bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Iodine-125 seed implantation treatment of lung metastases &lt;2.5 cm using a 5-ml syringe as a guide
Authors: Li Jie , Zhang Lijuan , Sun Zongqiong , Ge Yuxi , Zhou Jialiang , Xie Qigen 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background: Small lung metastases move with respiration, making localization difficult and often increasing the number of puncture. Accurate puncture can reduce trauma to lung tissue and accelerate patient recovery.Objective: To present our experience with the technique of using a local anesthesia 5-ml syringe as a guide for computerized tomography (CT)-guided iodine-125 seed implantation (CT-ISI).Methods: This was a retrospective study of patients with small metastatic tumors in the lung treated with CT-ISI between 12/2013 and 03/2018 at the Affiliated Hospital of the University. The patients were divided according to whether a 5-ml syringe was used as a guide during CT-ISI or not. The final follow-up was on March 31st, 2018. Implantation success and complications were examined.Results: Nineteen patients were included. A total of 840 seeds were used, with 44.2±33.6 (range, 10-160) seeds per patient. The mean D90 for CT-ISI was 134.5±7.5 Gy. Treatment intervention for eleven patients was performed using a 5-ml syringe as a guide during CT-ISI. There were no differences in total dose and number of implanted seeds between the two groups, but the number of punctures per lesion was lower in the syringe group than in the no-syringe group (1.9±0.5 vs. 2.9±0.6, P<0.001), suggesting a higher puncture accuracy. One patient in the no-syringe group experienced grade 2 chest tightness, chest pain, intraoperative needle tract bleeding, and postoperative blood in sputum.Conclusion: Puncture with a 5-ml syringe as a guide during CT-ISI is probably a more accurate option for patients with small (<2.5 cm) lung metastasis.
Interstitial Lung Disease Associated Acute Respiratory Failure Requiring Invasive Mechanical Ventilation: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Vahdatpour Cyrus , Pichler Alexander , Palevsky Harold I , Kallan Michael J , Patel Namrata B , Kinniry Paul A 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Background Interstitial lung disease (ILD) patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) for acute respiratory failure (ARF) are known to have a poor prognosis. Few studies have investigated determinants of outcomes and the utility of trialing non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) prior to IMV to see if there are any effect(s) on mortality or morbidity. Methods We designed a retrospective study using patients at four different intensive care units within one health care system. Our primary objective was to determine if there are differences in outcomes for in-hospital and one-year mortality between patients who undergo NIPPV prior to IMV and those who receive only IMV. A secondary objective was to identify potential determinants of outcomes. Results Of 54 ILD patients with ARF treated with IMV, 20 (37.0%) survived to hospital discharge and 10 (18.5%) were alive at one-year. There was no significant mortality difference between patients trialed on NIPPV prior to IMV and those receiving only IMV. Several key determinants of outcomes were identified with higher mortality, including: higher ventilatory support, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) subtype, high dose steroids, use of vasopressors, supraventricular tachycardias (SVTs), and higher body mass index. Conclusions Considering that patients trialed on NIPPV prior to IMV was associated with no mortality disadvantage to patients treated with only IMV, trialing patients on NIPPV may identify responders and avoid complications associated with IMV. Increased ventilator support, need of vasopressors, SVTs, and high dose steroids reflect higher mortality and palliative care involvement should be considered as early as possible if lung transplant is not an option.
Modeling total resistance and form resistance of movable bed channels via experimental data and a kernel-based approach
Authors: Saghebian Seyed Mahdi , Roushangar Kiyoumars , Ozgur Kirca V. S. , Ghasempour Roghayeh 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAn accurate prediction of roughness coefficient in alluvial channels is of substantial importance for river management. In this study, the total and form resistance in alluvial channels with dune bedform were assessed using experimental data. First, the data of experiments carried out at the Hydraulic Laboratory of University of Tabriz was used to investigate the impact of hydraulic and sediment parameters on roughness coefficient. Then, these data were combined with other laboratory data, and the total and bedform resistance were modeled via a Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) approach. For models, developing different input combinations were considered based on flow and sediment characteristics. The obtained results from the experiments showed that the Reynolds number has a better correlation with flow resistance in comparison with other hydraulic parameters. It was found that the roughness variations due to bedform are almost between 40 and 80% of the total roughness coefficient. Also, the obtained results proved the capability of the GPR method in the modeling process. It was found that the model which took the advantages of both flow and sediment characteristics performed better compared to the other models. The sensitivity analysis results showed that the Reynolds number has the most significant impact in the prediction process.
Can electrocoagulation be an effective post-treatment option for SBR treated landfill leachate and municipal wastewater mixture?
Authors: Chakraborty Shubhrasekhar , Mohanty Pratap Kumar , Iqbal Jawed , Kumar R. Naresh 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
A combined process of sequencing batch reactor (SBR) and electrocoagulation for co-treatment of landfill leachate and municipal wastewater was assessed. SBR was used in the first instance for co-treatment of 20% (v/v) landfill leachate and municipal wastewater mixture. Effluent from SBR was subjected to electrocoagulation for post-treatment, with aluminum as sacrificial anode and stainless steel as cathode. Direct current at a density of 257 A/m2 was applied during the electrocoagulation process. In electrocoagulation, spacing between the two electrodes was varied at 5 and 7 cm to assess its influence on treatment efficiency. SBR was effective to remove 65% chemical oxygen demand (COD), 77% total suspended solids (TSS), 89% ammonia, 80% nitrate, 64% phosphate and post-treatment by electrocoagulation resulted in an overall 98% COD, 98% TSS and 99% ammonia, nitrate and phosphate reduction efficiency with 5 cm of electrode spacing. Respectively, final COD, ammonia and TSS was 37, 1 and 98 mg/L after 150 min of electrocoagulation which met the Indian standards for the discharge of treated wastewater. The results highlight that SBR followed by electrocoagulation as post-treatment can be an effective option for the treatment of landfill leachate and municipal wastewater mixture.
Detection of Acanthamoeba spp. in two major water reservoirs in the Philippines
Authors: Milanez Giovanni , Masangkay Frederick , Hapan Frieda , Bencito Thea , Lopez Marcus , Soriano Jeffrey , Ascaño Abdee , Lizarondo Louella , Santiago Joseph , Somsak Voravuth , Kotepui Manas , Tsiami Amalia , Tangpong Jitbanjong , Karanis Panagiotis 
Published: February 2020

Abstract
Water reservoirs are important manmade structures providing water security to deliver clean and safe water for drinking and other purposes to the community. Eighty water samples were collected from Magat and Ipo water reservoirs using purposive sampling between November 2018 and January 2019. Water samples were collected in sterile containers for testing. The samples were cultured in non-nutrient agar and lawned with Escherichia coli and incubated at 33 °C. Twelve out of the 80 (15%) water samples were positive for amoebic growth. Light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed double-walled cystic stages and were initially identified as Acanthamoeba spp. based on morphological characteristic in reference to Page's established criteria. Their extracted DNAs were used in polymerase chain reaction using JDP1 and JDP2 primers and confirmed the presence of Acanthamoeba DNA in agarose gel electrophoresis. Aligned sequences from PCR products were deposited in GenBank under accession numbers MK886460, MK909919, MK905437, MK910997, MK911021 and MK886514. The presence of potentially pathogenic Acanthamoeba spp. in water reservoirs is considered a potential risk for public health, requiring appropriate processing of water in treatment plants.
The identification research of emergency treatment technology for sudden heavy metal pollution accidents in drainage basin based on D-S evidence theory
Authors: Luo Yulan , Liu Ying , Du Qianying , Chen Qingsong , Cheng Zhihui 
Published: February 2020

AbstractAs a sudden heavy metal pollution accident occurs in a drainage basin, decision makers need to quickly select the optimal emergency treatment technology and formulate emergency schemes according to the actual accident characteristics. Therefore, a two-step identification method of emergency treatment technology for sudden heavy metal pollution accidents based on Dempster-Shafer (D-S) evidence theory is proposed, in order to screen the optimal emergency treatment technology effectively and solve the conflict among fusion data in the process of index quantification. Firstly, the available technologies were screened preliminarily by the primary identification indexes (technical characteristic indexes). Secondly, the weight synthesis method based on the D-S evidence theory and attribute assignment was utilized to score the secondary identification indexes (technical evaluation indexes) of each available technology comprehensively. Finally, the optimal emergency treatment technology for this sudden pollution accident was obtained. Taking the sudden arsenic pollution accident of the Picang flood diversion channel in Linyi, Shandong Province as an example, the activated alumina adsorption dam technology was extracted successfully, which is in accordance with the actual treatment situation. The result shows that the method has strong feasibility and practicability, which can provide strong decision support for dealing with sudden pollution accidents in drainage basins efficiently.
Groundwater in the Guadarrama Range National Park
Authors: Yélamos Javier G. , Sanz Pérez Eugenio , Escavy Fernández José Ignacio 
Published: February 2020

The Guadarrama Range National Park covers about 1000 km2 of the highest areas of this mountain range in the provinces of Madrid and Segovia. The most abundant lithologies are igneous and metamorphic rocks (hard rocks) except in the sedimentary basin in the High Valley of Lozoya. These rocks are practically impervious but can host small local, shallow and low-resource aquifers by processes of surface alteration, fracturing, and recent deposits of small size such as colluviums, alluviums, moraines and talus cones. Works on the tunnel for the high speed train that crosses beneath the Park, confirm the almost null permeability in depth but show the possibility of the existence of a deep flow through the set of discontinuities within the rock massif that maycorrespond to the model proposed by Toth in the 1960s. Limestone in the Lozoya basin give rise to a water table and karstic aquifer, which has been somewhat forgotten in previous hydrogeological studies, but it has water points with flow at rates of tens L/s. In spite of the poor water resources of hard rocks, local aquifers have played a significant role in the drinking water supply to localities in the area, enabling recreational activities with drinking fountains throughout the Park, supplying water to the livestock, and playing a key ecological role in maintaining water bodies during the summer. There are several springs of sulphurous waters resulting from deep groundwater flow, while the good quality water in the shallow aquifers has allowed the establishment of some bottling plants of natural mineral waters.
Activity of Metal-Azole Complexes Against Biofilms of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata
Authors: Pereira Livia D. , Vila Taissa , Borba-Santos Luana P. , de Souza Wanderley , Navarro Maribel , Rozental Sonia 
Published: February 2020

Background:
Onychomycosis is a chronic nail infection caused by fungi frequently resistant to antifungal
treatments. Recalcitrance in nail infections is a result of reduced antifungal penetration due to biofilm
formation, combined with poor patient compliance with the treatment, which can be as long as 18 months.

Objective:
Metal-drug complexation is a widely used strategy to increase drug efficacy. Therefore, the aim of this
work was to evaluate the antifungal and anti-biofilm activity of several metal-azole complexes against Candida
albicans and Candida glabrata.

Methods:
Susceptibility assays and scanning electron microscopy were performed to determine the anti-biofilm
activity of eight metal-azole complexes in vitro and ex-vivo, using human nail fragments.

Results:
In vitro susceptibility assays showed that complexation of both Au(I) and Zn(II) to clotrimazole and
ketoconazole improved the anti-biofilm activity compared to the azole alone. Using an ex-vivo model of biofilm
formation on fragments of human nails, we also demonstrate the improved efficacy of metal-azole complexes
against biofilms of C. albicans and C. glabrata that resembles the onychomycosis structure. Noteworthy, biofilms
of C. glabrata were more susceptible to the optimized complexes than those of C. albicans.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, metal-azole complexes used in this work show promising anti-biofilm activity and
further clinical studies should confirm its potential for the treatment of Candida-associated onychomycosis.
Delonix regia a Folklore Remedy for Diabetes; Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Modulates Type II Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Khan Darosham , Sharif Ali , Zafar Mehroz , Akhtar Bushra , Akhtar Muhammad F. , Awan Sana 
Published: February 2020

Background:
The folkloric profile of Delonix regia demonstrates that it can be used in the
management of diabetes.

Objective:
The present study was conducted to evaluate the safety profile of the aerial part extracts of
Delonix regia and their antidiabetic potential along with improvement in oxidative stress.

Materials and Methods:
Phytochemical screening, total phenolic, and flavonoid contents along with
in-vitro antioxidant and alpha-amylase inhibitory activities were determined. HPLC analysis, acute
toxicity, glucose tolerance, in-vivo antidiabetic effect along with the influence on biochemical, oxidative
stress parameters, and comet assay of the active extract were performed and assessed.

Results:
Total phenolic (831.6±0.002 mg/g GAE) and flavonoid (361.4±0.002 mg/g QE) contents were
found to be higher in the methanolic extract. Inhibitory concentration IC50 indicated better results for
the methanolic extract in DPPH (47.6μg/mL) and alpha-amylase inhibitory (14.61μg/mL) assays.
HPLC analysis of the methanolic extract confirmed the presence of quercetin, gallic acid, caffeic acid,
cinnamic acid, ferulic acid, and p-coumaric acid. Acute oral toxicity exhibited no mortality and morbidity
during the 24h period. The methanolic extract showed better tolerance to glucose. Streptozotocin-
nicotinamide (55-110 mg/kg) induced hyperglycemia declined along with improvement in hematological,
biochemical parameters and oxidative stress markers (SOD, CAT, H202) in a dose-dependent
manner. The maximum effect was recorded at 500mg/kg dose. Comet assay was performed for genotoxic
studies and it was observed that the methanolic extract of Delonix regia showed the maximum
genoprotective effect at 100μg/mL.

Conclusions:
The findings suggest that the methanolic aerial part extract of Delonix regia exhibited hypoglycemic,
antioxidant, and hypolipidemic activities. The antidiabetic effect was comparable to
glibenclamide suggesting its therapeutic use as a natural anti-diabetic remedy.
Dexmedetomidine Pretreatment Improves Lipopolysaccharide-induced Iron Homeostasis Disorder in Aged Mice
Authors: Guo Fenghui , Kang Jinmeng , Tan Juntao , Wang Yong , Jia Li , Xu Hongmeng 
Published: February 2020

Background:
Iron homeostasis disorder and neuroinflammation are the most commonly
known factors that promote the occurrence and development of cognitive impairment in people.
Dexmedetomidine has an anti-inflammatory effect, and it reduces the incidence of postoperative
cognitive dysfunction. Therefore, the aim of this study is to verify whether dexmedetomidine
could improve lipopolysaccharide-induced iron homeostasis disorder in aged mice, and show
neuroprotective effect.

Methods:
First part, forty 12 month old male Kunming(KM) mice were divided into group N and
group D: Normal saline group (group N), Dexmedetomidine group (group D). Second part, sixty
12-month-old male KM mice were divided into the following three groups: Normal saline group
(group N), Lipopolysaccharide group (group LPS) and Dexmedetomidine + Lipopolysaccharide
group (group D + LPS). The mice in group D + LPS were given dexmedetomidine, and given LPS
intraperitoneally 2 h later. Mice underwent an oriented navigation test and a space exploration test
in the Morris Water maze (MWM) test. The expression levels of Interleukin-6 ( IL-6), L-ferritin
(FTL) and Transferrin receptor-1 (TfR1) in hippocampus were detected by the Western blot analysis;
the hippocampal hepcidin mRNA was detected by Real-time PCR(RT-PCR); the reactive
oxygen species (ROS) in the hippocampus was measured using ROS test kit.

Results:
Dexmedetomidine improved the cognitive decline induced by LPS. Dexmedetomidine reduced
the level of hippocampal IL-6, and it attenuated the increase in their levels caused by LPS. It
had no effect on hippocampal hepcidin mRNA, FTL, TfR1 and ROS but it could attenuate the increase
caused by LPS.

Conclusion:
Dexmedetomidine has no effect on iron metabolism pathway, but it can improve the
cognitive decline and the iron disorder by reducing neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. The
research indicates that dexmedetomidine plays a neuroprotective role.
Modelling and Calculation of Characteristic Parameters of the Active and Buffer Layers in Organic Solar Cell
Authors: Tran Minh Duc , Lam Nguyen Dinh 
Published: February 2020

Background:
The active layer not only must have a strong light absorption in the visible
spectrum but must also be sufficient for charge carrier transport to the electrodes. Electrons in conducting
polymer transport by hopping between different energy levels resulted in much lower charge
mobility. Therefore, the thickness of the active layer must be limited, so the separated charge can
reach the corresponding electrodes without recombination. However, a thin active layer has weaker
light absorption, resulting in the low photogenerated current in organic solar cell devices. Furthermore,
buffer layers usually have high charge mobility, which in turn would enhance the transportation
of charge from the active layer to electrodes. Metal oxides have been studied to be used as a
cathode buffer layer, such as titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), etc.

Objective:
In this work, behaviors of the photon-electrical characteristics with variation in thickness
of the active (poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) and phenyl-C61 butyric acid methyl ester blend) and
buffer (zinc oxide) layers were investigated.

Methods:
The influences of the thickness of the active and buffer layers on characteristic parameters
of organic solar cells were investigated by solving the drift and diffusion equation with the photogenerated
current given by the Hetch equation.

Results:
The optimum thickness was obtained around 100 nm and below 10 nm for the active and the
ZnO buffer layers, respectively.

Conclusion:
Thinner active layer resulted in lower photocurrent due to poor light absorption while at
150 nm thick and above, PCE of the device reduced rapidly because of the high recombination rate
of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. ZnO buffer layer was used as an electron transport layer and a
hole blocking layer in order to improve the cell’s performance. The addition of ZnO enhanced the
PCE up to 2.48 times higher than the conventional device.
Chronic Tobacco Exposure by Smoking Develops Insulin Resistance
Authors: Mukharjee Suchismita , Bank Sarbashri , Maiti Smarajit 
Published: February 2020

Background and Objectives:
The present review critically discusses the high occurrence
rate, insulin resistance and type-2 diabetes in tobacco exposed individuals. Tobacco extracts and smoke
contain a large number of toxic materials and a significant number of those are metabolic disintegrators.

Discussion:
Glucose and lipid homeostasis is severely impaired by this compound. Tobacco exposure
contributes to adverse effects by impairing the physical, biochemical and molecular mechanisms in the
tissues. The immunological components are damaged by tobacco with high production of proinflammatory
cytokines (IL-6, TNF-∞) and augmentation of inflammatory responses. These events
result in damages to cytoskeletal structures of different tissues. Degradation of matrix structure (by
activation of different types of MMPs) results in the permanent damages to the tissues and their metabolic
functions. Cellular antioxidant defense system mostly cannot or hardly nullify CS-induced ROS
production that activates polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs), which are a major source of cytokines
and chemokines (TNFα, IL6, IL8, INFγ). Additive effects of these immediately promote the low
energy-metabolism as well as inflammation. Oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammation
contribute to the direct nicotine toxicity via nAChRs in diabetes. The investigator identified
that skeletal muscle insulin-resistance occurs in smokers due to phosphorylation of insulin receptor
substrate1 (IRS1) at Ser-636 position.

Conclusion:
Tobacco exposure initiates free radical related immunological impairment, DNA damage,
and inflammation. So, the present analysis is of importance to figure out the mechanistic layout of
tobacco-induced tissue damage and its possible therapeutic interventions.