The concept of sustainable development has gained worldwide attention in recent years which had enhanced its implementation. However, few studies have attempted to map the global research of ...sustainability. This study utilizes scientometric review of global trend and structure of sustainability research in 1991–2016 using techniques such as co-author, co-word, co-citation, clusters, and geospatial analyses. A total of 2094 bibliographic records from the Web of Science database were analyzed to generate the study's research power networks and geospatial map. The findings reveal an evolution of the research field from the definition of its concepts in the Brundtland Commission report to the recent development of models and sustainability indicators. The most significant contributions in sustainability research have originated primarily from the United States, China, United Kingdom and Canada. Also, existing studies in sustainability research focus mainly on subject categories of environmental sciences, green & sustainable science technology, civil engineering, and construction & building technology. Emerging trends in sustainability research were sustainable urban development, sustainability indicators, water management, environmental assessment, public policy, etc.; while the study generated 21 co-citation clusters. This study provides its readers with an extensive understanding of the salient research themes, trends and pattern of sustainability research worldwide.
•Sustainability research is evolving and expanding to several frontiers.•This research reviewed 2096 bibliographic records from the Web of Science database.•Salient and emerging sustainability research trends and clusters were identified.•The findings are applicable to key stakeholders such as the government and organizations, researchers, among others.
The serendipitous discovery of the anticancer drug cisplatin cemented medicinal inorganic chemistry as an independent discipline in the 1960s. Luminescent metal complexes have subsequently been ...widely applied for sensing, bio‐imaging, and in organic light‐emitting diode applications. Transition‐metal complexes possess a variety of advantages that make them suitable as therapeutics and as luminescent probes for biomolecules. It is thus highly desirable to develop new luminescent metal complexes that either interact with DNA through different binding modes or target alternative cellular machinery such as proteins as well as to provide a more effective means of monitoring disease progression. In this Review, we highlight recent examples of biologically active luminescent metal complexes that can target and probe a specific biomolecule, and offer insights into the future potential of these compounds for the investigation and treatment of human diseases.
Metal‐based theranostics: This Review highlights recent examples of biologically active luminescent metal complexes that can target and probe a specific biomolecule, and offers insight into the future potential of luminescent metal‐based therapeutics for the investigation and treatment of human diseases.
Given the frequent use of DMSO in biochemical and biophysical assays, it is desirable to understand the influence of DMSO concentration on the dissociation or unfolding behavior of proteins. In this ...study, the effects of DMSO on the structure and interactions of avidin and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) CYP142A1 were assessed through collision-induced dissociation (CID) and collision-induced unfolding (CIU) as monitored by nanoelectrospray ionization–ion mobility–mass spectrometry (nESI-IM-MS). DMSO concentrations higher than 4% (v/v) destabilize the avidin tetramer toward dissociation and unfolding, via both its effects on charge state distribution (CSD) as well as at the level of individual charge states. In contrast, DMSO both protects against heme loss and increases the stability of CYP142A1 toward unfolding even up to 40% DMSO. Tandem MS/MS experiments showed that DMSO could modify the dissociation pathway of CYP142A1, while CIU revealed the protective effect of the heme group on the structure of CYP142A1.
The study aims to develop an effective BIM-project information management framework (BIM-PIMF) and associated assessment model for construction projects with a view to enhancing the functional ...management of project information. An explanatory case study technique and case study evidence from four BIM construction projects form the study’s research design. The study identified and established the three sub-criteria of the BIM-PIMF model which are the BIM process level factors, BIM product level factors, and the key indicators for a successful BIM deployment on construction project sites. These criterias were semantically linked to the development of the BIM-PIMF framework on a five-point metric scale. The deliverables of this study include the development of the BIM-PIMF framework, together with its analytical scoring system. The findings of the study will improve the information channels of and ease the integration of technological innovations in construction processes while improving the technical competencies of project staff. The study highlighted a basket of effective recommendations and strategies to enhance the deployment of BIM throughout a project lifecycle. Policymakers and government departments can utilize the model in assessing the level of usage of BIM in a construction project as one of the useful measures in gauging which construction firms to be provided subsidies.
•Identifying the practical benefits of BIM & sustainability practices implementation is critical to their adoption in construction projects.•The perceptions of 14 international experts were gathered ...via a two-round Delphi survey.•Key benefits to its integration were identified as well as a strong consensus among the expert panel was reached.•Strategies were recommended for the practical and successful adoption of BIM and sustainability practices in the construction industry.
The recent initiatives of the construction industry to embed sustainable strategies in its processes can be enhanced when clear and practical benefits of such integration are available to project stakeholders to support their decision-making. Hence, this study purports to evaluate the perceived benefits of integrating BIM initiatives and sustainability practices in construction projects. Delphi survey technique was used to solicit the perceptions of expert panel on the 36 identified benefits. Statistical tools were employed to analyze the derived data, and the consensus reached by the expert panel was validated using the interrater agreement statistics. The three most important benefits included the ability to enhance overall project quality and efficiency and improve the ability to simulate building performances and energy usage and facilitate better design products and multi-design alternatives. Comparative analyses among the expert groups lend credence to the strong consensus reached by the expert panel. Meanwhile, the study recommended strategies to enable the construction industry to key-in to these benefits as well as identifying prevalent research gaps in practice. The studyös findings will enhance the drive for the realization of the sustainable smart city as well as equip various stakeholders of the possibilities in its full adoption and implementation.
Silver diammine fluoride (SDF) is a caries-arresting agent for dentine lesions. This study investigated the effect of application frequency of SDF when used with glass ionomer cement (GI) for ...remineralising carious dentine.
Freshly extracted human posterior teeth with advanced caries were used. After superficial removal of infected dentine, single (G3), double (G4), triple (G5) applications of SDF (Advantage Arrest SDF 38 %) followed by a layer of GI (GC Fuji IX GP) were compared to no treatment (negative control-G2), and GI only (G1). All teeth were stored in artificial saliva between treatments and for 2-weeks after final treatment. Micro-computed X-ray tomography (NSI) scans were obtained at each stage and analysed to plot mineral density-depth profile, lesion depth (LD) and mineral loss (ΔZ). Data was statistically analysed at a significance level of 0.05.
Mean LD values were 837 μm, 735 μm, 841 μm, 1008 μm, 707 μm at baseline and 785 μm, 727 μm, 712 μm, 855 μm, 639 μm after treatment for groups G1 to G5, respectively. Mean ΔZ values were 6327 vol%μm, 5995 vol%μm, 10014 vol%μm, 7192 vol%μm, 5649 vol%μm at baseline and 3686 vol%μm, 5126 vol%μm, 5539 vol%μm, 2327 vol%μm, 3218 vol%μm after treatment for groups G1 to G5, respectively. Paired t-test showed that LD and ΔZ changed significantly within all groups from baseline to treatment weeks following storage (p < 0.05) except LD in the control (p > 0.05). ANCOVA showed significant difference among groups in net lesion depth recovery and net mineral gain (p < 0.05), and G3 and G4 showed the highest mineral gains.
One or two applications of SDF prior to placement of GI, were effective in remineralising advanced dentine lesions, while additional applications, when combined with GI, did not demonstrate additional benefit in this study.
This short-term laboratory research study showed that one or two applications of SDF followed by GI coverage could remineralise advanced dentine caries in the presence of artificial saliva. This procedure carries potential in the treatment of difficult lesions where conventional restorations would require significant tooth structure removal through traumatic procedures.
The circular economy (CE) paradigm has piqued public interests worldwide as a significant innovative attempt to conserve finite resources, reduce waste, and shift away from the linear economy. An ...emerging shift to a CE model is unavoidable for resource conservation and efficient use of materials. Although CE is still at its early stage of managing building construction and demolition waste (BCDW), the scientific contribution of the CE agenda is significantly growing and augmenting in the construction industry. Therefore, this study aims to present the state-of-the-art research on CE adoption in BCDW management using a mixed review approach (quantitative and qualitative analysis). In addition to the existing trends and considerations, the main research themes and CE strategies adopted in BCDW management, are presented and discussed. Furthermore, CE indicators for BCDW and effective management operations for BCDW in a CE environment are put forward. Future research directions, including lifecycle assessment indicators for BCDW minimisation in a CE, application of advanced technologies for CE, and intelligent decision support tools for CE adoption in the BCDW management, are highlighted. It is believed that the analysed critical issues for CE adoption in BCDW management and identified future research directions would further help the development of CE research and help stakeholders and policymakers in advancing and adopting CE in the construction industry at large.
•The position of CE research in BCDW was explored.•Spain, Italy, and Canada are the most productive countries in CE research.•Salient research themes, CE strategies, and indicators were identified.•CE management operations and existing CE models for BCDW were summarised.•Relevant future research directions for extensive CE implementation were discussed.
Vascular dementia (VaD) accounts for 15-20% of all dementia cases. It is a syndrome of acquired cognitive impairment with a complex pathophysiological basis. A novel herbal formulation (Sailuotong; ...SLT) consisting of Panax ginseng C.A Mey, Ginkgo biloba L and Crocus sativus L extracts was developed to treat VaD. Preclinical animal studies found significant improvements in memory and in pathogenic biochemical parameters. Appropriate safety of SLT was shown in acute and chronic toxicity studies, and early clinical trials of SLT demonstrated enhancements in cognition in VaD patients. A fully powered study with a long intervention period is needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of this novel intervention. A rigorous phase III clinical trial was developed with the aim of recruiting 238 patients diagnosed with mild to moderate probable VaD, or VaD mixed with Alzheimer's disease (where cerebrovascular disease is the clinical dominant contributor to dementia, abbreviated as CVD+AD). Using a permuted block strategy, participants will be randomly allocated to receive SLT (120 mg bd) or placebo capsules for an intervention period of 52 weeks and will be followed-up for an additional 13 weeks. The primary outcome measures are the Vascular Dementia Assessment Scale-cognitive subscale and Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study-Activities of Daily Living scale. Secondary outcome measures include the Clinician's Interview Based Impression of Change-Plus, CLOX, EXIT-25, Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Clinician rating scale, and Dementia Quality of Life questionnaire. Safety is assessed through adverse event reports and liver, renal, and coagulation studies. Primary and secondary outcome measures will be compared between treatment and placebo groups, using intention to treat and per protocol analyses. We hypothesise that a 52-week treatment of SLT will be clinically effective and well tolerated in participants with VaD or AD+CVD. This project will provide vital efficacy and safety data for this novel treatment approach to VaD.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent and lethal cancers worldwide which lacks effective treatment. Cancer cells experience high levels of oxidative stress due to increased ...generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Increased antioxidant‐producing capacity is therefore found in cancer cells to counteract oxidative stress. The thioredoxin system is a ubiquitous mammalian antioxidant system which scavenges ROS, and we demonstrate that it is vital for HCC growth as it maintains intracellular reduction‐oxidation (redox) homeostasis. Transcriptome sequencing in human HCC samples revealed significant overexpression of thioredoxin reductase 1 (TXNRD1), the cytosolic subunit and key enzyme of the thioredoxin system, with significant correlations to poorer clinicopathological features and patient survival. Driven by the transcriptional activation of nuclear factor (erythroid‐derived 2)–like 2, the master protector against oxidative stress, TXNRD1 counteracts intracellular ROS produced in human HCC. Inhibition of TXNRD1 through genetic inhibition hindered the proliferation of HCC cells and induced apoptosis in vitro. Administration of the pharmacological TXNRD1 inhibitor auranofin (AUR) effectively suppressed the growth of HCC tumors induced using the hydrodynamic tail vein injection and orthotopic implantation models in vivo. Furthermore, AUR sensitized HCC cells toward the conventional therapeutic sorafenib. Conclusion: Our study highlights the reliance of HCC cells on antioxidants for redox homeostasis and growth advantage; targeting TXNRD1 resulted in dramatic accumulation of ROS, which was found to be an effective approach for the suppression of HCC tumor growth.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore building information modeling (BIM) implementation and practices in developed economies by developing a benchmarking model that will enhance BIM ...adoption and implementation in developing countries.
Design/methodology/approach
The research design adopted a qualitative approach which includes the desktop review of the extant literature as well as case study reviews of ten BIM projects using an explanatory case study technique to form the foundation upon which the study proposed the model. The moving basis heuristics technique was adopted to develop the scoring system.
Findings
The BIM benchmarking model and assessment template were developed which consisted of three-level concepts modeled to aid project organizations and project team in developing countries to assess and score the level of improvement and implementation of BIM in a project. A desktop review of BIM projects in developed countries demonstrated the significant improvements and benefits possible through the implementation of the established BIM benchmarking model.
Practical implications
The assessment template in conjunction with the benchmarking model is useful for a comparative evaluation of similar BIM projects and benchmarking purposes. The study also discussed how current findings extends and contradicts previous findings.
Originality/value
The findings have provided policymakers, construction stakeholders and professional bodies in the construction industry in developing countries with valuable insights and counter-intuitive perspective that could facilitate the uptake of BIM in construction projects.
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