bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment of HCV viral load, genotype, liver biomarkers and clinical symptoms: Developing a mathematical model for prediction of HCV load
Authors: Basharkhah Samira , Sabet Faezeh , Jahantightigh Hamid Reza , Ghezeldasht Sanaz Ahmadi , Mosavat Arman , Barati Elham , Shamsian Khosrow , Moghaddam Masoud Saleh , Sharebyani Hiva , Hassannia Tahereh , Shamsian Seyed Ali Akbar 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
Background

Hepatitis C virus infection is a major worldwide public health problem with about 1.75 million new HCV cases and 71 million HCV chronic infections around the world. The aim of study was to evaluate clinical, serological, molecular, and liver markers to develop a mathematical predictive model for HCV viral load quantification in chronic HCV infected patients.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, blood samples were taken from 249 recently diagnosed HCV-infected subjects and were tested for liver condition, viral genotype, and HCV RNA load. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and multiple linear regression analysis were used to predict HCV viral load.

Results

The genotype 3 followed by genotype 1 were the most prevalent genotypes in Mashhad, Northeastern Iran. HCV viremia was significantly associated with genotyping (p=0.04). The maximum levels of viral load were detected in the mixed genotype group, and the lowest levels in the undetectable genotype group. Log of HCV viral load was significantly associated with thrombocytopenia and higher serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT). In addition, log HCV RNA was significantly higher in patients with arthralgia, fatigue, fever, vomiting or dizziness. Moreover, genotype 3 was significantly associated with icterus. A ROC curve analysis revealed that the best cut-off points for serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), ALT, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were >31, >34, and ≤246 IU/L, respectively. Sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive values for AST were 87.7%, 84.36% and 44.6%, for ALT; 83.51%, 81.11% and 36%, and for ALP were 72.06%, 42.81% and 8.3%, respectively.

Conclusions

A mathematical regression model was developed that can estimate the HCV viral load. Regression model: log viral load=7.69-1.01×G3-0.7×G1+0.002×ALT-0.86× fatigue.
Soil Aggregation and Aggregate‐Associated Organic C and Total N as Affected by Revegetation Pattern at a Surface Mine on the Loess Plateau, China
Authors: Zhang Pingping , Zhang Yanle , Jia Junchao , Cui Yongxing , Wang Xia , Zhang Yanjiang , Zhang Xingchang , Wang Yunqiang 
Published: March 2019

Core IdeasVegetation restoration improves the soil structure and enhances the OC and TN associated with soil aggregates.A greater proportion of microaggregates with higher OC and TN were the main mechanisms for OC and TN accumulation.Planting grasses should be a good option for the reclamation of surface mine areas.Re‐establishing cover of vegetation can improve soil structure and increase organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (TN) accumulation in mine sites. In this study, we collected soil samples from reclaimed mine sites (RMSs), which comprised sites revegetated with trees (Tr), bushes (Bu), or grasses (Gr), and from the adjacent undisturbed native sites (UNSs). We evaluated the effects of revegetation patterns on: (i) soil aggregate formation and (ii) the distributions of OC and TN in different aggregate size classes. In the 0‐ to 15‐cm layer, the distribution of the aggregate sizes as well as the OC and TN concentrations in both the bulk soil and aggregate fractions did not differ significantly between the RMSs and UNSs. However, in the 15‐ to 30‐cm layer, the macroaggregate (>0.25 mm) fractions were generally lower and the microaggregate (0.25–0.053 mm) fractions were generally higher in the RMSs than the UNSs. The OC and TN concentrations in both the bulk soil and aggregate fractions were lower in the RMSs than the UNSs. Among the RMS revegetation patterns, Gr had a significantly higher proportion of microaggregates and a significantly lower proportion of the <0.053‐mm size classes than Tr in both layers. The OC and TN concentrations in both the bulk soil and aggregate fractions were significantly higher in Gr than Tr. There were no significant differences between Bu and Gr in terms of either the aggregate size distribution or the OC and TN concentrations. However, planting grasses may be a better choice considering the economic cost.
Effects of Stockpiling and Organic Matter Addition on Nutrient Bioavailability in Reclamation Soils
Authors: Gupta Sanatan Das , Kirby William , Pinno Bradley D. 
Published: March 2019

Core Ideas
Stockpiling and organic matter admixing effects on reclamation soils were tested.
Stockpiling effects were stronger on forest floor based reclamation soils.
Organic matter admixing showed fertility and microbial benefits mostly in mineral sub‐soils.
A faster microbial assimilation was achieved in soils admixed with forest floor organic matter.
Nutrient bioavailability is crucial for vegetation establishment and organic matter cycling after major ecosystem disturbance such as open pit mining. In this study, the stockpiling and organic matter admixing effects on nutrient bioavailability were examined in soils used for reclaiming oil sands disturbed sites in northern Alberta, Canada. Stockpiled and directly salvaged peat mineral soil mix (PMM) and forest floor mineral soil mix (FFMM), the two main oil sands reclamation soils, and a nutrient poor mineral sub‐soil (SS) were used in this experiment. Reclamation soils were inter‐mixed at different ratios (PMM to FFMM or SS at 60:40, 80:20 and 90:10) to examine the organic matter admixing effects. Significant stockpiling effects on nutrient bioavailability and microbial functions were mostly observed in FFMM. Microbial biomass C was greater, and mineralization of lignin substrate was lower in both stockpiled PMM and FFMM soils compared to the directly salvaged soils. Significant fertility benefit was found in the FFMM‐admixed SS and PMM soils through an increase in N and K availability. FFMM admixing also increased microbial functional diversity and assimilation rate compared to the non‐admixed soils. Mineralization of polymeric substrates was the main driver of nutrient availability in stockpiled PMM, whereas carboxylic acids and carbohydrates were the major drivers in directly salvaged PMM, as indicated by the Random Forest models. The findings suggest that stockpiling effects are much stronger in FFMM than in PMM, and FFMM admixing to reclamation soils may provide nutritional and microbial functional benefits, especially in nutrient‐poor soils.
Preparation and performance of ultra-thin surface coated pervaporation membranes for seawater purification
Authors: Nigiz F. U. 
Published: March 2019

Abstract
In this study, ultra-thin poly(ether-block-amide, PEBA)-coated poly(vinyl alcohol, PVA) composite membranes were prepared and assessed for the removal of lead, zinc, lithium, arsenic, and copper from seawater. Effects of the coating numbers and temperature on flux and ion rejection were evaluated. The number of coating processes increased the thicknesses of the membranes. The ion rejection and water flux decreased with the increasing coating process. Dissolved ions were retained with a rejection of &gt;99.5%. The highest rejections of 99.99% and 99.98% were obtained for sodium and magnesium ions. The coated PVA membranes showed a superior heavy-metal removal greater than 88%. The highest rejection improvements were obtained for zinc (Zn), lithium (Li), and copper (Cu) metals. The zinc, copper, and lithium rejections increased from 89.1%, 88.3%, and 85.1% to 95.3%, 98.46% and 94.4% due to the PEBA coating process, respectively. The influence of PVA thickness on the flux and rejection was also investigated. Increasing the thickness of PVA decreased the flux. The highest flux of 2.34 kg/m2.h was obtained with the membrane having a thickness of 90 µm.
Study on the Effect of Particle Size on Viscoelastic Properties of Magnetorheological Elastomers
Authors: Gan Ruyi , Li Yaping , Qi Song , Zhu Mi , Yu Miao 
Published: March 2019

Background:
As an intelligent material, Magnetorheological Elastomer (MRE) has attracted
extensive attention due to their excellent magnetic-induced properties.

Aim:
In addition to the matrix and interface, magnetic particle is the most critical factor in the magnetic
properties of MRE. Particle size does not only affect on the magnetic properties of MRE, but
also affects on interface and particle distribution. Therefore, studying the influence of particle size on
viscoelastic properties is of great significance for the MRE.

Methods:
In this paper, several kinds of MREs containing Carbonyl Iron Particles (CIPs) with different
sizes were prepared and characterized. The influences of frequency, strain and magnetic field on
viscoelastic properties of these MRE samples have been discussed comprehensively.

Results:
The result shows that the particle size has a great impact on the performance of MRE, which
indicates that the MRE performance can be improved by optimizing the particle size selection. In addition,
possible physical mechanisms have been proposed to explain the effect of particles on MRE
performance.

Conclusion:
This work can provide guidance for the performance improvement of MREs.
Use of Antifungal Creams in the Combined Treatment of Obliterating Diseases of Lower Extremities Arteries
Authors: Vasyliuk Yaroslav , Vasyliuk Sergiy 
Published: March 2019

To perform clinical analysis of the effectiveness of the complex treatment of occlusive vascular diseases and fungal lesions of feet with addition of local antifungal medicines.
Materials and Methods. The results of examination and treatment of five patients with obliterating diseases of the lower limb vessels and diabetes mellitus with dermatomycosis and onychomycosis of the feet were analyzed. Onychomycosis or mycosis of feet were treated with the help of the combination of the following antifungal creams was used in the treatment: miconazole, clotrimazole, tioconazole in a ratio of 1:1:6.5 contained in the combined preparation cream “XaTonic”.
Results and discussion. The use of an antifungal mixture of creams after 7 days has led to the disappearance of the clinical manifestations of dermatomycosis of the feet in three patients, and in two patients with onychomycosis after 14 days there was the reduction of clinical symptoms.
Conclusions. The combination of three local antifungal components: miconazole, clotrimazole, thioconazole is effective in treatment of dermatomycosis of the feet. In the treatment of fungal lesions of the feet by dermatologists in patients aged after fifty years, an angiologist/vascular surgeon’s consultation is required.
Psychological Adaptation of Patients with Ischemic Heart Disease at the Stages of Rehabilitation after Reperfusion Interventions
Authors: Nesterak Roksolana 
Published: March 2019

Psychological adaptation is a necessary component of rehabilitation of patients with ischemic heart disease. Post-infarction period is a special adaptation period for the patient, which requires a holistic approach taking into account both medical, physical and psychological components. High levels of anxiety in patients, both before surgical interventions, and in the postoperative period, worsen the prognosis that requires to improve the methods of rehabilitation.
The objective of the research was to study the peculiarities of psychological adaptation in patients with ischemic heart disease, depending on reperfusion approaches and applied methods of rehabilitation.
Materials and methods. There were examined 450 patients with ischemic heart disease using different methods of reperfusion interventions. Depending on the methods of rehabilitation, the patients were divided into three subgroups. The determination of levels of reactive and personal anxiety was performed at the beginning of treatment, 1 week, 1 month and 6 months after treatment.
Results. There were revealed high levels of reactive and personal anxiety in patients with ischemic heart disease, which differed depending on the applied reperfusion interventions. The use of psychological methods at the stage of rehabilitation contributed to a decrease in anxiety levels a week after using suggestive therapy methods, and the effect of learning was noted a month and 6 months after the observation.
Conclusions. One of the constituents of a cardiologic patient is his psychological status, namely the level of anxiety. For the effective adaptation, it is important to use the suggestive methods of therapy and training of patients. In patients, who are scheduled for surgical operation due to ischemic heart disease, a pre-rehabilitation with an individual approach is necessary.
Designing and Testing Apps to Support Patients With Cancer: Looking to Behavioral Science to Lead the Way
Authors: Hamel Lauren M , Thompson Hayley S , Albrecht Terrance L , Harper Felicity WK 
Published: March 2019

Background
Behavioral science has a long and strong tradition of rigorous experimental and applied methodologies, which have produced several influential and far-reaching theoretical frameworks and have guided countless inquiries of human behavior in various contexts. In cancer care, behavioral scientists have established a firm foundation of research focused on understanding the experience of cancer and using that understanding to design and implement theory- and evidenced-based interventions to help patients cope with the cancer experience. Given the rich behavioral research base in oncology, behavioral scientists are ideally positioned to lead the integration of evidence-based science on behavior and behavior change into the development of smartphone apps supporting patients with cancer. Smartphone apps are being disseminated to patients with cancer with claims of being able to help them negotiate areas of vulnerability in their cancer experience. However, the vast majority of these apps are developed without the rigor and expertise of behavioral scientists.

Objective
In this article, we have illustrated the importance of behavioral science leading the development and evaluation of apps to support patients with cancer by providing an illustrative scientific process that our team of behavioral scientists, patient stakeholders, medical oncologists, and software developers used to empirically design and evaluate 2 patient-focused apps: the Discussion of Cost App (DISCO App) and MyPatientPal.

Methods
Using a focused literature review and a descriptive roadmap of our team’s process for designing and evaluating patient-focused behavioral apps for patients with cancer, we have demonstrated how behavioral scientists are integral to the development of empirically sound apps to help support patients with cancer. Specifically, we have illustrated the process by which our multidisciplinary team combined the established user-centered design principles and behavioral science theory and scientific rigor to design and evaluate 2 patient-focused apps.

Results
On the basis of initial acceptability and feasibility testing among patients and providers, our team has demonstrated how critical behavioral science is for designing and evaluating app-based interventions for patients with cancer.

Conclusions
Behavioral science can and should be coupled with user-centered design principles to provide theoretical guidance and the rigor of the scientific method, thereby adding the much-needed and critical evidence for these types of app-based interventions for patients with cancer.
Preferences of Information Dissemination on Treatment for Bipolar Disorder: Patient-Centered Focus Group Study
Authors: Kerner Berit , Crisanti Annette S , DeShaw Jason L , Ho Janika-Marie G , Jordan Kimmie , Krall Ronald L , Kuntz Matt J , Mazurie Aurélien J , Nestsiarovich Anastasiya , Perkins Douglas J , Schroeter Quentin L , Smith Alicia N , Tohen Mauricio , Volesky Emma , Zhu Yiliang , Lambert Christophe G 
Published: March 2019

Background
Patient education has taken center stage in successfully shared decision making between patients and health care providers. However, little is known about how patients with bipolar disorder typically obtain information on their illness and the treatment options available to them.

Objective
This study aimed to obtain the perspectives of patients with bipolar disorder and their family members on the preferred and most effectively used information channels on bipolar disorder and the available treatment options.

Methods
We conducted nine focus groups in Montana, New Mexico, and California, in which we surveyed 84 individuals including patients with bipolar disorder and family members of patients with bipolar disorder. The participants were recruited using National Alliance on Mental Illness mailing lists and websites. Written verbatim responses to semistructured questionnaires were analyzed using summative content analysis based on grounded theory. Two annotators coded and analyzed the data on the sentence or phrase level to create themes. Relationships between demographics and information channel were also examined using the Chi-square and Fisher exact tests.

Results
The focus group participants mentioned a broad range of information channels that were successfully used in the past and could be recommended for future information dissemination. The majority of participants used providers (74%) and internet-based resources (75%) as their main information sources. There was no association between internet use and basic demographics such as age or geographical region of the focus groups. Patients considered time constraints and the fast pace in which an overwhelming amount of information is often presented by the provider as major barriers to successful provider-patient interactions. If Web-based channels were used, the participants perceived information obtained through Web-based channels as more helpful than information received in the provider’s office (P<.05).

Conclusions
Web-based resources are increasingly used by patients with bipolar disorder and their family members to educate themselves about the disease and its treatment. Although provider-patient interactions are frequently perceived to be burdened with time constraints, Web-based information sources are considered reliable and helpful. Future research should explore how high-quality websites could be used to empower patients and improve provider-patient interactions with the goal of enhancing shared decision making between patients and providers.
Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in comprehensive preparing the patients with severe body mass defciency for lung transplantation
Authors: Khubutiya M. Sh. , Gasanov A. M. , Tarabrin E. A. , Kallagov T. E. , Pervakova E. I. , Krasovskiy S. A. 
Published: March 2019

Introduction. Currently, lung transplantation is an approved method for treating a wide range of end-stage lung diseases refractory to medical or surgical treatments when patient's life expectancy without transplantation makes no more than two years.The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of continuous nutritional support via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy in potential recipients of lung transplantation with a Body Mass Index under 16 kg/m2.Material and methods. The study was based on the analysis of 93 potential recipients with various lung diseases; 27 of them with diagnosed cystic fibrosis. The enteral nutrition results of the patients with cystic fibrosis whose Body Mass Index (BMI) was under 16 kg/m2 were assessed by the increment in BMI and compared between those (15) fed via gastrosomy and those (22) fed per os.Results. As a result of enteral nutrition via the gastrostomy in the daytime and at night, the majority of recipients (73.3% of cases) had the Body Mass Index (BMI) corrected from 0.1 to 4.91 kg/m2 during the first year, the mean BMI increment made 1.87 ± 0.4 kg/m2. After the BMI correction, 11 of the 15 potential recipients were included in the waiting list, and 6 of them (40%) underwent lung transplantation. In the comparison group, the BMI increment was 0.9 ± 0.3 kg/m2, also having reached a significant difference compared to the baseline (p = 0.04). However, the BMI increment in the main group was significantly higher than in the comparison group (p = 0.02).Conclusion. A statistically significant increase in BMI in a group of patients with cystic fibrosis and BMI under 16 kg/m2, has been demonstrated after percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, which allows extending the criteria for the inclusion in the waiting list for lung transplantation.
Operating Member of Shock Machines Based on the Non-axial Slider-crank Mechanism with a Disjointed Slider
Authors: Karimbaev T. T. , Ukuev B. T. 
Published: March 2019

To perform various technological operations to process and destruct materials, power pulses of high amplitude and very short duration are necessary. Special devices, which can be hydraulic, pneumatic, electromagnetic or mechanical pulse generators, generate such shock pulses. Mechanical generators of power pulses can be based on the various mechanisms, many of which are among the mechanisms of a variable structure.The Machinery Researching Institute of National Academy of Sciences of Kyrgyz Republic has offered to use the crank-slider mechanism of a variable structure with a disjointed slider in the shock machines. The operation aspect of this mechanism is that at the beginning of the working course a lead (drive dog) and a hammer block, which form the slider, make a joint movement, are separated when the lead movement slows down, and then upon the shock of the hammer block to the tool and the mechanism being under idle operation these two parts again make a joint movement.The shortcoming of this mechanism is that its coefficient of the changing average speed of the slider is equal to unit. But as to the shock machine, it is desirable for this coefficient to be higher than one. In this case the average speed of the slider at the working course will be higher than when idling, and the hammer block can have the higher speed. Also it should be noted that when idling there are more favorable conditions to fix the hammer block, which has made a rebound after the shock to the tool, with a lead at great values of the coefficient of the changing average speed of the slider.The coefficient of the changing average speed of the slider can be increased through the crank support shift in direction, perpendicular to the trajectories of the slider movement, by converting an axial mechanism into the non-axial one. Based on the specified values of frequency and energy of blow and also conditions for ensuring the working capacity and compactness of the shock machine, the paper makes synthesis of key parameters of the operating member of the non-axial slider-crank mechanism with the disjointed slider.
PERLINDUNGAN HUKUM TERHADAP KONSUMEN ATAS PENJUALAN KOSMETIK BERBAHAYA DI INDONESIA: SUATU PENDEKATAN KEPUSTAKAAN
Authors: Dominika Novel , Hasyim Hasyim 
Published: March 2019

Seiring dengan berkembangnya ilmu pengetahuan dan teknologi maka kebutuhan hidup manusia kian berkembang pula. Tidak hanya kebutuhan akan sandang, pangan, papan, pendidikan dan kesehatan saja. Kebutuhan akan mempercantik diri pun kian menjadi prioritas utama dalam menunjang penampilan sehari-hari. Perlindungan hukum bagi konsumen kosmetik menurut Undang-Undang No 8 Tahun 1999 tentang Perlindungan Konsumen pasal 45 ayat 1 menyatakan “setiap konsumen yang dirugikan dapat menggugat pelaku usaha melalui lembaga yang bertugas menyelesaikan sengketa antara konsumen dan pelaku usaha atau melalui peradilan yang berada dilingkungan peradilan umum.” Upaya pelaku usaha mewujudkan perlindungan hukum bagi konsumen dengan cara memproduksi kosmetik sesuai dengan persyaratan yang ditetapkan Undang-Undang dengan memperhatikan mutu kosmetik, sarana produksi dan distribusi serta kondisi produk yang beredar di pasaran. Kata Kunci : Perlindungan Hukum, Konsumen, Kosmetik Berbahaya