bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Heavy metal assessment in drinking waters of Ecuador: Quito, Ibarra and Guayaquil
Authors: Cipriani-Avila Isabel , Molinero Jon , Jara-Negrete Eliza , Barrado Miren , Arcos César , Mafla Santiago , Custode Fernando , Vilaña Gissela , Carpintero Natalia , Ochoa-Herrera Valeria 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Chemical elements, which are present in drinking water, could vary due to water sources, treatment processes or even the plumbing materials. Most of these elements do not represent a threat, while others, such as heavy metals, have been proven to cause harmful effects over human and aquatic wildlife. In this study, the quality of drinking water in three cities in Ecuador, Quito, Ibarra and Guayaquil was assessed through a multielement analysis and the heavy metal pollution index (HPI). A total of 102 drinking water samples and six natural water samples were collected and analyzed. Within the scope of analysis, results show that water quality complies with local and international guidelines. HPI did not show significant differences in the water that is supplied to the different neighborhoods of the three cities studied. However, actions should be taken to protect the sources of water, especially in Guayaquil, due to the presence of lead and chromium. For instance, lead was found in 2.8% of the samples in concentrations above World Health Organization (WHO) recommended values. Thus, we suggest to assessing the quality and age of the plumbing system within the whole country, in order to avoid drinking water contamination with heavy metals.
Groundwater quality and non-carcinogenic health risk assessment of nitrate in the semi-arid region of Punjab, India
Authors: Chaudhry Akshay Kumar , Sachdeva Payal 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Groundwater is the main source of water in the study area (Rupnagar District, Punjab), and its quality is essential since it is the primary determinant of the suitability of groundwater for drinking and irrigation purposes. In this study, data from 28 years have been used to evaluate the adequacy of groundwater for domestic and irrigation purposes and assess the potential human health impacts of nitrate contaminants. Results of sodium adsorption ratio, percentage sodium, magnesium hazard ratio, Kelley ratio, and residual sodium carbonate illustrate that most of the sampling locations were suitable for irrigational purposes and drinking water quality of the region mostly belonged to the ‘good’ class. The maximum nitrate concentration was observed in the northern and north-east parts of the area. Among the three age groups, children &gt; female &gt; male was found to be more prone to health risks with oral ingestion of nitrate. Uncertainties in the risk estimates were quantified using Monte Carlo simulation and sensitivity analyses. Thus, a proper management plan should be adopted by the decision-makers to improve the quality of drinking water in this area to avoid major health problems in the near future.
Study on immobilization of diatomite, Ca(H2PO4)2, CaCO3, HAP and nano-HAP for heavy metal contaminated sediment
Authors: Zhang Zhibin , Shi Xianhui , Zhang Yanhao , Wang Shengrui , Wang Meng , Wang Yuchen , Sumana Bandara Weerakoon W. M. , Sanginova Olga 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
The immobilization performances of Diatomite, Ca(H2PO4)2, CaCO3, Hydroxyapatite (HAP) and Nano-HAP (n-HAP) for Zn, Mn, Pb, and Cd contaminated sediments were investigated by immobilization experiments and evaluated by the European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) extraction test, toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP). The result of BCR indicated that HAP and Nano-HAP (n-HAP) had a better immobilization effect on metal contaminated sediments, and the residual fractions of Zn, Mn, Pb, and Cd increased from 30.4, 31.9, 55.49 and 54.27% to 36, 39, 72, and 57%, respectively. The order for immobilized effects of additive was: n-HAP &gt; HAP &gt; CaCO3 &gt; Ca(H2PO4)2 &gt; diatomite. However, the cost-effectiveness of HAP was slightly higher than that of n-HAP, so HAP was more suitable for immobilization of heavy metals in sediment. The TCLP test showed that with HAP as immobilization the leaching amount was reduced by approximately 76, 28, 78, and 85% for Zn, Mn, Pb, and Cd, respectively, compared to the blank group. The results also proved that HAP would be an effective and economical agent for immobilizing heavy metals in sediment, with the optimum mass dosage of 10% (the mass ratios of HAP/sediment (dry weight)) of the sediment.
An inexact multi-stage interval-parameter partial information programming model for water resources management under uncertainties
Authors: Chen Hongguang , Wang Zhongjun 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
The urban water shortage crisis around the world is increasing. In this study, an inexact multi-stage interval-parameter partial information programming model (IMIPM) is proposed for urban water resources planning and management under uncertainties. Optimization techniques of two-stage stochastic programming (TSP), interval-parameter programming (IPP), linear partial information theory (LPI) and multistage stochastic programming (MSP) are combined into one general framework. IMIPM is used to tackle uncertainties like interval numbers, water inflow probabilities expressed as linear partial information, dynamic features in a long planning time and joint probabilities in water resources management. It is applied to Harbin where the manager needs to allocate water from multi-water sources to multi-water users during multi-planning time periods. Four water flow probability scenarios are obtained, which are associated with uncertainties of urban rainfall information. The results show that the dynamics features and uncertainties of system parameters (such as water allocation targets and shortage) are considered in this model by generating a set of representative scenarios within a multistage context. The results also imply that IMIPM can truly reflect the actual urban water resources management situation, and provide managers with decision-making space and technical support to promote the sustainable development of economics and the ecological environment in cities.
Electrosorptive disinfection of Escherichia coli (E. coli) aqueous solutions by activated carbon monolith electrodes
Authors: Bayram Edip , Karaman Ceren , Kuru Zehra , Karaman Onur 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
Electrosorption, which can be defined as adsorption onto the surfaces of charged electrodes, has been developing as an efficient and environmentally friendly technology for removing toxic pollutants from aqueous solutions. In this study, an industrial process was used for the fabrication of activated carbon electrodes (ACEs). An electroless metal deposition method was used for the modification of activated carbon granules with silver (Ag) for antibacterial activity of electrodes. The antibacterial activity of Ag-modified–ACEs (Ag–ACEs) for Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria commonly found in water was tested. Adsorption and electrosorption behaviors of E. coli aqueous solutions onto ACEs and Ag–ACEs were examined in a cyclic electrosorption system. It has been concluded that the performance of Ag–ACEs is better than ACEs as an electrode for electrosorption of E. coli. Moreover polarization can significantly enhance the removal efficiency of E. coli on both ACEs and Ag–ACEs. Finally, electrosorption capacity of the system for E. coli was determined.
A batch study on the adsorption/desorption behavior of vancomycin on bentonite nanoparticles in aqueous solutions
Authors: Khamooshi Hossein , Dahrazma Behnaz , Ebrahimi Ali , Davoodi Siavash 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
In this study, adsorption/desorption of vancomycin (VAN) on bentonite nanoparticles was investigated in a batch system. Adsorption experiments were carried out as a function of several influential parameters such as adsorbent dosage, pH, contact time and ionic strength. Bentonite nanoparticles were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses and the mesoporous structure was revealed. Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherm models were applied for the examination of equilibrium data, and Langmuir was found to be the best fit. With the increase in pH and ionic strength, the adsorption capacity decreases, which suggests the adsorption process may be dominated by the cation exchange mechanism. Moreover, VAN desorption from bentonite nanoparticles in two initial VAN loadings was investigated under different concentrations of metallic cations of various valences (Na+, Ca2+, Al3+), and pHs 3–10. Desorption was strongly pH-dependent and the amount of VAN desorbed increased with increasing cations concentrations. The FTIR analysis before and after VAN desorption suggests that the formation of Al-VAN and Ca-VAN complexes on the solid surface and then their detachment from the solid surface may contribute to the higher VAN desorption by Al3+ and Ca2+.
Pb doped ZnO nanoparticles for the sorption of Reactive Black 5 textile azo dye
Authors: Ben Dassi Roua , Chamam Baha , Méricq Jean Pierre , Heran Marc , Faur Catherine , El Mir Lassaad , Tizaoui Chedly , Trabelsi Ismail 
Published: October 2020

Abstract
In this study, Pb doped ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized by a sol-gel technique for the sorption of Reactive Black 5 (RB5) textile dye in aqueous solution. The ZnO:Pb (2 and 4%) nanoparticles have been characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and cryogenic nitrogen adsorption method. The average size of the synthesized nanoparticles was less than 100 nm and the surface areas were 18.8 and 20.8 m2/g, respectively for ZnO:Pb 2% and ZnO:Pb 4%. Batch sorption experiments were performed for color removal of RB5 dye at ambient temperature and 30 mg/L dye concentration. The central composite design with response surface methodology was used to study the effect of sorption condition (pH, nanoparticles dose and contact time). The significance of independent variables and their interactions was tested by analysis of variance. The optimum conditions of color removal were pH = 7, 2 g/L dose of nanoparticles and a contact time of 79 min. The color removal performance was 79.4 and 98.1% for ZnO:Pb 2 and 4% respectively. The pseudo-second-order model described well the removal rates while the Langmuir model fitted well the adsorption isotherms.
Removal of uranium(VI) from aqueous solution byCamellia oleiferashell-based activated carbon: adsorption equilibrium, kinetics, and thermodynamics
Authors: Yi Zhengji , Liu Jian , Zeng Rongying , Liu Xing , Long Jiumei , Huang Binyan 
Published: October 2020

AbstractCamellia oleifera shell-based activated carbon (COSAC) was prepared by H3PO4 activation method and further used to remove U(VI) from the aqueous solution in a batch system. This research examined the influence of various factors affecting U(VI) removal, including contact time, pH, initial U(VI) concentration, and temperature. The results showed that the U(VI) adsorption capacity and removal efficiency reached 71.28 mg/g and 89.1% at the initial U(VI) concentration of 160 mg/L, temperature of 298 K, pH 5.5, contact time of 60 min, and COSAC dosage of 2.0 g/L. The pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and intraparticle diffusion equations were used to identify the optimum model that can describe the U(VI) adsorption kinetics. The pseudo-second-order kinetics model performed better in characterizing the adsorption system compared with the pseudo-first-order and intraparticle diffusion models. Isotherm data were also discussed with regard to the appropriacy of Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich models. The Langmuir model described the U(VI) adsorption process the best with a maximum adsorption capacity of 78.93 mg/g. Thermodynamic analysis (ΔG0 &lt; 0, ΔH0 &gt; 0, and ΔS0 &gt; 0) indicated that the U(VI) adsorption process is endothermic and spontaneous. All the results imply that COSAC has a promising application in the removal or recovery of U(VI) from aqueous solutions.
General Perspectives for the Treatment of Atherosclerosis
Authors: Gülcan Hayrettin Ozan , Orhan Ilkay Erdogan 
Published: October 2020

:Atherosclerosis, a cardiovascular disease, is at the top of the list among the diseases leading to death. Although the biochemical and pathophysiological cascades involved within the development of atherosclerosis have been identified clearly, its nature is quite complex to be treated with a single agent targeting a pathway. Therefore, many natural and synthetic compounds have been suggested for the treatment of the disease. The majority of the drugs employed target one of the single components of the pathological outcomes, resulting in many times less effective and longterm treatments. In most cases, treatment options prevent further worsening of the symptoms rather than a radical treatment. Consequently, the current review has been prepared to focus on the validated and non-validated targets of atherosclerosis as well as the alternative treatment options such as hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, acyl-CoA cholesterol acyl transferase (ACAT) inhibitors, lipoprotein lipase stimulants, bile acid sequestrants, and some antioxidants. Related to the topic, both synthetic compounds designed employing medicinal chemistry skills and natural molecules becoming more popular in drug development are scrutinized in this mini review.
Characterization of a Micro Beam Fabricated with 3D Technology Using Image Processing Algorithm
Authors: Ertugrul Ishak 
Published: October 2020

Background::
This article presents a micro beam, fabricated using digital light processing
(DLP), one of the additive manufacturing methods. The fabrication process is based on the projection
micro stereolithography method.

Objective::
The micro beam, which can move in one direction (y-axis), was designed according to the
specified criteria and fabricated. In the experiments carried out during the fabrication process, it
showed the effect of the support structures on the fabrication of the micro beam.

Methods::
For the characterization process, the micro beam connected to the probe station is connected
to a circuit board with cables attached to the electrical pads. The image processing algorithm has
been developed to detect the displacement of the micro beam as a result of the characterization processes.
The operating voltage was increased from 0V to 2V and incremented until fracture and deterioration
in the structure of the micro beam were observed.

Results::
The micro beam was able to withstand distortion and breaks up to a maximum voltage of
10V. When 12V voltage was applied to the micro beam, fractures occurred in the arm. As a result of
the characterization process, the maximum displacement of the micro beam was measured as 2.32
μm at 10V voltage.

Conclusion::
The characterization results indicated the usability of the image processing algorithm in
3D technology.
Effect of Intravitreal Injection of Aflibercept on Cardiovascular Risk Parameters in Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Georgakopoulos Constantinos D. , Pallikari Athina , Plotas Panagiotis , Kagkelaris Konstantinos , Mastronikolis Stylianos , Plota Maria , Emmanuil Andreas , Makri Olga E. 
Published: October 2020

Objective:
Systemic administration of anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors (anti-
VEGFs) has been associated with severe cardiovascular adverse events in oncologic patients.
The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate the short-term effect of a single intravitreal injection
of aflibercept on biomarkers related to increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Patients and Methods:
Forty-seven treatment naïve patients with neovascular age-related macular
degeneration in one eye were enrolled in the study. The patients underwent treatment with one intravitreal
injection of aflibercept in the affected eye. Laboratory biomarkers of cardiovascular disease
were evaluated before the first intravitreal injection of aflibercept and at 7 and 30 days after
aflibercept administration. More precisely, we evaluated the levels of homocysteine, total cholesterol,
triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and Creactive
protein.

Results:
There was not any statistically significant change in the levels of the evaluated parameters
up to one month after the first intravitreal injection of aflibercept.

Conclusions:
According to our study, the administration of a single dose of aflibercept in eyes with
neovascular age-related macular degeneration does not seem to affect the evaluated biomarkers
that are related to cardiovascular disease.
Old Drugs with New Tricks: Paradigm in Drug Development Pipeline for Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Dalvi Tanay , Dewangan Bhaskar , Das Rudradip , Rani Jyoti , Shinde Suchita D. , Vhora Nazmina , Jain Alok , Sahu Bichismita 
Published: October 2020

:
The most common reason behind dementia is Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and it is predicted
to be the third life-threatening disease apart from stroke and cancer for the geriatric population.
Till now, only four drugs are available on the market for symptomatic relief. The complex
nature of disease pathophysiology and lack of concrete evidence of molecular targets are the major
hurdles for developing a new drug to treat AD. The rate of attrition of many advanced drugs at
clinical stages makes the de novo discovery process very expensive. Alternatively, Drug Repurposing
(DR) is an attractive tool to develop drugs for AD in a less tedious and economic way. Therefore,
continuous efforts are being made to develop a new drug for AD by repurposing old drugs
through screening and data mining. For example, the survey in the drug pipeline for Phase III clinical
trials (till February 2019) consists of 27 candidates, and around half of the number are drugs
which have already been approved for other indications.

:
Although in the past, the drug repurposing process for AD has been reviewed in the context of disease
areas, molecular targets, there is no systematic review of repurposed drugs for AD from the
recent drug development pipeline (2019-2020). In this manuscript, we have reviewed the clinical
candidates for AD with emphasis on their development history, including molecular targets and the
relevance of the target for AD.
Design, Fabrication and Characterization of Esomeprazole Nanocrystals for Enhancing the Dissolution Rate and Stability
Authors: Agarwal Vijay , Bajpai Meenakshi 
Published: October 2020

Background:
Poor solubility and low dissolution rate limit the work at poorly water-soluble
drugs like Esomeprazole. To overcome this problem, different technologies had to be used but could
not resolve the problem, significantly. The main aim of this patent study was to prepare the nanocrystals
using the evaporative precipitation ultrasonication method in order to improve the dissolution rate
and stability of Esomeprazole (ESM).

Methods:
For obtaining the nanocrystals, different nanoformulations were prepared using the pluronic
F-68 in different concentrations, and then the screened formulation was lyophilized in the presence of
two distinct cryoprotectants; mannitol and sucrose. The obtained nanocrystals were characterized for
their re-dispersibility, crystalline state, dissolution behavior, particle size, polydispersibility index and
morphology. Dissolution study of ESM nanocrystals was performed in a buffer solution of pH-7.4, and
compared to that of bulk ESM sample and ESM/pluronic F-68 physical mixture.

Results:
Cryoprotectant containing nanocrystals exhibit the re-dispersion in water after the manual
shaking. 5% mannitol containing nanocrystals showed the least polydispersity index (0.42 ± 0.11) and
narrowest particle size (186 ± 12.9 nm). The Powder X-ray Diffraction (PXRD) pattern and differential
scanning calorimeter (DSC) thermograms revealed that the crystalline state of the drug was not
changed after the different physical treatment. Freeze-dried nanocrystals showed a faster dissolution
rate and almost 99.45% of the drug was released within 60 min. However, the bulk drug and a physical
mixture of bulk drug/pluronic F-68 showed only 22.65% and 21.3% of drug release, respectively, after
60 min. This paper reviews the related patents on Esomeprazole Nanocrystals.

Conclusion:
The different findings revealed that nanocrystals could be a potential alternate for solving
the dissolution rate and stability issue of ESM like poorly soluble drugs.
A Recent Overview on Dermatological Applications of Liposomes
Authors: Kushwaha Poonam , Saxena Sumedha , Shukla Babita 
Published: October 2020

Background:
In dermatology, the topical application of liposomes has proven to be of
therapeutic value. Many drugs encapsulated into liposomes have shown enhanced skin penetration.

Methods:
Liposomes are lipid based spherical vesicles. In structure and composition, they resemble
cell membrane. Because of their amphipathic nature, they can be used as carriers for hydrophilic as
well as lipophilic therapeutic agents. These liposomal systems can easily get integrated with the
skin lipids and maintain the desired hydration conditions to improve drug penetration and localization
in the skin layers.

Results:
Considering the need for topical delivery and the promising potential of liposomes, an attempt
has been made to explore the recent advances of liposome-based formulations in dermatological
applications.

Conclusion:
This patent summarizes the recent findings of liposome-based formulations for dermal
delivery of drugs.
Pelaksanaan Standar Prosedur Operasional Pemasangan Gelang Identitas Pasien Berhubungan Dengan Kepuasan Pasien di Ruang Penerimaan Pasien Rawat Inap
Authors: Mahfud Mahfud 
Published: October 2020

<p>Salah satu Identifikasi pasien, yaitu dengan pemberian gelang identitas dilakukan sejak pasien masuk rumah sakit. Identifikasi pasien secara pasti harus dilakukan supaya terhindar dari kesalahan yang berakibat fatal bagi keselamatan pasien. Untuk mengetahui hubungan pelaksanaan standar prosedur operasional pemasangan gelang identitas pasien dengan kepuasan pasien di ruang penerimaan pasien rawat inap. Jenis penelitian ini adalah deskriptif korelasi dengan pendekatan cross sectional. Teknik pengambilan data menggunakan accidental sampling dengan responden sebanyak 75 orang. Uji statistik yang digunakan adalah Kendal tau. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan responden dengan sebagian besar pelaksanaan SPO pemasangan gelang identitas pasien di ruang PPRI berada dalam kategori baik yaitu sebanyak 32 orang (42,7%) serta kepuasan pasien sebagian besar kategori puas yaitu sebanyak 42 orang (56,0%). Hasil analisa bivariat pada uji statistik dengan menggunakan kendal tau menunjukkan nilai p-value sebesar p=0,000 dan nilai korelasi sebesar r=0,386. Kesimpulan: Terdapat hubungan yang signifikan antara pelaksanaan SPO pemasangan gelang identitas pasien dengan kepuasan pasien.</p><p> </p><p>Kata Kunci:<strong> </strong>kepuasan pasien, keselamatan pasien, identifikasi pasien</p>