bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of rubrics on students’ self-assessment and overall performance in an EAP writing course
Authors: Bidna Tetyana 
Published: November 2024

This study investigates the impact of rubric use on students’ self-assessment and overall performance in an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) writing course. Recognizing the complexity of academic writing, which requires substantial guidance and effort, the research examines how rubrics can help align students’ self-assessments with instructor’s and / or program expectations. The study involved six students from diverse cultural and academic backgrounds who participated in multiple rounds of rubric-related assessments and following reflective activities. The findings suggest that consistent use of rubrics can significantly enhance students’ understanding of writing criteria, improve the correlation between student and instructor evaluations, and consequently lead to better writing outcomes. However, certain challenges such as lower proficiency levels, time constraints, or lack of interest / motivation may limit students’ ability to fully comprehend and utilize rubrics effectively while performing a writing task. The research highlights the need for clear and measurable rubric descriptors to support students’ comprehension, additionally to providing multiple writing samples for reference and allowing adequate practice time. These insights contribute to the ongoing discussion on rubric effectiveness in General English Language Teaching (General ELT) and EAP settings, offering practical suggestions how to improve academic writing instruction and bridge the gap between students’ performance and instructor’s and/ or program expectations.
The unexpected PD-L1 suppression function of celery-derived extracellular vesicles improves lung cancer chemotherapy efficacy
Authors: Lu Xin , Yu Ziwen , Wang Junjun , Tian Ao , Wu Tingyu , Cheng Yirui , Han Qing , Li Fan , Xia Weiliang 
Published: November 2024

Aim: The article explores celery-derived extracellular vesicles (CDEVs), characterized by high cellular uptake, low immunogenicity, and high stability, as a therapeutic strategy for antitumor nanomedicines.
Methods: The methods employed in this study include in vitro cell experiments such as co-culture, Western Blot, and flow cytometry. In vivo experiments were conducted in C57BL/6 tumor-bearing mice subcutaneously injected with Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells. The experiments encompassed parameters such as survival rate, body weight, tumor size, flow cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and spectral live imaging system.
Results: Our study revealed that CDEVs could be used as drugs to effectively downregulate the phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3(p-STAT3)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) axis in lung cancer cells. In co-culture experiments, CDEVs were observed to impede the expression of PD-L1, thereby interfering with the interaction between PD-L1 and programmed death 1 (PD-1) and subsequently preventing the suppression of T cells. In in vivo distribution experiments, CDEVs loaded with paclitaxel (PTX) demonstrated better tumor targeting capabilities. Remarkably, following CDEVs-PTX treatment, CD8+ T cell levels in mice were increased, presumably leading to improved antitumor effects.
Conclusion: CDEVs not only serve as drug carriers but also function as drugs themselves; as such, through a single administration of CDEVs, it is possible to combine immunotherapy and chemotherapy to achieve better effects between the two, providing a more comprehensive and effective cancer treatment strategy that promises to improve treatment outcomes and reduce the adverse effects of therapy.
RP-HPLC Method Development and Validation of Abacavir, Lamivudine and Zidovudine in combined pharmaceutical dosage by Analytical QbD
Authors: Vanparia Divyesh , Dedania Ronak , Dedania Zarna 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

The assessment of three antiviral medications, namely Abacavir (ABA), Lamivudine (LAMI), and Zidovudine (ZIDO) in combined pharmaceutical dosage form was accomplished by the development and validation of a high-performance liquid chromatographic technique. Using the Box-Behnken Design and the Design Expert® software (Version 11.0), the Analytical Quality by Design (AQbD) RP-HPLC method was created for the simultaneous quantification of drugs. The ideal circumstances for the composition of the mobile phase Methanol, Acetonitrile and Potassium dihydrogen phosphate (pH 3.5) 65:20:15% v/v/v on Shimadzu C18 column on an HPLC system with UV detection at 280 nm was used and a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. It was discovered that the retention times (min) for ABA, LAMI, and ZIDO were 4.12, 6.71, and 9.25, in that order. Both the asymmetry factor and the number of theoretical plates fall within the bound. The ICH guideline was followed in the validation of the suggested approach. It was discovered that the linearity was 10–60 µg/mL ZIDO, 5–30 µg/mL LAMI, and 10–60 µg/mL ABA. Three stages of the recovery study were 50%, 100%, and 150%. With intentional parameter adjustments, the method's % RSD of peak area was less than 2%, demonstrating its robustness. The medication mixture assay shows no signs of excipient interference.
The AXL-Mediated Modulation of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSC) in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Authors: Lv Yu , Zhu Jiahui , Ge Sichen , Jiang Tao , Xu Yajia , Yao Weige , Jiang Chengyi 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

AXL has ubiquitous expression in multiple cancers, and is strongly linked to both tumor progression, metastasis, and poor prognosis, as well as anti-tumor immune response suppression and induction of tumor resistance to immunotherapy. Therefore, it is a strong target for cancer intervention. Despite the wide application of AXL inhibitors in clinical trials, the role of AXL in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) remains undetermined. Herein, we established cell lines with stable AXL knockdown or overexpression using lentiviral infection. Subsequently, we co-cultured the cells with healthy human blood-derived CD33 + PBMCs. After two days in culture, we assessed the PBMCs differentiation into MDSCs and determined the IL-6 and GM-CSF contents in the co-culture supernatants. Additionally, we subcutaneously administered nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) cells into mice, and evaluated the association between AXL content and MDSC aggregation in the resulting tumors. We demonstrated that AXL is a critical modulator of MDSC differentiation and accumulation in NPC. It modulates IL-6, GM-CSF, and Toll-like receptor contents to achieve the aforementioned actions. Herein, we revealed a strong and direct link between AXL, cytokines in TIME, and MDSC differentiation and accumulation. Our work highlights novel approaches to optimizing existing immunotherapeutic interventions.
Aramid Nanofibers at Ultralow Loadings: Driving Significant Multifunctionality in Epoxy Composite Dielectrics
Authors: Yuan Hao-Wen , Wang Zi , Zang Zicheng , Wu Qing-Zhou , Jiang Guoqing , Wei Hua-Chao , Zhang Yi-Yi , Zheng Jiajia , Ren Jun-Wen , Wu Guanglei , Jia Shen-Li 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Epoxy materials with superior dielectric, mechanical, and thermal performance are of great interesting for electrical equipment and power electronics. However, integrating these excellent advantages into epoxy materials presents a formidable challenge. Herein, we detail a simple yet effective strategy for the concurrent enhancement of the dielectric breakdown strength, mechanical toughness, and mechanical strength of the epoxy materials by incorporation of a minimal amount of aramid nanofibers (ANFs). It is revealed that a robust interfacial interaction is established between epoxy matrix and the high aspect ratio of ANFs as corroborated by both molecular dynamics simulations and dielectric relaxation spectroscopy. The strong interaction facilitates an optimized interface that enables efficient transfer of interfacial stress and energy dissipation, in turn conferring the ANFs/Epoxy with exceptional mechanical toughness and strength of 75.68 MPa and 195 MJ/m3, respectively. Furthermore, the incorporation of ANFs introduces a multitude of deep traps which effectively impede the migration of charge carriers, contributing to a substantial improvement of the dielectric breakdown strength of the ANFs/Epoxy composite, which is elevated to 196.8 kV/mm. The versatility, exceptional electrical insulating, and scalability of ANFs/Epoxy showcase its immense potential for advanced electronics and electric power systems, especially for withstanding extra/ultra high voltage applications.
Slotting blasting model experiment and PCA-PNN evaluation model of influencing factors of slitting effect
Authors: Li Qiang , Sun Jinshan , Wang Cunguo , Wang Jianguo , Wang Xinguo , Yan Aiguo 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Numerous parameters influence the slotting performance of slotted cartridge; however, the extent of influence of each parameter is not well understood. To facilitate rapid, efficient, and accurate predictions of the slotting performance, several evaluation indicators generally need to be considered. Nevertheless, these indicators frequently exhibit correlations, resulting in overlapping information. A statistical analysis of blasting experiments conducted on PMMA with six different slotted cartridge parameters yielded 12 indicators for assessing the slitting performance. Subsequently, a principal component analysis (PCA) method was introduced to reduce the dimensionality of the data associated with these indicators, and three new comprehensive indicators were extracted for a comprehensive assessment of the slotting performance. The PCA scores ranked the influence of the six slotted cartridge parameters on slotting performance as follows: decoupling coefficient, slotting width, slotting angle, slotting tube thickness, slotting tube material, and charge amount. This ranking serves as a guideline for selecting suitable slotted cartridge parameters. On the basis of the PCA, a probabilistic neural network (PNN) model was developed to assess slotting performance levels. The predictive results demonstrated that the PCA-PNN model performed well across eight different training and testing sample configurations, achieving correct prediction rates of 100%, 100%, 96.43%, 89.29%, 89.29%, 89.29%, 78.57%, and 78.57%, respectively. This corresponded to an average accuracy improvement of 11.61% compared to data that was not subjected to PCA dimensionality reduction. Moreover, the PCA-PNN model was validated as a robust and feasible approach for evaluating the slotting performance of slotted cartridge.
Urological management in people with traumatic and non-traumatic spinal cord injury in Brazil
Authors: Martins Giovana Pelosi , Corbo Letícia Noelle , Lopes Filipe , Ferreira Eliz , de Souza Daniel Rubio , Tate Denise Galuf , Faleiros Fabiana 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Study desing: Despite the critical need for data to support public health policies in Brazil, there is a glaring lack of national epidemiological studies on neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD).
Objectives: This study aimed to illuminate the factors associated with the urological management of NLUTD among individuals with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI) and non-traumatic spinal cord injury (NTSCI).
Methods: Employing a quantitative, cross-sectional, and descriptive design, this study analyzed electronic medical records of NLUTD and SCI patients monitored within the SARAH network from 2007 to 2017. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, including the ASIA Impairment Scale, and statistical analyses such as the Mann-Whitney and Pearson's Chi-square tests were conducted.
Results: The findings revealed that out of 903 patients, 67% had TSCI and 33% had NTSCI. Clean intermittent catheterization (CIC) was the primary bladder emptying method, utilized by 66.11% of the participants. The average emptying frequency was 4.71 times a day, and urinary incontinence was reported in 58.4% of cases. A significantly higher rate of positive urinary colonization was found among TSCI patients.
Conclusions: The study highlighted significant differences in NLUTD management between TSCI and NTSCI patients, with NTSCI patients more frequently achieving voluntary urination and using maneuvers to stimulate urination. These distinctions underscore the need for more individualized approaches and deeper understanding of each type of spinal cord injury, aiming to enhance bladder rehabilitation programs in Brazil.
The Effects and Durability of 8 weeks of Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization Exercises on Balance and Neuromuscular Coordination of Adults with Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Babagoltabar-Samakoush Hamed , Aminikhah Behnoosh , Bahiraei Saeid 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background
Individuals with intellectual disabilities (IDs) often exhibit
lower levels of physical fitness compared to the general
population, including reduced balance and neuromuscular
coordination. Dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) training
has been proposed as a potential intervention to improve physical
fitness in this population, but the effectiveness and durability of
DNS training on specific fitness components have not been
well-established. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to
investigate the effects and durability of 8 weeks of DNS exercises
on the balance and coordination of adults with IDs.

Methods
A total of 31 participants were randomly assigned to either an
intervention group (n = 16) or a control group (n = 15). Balance
and neuromuscular coordination were assessed at baseline,
immediately after the intervention, and 2 months following the
intervention using the Balance Error Scoring System test, walking
forward heel-to-toe test, and bilateral coordination test.
Participants in the intervention group engaged in the DNS training
program for 8 weeks, with 3 sessions per week, while the control
group maintained their usual activities.

Results
The analysis of the outcome measures revealed significant time,
group, and time-group interaction effects. Post-hoc analyses
indicated that the DNS group exhibited significantly greater
improvements in BESS scores and coordination compared to the
control group (p < 0.01). These improvements were maintained at
the 2-month follow-up assessment in the DNS group.

Conclusion
In general, it seems that the DNS exercises could improve
balance, and neuromuscular coordination of middle-aged people with
IDs ities, and the gained improvements were still existing after 8
weeks.
Adverse events in the nervous system associated with blinatumomab: A real-world study
Authors: Gao Wen , Yu Jingwei , Sun Yifei , Song Zheng , Liu Xia , Han Xue , Li Lanfan , Qiu Lihua , Zhou Shiyong , Qian Zhengzi , Wang Xianhuo , Zhang Huilai 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background
Nervous system toxicity (NST) is frequent and dangerous adverse events of blinatumomab, which is the first bispecific antibody drug targeting CD19 and CD3. Current data from clinical trials do not fully reflect the real-world situation. This study aimed to evaluate the NST of blinatumomab in real-word.
Methods
Data were retrieved from the FAERS. The reporting odds ratio (ROR), proportional reporting ratio (PRR), Bayesian confidence interval progressive neural network (BCPNN), and multi-item gamma Poisson shrinker (MGPS) algorithms were used for data mining.
Results
A total of 5,962 cases involving blinatumomab were extracted. NST occurred more frequently in male (40.19%) and was prevalent among young (18–45 years, 20.21%) and the United States patients (58.60%). Forty-three signals of NST were identified, of which neurotoxicity, neurological symptoms, agnosia, intention tremor, and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome had the highest ROR values. Concomitant use of medication for age, musculoskeletal system, genitourinary system and sexual hormones were independent risk factors for NST, and age was an independent protective factor for fatal NST. For neurological events, the median time to onset (TTO) was 3 days (range, 1 ~ 17). The highest fatality rate for neurological events was observed for increased intracranial pressure disorders, which also had the highest co-occurrence rate with cytokine release syndrome (CRS).
Conclusions
Age is an independent protective factor for fatal NST and CRS leads to a higher fatality rate for NST patients treated with blinatumomab. Thorough medication evaluation should be conducted before administering blinatumomab, especially for high-risk patients with preexisting neurological conditions.
Development and validation of a nomogram for predicting postoperative pulmonary complications in older patients undergoing noncardiac thoracic surgery: a prospective, bicentric cohort study
Authors: Zhou Yongxin , Wang Haiyan , Lu Dianyu , Jiang Tao , Huang Zhanpeng , Wang Feixiang , Yao Yonghua , Gu Yu , Wei Wei 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background The ARISCAT score, a prospectively developed generic classification for postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs), has shown excellent predictive performance in general surgery. However, there is no reliable classification instrument for PPCs prediciton in thoracic surgery.
Objective This study aimed to develop and validate a novel nomogram for estimating the risk of pulmonary complications in older patients (≥ 65 years) within 30 days after NCTS.
Methods A nomogram was developed using predefined candidate predictors of 30-day PPCs. It was fitted with least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and logistic regression methods. Internal validation was performed using a bootstrap-resampling approach, while external validation used an independent, temporally separated cohort. The model’s performance was assessed based on its discriminative potential (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC]), predictive ability (calibration plots), and clinical utility (net benefit).
Results In the development (n = 1449) and validation (n = 449) cohorts, 34.9% and 31.4% of patients, respectively, developed pulmonary complications 30 days post-surgery. The final nomogram incorporated eight predictors (age, surgical approach, desaturation of < 92% for more than 2 min, duration of surgery, smoking status, FEV1/FVC%, respiratory infection in the last 30 days, and neoadjuvant chemotherapy). The nomogram showed excellent discrimination (AUC = 0.866, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.846–0.885), calibration (Hosmer- Lemeshow test, P = 0.97) and overall performance (Brier score = 0.014) in the development cohort. Similar results were observed in the external validation cohort (AUC = 0.825, 95% CI, 0.786–0.864). A decision curve analysis indicated that the nomogram offers a positive net benefit compared with the ARISCAT and LAS VEGAS scores.
Conclusions This novel nomogram can reliably identify older patients with a high risk for pulmonary complications within 30 days after NCTS.
Trial registration ChiCTR2100051170.
Multi-centre retrospective study compared the outcomes of laparoscopic and open gastric resection for gastric cancer
Authors: Saad Hassan A. , Baz Azza , Riad Mohamed , Eraky Mohamed E , Farid Mohamed I , Said Huda EM , Elgammal Eid Rizk , Harira Mervat , Yousef Ahmed El-Sayed 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

The use of minimally invasive techniques has not attained the same widespread acceptance for the treatment of more advanced tumors, principally because of existing concerns about its feasibility and oncological adequacy.
Laparoscopy is rarely used to treat stomach malignancy. We compared the outcomes of laparoscopic gastrectomy with those of open surgery, and results evaluated .
There is still a debate regarding whether one of these options is superior. We need to compare the primary and secondary outcomesof laparoscopic versus open gastrectomy in patients with locallyadvanced gastric cancer, therefore, complete acceptance as a legitimate therapy is hampered by the lack of thorough investigation of long-term oncological consequences, including recurrence and fatality.
Methods
We retrospectively evaluated patients who underwent laparoscopic or open gastrectomy between February 2015 and November 2022. After collecting the database from the board sheet of our Zagzig University Hospital and six other specialist surgical hospitals, patients were divided into two groups: open surgery and laparoscopic surgery. Logistic regression was used to compare the 30-day complications and fatalities in both groups.
Results
The Risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. For consistent results, the mean difference (MD) or standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. The meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.3 and STATA software. A total of 8,232 gastric cancer patients were divided into two groups based on the type of surgery they underwent: open gastrectomy (n= 7,450; 90.5%) and laparoscopic surgery (n = 782; 9.5%). Preoperative measurement of risk variables was important (CI = 0.45-0.82, p = 0.001, odds ratio [OR] 0.61, 95% confidence interval). We found no significant differences in mortality between groups when the preoperative risk variable was measured (OR = 0.74; 95% CI = 0.32-1.72; p = 0.481).
Readmission of patients with hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis: A prospective cohort study
Authors: Liu Yuxiang , Ding Ling , Xu Xin , Guan Langyi , He Wenhua , Xia Liang , Lu Nonghua , Zhu Yin 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background
Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common cause of acute hospital admissions in digestive system diseases. In East Asia, hypertriglyceridemia is gradually emerged as the second most common cause of pancreatitis. Vigilance for recurrence and unplanned readmissions due to other causes is still necessary after discharge. studies on hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis (HTG-AP) are scarce and mainly consists of retrospective studies.
Methods
This was a prospective cohort study of adult patients with first episode of HTG-AP from December 2019 to February 2021 who were followed up for two years. Unscheduled readmission after the index discharge was the primary outcome. The Cox proportional-hazards model, and the Fine and Gray's competing-risk model were applied to the analyses.
Results
Totally, 293 survival patients were followed-up after discharge. The overall unplanned readmission rate was 30.0% in two years. Among them, 60 (20.5%) patients were readmitted to hospital once, 16 (5.5%) were readmitted twice, and 13 (4.4%) were readmitted three times or more. In summary, a total of 143 cases of readmission information were collected during the follow-up period. The recurrence accounts for a significant 77.3% proportion and stands as the primary cause for readmission. Cox regression model favors infection (Hazard ratio [HR], 3.066; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.192-7.888; P = 0.02) and age lower than 41.5 years old (HR, 3.157; 95% CI 1.883-5.292; P<0.01) as independent risk factors for patient readmission by multivariate analysis. The competing-risk model support the similar results compared with the former.
Conclusion
Unplanned readmission of patients with hypertriglyceridemia-induced acute pancreatitis is common, especially for young patients with occurrence of any infection during hospitalization, and warrant further investigation.
Trial registration
The study was registered at https://www.chictr.org.cn (ChiCTR1900028594) and was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki principles.