bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Influence of NPK Blended Fertilizer Application on Chlorophyll Content and Tissue Mineral Contents of Two Finger Millet Varieties Grown in Acid Soils of Kakamega, Western Kenya
Authors: Wamalwa Dennis Simiyu , Sikuku Phoebe Anyango , Netondo Godfrey Wafula , Khasabulli Buyela Daniel 
Published: April 2019

Acidic soils with high exchangeable aluminium ions occur in most parts of Kenya, western Kenya inclusive. Aluminium toxicity is a serious environmental problem that affects crop productivity in Western Kenya region. The county governments of Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga, Busia and Trans-Nzoia are promoting the application of NPK blended fertilizer to ameliorate the soil acidity to increase maize production. Finger millet (Eleusine coracana L) is one of the important cereal crops in Kenya and has the ability to grow under unfavorable environmental conditions much better than other cereal crops. It is for this reason that it is currently being popularized in efforts to address food security in the region, however, the effects of NPK blended fertilizer application on the selected physiological parameters of the crop is little known, hence prompting the study. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of NPK blended fertilizer application on chlorophyll content index and plant tissue mineral analysis. Randomized Complete Block Design with 0,25,50,75,100 kg application rates per acre of NPK blended fertilizer as the treatments were applied in two equal split applications. The measured parameters were chlorophyll content index using CCM-200 spectrophotometer, (Opti- Sciences Inc., Hudson, USA) from the plant leaves at 50% plot maturity. Motsara and Roy Procedures were used to determine plant tissue analysis for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, and magnesium at physiological maturity from the leaves. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using GenStat statistical package version 15.1. Means were separated by Least Significant Difference (LSD) test at 0.05 probability level. Regression analysis was used to estimate the relationship between variables. At the 75 kg/acre rate, the leaves showed the significant P<0.05 chlorophyll content, calcium, and potassium in both varieties for the two seasons, short rain, and long rain respectively. Control had the lowest physiological activities for both seasons regarding chlorophyll content, tissue calcium, magnesium, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Significant nitrogen content was observed on Gulu-E variety for both seasons on the highest rate whereas the same trend was observed on P-224 variety and during the short rainy season, a linear increase was observed with increasing NPK blended fertilizer rates. No conclusive pattern was observed during the short rainy season but with the control exhibiting the lowest phosphorus content for both varieties. A significant response to physiology (chlorophyll and plant leaf tissue mineral) might have been due to increased uptake of mineral nutrients present in the NPK blended fertilizer and increased soil pH caused by the liming action of the NPK blended fertilizer.
Uterine Leiomyosarcoma: A Case Report and Review of Relevant Literatures
Authors: Omotoso A. J. , Odusolu P. O. , Nnoli M. A. , Ekpe E. L. , Omoruyi K. 
Published: April 2019

Leiomyomas are benign soft tissue neoplasms that arise from smooth muscles. Leiomyosarcoma is a malignant lesion of smooth muscle origin. This is a rare lesion in the uterus with 1-2 % of its benign counterpart, leiomyoma, transforming into the lesion. It is often aggressive and could develop at any site where the smooth muscle is found. We present a case of a 48-year-old farmer with pelvic mass with Ultra-sonography(USS) suggestive of leiomyoma. Hysterectomy was done and histologic diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma (LMS) was made. The patient was discharged 7 days post operation but was lost to follow up. Uterine LMS is an aggressive tumour, therefore, a high index of suspicion is needed especially for huge uterine nodules and such patients must be closely monitored for adequate management.
Genotype x Harvest Cycles Interaction in Sugarcane on the South Coast of Pernambuco
Authors: Machado Paulo Rocha , De Oliveira Francisco José , Coelho Silva Gheysa , Simões Neto Djalma Euzébio , Da Costa Ismael Gaião , Silva Ramos Robson da 
Published: April 2019

Aims: To quantify the magnitude of the genotype x harvest cycle interaction (GxC) of sugarcane during three harvest cycles and to select superior clones for cultivation on the Coast of the Southern Forest of Pernambuco.
Study Design: The experiment was conducted in a randomized complete block design.
Place and Duration of Study: Evaluated during the 2011/2012, 2012/2013 and 2013/2014 harvest years in the agricultural area of the Cucaú Plant, located in the Municipality of Rio Formoso (8°39' 49" S and 35º09'31" W, altitude of 5 m), Microregion of the Southern Forest of Pernambuco.
Methodology: 11 genotypes Republic of Brazil of the RB 2004 series and three RB cultivars were evaluated. Each plot was represented by five grooves of 8.0 m in length, spaced in 1.0 m, totaling 40 m². The crops were harvested 15 months after planting (MAP) for the first crop cycle and 12 MAP during the two subsequent cycles were evaluated tons of sugarcane per hectare (TCH), tons of pol per hectare (TPH) and total recoverable sugar (ATR). The variance analyses, the Scott and Knott clustering test, the estimative of the simple and complex parts of the G x C interaction and the Pearson correlation coefficient were processed in the Genes program.
Results: The genotypes showed a significant reduction of TCH from the first to the second cycle and that only the genotype UFRPE11 showed a significant decrease for the third. The genotypes UFRPE10, UFRPE6, UFRPE11, UFRPE7, UFRPE2, UFRPE9 and UFRPE1 exceeded all commercial varieties in TPH. It was observed for the variable ATR that there were no significant differences between the genotypes in the third cycle. The simple fraction of the interaction G x C were predominant between cycles C1 and C2 for TCH (67.91%) and TPH (69.35%), while for ATR (56.42%) the complex fraction was predominant. For the pair C2 x C3, the simple fraction of the interaction G x C predominated only in the TCH (62.85%) and TPH (62.41%) variables, but was not significant for the variable ATR. It is worth mentioning that the C1 x C3 cycle pair presented predominantly complex type interactions for all variables TCH (50.42%), TPH (52.20%) and ATR (59.66%).
Conclusion: The simple fraction of the genotype x harvest cycles (G x C) interaction provides genetic gain for yield of sugarcane and sugar in selection in subsequent pairs of harvest cycles, year by year. The complex fraction of G x C interaction reduces the predictability of genetic gain, making it difficult to select new cultivars. Local selection favors expressive genetic gain in a few selection cycles. However, it does not favor the selection of genotypes with high adaptability and phenotypic stability, requiring tests in several environments. The UFRPE06 and UFRPE10 clones can be selected to continue the selection cycles for the southern coastal conditions of the Mata de Pernambuco.
Evaluation of the Roles of Physicians and the Functionality of the Healthcare System in Nigeria
Authors: Joe-Ikechebelu Ngozi N. , Solomon-Nwaejike Chika , Enetie Edidiong , Fuwape Oreoluwa , Jones Emmanuella , Joe-Ikechebelu Belusochi B. , Maduka Somtochukwu , D. I. Osuorah Chidiebere 
Published: April 2019

Background: A comprehensive medical care system is required for effective healthcare delivery to people who need it. Even though exact configuration of healthcare services varies from country to country, a sturdy mechanism comprising of a robust financing, a well-trained and adequately paid workforce; research, policy recommendation and implementation is needed for a well-maintained system to deliver effective healthcare services.
Methods: This is a descriptive study conducted on 100 Nigerian trained physicians with at least 1-year practice experience. The online questionnaire was administered to participants through social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook and twitter using purposive sampling method. Data analysis was done using Microsoft excel 2010 version.
Results: The response rate was 100%. Ninety six percent (96%) and 99% of surveyed physicians think their monthly salary and the amount of money budgeted to the health sector is grossly inadequate. It was also noted that poor enumeration and/or low income 82/330 (25%) and poor medical facilities 70/330 (21%) are the commonest reasons they believe physicians emigrate from Nigeria while problem identification (20.2%), provision of leadership, healthcare service delivery (13.5%), policy making and implementation (12.9%) and research and development (10.4%) are the commonest roles for physicians identified by study participants.
Conclusion: The Nigerian physician is poorly enumerated, and the healthcare budget is poor. This accounts to large part why leave Nigeria. There is need for better funding of the healthcare system in Nigeria and more involvement of physicians in leadership, research and policy development.
Design and results of a smartphone‐based digital phenotyping study to quantify ALS progression
Authors: Berry James D. , Paganoni Sabrina , Carlson Kenzie , Burke Katherine , Weber Harli , Staples Patrick , Salinas Joel , Chan James , Green Jordan R. , Connaghan Kathryn , Barback Josh , Onnela Jukka Pekka 
Published: April 2019

AbstractObjectiveThe amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) trial outcome measures are clinic based. Active and passive smartphone data can provide important longitudinal information about ALS progression outside the clinic.MethodsWe used Beiwe, a research platform for smartphone‐based digital phenotyping, to collect active (self‐report ALSFRS‐R surveys and speech recordings) and passive (phone sensors and logs) data from patients with ALS for approximately 24 weeks. In clinics, at baseline and every 3 months, we collected vital capacity, ALSFRS‐R, and ALS‐CBS at enrollment, week 12, and week 24. We also collected ALSFRS‐R by telephone at week 6.ResultsBaseline in‐clinic ALSFRS‐R and smartphone self‐report correlation was 0.93 (P < 0.001). ALSFRS‐R slopes were equivalent and within‐subject standard deviation was smaller for smartphone‐based self‐report (0.26 vs. 0.56). Use of Beiwe afforded weekly collection of speech samples amenable to a variety of analyses, and we found mean pause time to increase by 0.02 sec per month across the sample.InterpretationSmartphone‐based digital phenotyping in people with ALS is feasible and informative. Self‐administered smartphone ALSFRS‐R scores correlate highly with clinic‐based ALSFRS‐R scores, have low variability, and could be used in clinical trials. More research is required to fully analyze speech recordings and passive data, and to identify optimal digital markers for use in future ALS clinical trials.
Bone Plate Composed of a Ternary Nanohydroxyapatite/Polyamide 66/Glass Fiber Composite: Biocompatibility In Vivo and Internal Fixation for Canine Femur Fractures
Authors: Qiao Bo , Zhou Di , Dai Zhenyu , Zhao Weikang , Yang Qiming , Xu Yanan , Li Xiangjie , Wu Jun , Guo Shuquan , Jiang Dianming 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBone plates have been applied to fix fractures for over a hundred years. Metal plates are the gold standard. However, an increasing number of clinical practices and animal experiments have shown that metal plates have had incidents of failure due to their rigid fixation and long‐term complications. Degradable composites present the advantages of a lower elastic modulus and absorbable properties but are unsuitable for load‐bearing applications. Nondegradable bone plates composed of a nanohydroxyapatite/polyamide 66/glass fiber (n‐HA/PA66/GF) composite are prepared, which have enough strength and a low elastic modulus for an internal fixation device. To better assess its function as a bone plate, animal experiments are conducted using a canine load‐bearing femur fracture model. The results show that the n‐HA/PA66/GF plate can fix fractures effectively. Gross observation, radiographic films, and histological analysis all show that the n‐HA/PA66/GF plate leads to a secondary (indirect) union with obvious callus formation, whereas the titanium plate leads to primary (direct) union due to rigid fixation. Furthermore, the histological results reveal that new bone grows at the interface and that the n‐HA/PA66/GF plate can integrate with native bone tissue. Consequently, the n‐HA/PA66/GF composite shows good potential as a bone plate to fix loading‐bearing bone fractures.
Thermoresponsive Stiffness Softening of Hierarchically Porous Nanohybrid Membranes Promotes Niches for Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation
Authors: Wu Linxiao , Magaz Adrián , Darbyshire Arnold , Howkins Ashley , Reynolds Alan , Boyd Ian W. , Song Hang , Song Jin‐Hua , Loizidou Marilena , Emberton Mark , Birchall Martin , Song Wenhui 
Published: April 2019

AbstractDespite the attention given to the development of novel responsive implants for regenerative medicine applications, the lack of integration with the surrounding tissues and the mismatch with the dynamic mechanobiological nature of native soft tissues remain in the current products. Hierarchical porous membranes based on a poly (urea–urethane) (PUU) nanohybrid have been fabricated by thermally induced phase separation (TIPS) of the polymer solution at different temperatures. Thermoresponsive stiffness softening of the membranes through phase transition from the semicrystalline phase to rubber phase and reverse self‐assembly of the quasi‐random nanophase structure is characterized at body temperature near the melting point of the crystalline domains of soft segments. The effects of the porous structure and stiffness softening on proliferation and differentiation of human bone‐marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hBM‐MSCs) are investigated. The results of immunohistochemistry, histological, ELISA, and qPCR demonstrate that hBM‐MSCs maintain their lineage commitment during stiffness relaxation; chondrogenic differentiation is favored on the soft and porous scaffold, while osteogenic differentiation is more prominent on the initial stiff one. Stiffness relaxation stimulates more osteogenic activity than chondrogenesis, the latter being more influenced by the synergetic coupling effect of softness and porosity.
Mechanical Characterization of Human Brain Tissue and Soft Dynamic Gels Exhibiting Electromechanical Neuro‐Mimicry
Authors: Tabet Anthony , Mommer Stefan , Vigil Julian A. , Hallou Clement , Bulstrode Harry , Scherman Oren A. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractSynthetic hydrogels are an important class of materials in tissue engineering, drug delivery, and other biomedical fields. Their mechanical and electrical properties can be tuned to match those of biological tissues. In this work, hydrogels that exhibit both mechanical and electrical biomimicry are reported. The presented dual networks consist of supramolecular networks formed from 2:1 homoternary complexes of imidazolium‐based guest molecules in cucubit[8]uril and covalent networks of oligoethylene glycol‐(di)methacrylate. The viscoelastic properties of human brain tissues are also investigated. The mechanical properties of the dual network gels are benchmarked against the human tissue, and it is found that they both are neuro‐mimetic and exhibit cytocompatibility in a neural stem cell model.
Prevention of Dominant IgG Adsorption on Nanocarriers in IgG‐Enriched Blood Plasma by Clusterin Precoating
Authors: Prozeller Domenik , Pereira Jorge , Simon Johanna , Mailänder Volker , Morsbach Svenja , Landfester Katharina 
Published: April 2019

AbstractNanocarriers for medical applications must work reliably within organisms, independent of the individual differences in the blood proteome. Variation in the blood proteome, such as immunoglobulin levels, is a result of environmental, nutrition, and constitution conditions. This variation, however, should not influence the behavior of nanocarriers in biological media. The composition of the protein corona is investigated to understand the influence varying immunoglobulin levels in the blood plasma have on the interactions with nanocarriers. Specifically, the composition of the nanocarriers' coronas is analyzed after incubation in plasma with normal or elevated immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels, and cellular uptake is monitored in cell lines containing different immunoglobulin receptors. Here, it is reported that upon doubling the IgG concentration in plasma, the IgG fraction in the protein corona increases by a factor of 40 independent of the nanocarrier material. This results in a significant increase in uptake in cells exhibiting IgG binding receptors. Furthermore, precoating nanocarriers with clusterin successfully prevents dominant IgG‐adsorption and additionally reduces cellular internalization, after incubation with IgG‐enriched plasma. Therefore, precoating nanocarriers may be utilized as a powerful method to reduce the influence of individual variations in blood composition on the protein corona.
Solvent‐Controlled Rhodium‐Catalyzed C6‐Selective C−H Alkenylation and Alkylation of 2‐Pyridones with Acrylates
Authors: Hazra Sunit , Hirano Koji , Miura Masahiro 
Published: April 2019

AbstractA solvent‐controlled rhodium‐catalyzed C6‐selective alkenylation and alkylation of 2‐pyridones with acrylates via a pyridine‐directed C−H cleavage was developed. Using DMF as solvent, the C−H alkenylation with acrylates selectively occurs to deliver the corresponding C6‐alkenylated 2‐pyridones in good yields. On the other hand, the C6‐alkylated products are predominantly formed in a more polar and protic solvent, HFIP. Thus, a single set of starting substrates can be divergently transformed to C6‐functionalized 2‐pyridones, which are of potent interest in medicinal and pharmaceutical chemistry.
Spätphasenfunktionalisierung von Peptiden und Cyclopeptiden mithilfe von Organozinkreagenzien
Authors: Leroux Marcel , Vorherr Thomas , Lewis Ian , Schaefer Michael , Koch Guido , Karaghiosoff Konstantin , Knochel Paul 
Published: April 2019

AbstractWir präsentieren eine neue Spätphasenfunktionalisierung von kleinen Peptiden und Cyclopeptiden unter Verwendung leicht zugänglicher Iodtyrosin‐ oder Iodphenylalanin‐haltiger Peptide mittels Neghishi‐Kreuzkupplungen mit Aryl‐, Heteroaryl‐ und Alkylzinkpivalaten oder den jeweiligen Halogeniden. Computergestützte und In‐vitro‐Evaluierungen von Zellmembranpermeabilitätsparametern der modifizierten Cyclopeptide ergaben, dass in den meisten Fällen die Löslichkeit der Peptide durch Einführung von polaren Pyridyleinheiten verbessert wurde, während die Zellpermeabilität beibehalten werden konnte.
Tertiäre α‐Silylalkohole mittels diastereoselektiver Kupplung von 1,3‐Dienen und Acylsilanen, eingeleitet durch enantioselektive kupferkatalysierte Borylierung
Authors: Feng Jian‐Jun , Oestreich Martin 
Published: April 2019

AbstractHier wird über eine effiziente Synthese von funktionalisierten tertiären α‐Silylalkoholen durch eine enantio‐ und diastereoselektive kupferkatalysierte Dreikomponentenkupplung von 1,3‐Dienen, Bis(pinakol)diboran und Acylsilanen berichtet. Die Reaktion verläuft gut mit verschiedenen 1,3‐Dienen und einer breiten Palette an aryl‐ sowie alkenyl‐, aber auch alkylsubstituierten Acylsilanen. Die Zielverbindungen werden mit hoher Regio‐, Diastereo‐ und Enantioselektivität gebildet (bis zu 99 % ee und d.r. >20:1) und sind ausgesprochen vielseitige Synthesebausteine.
Promoting Frustrated Lewis Pairs for Heterogeneous Chemoselective Hydrogenation via the Tailored Pore Environment within Metal–Organic Frameworks
Authors: Niu Zheng , Zhang Weijie , Lan Pui Ching , Aguila Briana , Ma Shengqian 
Published: April 2019

AbstractFrustrated Lewis pairs (FLPs) have recently been advanced as efficient metal‐free catalysts for catalytic hydrogenation, but their performance in chemoselective hydrogenation, particularly in heterogeneous systems, has not yet been achieved. Herein, we demonstrate that, via tailoring the pore environment within metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), FLPs not only can be stabilized but also can develop interesting performance in the chemoselective hydrogenation of α,β‐unsaturated organic compounds, which cannot be achieved with FLPs in a homogeneous system. Using hydrogen gas under moderate pressure, the FLP anchored within a MOF that features open metal sites and hydroxy groups on the pore walls can serve as a highly efficient heterogeneous catalyst to selectively reduce the imine bond in α,β‐unsaturated imine substrates to afford unsaturated amine compounds.
Formate Oxidase (FOx) from Aspergillus oryzae: One Catalyst Enables Diverse H2O2‐Dependent Biocatalytic Oxidation Reactions
Authors: Tieves Florian , Willot Sébastien Jean‐Paul , van Schie Morten Martinus Cornelis Harald , Rauch Marine Charlène Renée , Younes Sabry Hamdy Hamed , Zhang Wuyuan , Dong JiaJia , Gomez de Santos Patricia , Robbins John Mick , Bommarius Bettina , Alcalde Miguel , Bommarius Andreas Sebastian , Hollmann Frank 
Published: April 2019

AbstractAn increasing number of biocatalytic oxidation reactions rely on H2O2 as a clean oxidant. The poor robustness of most enzymes towards H2O2, however, necessitates more efficient systems for in situ H2O2 generation. In analogy to the well‐known formate dehydrogenase to promote NADH‐dependent reactions, we here propose employing formate oxidase (FOx) to promote H2O2‐dependent enzymatic oxidation reactions. Even under non‐optimised conditions, high turnover numbers for coupled FOx/peroxygenase catalysis were achieved.
Valorization of chitins extracted from North Morocco shrimps: Comparison of chitin reactivity and characteristics
Authors: Arrouze F. , Desbrieres J. , Rhazi M. , Essahli M. , Tolaimate A. 
Published: April 2019

ABSTRACTHuge quantities of waste discharged by the gray and pink shrimp decortication units in the North of Morocco can be valorized by producing about 950 tons of pure chitin, which can be transformed into 700 tons of highly to totally deacetylated chitosan. During the preparation of chitin and chitosan from gray and pink shrimps, differences in reaction behavior were observed even though these are taxonomically close species. The presented results concern several chitinous sources, and they show that the progress in the N‐deacetylation reactions of chitin would be linked to the crystallinity index of the starting chitin. Following the kinetic study of the polymer hydrolysis during N‐deacetylation, the difference in the molecular weights of the chitosan samples obtained under identical reaction conditions was related to the differences between molecular weights of the native chitin, 478 000 g.mol−1 for pink shrimp and 562 000 for gray shrimp. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 47804.