bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Phase Behavior and Adsorption of Pure Substances and Mixtures and Characterization in Nanopore Structures by Density Functional Theory
Authors: Li Zhidong , Jin Zhehui , Firoozabadi Abbas 
Published: June 2014

Summary
Phase behavior in shale remains a mystery because of various complexities and effects. One complexity is from nanopores, in which phase behavior is significantly affected by the interaction between the pore surfaces and fluid molecules. The result is the heterogeneous distribution of molecules that cannot be described by bulk-phase thermodynamic approaches. Statistical thermodynamic methods can describe the phase behavior in nanopores. In this work, we apply an engineering density functional theory (DFT) combined with the Peng-Robinson equation of state (EOS) to investigate the adsorption and phase behavior of pure substances and mixtures in nanopores, and include the characterization of pore structure of porous media. The nanopores are represented by carbon-slit pores each consisting of two parallel planar-infinite structureless graphite surfaces. The porous media are activated carbons and dry coal, each modeled by an array of polydisperse carbon-slit pores. We study the influence of multiple factors on phase transitions of various pure light species and their mixtures in nanopores. We find that capillary condensation and hysteresis are more likely in heavier hydrocarbons, at lower temperatures, and in smaller pores. For pure hydrocarbons in nanopores, the phase change always occurs below the critical temperature and saturation pressure. For mixtures in nanopores, there may be a phase change above the cricondentherm. We characterize the pore structure of porous media to obtain the pore-size distribution (PSD), surface area (SA), and pore volume (PV) on the basis of the measured adsorption isotherms of pure substances. Then, we use the computed PSD to predict the adsorption of mixtures in porous media. There is agreement between the experiments and our predictions. This work is in the direction of phase-behavior modeling and understanding in shale media.
Elevated Levels of hs-CRP Are Associated With High Prevalence of Depression in Japanese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: The Diabetes Distress and Care Registry at Tenri (DDCRT 6)
Authors: Hayashino Yasuaki , Mashitani Tsuyoshi , Tsujii Satoru , Ishii Hitoshi ,   for the Diabetes Distress and Care Registry at Tenri Study Group
Published: June 2014

OBJECTIVE
Because of the absence of data on the direct association between inflammation and depression in patients with diabetes, we examined the association between hs-CRP levels and the high prevalence of depression in adult patients with type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
Cross-sectional data were obtained from 3,573 patients with type 2 diabetes recruited from a Japanese diabetes registry. A multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders was used to assess independent associations between hs-CRP levels and major depression, as defined by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9.

RESULTS
Mean age, BMI, and HbA1c levels were 66.0 years, 24.6 kg/m2, and 7.4% (57.8 mmol/mol), respectively, and 122 patients (3.4%) suffered from major depression. In the age- and sex-adjusted model, the odds ratio (OR) for major depression was 1.86 (95% CI 1.01–3.42; P = 0.045) in the highest CRP quintile compared with that in the 3rd CRP quintile; however, this association disappeared after adjustment for other possible confounders (OR 1.58 [95% CI 0.85–2.94]; P = 0.148). Among patients with a BMI of ≥25 kg/m2, a significant association was observed between the highest hs-CRP quintile and major depression (multivariable-adjusted OR 2.69 [95% CI 1.09–7.08]; P = 0.032).

CONCLUSIONS
We observed a significant positive association between high hs-CRP levels and depression in patients with diabetes who had a high BMI.
Effect of Exenatide, Sitagliptin, or Glimepiride on β-Cell Secretory Capacity in Early Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Gudipaty Lalitha , Rosenfeld Nora K. , Fuller Carissa S. , Gallop Robert , Schutta Mark H. , Rickels Michael R. 
Published: June 2014

OBJECTIVE
Agents that augment GLP-1 effects enhance glucose-dependent β-cell insulin production and secretion and thus are hoped to prevent progressive impairment in insulin secretion characteristic of type 2 diabetes (T2D). The purpose of this study was to evaluate GLP-1 effects on β-cell secretory capacity, an in vivo measure of functional β-cell mass, early in the course of T2D.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
We conducted a randomized controlled trial in 40 subjects with early T2D who received the GLP-1 analog exenatide (n = 14), the dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor sitagliptin (n = 12), or the sulfonylurea glimepiride (n = 14) as an active comparator insulin secretagogue for 6 months. Acute insulin responses to arginine (AIRarg) were measured at baseline and after 6 months of treatment with 5 days of drug washout under fasting, 230 mg/dL (glucose potentiation of arginine-induced insulin release [AIRpot]), and 340 mg/dL (maximum arginine-induced insulin release [AIRmax]) hyperglycemic clamp conditions, in which AIRmax provides the β-cell secretory capacity.

RESULTS
The change in AIRpot was significantly greater with glimepiride versus exenatide treatment (P &lt; 0.05), and a similar trend was notable for the change in AIRmax (P = 0.1). Within each group, the primary outcome measure, AIRmax, was unchanged after 6 months of treatment with exenatide or sitagliptin compared with baseline but was increased with glimepiride (P &lt; 0.05). α-Cell glucagon secretion (AGRmin) was also increased with glimepiride treatment (P &lt; 0.05), and the change in AGRmin trended higher with glimepiride than with exenatide (P = 0.06).

CONCLUSIONS
After 6 months of treatment, exenatide or sitagliptin had no significant effect on functional β-cell mass as measured by β-cell secretory capacity, whereas glimepiride appeared to enhance β- and α-cell secretion.
Food-Insecure Dietary Patterns Are Associated With Poor Longitudinal Glycemic Control in Diabetes: Results From the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study
Authors: Berkowitz Seth A. , Gao Xiang , Tucker Katherine L. 
Published: June 2014

OBJECTIVE
To determine whether dietary patterns associated with food insecurity are associated with poor longitudinal glycemic control.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS
In a prospective, population-based, longitudinal cohort study, we ascertained food security (Food Security Survey Module), dietary pattern (Healthy Eating Index–2005 [HEI 2005]), and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in Puerto Rican adults aged 45–75 years with diabetes at baseline (2004–2009) and HbA1c at ∼2 years follow-up (2006–2012). We determined associations between food insecurity and dietary pattern and assessed whether those dietary patterns were associated with poorer HbA1c concentration over time, using multivariable-adjusted repeated subjects mixed-effects models.

RESULTS
There were 584 participants with diabetes at baseline and 516 at follow-up. Food-insecure participants reported lower overall dietary quality and lower intake of fruit and vegetables. A food insecurity*HEI 2005 interaction (P &lt; 0.001) suggested that better diet quality was more strongly associated with lower HbA1c in food-insecure than food-secure participants. In adjusted models, lower follow-up HbA1c was associated with greater HEI 2005 score (β = −0.01 HbA1c % per HEI 2005 point, per year, P = 0.003) and with subscores of total vegetables (β = −0.09, P = 0.04) and dark green and orange vegetables and legumes (β = −0.06, P = 0.048). Compared with the minimum total vegetable score, a participant with the maximum score showed relative improvements of HbA1c of 0.5% per year.

CONCLUSIONS
Food insecurity was associated with lower overall dietary quality and lower consumption of plant-based foods, which was associated with poor longitudinal glycemic control.
Ethical Considerations in Publishing Medical Articles in Iranian Journals
Authors: Koushan Mohsen , Pejhan Akbar , Shomoossi Nematullah , Shomoossi Azam 
Published: June 2014

Summary
Publication ethics has always been a major concern of chief editors and members of editorial boards of journals. Therefore, the current study intends to investigate ethical issues in sticking to publication ethics in major medical journals in Iran.
This descriptive analytical study was conducted on Iranian medical journals approved as “scientific research journals” published from 2011 to 2012; the sample included 109 articles from 102 journals published in Persian. For data gathering, a checklist was developed, and completed through careful scrutiny of the articles and contact with authors. Ethical misconducts were recorded and summarized to compute the misconduct cases.
Ethical misconducts included lack of the ethics committee approval (81.7%), unstated informed consent (45%), authors with insufficient contribution (46.8%), dispute on the order of authors (84.4%), honor authors (8.3%), ghost authors (6.4%), salami publishing (10.1%), concurrent submission (4.6%), missing acknowledgements (49.5%) and not mentioning the financial support providers (56.9%).
The results indicated that some ethical considerations are ignored in publishing medical articles. Therefore, both journals and authors need to take action to avoid misconducts.
Subconjunctival Infection due to Dirofilaria Repens ‐Case Report
Authors: Božinović Marija Trenkić , Tomašević Branislav , Gabrielli Simona , Otašević Suzana , Petrović Aleksandar , Cancrini Gabriella , Tasić Aleksandar , Trenkić Milan 
Published: June 2014

Summary
The aim of the survey was to present the clinical course and surgical treatment of the first case of human ocular dirofilariosis on the territory of the city of Niš, in the southeast Serbia.
Male patient, 57 years old, visited an ophthalmologist because of extreme swelling and redness of the eyelids of the right eye, scratches and pain in his right eye. On standard examination on biomicroscope, temporally 3 mm from the limbus, intrapalpebrally, a mobile parasite was observed in the subconjunctival space. Complete extraction of the living parasites, 13 cm long, was performed. A sample of the nematode based on morphological and morphometric characteristics was identified as Dirofilaria repens-like. The diagnosis was confirmed with molecular methods.
For ocular dirofilariosis, surgical methods and complete extraction of the parasite are the only ways to achieve complete recovery.
Variability in Soil Properties as Influenced by Different Land Use Types in an Ultisols of the Tropical Region, Delta State, Nigeria
Authors: Egbuchua Collins Nnamdi 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
The study was conducted in the 2010 - 2012 cropping seasons in a typical ultisols of the tropics. The aim was to assess variability in soil properties as influenced by three land use types namely: oil palm plantation, maize and yam cultivated lands. The study consisted of both field and laboratory studies. The field study was made up of a land use that was carefully surveyed, mapped into 20 × 30 m2 and plotted into 5 homogenous units of 0.25 ha. Soil samples were randomly augered by grid survey at 5 m equidistant points and surface 0-15 cm samples collected using screw auger for laboratory analysis of the particle size distribution and some chemical characteristics of the soils in the different land use types. Variation in properties within land use types was measured by estimating the coefficient of variance. The results of the study showed that particle size distribution varied from sand in the oil palm land use type to sandy loam in the maize and yam land use types. The variant ratio tests were 84.4%, for sand, 0.51% for silt and 27.4% for clay, and were less variable. The soil pH ranged from strongly acid (5.25) to moderate acid (5.65) and less variable (CV% = <15%). The variant ratio test was statistically not significant (10.7%). The organic carbon (35.7%), total nitrogen (34.5%) and available phosphorus (27.2%) variant ratio tests were non-significant and less variable. The exchangeable bases, exchange acidity and ECEC were also non significant and less variable. The results indicated clearly that variability could occur within soil units and therefore called for caution in assessing uniformity of soil properties within soil areas under cultivation
Productivity of Palm Oil Extraction Technology in Cameroon
Authors: El Khatib Bassel , Sisak Ludek 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Agriculture and forestry remain the leading sectors in Cameroon, accounting for some 36% of the merchandise exports and for more than 40% of GDP in 1998/99. Agriculture alone accounts for more than 30% of GDP and provides employment for about 68% of the active population.
The Cameroon government and industry stakeholders have continuingly expressed concern about the impact of rising food import on the local industries and the rural communities especially as vegetable oils, particularly the palm oil, has a vital role to play not only as nutritional source for the Cameroon population, but for their contribution to rural incomes and employment opportunities. Particularly, Cameroon government is expecting a significant progress in implementation of new oil extraction technology where mainly in the palm oil processing technology the value added chain in this commodity is expected.
Cameroon’s oil palm industry still plays a significant role in the national economy, providing oil for house hold consumption, industrial use as well as employment for thousands of Cameroonians who are engaged in production, processing and marketing. This project aims at bringing clarity on to what extent the up to date oil extraction processing technology installed in a concrete rural district, and under a clear management and regulatory structure and environment, outperforms in terms of productivity (tons of palm oil produced), quality (price of the crude palm oil) and income generation, the existing traditional manual processing palm oil producing system.
The methodology applied within this study consists of comparing key indicators across populations of small scale palm oil processors in interaction with traditional non sophisticated technology with different work environment, production capacity, socio-economic status and income levels (cross-sectional statistical analysis)
Porter’s Competitive Advantage Model and its Application in Bottled Drinking Water in Iran
Authors: Bakhshinejad Mahmood 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
Since the classical economics, the model of competitive advantage at different levels (national, industry, firm) has been considered attentively by experts in economics and management. In recent years, one pivotal issue in the field of management has been the identification of competitive advantage sources and the breakthrough strategies for its preservation and development. The main purpose of this article is to explain one of the popular theories concerning the competitive advantage model, that is Porter’s model, to show whether it is applicable in a country like Iran, which possesses a highly dominant government-based economy, or not. Besides, if it requires any modification in its pattern, what form of modification should it comprise? In terms of methodology, thus, this may be deemed an applied developmental research. Primary data targeted was obtained by means of a quantitative survey using a questionnaire technique of data collection. The questionnaire survey took place in the period from 10/2010 to 6/2011 and a total of 109 firms (undertaking their activities in the territory of the Iran) were involved. The results of the study show that Porter’s model in both the upstream and the downstream forms must become developed and rectified. Ultimately, the most advantageous shape of the model for detecting the sources of competitive advantage in bottled drinking water industry is offered
The Determination of Main Obstacles for the Developing of Highquality Documentation during EIA Process on Natura 2000 Sites
Authors: Michalcová Zuzana , Baus Peter 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
The issues of protection and management of biodiversity has become one of main environmental policy tasks in Europe and elsewhere. As an application of precautionary principles the EU member states are required to assess projects and plans which alone or in combination with other plans or projects are likely to have significant negative effects on Natura 2000 sites. Several EU provisions set out the obligations for such assessment (the Birds and Habitat Directives, EIA and SEA Directives). One of the key steps in the assessment process is to carry out the EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) the final outcome of the assessment. If there is possibility of significant negative effects on Natura 2000 sites, the result of the process also has to be a part of EIS. The main goal of this study was to find out, what are the practitioners´ opinions and attitudes on the quality of EIS in Slovakia, especially in the case when the assessment process is related to Natura 2000 sites. Because it often involves practitioners from a very wide range of disciplinary and professional backgrounds, the contribution tries to show to what extent does the professional background or practitioners working positions influence their perception of EIS quality.
Separation and Concentration of Succinic Adic from Multicomponent Aqueous Solutions by Nanofiltration Technique
Authors: Antczak Jerzy , Regiec Justyna , Prochaska Krystyna 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
This paper applies the determined suitability of nanofiltration (NF) membrane separation for selective isolation and concentration of succinic acid from aqueous solutions which are post-fermentation multicomponent fluids. The study analyzed the influence of concentration and the pH of the separated solutions on the efficiency and selectivity of NF process that runs in a module equipped with a ceramic membrane. Moreover, the effect of applied trans-membrane pressure on the retention of succinic acid and sodium succinate has been studied. The investigations have shown that in the used NF module the retention of succinic acid salt is equal almost 50% in the case of a three-component model solution, although the degree of retention depends on both the transmembrane pressure and the initial concentration of separated salt.
Comparison of Hydrolytic Resistance of Polyurethanes and Poly(Urethanemethacrylate) Copolymers in Terms of their Use as Polymer Coatings in Contact with the Physiological Liquid
Authors: Król Piotr , Chmielarz Paweł , Król Bożena , Pielichowska Kinga 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
PU elastomers were synthesized using MDI, PTMO, butane-1,4-diol or 2,2,3,3-tetrafiuorobutane-1,4-diol. Using the same diisocyanate and polyether reagents urethane segments were prepared, to be inserted in the poly(urethane-methacrylate) copolymers. Bromourethane or tetraphenylethane-urethane macroinitiators were used as transitional products reacting with MMA according to the ARGET ATRP. 1H and 13C NMR spectral methods, as well as DSC and TGA thermal methods, were employed to confirm chemical structures of synthesised elastomers and copolymers. To investigate the possibility of using synthesized polymers as biomaterials a research on keeping them in physiological liquid at 37°C was performed. A loss in weight and ability to sorption of water was determined and by using GPC the molecular weight changes were compared. Additionally, changes in the thermal properties of the samples after exposure in physiological liquid were documented using both the TGA and DSC methods. The studies of surface properties (confocal microscopy and SFE) of the obtained polymers were performed. The structure of the polymer chains was defined by NMR. Possible reasons of hydrolysis were discussed, stating that new copolymers are more resistant and polar biomaterials can be less interesting than elastomers.
Removal of Organic Dyes from Aqueous Solutions with Surfactant-Modified Magnetic Nanoparticles
Authors: Wybieralska Katarzyna , Wajda Anna 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
The paper presents the results of studies on the possibility of using magnetic nanoparticles modified with selected hydrophobic surfactants for model post-production water purification. Colloidal solutions of iron hydroxide (III) and iron oxide (II and III) were obtained and their particles were subjected to surface modification using surfactants. Thus obtained magnetic fluids were used as active agents in the process of removing selected organic dyes from their aqueous solutions. The effectiveness of the modified compounds was analysed using spectrophotometric methods. It has been shown that the effectiveness of the process depends on the type of surfactant used to modify selected magnetic nanoparticles.
Quantification of the Radiative and Convective Heat Transfer Processes and their Effect on mSOFC by CFD Modelling
Authors: Pianko-Oprych Paulina , Kasilova Ekaterina , Jaworski Zdzisław 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
The CFD modelling of heat transfer in a microtubular Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (mSOFC) stack has been presented. Stack performance predictions were based on a 16 anode-supported microtubular SOFCs sub-stack, which is a component of the overall stack containing 64 fuel cells. Both radiative and convective heat transfer were taken into account in the modelling. The heat flux value corresponded to the cell voltage of 0.7 [V]. Two different cases of the inlet air velocity of 2.0 and 8.5 [ms–1] were considered. It was found that radiation accounted for about 20–30 [%] of the total heat flux from the active tube surface, which means that the convective heat transfer predominated over the radiative one.
Nanocolloidal Ru/MgF2 Catalyst for Hydrogenation of Chloronitrobenzene and Toluene
Authors: Pietrowski Mariusz , Zieliński Michał , Wojciechowska Maria 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
The use of magnesium fluoride support for ruthenium active phase allowed obtaining new catalysts of high activities in the hydrogenation of toluene and ortho-chloronitrobenzene. Ruthenium colloid catalysts (1 wt.% of Ru) were prepared by impregnation of the support with the earlier produced polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-stabilized ruthenium colloids. The performances of the colloidal catalysts and those obtained by traditional impregnation were tested in the reactions of toluene hydrogenation to methylcyclohexane and selective hydrogenation of ortho-chloronitrobenzene (o-CNB) to ortho-chloroaniline (o-CAN). It was shown that the use of chemical reduction method allows obtaining highly monodisperse ruthenium nanoparticles of 1.6–2.6 nm in size. After reduction in hydrogen at 400oC, the colloidal ruthenium nanoparticles were found to strongly interact with MgF2 surface (SMSI), which decreased the catalyst ability to hydrogen chemisorption, but despite this, the colloid catalysts showed higher activity in o-CNB hydrogenation and higher selectivity to o-CAN than the traditional ones. It is supposed that their higher activity can be a result of high dispersion of Ru in colloid catalysts and the higher selectivity can be a consequence of the lower availability of hydrogen on the surface.
Carbon Shale Combustion in the Fluidized Bed Reactor
Authors: Olek Małgorzata , Kandefer Stanisław , Kaniowski Wiesław , Żukowski Witold , Baron Jerzy 
Published: June 2014

Abstract
The purpose of this article is to present the possibilities of coal shale combustion in furnaces with bubbling fluidized bed. Coal shale can be autothermally combusted in the fluidized bed, despite the low calorie value and high ash content of fuel. Established concentrations of CO (500 ppm) and VOC (30 mg/m3) have indicated a high conversion degree of combustible material during combustion process. Average concentrations of SO2 and NOx in the flue gas were higher than this received from the combustion of high quality hard coal, 600 ppm and 500 ppm, respectively. Optional reduction of SO2 and NOx emission may require the installation of flue gas desulphurization and de-NOx systems.