bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Acquisition of Conditional Sentences by Arab Learners of English
Authors: Fareh Shehdeh
Published: January 2024

This study attempted to assess the acquisition of conditional sentences by Arab learners of EFL at the levels of recognition and production. The analysis showed that the overall percentage of correct responses in both recognition and production was 44%. The subjects' overall performance in recognition was higher than theirs in production. The major problems the subjects' encountered relate to the subjects' inability to relate form to function in conditional sentences. The findings also revealed that implicit conditionals were the most difficult to recognize and produce. Furthermore, the tense-time relationship and the mismatch between verb forms in the two parts of the sentence constituted a major source of difficulty for the learners. Finally, the study revealed that most subjects are not familiar with the alternate forms of conditionals..
Questionnaires as a Methodology for Investigating Awareness of the Translation Relationship between L1 and L2 Sentences
Authors: Mustafa Zahra
Published: January 2024

This study tries to propose using questionnaires in L1 and L2 as a method for investigating awareness of the translation relationship between L1 and L2 sentences by EFL learners at the intermediate level. The participants in this study were Jordanian university students majoring in computer science with Arabic as L1 and English as L2. They were given two versions of a questionnaire; one in Arabic and another in English, to elicit their attitudes towards technology. Then, they were interviewed to find out if they were aware of the translation relationship between the two versions of the questionnaire. The results show that the correlation between the students’ responses to most items on L1 and L2 questionnaires was not generally high. The results also show that the students' responses in the interview indicated that few of them were aware of the translation relationship between the two questionnaires. These results support the Linguistic Threshold Hypothesis regarding the relationship between L1 and L2 reading comprehension, and they indicate that questionnaires can be used as a method for investigating the translation relationship between L1 and L2 sentences. The results also indicate that L2 questionnaires can be a particularly challenging genre for L2 learners. .
The Distortion of the Arab-Israeli Conflict in Contemporary American Fiction: A Study of The Haj
Authors: Gohar Saddik
Published: January 2024

Approaching The Haj (1984) as a colonial novel which views the Palestinian people as a barbaric race threatening the existence of Israel, the paper aims to undermine critical assumptions which categorize the book as historical representation of the Middle East conflict. Published at a time in which sympathetic American voices were raising a debate over the legitimacy of Israel’s imperialistic policies in the Arab world, particularly after the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, The Haj deployed a counter-discourse aiming to degrade the image of the Palestinians and the Islamic religion. The paper argues that The Haj, which depicts Palestine, prior to colonization, as a primitive country inhabited by nomadic barbarians coming from neighboring desert communities, is not a historical portrayal of the Middle East conflict but a replication of racial representations integral to American cultural mythology about a pre-colonial America populated by an inferior people. The paper also points out that the author's vision of the Arab-Israeli conflict is integrated into hegemonic/racist discourses incorporating narratives of barbarism and Orientalism perpetuated by the American culture industry since the 1980’s when controversy in the West about radical Islamic movements and political Islam reached culmination..
Collocation and the Arabic-English Dictionary: Ideas for Better Dictionaries
Authors: Abu-Ssaydeh Abdul-Fattah
Published: January 2024

Collocation, thus far, has been infrequently used to clarify senses in Arabic-English dictionaries. However, this lexical phenomenon can be used more effectively to improve these dictionaries in many ways: it can help determine if a given word belongs to Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) or Classical Arabic; it can identify the various lexical contexts in which the headword may appear, thus enabling the lexicographer to use frequent ones in the dictionary and separate collocations from multi-word units; it can indicate cases of undertranslation and overtranslation; senses given to a certain headword can be verified against the collocational range of the headword in order to decide if such English equivalents are indeed valid senses or not and, finally, the systematic use of collocates in the bilingual dictionary as well as the development of collocational bilingual dictionaries can be demonstrably of great help to the language learner. .
Burying the Dead: The Postcolonial Strategies of Achebe and Naipaul
Authors: Khalil Hamdi Tahrir
Published: January 2024

Mapping out a successful postcolonial strategy/response for the ‘native intellectual’ is a worthwhile endeavour in this global era, especially as the postcolonial subject is bombarded with countless Western-based theories that emphasize ‘fragmented’ or ‘floating’ identities, which occupy an ambiguous space. This paper will examine the strategies undertaken by two current postcolonial writers, V.S. Naipaul and Chinua Achebe, who have negotiated for themselves ideologically opposed strategies, which as I will argue, represent radically different psychological states of development on the part of the two writers as evidenced by their work. Frantz Fanon’s ideas on the development of the ‘native intellectual’ will be used to help bring the psyches of these two writers into sharper focus..
West Meets East as Monks Purge 'Infidels' in The Historian
Authors: Jarkas Najla
Published: January 2024

One more time, a work featuring the grotesque figure of the vampire emerges from the shackles of the Middle Ages to top the list of recent fiction best sellers. Already being translated into thirty-five languages and having been purchased for two million dollars from its first time novelist even before its publication, The Historian (2005) by Elisabeth Kostova entraps its readers in a series of breath-taking events promising to unravel deeply hidden ancient secrets and crucial truths. This paper looks at these so-called deeply held secrets showing that through the genre of the fantastic, rather than escape and evade reality, the writer has negotiated contemporary cultural anxieties and conflicts. These are referred to in the title of this article, the age old battle between West and East and how the West perceives this clash in the form of an exonerating battle between Good and Evil, or in this case between Monks and ‘Infidels’..
The ‘Explicitation Hypothesis’ and Non-professional Translators: A Case Study
Authors: Al-Dabbagh Ula
Published: January 2024

In an article entitled ‘Shifts of cohesion and coherence in translation’, Blum-Kulka (1986) introduced the ‘explicitation hypothesis’. The hypothesis posits that translators add information in the target text that is implicit in the source text. This amplification, that produces translated texts that exhibit a higher degree of explicitness in
comparison with the originals, takes place regardless of the differences between the language pairs involved in the act of translation. Therefore, explicitation is considered to be part and parcel of any translation activity whether conducted by professional or non-professional translators. This paper tries to test whether this hypothesis applies to
the translations of non-professional translators by analyzing the work of fourth year students majoring in translation at the University of Petra, Jordan. The analysis of the students’ translated texts has revealed that non-professional student translators ‘spell out’ information that is implicit in the source text, and hence produce
translated texts that are more explicit than the original..
Kurdish and Arabic in Contact: Code-Switching among Kurds in Mosul/Iraq
Authors: Khidhir Sallo Ibrahim
Published: January 2024

This study investigates a recent sociolinguistic phenomenon (i.e., Arabic–Kurdish Code-Switching (henceforth K-Ar CS). This study attempts to tackle the linguistic and extra-linguistic constraints of Kurdish-Arabic code-switching among the Kurds in Mosul/Iraq. The linguistic constraints of this phenomenon, which is common in bilingual and multilingual speech communities, imply that mixing two languages does not represent a random blending; on the contrary, CS is systematic and follows certain linguistic rules which can be divided into two categories: linguistic and extra-linguistic (i.e., psychological, sociological and academic)1.
PENGARUH SENAM YOGA TERHADAP PENURUNAN SKALA NYERI SAAT DISMENORE PADA REMAJA PUTRI DI DESA MONCONGLOE KECAMATAN MONCONGLOE KABUPATEN MAROS
Authors: Hamdayani Hamdayani , Sainah Sainah , Sofyan Muhammad
Published: January 2024

Tujuan: mengetahui pengaruh senam yoga terhadap penurunan skala nyeri saat dismenore pada remaja putri di Desa Moncongloe Kecamatan Moncongloe Kabupaten Maros. Metode Penelitian: Desain penelitian yang digunakan adalah penelitian pre eksperimen melalui rancangan penelitian one group pretest and posttest design dengan sampel 70 responden. Pengumpulan data dilakukan melalui observasi,wawancara, dan pembagian kuesioner pada remaja putri. Hasil: Penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa Ada pengaruh senam yoga terhadap penurunan skala nyeri saat dismenore pada remaja putri. Hasil uji statistik wilcoxon dengan kemaknaan Þ 0,05. Didapatkan hasil sebagai berikut: Adanya pengaruh senam yoga terhadap penurunan skala nyeri saat dismenore dengan nilai Þ value= 0,000 (0,05).Implikasi Penelitian : Bahwa masih ada beberapa responden yang dalam kondisi nyeri haid tidak melakukan senam yoga. Rekomendasi: Perlu adanya kepedulian responden dalam melakukan senam yoga pada saat nyeri haid.
Pengaruh Distraksi Menonton Animasi Kartun Terhadap Tingkat Stres Hospitalisasi Pada Anak Prasekolah
Authors: Halimatusyadiah Halimatusyadiah , Tampubolon Briefman , Nursifa Niknik , Maryati Sri , Budiadi Hana Nurhanifah
Published: January 2024

Hospitalisasi adalah ketika seorang anak dirawat di rumah sakit, baik sengaja atau karena keadaan darurat. Prevalensi hospitalisasi pada anak usia prasekolah menurut data World Health Organisation (WHO) pada tahun 2015 adalah sebanyak 45% dari keseluruhan jumlah pasien anak usia prasekolah yang hospitalisasi. Tujuan: Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui distraksi menonton animasi kartun terhadap tingkat stress hospitalisasi pada anak prasekolah di RSU Kasih Bunda Cimahi. Metode Penelitian: Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kuantitatif menggunakan Quasi Experimental Design dengan one group pretest posttets design. Teknik pengambilan sampel menggunakan non random (non probability) sampling dengan teknik purposive sampling dengan jumlah 15 sampel.  Instrumen yang digunakan adalah kuisioner DASS 21 (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale 21). Analisis yang digunakan adalah uji marginal homogeneity. Hasil penelitian: menunjukkan sebelum dan sesudah diberikan perlakuan menonton animasi kartun didapatkan sebagian besar anak prasekolah memiliki tingkat stres hospitalisasi berat yaitu sebelum 33,33% dan sesudah dengan hasil normal 66,67%. Hasil uji statistic marginal homogeneity dengan hasil nilai p = 0,000 (p 0,05). Implikasi Penelitian: Tindakan distraksi menonton animasi kartun terhadap terbukti efektif dalam menurunkan tingkat stress hospitalisasi pada anak prasekolah. Rekomendasi: Diharapkan rumah sakit dapat menjadikan tindakan distraksi menonton animasi kartun ini sebagai prosedur tetap dalam mengatasi permasalahan stres hospitalisasi pada pasien anak.
THE RELATIONSHIP OF KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDE WITH PREVENTION MEASURES OF RESPIRATORY FUNCTIONAL DISORDERS IN FURNITURE WORKERS
Authors: Hamdayani Hamdayani , Nurindasari Sri , - Fhirawati , Suandi Suandi , Adnan Adnan , Ilmi Nur
Published: January 2024

Health is one of the main priorities of humans in living their lives. Everyone certainly wants to have a healthy and strong body and a good immune system so that they are not susceptible to disease. In factory workers there is a risk of accidents and occupational diseases, which come from various factors such as the work environment. A work environment that is often filled with dust, steam, gas, and others can interfere with health.This study aims to identify the knowledge, attitudes, and efforts of factory workers on respiratory functional disorders of furniture craft workers in Julubori Village, Pallangga District, Gowa Regency in 2022.The design of this research is descriptive with a sample size of 60 people. The data collection tool uses a questionnaire. The data collection technique used is Simple Random Sampling, where the researcher distributes questionnaires directly to the sample in this study.The results of this study indicate that 63.3% of respondents have good knowledge, 73.3% of respondents have a positive attitude. This is due to the influence of the involvement of local health workers who provide counseling to workers who are going well and also factory workers who always use PPE when working. For further research, it is recommended to complete this research by conducting a review of the health of respiratory functional disorders in craftsmen in the village and reviewing the facilities of furniture craftsmen and the condition of furniture craftsmen.
IMPLEMENTING IN UKRAINE THE PROVISIONS OF AGREEMENT ON THE INTERNATIONAL CARRIAGE OF PERISHABLE FOODSTUFFS AND ON THE SPECIAL EQUIPMENT TO BE USED FOR SUCH CARRIAGE (ATP)
Authors:   State Enterprise «State Road Transport Research Institute», Gorpyniuk Andrii , Taraban Serhii ,   State Enterprise «State Road Transport Research Institute», Gontar Yurii ,   State Enterprise «State Road Transport Research Institute», Punyk Oleksandr , Gorpyniuk Lyudmyla ,   State Enterprise «State Road Transport Research Institute»
Published: January 2024

An analysis of the European experience in implementing the provisions of the Agreement on the Interna-tional Carriage of Perishable Foodstuffs and on the Special Equipment to be Used for such Carriage (ATP) was carried out, which testifies to both positive and negative features of the realisation of this Agreement in Ukraine in the case of a mirror implementation of the ATP provisions based on the experience of the EU member states, such as Germany and France. A structural scheme for the implementation of the provisions of the UPS is proposed, which most fully takes into account the national features and conditions of today. The proposed structural scheme provides for the presence of the following structural units in the capacity of participants in the process of functioning in Ukraine of the system for carry-ing out technical inspections and monitoring the compliance of motor vehicles with the ATP requirements: the UN/ECE Inland Transport Committee (WP.11 Working Party on the Transport of Perishable Foodstuffs); the competent body for the ATP implementation in Ukraine (which is the Ministry for Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Development, designated in accordance with Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of October 24, 2007 No. 1266); the competent body for ensuring the functioning of the system for technical control of the compliance of motor vehicles with the ATP requirements, the main task of which is to ensure the holistic operation of the system for technical inspection of isother-mal motor vehicles; testing station / expert assessment organization (for conducting technical inspection of isothermal motor vehicles against their compliance with ATP requirements); controlling body (for state surveillance (control) of compliance by carriers of perishable foodstuffs with ATP requirements); business entity (carrier of perishable foodstuffs). Keywords: road transport, testing station, expert assessment body, competent body, international carriage, perish-able foodstuffs.
CONCENTRATION OF THERMAL STRESSES IN CEMENT CONCRETE AROUND A CAPILLARY, PARTIALLY OR COMPLETELY FILLED WITH WATER, DURING ITS FREEZING
Authors:   National Transport University, Shlyun Natalia , Bilobrytska Olena ,   National Transport University, Shevchuk Lyudmyla ,   National Transport University, Zaiets Yuliia ,   National Transport University
Published: January 2024

Abstract. The article presents the results of theoretical modeling of the effects of thermoforce deformation of a cement-concrete medium in the vicinity of a capillary, partially or completely filled with water, at the stages of lowering the temperature of the system to zero degrees Celsius, turning water into ice at zero degrees and the subsequent drop in temperature. Based on the basic principles of the theory of thermoelasticity, differential equations of deformation of the system are constructed, taking into account the incompatibility of the thermomechanical characteristics of its phases and the peculiarities of the behavior of water when the temperature changes, which consists in its fluidity, incompressi-bility, the dependence of the coefficient of thermal expansion on temperature and the increase in volume when turning into ice. Closed-form solutions are constructed for these equations. It was established that in all cases the thermal stress in the cement-concrete medium is concentrated in the vicinity of the capillary wall and decreases inversely proportional to the square of the radial coordinate. At the stage of turning water into ice, they significantly exceed the strength limit of cement concrete and are the main reason for the formation of localized radial cracks that reduce the frost resistance of the cement concrete structure. Keywords: road materials, capillary pores, water freezing, ice expansion, thermal stress.
Morphological Model for Erosion Prediction of India’s Largest Braided River Using MIKE 21C Model
Authors: Pareta Kuldeep
Published: January 2024

The Brahmaputra River has a dynamic, highly braided channel pattern with frequent river bar formation, making it morphologically very dynamic, especially during the monsoon season with high discharge and sediment load. To understand how the river changes over time, this study focused on two stretches: Palasbari-Gumi and Dibrugarh. Using 2D morphological models (MIKE-21C), the study aimed to predict erosion patterns, plan protective measures, and assess morphological changes over short-term (1 year), medium-term (3 year), and long-term (5 year) periods. Model runs were conducted to predict design variables across these river reaches, encompassing different hydrological scenarios and development-planning scenarios. The coarse sand fraction yielded mean annual sediment load predictions of 257 Mt/year for the 2021 hydrological year and 314 Mt/year under bankfull discharge conditions in the Palasbari-Gumi reach. In the Dibrugarh reach, the corresponding values were 78 Mt/year and 100 Mt/year. Notably, historical records indicate an annual sediment load of 400 Mt/year in the Brahmaputra River. The model results were compared to measurements from Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP), showing good accuracy for flow velocities, flood levels, and sediment loads. Discrepancies in peak model velocities compared to ADCP measurements remain consistently below 9% across the majority of recorded data points. The predicted flood levels for the bankfull discharge condition exhibited an outstanding accuracy, reaching nearly 91% at the Palasbari-Gumi site and a notable 95% at the Dibrugarh site. This study has presented a valuable methodology for enhancing the strategic planning and implementation of river training endeavours, particularly within the dynamic and highly braided channels of rivers such as the Brahmaputra River. The approach leverages predictive models to predict morphological changes over a 2–3 years timeframe, contributing to improved river management.
Insights into mode of action mediated responses following pharmaceutical uptake and accumulation in plants
Authors: Garduño-Jiménez Andrea-Lorena , Carter Laura J.
Published: January 2024

The reuse of wastewater to meet irrigation requirements and slurries, sludges and manures as fertilisers to meet crop nutrient demands inadvertently introduces human and veterinary-use pharmaceuticals into the agro-ecosystem. This review synthesises recent research, which has observed sub-lethal effects, following pharmaceutical uptake by plants. Potential links between pharmaceutical mode of action and observed sub-lethal effects in the plant were then examined. Common receptors and biological pathways across species suggests a clear need to integrate plant cellular biology into our understanding of the impacts of pharmaceuticals on important plant functions and processes. To help prioritise future research efforts an analysis of shared mammalian and plant biochemical pathways was undertaken to identify classes of pharmaceuticals which may present a greater risk to key plant functions. These included sulfonylurea antihyperglycemics, steroids, opiods, antipsychotic phenothiazines and pharmaceuticals targeting several neurotransmitters shared between mammals and plants (including beta-blockers, antihistamines and benzodiazepines). Whilst a number of pharmaceutical induced sub-lethal effects have been observed, this review highlights the clear need to study a wider range of pharmaceuticals on a broader range of plant species, including cover crops and wild plants, under realistic exposure scenarios, to fully understand the wider implications of pharmaceutical exposure in agro-ecosystems. State-of-the art omics-techniques offer great potential to understand the mode of action of pharmaceuticals in plants and elucidate links between the pharmaceutical intended mode of action and observed plant effects. In addition, studies under co-stress from pharmaceutical exposure and other stressors such as increased temperatures, drought or pests are lacking and present an urgent research need in the face of feeding a growing population under the threats of climate change.
The biomechanical effects of different membrane layer structures and material constitutive modeling on patient-specific cerebral aneurysms
Authors: Fan Xuanze , Zhang Aohua , Zheng Qingli , Li Pengcui , Wang Yanqin , He Liming , Xue Yanru , Chen Weiyi , Wu Xiaogang , Zhao Yongwang , Wang Yonghong
Published: January 2024

The prevention, control and treatment of cerebral aneurysm (CA) has become a common concern of human society, and by simulating the biomechanical environment of CA using finite element analysis (FEA), the risk of aneurysm rupture can be predicted and evaluated. The target models of the current study are mainly idealized single-layer linear elastic cerebral aneurysm models, which do not take into account the effects of the vessel wall structure, material constitution, and structure of the real CA model on the mechanical parameters. This study proposes a reconstruction method for patient-specific trilaminar CA structural modeling. Using two-way fluid-structure interaction (FSI), we comparatively analyzed the effects of the differences between linear and hyperelastic materials and three-layer and single-layer membrane structures on various hemodynamic parameters of the CA model. It was found that the numerical effects of the different CA membrane structures and material constitution on the stresses and wall deformations were obvious, but does not affect the change in its distribution pattern and had little effect on the blood flow patterns. For the same material constitution, the stress of the three-layer membrane structure were more than 10.1% larger than that of the single-layer membrane structure. For the same membrane structure, the stress of the hyperelastic material were more than 5.4% larger than that of the linear elastic material, and the displacement of the hyperelastic material is smaller than that of the linear elastic material by about 20%. And the maximum value of stress occurred in the media, and the maximum displacement occurred in the intima. In addition, the upper region of the tumor is the maximum rupture risk region for CA, and the neck of the tumor and the bifurcation of the artery are also the sub-rupture risk regions to focus on. This study can provide data support for the selection of model materials for CA simulation and analysis, as well as a theoretical basis for clinical studies and subsequent research methods.
An assessment of pluvial hazard in South Jakarta based on land-use/cover change from 2016 to 2022
Authors: Yosua Horas , Kusuma Muhammad Syahril Badri , Nugroho Joko
Published: January 2024

South Jakarta is a megapolitan city that is directly affected by Land Use Cover Change (LUCC). One of the impacts that arise is urban flooding, otherwise known as pluvial floods. More work is needed to evaluate the effect of LUCC on the increase of pluvial floods in South Jakarta. In this study, the runoff coefficient value (C) caused by LUCC is determined and the hazard risk of pluvial floods is evaluated. The analysis uses linear regression classification of LUCC using GIS software and carries out hazard and risk analysis based on Minister of Public Works Regulation Number 12 of 2014. Based on the rational method flood discharge formula, the higher C value result in the greater flow rate in a watershed. To simplify the calculation, the C equivalent value used is the C value that represent the watershed. The growth of the runoff coefficient (C) in South Jakarta is 1%–1.3% per year. It is found that the rate of increase in the runoff coefficient (C) is the same as the population growth rate of DKI Jakarta, which is around 1.3% per year. The increasing of runoff coefficient also increases the risk of pluvial flooding in locations that are prone to flooding. Furthermore, the hazard risk study found that there are 2 locations with a moderate level on the hazard risk index, namely, Ciledug Seskoal and Dharmawangsa Taman Gajah. This study can be used by government agencies as a basis to construct the spatial prioritization framework for pluvial flood mitigation.
Echocardiography-guided percutaneous intramyocardial alginate hydrogel implants for heart failure: canine models with 6-month outcomes
Authors: Ma Hui , Gong Wenqing , Lim D. Scott , Li Jing , Ta Shengjun , Hu Rui , Li Xiaojuan , Zheng Minjuan , Liu Liwen
Published: January 2024

Background

Echocardiography-guided percutaneous intramyocardial alginate-hydrogel implantation (PIMAHI) is a novel treatment approach for heart failure (HF). We validated PIMAHI safety and efficacy in canine HF models.

Methods

Fourteen canines with HF [produced by coronary artery ligation, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 35%] were randomised to PIMAHI treatment (n = 8) or controls (n = 6). Echocardiography, two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography, and pathological examinations after a 6-month follow-up were performed. Repeated-measures analysis of variance was used for within-group comparisons.

Results

At 6-month follow-up, PIMAHI treatment reversed LV dilation and remodelling, increasing LV free wall thickness (LVFW, p = 0.002) and interventricular septum thickness (IVS, p < 0.001) and reducing LV end-diastolic volume (EDV, p = 0.008) and end-systolic volume (ESV, p = 0.004). PIMAHI significantly improved LV systolic function, increasing LVEF (EF, p = 0.004); enhanced LV myocardial contractility, including increased LV global longitudinal strain (GLS, p < 0.001), global circumferential strain (GCS, p = 0.006), and mitral annulus displacement (MAD, p = 0.001). Compared with controls at 6-month, PIMAHI group significantly increased LVFW thickness (8.5 ± 0.3 vs. 6.8 ± 0.2 mm, p = 0.002) and IVS (7.9 ± 0.1 vs. 6.1 ± 0.2 mm, p < 0.001); decreased LVEDV (30.1 ± 1.6 vs. 38.9 ± 4.5 ml, p = 0.049) and ESV (17.3 ± 1.2 vs. 28.7 ± 3.6 ml, p = 0.004); increased LV systolic function (42.7 ± 1.5 vs. 26.7 ± 1.1% in EF, p = 0.001); and enhanced LV myocardial contractility including GLS (13.5 ± 0.8 vs. 8.4 ± 0.6%, p = 0.002), GCS (16.5 ± 1.4 vs. 9.2 ± 0.6%, p = 0.001), and MAD (11.4 ± 3.5vs 4.6 ± 2.5 mm, p = 0.003). During PIMAHI treatment, no sustained arrhythmia, pericardial, or pleural effusion occurred.

Conclusions

PIMAHI in canine HF models was safe and effective. It reversed LV dilation and improved LV function.
Human lower limb muscle cross sectional area scales with positive allometry reflecting bipedal evolutionary history
Authors: Warrener Anna
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Muscle cross-sectional area is an important variable for understanding force generating potential and locomotor adaptation. Geometric scaling predicts area scales proportionally to body mass2/3. Previous research has quantified scaling relationships between hindlimb musculature and mass in apes, but these relationships have not been clearly established in humans. Scaling in the human lower-limb is likely influenced by bipedalism and dimorphism in lean and total body mass between the sexes.

Methods: To investigate these relationships, cross-sectional area in 20 muscles of the lower-limb were obtained through MRI in twenty-eight (14 female, 14 male) participants and measured in Analyze 14.0. Log transformed muscle cross-sectional areas were grouped by function (gluteals, knee extensors, hamstrings, biarticulate knee/hip flexors, plantarflexors), and least-squares regressions were calculated for each group against log-body mass.

Results: All muscle groups were significantly (p < 0.001) correlated with mass (0.56 < r2 < 0.70) and, except for the gluteals, all groups scaled with positive allometry with slopes outside the 95% CI reported in the literature for apes. Correlations and slopes were lower for females (0.05 < r2 < 0.62; 0.4 < b < 1.0), than males (0.56 < r2 < 0.79: 0. 7< b < 1.9) in all muscle groups, but there were no statistically significant differences in slope except for the tensor fasciae latae and the hamstrings. However, including sex as a predictor in multiple regression analysis increased the explained variance in cross-sectional area by 1-18% across functional muscle groups.

Discussion: These results suggest human lower-limb muscle scaling has responded to force production requirements of bipedalism, but differences in lean and total mass do not clearly impact allometric equations in males and females.
Demonstration of transfer learning using 14 nm technology analog ReRAM array
Authors: Athena Fabia Farlin , Fagbohungbe Omobayode , Gong Nanbo , Rasch Malte J. , Penaloza Jimmy , Seo SoonCheon , Gasasira Arthur , Solomon Paul , Bragaglia Valeria , Consiglio Steven , Higuchi Hisashi , Park Chanro , Brew Kevin , Jamison Paul , Catano Christopher , Saraf Iqbal , Silvestre Claire , Liu Xuefeng , Khan Babar , Jain Nikhil , McDermott Steven , Johnson Rick , Estrada-Raygoza I. , Li Juntao , Gokmen Tayfun , Li Ning , Pujari Ruturaj , Carta Fabio , Miyazoe Hiroyuki , Frank Martin M. , La Porta Antonio , Koty Devi , Yang Qingyun , Clark Robert D. , Tapily Kandabara , Wajda Cory , Mosden Aelan , Shearer Jeff , Metz Andrew , Teehan Sean , Saulnier Nicole , Offrein Bert , Tsunomura Takaaki , Leusink Gert , Narayanan Vijay , Ando Takashi
Published: January 2024

Analog memory presents a promising solution in the face of the growing demand for energy-efficient artificial intelligence (AI) at the edge. In this study, we demonstrate efficient deep neural network transfer learning utilizing hardware and algorithm co-optimization in an analog resistive random-access memory (ReRAM) array. For the first time, we illustrate that in open-loop deep neural network (DNN) transfer learning for image classification tasks, convergence rates can be accelerated by approximately 3.5 times through the utilization of co-optimized analog ReRAM hardware and the hardware-aware Tiki-Taka v2 (TTv2) algorithm. A simulation based on statistical 14 nm CMOS ReRAM array data provides insights into the performance of transfer learning on larger network workloads, exhibiting notable improvement over conventional training with random initialization. This study shows that analog DNN transfer learning using an optimized ReRAM array can achieve faster convergence with a smaller dataset compared to training from scratch, thus augmenting AI capability at the edge.
Comparative efficacy of exercise training modes on systemic metabolic health in adults with overweight and obesity: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Wang Huiying , Cheng Ruitang , Xie Lijun , Hu Fang
Published: January 2024

Objective

This network meta-analysis (NMA) was conducted to compare and rank the effects of training interventions including aerobic exercise (AE), resistance training (RT), combined aerobic and resistance training (CT), and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on vital metabolic indicators in adults with overweight and obesity.

Methods

PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, and Web of Science were searched from 1990 to February 2023. Articles were included if they described randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the effects of exercise training on anthropometry parameters, lipid profiles, glucose metabolism, blood pressure, and cardiorespiratory fitness in adults with overweight and obesity. Weighted mean difference with 95% CI was calculated.

Results

A total of 28 studies with 1,620 patients were included. Results revealed that AE exerts best effects on weight loss (−2.35 [−4.05, −0.64]) and body mass index (−0.9 [−1.38, −0.42]), while HIIT is the most effective in reducing waist circumference (−5.93 [10.71, −1.15]), percentage body fat (−3.93 [−5.73, −2.12]), serum triglycerides (−20.55 [−37.20, −3.91]), and fasting blood glucose (−14.31 [−22.47, −6.16]) and improving VO2 max (7.41 [4.37, 10.45]). However, no significant benefit was observed in terms of total cholesterol and blood pressure.

Conclusions

AE is the optimal exercise type for reducing body weight and BMI, while HIIT exerts the most beneficial effects on improving body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, and metabolic abnormalities in adults with overweight and obesity.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023444322, identifier CRD42023444322.
Evaluation of the healing potential of short-term ozone therapy for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers
Authors: Sun Haojie , Heng Hao , Liu Xuekui , Geng Houfa , Liang Jun
Published: January 2024

Background

The availability of research on short-term ozone therapy for diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) is limited, and even when it is accessible, it mainly comprises of basic analysis conducted during long-term ozone therapy. This study was to evaluate the efficacy of short-term ozone therapy in promoting wound healing in DFUs.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 89 patients with type 2 diabetes complicated by DFUs. The patients were divided into two groups: ozone therapy group (n=41) and control group (n=48). Wound condition, change of bacterial types, changes in inflammatory indicators (erythrocyte sedimentation rate [ESR], C-reactive protein [CRP], and procalcitonin [PCT]), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), cytokines [Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)], and oxidative stress levels (superoxide dismutase [SOD], malondialdehyde [MDA], and total antioxidant capacity [T-AOC]) were observed pre-treatment and after 1 week. After a 12-week of follow-up, wound healing rate, amputation rate, inpatient day, duration of antibiotics, reinfection rate, incidence of new ulcers, readmission rate, and reoperation rate, and cumulative wound healing rate using Kaplan-Meier curves were assessed.

Results

After 1 week of treatment, the ozone therapy group showed higher VEGF, SOD, and T-AOC levels compared to the control group (P<0.05), while CRP, PCT, ESR, IL-6, TNF-α, MDA levels and bacterial types were lower (P<0.05). The ozone therapy group had a higher wound healing rate after a 12-week follow-up (P<0.05). Kaplan-Meier curves indicated a higher cumulative wound healing rate in the ozone therapy group (P<0.05). Additionally, the ozone therapy group had lower inpatient day, duration of antibiotics, reinfection rate, and readmission rate compared to the control group (P<0.05).

Conclusion

Short-term ozone therapy is effective in promoting wound healing in DFUs by reducing inflammation, increasing growth factor levels, improving oxidative stress status, shortening healing time, and improving long-term prognosis. These findings suggest the potential of short-term ozone therapy as a valuable treatment modality for DFUs.
Association between Lipoprotein(a) and diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Li Meng , Wang Yanjun , Yao Qianqian , Liang Qian , Zhang Yuanyuan , Wang Xin , Li Qian , Qiang Wei , Yang Jing , Shi Bingyin , He Mingqian
Published: January 2024

Background

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most prevalent and severe microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). However, little is currently known about the pathogenesis and its associated risk factors in DN. The present study aims to investigate the potential risk factors of DN in patients with T2DM.

Methods

A total of 6,993 T2DM patients, including 5,089 participants with DN and 1,904 without DN, were included in this cross-sectional study. Comparisons between the two groups (DN vs. non-DN) were carried out using Student’s t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, or Pearson’s Chi-squared test. Spearman’s correlation analyses were performed to assess the correlations of serum lipids and indicators of renal impairment. Logistic regression models were applied to assess the relationship between blood lipid indices and the presence of DN.

Results

T2DM patients with DN were older, and had a longer duration of diagnosed diabetes compared to those without DN. Of note, the DN patients also more likely develop metabolic disorders. Among all serum lipids, Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] was the most significantly correlated indicators of renal impairment. Moreover, univariate logistic regression showed that elevated Lp(a) level was associated with an increased risk of DN. After adjusted for confounding factors, including age, gender, duration of T2DM, BMI, SBP, DBP and lipid-lowering drugs usage, Lp(a) level was independently positively associated with the risk of DN [odds ratio (OR):1.115, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.079-1.151, P=6.06×10-11].

Conclusions

Overall, we demonstrated that serum Lp(a) level was significantly positively associated with an increased risk of DN, indicating that Lp(a) may have the potential as a promising target for the diagnosis and treatment of diabetic nephropathy.
Research on micro/nano scale 3D reconstruction based on scanning electron microscope
Authors: Dong Huibao , Jia Hongliang , Qin Dahui , Hu Dawei
Published: January 2024

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has an important application in the petroleum field, which is often used to analyze the microstructure of reservoir rocks, etc. Most of these analyses are based on two-dimensional images. In fact, SEM can carry out micro-nano scale three-dimensional measurement, and three-dimensional models can provide more accurate information than two-dimensional images. Among the commonly used SEM 3D reconstruction methods, parallax depth mapping is the most commonly used method. Multiple SEM images can be obtained by continuously tilting the sample table at a certain Angle, and multiple point clouds can be generated according to the parallax depth mapping method, and a more complete point clouds recovery can be achieved by combining the point clouds registration. However, the root mean square error of the point clouds generated by this method is relatively large and unstable after participating in point clouds registration. Therefore, this paper proposes a new method for generating point clouds. Firstly, the sample stage is rotated by a certain angle to obtain two SEM images. This operation makes the rotation matrix a known quantity. Then, based on the imaging model, an equation system is constructed to estimate the unknown translation parameters, and finally, triangulation is used to obtain the point clouds. The method proposed in this paper was tested on a publicly available 3D SEM image set, and the results showed that compared to the disparity depth mapping method, the point clouds generated by our method showed a significant reduction in root mean square error and relative rotation error in point clouds registration.
Microwave-assisted transesterification of Litchi chinensis seed oil using extracted KOH from potato waste for sustainable development
Authors: Asif Tahir , Noor Fahad , Imran Shahid , Mujtaba M. A. , Farooq Muhammad , Fouad Yasser , Kalam M. A. , Uddin Ghulam Moeen
Published: January 2024

The fast depletion of conventional fuel supplies has forced the world to find suitable substitutes to overcome the expected energy crisis. Fossil fuels also contribute to global warming because of their harmful emissions. Biofuels are sustainable and environment friendly. Biodiesel can be sourced from both edible and non-edible oils to replace fossil fuels. To avoid a shortage of food supply, it is preferred to produce biodiesel from non-edible oils. In this research, Litchi chinensis seed oil (LSO) is used as a feedstock to synthesize biodiesel employing transesterification using a microwave oven. The catalyst, potassium hydroxide (KOH), used in this research was extracted from potato waste. Sun-dried potato waste was converted into ash. The produced ash is then dissolved in distilled water, leading to a 34% yield of KOH. The transesterification achieves a 92.9% conversion rate under the conditions: 30% microwave power utilization, a catalyst loading of 15% (W/W), a stirring speed of 700 RPM, and a methanol concentration of 70% (V/V) with an 8-min reaction time. Response surface methodology (RSM), in comparison with artificial neural networks (ANNs), has been utilized for the optimization of biodiesel yield, giving efficient results with errors of 0.003% for RSM and 0.005% for ANN. Consequently, the study reports optimized biodiesel yields of 92.9% (experimental), 93.27% (RSM), and 92.40% (ANN). Physicochemical properties such as kinematic viscosity (4.4 mm2/s) at 40°C, density (875 kg/m3) at 15°C, cetane number (53.2), calorific value (38.8 MJ/kg), flash point (175°C), oxidative stability (6.1 h), and cold flow properties were determined with respect to the ASTM and EN standards. The findings reveal that biofuels primarily support Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7 and 13, with the prime focus on “affordable and clean energy” and “climate action,” respectively.
Dengue and chikungunya: future threats for Northern Europe?
Authors: Laverdeur Justine , Desmecht Daniel , Hayette Marie-Pierre , Darcis Gilles
Published: January 2024

Arthropod-borne viral diseases are likely to be affected by the consequences of climate change with an increase in their distribution and intensity. Among these infectious diseases, chikungunya and dengue viruses are two (re)emergent arboviruses transmitted by Aedes species mosquitoes and which have recently demonstrated their capacity for rapid expansion. They most often cause mild diseases, but they can both be associated with complications and severe forms. In Europe, following the establishment of invasive Aedes spp, the first outbreaks of autochtonous dengue and chikungunya have already occurred. Northern Europe is currently relatively spared, but climatic projections show that the conditions are permissive for the establishment of Aedes albopictus (also known as the tiger mosquito) in the coming decades. It is therefore essential to question and improve the means of surveillance in northern Europe, at the dawn of inevitable future epidemics.
Reanalysis and validation of the transcriptional pleural fluid signature in pleural tuberculosis
Authors: Corrêa Raquel da Silva , Leal-Calvo Thyago , Mafort Thiago Thomaz , Santos Ana Paula , Leung Janaína , Pinheiro Roberta Olmo , Rufino Rogério , Moraes Milton Ozório , Rodrigues Luciana Silva
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Pleural tuberculosis (PlTB), the most common site of extrapulmonary TB, is characterized by a paucibacillary nature and a compartmentalized inflammatory response in the pleural cavity, both of which make diagnosis and management extremely challenging. Although transcriptional signatures for pulmonary TB have already been described, data obtained by using this approach for extrapulmonary tuberculosis and, specifically, for pleural tuberculosis are scarce and heterogeneous. In the present study, a set of candidate genes previously described in pulmonary TB was evaluated to identify and validate a transcriptional signature in clinical samples from a Brazilian cohort of PlTB patients and those with other exudative causes of pleural effusion.

Methods

As a first step, target genes were selected by a random forest algorithm with recursive feature elimination (RFE) from public microarray datasets. Then, peripheral blood (PB) and pleural fluid (PF) samples from recruited patients presenting exudative pleural effusion were collected during the thoracentesis procedure. Transcriptional analysis of the selected top 10 genes was performed by quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR).

Results

Reanalysis of the public datasets identified a set of candidate genes (CARD17, BHLHE40, FCGR1A, BATF2, STAT1, BTN3A1, ANKRD22, C1QB, GBP2, and SEPTIN4) that demonstrated a global accuracy of 89.5% in discriminating pulmonary TB cases from other respiratory diseases. Our validation cohort consisted of PlTB (n = 35) patients and non-TB (n = 34) ones. The gene expressions of CARD17, GBP2, and C1QB in PF at diagnosis were significantly different between the two (PlTB and non-TB) groups (p < 0.0001). It was observed that the gene expressions of CARD17 and GBP2 were higher in PlTB PF than in non-TB patients. C1QB showed the opposite behavior, being higher in the non-TB PF. After anti-TB therapy, however, GBP2 gene expression was significantly reduced in PlTB patients (p < 0.001). Finally, the accuracy of the three above-cited highlighted genes in the PF was analyzed, showing AUCs of 91%, 90%, and 85%, respectively. GBP2 was above 80% (sensitivity = 0.89/specificity = 0.81), and CARD17 showed significant specificity (Se = 0.69/Sp = 0.95) in its capacity to discriminate the groups.

Conclusion

CARD17, GBP2, and C1QB showed promise in discriminating PlTB from other causes of exudative pleural effusion by providing accurate diagnoses, thus accelerating the initiation of anti-TB therapy.