• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• 제61권1호
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• pp.97-108
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• 2023

Two carbonaceous adsorbents CAT and CARBOPAL were tested for reducing the concentration of the three herbicides in water: 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid), TCP (2,4,6-trichlorophenol) and metolachlor. Textural and chemical characterization of the adsorbents include nitrogen isotherms, FTIR, titration and thermogravimetric analyses. Adsorption was studied in discontinuous adsorption experiments at different pH values. The experimental adsorption isotherms data were fitted to four theoretical models. Adsorbent characterization reveals that CAT has higher micropore area, lower pore diameter and lower acidity than CARBOPAL. The adsorption is a second-order process and the isotherms best fitted to Sips model. The efficiency of the process depends mainly on the charge of the adsorbate for TCP and 2,4-D, but it depends on the charge of the surface for metolachlor. Adsorption capacity is higher on CAT for 2,4-D and TCP (small molecules), and it is higher on CARBOPAL for metolachlor (large molecules). Theoretical calculations clearly support this assumption.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제57권1호
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• pp.25-35
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• 2024

Background: Prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) and fresh frozen plasma (FFP) are commonly used to manage bleeding in patients during cardiac surgery. However, the relative efficacy and safety of these 2 strategies remain uncertain. Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane were searched for studies comparing PCC and FFP in patients who underwent cardiac surgery complicated by bleeding. Review Manager (RevMan) ver. 5.4 (Nordic Cochrane Centre, The Cochrane Collaboration) was used for statistical analysis. Binary and continuous outcomes were compared using pooled risk ratios and mean differences, respectively. The meta-analysis protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews under protocol number CRD42022379144. Results: We included 8 studies with 1,500 patients, of whom 613 (40.9%) received PCC. The mean follow-up period ranged from 28 to 90 days. The PCC group had significantly lower chest tube drainage at 24 hours (mean difference [MD], -148.50 mL; 95% CI, -253.02 to -43.99 mL; p=0.005; I² =42%). Fewer units of red blood cells (RBCs) were transfused within the first 24 hours (MD, -1.02 units; 95% CI, -1.81 to -0.24 units; p=0.01; I² =56%), and fewer patients required RBC transfusion within the first 24 hours (risk ratio, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.78-0.93; p<0.007; I² =45%) in the PCC group. There were no statistically significant differences in secondary outcomes. Nonetheless, a subgroup analysis of randomized controlled trials failed to corroborate the results obtained from the main analysis. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that PCC can be effective, without increased adverse events, when compared with FFP in patients undergoing cardiac surgery complicated by bleeding.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• 제54권3호
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• pp.811-816
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• 2022

This work presents the methodology used to expand the capabilities of the Monte Carlo code OpenMC for the calculation of reactor kinetic parameters: effective delayed neutron fraction β_eff and neutron generation time L. The modified code, OpenMC(Time-Dependent) or OpenMC(TD), was then used to calculate the effective delayed neutron fraction by using the prompt method, while the neutron generation time was estimated using the pulsed method, fitting Λ to the decay of the neutron population. OpenMC(TD) is intended to serve as an alternative for the estimation of kinetic parameters when licensed codes are not available. The results obtained are compared to experimental data and MCNP calculated values for 18 benchmark configurations.

• Macromolecular Research
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• 제16권5호
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• pp.446-456
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• 2008

A recent theoretical approach based on the coupling of both the Flory-Huggins (FH) and the Association Equilibria thermodynamic (AET) theories was modified and adapted to study the miscibility properties of a multi-component system formed by two polymers (a proton-donor and a proton-acceptor) and a proton-acceptor solvent, named copolymer(A)/solvent(B)/polymer(C). Compatibility between polymers was mainly attained by hydrogen-bonding between the hydroxyl group on the phenol unit of the poly(styrene-co-vinyl phenol) (PSVPh) and the carbonyl group of the biodegradable and environmentally friendly poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB). However, the self-association of PSVPh and specific interactions between the PSVPh and the H-acceptor group (an ether oxygen atom) of the epichlorohydrin (ECH) solvent were also established in a lower extension, which competed with the polymer-polymer association. All the binary specific interactions and their dependence with the system composition as well as with the copolymer content were evaluated and quantified by means of two excess functions of the Gibbs tree energy, ${\Delta}g_{AB}$ and ${\Delta}g_{AC}$. Experimental results from fluorescence spectroscopy were consistent with the theoretical simulations derived with the model, which could also be applied and extended to predict the miscibility in solution of any polymer blend with specific interactions.

• Advances in nano research
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• 제5권3호
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• pp.245-251
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• 2017

Multiwalled carbon-nanotubes (MWCNT) and micro-structured carbon, such as biochar or activated carbon (AC), have been seen to significantly increase the growth indices of certain plant species such as maize (Zea mays L.). Seed imbibition is the stage where environmental factors that affect water transport across the seed coat barrier, make a large impact. This work explores the effect on water imbibition by maize seeds when the aqueous environment surrounding the seed is diluted by small concentrations (10 and 20 mg/l) of pristine MWCNT (p-MWCNT), carboxylate functionalized MWCNT (COO-MWCNT) and AC. The degree of sensitivity of the process to (i) large structural changes is seen by utilizing the nano (the MWCNT) and the micro (the AC) allotropic forms of carbon; (ii) to small changes in the purity and morphology of the p-MWCNT by utilizing 95% pure and 99% pure p-MWCNTs of slightly differing morphologies; and (iii) to MWCNT functionalization by using highly pure (97%) COO-MWCNT. Water imbibition was monitored over a 15 hour period by Near Infrared Thermography (NIRT) and also by seed weighing. Seed surface topography was seen by SEM imaging. Analysis of the NIRT images suggests rapid seed surface topological changes with the quantity of water imbibed. While further work is necessary to arrive at a conclusive answer, this work shows that the imbibition phase of the maize seed is sensitive to the presence of MWCNT even to small differences in the purity of the p-MWCNT and to small differences in the physicochemical properties of the medium caused by the hydrophilic COO-MWCNT.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권7호
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• pp.3167-3171
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• 2016

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common diseases in men. It is important to assess prognostic factors and whether high cortisol levels and complex hormonal interactions could be responsible for PCa development. We evaluated the relationship between cortisol, leptin and estrogens in 141 men, 71 with PCa and the remaining 70 constituting a low risk group (LRG). They were recruited for this study from a total of 2906 middle-aged men (ages 45-70 years) who completed an evaluation for prostatic diseases at the Urology Division, Hospital de Clínicas "$Jos{\acute{e}}$ de San $Mart{\acute{i}}n$", University of Buenos Aires, in May 2009. In this cross sectional study, cortisol, PSA, total-testosterone, free-testosterone, bioavailable testosterone, LH and estradiol were measured in serum. We observed increased cortisol levels in PCa patients as compared to LRG cases (p=0.004,). Leptin and estradiol levels were also higher in PCa patients (p=0.048; p<0.0001, respectively). Logistic regression analysis indicated that serum cortisol (OR: 1.110 (95% CI 1.016-1.213), p=0.022), estradiol (OR: 1.044 (95% CI 1.008-1.081), p=0.016) and leptin (OR: 1.248 (95% CI 1.048-1.487), p=0.013) explained 27% of the variance of dependent variables, even after adjusting for age, smoking, BMI and waist circumference. We found increased cortisol levels in PCa patients as compared to LRG, as well as an altered circulating hormonal profile.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제25권3호
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• pp.218-227
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• 2022

Purpose: To analyze the characteristics of pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) over the past three decades in Argentina and determine if there are differences between the first two decades and the past decade. Methods: We conducted a retrospective multicenter analytical study in children with IBD between 0 and 18 years of age diagnosed between 1987 and 2017 in three tertiary health centers in Argentina. The evaluation included clinical characterization, endoscopy, histology, and imaging data together with therapeutic strategies. The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1, diagnosed between 1987 and 2007, and Group 2, diagnosed between 2008 and 2017. Results: Of the 756 patients included, 409 (54%) had ulcerative colitis (UC), 250 (33%) had Crohn's disease (CD), and 97 (13%) had IBD-unclassified (IBD-U). The positive family history was 3.8%, which was more frequent among children under two years of age (6.7%). There were no significant differences in clinical presentation and extraintestinal manifestations between periods, with hepatic manifestations being the most frequent. In the last decade, we found an upward trend in CD, a downward trend in UC/IBD-U, even after adjustment for socioeconomic status, and a decrease of 50% in surgical treatments coinciding with the advent of biological therapy. Conclusion: This is the first multicenter cohort study in a Latin American country to describe clinical, endoscopic, and therapeutic data across the past 30-year period. Although CD was responsible for the overall increase in incidence, UC was still prevalent in this region.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제37권4_spc호
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• pp.755-774
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• 2024

The main objective of this study was to present data on the current situation and future trends of pig meat production in the European Union-27 (EU). Pig production has played an important social and economic role for centuries in many states of the EU. In 2022, pig meat production in the EU reached 23 M tons, which represented 21% of total production worldwide. The two key reasons that justify such amount of pork produced, are the acceptance and high consumption of the meat by the local population and the high quality of the meat produced which facilitated pork export. However, current data show a reduction in pork production for the last three years, as a consequence of a series of events that include i) problems with the chain of ingredients supply, ii) uncontrolled increase in African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreaks, iii) fast recovery of pig production in China, iv) increasing concerns by the rural population on the high cost to meet future requirements of the EU legislation on farm management, environmental sustainability and animal welfare, v) increased cost of all inputs involved in pig production and vi) limited interest of the new farmer generation to work on the pig sector. Consequently, pork production is expected to decrease in the EU for the next years, although sales will be maintained at a relative high level because pork is the meat preferred by local consumers in most EU countries. In order to maintain the favourable position of the pork industry in the near future, strategies to implement include: i) maintain the quality of the meat destinated to export markets, ii) improve the control of outbreaks of ASF and other swine diseases, iii) implementation of technological innovations to improve working conditions making more attractive to work in the pork sector of the food chain to the new generation of farmers and workers.

• Macromolecular Research
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.173-177
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• 2007

Living anionic and cationic polymerizations have been combined to prepare various types of comb-like copolymers composed of polystyrene (PS) and polyisoprene (PI) blocks, with a precisely controlled architecture. According to the relative placement of these elementary building blocks, combs with randomly distributed PS and PI or with poly(styrene-b-isoprene) diblock branches (I & II, respectively) can be prepared. The reaction procedure initially includes the synthesis of a poly(chloroethylvinyl ether) using living cationic polymerization, which is used as the reactive backbone to successively graft $PS^-Li^+$ and $PI^-Li^+$ or $PI-b-PS^-Li^+$ to obtain structures (I) or (II). The synthesis of Janus-type PS-comb-b-PI-combs (III) initially involves the synthesis of a diblock backbone using living cationic polymerization, which bears two distinct reactive functions having either a protected or activated form. Living $PS^-Li^+$ and $PI^-Li^+$ are then grafted, in two separate steps, onto each of the reactive functions of the backbone, respectively.

• Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.141-146
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• 2007

The roots of Aristolochia elegans Mast.(Aristolochiaceae) are widely used in Mexican traditional medicine as a remedy for scorpion venom. Current experimental evidence supports its purported antidote properties. However, collection from the wilderness has lead to local extinction of natural populations. In order to contribute to species preservation, cultivation, and standardization of morphological and pharmacological properties, a micropropagation method was developed. This includes in-vitro germination of seeds to produce aseptic plantlets, induction of multiple budding, and acclimatization. The treatment with benzylamino purine(10 ${\mu}M$) induced the highest number of buds(3.1 on average) in both types of explants. On the other hand, indolebutyric acid(1.5 ${\mu}M$) caused the highest root index(11.8) per explant. One hundred percent of the micropropagated plantlets developed vigorously after the acclimatization process.