bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality Analysis of Different Specification Grades of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus (Huangqi) from Hunyuan, Shanxi
Authors: Yin Minzhen , Yang Mei , Chu Shanshan , Li Renqing , Zhao Yujiao , Peng Huasheng , Zhan Zhilai , Sun Hai Feng 
Published: April 2019

Abstract
Background: Huangqi is a famous Chinese medicinal material whose Dao-di producing area is Hunyuan, Shanxi. Huangqi produced in Hunyuan, Shanxi, were divided into several different specifications and grades according to the diameters and different positions of root system. Objective: This article investigates the quantitative characteristics of chemical compositions in different specifications and grades of Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus roots, aiming to elucidate the correlation between specifications and/or grades and chemical compositions in Huangqi. Methods: Based on the field investigation, samples of Huangqi collected from Hunyuan, Shanxi, were divided into different specifications and grades. The content of seven flavonoids and five saponins in Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus roots of different specifications and grades were determined simultaneously by HPLC–diode–array detection–evaporative light-scattering detection (HPLC–DAD–ELSD). Results: Huangqi was processed by traditional methods, and its commercial specification was classified by different parts of the root system, such as ge-da-tou, hong-lan-qi, zheng-bai-qi, fu-bai-qi, mao-wei-zi, and qi-jian. The total content of seven flavonoids and five saponins in ge-da-tou, qi-jian were lower. The total content of seven flavonoids in hong-lan-qi was much higher, while that of five saponins was much lower. The total content of seven flavonoids in lateral roots or fibrous roots were higher, and that of five saponins was lower, such as zheng-bai-qi, fu-bai-qi, and mao-wei-zi. According to the root diameters, Huangqi was classified to special grade, grade I, grade II, grade III, grade IV, or grade V. Among six grades of Huangqi, the total content of seven flavonoids in grade III, grade IV, and grade V were lower, while the total content of five saponins in them were much higher. Conclusions: There is an obvious difference on the distribution pattern of contents of seven flavonoids and five saponins in Huangqi of different specifications and grades, which provide a certain scientific basis for the quality evaluation of Huangqi. Highlights: The content of seven flavonoids and five saponins in Huangqi were determined by HPLC-DAD-ELSD. The relationship between the commercial specification grades and chemical components of Dao-di herbs Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus (Huangqi ) from Hunyuan, Shanxi were revealed, which provided a chemical basis for the classification of commercial specification grades of dao-herbs Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus (Huangqi ) from Hunyuan, Shanxi.
Impact of Salinity Stress on Germination of Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica)
Authors: Ibrahim Mohd Hafiz , Abas Nur Azira , Zahra Syeda Massoma 
Published: April 2019

Aims: Salinity is one of the major abiotic stress that negatively affects plant growth in germination and early seedling stages. Salinity has becoming a serious problem as most of the parts of worldwide lands were affected by high salt concentration. Therefore, the effects of salinity ranging from 0 mM, 25 mM, 50 mM and 75 mM Sodium chloride (NaCl) concentrations on germination and early seedling growth of water spinach and their salt tolerance mechanism.
Study Design: Completely Randomized Design (CRD).
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at Tissue Culture Laboratory, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science in University Putra Malaysia (UPM) from June to August, 2018.
Methodology: In order to study the effects of salinity on water spinach, several parameters have been taken into account for measurement which include water uptake percentage, germination percentage, germination index, mean germination time, relative injury rate, seed vigor, seedling height reduction, hypocotyl and radicle length, seedling biomass, salt tolerance, total phenolic content and total flavonoids contents.
Results: The results obtained showed that salinity adversely reduced water uptake efficiency, seed vigor, hypocotyl and radicle length, total phenolic content and total flavonoids content of water spinach. The seedling height reduction of water spinach increased significantly in relative to increasing salinity. However, seeds treated in mild salt concentration at 25 mM of NaCl showed an increment of germination percentage and germination index.
Conclusion: Salt tolerance of water spinach increased as the response towards increasing salinity.
A Biogenerated Polymetallic Catalyst from Society's Wastes
Authors: Piccolo Oreste , Paganelli Stefano , Zanatta Pietro , Tieuli Sebastiano , Sperni Laura , Baldi Franco , Gallo Michele , Arčon Iztok , Vogel-Mikuš Katarina 
Published: April 2019

Aims: Preparation of the new metals-polymeric composite, Metx-EPS (I), to be used as a green catalyst in water or in two-phase aqueous conditions.
Study Design: Recovery and valorization of polymetallic wastes to obtain directly new catalysts using a microorganism to explore their application in removal of difficult and dangerous chemical pollutants present in aqueous environment.
Place and Duration of Study: Dipartimento di Scienze Molecolari e Nanosistemi, Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia, Venezia Mestre, Italy; University of Nova Gorica, Nova Gorica, Slovenia, Institut Jozef Stefan, Ljubljana, Slovenia and Department of Biology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia, between February 2018 and January 2019.
Methodology: For the preparation of Metx-EPS (I), the metals source was an exhausted catalytic converter that was grinded and treated with an acidic solution at 20-25°C. After filtration, the solution was concentrated, neutralized and added to a broth of Klebsiella oxytoca DSM 29614 to produce (I) where metals are embedded in a peculiar polysaccharide structure. The composite was easily recovered from the fermentation broth and purified. The process protocol was verified many times and was shown to be reproducible satisfactorily. The % recovery of metals, originally present in the converter, was good as determined by atomic absorption. The morphology and the chemical state of main metals in (I) were investigated by X-ray absorption spectroscopy methods (XANES and EXAFS). No metallic alloy seems to be evident.
Results: As first application of (I) as catalyst, the hydrodechlorination treatment of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was studied in water/methanol. A significant removal of higher chlorinated congeners was observed working at 1MPA of hydrogen and 60°C. This result improves significantly and surprisingly the methodology, previously studied by us using mono- or bi-metals embedded in the same polysaccharide moiety, indicating that positive synergies among the different metals were operating.
Conclusion: The preparation of this new polymetallic species embedded in a polysaccharide moiety starting from spent catalytic converters represents an alternative valorisation of metallic wastes. Moreover, a synergic effect was exerted by the different metals when the catalyst Metx-EPS (I) was used in the hydrodechlorination treatment of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in water/methanol. Finally, a promising preliminary proof of concept for the removal of polychlorinated aromatic pollutants even in contaminated aqueous sites was carried out.
Micro Propagation of Pterocarpus santalinoides Using Three Different Growth Media
Authors: Ameh S. J. , Aguoru C. U. , Iheukwumere C. C. , Olasan O. J. , Alfred U. J. 
Published: April 2019

Aims: Micro propagation of P. santalinoides was carried out in order to ascertain the most appropriate culture media for its micro propagation.
Study Design: The experiment was laid out in different growth media in the laboratory.
Place and Duration of Study: The micro propagation of Pterocarpus santalinoides was carried out at the Tissue culture laboratory of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and lasted between July and October 2018.
Methodology: Seeds from fresh and healthy ripe fruit which was cut open mechanically with the help of secateurs were gotten from Ai-kwu, Otukpa Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria. The seeds were air dried and used as explant. The explants were surface sterilized using NaOCl solution for 10 mins, rinsed with distilled water and then the soft seed coat were removed and the seeds were cultured under aseptic conditions on MS medium and other growth medium. Seeds of Pterocarpus santalinoides were inoculated on six different growth media with varying compositions. The media are MS, B5 and white’s without growth hormones (MSoo, B5oo, and WHoo), and each of them was supplemented with 3.0 mgl-1 BAP and 0.5 mgl-1 NAA (MSBN, B5BN, WHBN).
Results: Seed germination improved in all the media studied. However, MS combinations gave the best result (90-93%). The maximum number of leaves and roots recorded was in MSBN (3.8 for leaves and 2 for roots) followed by MSoo (2.6) and WHBN (2.6). The leaf area was best for the MS combination (0.232 cm2) followed by the White’s combinations (0.154 cm2) and least for the B5 combinations (0.026 cm2) while shoot and root length was maximum in MSBN (4.28 cm for the shoot and 1.18 cm for the root) followed by WHBN (1.90 cm). The result for t-test revealed that there was a significant difference between the parameters studied for growth media with growth hormones and those without growth hormones. The recorded percentage germination rate for MS medium without growth hormone was 90.75±0.97 while MS medium supplemented with growth hormone was 93.25±0.25. B5 medium without growth medium was 60.25±0.50 and when supplemented with growth hormone, the value was 66.50±0.57. White medium without growth hormone had a value of 75.25±1.70 and when supplemented with growth hormone the value was 78.0±0.81.
Conclusion: The growth rates of Pterocarpus santalinoides, in MS medium among other basal media (B5 and White) offers a compromise between all the growth parameters which indicates that variation of the basal medium composition could lead to enhanced Pterocarpus santalinoides regeneration efficiency.
Immune Status of Cohort of Children Vaccinated against Hepatitis B Virus in Ekiti State over Ten Years after Incorporation into National Program on Immunization
Authors: Ajayi A. O. , Emmanuel E. E. , Oluwayemi I. O. , Olu-Taiwo A. , Odimayo M. S. 
Published: April 2019

Background: Hepatitis B vaccine has been introduced in Nigeria for over a decade now, yet, data on sero-conversion status of the immunized cohort in the population are scarce. Such data are important for objective evaluation of the impact and effectiveness of the HBV vaccination program. This study therefore aims at determining the sero-conversion status and the prevalence of HBV infection among immunized cohort of children in Ekiti state, Nigeria.
Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted across the three senatorial districts of Ekiti state, between October and December, 2017. A total of 441 children consisting of 226 males and 215 females (Male to female ratio= 1.1:1). Immunization was confirmed by immunization cards. Multistage sampling technique was used. Questionaire were administered after caregiver’s consent and assent from subjects, 2 to 5 mls of blood samples were then collected and tested for the various hepatitis B viral markers (HBeAg, HBeAb, HBcAb, HBsAb and HBsAg) using Hepatitis B combo kit manufactured by Innovita Biological Technology. Very low levels antibody titres which may not be detectable by qualitative detection method used is a limitation to this study.
Results: Subjects were between 5 to 10 years. All subjects had 3 full doses of hepatitis B vaccination before the age of 1 year and all subjects were negative for HBsAg, HBeAg, HBeAB and HBcAb. However, only 47 (10.7%) had detectable HBsAb. Among HBsAb positive patients 22 were males while 25 were females. Our findings showed zero prevalence of hepatitis B but minimal seroconversion rate among vaccinated children in Ekiti state, Nigeria.
Conclusion: Hepatitis B vaccination protects children against HBV in the study population. However, seroconversion rate showed that majority of the children may be at risk of HBV infection at a later age. We recommend a booster dose of HBV vaccination.
Application of Hydro-ethanol Extract of Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl) in the Treatment of Experimental Murine Oral Candidiasis
Authors: David Oluwole Moses , Alese Margaret Olutayo , Oyewole Tobi , Alese Oluwole Ojo , Adegbuyi Adekunle , Afolayan Anthony Jide 
Published: April 2019

Background: Oral infection caused by Candida spp. is a major healthcare problem in dental and oral care. Treatment failure has been reported in cases of oral candidiasis as a result of resistance to common antifungals.
Aim and Objective: In this study, the in vitro and in vivo activities of extract of Tithonia diversifolia against virulence factor-borne and antifungal resistant-Candida albicans were investigated. Candida albicans was isolated from the saliva of patients attending a tertiary hospital in Ekiti State.
Methodology: Standard methods were used to determine the presence of virulence factors in the isolates. In vitro and in vivo anti-candidal activities of the hydro-ethanolic extract of T. diversifolia were also tested on the test fungus.
Results: The virulence factors have varying percentage of occurrence in all the isolates with catalase having the highest. Itraconazole and nystatin were not effective against the isolates. Out of the six isolates selected (based on antifungal resistance) only three produced strong biofilm. The reduction in the population of the test organisms by the extract was time and concentration dependent. At the end of candidal challenge and treatment assays, extract of T. diversifolia has lower anti-candidal property compared to nystatin.
Conclusion: This study has shown that C. albicans associated with the mouth carries virulence factors and are resistant to common antifungals. In this work, we noticed antifungal effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of T. diversifolia on C. albicans associated with oral infections.
The Knowledge of Nurses about Evidence-based Guideline in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Yeganeh Mohammad Reza , Bagheri Zahra Farhang , Mohammadi Tahereh Khaleghdoost , Roshan Zahra Atrkar , Pouralizadeh Moluk 
Published: April 2019

Introduction: Stroke is the most common cerebrovascular disease and the third most common cause of disability in the world. The study aimed to assess the knowledge of nurses in emergency departments based on evidence-based care guidelines in the acute phase of ischemic stroke.
Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was performed on 129 nurses working in emergency departments of 16 hospitals of Guilan University of Medical Sciences in 2017. Samples were selected randomly. The study tool was a questionnaire with 10 multiple choice questions about the care of acute phase of ischemic stroke patients. Data were analyzed by SPSS software ver. 21 using descriptive tests, ANOVA, T-test, Chi-square.
Results: The mean of the participants’ knowledge about acute phase of ischemic stroke care was 40.07 ± 16.46. The highest response rate was related to the symptoms of stroke (85.27%). There was a significant relationship between the number of beds in the hospitals and the nurses' knowledge about beginning treatment of Tissue Plasminogen Activator (tPA) (P<0.005), optimal level of blood pressure prior to administering intravenous tPA (P<0.001), and recommended dosage of tPA (P<0.001) .Also, a significant relationship was reported between the number of beds in the emergency departments and the nurses' knowledge about optimal level of blood pressure prior to administering intravenous tPA (P<0.001), and recommended dosage of tPA (P<0.001).
Conclusion: The nurses' knowledge was not satisfactory about the guideline of the acute stage of ischemic stroke. Therefore, provision of evidence-based continuing education courses and mandatory attendance of emergency nurses in these courses is recommended.
Interactive Skin Display with Epidermal Stimuli Electrode
Authors: Kim Eui Hyuk , Han Hyowon , Yu Seunggun , Park Chanho , Kim Gwangmook , Jeong Beomjin , Lee Seung Won , Kim Jong Sung , Lee Seokyeong , Kim Joohee , Park Jang‐Ung , Shim Wooyoung , Park Cheolmin 
Published: April 2019

AbstractIn addition to the demand for stimuli‐responsive sensors that can detect various vital signals in epidermal skin, the development of electronic skin displays that quantitatively detect and visualize various epidermal stimuli such as the temperature, sweat gland activity, and conductance simultaneously are of significant interest for emerging human‐interactive electronics used in health monitoring. Herein, a novel interactive skin display with epidermal stimuli electrode (ISDEE) allowing for the simultaneous sensing and display of multiple epidermal stimuli on a single device is presented. It is based on a simple two‐layer architecture on a topographically patterned elastomeric polymer composite with light‐emitting inorganic phosphors, upon which two electrodes are placed with a certain parallel gap. The ISDEE is directly mounted on human skin, which by itself serves as a field‐responsive floating electrode of the display operating under an alternating current (AC). The AC field exerted on the epidermal skin layer depends on the conductance of the skin, which can be modulated based on a variety of physiological skin factors, such as the temperature, sweat gland activity, and pressure. Conductance‐dependent field‐induced electroluminescence is achieved, giving rise to an on‐hand sensing display platform where a variety of human information can be directly sensed and visualized.
Direct In Situ Growth of Centimeter‐Scale Multi‐Heterojunction MoS2/WS2/WSe2 Thin‐Film Catalyst for Photo‐Electrochemical Hydrogen Evolution
Authors: Seo Sehun , Kim Seungkyu , Choi Hojoong , Lee Jongmin , Yoon Hongji , Piao Guangxia , Park Jun‐Cheol , Jung Yoonsung , Song Jaesun , Jeong Sang Yun , Park Hyunwoong , Lee Sanghan 
Published: April 2019

AbstractTo date, the in situ fabrication of the large‐scale van der Waals multi‐heterojunction transition metal dichalcogenides (multi‐TMDs) is significantly challenging using conventional deposition methods. In this study, vertically stacked centimeter‐scale multi‐TMD (MoS2/WS2/WSe2 and MoS2/WSe2) thin films are successfully fabricated via sequential pulsed laser deposition (PLD), which is an in situ growth process. The fabricated MoS2/WS2/WSe2 thin film on p‐type silicon (p‐Si) substrate is designed to form multistaggered gaps (type‐II band structure) with p‐Si, and this film exhibits excellent spatial and thickness uniformity, which is verified by Raman spectroscopy. Among various application fields, MoS2/WS2/WSe2 is applied to the thin‐film catalyst of a p‐Si photocathode, to effectively transfer the photogenerated electrons from p‐Si to the electrolyte in the photo‐electrochemical (PEC) hydrogen evolution. From a comparison between the PEC performances of the homostructure TMDs (homo‐TMDs)/p‐Si and multi‐TMDs/p‐Si, it is demonstrated that the multistaggered gap of multi‐TMDs/p‐Si improves the PEC performance significantly more than the homo‐TMDs/p‐Si and bare p‐Si by effective charge transfer. The new in situ growth process for the fabrication of multi‐TMD thin films offers a novel and innovative method for the application of multi‐TMD thin films to various fields.
Unusual Length Dependence of the Conductance in Cumulene Molecular Wires
Authors: Xu Wenjun , Leary Edmund , Hou Songjun , Sangtarash Sara , González M. Teresa , Rubio‐Bollinger Gabino , Wu Qingqing , Sadeghi Hatef , Tejerina Lara , Christensen Kirsten E. , Agraït Nicolás , Higgins Simon J. , Lambert Colin J. , Nichols Richard J. , Anderson Harry L. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractCumulenes are sometimes described as “metallic” because an infinitely long cumulene would have the band structure of a metal. Herein, we report the single‐molecule conductance of a series of cumulenes and cumulene analogues, where the number of consecutive C=C bonds in the core is n=1, 2, 3, and 5. The [n]cumulenes with n=3 and 5 have almost the same conductance, and they are both more conductive than the alkene (n=1). This is remarkable because molecular conductance normally falls exponentially with length. The conductance of the allene (n=2) is much lower, because of its twisted geometry. Computational simulations predict a similar trend to the experimental results and indicate that the low conductance of the allene is a general feature of [n]cumulenes where n is even. The lack of length dependence in the conductance of [3] and [5]cumulenes is attributed to the strong decrease in the HOMO–LUMO gap with increasing length.
Vasoactive intestinal peptide inhibits the activation of murine fibroblasts and expression of interleukin 17 receptor C
Authors: Zhang Yan‐Feng , Zhang Jun , Sun Chen‐Chen , Tang Chun‐Yan , Sun Guo‐Ying , Luo Wan‐Jun , Zhou Yong , Guan Cha‐Xiang 
Published: April 2019

AbstractAcute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is an acute, severe, and refractory pulmonary inflammation with high morbidity and mortality. Excessive activation of fibroblast during the fibroproliferative phase plays a pivotal role in the prognosis of ARDS. Our previous study demonstrated that the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is mediated by lentivirus attenuates lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐induced ARDS in a murine model, and VIP inhibits the release of interleukin‐17A (IL‐17A) from activation macrophages. However, the effects of VIP on the activation of murine fibroblast and expression of IL‐17 receptor (IL‐17R) in ARDS remain unclear. Here, a mouse model of ARDS was established by an intratracheal injection of LPS. We found that the gene expression of col3a1 and hydroxyproline contents in the lungs were significantly increased 24 h after LPS injection. IL‐17RC rather than IL‐17RA was increased in the lungs of mice with ARDS. In vitro, LPS activated NIH3T3 cells, which was suppressed by VIP in a dose‐dependent manner. In detail, VIP reduced the hydroxyproline content and col3a1 messenger RNA induced by LPS in NIH3T3 cells, as well as the expression of α‐smooth muscle actin. Furthermore, we found that VIP inhibited the expression of IL‐17R in the lungs of mice with ARDS and NIH3T3 cells stimulated with LPS, which was partly inhibited by antagonists of protein kinase A and protein kinase C. Taken together, our results demonstrated that VIP inhibited the activation of fibroblast via downregulation of IL‐17RC, which may contribute to the protective effects of VIP against ARDS in mice.