bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Verification of physicochemical structures of dialysis membrane using reversal dialysis technique
Authors: Yamashita Akihiro C. , Ono Takahisa , Tomisawa Narumi 
Published: October 2017

AbstractObjective: Solute removal performance of the dialyzer is closely related to physicochemical structures of the membrane. The objective of this study is to devise a new in vitro evaluation technique to directly correlate the physicochemical structures of the membrane to the dialysis performance.Materials and Methods: Commercial 11 dialyzers with cellulose triacetate (CTA), ethylene vinylalcohol co‐polymer (EVAL), asymmetry CTA (termed ATA), 4 polysulfone (PSf), polyether sulfone (PES), and 3 polyester polymer alloy (PEPA) membranes were employed for investigation. Normal dialysis experiments were performed with aqueous creatinine (MW 113), bromophenol blue (MW 670), vitamin B12 (MW 1355), chymotrypsin (MW 25,000) test solutions. Reversal dialysis experiments were devised introducing the test solution outside the hollow fiber (HF) and the dialysate inside the HF, respectively. Clearances were measured under QB = 200 mL/min and QD = 500 mL/min at 310 K. The ratio of clearance in the reversal dialysis to that in the normal dialysis termed the yielding factor of asymmetry, fYA, was defined for evaluation.Results and Discussion: According to the classic mass transfer theory, clearance in the normal dialysis and that in the reversal dialysis are expected to be identical; however, the average fYA was 0.96 for creatinine and was always slightly lower than unity in 10 dialyzers out of 11. This may be caused by un‐uniform distribution of the test solution outside the HF, which was more likely to occur than when it flowed inside the HF. Unlike creatinine, the average fYA for vitamin B12 was 1.0 and that for chymotrypsin was 1.06 to 1.45 in membranes with heterogeneous structures (ATA, PSf, PEPA, and PES), but was almost unity (1.02) in homogeneous membrane (CTA). This must be based on the fact that the membrane permeability in the reversal dialysis is much larger than that in the normal dialysis due to the physicochemical structures of the heterogeneous membrane that has a wedge‐like pore size distribution in the radial direction.Conclusions: A wedge‐like pore size distribution in the radial direction in heterogeneous membrane was semiquantitatively evaluated by introducing a reversal dialysis technique with a new index.
Calciphylaxis after parathyroidectomy
Authors: Karmegam Sathish , Shetty Anupkumar 
Published: October 2017

AbstractA 60‐year‐old African American man with end stage renal disease on hemodialysis (HD) for the past 2.5 years developed severe hyperparathyroidism. Other past medical history included atrial fibrillation, type II diabetes mellitus, hypertension, gout, pericardial effusion needing pericardial window, deep vein thrombosis, mitral insufficiency, and cardiomyopathy with implantable cardioversion device placement. His parathyroid hormone (PTH) level peaked at 4,191 pg/mL despite being on cinacalcet, sevelamer, and paricalcitol. He underwent a subtotal parathyroidectomy in January 2015, after which his PTH levels dropped to 184 pg/mL. Approximately 4 weeks later he developed extensive, painful necrotic skin lesions in both his lower extremities and buttocks, suggestive of calciphylaxis which was confirmed by tissue biopsy. The patient was treated with elaborate wound care, wound debridements, increased dialysis dose, and IV sodium thiosulfate (STS) during hemodialysis. Besides STS, he was treated with narcotics, gabapentin, topical lidocaine on intact skin, and oral steroids for pain control. Even though his lesions improved initially, he deteriorated due to recurrent sepsis, respiratory failure, and prolonged hospitalization which culminated in stopping dialysis before he passed away. Calciphylaxis, or calcific uremic arteriolopathy, is a life‐threatening complication of end stage renal disease. Treatment of this condition is multidisciplinary which includes elaborate wound care, increasing dialysis dose, and discontinuing vitamin D supplements and calcium containing phosphate binders. Even though STS has been recommended off‐label, several studies have shown promising results with resolution of lesions. Thus, sodium thiosulfate has become the mainstay of treatment. Parathyroidectomy is a recommended modality of treatment in those with high PTH levels. Our case was unique in that calciphylaxis developed after subtotal parathyroidectomy. We believe that this is due to a decreased PTH level and decreasing bone turnover which resulted in more circulating calcium facilitating vascular and soft tissue calcification. The exact mechanism of developing calciphylaxis after parathyroidectomy is unknown. Even though parathyroidectomy is an effective treatment for calciphylaxis, clinicians should be aware that it can rarely present after parathyroidectomy.
Anti‐thrombotic therapy for atrial fibrillation in patients with chronic kidney disease: Current views
Authors: Ghadban Rugheed , Flaker Greg , Katta Natraj , Alpert Martin A. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractChronic kidney disease (CKD) occurs in approximately one‐third of patients with non‐valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). The presence of CKD, particularly advanced CKD, confers increased risk of both thromboembolism and major bleeding in this group of patients who are already at risk for ischemic stroke and systemic embolism and at risk of bleeding due to anticoagulation. Studies assessing the effect of warfarin on risk of ischemic stroke, systemic embolism, and major bleeding have produced disparate results, particularly in patients with advanced CKD including those treated with hemodialysis. The direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC's) have been studied in patients with stage III (moderate) CKD and appear to be as effective or more effective (dabigatran 150 mg twice daily) than warfarin in preventing ischemic stroke or embolism in this group. Two of the DOAC's, apixaban and edoxaban, confer lower risk of major bleeding than warfarin with appropriate dose adjustments. Substantial gaps exist in our knowledge of anti‐thrombotic therapy in patients with AF and CKD, primarily due to exclusion of patients with advanced CKD from randomized controlled trials comparing DOAC's with warfarin.
Neonatal maternal separation opposes the facilitatory effect of castration on the respiratory response to hypercapnia of the adult male rat: Evidence for the involvement of the medial amygdala
Authors: Tenorio‐Lopes L. , Henry M. S. , Marques D. , Tremblay M.‐È. , Drolet G. , Bretzner F. , Kinkead R. 
Published: October 2017

Respiratory manifestations of panic disorder (PD) include a greater respiratory instability and enhanced responsiveness to CO2 compared to normal individuals. Although the prevalence of PD is approximately three times greater in women compared to men, the origins of this sexual dimorphism remain poorly understood. Similar to PD patients, adult female rats previously subjected to neonatal maternal separation (NMS) show an increase in their ventilatory response to CO2. Because this effect of NMS is not observed in males, we hypothesised that testosterone prevents NMS‐induced hyper‐responsiveness to CO2. Pups subjected to NMS were placed in an incubator for 3 h d‐1 from postnatal days 3‐12. Control pups remained undisturbed. At adulthood (8‐10 weeks of age), rats were then subjected either to sham surgery or castration. Fourteen days later, breathing was measured at rest (room air) and during acute exposure to hypercapnia (5 and 10% CO2 for 10 minutes each) using plethysmography. To gain insight into the mechanisms involved, c‐fos expression was used as an indicator of neuronal activation. Brains were collected following air or CO2 exposure for quantification of c‐fos positive cells by immunohistochemistry in selected regions, including the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, the dorsomedial hypothalamus and the amygdalar complex. Castration produced a 100% increase of hyperventilatory response to 10% CO2 in control rats. Unexpectedly, castration had no effect on the hyperventilatory response of NMS rats. The intensity of the hypercapnic response was inversely correlated with c‐fos expression in the medial amygdala. We conclude that testosterone prevents the hyper‐responsiveness to CO2, whereas NMS attenuates sensitivity to hormone withdrawal. We propose that an inhibitory influence from the medial amygdala contributes to this effect.
A Mental Model of the Learner: Teaching the Basic Science of Educational Psychology to Future Teachers
Authors: Willingham Daniel T. 
Published: October 2017

ABSTRACTAlthough most teacher education programs include instruction in the basic science of psychology, practicing teachers report that this preparation has low utility. Researchers have considered what sort of information from psychology about children's thinking, emotion, and motivation would be useful for teachers' practice. Here, I take a different tack. I begin by considering three varieties of statements in basic science: empirical observations, theoretical statements, and epistemic assumptions. I suggest that the first of these can support classroom application, but the latter two cannot. I use that conclusion as a starting point for considering the instruction of prospective teachers in psychology.
Physiological augmentation of esophageal distension pressure and peristalsis during conditions of increased esophageal emptying resistance
Authors: Brink G. J. , Lei W. Y. , Omari T. I. , Singendonk M. M. J. , Hung J. S. , Liu T. T. , Yi C. H. , Chen C. L. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractBackgroundAbdominal compression has been implemented as a provocative maneuver in high‐resolution impedance manometry (HRIM) to “challenge” normal esophageal physiology with the aim of revealing abnormal motor patterns which may explain symptoms. In this study, we measured the effects of abdominal compression on esophageal functioning utilizing novel pressure‐impedance parameters and attempted to identify differences between healthy controls and globus patients.MethodsTwenty‐two healthy volunteers (aged 23‐32 years, 41% female) and 22 globus patients (aged 23‐72 years, 68% female) were evaluated with HRIM using a 3.2‐mm water perfused manometric and impedance catheter. All participants received 10 × 5 mL liquid swallows; healthy controls also received 10 × 5 mL liquid swallows with abdominal compression created using an inflatable cuff. All swallows were analyzed to assess esophageal pressure topography (EPT) and pressure‐flow metrics, indicative of distension pressure, flow timing and bolus clearance were derived.Key ResultsThe effect of abdominal compression was shown as a greater contractile vigor of the distal esophagus by EPT and higher distension pressure based on pressure‐flow metrics. Age and body mass index also increased contractile vigor and distension pressure. Globus patients were similar to controls.Conclusions and InterferencesIntrabolus pressure and contractile vigor are indicative of the physiological modulation of bolus transport mechanisms. Provocative testing by abdominal compression induces changes in these esophageal bolus dynamics.
The role of piezoelectric surgery and platelet‐rich fibrin in treatment of ORN and MRONJ: a clinical case series
Authors: Bilimoria R. , Young H. , Patel D. , Kwok J. 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe potential of platelet‐rich fibrin, (or leucocyte platelet‐rich fibrin), has been increasingly promoted for a range of oral and maxillofacial procedures. These include bone regeneration around implants, survival of bone grafts in implant surgery, third molar extraction sockets and periodontal regeneration, and as an adjunct to adipocyte grafts in facial lipostructure. L‐PRF is an autologous blood product that contains a rich host of cytokines and growth factors and has been shown to accelerate and improve results in hard and soft tissue wound healing. This case series explores the role of L‐PRF in conjunction with piezoelectric debridement as a minimally invasive management technique in jaw necrosis. Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) and medicine‐related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) are both debilitating complications of cancer treatments. With an ageing population, rise in incidence of oro‐pharyngeal cancers requiring chemo‐radiotherapy, and more prophylactic use of bisphosphonates, we are seeing an increase in ONJ. Rank L inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies are not just limited to cancer patients, but are also important in treatment of Paget's disease and osteoporosis. Management options range from pharmacological therapy to surgical treatment depending on the stage of the lesion, symptoms and patient's life expectancy. Recent evidence has shown minimally invasive surgical approach with flapless piezoelectric surgery could have a possible role in treatment of osteonecrosis of the jaw in stages 1 and 2 of the condition. As an adjunct to minimally invasive debridement, this case series looks at combining the use of piezodebridement with L‐PRF in stage 2 ONJ. (As in the AAOMS classification). We have a case series of (n = 10) patients, with (n = 12) ONJ lesions. They have been treated with piezoelectric debridement, placement of L‐PRF in the affected sites and primary closure where possible. In accordance with the most recent AAOMS classification, only cases with stage 2 were included; hence, where the defect was symptomatic, infected, conservative pharmacological therapy had failed, and size of the defect was appropriate for local resection only. Larger defects were excluded, that would otherwise require surgical debridement, major resection or jaw reconstruction. To assess the effect of piezodebridement and L‐PRF on mucosal coverage and soft tissue healing in ORN and MRONJ after extraction, trauma or spontaneous necrosis. Patients were followed up clinically and radiographically until total mucosal coverage of the necrotic bone was achieved. Of the 12 sites, 8 showed complete mucosal coverage within 1 year, 3 areas showed persistent exposed bone after 1 year, and 1 patient did not return for follow up.
Factorization of Force and Timing in Sensorimotor Performance: Long‐Range Correlation Properties of Two Different Task Goals
Authors: Balasubramaniam Ramesh , Hove Michael J. , Médé Butovens 
Published: October 2017

AbstractLong‐range correlations are often manifested in the form of 1/fβ noise in a series of repeated measurements of the same neural or behavioral variable. Recent work has demonstrated that the magnitude and nature of these long‐range correlations reliably capture individual differences and variation in task performance. In sensorimotor timing experiments, task characteristics such as tapping or circle drawing affect these long‐range correlations during the production of isochronous time intervals. Such correlations are highly reproducible across multiple trials for the same task but do not correlate between tasks. In the present experiment, we investigate whether two behavioral variables that are simultaneously controlled by the same participant in a given experimental condition can show such differentially organized fluctuations. In order to answer this question, 13 participants were asked to produce repetitive movements with their right index finger at a specified time interval (500 ms) and a specified force (8N) in the absence of an auditory metronome and visual feedback of force levels following a synchronization‐continuation paradigm. Although participants showed high levels of consistency in the long‐range correlations for each task component separately over multiple trials/observations, the long‐range fluctuations for force and timing were found to show no correlations with each other for each participant. Cross recurrence quantification analyses (CRQA) revealed that there was limited shared structure between the timing and force time series data. Taken together, these results suggest that complex systems can organize multiple processes in a relatively independent manner while maintaining a high degree of reliability within one task parameter.
The application of solar distillation technique as a mean for olive mill wastewater management
Authors: Jaradat A. Q. , Gharaibeh S. , Abu Irjei Mustafa 
Published: October 2017

AbstractThe present study was conducted on a pilot scale level using a solar still unit to separate olive mill wastewater (OMW) into condensate and solid residue. The prevailing conditions inside the solar still, rates of distillation and a number of quality parameters for condensate [pH, electrical conductivity (EC), turbidity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN) and total‐phenols] were evaluated to assess the system performance. The solid residue was evaluated as well for its utility as a potential biofuel. The condensate is acidic (pH 3.8), colourless, transparent and free of suspended solids. The turbidity and EC were reduced in the condensate by 100 and 99%, respectively, while the loads of COD, TOC, TN and T‐phenols were reduced by 90, 98, 99.9 and 99.96%, respectively. Almost 0.04% of initial total phenols found in OMW were recovered in the condensate. High calorific value (23.5 kJ/g) and combustible portion (84%) of solid residue suggests its applicability as a potential biofuel
Model calibration and feed‐forward control of the wastewater treatment plant – case study for CLUJ‐Napoca WWTP
Authors: Nair Abhilash , Cristea Vasile‐Mircea , Agachi Paul Şerban , Brehar Marius 
Published: October 2017

AbstractAlthough the activated sludge models for waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) offer comprehensive description of their involved biochemical and physical processes, it is a challenging task to calibrate the model for the operational plant. The article first presents a systematic calibrating procedure applied to the Activated Sludge Model No.1 (ASM 1), showing its potential to be extended to other WWTPs. It particularly addresses cases when comprehensive knowledge on the WWTP influent composition does not exist. An optimisation‐based approach is used for the WWTP model calibration and for finding the partially unknown influent composition. Dynamic model validation shows good match between model predicted values and WWTP measured data. Second, a new feed‐forward control strategy is designed for the WWTP and compared with the conventional nitrate‐nitrite nitrogen and dissolved oxygen control. The evaluation based on the effluent quality index, pumping and aeration energy and the number of effluent violations assessment tools, demonstrates incentives for the proposed control approach.
Gas-Induced Motion of an Object in a Liquid-Filled Housing During Vibration: Part I — Analysis
Authors: Torczynski John R. , O’Hern Timothy J. , Clausen Jonathan R. , Koehler Timothy P. 
Published: October 2017

Models and simulations are employed to analyze the motion of a spring-supported piston in a vibrated liquid-filled cylinder. The piston motion is damped by forcing liquid through a narrow gap between a hole through the piston and a post fixed to the housing. As the piston moves, the length of this gap changes, so the piston damping coefficient depends on the piston position. This produces a nonlinear damper, even for highly viscous flow.
When gas is absent, the vibration response is overdamped. However, adding a little gas changes the response of this spring-mass-damper system to vibration. During vibration, Bjerknes forces cause some of the gas to migrate below the piston. The resulting pneumatic spring enables the liquid to move with the piston so as to force very little liquid through the gap. Thus, this “Couette mode” has low damping and a strong resonance near the frequency given by the pneumatic spring constant and the total mass of the piston and the liquid. Near this frequency, the amplitude of the piston motion is large, so the nonlinear damper produces a large net force on the piston.
To analyze the effect of this nonlinear damper in detail, a surrogate system is developed by modifying the original system in two ways. First, the gas regions are replaced by upper and lower bellows with similar compressibility to give a well-defined “pneumatic” spring. Second, the upper stop against which the piston is pushed by its lower supporting spring is replaced with an upper spring, thereby removing the nonlinearity from the stop.
An ordinary-differential-equation (ODE) drift model based on quasi-steady Stokes flow is used to produce a regime map of the vibration amplitudes and frequencies for which the piston is up or down for conditions of experimental interest. These results agree fairly well with Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) simulations of the incompressible Navier-Stokes (NS) equations for the liquid and Newton’s 2nd Law for the piston and bellows.
A quantitative understanding of this nonlinear behavior may enable the development of novel tunable dampers for sensing vibrations of specified amplitudes and frequencies.
Using Direct Numerical Simulations for Investigating Physics of Turbulence in Porous Media
Authors: Jin Y. , Kuznetsov A. V. 
Published: October 2017

One of the most controversial topics in the field of convection in porous media is the issue of macroscopic turbulence. It remains unclear whether it can occur in porous media. It is difficult to carry out velocity measurements within porous media, as they are typically optically opaque. At the same time, it is now possible to conduct a definitive direct numerical simulation (DNS) study of this phenomenon. We examine the processes that take place in porous media at large Reynolds numbers, attempting to accurately describe them and analyze whether they can be labeled as true turbulence. In contrast to existing work on turbulence in porous media, which relies on certain turbulence models, DNS allows one to understand the phenomenon in all its complexity by directly resolving all the scales of motion.
Our results suggest that the size of the pores determines the maximum size of the turbulent eddies. If the size of turbulent eddies cannot exceed the size of the pores, then turbulent phenomena in porous media differ from turbulence in clear fluids. Indeed, this size limitation must have an impact on the energy cascade, for in clear fluids the turbulent kinetic energy is predominantly contained within large eddies.
Fuel Production From Plastic Wastes Pyrolysis
Authors: Berrich-Betouche Emna , Dhahak Asma , Touati Abdelaziz , Aloui Fethi 
Published: October 2017

Energetic valorization of thermoplastic wastes (High-density polyethylene (PE) and Polypropylene (PP)) to produce fuel using pyrolysis process is presented in this paper. HDPE and PP pyrolysis experiments were carried out in a lab-scale batch reactor under an inert atmosphere. Nitrogen gas was used as carrier before and during the experiments. The temperature was varied from 293 K to approximately 773 K. The viscosities of HDPE, PP and the mixture 50% HDPE & 50 % PP pyrolysis liquids are respectively equal to 1.08 cP, 0.67 cP and 0.8 cP. Its densities are respectively equals to 0.735, 0.751 and 0.759 (at 20 °C–30 °C). The high calorific value (the heating Value) is respectively equals to 45.235 ± 0.641 MJ/kg, 46.151 ± 1.33 MJ/kg and 45.393 ± 0.87 MJ/kg. The liquids obtained have approximately the same Kerosene (Coal Oil) high calorific value (46 MJ/kg). The flash points are respectively equal to 32 °C, 31 °C and lesser than 25 °C for the mixture. They are lesser than coal oil and Diesel values which are equal to 38 °C for Kerosene and between 38 °C and 58 °C for Diesel.
The mixture of two polymers decreases the viscosity values comparing to coal oil (1.7 cP) and Diesel (3.35 cP).