bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Partidismo: ¿el verdadero aliado de las fake news? Un análisis comparativo del efecto sobre la creencia y la divulgación
Authors: Baptista João Pedro , Correia Elisete , Gradim Anabela , Piñeiro-Naval Valeriano 
Published: July 2021

Introducción: Tras la recomposición del parlamento portugués con la aparición de la derecha radical, este estudio explora la influencia de la orientación partidista en la creencia y difusión de fake news. Metodología: Se recurrió a una muestra exploratoria (N = 712), cuyos participantes fueron expuestos a 20 titulares políticamente sesgados (pro-derecha y pro-izquierda): la mitad fake news y la otra mitad noticias verdaderas. Los participantes evaluaron su credibilidad y voluntad de compartirlas en las redes sociales. Resultados: Es más probable que los partidarios de derecha crean y compartan fake news compatibles. Esta tendencia se verificó en todos los parámetros de medición del partidismo —(1) intención de voto, (2) simpatía partidaria y (3) autoubicación en la escala I-D—, en contraste con lo revelado con los partidistas de izquierda. Discusión y conclusiones: Solo los partidarios de derecha muestran una tendencia a creer más en fake news que favorecen su orientación. No ocurre lo mismo con los individuos de izquierdas. Sin embargo, es más probable que tanto los partidarios de derecha como de izquierda compartan contenido sesgado. Creemos que las personas con identidad de partido de derecha pueden estar más expuestas a la desinformación en Portugal, ya que la mayoría de los sitios de desinformación buscan esta audiencia específica.
Impact measurement: quantitatively determining the improvement in students’ academic literacy levels at a South African university
Authors: Fouché Ilse 
Published: July 2021

Academic literacy interventions are becoming increasingly important in a country where the secondary education system no longer adequately prepares students for the literacy demands of higher education. This article investigates whether there was an improvementin students’ academic literacy levels between the onset and completion of an academic literacy module at a South African university. This is done by using a combination of instruments selected from a proposed evaluation design for academic literacy interventions, suggested by Fouché, Van Dyk and Butler (2016). A pre-test / post-test design is used, where, firstly, students’ results in a validated and reliable generic academic literacy test are considered. Secondly, students’ writing abilities are assessed by means of two instruments: a rubric and quantitative measures. Finally, students’ academic literacy marks are correlated to other variables, and interpreted within the context of the study, to give additional insight into the impact of the academic literacy course. Findings indicate that students showed an improvement across a wide array of academic literacy abilities, in particular their ability to use source material in their writing assignments, and their usage of a wider range of academic vocabulary. However, there were also areas where students did not display anyimprovement. Based on the experience of implementing various evaluation instruments, several recommendations are made on how future researchers could avoid pitfalls that were encountered in this study.
Phytoestrogen in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) (Fabaceae) extract reduces vaginal oxidative stress and increases proliferation of fibroblast in ovariectomized rats
Authors: Setyarini Arika Indah , Wiyasa Wayan Arsana , Ratnawati Retty , Indrawan Wayan Agung 
Published: July 2021

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of a phytoestrogen extract of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) on malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity, as well as proliferation of fibroblasts in ovariectomized rat vagina. This is with a view to identify the optimal dose of a phytoestrogen supplement for use during the menopausal period of women.
Methods: Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) were divided into five groups: negative control, ovariectomy, and ovariectomy groups treated with 1.25, 2.5, or 5 mg/kg of cowpea extract, respectively. The three doses were used to identify the optimal dose required to reduce vaginal oxidative stress and increase fibroblast proliferation in ovariectomized rats. After treatment, the ovariectomized rat vagina was assessed for SOD and MDA levels, MAPK activity, and fibroblast proliferation.
Results: Cowpea extract at a dose of 2.5 and 5 mg/kg caused significant reduction in SOD levels in the vaginal tissue of rats compared with control (p < 0.05). In contrast, cowpea extract at 1.25 mg/kg resulted in MDA levels similar to that of control rats (p < 0.05). Cowpea extract treatment had positive effects on SOD and MDA levels and on fibroblast proliferation. Increase in SOD levels in rat vagina was induced by increased MDA levels, which is characteristic of oxidative stress, while ovariectomy resulted in decreased MAPK activity.
Conclusion: Overall, the cowpea extract has no significant effect on MAPK activity or fibroblast proliferation. However, it has a significant effect on SOD and MDA levels and on fibroblast proliferation at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg.
In vitro antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of the ethanol extract of Uromastyx hardwickii skin
Authors: Shams Waqas Ahmad , Rehman Gauhar , Onoja Samuel Okwudili , Ali Abid , Khan Khurshaid , Niaz Sadaf 
Published: July 2021

Purpose: To evaluate the in vitro antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of the ethanol extract of Uromastyx hardwickii Skin (UHSEE).
Methods: The in vitro effects of UHSEE at various concentrations (10 - 250 µg/mL) on the activities of ߙ-amylase, ߙ-glucosidase and glucose uptake by yeast cells were used to evaluate its antidiabetic potential. Nitric oxide (NO), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydrogen peroxide inhibitory assay were employed to determine its antioxidant effects, while the anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated using human red blood cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization assay.
Results: UHSEE inhibited ߙ-amylase and ߙ-glucosidase enzymes but increased glucose uptake by yeast cells in a concentration-dependent manner (p < 0.05). It also inhibited NO, DPPH, hydrogen peroxide and HRBC hemolysis in a concentration-dependent manner (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Uromastyx hardwickii skin exhibits promising good antidiabetic, antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties in vitro. However, its true potentials in this regard needs to be evaluted in vivo.
Development of HPTLC method for determination of α-terpinyl acetate, and evaluation of antioxidant properties of essential oils in Elettaria cardamomum
Authors: Alam Aftab , Majumdar Rita Singh , Alam Pravej 
Published: July 2021

Purpose: To develop a simple and reliable protocol for high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) quantification of α-terpinyl acetate in oils extracted from Elettaria cardamomum, and to study relative antioxidant potential of oils obtained from three varieties of fruits of E. cardamomum.
Methods: Essential oil was extracted separately from the fruits of three varieties of E. cardamomum, viz, Valley-green, Palakuzhi, and ICRI-2, using hydro-distillation method. In the development of an HPTLC method, standard α-terpinyl acetate was subjected to chromatography on aluminium-backed silica gel 60 F254 plates using a mobile phase of n-hexane: ethyl acetate (8:2, v/v), and quantified at 665 nm through densitometric analysis. The antioxidant property of essential oil of each cultivar was determined with respect to 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging assays, as well as ferric reducing assay.
Results: The developed HPTLC method showed a good resolution for α-terpinyl acetate, with Rf of 0.64 ± 0.01, and also showed good linearity of the calibration plots (r2 = 0.9982). The HPTLC method was validated as per ICH guidelines, and used for the determination of α-terpinyl acetate in the essential oils. The valley green variety of E. cardamomum had the highest content of α-terpinyl acetate (55.36 ± 1.33 %w/w). The inhibitory capacity (IC50 value) for the oil of valley green variety as determined using DPPH and ABTS methods was 378.2 and 19.87 μg/mL, respectively.
Conclusion: The proposed HPTLC method is suitable for routine analysis of α-terpinyl acetate in medicinal herbs, and it reveals the role of α-terpinyl acetate in the antioxidant efficacy of cardamom oil.
Iron deficiency anemia and associated factors among pregnant women in a tertiary care hospital, in Sargodha District, Pakistan
Authors: Qamar Sumbul , Azhar Saira , Mazhar Saadoon , Bakht Khush , Murtaza Ghulam 
Published: July 2021

Purpose: To evaluate iron deficiency anemia and other concomitant risk factors among pregnant women in a tertiary care hospital in Sargodha District of Pakistan.
Methods: An observational cross-sectional study on pregnant women over a six-month period from December 2016, was conducted in the gynaecology and obstetrics department of the District Headquarters Hospital, Sargodha, Pakistan. All women with renal failure, heart disease and surgical history were excluded from the study, while all pregnant women visiting the out-patient department (OPD) were included in the investigation. Blood sampling and analysis were performed, following standard laboratory operating procedures to determine the haemoglobin (Hb) levels of the patients.
Results: Fifty pregnant women were enrolled in this study. They had a mean age of 27.85 ± 4.99 years with a range of 20 – 46 years. Almost half, i.e., 26 (52 %), were aged 20 – 30 years; 18 (36 %) 31 – 40 years and six (12 %) > 40 years of age. Regarding occupational status, 45 (90 %) of the respondents were housewives. In total, 86 % of the women were anemic, while the remaining 14 % were non-anemic and had an Hb level slightly > 11 g/dL. Among the anemic women, 13 (26 %) had mild anemia, 33 (66 %) moderate anemia, and 4 (8 %) were severely anemic.
Conclusion: Iron deficiency and anemia have major health impacts on pregnant women. Steps should be taken during ante-natal care to monitor Hb levels in pregnant women and apply appropriate remedy where necessary. Other biomarkers and related risk factors such as total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and total blood count (TBC) have previously been found to be linked to anemia
Postoperative vomiting/nausea in Chinese patients undergoing bariatric surgery
Authors: Zhao Li-Ping , Zou Lu-Jia , He Jing-Hui 
Published: July 2021

Purpose: To assess the incidence of post-operative vomiting/nausea (PVN), as well as usage and effectiveness of PVN prophylaxis in Chinese patients receiving bariatric surgery.
Methods: This prospective observational study included 82 patients subjected to bariatric surgery using total intravenous (IV) anesthesia. Patients were given PVN prophylactic treatment as per the local practice depending on Apfel et al criterion for simplified risk score useful for PVN prediction. Postsurgery, the patients were evaluated at 2, 4, 6, 24, 48 and 72 h using a questionnaire. Univariate analysis of risk factors associated with PVN was carried conducted with Pearson’s Chi-squared test for category variables and Mann–Whitney–Wilcoxon test for a continuous variable.
Results: About 69 % of the patients developed PVN within 24 h post-surgery, and the risk increased with increase in the number of PVN risk factors. Significant contrasts were seen with respect to PVN, with higher occurrence in females (81.36 %), when compared to males (39.13 %) within the first 24 h (p < 0.05). Two patients got sub-optimum PVN prophylactic therapy as per guidelines, 19 patients had optimum therapy, while 61 patients had supra-optimum therapy. Moreover, 63.94 % of patients who obtained supra-optimum PVN prophylactic therapy experienced PVN within 24 h post-surgery, while 84.21 % of patients with optimum PVN prophylactic therapy experienced PVN within the same period (p < 0.05). Overall, 35.37 % of patients experienced serious nausea 24 h post-surgery.
Conclusion: PVN incidence is high, notwithstanding the fact that almost all the patients received optimum or supra-optimum prophylactic therapy. These findings raise dubiety regarding the viability and significance of using risk-based PVN prophylactic therapy in patients under bariatric surgery. Thus, further research is needed in this regard.
Silencing of acetyl-CoA carboxylase-α gene in human gastric cancer cells inhibits proliferation via induction of apoptosis, autophagy and suppression of cell invasion
Authors: Yu Chunsong , Wu Xuehong , Yao Bihua , Tao Huaxing 
Published: July 2021

Purpose: To study the role and therapeutic potential of acetyl-CoA-carboxylase-α (ACC) in the management of gastric cancer.
Methods: Expression of ACC in gastric cancer cell lines was determined using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Lipofectamine 2000 reagent was used for transfection, while cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Apoptotic cell death was assayed with 4′, 6-diamidino-2- phenylindole (DAPI) and acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining. The proportion of apoptotic cells was estimated with Annexin V/PI staining. Wound healing and Transwell assays were employed to monitor cell migration and invasion, while protein expression was determined using western blotting.
Results: The results showed that ACC was significantly enhanced in SNU-1 gastric cancer cells (4.2- fold). Silencing of ACC in SNU-1 gastric cancer cells caused significant decrease in cell proliferation (p < 0.05). Electron microscopy examination showed that ACC silencing triggered autophagic cell death in SNU-1 cells, and increased expression of LC3 II. Results from DAPI and AO/EB assays demonstrated that ACC silencing also promoted apoptosis in SNU-1 gastric cancer cells. Annexin V/PI assay results revealed that apoptotic cell population increased from 2.7 to 13.8 % due to ACC silencing (p < 0.05). Moreover, Bax expression increased, while Bcl-2 expression decreased upon ACC silencing. Transwell assay results indicate that ACC silencing caused marked decrease in the invasion of the SNU-1 cells and downregulation of the expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: ACC is likely to be an important therapeutic target for gastric cancer.
Dexmedetomidine pretreatment alleviates ischemia reperfusion injury-induced inflammatory reaction via inhibition of TLR-4/NF-ΚB signaling pathway
Authors: Zhang Haiping , Wu Zhiying , Han Nanhuo , Xu Lu , Xiong Kai 
Published: July 2021

Purpose: To study the effect of dexmedetomidine on ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI)–induced inflammatory response, as well as its underlying mechanism of action.
Methods: Three groups of healthy adult Sprague Dawley (SD) rats (mean weight, 275 ± 10 g): control, IRI and treatment groups were used. With the exception of control group, ligation was performed on left anterior descending coronary arteries for 30 min and blood perfusion was restored within 100 min to establish IRI. Control group rats were without left ligation. Rats in control and IRI groups received normal saline intraperitoneally 30 min prior to surgery, while the treatment group received 100 μg/kg dexmedetomidine via intraperitoneal injection 30 min before operation. Infarct volume was determined using triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining. IL-6) and TNF-α levels of myocardial tissues and serum were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Western blotting was used to determine protein expressions of NF-ΚB and TLR-4 in myocardial tissues.
Results: Pretreatment with dexmedetomidine markedly decreased infarct volume caused by IRI (p < 0.05). Serum and myocardial TNF-α and IL-6 were significantly upregulated in IRI group, relative to control group, but were downregulated by pretreatment with dexmedetomidine (p < 0.05). There was marked upregulation of NF-ΚB and TLR-4 proteins in IRI rats, relative to untreated rats (p < 0.05). Dexmedetomidine also down-regulated the expressions of these proteins (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: Pretreatment with dexmedetomidine alleviates IRI-induced inflammatory reaction via suppression of TLR-4/NF-ΚB signaling pathway. This finding provides a basis for large-scale clinical trials with dexmedetomidine.
Ophiopogon japonicas (Linn. f.) Ker-Gawl. extract ameliorates chronic heart failure in rats
Authors: Cai Hu-zhi , Tang Yan-ping , Chen Xin-yu , Xie Hai-bo , Chen Qing-yang , Xu Ze-lin 
Published: July 2021

Purpose: To investigate the effect of Ophiopogon japonicas (Linn. f.) Ker-Gawl. extract (OJKE) on oxidative stress and hemodynamics in chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) rats.
Methods: The rats were modelled to congestive heart failure (except normal group) , and then randomly divided into normal control group, model (untreated) group, captopril group, high-dose, middle-dose and low-dose of OJKE groups. They were treated for 4 weeks as appropriate for each group. At the end of treatment, the hemodynamic function, whole heart weight index, and blood creatinine kinase (CK), as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), nitricoxide synthase (NOS) were determined.
Results: Compared with the normal control group, arterial systolic pressure (SBP), diastolic pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), left ventricular systolic peak (LVSP), and left ventricular pressure change rate (dp/dt max) significantly decreased (p < 0.05), while left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), whole heart weight index, blood CK, MDA, NO, NOS significantly increased in the untreated group (p < 0.05). A high dose of OJKE significantly improved hemodynamic function, lowered MDA (8.33 ± 2.12 nmol/mL) and NO (20.58 ± 3.53 umol/L) levels (p < 0.05), and also decreased CK (0.53±0.37 U/mL) and NOS (22.46±3.29 U/mL) in CHF rats (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: OJKE improved adriamycin-induced chronic congestive heart failure in rats significantly.
Immunosuppressive effect of voacamine from Voacanga africana Stapf based on SPRi experiment
Authors: Li Hong Xiang , Wang Yan Qiu , Zhao Jin Shuang , Zhu Li Xia , Huai Wen Ying , Liu Rong Qiang , Zhang Tian E. , Deng Yun 
Published: July 2021

Purpose: To investigate the affinity of a bis-indole alkaloid - voacamine from Voacanga Africana Stapf for IL-2Rα - and its immunosuppressive effect on concanavalin A-induced T cell proliferation and lipopolysaccharide -induced B cell proliferation in vitro.
Methods: Surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi) was used to screen the target protein of voacamine, while CCK-8 kit was used to evaluate cytotoxicity. Mitogen-induced proliferation assay was carried out to assess the inhibitory effect of voacamine on Con A-induced T cell proliferation and LPSinduced B cell proliferation. The binding characteristics of voacamine were investigated using a binding model with IL-2Rα constructed based on molecular docking simulation.
Results: Voacamine had a high-affinity for IL-2Rα with an equilibrium dissociation constant (KD) of 1.85×10-8 M. Cytotoxicity data showed that voacamine did not exhibit cytotoxicity at concentrations lower than 0.32 µM. However, it exerted significant immunosuppressive effect on B cells at a lower concentration, but had no influence on proliferation of T cells. Autodock results indicate that voacamine has a good interaction with the enzyme active site.
Conclusion: Voacamine and its analogues exert influence on the immune system.
Protective effect of Acorus tatarinowii extract against alzheimer in 3xTg-AD mice
Authors: Su Cen , Niu Ping , Xu Yao-ming , Feng Ye , Xia Hai-ping 
Published: July 2021

Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of Acorus tatarinowii extract (ATE) against Alzheimer's disease in 3xTg-AD mice.
Method: The cognitive function of 3xTg-AD mice was assessed using Morris water maze test. The levels of the amyloid beta deposits and NeuN in the hippocampus were evaluated by immunohistochemical assay while brain neurotrophic derived factor (BDNF) and tyrosine kinase B (TrkB) expressions were determined by western blot analysis.
Results: ATE treatment significantly ameliorated learning and memory deficits in AD mice, as shown by increased time spent in the target zone during probe tests. The escape latency in animals treated with 600 mg/kg ATE (24.8 ± 1.3 s) was significantly increased relative to ontreated 3xTg-AD mice (8.5 ± 1.0 s, p < 0.01). In addition, ATE significantly decreased Aβ deposits, increased NeuN-positive cells, and upregulated the expression of BDNF (1.9 ± 0.4, p < 0.05) and TrkB (1.9 ± 0.2, p < 0.05) in 3xTg AD mice.
Conclusion: These results suggest that ATE treatment may be a useful strategy for managing memory impairment induced by several neurodegenerative diseases.
Effect of Zaoxiu ointment on wound-healing in experimental second degree burns rats
Authors: Wang Xiong , Ma Li , Huang Meng-ling , Chen Yong-gang , Wu Jin-hu 
Published: July 2021

Purpose: To evaluate the healing efficacy of a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) preparation Zaoxiu Burn Ointment (ZBO) on experimental burns in rats.
Methods: The rats were randomly divided into four groups of eight rats each: control group, silver sulfadiazine (SSD)-treated group, moist exposed burn ointment (MEBO)-treated group and ZBO-treated group. ZBO, SSD and MEBO were applied topically twice daily for 7 days. SSD and MEBO were used as reference control. The observation of wound area contraction and histological analysis of wound tissues were performed. The effect of ZBO on MMPs, VEGF and Type-III collagen proteins of wound tissue in rats were determined by Western blot.
Results: After 10 days of topical treatment with ZBO, ZBO-treated group showed faster reduction in wound area in comparison with control groups (p < 0.01). MMP-2, MMP-9, VEGF and type-III collagen expression of the wound tissue increased significantly (p < 0.05) in comparison with the control burn wounds in rats. The ZBO had no cytotoxic effect on BHK-21 cell line. Histological results showed an overall early recovery and regeneration in ZBO-treated group when compared with control group.
Conclusion: ZBO possesses significant wound-healing activity in full-thickness burn wounds in rats, and can potentially be developed for the treatment of burns patient in future.