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“The use of nanoparticles for surface modification and performance enhancement of membranes is another latest trend in membrane technology. In this work acid functionalized multi wall carbon nanotubes (f-MWCNT) was initially mixed with polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in dimethylformamide (DMF) to form nano-composites (NCs) and then blended with polyethersulfone (PES). The PES/PVP-f-MWCNT nano-hybrid hemodialysis membrane was formed via the phase inversion process. The membranes were characterized and their

performances were then evaluated in terms of pure water permeation rates (PWP), urea, creatinine and lysozyme rejection. The results revealed that, compared to the pristine PES membrane, the click here PES nano-hybrid hemodialysis membranes were more hydrophilic; possess high PWP rate up to 72.20 L.m(-2).h(-1), exhibited 58.82% reduced protein absorption, and better uremic waste clearance of 56.30%, 55.08% and

27.90% of urea, creatinine and lysozyme respectively. Thus the addition of NCs in the membranes indeed modified the surface and enhanced the performance of the PES membranes. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“Background: The hazardous health effects of smoking are established, but there remains a need to evaluate existing smoking prevention strategies and to increase their effectiveness in adolescents. Strategies focusing on parental attitudes and rule setting have been identified as a potentially effective approach. The present manuscript describes objectives, study design and methodology of the BEST Prevention study. Methods/design: Bcl-2 inhibitor BEST Prevention is a three-armed cluster randomized-controlled trial among 7th grade (11-16 years) students in Berlin, Germany. Schools were enrolled between 2010 and 2011 and allocated using a centralized

randomization list into 1) a student smoking prevention intervention (visit to an established interactive circuit), 2) the same intervention plus AC220 datasheet a parent intervention, and 3) a control group (visit to an established exercise and nutrition interactive circuit). Students were assessed at baseline, 12 and 24 months via self-report, as well as via carbon monoxide and cotinine in saliva at the 24 month follow-up. Statistical analyses uses multi-level regression models with cluster effects (school and class within school) based on the intention to treat population. Here we report descriptive baseline characteristics of recruited schools, and schools classes. Two schools from the control group dropped out after allocation. Hence, 47 secondary schools from all 12 districts of the city, including 161 school classes and 3023 students are participating in the study. Of those, 2801 students completed the baseline assessment. Discussion: The present manuscript provides details on the study design and methodology of a large school-based smoking prevention trial in a metropolitan area in Germany.