bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the Effect of Aqueous Extracts of Fresh Neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss., 1830) Leaves and Kernels on the Mortality of the Sweet Potato Weevil (Cylas puncticollis Boheman, 1833) under Laboratory Conditions in Burkina Faso
Authors: Rabiéta Simdé , Ouattara Delphine , Alizèta Sawadogo , Elias Mano , Issaka Zida , Karim Nébié , Georges Kambou , Nacro Souleymane 
Published: November 2024

Aims: Evaluate the effect of neem extracts (kernels and fresh leaves) on the mortality of the sweet potato weevil Cylas puncticollis in the laboratory.
Place and Duration of Study: The study took place in Bobo-Dioulasso, western Burkina Faso. It lasted for 6 months.
Methodology: The experimental design was a completely randomized Fisher block in 5 treatments with 5 replicates. The collected fresh neem leaves and kernels were weighed and crushed to which 2.5 l of distilled water was added to each. After 12 hours, the mixture was filtered. Four concentrations were prepared from this filtrate: 10; 20; 30 and 40 cl/l and a control (distilled water). The various tests were carried out with Whatman paper cut into two equal parts then placed at the bottom of a Petri dish and spaced one centimeter apart. One ml of each dose of the solutions prepared was spread evenly on one of the two parts of the paper called the treated area while the other part received nothing called the untreated area. A batch of 10 adult weevils was placed in the center of the paper treated with neem extract.
Results: The results showed that after 1 hour's exposure to neem leaf extracts, a high mortality of 45% was recorded, whereas with neem kernels extracts, 30% mortality was observed after 30 minutes' exposure, then 32.5% after 1 hour.
Conclusion: Neem leaves and kernels extracts can be used to control the potato weevil, Cylas puncticollis. This is an environmentally-friendly control method that could be used as an alternative to chemicals.
Photoorganocatalytic Aerobic Oxidative Amine Dehydrogenation/Super Acid‐Mediated Pictet‐Spengler Cyclization: Synthesis of cis‐1,3‐Diaryl Tetrahydroisoquinolines
Authors: Unkel Lisa‐Natascha , Malcherek Simon , Schendera Eva , Hoffmann Frank , Rehbein Julia , Brasholz Malte 
Published: April 2019

AbstractAerobic oxidative dehydrogenation reactions of benzylamines to imines were studied and the efficiencies of various ground‐ and excited state quinone organocatalysts were compared. Long wave‐absorbing anthraquinones readily catalyze the aerobic photodehydrogenation of primary and secondary benzylamines to benzylidenebenzylamines with high rate and selectivity, and the reaction mechanism was studied by laser flash photolysis. Further, branched α‐benzyl dibenzyl‐amines undergo a regioselective photocatalytic dehydrogenation to branched aldimines, which can efficiently be converted into cis‐1,3‐diaryl tetrahydro‐isoquinolines through diastereoselective super acid‐mediated Pictet‐Spengler cyclizations.magnified image
Synthesis of Multi‐substituted Dihydropyrazoles by Copper‐Mediated [4+1] Cycloaddition Reaction of N‐Sulfonylhydrazones and Sulfoxonium Ylides
Authors: Hu Sipei , Du Shiying , Yang Zuguang , Ni Lingfang , Chen Zhengkai 
Published: April 2019

AbstractA general and expeditious approach for the copper mediated synthesis of multi‐functionalized dihydropyrazoles from N‐sulfonylhydrazones and sulfoxonium ylides has been achieved under aerobic oxidative conditions. The formal [4+1] cycloaddition reaction exhibits many notable features and can be easily scaled up to gram scale.magnified image
Synthesis of α‐Alkyl‐β‐Hydroxy Amides through Biocatalytic Dynamic Kinetic Resolution Employing Alcohol Dehydrogenases
Authors: Méndez‐Sánchez Daniel , Mourelle‐Insua Ángela , Gotor‐Fernández Vicente , Lavandera Iván 
Published: April 2019

AbstractChiral (α‐substituted) β‐hydroxy amides are interesting derivatives as they are useful building blocks of many biologically active compounds. Herein, the biocatalytic stereocontrolled synthesis of various acyclic syn‐α‐alkyl‐β‐hydroxy amides through a dynamic kinetic resolution is shown. Hence, a series of overexpressed alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) in Escherichia coli was used to reduce the corresponding racemic β‐keto amides. Among them, ADH‐A from Rhodococcus ruber and commercial evo‐1.1.200 afforded the best activities and selectivities, giving access to the opposite enantiomers with high diastereomeric excess and excellent enantiomeric excess. Some of these compounds were obtained at semipreparative scale.magnified image
Comparative pharmacokinetic study of four major bioactive components after oral administration of Zhi‐Zi‐Hou‐Po decoction in normal and corticosterone‐induced depressive rats
Authors: Bai Yongtao , Song Lihua , Zhang Yongheng , Dai Guoliang , Zhang Weidong , Song Shanshan , Sun Hong , Jing Wen , Xu Meijuan , Ju Wenzheng 
Published: April 2019

AbstractA highly selective and efficient LC–MS/MS method was developed to determine the plasma concentration of magnolol, hesperidin, neohesperidin and geniposide following oral administration of Zhi‐Zi‐Hou‐Po decoction in normal and depressed rats. Plasma samples were pretreated by protein precipitation with methanol. Chromatographic separation was performed on an XTerra® MS C18 column using a gradient elution with a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile–0.1% aqueous formic acid. The proposed method was validated to be specific, accurate and precise for the analytes determination in plasma samples. The calibration curves displayed good linearity over definite concentration ranges for the analytes. The intra‐ and inter‐day precision of the proposed method at three different levels were all within <11.13% and the relative errors ranged from −8.46 to 8.93%. The recovery of the four compounds ranged from 82.72 to 89.08% and no apparent matrix effect was observed during sample analysis. After full validation, the established method was successfully applied for comparing the pharmacokinetics of four components between normal and depressed rats. The results showed that the AUC and Cmax of four analytes in depressed rats were significantly different from those in normal rats and might provide helpful information to guide the clinical use of Zhi‐Zi‐Hou‐Po to treat depression.
Differences in preferential flow with antecedent moisture conditions and soil texture: Implications for subsurface P transport
Authors: Grant Kirsten N. , Macrae Merrin L. , Ali Genevieve A. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractPreferential flowpaths transport phosphorus (P) to agricultural tile drains. However, if and to what extent this may vary with soil texture, moisture conditions, and P placement is poorly understood. This study investigated (a) interactions between soil texture, antecedent moisture conditions, and the relative contributions of matrix and preferential flow and (b) associated P distributions through the soil profile when fertilizers were applied to the surface or subsurface. Brilliant blue dye was used to stain subsurface flowpaths in clay and silt loam plots during simulated rainfall events under wet and dry conditions. Fertilizer P was applied to the surface or via subsurface placement to plots of different soil texture and moisture condition. Photographs of dye stains were analysed to classify the flow patterns as matrix dominated or macropore dominated, and soils within plots were analysed for their water‐extractable P (WEP) content. Preferential flow occurred under all soil texture and moisture conditions. Dye penetrated deeper into clay soils via macropores and had lower interaction with the soil matrix, compared with silt loam soil. Moisture conditions influenced preferential flowpaths in clay, with dry clay having deeper infiltration (92 ± 7.6 cm) and less dye–matrix interaction than wet clay (77 ± 4.7 cm). Depth of staining did not differ between wet (56 ± 7.2 cm) and dry (50 ± 6.6 cm) silt loam, nor did dominant flowpaths. WEP distribution in the top 10 cm of the soil profile differed with fertilizer placement, but no differences in soil WEP were observed at depth. These results demonstrate that large rainfall events following drought conditions in clay soil may be prone to rapid P transport to tile drains due to increased preferential flow, whereas flow in silt loams is less affected by antecedent moisture. Subsurface placement of fertilizer may minimize the risk of subsurface P transport, particularily in clay.
Dempster‐Shafer theory‐based hierarchical saliency detection
Authors: Jia Ning , Zhao Weidong , Liu Xianhui 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThis article presents a new saliency detection method based on a hierarchical structure. In order to better capture the key elements in an image, we first construct a three‐layer structure by applying a merging strategy to the image. For different layers, we exploit different methods to detect salient regions. After obtaining initial saliency maps of five layers, we construct a Dempster‐Shafer model to fuse and refine these saliency maps. In the Dempster‐Shafer model, the saliency value of upper layers can provide guidance for saliency detection of lower layers. Finally, we fuse the saliency map of each layer to obtain the final result. Abundant experimental results on two benchmark data sets demonstrate that our method outperforms most of 12 state‐of‐the‐art methods in terms of three popular evaluation criteria, that is, the P‐R curve, the F‐measure, and the mean absolute error.
Identification of lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA regulatory network associated with epithelial ovarian cancer cisplatin‐resistant
Authors: Zhao Xin , Tang Dong‐Yang , Zuo Xu , Zhang Tian‐Dong , Wang Cheng 
Published: April 2019

AbstractTo construct a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA)–microRNA (miRNA)–messenger RNA (mRNA) regulatory network related to epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) cisplatin‐resistant, differentially expressed genes (DEGs), differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs), and differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) between MDAH and TOV‐112D cells lines were identified. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were conducted to analyze the biological functions of DEGs. Downstream mRNAs or upstream lncRNAs for miRNAs were analyzed at miRTarBase 7.0 or DIANA‐LncBase V2, respectively. A total of 485 significant DEGs, 85 DELs, and 5 DEMs were identified. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) network of DEGs contrains 81 nodes and 141 edges was constructed, and 25 hub genes related to EOC cisplatin‐resistant were identified. Subsequently, a lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA regulatory network contains 4 lncRNAs, 4 miRNAs, and 35 mRNAs was established. Taken together, our study provided evidence concerning the alteration genes involved in EOC cisplatin‐resistant, which will help to unravel the mechanisms underlying drug resistant.
Measuring Anxiety and Depression in Ghanaian and U.S. College Students
Authors: Bettmann Joanna E. , Prince Kort C. , Hardy Clinton J. , Dwumah Peter 
Published: April 2019

Differences between Ghanaian (n = 465) and U.S. (n = 425) college students on the Hopkins Symptom Checklist‐25 (HSCL‐25; Mollica, Wyshak, de Marneffe, Khuon, & Lavelle, 1987) were examined. Compared with their U.S. counterparts, Ghanaians reported less general distress related to anxiety and depression, more anxiety‐specific distress, and no differences in depression‐specific distress. A multidimensional approach may be most appropriate in HSCL‐25 screening for symptoms of anxiety and depression.Se examinaron las diferencias entre estudiantes universitarios ghaneses (n = 465) y estadounidenses (n = 425) en el Listado de Síntomas de Hopkins‐25 (HSCL‐25, por sus siglas en inglés; Mollica, Wyshak, de Marneffe, Khuon, & Lavelle, 1987). Comparados con sus homólogos estadounidenses, los ghaneses comunicaron un menor sufrimiento general relacionado con la ansiedad y depresión, un mayor sufrimiento específico relacionado con la ansiedad, y no hubo diferencias en el sufrimiento específico relacionado con la depresión. Un enfoque multidimensional puede ser el más apropiado en el chequeo de HSCL‐25 para síntomas de ansiedad y depresión.
A survey of antimicrobial resistance in Enterobacteriaceae isolated from the Chesapeake Bay and adjacent upper tributaries
Authors: Riedel Stefan , Boire Nicholas , Carson Kathryn A. , Vadlamudi Aravinda , Khuvis Joshua , Vadlamudi Vivek , Atukorale Vajini , Riedel Victoria A. A. , Parrish Nicole M. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractIn recent years, the rise in antimicrobial resistance (AR) in the healthcare setting as well as the environment has been recognized as a growing public health problem. The Chesapeake Bay (CB) and its upper tributaries (UT) is a large and biologically diverse estuary. This pilot study evaluated the presence of AR of gram‐negative bacteria isolated from water samples collected at various sites of the Chesapeake Bay. Bacterial organisms were identified and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by phenotypic and genotypic methods. Ninety‐two distinctly different gram‐negative bacteria were identified; Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Serratia marcescens, and Escherichia coli were most often isolated. Serratia marcescens was more frequently isolated in samples from the UT compared to the CB. Antimicrobial resistance was more frequently detected in organisms from the CB by phenotypic and genotypic methods. Antimicrobial resistance to ampicillin, imipenem, tetracycline, and chloramphenicol were the most frequently observed resistance patterns. ACT‐1, CMY, and SHV genes were the most frequently detected resistance genes, with predominance in organism isolated from the CB. The results from this study emphasize the importance for further developing comprehensive surveillance programs of AR in bacterial isolates in the various environments, such as recreational and other water systems.
The emergence of melatonin in oncology: Focus on colorectal cancer
Authors: Gil‐Martín Emilio , Egea Javier , Reiter Russel J. , Romero Alejandro 
Published: April 2019

AbstractWithin the last few decades, melatonin has increasingly emerged in clinical oncology as a naturally occurring bioactive molecule with substantial anticancer properties and a pharmacological profile optimal for joining the currently available pharmacopeia. In addition, extensive experimental data shows that this chronobiotic agent exerts oncostatic effects throughout all stages of tumor growth, from initial cell transformation to mitigation of malignant progression and metastasis; additionally, melatonin alleviates the side effects and improves the welfare of radio/chemotherapy‐treated patients. Thus, the support of clinicians and oncologists for the use of melatonin in both the treatment and proactive prevention of cancer is gaining strength. Because of its epidemiological importance and symptomatic debut in advanced stages of difficult clinical management, colorectal cancer (CRC) is a preferential target for testing new therapies. In this regard, the development of effective forms of clinical intervention for the improvement of CRC outcome, specifically metastatic CRC, is urgent. At the same time, the need to reduce the costs of conventional anti‐CRC therapy results is also imperative. In light of this status quo, the therapeutic potential of melatonin, and the direct and indirect critical processes of CRC malignancy it modulates, have aroused much interest. To illuminate the imminent future on CRC research, we focused our attention on the molecular mechanisms underlying the multiple oncostatic actions displayed by melatonin in the onset and evolution of CRC and summarized epidemiological evidence, as well as in vitro, in vivo and clinical findings that support the broadly protective potential demonstrated by melatonin.
Preconditioned iterative methods for diffusion problems with high‐contrast inclusions
Authors: Gorb Yuliya , Kramarenko Vasiliy , Kuznetsov Yuri 
Published: April 2019

SummaryThis paper is concerned with robust numerical treatment of an elliptic PDE with high‐contrast coefficients, for which classical finite‐element discretizations yield ill‐conditioned linear systems. This paper introduces a procedure by which the discrete system obtained from a linear finite element discretization of the given continuum problem is converted into an equivalent linear system of the saddle‐point type. Three preconditioned iterative procedures—preconditioned Uzawa, preconditioned Lanczos, and preconditioned conjugate gradient for the square of the matrix—are discussed for a special type of the application, namely, highly conducting particles distributed in the domain. Robust preconditioners for solving the derived saddle‐point problem are proposed and investigated. Robustness with respect to the contrast parameter and the discretization scale is also justified. Numerical examples support theoretical results and demonstrate independence of the number of iterations of the proposed iterative schemes on the contrast in parameters of the problem and the mesh size.
Profiling and simultaneous quantitative determination of oligostilbenes in Paeonia ostii seed shell from different geographical areas in China and their comparative evaluation
Authors: Zhang Lina , Liu Pu , Gao Jiayu , Wang Xinsheng , An Jiamin , Xu Shijing , Deng Rui‐xue 
Published: April 2019

AbstractIntroductionThe Paeonia ostii T. Hong & J. X. Zhang seed shell, characterised by a high content of oligostilbenes, is one of the two most important by‐products in the preparation of seed oil. Oligostilbenes are considered characteristic constituents of the genus Paeonia, and can be used in fingerprinting to determine the geographical origin and the quality of raw materials.ObjectiveTo develop and optimise a simple and reproducible high‐performance liquid chromatography diode array detection (HPLC‐DAD) method for the simultaneous determination of seven oligostilbenes in P. ostii seed shell from different geographical areas, and to associate the cultivation area.MethodologyA validated HPLC method coupled with a DAD detector was performed for the detection and determination of target compounds in the samples. Optimal chromatographic conditions were achieved using an Agilent Zorbax Eclipse SB‐AQ‐C18 column and a gradient elution with acetonitrile and potassium dihydrogen phosphate solution.ResultsThe proposed quantitative method showed appropriate accuracy and precision, and was successfully applied to the routine analysis of seven oligostilbenes and the quality evaluation of 50 P. ostii seed shell samples. There were significant differences between the contents of the seven oligostilbenes in different samples (P < 0.01).ConclusionThe results demonstrated that the oligostilbenes were main secondary metabolites in the P. ostii seed shells, and the content of seven components in P. ostii seed shells sourced from different cultivation areas in China was different.
Development of a robotics platform for automated multi‐ionization mass spectrometry
Authors: Karki Santosh , Meher Anil K. , Inutan Ellen D. , Pophristic Milan , Marshall Darrell D. , Rackers Kevin , Trimpin Sarah , McEwen Charles N. 
Published: April 2019

RationaleSuccessful coupling of a multi‐ionization automated platform with commercially available mass spectrometers provides improved coverage of compounds in complex mixtures through implementation of new and traditional ionization methods. The versatility of the automated platform is demonstrated through coupling with mass spectrometers from two different vendors. Standards and complex biological samples were acquired using electrospray ionization (ESI), solvent‐assisted ionization (SAI) and matrix‐assisted ionization (MAI).MethodsThe MS™ prototype automated platform samples from 96‐ or 384‐well plates as well as surfaces. The platform interfaces with Thermo Fisher Scientific mass spectrometers by replacement of the IonMax source, and on Waters mass spectrometers with additional minor source inlet modifications. The sample is transferred to the ionization region using a fused‐silica or metal capillary which is cleaned between acquisitions using solvents. For ESI and SAI, typically 1 μL of sample solution is drawn into the capillary tube and for ESI slowly dispensed near the inlet of the mass spectrometer with voltage placed on the delivering syringe barrel to which the tubing is attached, while for SAI the sample delivery tubing inserts into the inlet without the need for high voltage. For MAI, typically, 0.2 μL of matrix solution is drawn into the syringe before drawing 0.1 μL of the sample solution and dispensing to dry before insertion into the inlet.ResultsA comparison study of a mixture of angiotensin I, verapamil, crystal violet, and atrazine representative of peptides, drugs, dyes, and herbicides using SAI, MAI, and ESI shows large differences in ionization efficiency of the various components. Solutions of a mixture of erythromycin and azithromycin in wells of a 384‐microtiter well plate were mass analyzed at the rate of ca 1 min per sample using MAI and ESI. In addition, we report the analysis of bacterial extracts using automated MAI and ESI methods. Finally, the ability to perform surface analysis with the automated platform is also demonstrated by directly analyzing dyes separated on a thin‐layer chromatography (TLC) plate and compounds extracted from the surface of a beef liver tissue section.ConclusionsThe prototype multi‐ionization automated platform offers solid matrix introduction used with MAI, as well as solution introduction using either ESI or SAI. The combination of ionization methods extends the types of compounds which are efficiently ionized and is especially valuable with complex mixtures as demonstrated for bacterial extracts. While coupling of the automated multi‐ionization platform to Thermo and Waters mass spectrometers is demonstrated, it should be possible to interface it with most commercial mass spectrometers.
An evaluation of effort estimation supported by change impact analysis in agile software development
Authors: Tanveer Binish , Vollmer Anna Maria , Braun Stefan , Ali Nauman bin 
Published: April 2019

AbstractIn agile software development, functionality is added to the system in an incremental and iterative manner. Practitioners often rely on expert judgment to estimate the effort in this context. However, the impact of a change on the existing system can provide objective information to practitioners to arrive at an informed estimate. In this regard, we have developed a hybrid method, that utilizes change impact analysis information for improving effort estimation. We also developed an estimation model based on gradient boosted trees (GBT). In this study, we evaluate the performance and usefulness of our hybrid method with tool support and the GBT model in a live iteration at Insiders Technologies GmbH, a German software company. Additionally, the solution was also assessed for perceived usefulness and understandability in a study with graduate and post‐graduate students. The results from the industrial evaluation show that the proposed method produces more accurate estimates than only expert‐based or only model‐based estimates. Furthermore, both students and practitioners perceived the usefulness and understandability of the method positively.
Rewriting Abstract Structures: Materialization Explained Categorically
Authors: Corradini Andrea , Heindel Tobias , König Barbara , Nolte Dennis , Rensink Arend 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe paper develops an abstract (over-approximating) semantics for double-pushout rewriting of graphs and graph-like objects. The focus is on the so-called materialization of left-hand sides from abstract graphs, a central concept in previous work. The first contribution is an accessible, general explanation of how materializations arise from universal properties and categorical constructions, in particular partial map classifiers, in a topos. Second, we introduce an extension by enriching objects with annotations and give a precise characterization of strongest post-conditions, which are effectively computable under certain assumptions.