bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The formation of hybrid carbon nanomaterial by chemical vapor deposition: an efficient adsorbent for enhanced removal of methylene blue from aqueous solution
Authors: Alayan Haiyam Mohammed , Alsaadi Mohammed Abdulhakim , Das Rasel , Abo-Hamad Ali , Ibrahim Rusul Khaleel , AlOmar Mohammed Khaled , Hashim Mohd Ali 
Published: March 2018

Abstract
In this study, carbon species were grown on the surface of Ni-impregnated powder activated carbon to form a novel hybrid carbon nanomaterial by chemical vapor deposition. The carbon nanomaterial was obtained by the precipitation of the methane elemental carbon atoms on the surface of the Ni catalyst. The physiochemical properties of the hybrid material were characterized to illustrate the successful growth of carbon species on the carbon substrate. The response surface methodology was used for the evaluation of adsorption parameters effect such as pH, adsorbent dose and contact time on the percentage removal of MB dye from aqueous solution. The optimum conditions were found to be pH = 11, adsorbent dose = 15 mg and contact time of 120 min. The material we prepared showed excellent removal efficiency of 96% for initial MB concentration of 50 mg/L. The adsorption of MB was described accurately by the pseudo-second-order model with R2 of 0.998 and qe of 163.93 (mg/g). The adsorption system showed the best agreement with Langmuir model with R2 of 0.989 and maximum adsorption capacity (Qm) of 250 mg/g.
SIRT1 as a Therapeutic Target in Diabetic Complications
Authors: Strycharz Justyna , Rygielska Zaneta , Swiderska Ewa , Drzewoski Jozef , Szemraj Janusz , Szmigiero Leszek , Sliwinska Agnieszka 
Published: March 2018

Background:
Sirtuin1 is an epigenetic enzyme involved in histone and nonhistone
protein deacetylation. It acts primarily as a metabolic sensor, which responses to
changing energy status by deacetylating crucial transcription factors and cofactors. In this
way, Sirtuin1 regulates mitochondrial function and biogenesis, oxidative stress, inflammation,
apoptosis and cellular senescence. Disturbance of all of these phenomena promotes
the pathogenesis of diabetic complications. These disorders are inseparably connected
with chronic hyperglycemia, which possesses a strong epigenetic determinant.

Objective:
To summarize the contemporary knowledge regarding the role of Sirtuin1 in
the development, progression and therapy of diabetic complications.

Methods:
We extensively searched literature describing the importance of Sirtuin1 in
pathophysiology and treatment of all kinds of diabetic complications till September 2017.
We focused on the examples of synthetic and natural compounds-mediated Sirtuin1 upregulation
along with Sirtuin1-associated epigenetics.

Results:
Reduction of Sirtuin1 is implicated in endothelial dysfunction and metabolic
memory, underlying the development of micro- and macrovascular complications. Declined
Sirtuin1 also participates in diabetic testicular and erectile dysfunction. Sirtuin1 is
elevated by naturally occurring anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds such as
resveratrol, trans-δ-viniferin, vitamin D and more. Similarly, Sirtuin1 level increases after
treatment with standard antihyperglycemic (metformin, exenatide, liraglutide), antihypertensive
(sartans), lipid-lowering (fibrates, statins) and anticoagulant (fidarestat) drugs.
Regarding epigenetics, a number of miRNAs trigger Sirtuin1 decrease, which further contributes
to histone acetylation of Sirtuin1-regulated and relevant for diabetes genes.

Conclusion:
Evidence strongly suggest that Sirtuin1 upregulation may serve as a potent
therapeutic approach against development and progression of diabetic complications.
Comparison of Saliva Nitric Oxide between Chronic Kidney Disease Before and After Dialysis and with Control Group
Authors: Rezaei Fatemeh , Mohhamadi Reza 
Published: March 2018

Introduction:
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a chronic progressive disorder and a major cause of death and disability in all countries. In the kidneys, Nitric Oxide (NO) has involved in several important cellular processes including glomerular and modular hemodynamics set-out, tubular - glomerular feedback reaction, renin releasing and extracellular fluid volume but NO can act as an inflammatory mediator and oxidative stress factor in high levels.

Aim:
The aim of this study was to evaluate salivary levels of NO in patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis compared to the healthy subjects and evaluate the effect of dialysis on the level of NO in saliva.

Materials & Methods:
In this case-control study, 30 hemodialysis patients and 30 healthy controls that were matched for age and sex were selected. Unstimulated saliva samples were collected from all subjects. In the patient’s group, half an hour before starting dialysis first sampling and two hours after the completion of dialysis second sampling were collected. NO concentration in the samples was measured by using the Griess method. For data analysis, SPSS software version 16, Mann Whitney-U and Wilcoxon test were used. The level of significance was considered 0.05.

Results:
Mann-Whitney U test showed that the average concentration of salivary NO in patients with CKD (pre-dialysis and after dialysis) was higher than in the control group. The average concentration of salivary NO in patients with CKD was reduced after hemodialysis.

Conclusion:
Hemodialysis reduces salivary NO levels in CKD patients. It seems that hemodialysis has a role in decreasing the concentration of this inflammatory mediator and oxidative stress.
Testing the Efficacy of a Social Networking Gamification App to Improve Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Adherence (P3: Prepared, Protected, emPowered): Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)
Authors: LeGrand Sara , Knudtson Kelly , Benkeser David , Muessig Kathryn , Mcgee Andrew , Sullivan Patrick S , Hightow-Weidman Lisa 
Published: March 2018

BACKGROUND

HIV prevalence is high among young men who have sex with men (YMSM) and young transgender women who have sex with men (YTWSM), particularly among minorities. Despite its proven efficacy and safety, the uptake of and adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) among YMSM and YTWSM is currently limited. To date, evidence-based interventions to promote and sustain PrEP adherence have been limited and not shown to be highly efficacious. Given the widespread adoption of smartphones, mobile apps can be utilized to increase PrEP adherence for many YMSM and YTWSM.

OBJECTIVE

The study consists of a formative research phase to develop an app-based intervention, P3 (Prepared, Protected, emPowered), to increase PrEP adherence, and a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to test its efficacy. P3 is a mobile app built on an established health platform, which includes social networking and game-based components to encourage PrEP adherence among YMSM and YTWSM. P3+ includes all P3 features plus adherence counseling delivered via two-way text messaging (short message service, SMS) through the app.

METHODS

The formative research phase includes usability testing to assess users’ comprehension of P3’s educational content, understanding and use of intervention features, and overall impressions of app functionality, followed by app refinements. A subsequent field trial will identify and resolve any remaining technical challenges. A three-arm RCT (P3, P3+, and standard of care) will then be conducted at 6 iTech subject recruitment venues to assess intervention efficacy and to conduct a comparison of costs to deliver the 2 intervention arms.

RESULTS

This is an ongoing research project with initial results from the formative work expected in 2020 and those from the RCT in 2021.

CONCLUSIONS

P3 aims to provide an engaging, interactive experience that is highly appealing for the target population, leveraging technology already heavily integrated into the lives of young people, and thus meeting users’ needs in a familiar, stimulating way. If efficacious, P3 could be a sustainable, easily disseminated, lower-cost PrEP intervention for YMSM and YTWSM. Further, the research aims to determine the processes that are essential to developing and implementing future health-related gamification interventions.

CLINICALTRIAL

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03320512; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03320512 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/74OVZkICl)

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPOR

DERR1-10.2196/10448
Accounting Conservatism and Incentives: Intertemporal Considerations
Authors: Glover Jonathan C. , Lin Haijin H. 
Published: March 2018

ABSTRACT
We study intertemporal incentive properties of conditional accounting conservatism. Conservatism has detrimental and beneficial properties. In our first model, conservatism introduces downward bias in the first period; any understatement of first-period performance is reversed in the second period. A conservative bias is not costly in the first period but instead is costly in the second period when a new manager may be rewarded for the performance of his predecessor. In an extension on learning, we illustrate a beneficial role of conservatism in fine-tuning incentives. In the second model, conservatism is modeled as recognizing effort-independent bad news early and good news late. Recognizing bad news early can be optimal because of intertemporal rent shifting, which improves incentives via an “incentive spillback.” We also study overlapping projects (a multi-task setting) in which an interior accounting system can be optimal to avoid making one of the overlapping projects an incentive bottleneck.
JEL Classifications: D21; D74; D82; D86.
Anatomical and procedural predictors of pulmonary vein stenosis in the setting of second-generation cryoballoon ablation
Authors: Coutiño Hugo-Enrique , Takarada Ken , Sieira Juan , Abugattas Juan-Pablo , Salghetti Francesca , De Regibus Valentina , Ströker Erwin , Brugada Pedro , Iacopino Saverio , de Asmundis Carlo , Chierchia Gian-Battista 
Published: March 2018

Aims
Pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) is a well recognized complication as a consequence of pulmonary vein isolation. In the current study, we sought to analyze potential anatomical and intraprocedural predictors of PVS during second-generation cryoballoon ablation, particularly focusing on the impact of freeze duration and number of cryoapplications.

Methods
Fifty-four patients who underwent cryoballoon ablation for atrial fibrillation were included retrospectively in this study. All patients underwent cardiac-enhanced multidetector computed tomography both before and after the ablation. The exclusion criteria were any contraindications for the procedure, including the presence of an intracavitary thrombus, uncontrolled heart failure and contraindications to general anesthesia.

Results
Mild (25–50%) PVS was only detected in one vein (0.4%) and neither moderate (50–75%) nor severe (>75%) PVS were found. Twenty-five pulmonary veins (12%) exhibited slight narrowing of the diameter (less than 25%). In the univariate analysis, a longer duration of cryoapplication and a larger pulmonary vein ostium preprocedure diameter and area were independently associated with pulmonary vein narrowing [odds ratio (OR): 1.004; confidence interval (CI): 1.001–1.008, P = 0.016; OR: 1.250, CI: 1.090–1.434, P = 0.001 and OR: 1.006; CI: 1.002–1.011, P = 0.006] respectively.

Conclusion
Longer duration of cryoablation, an increased number of applications per vein and larger pulmonary vein ostia are associated with a higher risk of pulmonary vein diameter and area reduction. These findings might suggest to lower the dosing to a single and shorter application if isolation is attained, to reduce the possibility of future pulmonary vein narrowing.
Rostral mandibular fracture repair in a pet bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps)
Authors: Nau Melissa R. , Eshar David 
Published: March 2018

Abstract
CASE DESCRIPTION A 2-year-old male bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) was evaluated because of a traumatic mandibular fracture.
CLINICAL FINDINGS An open comminuted fracture of the rostral aspect of the right mandible was evident, with a fragment of bone exposed and dorsally displaced. Whole-body radiography revealed no evidence of additional injury. Other findings were unremarkable, except for moderate anemia (PCV, 19%).
TREATMENT AND OUTCOME The fracture fragments were stabilized with 2 crossed 36-gauge interfragmentary wire loops. An external fixator device was fashioned from four 25-gauge needles inserted at alternating angles through the fracture fragments; plastic IV fluid line tubing filled with dental acrylic was used as a connecting bar. One day after surgery, the lizard had regained its typical activity level and appetite. Body weight was measured and the external fixator was inspected 1 week after surgery and monthly thereafter. Three months after initial injury, the fracture was stable, radiography revealed bony callus formation at the fracture site, and the external fixator was removed. Recheck radiography performed 5.5 months after initial injury revealed complete osseous union of the fracture fragments, and the interfragmentary wires were removed.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE Surgical management of the traumatic comminuted mandibular fracture in this bearded dragon by means of a combination of internal and external fixation resulted in complete healing of the mandible and restoration of function. Management of this complicated fracture was achieved with the aid of readily available and inexpensive supplies in a clinical setting, which may be useful to other clinicians in the management of similar cases.
A proposal for a quality control protocol in breast CT with synchrotron radiation
Authors: Contillo Adriano , Veronese Anna , Brombal Luca , Donato Sandro , Rigon Luigi , Taibi Angelo , Tromba Giuliana , Longo Renata , Arfelli Fulvia 
Published: March 2018

Abstract

Background
The SYRMA-3D collaboration is setting up the first clinical trial of phase-contrast breast CT with synchrotron radiation at the Elettra synchrotron facility in Trieste, Italy. In this communication, a quality control protocol for breast CT is proposed, and a first test of image quality measurements is performed by means of a custom-made radiographic phantom.

Materials and methods
A set of projections is acquired and used to perform a CT reconstruction of two selected portions of the phantom. Such portions contain a uniform layer of water and a set of radiographic inserts, respectively. Together, they allow to perform several image quality measurements, namely CT number linearity, reconstruction accuracy, uniformity, noise, and low contrast resolution. All measurements are repeated at different beam energies in the range of interest, and at two different dose values.

Results
Measurements show a good linearity in the soft tissue range, paired to a high accuracy of the CT number reconstruction. Uniformity and noise measurements show that reconstruction inhomogeneities are bound to a few percent of the average pixel values. However, low contrast detectability is limited to the higher portion of the explored energy range.

Conclusions
The results of the measurements are satisfactory in terms of their quality, feasibility and reproducibility. With minimal modifications, the phantom is promising to allow a set of image quality measurements to be used in the upcoming clinical trial.
Variability of Nutrients in Seawater of Coastal Zone from Khanh Hoa to Bac Lieu
Authors: Tam Pham Huu 
Published: March 2018

This paper is based on data from two surveys (October 2013 and May 2015) on the coastal zone from Khanh Hoa to Bac Lieu and the data from 1992 until now. Results indicated that in southwest monsoon period, the variations of nutrient concentrations in South Central coastal zone of Vietnam were not clearly, except higher concentration of phosphate in the period 1992-1994 and the 2006, 2015 and higher concentration of silicate in the 2006, 2015. In the northeast monsoon period, the highest concentration of phosphate and silicate were recorded in October 2013. In the Southeast coastal zone of Vietnam, the concentration of nutrients (nitrate and silicate) tend to increase in both monsoon periods in shallow area (less than 30 m of depth). But the variations of nutrients concentration were not clearly or few in deeper area (over 30 m of depth).
The Influence of Waste Disposal Site on The Water and Soil Quality in Halabja Province, Kurdistan, Iraq
Authors: Mohammed Karzan , Karim Salar H. , Mohammed Sherko A. 
Published: March 2018

Solid waste disposal could be a major environmental problem in in Kurdistan region of Iraq because it is not managed properly. The main purpose of this study was to assess the influence of long term solid waste disposal on water and soil physicochemical properties. Soil and water samples were collected in and around the solid waste disposal area. The samples were analyzed for physicochemical characteristics and potentially toxic elements using ICPMS. The results revealed that some water parameters analysed well below WHO and EU standards for drinking water. Therefore, the surface and ground water samples in this study are good for drinking purposes. However, the application of water quality index (WQI) suggests that the ground and surface water around the open dumpsite are marked as good and poor water in quality respectively. High concentration of Ca in all soil samples is expected because the regional geology is calcareous. The concentrations of PTEs were found in order of Mn> Fe> Ni> Zn> Cr> Cu> Pb> Se> Cd. Although relatively high concentrations of Ni and Cr were found at all sampling points, mean concentrations of trace elements in the soil samples in the studied area were all below the soil guideline values (SGV). Enrichment factors (EFs), calculated using typical carbonate bedrock geologies, confirmed that there was typically significant enrichment in trace elements above expected background concentrations. Whereas concentrations of toxic elements were within the ‘safe’ limits in the studied agricultural areas, care should be taken because prolonged disposing of wastes in the outskirt of the city could lead to PTE accumulation in surrounding water soils.
Phytochemical Investigation and Antioxidant Effects of Different Solvent Extracts of Pterocephalus Nestorianus Nab. Growing in Kurdistan Region-Iraq
Authors: Abdullah Fuad O. , Hussain Faiq H.S. , Cucca Lucia , Vidari Giovanni 
Published: March 2018

The medicinal plants have been used as a herbal tradition in Kurdistan. Most of the medicinal plants are still not investigated from a phytochemical and biological activity. Therefore, different solvent extraction carried out to study phytochemicals and antioxidant activity of Pterocephalus nestorianus Nab. Through this research, it is reported for the first time that the phytochemicals and antioxidant activity on P. nestorianus Nab. collected at Safeen Mountain in Erbil-Iraq, which was known as a Lawa in Kurdistan. It is used against inflammation and oral diseases. The phytochemical study of four extracts (Hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and methanol 70%) of P. nestorianus flowers, leaves and roots revealed that it contains rich phytochemical composition. C4H8O2 and CH3OH extracts of P. nestorianus showed a high radical scavenging activity compared with trihydroxy benzoic acid as a standard. The flavonoid and phenolic presence showed strong correlation with the antioxidant activity.
PROPOSAL OF A PRODUCT INDICATOR AS A TOOL FOR A COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT OF WINDOWS
Authors: Arranz Beatriz , Bedoya-Frutos César , Vega-Sánchez Sergio 
Published: March 2018

Windows are elements of great incidence on building consumption and therefore with great saving potential. When designing high-energy efficiency windows, it is possible to negatively influence the indoor environment quality. To ensure indoor environmental quality, hygrothermal comfort, acoustic comfort, luminous comfort, physical-chemical and microbiological contaminants in the air, and the electromagnetic environment must be considered. Of all these aspects, windows intervene in four of them: hygrothermal comfort, luminous comfort, acoustic comfort and air quality. In order to carry out a comprehensive design, designers should study in detail the variables mentioned for each particular case and, consequently, act. This, due to the means and the deadlines with which the prescriber usually counts on, is currently not viable. This research responds to current deficiencies by proposing the development of a product indicator through an integrative procedure for window design that simultaneously contemplates indoor environmental quality, energy efficiency and cost, integrating environmental and socio-economic aspects. The indicator proposed here provides information substantially superior to that currently available to technicians, to be used as a decision making tool.
FROM ARCHITECTURAL THEORY TO URBAN STUDIES AND FROM SPATIAL ANALYSIS EXPLORATIONS TO BUILT ENVIRONMENT EDUCATION
Authors: Salama Ashraf M. 
Published: March 2018

Archnet-IJAR, volume 12, issue # 1, March 2018 reveals the multitude and multiplicity of architectural and urban research, which I have discussed in an earlier editorial. The journal remains committed to cover issues of interest and concern to the global academic and professional community. This issue is intensive in terms of quality and quantity and encompasses a wide spectrum of topics that range from architectural theory and history, to urban studies, and from spatial analysis and application of technical systems in building design and components, to education for sustainable development, and architectural and planning education. The edition includes a section that is exclusively dedicated to selected papers from the Education and Training Forum of PLEA International Conference – Design to Thrive, Edinburgh – July 2017. By and large, the contributions presented here cover many parts of both the global north and the global south, raise questions, introduce proposals, and offer lessons important to their contexts as well as to the wider community of architectural and urban researchers.