harvesting on carbon (C) recovery trajectories at the stand level over a period of 77 years in balsam fir‐white birch stands. Empirical estimates of 19 Forêt Montmorency forest carbon pools were compared with those simulated by the Carbon Budget Model (CBM‐CFS3) to test model assumptions for predicting carbon dynamics in this forest. The model was initialized using forest inventory data, spatially explicit environmental conditions, and disturbance matrices designed to represent historical spruce budworm epidemics in Forêt Montmorency. Over the chronosequence, total ecosystem C increased significantly (p = 0.05) following harvest from 211 Mg in year‐zero to 279 ± 8 Mg C ha−1 in year 67 (mean ± SE), suggesting that FM carbon pools were recovering to pre‐harvest levels after seven decades. The CBM‐CFS3 model predicted total ecosystem C stocks within 10% of the empirical mean at stand maturity; however, several predicted C pools deviated from field observations in both C amounts and trends over time. The greatest differences were in deadwood and soil C pools, suggesting that model initialization of dead organic matter pools did not adequately simulate the 1000‐yr history of C‐pool transfers and stand dynamics leading up to the harvest. Modifications to CBM‐CFS3 initialization assumptions and default decay parameters may more accurately simulate long‐term effects of natural disturbances on C pools for this forest region.
Improved SVR machine learning models for agricultural drought prediction at downstream of Langat River Basin, Malaysia
Authors: Fung Kit Fai , Huang Yuk Feng , Koo Chai Hoon , Mirzaei Majid 
Published: June 2019

Abstract
Drought is a harmful and little understood natural hazard. Effective drought prediction is vital for sustainable agricultural activities and water resources management. The support vector regression (SVR) model and two of its enhanced variants, namely, fuzzy-support vector regression (F-SVR) and boosted-support vector regression (BS-SVR) models, for predicting the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration indices (SPEI) (in this case, SPEI-1, SPEI-3 and SPEI-6, at various timescales) with a lead time of one month, were developed to minimize potential drought impact on oil palm plantations at the downstream end of the Langat River Basin, which has a tropical climate pattern. Observed SPEIs from periods 1976 to 2011 and 2012 to 2015 were used for model training and validation, respectively. By applying the MAE, RMSE, MBE and R2 as model assessments, it was found that the F-SVR model was best with the trend of improving accuracy when the timescale of the SPEIs increased. It was also found that differences in model performance deteriorates with increased timescale of the SPEIs. The outlier reducing effect from the fuzzy concept has better improvement for the SVR-based models compared to the boosting technique in predicting SPEI-1, SPEI-3 and SPEI-6 for a one-month lead time at the downstream of Langat River Basin.
Hydrogeochemical characteristics of the Saliencia lakes (Somiedo Natural Park, NW Spain): trophic state and relationship with anthropogenic pressures
Authors: Sánchez-España Javier , Vegas Juana , Morellon Mario , Mata M. Pilar , Rodríguez García Juan A. 
Published: June 2019

The high-mountain lakes of Saliencia (El Valle, La Cueva, Calabazosa and Cerveriz), in the Somiedo Natural Park (Asturias, NW Spain), have been subject to different anthropogenic pressures, including metal mining, cattle grazing, damming activities and water channelling work for hydroelectric exploitation. This paper reports the results of a recent geochemical and limnological study conducted in these lakes, for which no previous study existed in the literature. Based on depth profiles of temperature, conductivity, pH and ORP, as well as dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll-a, organic carbon, nutrient and metal concentration, we discuss the impact of anthropogenic pressure on the lakes. In the sampling period (July to September, 2014-2016), most of the lakes showed a marked stratification with vertical gradients as a result of different physical and (bio)geochemical processes. All the lakes showed a good environmental state with no apparent metal pollution. However, this set of mountain lakes is not homogeneous with regard to nutrient availability, primary productivity, or hypolimnetic oxygen deficit and a range of trophic conditions exist from oligotrophic (El Valle) to eutrophic (Calabazosa). This trend shows a good correlation with total phosphorus concentration (e.g., 10 µg/L P in El Valle vs. 35 µg/L P in Calabazosa), though erosive processes in the catchment may also have contributed to increase the oxygen consumption rate through an import of allochthonous organic matter. Higher nitrate contents seem to characterize the areas with higher grazing pressure (e.g., El Valle), though the obtained data do not allow us to establish any evident relationship between cattle activity and eutrophication.
Antioxidant Properties of Solenostemma argel Effervescent Tablets
Authors: Suliman Rasha S. , Ali Heyam S. , Alhelal Khulud , Almutairi Wejdan , Alnasser Shahd , Omer Mustafa , Suliman Rania , Algebali Asmaa 
Published: June 2019

Objective:
In the present study, Solenostemma argel effervescent tablets were prepared from
Argel methanolic extract.

Methods:
The tablets were examined for their ability to impede carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced
lipid peroxidation in mice liver. The antioxidant activities of the enzymes; super-oxide dismutase
(SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GS-PX) along with malondialdehyde level were tested in liver tissues.

Results:
The obtained results indicated that the antioxidant enzyme activities were remarkably reduced
while the level of Malondialdehyde (MDA), which shows lipid peroxidation, and the activity of alanine
aminotransferase (a liver function test) were remarkably intensified following intra-peritoneal i.p
injection with the single sub-lethal hepatotoxic dose of CCl4 compared to the control. A necrotic lesion
in the liver of mice injected with CCl4 was observed by the histopathological examination. The damaging
influence of CCl4 was improved by the retreatment with Argel or BHT, which could also be observed
in the normal appearance of the liver tissue.

Conclusion:
In this study, it was concluded that S. Argel and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) could
be effective by decreasing lipid peroxidation and increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes.
Therefore, Argel might be applied as a hepatoprotective agent without any side effects.
In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Olmesartan Medoxomil Microcrystals and Nanocrystals: Preparation, Characterization, and Pharmacokinetic Comparison in Beagle Dogs
Authors: Chai Rong , Gao Hailing , Ma Zhihui , Guo Meng , Fu Qiang , Liu Hongzhuo , He Zhonggui 
Published: June 2019

Background:
Olmesartan medoxomil (OLM) is a promising prodrug hydrolyzed to olmesartan
(OL) during absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. OL is a selective angiotensin II receptor antagonist,
with high drug resistance and low drug interaction. However, OLM has low solubility and low
bioavailability. Therefore, it is extremely urgent to reduce the drug particle size to improve its biological
bioavailability.

Objective:
The aim of the study was to improve the oral bioavailability of poorly water-soluble olmesartan
medoxomil (OLM) by using different particle size-reduction strategies.

Method:
Raw drug material was micronized or nanosized by either jet or wet milling processes, respectively.
The particle sizes of the prepared nanocrystals (100-300 nm) and microcrystals (0.5-16 μm) were
characterized by DLS, SEM, and TEM techniques. Solid state characterization by XPRD and DSC was
used to confirm the crystalline state of OLM after the milling processes.

Results:
We demonstrated that OLM nanocrystals enhanced solubility and dissolution in the non-sink
condition in which high sensitivity was found in purified water. After 1 h, 65.4% of OLM was dissolved
from nanocrystals, while microcrystals and OLMETEC® only showed 37.8% and 31.9% of drug dissolution,
respectively. In the pharmacokinetic study using Beagle dogs, an increase in Cmax (～2 fold) and
AUC (～1.6 fold) was observed after oral administration of OLM nanocrystals when compared to microcrystals
and reference tablets, OLMETEC®. In contrast, OLM microcrystals failed to improve the
oral bioavailability of the drugs.

Conclusion:
Particles size reduction to nano-scale by means of nanocrystals technology significantly
increased in vitro dissolution rate and in vivo oral bioavailability of OLM.
Identification of Novel Functionalized Carbohydrazonamides Designed as Chagas Disease Drug Candidates
Authors: do Nascimento Mayara S.S. , Câmara Vitória R.F. , da Costa Juliana S. , Barbosa Juliana M.C. , Lins Alessandra S.M. , Salomão Kelly , de Castro Solange L. , Carvalho Samir A. , da Silva Edson F. , Fraga Carlos A.M. 
Published: June 2019

Background::
Although several research efforts have been made worldwide to discover
novel drug candidates for the treatment of Chagas disease, the nitroimidazole drug benznidazol
remains the only therapeutic alternative in the control of this disease. However, this drug presents
reduced efficacy in the chronic form of the disease and limited safety after long periods of administration,
making it necessary to search for new, more potent and safe prototypes.

Objective::
We described herein the synthesis and the trypanocidalaction of new functionalized
carbohydrazonamides (2-10) against trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi.

Methods:
These compounds were designed through the application of molecular hybridization
concept between two potent anti-T. cruzi prototypes, the nitroimidazole derivative megazol (1) and
the cinnamyl N-acylhydrazone derivative (14) which have been shown to be twice as potent
in vitro as benznidazole.

Results::
The most active compounds were the (Z)-N'-((E)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-acryloyl)-1-methyl-5-
nitro-1H-imidazol-2-carbohydrazonamide (6) (IC50=9.50 μM) and the (Z)-N'-((E)-3-(4-
hydroxyphe-nyl)-acryloyl)-1-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazol-2-carbohydrazonamide (8) (IC50=12.85
μM), which were almost equipotent to benznidazole (IC50=10.26 μM) used as standard drug. The
removal of the amine group attached to the imine subunit in the corresponding N-acylhydrazone
derivatives (11-13) resulted in less potent or inactive compounds. The para-hydroxyphenyl derivative
(8) presented also a good selectivity index (SI = 32.94) when tested against mammalian cells
from Swiss mice.

Conclusion::
The promising trypanocidal profile of new carbohydrazonamide derivatives (6) and
(8) was characterized. These compounds have proved to be a good starting point for the design of
more effective trypanocidal drug candidates.
In silico Analysis of Sulpiride, Synthesis, Characterization and In vitro Studies of its Nanoparticle for the Treatment of Schizophrenia
Authors: Kecel-Gunduz Serda , Budama-Kilinc Yasemin , Cakir-Koc Rabia , Zorlu Tolga , Bicak Bilge , Kokcu Yagmur , Kaya Zeynep , Ozel Aysen E. , Akyuz Sevim 
Published: June 2019

Background:
Sulpiride, which has selective dopaminergic blocking activity, is a substituted
benzamide antipsychotic drug playing a prominent role in the treatment of schizophrenia,
which more selective and primarily blocks dopamine D2 and D3 receptor.

Objective:
This study has two main objectives, firstly; the molecular modeling studies (MD and
Docking, ADME) were conducted to define the molecular profile of sulpiride and sulpiridereceptor
interactions, another to synthesize polymeric nanoparticles with chitosan, having the advantage
of slow/controlled drug release, to improve drug solubility and stability, to enhance utility
and reduce toxicity.

Method:
Molecular dynamic simulation was carried out to determine the conformational change
and stability (in water) of the drug and the binding profile of D3 dopamine receptor was determined
by molecular docking calculations. The pharmacological properties of the drug were revealed by
ADME analysis. The ionic gelation method was used to prepare sulpiride loaded chitosan nanoparticles
(CS NPs). The Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), UV-vis absorption (UV), Scanning Electron
Microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy techniques were carried out to
characterize the nanoparticles. In vitro cell cytotoxicity experiments examined with MTT assay on
mouse fibroblast (L929), human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) and glioblastoma cells (U-87). The statistical
evaluations were produced by ANOVA.

Results:
The residues (ASP-119, PHE-417) of D3 receptor provided a stable docking with the drug,
and the important pharmacological values (blood brain barrier, Caco-2 permeability and human oral
absorption) were also determined. The average particle size, PdI and zeta potential value of sulpiride-
loaded chitosan NPs having a spherical morphology were calculated as 96.93 nm, 0.202 and
+7.91 mV. The NPs with 92.8% encapsulation and 28% loading efficiency were found as a slow
release profile with 38.49% at the end of the 10th day. Due to the formation of encapsulation, the
prominent shifted wave numbers for C-O, S-O, S-N stretching, S-N-H bending of Sulpiride were
also identified. Mitochondrial activity of U87, SHSY-5Y and L929 cell line were assayed and evaluated
using the SPSS program.

Conclusion:
To provide more efficient use of Sulpiride having a low bioavailability of the gastrointestinal
tract, the nanoparticle formulation with high solubility and bioavailability was designed and
synthesized for the first time in this study for the treatment of schizophrenia. In addition to all
pharmacological properties of drug, the dopamine blocking activity was also revealed. The toxic
effect on different cell lines have also been interpreted.
Assessment of Structural Compatibility of Saxagliptin in Physical Mixtures with some excipient by Using HPLC
Authors: Gurav Sachin B. , Bhatia Neela M. 
Published: June 2019

Introduction:
Saxagliptin hydrochloride is an oral hypoglycemic agent used for the treatment
of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Saxagliptin is unstable because it undergoes an intra-molecular cyclisation
reaction to form a cyclicamidine in both solution and solid states. In pharmaceutical development of
saxagliptin it is important to select the excipients which are compatible and help to minimize the formation
of cyclicamidine. In excipient compatibility study for saxagliptin it is essential to identify the
formation of cyclicamidine and other related substances.

Materials and Methods:
In the current work, the method for quantification of saxagliptin, cyclicamidine
and its related substances by high performance liquid chromatographic was developed and validated.
This method was used as screening technique for assessing the compatibility of saxagliptin with
some pharmaceutical excipients. These were evaluated by analyzing the pure saxagliptin and saxagliptin-
excipient in physical mixture, which were stored under different conditions at 40°C/75% Relative
Humidity (RH) for one month. The method was successfully validated as per ICH guidelines.

Results and Conclusion:
The results of compatibility study demonstrate the suitability of saxagliptin
with Methocel, Polyethylene Glycol (PEG), Opadry Red, Opadry pink, Opadry white, and Opadry Pink.
Effects of Chrysin on Serum Corticosterone Levels and Brain Oxidative Damages Induced by Immobilization in Rat
Authors: Farkhondeh Tahereh , Jalali Sediqeh , Ashrafizadeh Milad , Samarghandian Saeed , Samini Fariborz 
Published: June 2019

Background:
Chrysin (CH) is one of the main flavonoids of vegetables, fruits, and
plants, the neuroprotective effect of which has been demonstrated in this study.

Objective:
The aim of the current investigation is the evaluation of the impact of chrysin (CH) on
serum corticosterone level. Additionally, depression due to chronic stress was studied in animal
models.

Methods:
The rats were restrained for 1 hour daily for 3 weeks. During these weeks, all animals
were daily injected with either vehicle or CH (10, 20, 30 µg/kg).

Results:
Present data indicated that the serum corticosterone levels markedly elevated in the
stressed group versus the non-stressed group (p<0.001). The serum corticosterone levels were
significantly lower in the stress-exposed rats administered with CH versus the stress-exposed non-
CH-treated rats (p<0.05). In addition, immobility time significantly increased in the rats submitted
to restraint stress versus the non-stressed group (p<0.001). Also, the number of crossing
significantly decreased in the rats submitted to restraint stress versus non-stressed rats (p<0.001).
The immobility time and the number of crossing were also reduced in the CH-administrated
stressed rats (30 mg/kg) versus non-treated stressed group (p<0.001, p<0.05, respectively). CH also
ameliorated the MDA and GSH content as well as antioxidant enzymes activities in stressed rats
(p<0.05).

Conclusion:
The present study suggested that CH might be useful for the management of
depressant-like effects induced by chronic stress via decreasing oxidative damage in the brain.
Proteomics Screening of Differentially Expressed Cytokines in Tears of Patients with Graves’ Ophthalmopathy
Authors: Song Rong-Hua , Wang Bin , Yao Qiu-Ming , Li Qian , Jia Xi , Zhang Jin-An 
Published: June 2019

Background:
The current study aimed at exploring the cytokine profile in the tears of patients
with Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO).

Methods:
Tears were sampled from the eyes of 7 patients with active GO and 7 healthy volunteers
using filter paper. Then the levels of up to 34 cytokines in the tears of each subject were detected using
high-throughput protein microarray technology in line with the introduction.

Results:
The results of cytokine protein microarray screening showed that 10 proteins, namely, CD40,
CD40 Ligand, GITR, IL-12p70, IL-1 beta, IL-2, IL-21, IL-6, MIP-3 alpha and TRANCE, were overexpressed
(with fold change >1.20) and 3 proteins, namely, GM-CSF, IL-1 sRI and IL-13 were downregulated
(with fold change < 0.83) in GO patients. In addition, the protein levels of CD40 and CD40
ligand (CD40L) were significantly different between GO patients and healthy controls (P=0.028 and
0.011, respectively). Further Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG)
analyses of differently expressed proteins showed that these proteins were involved in biological functions
including biological processes (positive regulation of cytokine production, JAK-STAT cascade
and leukocyte proliferation), molecular functions (cytokine and growth factor receptors binding and
cytokine activity), and other important pathways (cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, JAK-STAT
signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, NF-kappa B signaling pathway, Th17 cell differentiation,
and intestinal immune network for IgA production), all of which might be involved in the pathology of
GO.

Conclusion:
Our cytokine protein microarray analysis indicated that several proteins were differentially
expressed in GO patients, which provides potential targets for GO prevention.