Development of a deep-learning phenotyping tool for analyzing image-based strawberry phenotypes.

Introduction: In strawberry farming, phenotypic traits (such as crown diameter, petiole length, plant height, flower, leaf, and fruit size) measurement is essential as it serves as a decision-making tool for plant monitoring and management. To date, strawberry plant phenotyping has relied on traditional approaches. In this study, an image-based Strawberry Phenotyping Tool (SPT) was developed using two deep-learning (DL) architectures, namely "YOLOv4" and "U-net" integrated into a single system.

Heavy metal status in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) soils and beans: the case of Abuakwa North Municipality of Eastern Region, Ghana.

In recent times, public concerns over the potential accumulation of heavy metals in agricultural soils and crops due to the excessive use of agrochemicals are increasing. This study was conducted in the Abuakwa North Municipality of Eastern Region, Ghana, to assess the status of heavy metals in cocoa soils and beans. Cocoa farms aged between 10 and 20 years and have received agrochemicals for at least 5 years were selected, and their adjacent forests were used as controls.

Postharvest Quality Improvement of Bell Pepper ( L. cv Nagano) with Forced-Air Precooling and Modified Atmosphere Packaging.

Optimum postharvest storage conditions increase the postharvest quality and shelf life of horticultural crops. The effects of forced-air precooling (FAP) and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on shelf life, physicochemical quality, and health-promoting properties of bell pepper ( L. cv.

Effect of landuse on floristic composition and diversity of medicinal plants in the Guinea Savanna zone of Ghana.

The use of medicinal plants is the most accessible primary health care approach in rural communities with limited infrastructure for western medicine. Medicinal plants are therefore an integral component of traditional medicine in Ghana, but wild bushes where medicinal plants regenerate naturally are being converted to alternative landuse. Although most landuse changes are destructive to biodiversity, some indigenous land use systems are known to be environmentally friendly.

Cytotoxic phytochemicals from the crude extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera fruits towards multi-factorial drug resistant cancer cells.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Tetrapleura tetraptera is an African medicinal spice used in traditional medicine to treat several ailments including cancer.

Aim Of The Study: The present study was designed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of the dichloromethane-methanol (1:1) extract of the fruits of Tetrapleura tetraptera (TTF) and its constituents: (3R, 4S)-3,4-dimethyloxetan-2-one (1), luteolin (2), stigmasterol (4), 3-O-[6'-O-undecanoyl-β--glucopyranosyl]stigmasterol (6), olean-12-en-3-β-O--glucopyranoside (7), 3-O-β--glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β--glucopyranosylurs-12-en-28-oic acid (8), 3-O-β--glucopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-β--glucopyranosyl-27-hydroxyolean-12-ene-28-oic acid (9), methyl-O-β--glucopyranoside (10), β--fructofuranosyl-(2 → 1)-β--glucopyranoside (11) towards a panel of cancer cell lines including MDR phenotypes. The cellular mode of induction of apoptosis by TTF and compound 7 was further investigated.

Polyacanthoside A, a new oleanane-type triterpenoid saponin with cytotoxic effects from the leaves of (Fabaceae).

The chemical investigation of the leaves and stem bark of (Fabaceae) led to the isolation of a new oleanane-type triterpenoid saponin named polyacanthoside A together with fifteen known compounds. Their structures were established from spectral , mainly HRESIMS, 1D NMR and 2D NMR and by comparison with literature data. The cytotoxicity of compound and the analogues as well as doxorubicin was determined in a panel of 9 cancer cell lines including sensitive and drug resistant phenotypes.

Cytotoxicity of seputhecarpan D, thonningiol and 12 other phytochemicals from African flora towards human carcinoma cells.

Background: Despite the remarkable progress in cancer therapy in recent years, this disease still remains a serious public health concern. The use of natural products has been and continues to be one of the most effective ways to fight malignancies. The cytotoxicity of 14 compounds from African medicinal plants was evaluated in four human carcinoma cell lines and normal fibroblasts.

Challenges and predictors of exclusive breastfeeding among mothers attending the child welfare clinic at a regional hospital in Ghana: a descriptive cross-sectional study.

Background: The challenges and predictors of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) have been examined in many parts of the world. Considering the socio-cultural dynamics and the few research studies in Ghana, the factors that hinder and predict EBF practice in other countries may be different in the Ghanaian setting. The study therefore sought to assess the challenges and predictors of EBF among mothers attending a child welfare clinic at a regional hospital in Ghana.

Secondary metabolites with antiproliferative effects from Albizia glaberrima var glabrescens Oliv. (Mimosoideae).

A new 5-dehydroxyflavan, namely Albiziaflavan B or (+)-(2R, 3S, 4R)-3',4', 7-trihydroxy-4-methoxy-2,3-trans-flavan-3,4-trans-diol (1) was isolated from the root bark of Albizia glaberrima, together with six known compounds including three flavans: (+)-mollisacacidin (2), (+)-fustin (3) and butin (4); two steroids: chondrillasterol (5) and chondrillasterone (6), and a triterpenoid: lupeol (7). The structure of 1 was established by detailed analysis of its spectroscopic data, especially 1D and 2D NMR spectra, HRESIMS and CD data. Compounds 1-6 were assayed for their antiproliferative effects on two human cancer cells, HeLa at 50 μM (n = 2) and HL60 at 20 μM (n = 2).

Thonningiiflavanonol A and thonningiiflavanonol B, two novel flavonoids, and other constituents of Ficus thonningii Blume (Moraceae).

A phytochemical study of Ficus thonningii has led to the isolation of two previously unreported compounds, thonningiiflavanonol A and thonningiiflavanonol B together with 16 known compounds: shuterin, naringenin, syringic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, genistein, 5,7,3',4',5'-pentahydroxyflavanone, luteolin, methylparaben, aromadendrin, garbanzol, dihydroquercetin, 5,7,3'-trihydroxyflavanone, β-sitosterol, sitosterolglucoside, lupeol acetate, and taraxerol. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. The new compounds and extracts displayed potent antioxidant activity.

Two New Triterpenoidal Saponins from Roots of Pachystela msolo.

Two new triterpenoidal saponins, pachystelanosides A (1) and B (2), and six known compounds have been isolated from the roots of Pachystela msolo. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive ID and 2D NMR studies ('H, "C, DEPT, COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, HSQC, HMBC), and ESI-MS as 3-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1-->6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-28-O-(β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1--4)[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)}-α-L-arabino- pyranosyl)-hydroxyprotobassic acid (1) and 3-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1-->6)-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-28-O-(β-D-xylopyranosyl- (1-->4)[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)]-α-L-arabinopyranosyl)-7α-hydroxyprotobassic acid (2).

Examining the association between musculoskeletal injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome in manual laborers.

Introduction: The association between musculoskeletal injuries and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) has not been investigated in a large, population-based study.

Methods: Latino manual laborers were recruited as part of a study of work-related health conditions. Each had a clinical examination, completed a hand diagram, and had nerve conduction studies.

Antrocarines A-F, antiplasmodial ergostane steroids from the stem bark of Antrocaryon klaineanum.

During a study on the chemistry and biological activity of Antrocaryon klaineanum Pierre, six new sterols including 4,24(28)-ergostadiene-6α,7α-diol (1), 6α-methoxy-4,24(28)-ergostadiene-7α,20S-diol (2), 6α-methoxy-4,24(28)-ergostadien-7α-ol (3), 20S-hydroxy-24(28)-ergosten-3-one (4), 7α-hydroxy-4,24(28)-ergostadien-3-one (5), and 24(28)-ergostene-3β,6α-diol (6) were characterized by physical and spectroscopic means. The known steroids 7 and 8 were also isolated. The crude extract and the isolated compounds were evaluated for their ability to inhibit the 3D7 strain of Plasmodium falciparum.

Elatumic acid: a new ursolic acid congener from Omphalocarpum elatum Miers (Sapotaceae).

A new triterpene diastereomer, 1, of the previously reported 3beta,6beta,19alpha-trihydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid-24-carboxylic acid methyl ester was obtained from the stem bark of Omphalocarpum elatum Miers (Sapotaceae) along with a-amyrin acetate (2), spinasterol (3), spinasterol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4), and tormentic acid (5). The structures of the isolates were established on the basis of NMR and mass spectrometric data and by comparison with those previously reported in the literature. Compound 1 showed weak antibacterial activity against E.

Excelsoside: a new benzylic diglycoside from the leaves of Milicia excelsa.

A new benzylic diglycoside was isolated from the leaves of Milicia excelsa and identified as 3,4-dimethoxybenzyl beta-D-xylopyranosyl (1 --> 2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1). It was obtained together with four known secondary metabolites including lupeol acetate (2), ursolic acid (3), triacontyl (E)-ferulate (4), and 2-(3,5-dihydroxyphenyl)benzofuran-5,6-diol (5). Their structures were determined based on their spectroscopic data and by comparison with those reported in the literature.

Cytotoxicity of four Aframomum species (A. arundinaceum, A. alboviolaceum, A. kayserianum and A. polyanthum) towards multi-factorial drug resistant cancer cell lines.

Background: The search for natural products as potential cytotoxic agents has yielded promising candidates. However multidrug resistance (MDR) is still a major hurdle for patients receiving chemotherapy. In the present study, we evaluated the cytotoxicity of the methanol extracts of four dietary Aframomum plant species (A.

Chemical constituents of Croton oligandrum (Euphorbiaceae).

A new clerodane diterpene derivative named crotonoligaketone was obtained from the stem bark of Croton oligandrum along with eight known compounds including crotonadiol, imbricatadiol, crotonzambefuran B, 7-acetoxytrachiloban-18-oic acid, 3-O-acetylaleuritolic acid, lupeol, beta-sitosterol, and stigmasterol. The structures of the isolated compounds were established on the basis of their spectral data and by comparison with those reported in the literature.

Case study and application of process analytical technology (PAT) towards bioprocessing: use of on-line high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for making real-time pooling decisions for process chromatography.

Process analytical technology (PAT) has been gaining a lot of momentum in the biopharmaceutical community due to the potential for continuous real time quality assurance resulting in improved operational control and compliance. This paper presents a PAT application for one of the most commonly used unit operation in bioprocessing, namely liquid chromatography. Feasibility of using a commercially available online-high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system for real-time pooling of process chromatography column is examined.

Rhuschalcones II-VI, five new bichalcones from the root bark of Rhus pyroides.

Biflavonoids detected in trace amounts in an earlier investigation of the twigs of Rhus pyroides have now been found in the root bark of this species. These new flavonoids belong to a rare bichalcone class and have been identified as 2',4',4' ',2' ",4' "-pentahydroxy-4-O-5' "-bichalcone (rhuschalcone II, 2), 2',4',4' ',2' "-tetrahydroxy-4' "-methoxy-4-O-5' "-bichalcone (rhuschalcone III, 3), 4,2',4' ',2' "-tetrahydroxy-4' "-methoxy-4'-O-5' "-bichalcone (rhuschalcone IV, 4), 4,2',4',4' ',2' ",4' "-hexahydroxy-3,5' "-dihydrochalcone-chalcone (rhuschalcone V, 5), and 4,2',4',4' ',2' ",4' "-hexahydroxy-3,5' "-bichalcone (rhuschalcone VI, 6), repectively. Also obtained was the known compound rhuschalcone I (1).