Acceptable Yields Research Articles

Evaluation of the Productive Potential of a World Collection of Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) for the Initiation of Breeding Programs for Adaptation to Conservation Agriculture

Transitioning to conservation agriculture is proving to be a better alternative and could become the norm in the future. Morocco, geographically located in a hot spot, is much more vulnerable to the hazards of climate change and the advantages of conservation agriculture remain a good compromise to ensure sustainable agricultural production. However, the lack of sufficient knowledge about this agricultural technology could be a hindrance and thus create mistrust among farmers. Therefore, the objective of our study is to evaluate the performance of a collection of chickpeas in each tillage system to identify genotypes that can be integrated into breeding programs for adaptation to conservation agriculture. Our study shows no significant effect of tillage on grain yield. Chlorophyll content and pod number made the strongest direct and positive contributions to yield for conventional and no-till, respectively. Nine genotypes including two checks (C1 and C2) were selected in both systems through MGIDI (multi-trait genotype–ideotype distance index) analysis. These genotypes would be potential candidates for breeding programs for adaptation to no-till because of their plasticity to reproduce acceptable yields in both till systems.

Organocatalyzed Double C(sp3)−H Alkylation of Cyclic N‐Sulfonyl Ketimines with 3‐Chloropropiophenones: Selective Access to 2,3,6‐Trisubstituted Pyridines

AbstractAn efficient sequential one‐pot, two‐step pseudo‐four‐component reaction between 3/4‐methyl N‐sulfonyl ketimines with 3‐chloropropiophenones triggered by DIPEA/NaHCO3 as a cooperative base and subsequent aza‐cyclization using NH4OAc is reported. This transition‐metal‐oxidant‐free technique concocts new C−C/C=C/C=N−C bonds selectively, guaranteeing acceptable yields of 2,3,6‐trisubstituted pyridines possessing ortho‐hydroxyaryl/benzenesulfonamide and propiophenone moieties at C2 and C3 positions, respectively. Interestingly, while replacing methyl‐substituents with straight alkyl chains of N‐sulfonyl ketimines, only a monoalkylation reaction happened with in situ‐generated vinyl ketones to deliver promising yields of 3‐picoline derivatives. Moreover, the synthetic transmutation of prepared pyridine derivative led to several important classes of pyridocoumarin, 5H‐chromenopyridine, and di(pyridin‐3‐yl) methane derivatives.

Implementation of DNA Methylation Array Profiling in Pediatric Central Nervous System Tumors: The AIM BRAIN Project: An Australian and New Zealand Children's Haematology/Oncology Group Study

DNA methylation array profiling for classifying pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors is a valuable adjunct to histopathology. However, unbiased prospective and interlaboratory validation studies have been lacking. The AIM BRAIN diagnostic trial involving 11 pediatric cancer centers in Australia and New Zealand was designed to test the feasibility of routine clinical testing and ran in parallel with the Molecular Neuropathology 2.0 (MNP2.0) study at Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (German Cancer Research Center). CNS tumors from 269 pediatric patients were prospectively tested on Illumina EPIC arrays, including 104 cases co-enrolled on MNP2.0. Using MNP classifier versions 11b4 and 12.5, we report classifications with a probability score ≥0.90 in 176 of 265 (66.4%) and 213 of 269 (79.2%) cases, respectively. Significant diagnostic information was obtained in 130 of 176 (74%) for 11b4, and 12 of 174 (7%) classifications were discordant with histopathology. Cases prospectively co-enrolled on MNP2.0 gave concordant classifications (99%) and score thresholds (93%), demonstrating excellent test reproducibility and sensitivity. Overall, DNA methylation profiling is a robust single workflow technique with an acceptable diagnostic yield that is considerably enhanced by the extensive subgroup and copy number profile information generated by the platform. The platform has excellent test reproducibility and sensitivity and contributes significantly to CNS tumor diagnosis.

The Critical Period of Weed Control Influences Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Yield, Yield Components but Not Oil Content

Field studies were conducted in the northeastern part of the Republic of Croatia to determine the influence of the critical period of weed interference on sunflower (Helianthus annuus) yield, yield components, and oil content. For this purpose, different durations of competition were established, allowing weeds to infest the crop for increasing periods of time after planting or maintaining plots weed-free for increasing periods of time after planting. The beginning and the end of the critical period of weed control (CPWC), based on a 5% and 10% loss of sunflower yield, were determined by fitting the four-parameter log-logistic equations to the relative seed yield. The total weed biomass increased progressively in relation to the increase in the competition. The beginning of the CPWC period, based on a 5% acceptable yield loss, ranged from 141 to 234 growing degree days (GDD), which corresponded to the two-to-four true leaf development stage (the V2–V4 growth stages) across both sites and years. The crop had to be kept weed-free until a period when sunflower inflorescence began to open and flower (the R4–R5 growth stage) or from 1365 to 1932 GDD. The sunflower yield and yield components varied between the years and among locations. An increasing duration of weed interference negatively affected crop height, head diameter, and 1000-kernel weight, but not seed oil content.

Response surface methodology (RSM) for optimizing ozone-assisted process parameters for formaldehyde removal.

Formaldehyde, a volatile organic compound (VOC), is one of the main gaseous pollutants from commercial cooking. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of a laboratory-scale ozone-assisted indirect plasma method for formaldehyde removal using response surface methodology (RSM). A dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor was used for ozone generation. Inlet HCHO concentration, ozone concentration, and residence time were considered the design parameters, and formaldehyde removal efficiency (response 1) and energy yield (response 2) were considered response parameters. The optimized models showed a positive correlation between the predicted and experimental outcomes. Inlet ozone concentration, the most significant parameter in the removal efficiency model, represented a positive correlation with this response in most parts of the operating region. The optimal point with the highest desirability (i.e., D1 point) was obtained at the inlet HCHO concentration of 120ppm, inlet ozone concentration of 40ppm, and reaction time of 11.35s within the parameter ranges studied, resulting in 64% removal efficiency and 2.64g/kWh energy yield. At the point with the second highest desirability (D2), 100% removal efficiency along with 0.7g/kWh energy yield was achieved indicating the very good performance of the process. The indirect plasma approach used in this study presented a successful performance in terms of removal efficiency along with acceptable energy yield compared to other plasma-assisted processes reported in the literature. The results suggested that ozone-assisted indirect plasma treatment can be utilized as an efficient alternative method for formaldehyde removal in commercial kitchens, while efficiency or energy yield should be prioritized for optimizing operating conditions.

A sonochemical approach to 3-(het)aryl substituted 1H-[1,3]oxazino[3,4-a]indol-1-one derivatives promoted by Pd/Cu-catalysts and ZnCl2

A new approach has been developed for the access of 3-(het)aryl substituted 1H-[1,3]oxazino[3,4-a]indol-1-one derivatives promoted by Pd/Cu-catalysts and ZnCl2. These compounds were prepared via a direct and one-pot method involving the coupling of 2-iodoindole derivatives with a range of terminal alkynes in the presence of (PPh3)4Pd, CuI and ZnCl2 in DMF under ultrasound. This sonochemical approach proceeded via the CC coupling followed by intramolecular cyclization (i.e. CO bond formation) in a regioselective manner in the same pot affording the desired products in good to acceptable yield. The mild reaction conditions, shorter duration and the use of eco-friendly energy are some of the key features of the current methodology. Among the synthesized compounds, the [1,3]oxazino[3,4-a]indol-1-one derivative 3a, 3c and 3f were identified as the preliminary hits when tested in vitro for their TNF-α inhibitory potential.

Cleavage of macromolecule (protein/polysaccharide)-phenolic bond in soybean cell wall through Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus helviticus mixed culture solid-state fermentation for chlorogenic acid extraction

Out of the available dietary sources use for chlorogenic acid extraction, soybean is new and cheap that could offer cost-effective chlorogenic acid production under solid-state fermentation (SSF). Consequently, the study aimed at investigating the cleavage of protein/carbohydrate-phenolic bond in heilong48 soybean (HS) variety via solid-state fermentation by Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus helviticus mixed culture for chlorogenic acid extraction with high yield and increased biological activity. A simplistic two-pot bioproduct optimization approach was used; first, screening (Plackett-Burman design) of SSF conditions and second, optimizing (Box-Behnken design) the significant SSF conditions obtained from the former design. The liquid-solid (liquid:solid) ratio of 32:68 (0.47), incubation time of 48 h, pH of 5, and temperature of 50 °C were the best-optimized SSF conditions obtained from the chronological combinatory screening and optimization methods. These conditions gave a satisfactory SSF model, and correspondingly acceptable chlorogenic acid yield (9.20 ± 0.17 mg/g), fermentation efficiency (37.26 ± 0.73%), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical-scavenging activity (DPPH) (65.21 ± 2.05 μmol AA eq/g dry sample) results. The L. casei and L. helviticus mixed culture fermented heilong48 soybean (MCFHS) sample (under optimized SSF conditions) had high (p < 0.05) chlorogenic acid yield and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical-scavenging activity than the raw heilong48 soybean flour (RHSF) sample. The effectiveness of the optimized solid-state fermentation conditions on the structural modifications of heilong48 soybean sample was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared results.

Low temperature pyrolysis of polylactic acid (PLA) and its products

The fact that polylactic acid (PLA) is not biodegradable makes it necessary to find the methods of effective treatment of its waste. A significant method of processing waste PLA can be slow low-temperature pyrolysis, providing mostly oil and energy gas. The PLA pyrolysis provides almost 50 wt.% oil and 21–23 wt.% energy gas with a high carbon monoxide content above 90 vol.% at temperatures up to 420 °C. The temperatures above 420 °C do not give acceptable yields of oil anymore, and at the same time there are higher losses due to the release of low boiling aldehydes and ketones. The obtained oil and gas showed an acceptable calorific value as a basis for their use as substitute fuels. Due to its composition, oil can also be considered as a source of valuable chemicals (tetrahydrofuran, paraldehyde, cyclopentanone and ether) and gas as a source of carbon monoxide for industrial applications and, more recently, for biomedical use. Even plastic waste mixtures with a high proportion of PLA in a 1:1 ratio can be efficiently processed by slow low-temperature pyrolysis. The pyrolyzed mixture showed very similar yields of solid carbonaceous residue and oil (38 wt.% and 35 wt.%). The composition of the solid phase was only minimally different from the low-temperature pyrolysis of PLA. Although the ratio of PLA:LPO components was 1:1, the CO content decreased by ca. 20 vol.% at the expense of CO2 and lighter C2-C5.

Synthesis of C‐3‐Functionalized Imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines via Direct para‐Position Arylation of Electron‐Rich Anilines under Transition‐Metal‐Free Conditions

AbstractA multicomponent tandem arylation reaction was established under transition‐metal‐free conditions to synthesize structurally diverse imidazo[1,2‐a]pyridines. As N,N‐dimethylaniline is not only a reactant but also a methylation reagent, its use affords an alternative route for methylation. This approach features mild reaction conditions and good functional group tolerance, providing 29 compounds in acceptable yields.

Telmisartan-Loaded Lactosylated Chitosan Nanoparticles as a Liver Specific Delivery System: Synthesis, Optimization and Targeting Efficiency

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a significant economic impact and a high mortality rate. Telmisartan (TLM) is a potential therapy for HCC, but it has a limited scope in drug delivery due to unpredictable distribution and poor bioavailability. The objective of this study was to prepare, design, and in vitro evaluate lactose-modified chitosan nanoparticles (LCH NPs) as a liver-targeted nanocarrier for TLM with the potential to offer a promising HCC therapy. The combination of chitosan with lactose was successfully attained using the Maillard reaction. TLM-LCH NPs were prepared, characterized, and optimized with the developed 23 full factorial design. The optimized formulation (F1) was in vitro and in vivo characterized. LCH was synthesized with an acceptable yield of 43.8 ± 0.56%, a lactosylation degree of 14.34%, and a significantly higher aqueous solubility (6.28 ± 0.21 g/L) compared to native chitosan (0.25 ± 0.03 g/L). In vitro characterization demonstrated that, F1 had a particle size of 145.46 ± 0.7 nm, an entrapment efficiency of 90.21 ± 0.28%, and a surface charge of + 27.13 ± 0.21 mV. In vitro TLM release from F1 was most consistent with the Higuchi model and demonstrated significantly higher release at pH 5.5. Moreover, a significantly higher ratio of liver to plasma concentration was observed with TLM-LCH NPs compared to plain TLM and unmodified TLM-NPs. The obtained results nominate TLM-LCH NPs as a promising carrier for enhancing liver targeting of TLM in treatment of HCC.Graphical abstract

Responses of yield, quality and water use efficiency of potato grown under different drip irrigation and nitrogen levels

Proper irrigation and fertilization are essential for achieve high tuber yield and quality in potato production. However, the high cost of these inputs necessitate optimization of their use to improve both water use efficiency and crop productivity. This study aimed to investigate the impact of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization on potato yield, quality and water use efficiency. The research included different drip irrigation treatments (100%, 66%, and 33% of field capacity) and nitrogen levels: 0 (N0), 100 (N1), 200 (N2), 300 (N3), 400 (N4) and 500 (N5) kg N ha−1. The results indicated that potato yield and growth were more sensitive to irrigation treatment than nitrogen levels. Full irrigation with 300 kg N ha−1 produced the highest total tuber yield, while low irrigation treatments resulted in significantly lower yields. In contrast, the 66% field capacity irrigation treatment consistently had the highest water use efficiency in both years of the study. Furthermore, the study showed that the quality characteristics of the tubers were negatively impacted by full irrigation treatments compared to low irrigation. These findings suggest that with appropriate irrigation and nitrogen application, potatoes can be produced with acceptable yields while conserving water and minimizing nitrogen use. This research emphasizes the importance of optimizing inputs to improve water use efficiency and yield productivity while reducing water. As a result, obtaining useful information on crop management for farmers to make informed decisions may be possible by achieving optimal irrigation and nitrogen levels.

Corn Plant Density Effects on Grain Yield and Palmer Amaranth Response to Dicamba

Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats.) is primarily found in fallow and cultivated fields throughout Kansas (KS). Previously, we reported that the effective dose of dicamba for 50% control (ED50) of a 10-30 cm tall A. palmeri accession from KS (KSP) during the fallow-year of a wheat-corn-fallow rotation (WCF) ranged between 40.4 to 283.5 g ae ha-1 Here, we investigated corn (Zea mays L.) plant density effects on grain yield and the KSP response to dicamba in the corn-year of the WCF rotation. The experiments used a randomized complete block design with four replicates and a split-plot arrangement of treatments. Main plots consisted of corn planted at five densities (49,400; 61,700; 74,100; 86,400 and 98,800 plants ha-1) and sub-plots consisted of six doses of dicamba [(70, 140, 210, 280, 420, and 560 g ae ha-1) applied near V6], a weedy-check, and a weed-free check. In general, acceptable grain yield and KSP control with dicamba doses &amp;lt; 560 g ae ha-1 were only achieved when corn was planted at a density &amp;ge; 74,100 plants ha-1. Based on the ED50 estimates, the KSP required 4.4-8.2% less dicamba for height and biomass reduction as corn plant density increased from 49,400 to 98,800 plants ha-1. Conversely, the amount of dicamba required for 50% reduction of KSP density increased 45.1% from 144.4 to 209.6 g ae ha-1 as corn plant density increased from 49,400 to 98,800 plants ha-1, respectively. Taken together, this study shows that integration of high-density corn planting with dicamba is a cost-effective tool for controlling A. palmeri. However, resistance mitigation and a season-long control of this species cannot be achieved without the integration of other more diversified and robust strategies that include the use of preemergence fb postemergence herbicide programs that overlap residuals with cultural, biological, and mechanical weed control tactics.

Rhodium‐Catalyzed Dearomative 1,4‐Acyl Rearrangement of 2‐Oxypyridines with Hydrazones: Access to N‐Substituted 2‐Pyridones

AbstractA rhodium‐catalyzed dearomative 1,4‐acyl migratory rearrangement reaction of 2‐oxypyridines has been developed for the direct synthesis of 2‐alkylated pyridones under mild reaction conditions. Different with the former reports, in this protocol, readily accessible and bench stable vinyl N‐nosylhydrazones instead of diazoacetates have been used as carbene precursors. As a result, a range of N‐alkylated pyridones have been prepared in acceptable yields with good functional group tolerance.

Acetic Acid‐Catalyzed 1,6‐Addition of Indolizine to para‐Quinone Methides

AbstractThis article describes the development of a metal and additive‐free protocol that utilizes acetic acid (AcOH) as a catalyst for the C3‐alkylation of indolizines using para‐Quinone Methides (p‐QMs) as an alkylation agent. The metal and additive free method offers an easy route to various substituted indolizine derivatives with good functional group tolerance and delivering acceptable good yields (up to 93%). A gram‐scale synthesis and further product derivatization show the synthetic potential of this technique. The significance of these findings for medicinal chemistry makes this easy and green approach relevant to both medicinal and synthetic organic chemists, given the crucial role of indolizine in the pharmaceutical industry.

Henry reaction catalyzed by recyclable polyamine

The catalytic Henry reaction is an important CC bond forming reaction between aldehyde/ketone and nitroalkane. Herein, a metal-free recyclable polyamine JP-2Y was developed and various β- nitroalcohols were prepared with acceptable yields (up to 91%) via the Henry reaction catalyzed by JP-2Y. In addition, for nitromethane, the protocol can be used for selective preparation of β-nitro alcohols or 1,3-dinitroalkanes by adjusting the reaction temperature and additive. The recyclability of JP-2Y was proved via catalyzing the reaction at gram-scale for at least 8 consecutive runs.

Collective Syntheses of 8-Oxoprotoberberines via Sequential In(OTf)3-Catalyzed Cyclization and Pd(OAc)2-Catalyzed Heck Coupling.

Six 8-oxoprotoberberines were synthesized collectively in four steps with acceptable yields (14-19%), of which the products 8-oxopalmatine, 8-oxopseudopalmatine, 8-oxoberberine, and 8-oxopseudoberberine come from nature. The synthetic route was featured with the In(OTf)3-catalyzed cyclization and Heck coupling. Moreover, the syntheses of the natural products berberine, canadine, and iambertine were achieved via various reductions from 8-oxoberberine, which provided a concise approach to the syntheses of this kind of alkaloids.

Enantioselective Synthesis of Fluorinated Indolizidinone Derivatives

The enantioselective synthesis of fluorinated indolizidinone derivatives has been developed. The process involved an enantioselective intramolecular aza-Michael reaction of conjugated amides bearing a pendant α,β-unsaturated ketone moiety, catalyzed by the (S)-TRIP-derived phosphoric acid, followed by dimethyltitanocene methylenation and ring closing metathesis (RCM). Final indolizidine-derived products comprise a fluorine-containing tetrasubstituted double bond generated by the RCM reaction, which is a challenging task. The whole synthetic sequence took place in acceptable overall yields with excellent enantioselectivities.

Towards autoregulation-oriented management after traumatic brain injury: increasing the reliability and stability of the CPPopt algorithm

PurposeCPPopt denotes a Cerebral Perfusion Pressure (CPP) value at which the Pressure-Reactivity index, reflecting the global state of Cerebral Autoregulation, is best preserved. CPPopt has been investigated as a potential dynamically individualised CPP target in traumatic brain injury patients admitted in intensive care unit. The prospective bedside use of the concept requires ensured safety and reliability of the CPP recommended targets based on the automatically-generated CPPopt. We aimed to: Increase stability and reliability of the CPPopt automated algorithm by fine-tuning; perform outcome validation of the adjusted algorithm in a multi-centre TBI cohort.MethodsICM + software was used to derive CPPopt and fine-tune the algorithm. Parameters for improvement of the algorithm were selected based on qualitative and quantitative assessment of stability and reliability metrics. Patients enrolled in the Collaborative European Neuro Trauma Effectiveness Research in TBI (CENTER-TBI) high-resolution cohort were included for retrospective validation. Yield and stability of the new algorithm were compared to the previous algorithm using Mann–U test. Area under the curves for mortality prediction at 6 months were compared with the DeLong Test.ResultsCPPopt showed higher stability (p < 0.0001), but lower yield compared to the previous algorithm [80.5% (70—87.5) vs 85% (75.7—91.2), p < 0.001]. Deviation of CPPopt could predict mortality with an AUC of [AUC = 0.69 (95% CI 0.59–0.78), p < 0.001] and was comparable with the previous algorithm.ConclusionThe CPPopt calculation algorithm was fine-tuned and adapted for prospective use with acceptable lower yield, improved stability and maintained prognostic power.

Analogous study of cumulative biogas production by anaerobic digestion of sewage treatment plant sludge, the proposal of universal dimensionless models

AbstractThe current global concern is how to replace polluting fossil fuels with sustainable green fuels. On this basis, in this study, a characterization protocol for sewage sludge in Algeria was carried out. Their objective was to study the process of anaerobic digestion for biogas production by analogy to experiments that have already been made in the literature. The performance of the proposed models has been validated with experimental data from the scientific literature. Biodegradable organic matter levels are high (160–500 mg L−1) giving an acceptable yield for biogas production. The modeling of cumulative biogas production was carried out by Gompertz and models were proposed for different products. It has been observed that there is a better agreement of the models proposed with the experimental data with a maximum value of r2 = 0.9996. The modeling of the degradation of organic matter was carried out by the first order‐model, and dimensionless models were proposed. The latter gave a good agreement with the experimental data better than the model in the literature, with a maximum value of r2 = 0.9985. The proposed models to study the anaerobic digestion process of organic matter, as well as those related to the process of cumulative biogas production, are universal (without units of measurement), which will help producers in this field to improve production, as well as reduce the investment cost through preliminary simulations.

Ecosystem services of organic versus inorganic ground cover in peach orchards: A meta‐analysis

AbstractSeveral organic (e.g., compost, hay, straw, grass) and inorganic (e.g., plastic film) ground cover (GC) forms are used in peach orchards worldwide. Yet, there is a lack of quantitative studies on peach orchard ecosystem services comprising fruit yields and quality, soil health indicators, and biological pest control. To fill this knowledge gap, we performed a meta‐analysis of 55 peer‐reviewed research. Overall, inorganic GC increased peach yields by 7.7 ± 1.8%, while organic GC reduced it, though not statistically significant (p &gt; 0.05), by 1.7 ± 3%. Both forms of GC have enhanced single fruit mass, with a greater increase in inorganic (4.2 ± 1.7%) than in organic GC (1.2 ± 1.2%), and soluble solids content by 5.9 ± 0.9% and 3.2 ± 0.7%, respectively. Inorganic GC did not significantly affect titratable acid and fruit hardness, while organic GC reduced titratable acid (13.7 ± 2.1%), and fruit hardness (89 ± 2.9%). Soil temperature has increased in orchards with inorganic GC (2.8 ± 2.9%) and reduced with organic GC (8.3 ± 2.4%). Inorganic GC marginally increased soil water storage, while organic GC increased it by 9.3 ± 2.1%. Both organic and inorganic GC increased soil water content by 13.1 ± 2.4% and 26.1 ± 3.4%, respectively. Unlike inorganic GC, organic GC increased soil organic matter, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, and available potassium by 28.3 ± 3.3%, 25.1 ± 2.7%, 23.5 ± 4.6%, and 30.9 ± 3.3%, respectively. Equally significantly, organic GC increased predator abundance (47.5 ± 5.9%) and reduced pest incidence (2.4 ± 1.8%). Overall, inorganic GC systems slightly increased peach yield but are not sustainable due to their negative soil health and environmental impacts. In contrast, organic GC systems delivered an acceptable yield level while providing numerous ecosystem services, enabling sustainable long‐term peach production.