bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Determinants of non-revenue water for a water utility in California
Authors: Güngör-Demirci Gamze , Lee Juneseok , Keck Jonathan , Guzzetta Robert , Yang Paul 
Published: March 2018

Abstract
Physical, technical, managerial, and environmental factors are all known to influence non-revenue water (NRW) volume, so a better understanding of these factors is important if we are to intervene in water loss problems more effectively. This study therefore identified determinants of NRW for a water utility in California by applying fixed effects panel regression analysis incorporating uncertainty. Network length, connection density, and net operating revenue per cubic meter of water sold were found to be negatively correlated with NRW while a positive relationship between number of leaks and NRW was identified. These findings will inform the water utility's management team/decision-makers regarding the specific impacts of NRW's critical factors and guide them to focus on these factors to further reduce NRW as well as set long-term benchmarks.
Analysis of the impact of Shifosi Reservoir water level on underground water
Authors: Yan B. , Xie Y. , Guo C. J. , Zhao C. S. 
Published: March 2018

Abstract
Shifosi Reservoir is a plain reservoir. High groundwater level in the nearby area caused by impoundment of the reservoir has not only submerged the nearby farmland and village, but also reduced production and affected farmers' living. To analyze the influence of reservoir impoundment on surrounding groundwater level, Visual MODFLOW software was used to simulate the groundwater in Zhujiapu and Chenpingpu areas on the right auxiliary dam of Shifosi Reservoir. Results show that with the rise of the reservoir water level from 45.5 m to 46.2 m and 46.5 m, the area under the critical groundwater table (45 m) in the study area decreased in turn. In 2008, when the reservoir water level was 46.2 m and 46.5 m, the area under the critical groundwater level was reduced by 0.64 km2 and 0.84 km2, respectively, compared with the case of reservoir water level of 45.5 m, and would decrease by 0.38 km2 and 0.45 km2, respectively, by 2022. This indicates that the impact of reservoir impoundment on groundwater level is great. Therefore, relief wells or drainage ditches should be arranged along the auxiliary dam axis to effectively lower the groundwater level, and improve the surrounding ecological environment of the reservoir.
Farmers' willingness to adapt to climate change for sustainable water resources management: a case study of Tunisia
Authors: Lasram Asma , Dellagi Hatem , Dessalegn Bezaiet , Dhehibi Boubaker , Ben Mechlia Netij 
Published: March 2018

Abstract
Shrinking water resources as a potential result of climate change (CC) creates a challenging tradeoff situation in the north of Tunisia. This study provides valuable insights into the conditions that can promote farmers' acceptance of regulated deficit irrigation and a new water pricing policy to address CC impacts on the semi-arid irrigated region which will allow for a sustainable irrigation regime and the conservation of water resources at regional scale. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze data collected from 100 farmers in the citrus regions of Beni Khalled and Menzel Bouzelfa, to identify determining factors for farmers' willingness to accept the proposed water management strategies. Empirical findings reveal that the significant explanatory variables are essentially linked to farmer satisfaction about the current irrigation management in relation to water supply reliability, rather than the social criteria and farmers' awareness of water scarcity. More efforts are needed to improve the transparency of water allocation systems to motivate the willingness of water users to adopt new technologies or policies. The different stakeholders should agree to take action now about strategic extension and communication plans to enhance awareness on ensuing environmental problems, to take advantage of long-term profitability of the water restriction.
A Review on Post Pregnancy Healer Herbs
Authors: Pal Rashmi Saxena , Pal Yogendra , Wal Pranay 
Published: March 2018

Background:
Postpartum is an important phase of life after childbirth. It needs to be
highly important as in terms of health in future life. This time brings lots of complications with it.
Lots of aspects need to be looked after as the care of the new mom is essential to bring back her
stamina and strength.

Objective:
The objective of this review article is to explore the heeding power hidden in nature
for returning back to the mothers to the pre-pregnancy state. There are various areas of concern
after postpartum to heal up the body overall, such as to heal up the uterus, providing galactagogues,
nutritives, maintenance of hormones and restoring back the strength and tone of the abdomen.

Materials and Methods:
A literature search has been done on the various herbs, which fulfill the
various desired aspects to be looked after post pregnancy.

Results:
There are various herbs present in nature, regarding their hidden potential still the awareness
is not up to the mark. This review highlights the various plants which have been proven to be
useful in dealing the post-pregnancy issues. They deal with all the aspects of complications and
issues occurring post pregnancy. They heal the uterus which has undergone so many types of
changes, maintains the balance of hormones back, besides providing nutrition and increasing the
production of milk, they also restore back the tone and strength of the walls of the abdomen.

Conclusion:
These herbs are full-fledged with the phytoconstituents that heal the whole system
after delivery. The need of present time is to take patiently these as the source of medicines regularly
under medical supervision to overcome the various concerned problems of post pregnancy.
Some Thiazole Derivatives Combined with Different Heterocycles: Cytotoxicity Evaluation and Apoptosis Inducing Studies
Authors: Yurttaş Leyla , Demir Bahar , Çiftçi Gülşen A. 
Published: March 2018

Background:
Thiazole ring is an outstanding structure found in many biologically active compounds
and clinically available drugs. Because of synthesis simplicity of its derivatives and having a wide range of
biological aspects along with high effectiveness, new thiazole derivatives have been studied by medicinal chemists
since many years.

Objective:
Some thiazole compounds combined with different heterocyclic rings were acquired in this study.
Novel 5-(4-substituted benzylidene)-2-[(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)amino]thiazol-4(5H)-one derivatives (4a-g)
and 2-(heteroaryl-2/3/5-yl)thio-N-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)acetamide (4h-p) derivatives were synthesized starting
from 2-amino-4,5-dimethylthiazole. The obtained compounds were evaluated to determine their antiproliferative
activity.

Method:
Final compounds (4a-g) were obtained with a ring closure reaction; other final compounds (4h-p) were
acquired via the reaction of mercapto heterocycles with Hantzsch thiazole synthesis intermediate. To evaluate
antiproliferative activity of them, the compounds were tested on A549 adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal
epithelial cells line, C6 rat glioma cell line and NIH/3T3 mouse embryo fibroblast cell line according to the
conventional MTT method. Besides, the selected compounds were studied to find out which pathway cell deaths
caused via Annexin V/PI staining.

Results:
Compounds 4f, 4j and 4p exhibited the highest cytotoxicity on A549 with a non-toxic profile. Also, 4f,
4h, 4j and 4p were determined as the most antiproliferative compounds on C6 cell line. Furthermore, compound
4p induced apoptosis of A549 cell with a level of 23.5% and compound 4h induced C6 cell with a level of
37.5%.

Conclusion:
Considering the structure of the compounds, although thiazolidine containing compounds 4a-g
exhibited higher activity in general, compounds 4p containing 5-chlorobenzothiazole moiety showed the highest
cytotoxicity. It could be expressed with the conspicuous antitumor efficiency of benzothiazole ring.
Ductile Compressive Failure of Concrete Reinforced with High Strength Carbon Hybrid Composite
Authors: Wu Hwai-Chung , Diallo Boubacar 
Published: March 2018

Background:For centuries, steel rebar has been the primary reinforcement in concrete despite its major drawbacks, such as its heavy weight, high electrical conductivity, and corrosiveness. Thus, in response to the need for better alternatives, innovative Hybrid Composite (HC) reinforcements have been developed.Objective:The focus of this paper is to investigate the performance of tubular HC reinforcements in concrete columns under axial compressive loading.Method:Concrete columns of different sizes were tested.Results and Conclusion:For the small columns, HC reinforced columns showed very high load capacity, which was more than 3 times the capacity of plain concrete. Moreover, significant ductility was achieved with an ultimate strain of up to 59%. For the large columns, HC reinforced columns showed similar load capacities, but much larger ultimate strains in comparison to the corresponding steel reinforced concrete columns.
Prominent Visible Light Photocatalytic and Water Purification Activity of PbS/CdS/CdO Nanocomposite Synthesized via Simple Co-Precipitation Method
Authors: Sabet Mohammad , Mohammadi Marziyeh , Googhari Fatemeh 
Published: March 2018

Background:
Due to unique chemical and physical properties and potential application in
many fields, nanostructured materials have attracted many attentions. Cadmium sulfide (CdS) is a semiconductor
that has a wide band gap of 2.42 eV at room temperature and can be served in solar cells
and photoluminescence devices. Cadmium sulfide (CdS) is a kind of attractive semiconductor material,
and it is now widely used for optoelectronic applications. CdS nano and microstructures can be synthesized
via different chemical methods such as microwave-solvothermal synthesis, surfactant-ligand coassisting
solvothermal method and hydrothermal route. Also different morphologies of this semiconductor
such as dendrites, nanorods, sphere-like, flakes, nanowires, flower-like shape triangular and
hexagonal plates, were synthesized.

Methods:
To synthesis of the nanocomposite, a simple co-precipitation method was served. In briefly,
0.1 g of Pb(NO3)2 was dissolved in the distilled water (Solution 1). Also different aqueous solutions
were made from dissolving different mole ratio of Cd(NO3)2.6H2O respect to the lead source in the
water (Solution 2). Two solutions were mixed together under vigorous stirring and then S2- solution
(0.02 g thiourea in the water) was added to the Pb2+/Cd2+ solution. After that 0.1 g of CTAB as
surfactant was added to the final solution. Finally to the synthesis of both sulfide and oxide
nanostructures, NaOH solution was added to the prepared solution to obtain pH= 10. Distilled water
and absolute ethanol were used to wash the obtained precipitate and then it dried at 80 °C for 8 h.

Results:
From the XRD pattern it was found that the peaks placed at 24.9°, 27°, 44.1°, 48°, 52°, 54°,
57.8°, 66.8°, 71.2° are associated to CdS compound with hexagonal phase (JCPDS=00-001-0780) that
belong to (100), (002), (110), (103), (112), (201), (202), (203), (211) Miller indices respectively. The
Other peaks belong to PbS with hexagonal phase (JCPDS=01-078-1897), and CdO with cubic phase
(JCPDS=00-001-1049). From SEM images, it was found by choosing the mole ratio to 1:1, very small
and uniform particles were achieved. By increasing Pb2+/Cd2+ mole ratio to 1:2, very tiny particles aggregated
together were achieved.

Conclusion:
The results showed that the product can adsorb extra 80% of heavy metal ions from the
water. So it can be said that the nanocomposite can be used in the water treatment due to its high photocatalytic
and surface adsorption activities. In other words, it can remove heavy metals from the water
and also decompose organic pollutions.
Improving the experiment report writing skills of fifth graders through the discovery learning method
Authors: Indriyanti Rita , Prasetyo Zuhdan Kun 
Published: March 2018

This study aimed to improve the experimental report writing skills through the discovery learning method of the fifth graders of Muhammadiyah Sapen Elementary School Yogyakarta. This study was classroom action research. The subjects were 26 students of the fifth grade. The techniques for collecting data were observation, task, and documentation. The instruments of the data collection were observation sheets and writing performance. The result of this study showed that the process approach with the discovery learning method could improve the experimental report writing skills of the fifth-grade students of Muhammadiyah Sapen Elementary School Yogyakarta. It could be seen from the result of students’ observation sheet and writing performance. The observation result indicated the increase of the process and result of experimental report writing skills with the average score of 74.88 in Cycle I to 89.38 in Cycle II. The percentage of the Minimum Criteria for Mastery Learning in Cycle I was 60% and increased to 96% in Cycle II, with 24 the students achieved the mastery level and one failed. This showed that the students’ classical mastery was achieved.
EVALUATION OF ZEOLITE AND PUMICE WASTE AS MINERAL AGGREGATE AND FILLER FOR PRODUCING LIGHTWEIGHT ASPHALT CONCRETE MIXTURES
Authors: TERZİ Serdal , BÜYÜKDOĞAÇ Esra Mine 
Published: March 2018

This paper focused on the use of pumice and zeolite waste as aggregate
materials for producing lightweight asphalt concrete (AC) mixtures. The samples
having pumice,
zeolite and limestone aggregate
materials were prepared for an optimum bitumen content, optimum
Liquid Anti-strip (LAS)
additive ratio (0.4, 0.5,
0.6, 0.8, 0.9, 1.0, and 1.1 %),
and bitumen type (50/70 and 160/220) determined following
the Marshall Mixture design procedure. Then, AC mixes were prepared with
limestone used as the coarse aggregate and pumice and zeolite used as fine aggregate,
and with limestone used as the fine aggregate and pumice and zeolite used as
coarse aggregate. The stability of the mixtures was determined from the
Marshall Stability tests. Zeolite and pumice were also used as mineral filler
in AC mixtures. Optimum mineral filler ratio and physical properties were
determined. In general, pumice and zeolite aggregate mixtures gave lower stability
in comparison to limestone aggregate mixtures. These wastes can be applied as very thin wearing layer
for increasing friction, to prevent pavement layers from water infiltration,
and as overlay with 25-300 mm above old pavement. Because these
waste materials have very low weights, they can be used as wearing layer in
paving parking areas and non-heavy weight vehicle traffic in roads. The
importance of using waste materials and lightweight aggregates is to reduce the
environmental impact.
Diabetes Distress and Glycemic Control: The Buffering Effect of Autonomy Support From Important Family Members and Friends
Authors: Lee Aaron A. , Piette John D. , Heisler Michele , Rosland Ann-Marie 
Published: March 2018

OBJECTIVE
To examine whether autonomy support (defined as social support for an individual’s personal agency) for diabetes management from informal health supporters (family/friends) reduces the detrimental effects of diabetes distress on glycemic control.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
Three hundred eight veterans with type 2 diabetes and one or more risk factors for diabetes complications completed a survey that included measures of diabetes distress and perceived autonomy support from their main informal health supporter. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) data from 12 months before and after the survey were extracted from electronic medical records. Linear mixed modeling examined the main effects and interaction of autonomy support and diabetes distress on repeated measures of HbA1c over the 12 months after the survey, controlling for mean prior 12-month HbA1c, time, insulin use, age, and race/ethnicity.

RESULTS
Diabetes distress (B = 0.12 [SE 0.05]; P = 0.023) was associated with higher and autonomy support (B = −0.16 [SE 0.07]; P = 0.032) with lower subsequent HbA1c levels. Autonomy support moderated the relationship between diabetes distress and HbA1c (B = −0.13 [SE 0.06]; P = 0.027). Greater diabetes distress was associated with higher HbA1c at low (B = 0.21 [SE 07]; P = 0.002) but not high (B = 0.01 [SE 0.07]; P = 0.890) levels of autonomy support.

CONCLUSIONS
Autonomy support from main health supporters may contribute to better glycemic control by ameliorating the effects of diabetes distress. Interventions that reduce diabetes distress and enhance the autonomy supportiveness of informal supporters may be effective approaches to improving glycemic control.
Ambulatory electrocardiographic evaluation of the occurrence of arrhythmias in healthy Salukis
Authors: Sanders Robert A. , Kurosawa Tsumugi Anne , Sist Mary Dee 
Published: March 2018

Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the frequency and complexity of ventricular arrhythmias in a group of healthy Salukis evaluated by means of continuous Holter monitoring for 7 days.
DESIGN Prospective case series.
ANIMALS 25 healthy Salukis > 18 months old.
PROCEDURES In all dogs, a history was obtained and a physical examination and transthoracic echocardiography were performed to verify the absence of structural cardiac disease. Dogs then underwent Holter monitoring for 7 days. Data recorded included heart rate parameters and the occurrence of conduction disturbances, ventricular premature complexes, ventricular couplets, ventricular triplets, ventricular bigeminy, ventricular trigeminy, and ventricular tachycardia.
RESULTS 25 dogs (13 sexually intact females, 2 spayed females, and 10 sexually intact males) were enrolled in the study. All 25 dogs had at least one 24-hour period during which ventricular premature complexes were detected. Median number of ventricular premature complexes during any 24-hour period in all dogs was 2 (interquartile [25th to 75th percentile] range, 0 to 4). There were no significant differences between males and females in regard to median number of ventricular premature complexes per 24-hour period or recorded heart rate parameters.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE For Salukis in the study population, 7-day Holter monitoring revealed infrequent ventricular arrhythmias. These findings suggested that detection of a ventricular arrhythmia in a healthy Saluki may be an indication for further diagnostic evaluation.
Clinical findings and diagnostic test results for calves with septic arthritis: 64 cases (2009–2014)
Authors: Constant Caroline , Nichols Sylvain , Desrochers André , Babkine Marie , Fecteau Gilles , Lardé Hélène , Fairbrother Julie-Hélène , Francoz David 
Published: March 2018

Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe clinical findings and diagnostic test results and identify potential prognostic indicators for calves with septic arthritis.
DESIGN Retrospective case series.
ANIMALS 64 calves with septic arthritis.
PROCEDURES The medical record database for a veterinary teaching hospital was searched to identify calves ≤ 6 months old that were treated for septic arthritis between 2009 and 2014. Data evaluated included signalment, history, physical examination and diagnostic test results, treatment, and outcome. Descriptive data were generated, and calves were assigned to 2 groups (neonatal [≤ 28 days old] or postneonatal [29 to 180 days old]) on the basis of age at hospital admission for comparison purposes.
RESULTS 64 calves had 92 infected joints; 17 calves had polyarthritis. Carpal joints were most frequently affected followed by the stifle and tarsal joints. Forty-nine bacterial isolates were identified from synovial specimens for 38 calves, and the most commonly identified isolates were catalase-negative Streptococcus spp (n = 14) and Mycoplasma bovis (9). Calves in the neonatal group had a shorter interval between onset of clinical signs and hospitalization and were more likely to have an infected carpal joint than calves in the postneonatal group. Outcome was positive for 35 calves. Synovial fluid total nucleated cell count was positively associated with a positive outcome.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that empirical antimicrobial treatment for calves with septic arthritis should target gram-positive catalase-negative cocci and M bovis and that synovial fluid total nucleated cell count might be a useful prognostic indicator.
Application of Extended Kalman Filtering for Estimating Immeasurable Vehicle State Variables
Authors: Anh Tuan Le 
Published: March 2018

This paper presents an extended Kalman filtering (EKF) algorithm for estimating immeasurable state variables of a vehicle stability control system. Initially, the steering angle and vertical forces on the tires were considered inputs of the estimator. The measured process outputs were the sensor signals egarding longitudinal and lateral accelerations, steering angle, yaw rate, and wheel speed. Subsequently, by using Euler discretization for a seven-degree-of-freedom nonlinear vehicle model, difficult-to-measure state variables such as lateral velocity, vehicle side-slip angle, and lateral tire forces were identified separately by using the EKF algorithm. The estimation results of the proposed control system evidenced high performance. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Search Optimization Opportunities of Modified Self-Organizing Migrating Algorithm in Multi-Extremal Tasks Environment
Authors: Chernogorov Ivan , Polyakh Victor , Yarakhmedov Orkhan 
Published: March 2018

The paper studies the search optimization task of multi-extremal objects, which are more complicated than mono-extremal. Paper postulates that to find extreme suitable values on complex test function the heuristic algorithm is one way. Self-Organizing Migrating Algorithm and devised approach applied to this task are considered. Conducted research established common test environment to compare multi-extremal test functions. Specific characteristics for problem solving of detection and identification of global and local extreme are included. Additional clustering mechanism are described. Obtained measurements and computing times of Self-Organizing Migrating Algorithm on a range of multi-extremal test functions are illustrated. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Parabolic Equations with a Singular Absorption: Extinction Versus Blow-up
Authors: Dao Nguyen Anh 
Published: March 2018

We prove a local existence of weak solutions of semilinear parabolic equations with a strong singular absorption and a source. Moreover, we consider the qualitative behavior of solutions. We show that any solution exists globally and vanishes after a finite time if either the initial data or the source term is small enough. On the other hand, we point out some criteria such that solutions are explosive in a finite time. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.