bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
FORMAÇÃO BASEADA EM COMPETÊNCIAS:
Authors: Coelho Iandra Maria Weirich da Silva 
Published: October 2024

Neste artigo, procura-se identificar diferentes implicações pedagógicas subjacentes à formação baseada em competências que podem influenciar no processo de ensino-aprendizagem de línguas. Metodologicamente, recorre-se à pesquisa bibliográfica e à análise qualitativa, mediante uso da técnica de análise de conteúdo. Os resultados evidenciam quatro implicações principais: mobilização de conhecimentos, habilidades e atitudes, renovação das estruturas e práticas pedagógicas, formação pautada na adaptação/ competitividade/empregabilidade e ênfase nos conhecimentos científicos em detrimento das humanidades. Tendo em vista essas implicações, conclui-se o estudo com uma discussão referente à construção e desenvolvimento de competências no processo de ensino-aprendizagem de línguas, sob uma perspectiva crítica, com base no aporte teórico do Letramento Crítico.
Extracellular vesicle mimetics as delivery vehicles for oligonucleotide-based therapeutics and plasmid DNA
Authors: Oshchepkova Anastasiya , Chernikov Ivan , Miroshnichenko Svetlana , Patutina Olga , Markov Oleg , Savin Innokenty , Staroseletz Yaroslav , Meschaninova Mariya , Puchkov Pavel , Zhukov Sergey , Kupryushkin Maxim , Maslov Mikhail , Sen’kova Aleksandra , Vlassov Valentin , Chernolovskaya Elena , Zenkova Marina 
Published: October 2024

IntroductionSmall membrane particles called extracellular vesicles (EVs) transport biologically active cargo between cells, providing intercellular communication. The clinical application of EVs is limited due to the lack of scalable and cost-effective approaches for their production and purification, as well as effective loading strategies.MethodsHere we used EV mimetics produced by cell treatment with the actin-destabilizing agent cytochalasin B as an alternative to EVs for the delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids.ResultsCytochalasin-B-inducible nanovesicles (CINVs) delivered a fully modified N-(methanesulfonyl)- or mesyl (µ-) antisense oligonucleotide to B16 melanoma cells, selectively decreasing the level of target microRNA-21 with effectiveness comparable to that observed upon Lipofectamine 2000-mediated delivery. The efficiency of the CINV-mediated delivery of plasmid DNA encoding EGFP varied depending on the type of recipient cells. Surprisingly, under experimental conditions, CINVs were unable to deliver both modified and natural short RNA duplexes—small interfering RNA and immunostimulatory RNA—probably due to their poor loading into CINVs.DiscussionCINVs demonstrated unique properties for the delivery of therapeutic nucleic acids, especially for antisense oligonucleotide-based therapy.
Study on the coupled hydro-mechanical model of gas-induced dilation effects in bentonite
Authors: Guo Jingna , Zhang Qi , Li Qiang , Li Meng , Chen Zhanqing , Chen Jiayi , Tang Zhiqiang 
Published: October 2024

IntroductionGas migration in low-permeability buffer materials is a crucial aspect of nuclear waste disposal. This study focuses on Gaomiaozi bentonite to investigate its behavior under various conditions.MethodsWe developed a coupled hydro-mechanical model that incorporates damage mechanisms in bentonite under flexible boundary conditions. Utilizing the elastic theory of porous media, gas pressure was integrated into the soil's constitutive equation. The model accounted for damage effects on the elastic modulus and permeability, with damage variables defined by the Galileo and Coulomb–Mohr criteria. We conducted numerical simulations of the seepage and stress fields using COMSOL and MATLAB. Gas breakthrough tests were also performed on bentonite samples under controlled conditions.ResultsThe permeability obtained from gas breakthrough tests and numerical simulations was within a 10% error margin. The experimentally measured gas breakthrough pressure aligned closely with the predicted values, validating the model's applicability.DiscussionAnalysis revealed that increased dry density under flexible boundaries reduced the damage area and influenced gas breakthrough pressure. Specifically, at dry densities of 1.4 g/cm³, 1.6 g/cm³, and 1.7 g/cm³, the corresponding gas breakthrough pressures were 5.0 MPa, 6.0 MPa, and 6.5 MPa, respectively. At a dry density of 1.8 g/cm³ and an injection pressure of 10.0 MPa, no continuous seepage channels formed, indicating no gas breakthrough. This phenomenon is attributed to the greater tensile and compressive strengths associated with higher dry densities, which render the material less susceptible to damage from external forces.
Factors affecting professional identity formation of basic medical sciences teachers in Pakistan: a phenomenological analysis of interviews
Authors: Kiran Faiza , Javaid Arshad , Irum Shazia , Zahoor Asiya , Farooq Fareeha 
Published: October 2024

IntroductionTeachers can perceive themselves as a true teacher and act as one only if they have a strong professional identity. This study aimed to identify factors that shape the unique professional identity of basic medical sciences teachers in Pakistan.MethodsA qualitative study was performed using the concepts of phenomenology and purposive sampling. A 20-item text-based interview was conducted by sharing a Google Form link with basic medical sciences teachers from select institutions. Iterative data collection and analysis were performed until data saturation was attained.ResultsA total of 40 participants took part in the study. Nine categories were identified and grouped into two major themes: four personal and five environmental factors. Personal factors included characteristics, preferences, religious values, and professional development. Environmental factors included community of practice, students' feedback, administrative support, work environment, and societal apathy. Among these factors, aptitude, family preference or work-life balance, hard work, dedication, and effect on parenting were more evident in women. By contrast, passion, experience, complacency, and unique identity were the prominent factors.DiscussionCommunity of practice [31 (77%)], passion for teaching [21 (52%)], students' feedback [18 (45%)], work-life balance [16 (40%)], and religious values [13 (32%)] were the primary positive contributors to the identity of basic medical sciences teachers. By contrast, poor administrative support [8 (20%)], negative work environment [11 (27%)], job dissatisfaction [7 (17%)], societal apathy [4 (10%)], and lack of opportunities for professional growth [6 (15%)] negatively impact the professional identity of basic medical sciences teachers.
Immunomodulatory effect of bovine lactoferrin during SARS-CoV-2 infection
Authors: Silva Andrea Marques Vieira da , Machado Thiago Lazari , Nascimento Ryann de Souza , Rodrigues Miguel Pires Medeiros Diniz , Coelho Felipe Soares , Tubarão Luciana Neves , da Rosa Lorenna Carvalho , Bayma Camilla , Rocha Vanessa Pimenta , Frederico Ana Beatriz Teixeira , Silva Jane , Cunha Danielle Regina de Almeida de Brito e , de Souza Alessandro Fonseca , Souza Raphaela Barbosa Gonçalves de , Barros Caroline Augusto , Fiscina Danielle da Silva , Ribeiro Luiz Claudio Pereira , de Carvalho Carlos Alberto Marques , da Silva Bruno Jorge Duque , Muller Rodrigo , Azamor Tamiris , Melgaço Juliana Gil , Gonçalves Rafael Braga , Ano Bom Ana Paula Dinis 
Published: October 2024

IntroductionLactoferrin (Lf) is an important immunomodulator in infections caused by different agents. During SARS-CoV-2 infection, Lf can hinder or prevent virus access to the intracellular environment. Severe cases of COVID-19 are related to increased production of cytokines, accompanied by a weak type 1 interferon response.MethodsWe investigated the influence of bovine Lf (bLf) in the immune response during SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro and in vivo assays.ResultsOur results show a strong binding between bLf and TLR4/NF-κB in silico, as well as an increase in mRNA expression of these genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) treated with bLf. Furthermore, the treatment increased TLR4/TLR9 mRNA expression in infected K18-hACE2 mouse blood, indicating an activation of innate response. Our results show that, when bLf was added, a reduction in the NK cell population was found, presenting a similar effect on PD-1 in TCD4+ and TCD8+ cells. In the culture supernatant of PBMCs from healthy participants, bLf decreased IL-6 levels and increased CCL5 in COVID-19 participants. In addition, K18-hACE2 mice infected and treated with bLf presented an increase of serum pro-inflammatory markers (GM-CSF/IL-1β/IL-2) and upregulated mRNA expression of IL1B and IL6 in the lung tissue. Furthermore, bLf treatment was able to restore FTH1 levels in brain tissue.DiscussionThe data indicate that bLf can be part of a therapeutic strategy to promote the immunomodulation effect, leading to homeostasis during COVID-19.
Establishment of OBT/TFWT dataset in seafood in Zhejiang province, China
Authors: Gong Xinyu , Huang Wengzhe , Cao Yiyao , Ma Xiaoxiang , Zhou Lei , Wang Peng , Ren Hong 
Published: October 2024

ObjectivesThis work aims to establish a dataset of ratios between tissue free water tritium (TFWT) and organically bound tritium (OBT) (containing both exchangeable and non-exchangeable OBT) in different types of seafood from Zhejiang province, China, thus to provide references for rapid screening of potential contamination of tritium in biological samples.MethodsFive types of seafood (fish, prawn, mussel, crab and kelp) were collected from Jiaxing, Ningbo, Zhoushan, Taizhou and Wenzhou city in Zhejiang Province in 2022, and measured for TFWT and OBT using tube furnace combustion system and liquid scintillation counting.ResultsThe observed activity concentrations of TFWT and OBT in this study were within the range of 1.01-10.09 Bq/L and 0.51-7.61 Bq/L, respectively. No significant difference in OBT/TFWT ratio was observed among different types of seafood (p &gt; 0.05), among the geographic distribution of the five cities (p &gt; 0.05), nor among the area of coastline, fishing ground and island (p &gt; 0.05). Additionally, there was no significant difference in the OBT/TFWT ratio between seafood from area with and without nuclear power plant operation (p &gt; 0.05). The mean OBT/TFWT ratio of fish, prawn, mussel, crab and kelp was 0.37 ± 0.19, 0.48 ± 0.27, 0.63 ± 0.33, 0.82 ± 0.50, and 0.64 ± 0.37, respectively. The mean and range of OBT/TFWT ratios were 0.59 ± 0.37 and 0.15-2.09 in all seafood collected from the five cities in Zhejiang Province, respectively.ConclusionsOur results indicate that tritium in seafood from coastal cities in Zhejiang Province is at the background level, and the operation of nuclear power plants in the province has no notable impact on the radioactivity levels of tritium in local marine biota. This study filled the gap in OBT/TFWT ratios in seafood, which provides new dataset for rapid detection of tritium contamination in nuclear emergencies.
Systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between ABCA7 common variants and Alzheimer’s disease in non-Hispanic White and Asian cohorts
Authors: Liu Da , Zhang Hongwei , Liu Cao , Liu Jianyu , Liu Yan , Bai Na , Zhou Qiang , Xu Zhiyao , Li Linyan , Liu Hua 
Published: October 2024

Background and aimsThe relationship between the ABCA7 gene and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been widely studied across various populations. However, the results have been inconsistent. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the association of ABCA7 polymorphisms with AD risk, including specific subtypes such as late-onset Alzheimer’s disease (LOAD).MethodsRelevant studies were identified through comprehensive database searches, and the quality of each study was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Allele and genotype frequencies were extracted from the included studies. The pooled odds ratios (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using random-effects or fixed-effects models. Multiple testing corrections were conducted using the false discovery rate (FDR) method. The Cochran Q statistic and I2 metric were used to evaluate heterogeneity between studies, while Egger’s test and funnel plots were employed to assess publication bias.ResultsA total of 36 studies, covering 21 polymorphisms and involving 31,809 AD cases and 44,994 controls, were included in this meta-analysis. NOS scores ranged from 7 to 9, indicating high-quality studies. A total of 11 SNPs (rs3764650, rs3752246, rs4147929, rs3752232, rs3752243, rs3764645, rs4147934, rs200538373, rs4147914, rs4147915, and rs115550680) in ABCA7 were significantly associated with AD risk. Among these SNPs, two (rs3764650 and rs3752246) were also found to be related to the late-onset AD (LOAD) subtype. In addition, two SNPs (rs4147929 and rs4147934) were associated with the susceptibility to AD only in non-Hispanic White populations. A total of 10 SNPs (rs3764647, rs3752229, rs3752237, rs4147932, rs113809142, rs3745842, rs3752239, rs4147918, rs74176364, and rs117187003) showed no significant relationship with AD risk. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the reliability of the original results, and heterogeneity was largely attributed to deviations from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, ethnicity, and variations between individual studies.ConclusionThe available evidence suggests that specific ABCA7 SNPs may be associated with AD risk. Future studies with larger sample sizes will be necessary to confirm these results.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42024540539.
Tumor treating induced fields: a new treatment option for patients with glioblastoma
Authors: Cai Zehao , Yang Zukai , Wang Ying , Li Ye , Zhao Hong , Zhao Hanwen , Yang Xue , Wang Can , Meng Tengteng , Tong Xiao , Zheng Hao , He Zhaoyong , Niu Chunli , Yang Junzhi , Chen Feng , Yang Zhi , Zou Zhige , Li Wenbin 
Published: October 2024

PurposeCurrently, a range of electromagnetic therapies, including magnetic field therapy, micro-currents therapy, and tumor treating fields, are under investigation for their potential in central nervous system tumor research. Each of these electromagnetic therapies possesses distinct effects and limitations. Our focus is on overcoming these limitations by developing a novel electric field generator. This generator operates by producing alternating induced currents within the tumor area through electromagnetic induction.MethodsFinite element analysis was employed to calculate the distribution of electric fields. Cell viability was assessed using the CCK-8 assay. Tumor volumes and weights served as indicators to evaluate the effectiveness of TTIF. The in-vivo imaging system was utilized to confirm tumor growth in the brains of mice.ResultsTTIF significantly inhibited the proliferation of U87 cells both in vitro and in vivo.ConclusionTTIF significantly inhibited the proliferation of U87 cells both in vitro and in vivo. Consequently, TTIF emerges as a potential treatment option for patients with progressive or metastatic GBM.
Effects of online and offline trigeminal nerve stimulation on visuomotor learning
Authors: Arias Diego E. , Buneo Christopher A. 
Published: October 2024

IntroductionA current thrust in neurology involves using exogenous neuromodulation of cranial nerves (e.g, vagus, trigeminal) to treat the signs and symptoms of various neurological disorders. These techniques also have the potential to augment cognitive and/or sensorimotor functions in healthy individuals. Although much is known about the clinical effects of trigeminal nerve stimulation (TNS), effects on sensorimotor and cognitive functions such as learning have received less attention, despite their potential impact on neurorehabilitation. Here we describe the results of experiments aimed at assessing the effects of TNS on motor learning, which was behaviorally characterized using an upper extremity visuomotor adaptation paradigm.ObjectiveAssessing the effects of TNS on motor learning.MethodsMotor learning was behaviorally characterized using an upper extremity visuomotor adaptation paradigm. In Experiment 1, effects of offline TNS using clinically tested frequencies (120 and 60 Hz) were characterized. Sixty-three healthy young adults received TNS before performing a task that involved reaching with perturbed hand visual feedback. In Experiment 2, the effects of 120 and 60 Hz online TNS were characterized with the same task. Sixty-three new participants received either TNS or sham stimulation concurrently with perturbed visual feedback.ResultsExperiment 1 results showed that 60 Hz stimulation was associated with slower rates of learning than both sham and 120 Hz stimulation, indicating frequency-dependent effects of TNS. Experiment 2 however showed no significant differences among stimulation groups. A post-hoc, cross-study comparison of the 60 Hz offline and online TNS results showed a statistically significant improvement in learning rates with online stimulation relative to offline, pointing to timing-dependent effects of TNS on visuomotor learning.DiscussionThe results indicate that both the frequency and timing of TNS can influence rates of motor learning in healthy adults. This suggests that optimization of one or both parameters could potentially increase learning rates, which would provide new avenues for enhancing performance in healthy individuals and augmenting rehabilitation in patients with sensorimotor dysfunction resulting from stroke or other neurological disorders.
Maternal socio-economic status determines animal source food consumption of children aged 6–23 months in East African countries: a multilevel mixed-effects generalized linear model
Authors: Mussa Ibsa , Gamachu Mulugeta , Regassa Lemma Demissie , Birhanu Abdi , Mohammed Fethia , Weyessa Alemayehu Deressa , Eyeberu Addis , Debela Adera , Zakaria Hamdi Fekredin 
Published: October 2024

BackgroundNutrient deficiencies in Africa persist due to limited access to animal-source foods, causing a higher undernutrition prevalence, with 30.7% stunted children under five, which is higher than the global average of 22.0%. In African regions, there needs to be more information on access, consumption, and factors influencing children’s animal-source food consumption. Therefore, we comprehensively analyse data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) to determine factors associated with children’s (aged 6–23 months) consumption of animal-source foods (ASFs) in East African countries, which is crucial for policy and program development.MethodsWe utilized cross-sectional pooled DHS data from nine East African countries reported from 2015 to 2021. The sample size consisted of 18,686 weighted children aged 6–23 months who were included. The DHS data were collected from women (15–49 years old) from households in each enumeration area of each country. We calculated the pooled proportion of consumption of foods of animal origin using multi-level logistic regression analysis to determine factors of ASFs, and the strength of the association was measured by an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% CI and a p-value &lt; 0.05, which was declared as significant.ResultThe study found that 51.07% (95% CI: 50.26–51.88%) of infants and young children in East Africa consume ASFs, with variation across countries, of which 28.26% (95% CI: 26.31–30.29%) was the lowest in Burundi and 55.81% (95% CI: 53.39–58.21%) was the highest ASF consumption in Zimbabwe. The amount of ASF consumed grows with children’s age and varies greatly between countries. In addition, children in the wealthiest quintile and with the highest educational attainment consume more ASFs. However, those who lived in rural areas consumed fewer ASFs.ConclusionThe consumption of ASFs increased with the age of children, maternal education, and household wealth index. The government and non-government sectors should implement public health interventions targeting rural residents and poor households to increase access to and consumption of ASFs for children aged 6–23 months in East Africa.
A risk prediction stratification for non-mass breast lesions, combining clinical characteristics and imaging features on ultrasound, mammography, and MRI
Authors: Xie YaMie , Zhang Xiaoxiao 
Published: October 2024

ObjectivesGiven the inevitable trend of domestic imaging center mergers and the current lack of comprehensive imaging evaluation guidelines for non-mass breast lesions, we have developed a novel BI-RADS risk prediction and stratification system for non-mass breast lesions that integrates clinical characteristics with imaging features from ultrasound, mammography, and MRI, with the aim of assisting clinicians in interpreting imaging reports.MethodsThis study enrolled 350 patients with non-mass breast lesions (NMLs), randomly assigning them to a training set of 245 cases (70%) and a test set of 105 cases (30%). Radiologists conducted comprehensive evaluations of the lesions using ultrasound, mammography, and MRI. Independent predictors were identified using LASSO logistic regression, and a predictive risk model was constructed using a nomogram generated with R software, with subsequent validation in both sets.ResultsLASSO logistic regression identified a set of independent predictors, encompassing age, clinical palpation hardness, distribution and morphology of calcifications, peripheral blood supply as depicted by color Doppler imaging, maximum lesion diameter, patterns of internal enhancement, distribution of non-mass lesions, time–intensity curve (TIC), and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. The predictive model achieved area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.873 for the training group and 0.877 for the testing group. The model’s positive predictive values were as follows: BI-RADS 2 = 0%, BI-RADS 3 = 0%, BI-RADS 4A = 6.25%, BI-RADS 4B = 26.13%, BI-RADS 4C = 80.84%, and BI-RADS 5 = 97.33%.ConclusionThe creation of a risk-predictive BI-RADS stratification, specifically designed for non-mass breast lesions and integrating clinical and imaging data from multiple modalities, significantly enhances the precision of diagnostic categorization for these lesions.