bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A detailed in silico analysis of secondary metabolite biosynthesis clusters in the genome of the broad host range plant pathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
Authors: Graham-Taylor Carolyn , Kamphuis Lars G , Derbyshire Mark 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
Background

The broad host range pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum infects over 400 plant species and causes substantial yield losses in crops worldwide. Secondary metabolites are known to play important roles in the virulence of plant pathogens, but little is known about the secondary metabolite repertoire of S. sclerotiorum. In this study, we predicted secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters in the genome of S. sclerotiorum and analysed their expression during infection of Brassica napus using an existing transcriptome data set. We also investigated their sequence diversity among a panel of 25 previously published S. sclerotiorum isolate genomes.

Results

We identified 80 putative secondary metabolite clusters. Over half of the clusters contained at least three transcriptionally coregulated genes. Comparative genomics revealed clusters homologous to clusters in the closely related plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea for production of carotenoids, hydroxamate siderophores, DHN melanin and botcinic acid. We also identified putative phytotoxin clusters that can potentially produce the polyketide sclerin and an epipolythiodioxopiperazine. Secondary metabolite clusters were enriched in subtelomeric genomic regions, and those containing paralogues showed a particularly strong association with repeats. The positional bias we identified was borne out by intraspecific comparisons that revealed putative secondary metabolite genes suffered more presence absence polymorphisms and exhibited a significantly higher sequence diversity than other genes.

Conclusions

These data suggest that S. sclerotiorum produces numerous secondary metabolites during plant infection and that their gene clusters undergo enhanced rates of mutation, duplication and recombination in subtelomeric regions. The microevolutionary regimes leading to S. sclerotiorum secondary metabolite diversity have yet to be elucidated. Several potential phytotoxins documented in this study provide the basis for future functional analyses.
Genome wide association mapping and candidate gene analysis for hundred seed weight in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]
Authors: Zhao Xue , Dong Hairan , Chang Hong , Zhao Jingyun , Teng Weili , Qiu Lijuan , Han Yingpeng , Li Wenbin 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
Background: The hundred seed weight (HSW) is one of the yield components of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] and is especially critical for various soybean food types. In this study, a representative sample consisting of 185 accessions was selected from Northeast China and analysed in three tested environments to determine the quantitative trait nucleotide (QTN) of HSW through a genome-wide association study (GWAS). Result: A total of 24,180 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with minor allele frequencies greater than 0.2 and missing data less than 3% were utilized to estimate linkage disequilibrium (LD) levels in the tested association panel. Thirty-four association signals were identified as associated with HSW via GWAS. Among them, nineteen QTNs were novel, and another fifteen QTNs were overlapped or located near the genomic regions of known HSW QTL. A total of 237 genes, derived from 31 QTNs and located near peak SNPs from the three tested environments in 2015 and 2016, were considered candidate genes, were related to plant growth regulation, hormone metabolism, cell, RNA, protein metabolism, development, starch accumulation, secondary metabolism, signalling, and the TCA cycle, some of which have been found to participate in the regulation of HSW. A total of 106 SNPs from 16 candidate genes were significantly associated with HSW in soybean. Conclusions: The identified loci with beneficial alleles and candidate genes might be valuable for the molecular network and MAS of HSW.
TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS FOR TREATMENT OF CASINGS
Authors: Eveleva Vera V. , Cherpalova Tatyana M. , Shipovskaya Elena A. 
Published: July 2019

The article presents the results of substantiation of composition of technological aids for treatment of casings, which provides an increase in microbiological safety of the finished product. The study objects were samples of casings with signs of microbial spoilage, provided by the manufacturer, and prototypes of technological aids for treatment of casings obtained in VNIIPD. Parameters studied: microbial contamination of casings; titratable acidity, active acidity, density of test samples of the technological aids, surface tension and efficiency of aqueous solutions of the samples. Microbial contamination was determined using methods generally accepted in veterinary and sanitary examination; titratable acidity — titrimetric method; active acidity (pH) — potentiometric method; density — densimetric method; surface tension — ring method (du Noüy method). It was found that the surface microbial contamination of defective intestinal membranes includes the following microorganisms: Bacillus spp., Enterococcus spp. and Micrococcus spp. Among the microorganisms the most resistant to various types of treatment are Bacillus spp. microorganisms. It was established, that the samples of the tested synthesized prototypes of technological aids with most effective antimicrobial action were samples based on lactate-, acetate- and propionate-containing additives, including polyhexamethylene guanidine hydrochloride and alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride. It was shown, that test prototypes 9, 19, and 28, which include polyhexamethyleneguanidine hydrochloride, alkyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride and polyvinylpyrrolidone, have rather high antagonistic activity against test cultures of L. monocitogenes, E. coli, St. aureus, Sal. typhimurium with the folowing concentration — (600 × 106 CFU/ml). Minimum effective concentrations of solutions of technological aids for treatment of casings vary from 0,6 % up to 2,5 %. It was established that minimum effective concentration of solutions of technological aids for treatment of casings corresponds to concentration of the solution with maximum adsorption of the resulting complexes on the surface of the liquid-air phase boundary. Treatment of defective casings with aqueous solutions of the agents with concentrations of 2.5 % for 30 minutes provides suppression of growth of all detected spoilage microorganisms, including Bacillus spp.
Pembuatan Cuka Alami Buah Salak dan Pisang Kepok Beserta Kulitnya Teknik Fermentasi
Authors: Febriani Dwi Ratna , Azizati Zidni 
Published: July 2019

<em>Cuka adalah suatu zat yang dibuat dari berbagai bahan yang bergula atau berpati melalui fermentasi alkohol yang diikuti oleh fermentasi asetat. Cuka yang beredar di masyarakat biasanya terbuat dari bahan-bahan kimia yang berbahaya bagi tubuh, secara industri dengan menggunakan metode sintesis kimia murni. Untuk itu perlu dibuat inovasi alami dalam pembuatan cuka buah yaitu salak dan pisang kepok beserta kulitnya. Buah salak dan pisang kepok merupakan buah yang banyak terdapat di berbagai wilayah Indonesia yang mengandung kadar karbohidrat yang tinggi sehinggga dapat dimanfaatkan sebagai bahan baku pembuatan cuka. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui efektifitas pembuatan cuka alami buah salak dan pisang kepok beserta kulitnya dengan teknik fermentasi. Hasil penelitian menunjukan bahwa kadar asam cuka sebesar 0,042 %, memiliki aroma yang kurang sedap,larutan berwarna putih dan nilai pH 4,5 sehingga belum memenuhi kadar cuka yang dipasarkan dan dikonsumsi masyarakat yaitu minimal 4 %(4 g asam asetat per 100 ml)</em>
Preparation of nitric acid modified powder activated carbon to remove trace amount of Ni(II) in aqueous solution
Authors: Su Peidong , Zhang Junke , Tang Jiawei , Zhang Chunhui 
Published: July 2019

Abstract
The present study investigated the preparation of nitric acid modified powder activated carbon (MPAC) and its adsorption of trace amounts of Ni(II) from aqueous solution. Results showed that raw powder activated carbon modified with 15% nitric acid (MPAC-15%) had the most developed pore structure and the highest adsorption efficiency for Ni(II) in aqueous solution. For MPAC-15%, the pore width was dominated by micropores with pore width about 1 nm and the total amount of chemical functional groups of MPAC-15% was 0.6630 mmol/g. Ni(II) adsorption tests indicated that the highest adsorption efficiency of MPAC-15% was 98%. The adsorption saturation time of MPAC-15% was about 120 min and the pH-dependent adsorption test showed that neutral conditions (6.5 &lt; pH &lt; 7.5) were suitable for Ni(II) adsorption. The adsorption kinetic analysis revealed that the pseudo-second order adsorption model fitted the adsorption process significantly. Thus, Ni(II) adsorption by MPAC-15% was dominated not only by physical adsorption via highly developed micropores but also by chemical adsorption between Ni(II) and surface functional groups. Adsorption isotherm analysis illustrated the Langmuir model was favorable for the adsorption of Ni(II), with R2 = 0.9874.
Ethosomes for Dermal Administration of Natural Active Molecules
Authors: Natsheh Hiba , Vettorato Elisa , Touitou Elka 
Published: July 2019

:
Ethosomes are nanovesicular carriers for dermal administration. Phospholipids, ethanol at relatively
high concentrations (up to 50%) and water are their main components. Ethosomes are what we call “soft vesicles”
with fluid bilayers due to the presence of ethanol. The composition and structure of the vesicles augment their
ability to entrap molecules with various physicochemical properties and deliver them to the deep strata of skin.
Since their first design, ethosomal systems have been extensively investigated for a wide range of applications.

:
This review focuses on work carried out in vitro, in vivo in animal models and in humans in clinical studies, with
ethosomal formulations containing natural active molecules for the treatment of skin disorders. Skin bacterial and
fungal infections, skin inflammation, acne vulgaris, arthritis, and skin cancer are examples of disorders managed
successfully by ethosomal systems. Furthermore, Ethosomes loaded with a number of naturally occurring compounds
for cosmetic applications are also reported. The efficient treatments together with a good safety profile
and lack of toxicity or irritation paved the way towards the development of new dermal therapies.
Polyphenol-Rich Foods and Osteoporosis
Authors: Chisari Emanuele , Shivappa Nitin , Vyas Shraddha 
Published: July 2019

Background:
Osteoporosis is a metabolic disease affecting the bone mineral density and thus compromise
the strength of the bones. Disease prevention through diet is the objective of the study and discussion.
Among the several nutrients investigated, the intake of phenols seems to influence bone mineral density by acting
as free radical scavengers, preventing oxidation-induced damage to bone cells. In addition, the growing understanding
of the bone remodelling process supports the theory that inflammation significantly contributes to the
etiopathogenesis of osteoporosis.

Methods:
To provide an overview of current evidence on polyphenol-rich foods and osteoporosis prevention we
made a comprehensive review of the literature focusing on the state of art of the topic.

Results:
Some polyphenol-rich foods, including olive oil, fruit and vegetable, tea and soy, seem to be beneficial
for preventing osteoporosis disease and its progression. The mechanism is still partly unknown and may involve
different pathways which include inflammation and other disease reactions.

Conclusion:
However, further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms regulating the molecular
interaction between osteoporosis incidence and progression and polyphenol-rich foods. The current evidence
suggests that dietary intervention with polyphenol rich foods may be useful to prevent incidence and progression
of this condition.
Wogonin Alleviates Hyperglycemia Through Increased Glucose Entry into Cells Via AKT/GLUT4 Pathway
Authors: Khan Shahzad , Kamal Mohammad A. 
Published: July 2019

:
Insulin resistance and type 2 Diabetes mellitus resulting in chronic hyperglycemia is a major health
problem in the modern world. Many drugs have been tested to control hyperglycemia which is believed to be the
main factor behind many of the diabetes-related late-term complications. Wogonin is a famous herbal medicine
which has been shown to be effective in controlling diabetes and its complications. In our previous work, we
showed that wogonin is beneficial in many ways in controlling diabetic cardiomyopathy. In this review, we
mainly explained wogonin anti-hyperglycemic property through AKT/GLUT4 pathway. Here we briefly discussed
that wogonin increases Glut4 trafficking to plasma membrane which allows increased entry of glucose and
thus alleviates hyperglycemia.

Conclusion:
Wogonin can be used as an anti-diabetic and anti-hyperglycemic drug and works via AKT/GLUT4
pathway.
Identification of a Potential Inhibitor Targeting MurC Ligase of the Drug Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strain through Structure-Based Virtual Screening Approach and In Vitro Assay
Authors: Messaoudi Abdelmonaem , Zoghlami Manel , Basharat Zarrin , Sadfi-Zouaoui Najla 
Published: July 2019

Background & Objective:
Pseudomonas aeruginosa shows resistance to a large number of
antibiotics, including carbapenems and third generation cephalosporin. According to the World Health
Organization global report published in February 2017, Pseudomonas aeruginosa is on the priority list
among resistant bacteria, for which new antibiotics are urgently needed. Peptidoglycan serves as a
good target for the discovery of novel antimicrobial drugs.

Methods:
Biosynthesis of peptidoglycan is a multi-step process involving four mur enzymes. Among
these enzymes, UDP-N-acetylmuramate-L-alanine ligase (MurC) is considered to be an excellent target
for the design of new classes of antimicrobial inhibitors in gram-negative bacteria.

Results:
In this study, a homology model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa MurC ligase was generated and
used for virtual screening of chemical compounds from the ZINC Database. The best screened inhibitor
i.e. N, N-dimethyl-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-1,3-benzodiazole-5-sulfonamide was then validated experimentally
through inhibition assay.

Conclusion:
The presented results based on combined computational and in vitro analysis open up
new horizons for the development of novel antimicrobials against this pathogen.
Computational Analysis of the Primary and Secondary Structure of Amidases in Relation to their pH Adaptation
Authors: Thakur Neerja , Sharma Nikhil , Kumar Vijay , Bhalla Tek Chand 
Published: July 2019

Background:
Amidases are ubiquitous enzymes and biological functions of these enzymes
vary widely. They are considered to be synergistically involved in the synthesis of a wide variety of
carboxylic acids, hydroxamic acids and hydrazides, which find applications in commodity chemicals
synthesis, pharmaceuticals agrochemicals and wastewater treatments.

Methods:
They hydrolyse a wide variety of amides (short-chain aliphatic amides, mid-chain amides,
arylamides, α-aminoamides and α-hydroxyamides) and can be grouped on the basis of their catalytic
site and preferred substrate. Despite their economic importance, we lack knowledge as to how these
amidases withstand elevated pH and temperature whereas others cannot.

Results:
The present study focuses on the statistical comparison between the acid-tolerant, alkali tolerant
and neutrophilic organisms. In silico analysis of amidases of acid-tolerant, alkali tolerant and neutrophilic
organisms revealed some striking trends as to how amino acid composition varies significantly.
Statistical analysis of primary and secondary structure revealed amino acid trends in amidases of
these three groups of bacteria. The abundance of isoleucine (Ile, I) in acid-tolerant and leucine (Leu, L)
in alkali tolerant showed the aliphatic amino acid dominance in extreme conditions of pH in acidtolerant
and alkali tolerant amidases.

Conclusion:
The present investigation insights physiochemical properties and dominance of some crucial
amino acid residues in the primary and secondary structure of some amidases from acid-tolerant,
alkali tolerant and neutrophilic microorganisms.
Di[(R)-2-ethylhexyl] Phthalate, a Bioactive Metabolite First Isolated from Three Different Bacillus Species, and its Synthesis
Authors: Castro Miriam , Jiménez Jacqueline , Ortiz Aurelio , Sansinenea Estibaliz 
Published: July 2019

:
Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is the most common phthalate ester, which has been
used as a plasticizer for the production of numerous polymers, particularly polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Many other groups have synthesized meso-DEHP indicating interest in this molecule, but we are the
first to synthesize enantiomerically pure di[(R)-2-ethylhexyl] phthalate. We report herein, for the first
time, the isolation - from the cultures of Bacillus thuringiensis, B. subtilis, and B. velezensis strains - of
di[(R)-2-ethylhexyl] phthalate, enantiomerically pure and in good yields: its biological activity against
bacteria and fungi was probed and for the first time its synthesis was done.
Flavones as a Privileged Scaffold in Drug Discovery: Current Developments
Authors: Boniface Pone K. , Elizabeth Ferreira I. 
Published: July 2019

Background:Flavones are one of the main subclasses of flavonoids with diverse pharmacological properties. They have been reported to possess antimalarial, antimicrobial, anti-tuberculosis, anti-allergic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory activities, among others.Objective:The present review summarizes the recent information on the pharmacological properties of naturally occurring and synthetic flavones.Method:Scientific publications referring to natural and synthetic flavones in relation to their biological activities were hand-searched in databases such as SciFinder, PubMed (National Library of Medicine), Science Direct, Wiley, ACS, SciELO, Springer, among others.Results:As per the literature, seventy-five natural flavones were predicted as active compounds with reference to their IC50 (<20 µg/mL) in in vitro studies. Also, synthetic flavones were found active against several diseases.Conclusion:As per the literature, flavones are important sources for the potential treatment of multifactorial diseases. However, efforts toward the development of flavone-based therapeutic agents are still needed. The appearance of new catalysts and chemical transformations is expected to provide avenues for the synthesis of unexplored flavones, leading to the discovery of flavones with new properties and biological activities.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Molecular Docking Studies of N-Acylated Butyro and Valerolactam Derivatives with Antiproliferative and Cytotoxic Activities
Authors: Quimque Mark Tristan J. , Mandigma Mark John P. , Lim Justin Allen K. , Budde Simon , Dahse Hans-Martin , Villaflores Oliver B. , Hallare Arnold V. , Macabeo Allan Patrick G. 
Published: July 2019

Background:
Electrophilic compounds bearing Michael acceptors present great promise
in anticancer drug discovery.

Methods:
Drawing inspirations from cytotoxic Piper lactam alkaloids, twelve N-acylated butyro- and
valerolactams were prepared and evaluated for antiproliferative and cytotoxic activities against the
normal human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), chronic human myeloid leukemia cells (K-
562), and Henrietta Lacks (HeLa) cells used as model cell lines. Molecular docking of bioactive
derivatives was performed against tyrosine kinase.

Results:
Results of the MTT assay showed the crotonylated (5) and nitro-containing cinnamoyl (8)
butyrolactams, and, the crotonylated (10), trifluoromethylated (13), and chlorinated (14) cinnamoyl
valerolactam derivatives as the most antiproliferative against human myeloid leukemia cells. The
trifluoromethylated cinnamoyl valerolactam (13) displayed the best selectivity on K-562 cells. Molecular
docking studies of 13 against tyrosine kinase provided evidence as tyrosine kinase inhibitor,
having comparable binding energy and receptor interaction with imatinib.

Conclusion:
The presence of electrophilic N-acrylic moieties contributes to the potential of a compound
as inspiration to develop anti-leukemia drugs.
Effect of Fortification with Snail Meat Powder on Physicochemical Properties and Shelf-life of Sorghum-wheat Buns
Authors: Agengo Fredrick B. , Onyango Arnold N. , Serrem Charlotte A. , Okoth Judith 
Published: July 2019

Background:Formulation of composite flours from wheat and non-wheat flours has been proposed as the most desirable way to improve the nutritional quality in diets, promote food security and lower the cost of baked products.Objective:This study evaluated the effect of fortification with snail meat powder on physicochemical properties and shelf-life of sorghum-wheat buns.Methods:Buns were prepared by replacing a part of sorghum-wheat flour with 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25% of snail meat powder. Physical properties including volume, density, baking loss, yield, weight, hardness and colour, the proximate analyses including moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude fibre and ash and mineral composition of iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium and copper were analyzed for the buns. In vitro protein digestibility was determined by pepsin digestion. Plate count agar and potato dextrose agar were respectively used for enumeration of bacterial and fungal flora in the buns during storage. Shelf-life determination was based on the number of days before the production of off flavours and fungal infestation.Results:Compositing sorghum-wheat flour with snail meat powder progressively improved the density, baking loss, yield, weight and texture of the buns. Protein, fat, ash, energy, iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium and copper contents were also increased. Fortification of buns at 5% and 25% with SMP improved in vitro protein digestibility by 16% and 22%, respectively. Maximum bacterial count in buns was below the International Microbiological Standard recommended units for dry and ready to eat foods of 103 cfu/g.Conclusion:Buns composited with snail meat powder showed a considerable potential to be used as protein rich foods in preventing protein energy malnutrition among young children.
Breast Cancer Diagnosis in Digital Mammography Images Using Automatic Detection for the Region of Interest
Authors: Ramadan Saleem Z. , El-Banna Mahmoud 
Published: July 2019

Background:
One of the early screening methods of breast cancer that is still used today
is mammogram due to its low cost. Unfortunately, this low cost accompanied with low performance
rate also.

Methods:
The low performance rate in mammograms is associated with low capability in determining
the best region from which the features are extracted. Therefore, we offer an automatic
method to detect the Region of Interest in the mammograms based on maximizing the area under
receiver operating characteristic curve utilizing Genetic Algorithms.

:
The proposed method had been applied to the MIAS mammographic database, which is widely
used in literature. Its performance had been evaluated using four different classifiers; Support Vector
Machine, Naïve Bayes, K-Nearest Neighbor and Logistic Regression classifiers.

Results & Conclusion:
The results showed good classification performances for all the classifiers
used due to the rich information contained in the features extracted from the automatically selected
Region of Interest.