bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Factorial design study of total petroleum contaminated soil treatment using land farming technique
Authors: Okonofua Ehizonomhen Solomon , Lasisi Kayode H. , Atikpo Eguakhide 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Land farming technique was used to treat hydrocarbon contaminated soil collected from a crude oil spill sites in Edo State, Nigeria. Calibrated standard auger was used to collect soil samples from the site at depth below 30 cm. The samples were characterized and classified. Cow dung and NPK fertilizer were added as additives to complement the nutriments of the soil samples before total petroleum hydrocarbon quantification and remediation procedures. Factorial design was applied to vary the input parameters such as pH, mass of substrate, moisture content and turning times of land farming so to ascertain the optimal conditions for the procedure. The result revealed that the in-situ total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) value was 5,000 mg kg -1 on the average and after 90 days of treatment, TPH reduced to 645.907 mg kg -1 . The turning rate, pH, moisture content and mass of substrate had 82.79%, 4.36%, 0.48% and 0.046% contributions respectively to the degradation process using land farming treatment. Numerical optimization techniques applied in the optimum point for land farming input parameters to achieve predicted maximum removal of 98.60% were evaluated as pH, mass of substrate, moisture content and turning rate to be 6.01, 1 kg, 10% and 5 times in a week respectively. TPH removed at this optimum point was 97.83% reducing from 5,000 to 635.907 mg kg -1 . The high coefficient of determination (r 2 = 0.9865) as observed in the closeness of predicted and experimental values reflects the reliability of the model and hence, land farming practice with close attention on turning rate as revealed by this study, is recommended for TPH contaminated soil remediation.
Weighted gene co-expression network analysis to identify key modules and hub genes related to hyperlipidaemia
Authors: Liao Fu Jun , Zheng Peng-Fei , Guan Yao-Zong , Pan Hong Wei , Li Wei 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: The purpose of this study was to explore the potential molecular targets of hyperlipidaemia and the related molecular mechanisms.Methods: The microarray dataset of GSE66676 obtained from patients with hyperlipidaemia was downloaded. Weighted gene co-expression network (WGCNA) analysis was used to analyse the gene expression profile, and the royal blue module was considered to have the highest correlation. Gene Ontology (GO) functional and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were implemented for the identification of genes in the royal blue module using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) online tool (version 6.8; http://david.abcc.ncifcrf.gov). A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was established by using the online STRING tool. Then, several hub genes were identified by the MCODE and cytoHubba plug-ins in Cytoscape software.Results: The significant module (royal blue) identified was associated with TC, TG and non-HDL-C. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that the genes in the royal blue module were associated with carbon metabolism, steroid biosynthesis, fatty acid metabolism and biosynthesis pathways of unsaturated fatty acids. SQLE (degree = 17) was revealed as a key molecule associated with hypercholesterolaemia (HCH), and SCD was revealed as a key molecule associated with hypertriglyceridaemia (HTG). RT-qPCR analysis also confirmed the above results based on our HCH/HTG samples.Conclusions: SQLE and SCD are related to hyperlipidaemia, and SQLE/SCD may be new targets for cholesterol-lowering or triglyceride-lowering therapy, respectively.
A practice facilitation-guided intervention in primary care settings to reduce cardiovascular disease risk: A cost analysis
Authors: Gold Heather T , Siman Nina , Cuthel Allison M , Nguyen Ann M , Pham-Singer Hang , Berry Carolyn A , Shelley Donna R 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background. A stepped-wedge, cluster randomized controlled trial assessed the effectiveness of practice facilitation (PF) for adoption of guidelines for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease risk factors. This study estimated the associated cost of PF for guideline adoption in small, private primary care practices. Methods. The cost analysis included categories for start-up costs, intervention costs, and practice staff costs for the implemented PF-guided intervention. We estimated the total one-year costs to operate the program, and calculated the mean and range of the cost-per-practice by quarter of the intervention. We estimated the lower and upper bounds for all salary expenses, rounding to the nearest $100. Results. Total one-year intervention costs for all 261 practices ranged from $7,900,000-$10,200,000, with program and practice salaries comprising $6,600,000-$8,400,000 of the total. Start-up costs were a small proportion (3%) of total one-year costs. Excluding start-up costs, quarter 1 cost-per-practice was the most expensive at $20,400-$26,700, and quarter 4 was least expensive at about $10,000. Practice staff time (compared with program staff time) was the majority of the staffing costs at 75-84%. Conclusions. The PF strategy cost approximately $10,000 per practice per quarter for program and practice costs, once implemented and running at highest efficiency. Whether this program is “worth it” to the decision-maker depends on the relative costs and effectiveness of their other options for improving cardiovascular risk reduction. Trial Registration. This study is retrospectively registered on January 5, 2016 at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02646488. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02646488
Dynamic perfusion digital radiography for predicting pulmonary function after lung cancer resection
Authors: Jun Hanaoka , Yoden Makoto , Hayashi Kazuki , Shiratori Takuya , Okamoto Keigo , Kaku Ryosuke , Kawaguchi Yo , Ohshio Yasuhiko , Sonoda Akinaga 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Accurate prediction of postoperative pulmonary function is important for ensuring the safety of patients undergoing radical resection for lung cancer. Dynamic perfusion digital radiography is an excellent and easy imaging method for detecting blood flow in the lung compared with the less convenient conventional lung perfusion scintigraphy. As such, the present study aimed to confirm whether dynamic perfusion digital radiography can be evaluated in comparison with pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy in predicting early postoperative pulmonary function and complications.Methods: Dynamic perfusion digital radiography and spirometry were performed before and 1 and 3 months after radical resection for lung cancer. Correlation coefficients between blood flow ratios calculated using dynamic perfusion digital radiography and pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy were then confirmed in the same cases. In all patients who underwent dynamic perfusion digital radiography, the correlation predicted values calculated from the blood flow ratio and measured values were examined. Furthermore, ppo%FEV1 or ppo%DLco values, which indicated the risk for perioperative complications, were examined.Results: A total of 52 participants who satisfied the inclusion criteria were analyzed. Blood flow ratios measured using pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy and dynamic perfusion digital radiography showed excellent correlation and acceptable predictive accuracy. Correlation coefficients between predicted FEV1 values obtained from dynamic perfusion digital radiography or pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy and actual measured values were similar. All patients who underwent dynamic perfusion digital radiography showed excellent correlation between predicted values and those measured using spirometry. A significant difference in ppo%DLco was observed for respiratory complications but not cardiovascular complications.Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that dynamic perfusion digital radiography can be a suitable alternative to pulmonary perfusion scintigraphy given its ability for predicting postoperative values and the risk for postoperative respiratory complications. Furthermore, it seemed to be an excellent modality because of its advantages, such as simplicity, low cost, and ease in obtaining in-depth respiratory functional information.Trial registration: Registered at UMIN on October 25, 2017. https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_his_list.cgi?recptno=R000033957Registration number: UMIN000029716
Artemisinin attenuated oxidative stress and apoptosis by inhibiting autophagy in MPP+-treated SH-SY5Y cell
Authors: Yan Junqiang , Ma Hongxia , Lai Xiaoyi , Wu Jiannan , Liu Anran , Huang Jiarui , Sun Wenjie , Shen Mengmeng , Zhang Yude 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's disease. The oxidative stress is an important component of the pathogenesis of PD. Artemisinin (ART) have antioxidant and neuroprotective effects. The purpose of this study was to explore the neuroprotective effect of ART on 1-methyl-4-phenyliodine iodide (MPP+)-treated SH-SY5Y cells and underlying mechanism .Methods We used MPP+-treated SH-SY5Y cells to study the neuroprotective effect of ART. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay after incubating the cells with MPP+ and/or ART for 24 h. DCFH-DA was used to detect the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and WST-8 was used to detect the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD). The level of intracellular reduced glutathione (GSH) was detected using 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid), and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was assessed by measuring the reaction of MDA and thiobarbituric acid. A mitochondrial membrane potential detection kit (JC-1) was used to detect changes in the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and an Annexin V-FITC cell apoptosis kit was used to detect cell apoptosis. The expression levels of caspase-3, cleaved caspase-3 and the autophagy-related proteins LC3, beclin-1, and p62 were detected by Western blotting. In addition, to verify the change in autophagy, we used immunofluorescence to detect the expression of LC3 and p62.Results No significant cytotoxicity was observed at ART concentrations up to 40 μM. ART could significantly increase the viability of SH-SY5Y cells treated with MPP+ and reduce oxidative stress damage and apoptosis. In addition, the Western blotting and immunofluorescence results showed that MPP+ treatment could increase the protein expression of beclin1 and LC3II/LC3I and decrease the protein expression of P62, indicating that MPP+ treatment could induce autophagy. Simultaneous treatment with ART and MPP+ could decrease the protein expression of beclin1 and LC3II/LC3I and increase the protein expression of p62, indicating that ART could decrease the level of autophagy induced by MPP+.Conclusion Our results indicate that ART has a protective effect on MPP+-treated SH-SY5Y cells by the antioxidant, antiapoptotic activities and inhibition of autophagy. Our findings may provide new hope for the prevention and treatment of PD.
Spatio-temporal impacts of aerial adulticide applications on populations of West Nile virus vector mosquitoes
Authors: Holcomb Karen M. , Reiner Robert C. , Barker Christopher M 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: Aerial applications of insecticides that target adult mosquitoes are widely used to reduce transmission of West Nile virus to humans during periods of epidemic risk. However, estimates of the reduction in abundance following these treatments typically focus on single events, rely on pre-defined, untreated control sites, and can vary widely due to stochastic variation in population dynamics and trapping success unrelated to the treatment.Methods: To overcome these limitations, we developed generalized additive models fitted to mosquito surveillance data from CO2-baited traps in Sacramento and Yolo counties, California from 2006-2017. The models accounted for the expected spatial and temporal trends in the abundance of adult female Culex tarsalis and Culex pipiens in the absence of aerial spraying. Estimates for the magnitude of deviation from baseline abundance following aerial spray events were obtained from the models.Results: One-week post-treatment with full spatial coverage of the trapping area by pyrethroid or pyrethrin products, Cx. pipiens abundance was reduced by a mean of 52.4% (95% CI: -65.6, -36.5%) while the use of at least one organophosphate pesticide resulted in a 76.2% (95% CI: -82.8, -67.9%) reduction. For Cx. tarsalis one-week post-treatment with full coverage resulted in a 30.7% (95% CI: -54.5, 2.5%) reduction; pesticide class was not a significant factor contributing to reduction. In comparison, repetition of spraying over three to four consecutive weeks resulted in similar estimates for Cx. pipiens and a somewhat smaller magnitude for Cx. tarsalis.Conclusions: Aerial adulticides are effective for rapid short-term reduction of the abundance of the primary West Nile virus vectors, Cx. tarsalis and Cx. pipiens. A larger magnitude of reduction is estimated in Cx. pipiens, possibly due to the species’ focal distribution. Effects of aerial sprays on Cx. tarsalis populations are likely modulated by the species’ large dispersal ability, population sizes, and vast productive larval habitat present in the study area. Our modeling approach provides a new way to estimate effects of public-health pesticides on vector populations using routinely collected observational data and accounting for spatio-temporal trends and contextual factors like weather and habitat. It does not require pre-selected control sites and expands upon past studies that have focused on effects of individual aerial treatment events.
Incorporation of incompatible trace elements into molybdenite: Layered PbS precipitates within molybdenite
Authors: Yang Yiping , He Hongping , Tan Wei , Tao Qi , Yao Junming , Xian Haiyang , Li Shangying , Xi Jiaxin , Zhu Jianxi , Xu Huifang 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Trace elements in molybdenite can provide important information regarding the composition of ore-forming fluid and the evolution and genesis of ore deposits. However, the occurrence states and behavior of relatively incompatible trace elements (e.g., Pb and Os) in natural molybdenite remain ambiguous. Here, we report an abnormally high enrichment of Pb and layered PbS precipitate within molybdenite grains from the Huanglongpu carbonatite-hosted Mo-Pb deposit in the Qinling orogenic belt of Northern China. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and related nanobeam techniques were applied to characterize the occurrence states of Pb within molybdenite at the atomic scale. The results show that up to several weight percent of Pb can be incorporated into the molybdenite structure during initial crystallization, which can lead to the formation of screw dislocations and 3R/disordered stacking of S-Mo-S sandwich layers. Observations using a scanning transmission electron microscope also reveal that Pb diffuses from the host molybdenite into the layered PbS precipitates under prolonged electron beam irradiation. Pb-bearing molybdenite tends to transform into a Pb-poor ordered 2H1 polytype upon Pb exsolution during cooling. Pb preferentially exsolves along the (001) plane of molybdenite and is stored in structural defects (e.g., dislocation loops) and grain boundaries, resulting in nano-scale Pb heterogeneities in molybdenite. Further coarsening of the exsolved Pb results in the formation of layered PbS precipitates along the (001) plane of molybdenite. This study provides an example of the consequences of the incorporation and exsolution of incompatible trace elements in molybdenite and demonstrates that careful mineralogical examination is required to interpret geochemical data obtained by in situ analysis techniques.
Thermoelastic properties of zircon: Implications for geothermobarometry
Authors: Ehlers Alix M. , Zaffiro Gabriele , Angel Ross J. , Boffa-Ballaran Tiziana , Carpenter Michael A. , Alvaro Matteo , Ross Nancy L. 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
A thermal-pressure equation of state has been determined for zircon (ZrSiO4) that characterizes its thermoelastic behavior at metamorphic conditions. New pressure-volume (P-V) data from a “Mud Tank” zircon have been collected from 1 bar to 8.47(1) GPa using X-ray diffraction, and elastic moduli were measured from room temperature up to 1172 K by resonance ultrasound spectroscopy. These data were fitted simultaneously with temperature-volume (T-V) data from the literature in EosFit7c using a new scaling technique. The parameters of a third-order Birch-Murnaghan EoS with a Mie-Grüneisen-Debye model for thermal pressure have compressional EoS parameters K0T = 224.5(1.2) GPa, K0T′ = 4.90(31) with a fixed initial molar volume V0 = 39.26 cm3/mol and thermal parameters γ0 = 0.868(15), q = 2.37(80), and ΘD = 848(38) K. EoS parameters that describe the variation of unit-cell parameters with pressure and temperature were determined using an isothermal-type EoS. This new EoS confirms that zircons are stiffer than garnets and exhibit a much lower thermal expansion. This results in steep isomekes between zircon and garnets, which makes zircon trapped as inclusions in garnets at metamorphic conditions a good piezothermometer.
A study on the effectiveness of percolation ponds as a stormwater harvesting alternative for a semi-urban catchment
Authors: Wadhwa Abhinav , Kummamuru Pavan Kumar 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
One of the challenges in urban stormwater management is to identify a suitable stormwater management method which will be socially, technologically and economically viable. In this paper, a study on the effectiveness of decentralized and interconnected percolation ponds as a stormwater harvesting technology, for a partially urbanized (semi-urban) catchment is presented. When applied to a case study region in Katpadi, Tamil Nadu, the results were encouraging. The investment required for implementing the proposed stormwater harvesting came to be about ₹555 Million for Option I and ₹714 Million for Option II. The annual volume of water that can be added to the groundwater system through infiltration from the ponds was found to be 1.22 Mm3 in the case of Option I and 0.74 Mm3 in the case of Option II. The percentage area under stormwater harvesting for the entire catchment was found to be 6.14% under Option I and 9.36 under Option II. The hydrologic performance of the proposed stormwater harvesting system indicated that for peak runoff values Option II is more efficient (in terms of minimizing runoff volume) compared to Option I; however, for daily rainfall values, Option I is hydrologically more efficient when compared to Option II.
The future of water and sanitation: global challenges and the need for greater ambition
Authors: Howard Guy 
Published: January 2021

AbstractWater and sanitation services are critical for public health. The importance of these services is reflected in SDG 6 and the associated targets 6.1, 6.2 and 6.3. Much progress remains to be made to achieve these targets, but it is already becoming clear that greater ambition is needed. This paper looks at three global challenges: the need to increase the level of service to protect public health including infectious respiratory diseases; the role of sanitation in combatting anti-microbial resistance (AMR); and the urgent need to build more climate-resilient services. We need to upgrade the SDG targets to focus on universal access to piped water on premises, to incorporate action on AMR in definitions of safe sanitation and to embed actions to improve resilience, which take into account the greater ambition called for in the SDG 6 targets. This requires a shift in thinking in the sector, away from relying on households and communities to manage their services to properly funded, professional services staffed by trained technical, managerial and finance staff. This will require more public finance and better use of financial instruments that have proved effective in other sectors. Increasing our ambition will mean the world can achieve the aim of universal access to safe, sustainable, and resilient services and protect public health.
Ensemble-based machine learning approach for improved leak detection in water mains
Authors: Ravichandran Thambirajah , Gavahi Keyhan , Ponnambalam Kumaraswamy , Burtea Valentin , Mousavi S. Jamshid 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
This paper presents an acoustic leak detection system for distribution water mains using machine learning methods. The problem is formulated as a binary classifier to identify leak and no-leak cases using acoustic signals. A supervised learning methodology has been employed using several detection features extracted from acoustic signals, such as power spectral density and time-series data. The training and validation data sets have been collected over several months from multiple cities across North America. The proposed solution includes a multi-strategy ensemble learning (MEL) using a gradient boosting tree (GBT) classification model, which has performed better in maximizing detection rate and minimizing false positives as compared with other classification models such as KNN, ANN, and rule-based techniques. Further improvements have been achieved using a multitude of GBT classifiers combined in a parallel ensemble method called bagging algorithm. The proposed MEL approach demonstrates a significant improvement in performance, resulting in a reduction of false positives reports by an order of magnitude.
Soil erosion estimation using Geographic Information System (GIS) and Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) in the Siwalik Hills of Nawalparasi, Nepal
Authors: Tiruwa Durga Bahadur , Khanal Babu Ram , Lamichhane Sushil , Acharya Bharat Sharma 
Published: January 2021

AbstractSoil erosion is one of the gravest environmental threats to the mountainous ecosystems of Nepal. Here, we combined a Geographic Information System (GIS) with the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) to estimate average annual soil loss, map erosion factors, compare soil erosion risks among different land use types, and identify erosion hotspots and recommend land use management in the Girwari river watershed of the Siwalik Hills. The annual soil loss was estimated using RUSLE factors: rainfall erosivity (R), soil erodibility (K), slope length and steepness (LS), cover crops (C), and conservation practices (P), and erosion factors maps were generated using GIS. Results indicate highest total erosion occurring in hill forests (13,374.3 t yr–1) and lowest total erosion occurring in grasslands (2.9 t yr–1). Hill forests showed high to very severe erosion due to steepness of hills, open forest types, and minimal use of conservation practices. Also, erosion hotspots (&gt;15 t ha–1 yr–1) occurred in only 4.2% of the watershed, primarily in steep slopes. Overall, these results provide important guidelines to formulate management plans and informed decisions on soil conservation at local to regional levels. While the study is the first effort to assess soil erosion dynamics in the Girwari river watershed, potential for application in other basins largely exists.