bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Estimation of genetic components, heterosis and combining ability of elite Pakistani wheat varieties for yield attributing traits and stripe rust response
Authors: Ahmed M. S. , Qamar M. , Waqar S. , Naeem A. , Javaid R. A. , Tanveer S. K. , Hussain I. 
Published: November 2023

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a staple food and major source of dietary calories in Pakistan. Improving wheat varieties with higher grain yield and disease resistance is a prime objective. The knowledge of genetic behaviour of germplasm is key. To achieve this objective, elite wheat varieties were crossed in 4 by 3, line × tester design, and tested in 2019 in a triplicate yield trial to estimate genetic variance, general and specific combining ability, mid-parent heterosis and stripe rust (Puccinia striiformis L.). High grain 3358 kg·ha–1 was recorded in F1 hybrid (ZRG-79 × PAK-13). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant genotypic variance in grain yield. Broad sense heritability (H2) was recorded in the range of 28 to 100 %. General combining ability (GCA) significant for grain yield in parents except FSD-08 and PS-05 was recorded, while specific combining ability (SCA) was recorded to be highly significant for grain yield only in two crosses (ZRG-79 × NR-09 and ZRG-79 × PAK-13). Mid-parent heterosis was estimated in the range of –28 to 62.6 %. Cross combinations ZRG-79 × PAK-13 depicted highly significant mid-parent heterosis (62.6 %). Highly significant correlation was observed among spike length, spikelets per spike, plant height and 1000-grain weight. Rust resistance index was recorded in the range of 0 to 8.5. These findings suggest exploitation of GCA for higher grain yield is important due to the presence of additive gene action and selection in the filial generations will be effective with improved rust resistance, while cross combinations ZRG-79 × PAK-13 high GCA are best suited for hybrid development.
The Economic Impact of Environmentally Sustainable Transport in Germany
Authors: Schade Burkhard , Rothengatter Werner 
Published: November 2023

The economic assessment of the Environmentally Sustainable Transportation (EST) scenarios developed throughout this paper are part of Phase 3 of the overall project, which is on social and economic assessment and on devising packages of instruments that - if implemented - would result in attaining EST.

Two methods were chosen for the assessment of the scenarios: a qualitative evaluation based on a simplified cybernetic model (SCM) and a system dynamics model (SDM).

In the assessment with the simplified cybernetic model, a conservative baseline has been chosen in order to start with a scenario that incorporates some pessimistic views of the industry. The aim is to show that, even in this case, an economic disaster will not occur.

The System Dynamics Model ESCOT was designed to consider the ecological and technical aspects of a transition towards sustainable transportation. It is important that ESCOT considers not only first round effects but also secondary effects, which makes it a powerful instrument for the assessment of such large ecological changes.

The economic assessment of environmentally sustainable scenarios shows that the departure from car and road freight oriented transport policy is far from leading to an economic collapse. The effects concerning economic indices are rather low, even though the measures proposed in the EST-80% scenario designate distinct changes compared to today’s transport policy. The impacts on some economic indicators, however, are clearly negative. With an expansion of the time period for the transition in the EST-50% scenario we derived even more encouraging results than for EST-80%.
Investigation of Driver Comprehension of Traffic Information on Graphical Congestion Display Panels using a Driving Simulator
Authors: Richards Andy , McDonald Mike , Fisher Granville , Brackstone Mark 
Published: November 2023

In the UK, the Highways Agency has been investigating the use of Graphical Congestion Display Panels (GCDPs) to display real-time congestion and journey time information relevant to drivers on sections of the trunk road network. A GCDP can potentially display a greater detail of traffic information than traditional Variable Message Signs (VMS). The research described in this paper has investigated driver comprehension of information that may be contained in such signs with a view to establishing prototype design guidelines. A key objective of this concept study was to design and undertake laboratory research to examine whether the content of traffic information messages displayed by the GCDPs could be readily understood, by using a simple driving simulator as a subject workload task.

Sixty subjects participated in the simulator-based study and twenty sign designs were tested, with each sign classified as belonging to one of several different generic types with the best signs recommended to be taken forward for further research and testing. Two methods of measurement were used: verbal responses of the subjects to questions whilst driving the simulator and a written questionnaire after the experiment to record more detailed opinions. Although no single best sign design was identified, the research found that some sign design types were clearly more successful than others.
In-silico Molecular Interaction Studies of Biologically Active Secondary Metabolites of Cissus quadrangularis L. as a Potential Anti-cancer Drug
Authors: Chauhan Abhinav , Kumar Arvind , Tanuja Tanuja 
Published: November 2023

Cissus quadrangularis Linn. is a succulent perennial plant of family Vitaceae also called as Asthisandhaanak or Hadjor in Hindi, has been traditionally described in Ayurveda and Siddha literature as general tonic and as a powerful analgesic, used as an anti-cancer, antidiabetic, antibacterial, hepatoprotective and neuroprotective etc. It is a good source of biologically active secondary metabolites withvarious pharmacological activities implicated in a wide range of human diseases. Cancer is a major issue or concern in public health systems, especially in developing countries like India. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), Tyrosine kinase (TK) and Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are emerging as an important cancer target therapeutic proteins. Molecular docking studies provide a better insight into the biological activity of secondary metabolites like Resveratrol (3,4′,5-trans-trihydroxystilbene) and Piceatannol (3,3′,4,5′-transtrihydroxystilbene) from C. quadrangularis L., its possible mechanisms of action, binding modes and predicting it as a possible anti-cancer drug with and lesser or no side effects
Relationship between fish and otolith dimensions of flathead sillago Sillaginopsis panijus (Hamilton, 1822) (Perciformes: Sillaginidae) in the north-western Bay of Bengal
Authors: Pradhan S. K. , Hari M. Sri , Roul Subal Kumar , Ghosh Shubhadeep , Jaiswar A K , Nayak B B , Bhusan Shashi 
Published: November 2023

The present study established the fish body and otolith dimension relationships of flathead sillago Sillaginopsis panijus (Hamilton, 1822), to assist the interpretation of growth. A total of 413 specimens were collected fortnightly from September 2018 to August 2019 off north-western Bay of Bengal. The samples ranged between 142–394 mm in total length and16-413.1 g in total weight. With fish growth, positive correlation was observed between the fish and otolith morphometric parameters. The highest coefficient of determination (R2) was observed between total length and otolith weight (R2=0.9198), followed by otolith weight and otolith width (R2=0.896). These results provide baseline information on the dimensional relationship between fish length and otolith size of this species in Indian waters, which will be helpful in future study on the food and feeding habits, growth and stock structure. Keywords: Coefficient of determination, Correlation, Growth rings, Life history, Morphometry, Sagitta
Optimisation of transformation in the heterologous fusion gene GAPDH-IFN cloning using DH5α strain of Escherichia coli
Authors: Valsalam Anisha , Rajendran K. V. , Vinde Pooja , Bedekar Megha Kadam 
Published: November 2023

DNA vaccines are the most essential tool of the disease prevention strategy. In the present study, cloning of a heterologous fusion gene involving glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase and interferon gamma (GAPDH-IFN) was conceptualised. Cloning was tried using four distinct transformation techniques viz. InstAclone PCR Cloning kit (Fermentas, USA); CaCl2 transformation protocol; Clontech stellar competent cells protocol and PEG 8000-mediated transformation method, for the heterologous GAPDH-IFN fusion gene using DH5α strain of Escherichia coli. The first three methods were found to be unsuitable, and the PEG 8000-mediated transformation method yielded positive clones.
Keywords: DNA vcaccine, Edwardsiella tarda, Fusion genes, Labeo rohita, PEG 8000, Transformation methods
Effect of Japanese sandfish (Arctoscopus japonicus) meal in paste diet for Anguilla japonica in terms of growth, feed efficiency and digestibility
Authors: Ri Chol-Hyok , Ryu Myong-Chol , Kim Yong-Song , Ri Yong-Jin 
Published: November 2023

In this study, the effect of replacement of high-quality fish meal (HQFM) with Japanese sandfish (Arctoscopus japonicus) meal (SFM) and the utility of a viscous culture broth of Leuconostoc mesenteroides (VCL) as binding material in paste diet for Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) was tested in terms of growth, feed efficiency and digestibility. Four experimental paste diets contained, fish meal and binding materials as, HQFM and starch (F0, control), SFM and VCL (F1), SFM and a mixture of starch and VCL (F2) and SFM and starch (F3). Each diet was formulated to be iso-nitrogenous and iso-lipidic. Each group of 10 juvenile eels with an average initial body weight of 20 ± 2.5 g were randomly distributed into 15 tanks in triplicates and fish were fed twice daily with one of the 4 experimental paste diets for 90 days. Eels fed with diet F2 exhibited good growth performance (final mean weight; 55.3±0.67 g, WGR; 169±5%), being similar to eels (55.5±0.26g, 170±7%) fed a control diet (p>0.05). In spite of iso-nitrogenous and iso-lipidic diets, the feed efficiency of F1 and F3 were inferior to other diets and the same trend was observed in growth performance also, probably due to reduced feed intake owing to poor water stability of the feeds. It should be considered that incorporation of SFM could lead to the discharge of undesirable matters such as phosphorus into the water environment, though it would contribute to lowering production costs.Therefore, further investigations are needed to improve the quality of SFM.
Keywords: Fish meal replacement, Growth performance, Iso-lipidic diet, Iso- nitrogenous diet, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Water stability.
Selectivity of tigertooth croaker (Otolithes ruber) gillnet in fishing grounds of Oman Sea, Iran
Authors: Sepahi Ali , Gorgin Saeid , Patimar Rahman , Sadough Niri Ali 
Published: November 2023

Tigertooth croaker (Otolithes ruber) fishing has increased recently in southern Iran due to its economic value. In the present study, O. ruber gillnets with opening mesh sizes of 73, 85 and 90 mm were used to assess the selectivity of the nets. For this purpose, three panels each of commercial nets having mesh sizes of 73, 85 and 90 mm, were connected which formed an experimental net for sampling from January to May 2020. A total of 619 specimens of O. ruber were caught and the selectivity curves were plotted using the Sechin method. Results showed that the mean total lengths of O. ruber caught with mesh sizes of 73, 85 and 90 cm were, 26.89 ± 4.00; 35.33 ± 3.43, and 37.05 ± 3.32 cm, respectively. Considering the length at sexual maturity of 40 cm, it seems that gillnet with mesh size of 90 cm is the most suitable fishing net for catching the species.
Keywords: Mesh size, Otolithes ruber, Sechin method, Selectivity curves
Investigations on depredation by the deepsea swimming crab Charybdis smithii, during experimental gillnetting along the south-west coast of India
Authors: Renjith R. K. , Paras Nath Jha  , Chinnadurai S. , Baiju M. V. , Thomas Saly N. 
Published: November 2023

Depredation by crabs can have a negative impact on marine gillnet fishery. Despite this fact, limited studies are attempted to evaluate depredation. The present study is the first attempt to evaluate the qualitative and quantitative effects of crab depredation on marine gillnet fishery. Experimental gillnetting was conducted onboard F V Sagar Harita from February 2017 to January 2018 along the south-west Indian coast. Depredation by the deepsea swimming crab Charybdis smithii caused intentional discard of Indian mackerel (17.59%), kawakawa (14.77%), shrimp scad (10.74%) and horse mackerel (10.02%). Financial loss due to depredation was high for Indian mackerel (19.99%), followed by shrimp scad (19.17%), kawakawa (14.77%) and horse mackerel (14.16%). A total of ₹2554.30 per operation was lost due to crab depredation. C. smithii showed a preference towards scombrids (Indian mackerel and kawakawa) over carangids (shrimp scad and horse mackerel) due to the inherent flavour and texture of scombrids. Incidence of depredation were found exclusively during June to September (monsoon season).
Keywords: Crab, Depredation, Economic loss, Fishery, Marine gillnet
Effect of electron beam irradiation on the quality of vacuum-packed, chilled-stored tilapia fish chunks
Authors: Jeyakumari A. , Narasimha Murthy L. , Visnuvinayagam S. , Sarma K. S. S. , Rawat K. P. , Shaikh Abdul Khader  
Published: November 2023

Currently, there is an increasing demand for minimally processed or convenience food products without any quality loss. Electron Beam Irradiation (EBI) is a non-thermal processing technique used to preserve the nutrient value and shelf-life extension of food products. In the present study, the effect of electron beam irradiation on the quality of tilapia fish chunks was evaluated. Tilapia fish chunks were vacuum packed and exposed to 0, 2.0, and 4.0 kGy doses of electron beam irradiation and kept under chilled storage. Biochemical, microbiological, and sensory qualities were analysed for up to 41 days. pH (6.85 to 7.10), total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), peroxide value (PV) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) content showed an increasing trend during storage. It was observed that TVB-N content was lower in the irradiated sample than control. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) values were within the acceptable limits during storage. Microbiological analysis revealed that irradiated fish chunks had lower total plate count, Pseudomonas count and Brochothrix thermosphacta count compared to the control. The hydrogen sulfide formers count and Lactobacillus count were nil in the irradiated fish chunks. In terms of microbial and sensory qualities, it was found that electron beam irradiated samples had an extended shelf-life of 28-38 days (with respect to dose level), compared to the control which had a shelf-life of only 16 days.
Keywords: Non-thermal processing, Peroxide value, Sensory qualities, Shelf-life, TBA, TBARS, TVB-N, Vacuum packing
Estimation of Fracture Size and Probability Density Function by Setting Scanlines in Rectangular Sampling Window
Authors: Gu Feifan , Chen Jianping , Zhang Qi , Tan Chun , Zhang Yansong , Wang Qing 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Rock masses are very important materials in geotechnical engineering. In engineering rock mass, fracture is the relatively weak part of mechanical strength in rock mass and is the most important factor controlling the deformation, damage, and permeability of rock mass. Therefore, investigating fractures is very important for characterizing rock mass. This paper proposed a new approach by using uniformly equidistant orthogonal scanlines. Within the study context, the solution formula of fracture size is derived by establishing the space intersection model of arbitrary fracture and scanline, rectangular window, and a rectangular box with a rectangular window. Then, fractures were randomly generated in a certain size cube and compared with the traditional Kulatilake trace length integral evaluation method. The study results have shown that the proposed method is more reasonable and accurate. Then, this method was applied to an adit of Songta Hydropower Station. Finally, a new fracture diameter probability density estimation method was proposed, the fracture diameter of the normal distribution was verified, and the parameters of the probability density function obtained by the scanlines method were in agreement with the initial set parameters. In summary, the proposed scanlines method can well estimate the mean value of the fracture diameter and the probability density function of the fracture size.
Cashew Leave Ethanolic Extract on the Histology of Select Organs of Wistar Rats: a Clinical Study of the Effects on the Liver, Kidney and Small Intestine
Authors: Ogochukwu Anaziah Grace 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Background
Cashew leaves are leaves of the cashew tree. They are oval with fine pronounced veins and midribs. Each leaf is 10 to 20cm long, by 7 to 12cm in width. Cashew leaves are botanically classified as Anacardium Occidentale. Cashew leaves are best eaten when they are young and are a purplish green at the tips and a brighter green on the bottom. When young, the leaves have a texture like hard spinach. They have a tangy and astringent taste. Cashew leave is consumed in Nigeria and other parts of the world as a refreshing drink and used for culinary purposes. Cashew leaves are used medicinally in several cultures. In Africa, it is used to treat diabetes and malaria. In Java, it is used as a paste to treat skin conditions.
Methods
Twenty (20) male wistar rats of average weight of 172.6g ± 4.8 (Means ± S.E.M) were assigned to a control group (A) and test group (B, C and D, E). They were administrated with varying ethanolic concentrations (200 to 800mg/kg) of the extract for 28days daily. On day 29, all rats were sacrificed by cranial-spinal dislocation. The kidney, liver and small intestine were excised, grossed, and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin solution for 48hrs prior to histological processing. Sections were obtained at 3–5 microns and stained with hematoxylin and Eosin and Periodic Acid Schiff solution for light microscopy.
Results
The acute toxicity of Anacardium Occidentale dose (L.D50) tolerable by the rat is 4,525mg/kg body weight. No changes were observed grossly and histologically. However, the empirical measurement showed significant reduction in weight in low dose treated animals (group B and C) and negligible weight loss in high dose (Group D and E) treated animals. The histopathology of the Kidney, Liver and Small intestine after the administration of Anacardium Occidentale leaves extract, showed no toxic effects exerted on the wistar rat.
Conclusion
This study suggests that since there is no toxic effect exerted on the Kidney, Liver and Small intestine, Anacardium Occidentale leave remains suitable for consumption (as a pleasure drink, for culinary purposes, in delicacies or for therapeutic use).
Safety and efficacy of autogeneic NKT cells infusion in advanced melanoma patients: a Phase I clinical trial
Authors: Wang Ying , Yang Yue , Lian Bin , Wang Xuan , Si Lu , Chi Zhihong , Sheng Xinan , Kong Yan , Zhou Zijing , Peng Di , Mao Lili , Zhou Li , Li Siming , Tang Bixia , Dai Jie , Bai Xue , Guo Jun , Zhang Minghui , Cui Chuanliang 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Background: Many melanoma patients benefited from immunotherapy, and cellular immunotherapy has been considered as a form of immunotherapy which is non-interaction with prior chemotherapy or radiation. Nature killer T cells (NKT cells) are a unique population of lymphocytes with potential anti-tumor function which display characteristics of T cell and nature killer cells,This was a prospective, open-label and dose-escalation phase I study designed to evaluate the safety of NKT cells which were purified and expanded in vitro from patients.
Methods: Patients were enrolled in three dose-escalation groups of infusion of NKT cells using a traditional 3+3 design. Patients conformed unresectable metastatic melanoma of stage III or IV failed in prior standard therapy were eligible. Each treatment cycle contained two infusions every 28 days.
Results: A total of 23 patients were recruited in this trial from October 2015 to June 2019. Almost all the patients were at stage IV. Most of them progressed after immunotherapy consisted of ipilimumab. No serious treatment-related adverse event occurred and the maximum tolerated dose was not reached. All the adverse events were grade 1 and grade 2. Up to 19 April 2021, three patients achieved partial response, five patients exhibited stable disease and 13 patients experienced progressed disease after treatment. The objective response rate was 14.3% and disease control rate was 38.1%, respectively.
Conclusions: Infusion of NKT cells was well tolerated and showed moderate antitumor activities in advanced melanoma patients.
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02619058. A Clinical Trial of Adoptive Transfer With Autologous NKT Cells in Metastatic Melanoma Patients
Three-dimensional multi-scale membrane for efficient air filtration performances: Preparation, optimization and characterization
Authors: Sun Fei , Zheng Yaxin , Liu Enxing , Chen Tianying , Xiao Qi 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
With the increasing attention to global air quality problem, air filtration materials become a research hotspot. Here, novel polyurethane (PU)/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)@ polypropylene (PP) multi-scale membranes were fabricated by a lamination process of electrospinning and melt-blown methods. The electrospinning nano-membrane and melt-blown micro-membrane were optimized under various parameter. The morphology and structures of the prepared multi-scale membranes were characterized by SEM and FT-IR. And the water contact angle was tested to evaluate the wettability properties. Air filtration tests was operated to determine the optimum membranes for air filtration application. The results showed that the multi-scale membranes had highly air filtration efficiency (96.72%) and quality factor (0.04167 Pa− 1) which can be obtained by only electrospinning 60 min. The successful preparation of multi-scale membranes provides a new way for the design and development of electrospinning filteration membranes. In addition, large-scale production of air filtration membranes with high filtration efficiency and low pressure drop can be realized by combine electrospinning and melt-blown technology.