bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
An Experimental Study on the Effect of Graphite Microparticles on the Mechanical and Tribological Properties of Epoxy Matrix Composites
Authors: Ibrahim Muhammad Mustapha , El-Tayeb N. S.M , Shazly Mostafa , Seleman M. M. El-Sayed 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
In this article, mechanical and tribological properties of epoxy matrix composites filled with graphite particulates of 100µm at loadings between 0-1wt% were comprehensively discussed. The effects of the graphite filler on the wear surface of the specimens was investigated using an optical microscope. Results showed a large decrease in the tensile strength of the composite by more than 50% for 1wt% graphite loading. Flexural strength was seen to increase sharply with 0.1wt% graphite before reducing with higher graphite content. Impact and hardness values are both improved with higher graphite content. Friction coefficient was seen to reduce with the addition of graphite particles, this was attributed to the solid lubrication abilities of graphite. Wear rate was seen to sharply reduce with increase in graphite content as a result of the lubrication layer developed at the contact surface hence reducing the break-off of the specimen.
Validation of the Methods for the Non-milk Fat Detection in Artificially Adulterated Milk With Palm Oil
Authors: El-Nabawy Marwa , Awad Sameh , Ibrahim Amel 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Dairy products are among the most adulterated food products. Because of the current high price of milk fat, it has been replaced by low-cost oils, especially those oils that have the same fatty acid profile as milk fat. This study aims to validate some classic methods, and the gas chromatography, reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography, and Fourier Transform infrared, to detect palm oil in milk and confirm the minimum levels of palm oil added to milk. Five treatments of fresh milk cream and an emulsion of palm oil were used to prepare different levels of palm oil in the final liquid milk. The results of this study showed that the values of the saponification number decreased with the increase in the percentages of added palm oil, but there was no decrease under the limits of the Egyptian standards until the addition of 25% palm oil. The iodine number is less sensitive than the saponification number in the detection of palm oil. Butyro refractometer reading is unable to detect the palm oil in milk. The fatty acid profile in milk determined by gas chromatography correlated well with the addition of palm oil. Furthermore, there is a positive relationship between the level of added palm oil and the cholesterol and β-sitosterol content as measured by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. There was no relationship between the behavior of the spectra resulting from Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the presence of palm oil.
AIUNet: A Medical Image Segmentation Network Composed of Attention and Inception Blocks
Authors: Huang Weiting , Zhao Xuejing , Li Jie , Ren Xinying , Xiong Diaohan , Zhang Jing , Hou Mengjiao 
Published: December 2022

Abstract

Background: Glioma is the most common brain tumor disease. Magnetic resonance can help the clinical diagnosis according to the location of the glioma and the degree of malignancy, in which the segmentation of glioma site plays an important role for clinicians. The work of manual segmentation is very time-consuming and cumbersome, therefore automatic and efficient segmentation methods are very necessary.
Methods: This paper proposed an AIUNet to give a more efficient segmentation of glioma, where a new block---Attention based Inception Block (AI Block), combining convolution and Self-Attention, is introduced. This module combines the smaller receptive field of convolution with the larger receptive field of Self-Attention, so as to extract more diverse feature maps to meet the needs of refined segmentation, and some deformations of AI block will be introduced and applied to the segmentation of glioma lesion. The AIUNet image segmentation network is constructed by merging AI block with the U-shaped network, this network has excellent segmentation performance, as well as low amount of parameters and calculation. Moreover, a loss function combined with GHM loss and Dice loss is plugged into the network, thereby improving the robustness of the network.
Results: Experiments show that the proposed network can improve segmentation effects comparing with state-of-the-art methods.
Kirkpatrick Evaluation Model to Assess a Training of English as a Media of Instruction
Authors: Zhao Wenlan , Liu Zixian , Sun Chunyan , Wang Tong 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background

English as a Media of Instruction (EMI) teacher development projects is based upon the framework for teacher Continuing Professional Development (CPD). To effectively improve both the confidence and overall capacity of EMI lecturers, the project applies the teaching excellence curriculum jointly developed by the British Council and Oxford University. Kunming Medical University(KMU) conducted the EMI lecturer development program to improve the teaching ability of the university's subject teachers to meet the requirement of excellent teaching for MBBS and achieve the goals of enhancing teaching quality and the internationalization level of the university. This paper aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the EMI training project, implemented at the KMU, via the Kirkpatrick Evaluation model.

Methods

The EMI training program at KMU embodies a three-stage instructor development program grounded firmly in classroom teaching practices. The effectiveness of the EMI training project was estimated in terms of the reaction, learning, and behavior dimensions based on the Kirkpatrick model. Project data were collected through a researcher-created questionnaire; the questionnaire survey was conducted online by Survey Monkey; while data analysis was implemented by SPSS statistical software 25.0.

Results

The mean age of 85 participants was 35 ± 8.5 years. All participants accomplished activities of overall training. The assessment of the first reaction level revealed an overall satisfaction rate of 100% for the whole training. The learning level revealed the average comprehension and mastery of the 10 learner-centered skills of EMI teaching was notably improved and found to be statistically significant (p < 0.00) compared among pre-training, after stage1, and after stage3. The behavior level showed that the trainee’s confidence as an EMI instructor increased dramatically from 28.12% after stage 1 to 82.55% after stage 3 (p < 0.05). Observations suggest that all participants engaged in learning the EMI methodology and that the knowledge gained from the training contributed positively to their behaviors, practices, and skills.
Conclusion: EMI training had a favorable impact on the progressive development of teachers at levels 1-3 of the Kirkpatrick evaluation model. It effectively contributed to a learner-centered approach to teaching and learning, along with the competence and confidence of instructors to teach EMI in a school context, which consequently exerted a potentially beneficial effect on the pedagogical quality of MBBS education.
Can ESG boost zombie firms back to normal: Evidence from Chinese firms
Authors: Ren Guangqian , Li Junchao , Zhao Mengjie , Liu Li , Zheng Minna , Jing Man 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
In recent years, the Chinese government has put forward sustainable development and reduced the negative macroeconomic impact of zombie firms. As a channel for firms to engage in green development, can ESG exert its value effect and help firms out of the zombie dilemma? This paper studies the impact of ESG on zombie firms and the influence mechanism by using data from China A-share listed companies from 2011 to 2019. While ESG requires firms to invest more externally, we find that ESG can also help zombie firms return to normal by increasing total factor productivity. The additional analysis finds that external funding support also plays an important role in mitigating ESG costs and better performing ESG functions. In addition, the positive effect brought by ESG is primarily driven by firms in eastern China, non-heavily polluting firms, and non-state-owned enterprises. These findings contribute to the burgeoning literature on ESG and provide implications for zombie firms’ governance and government policy.
Liver abscess in patients with thalassaemia: case series and a mini-review of the literature
Authors: Nishad Nilanga , Niriella Madunil Anuk , Premawardhena Anuja P. , Perera Harsha , de Silva Arjuna Priyadarsin , Kalubowila Dhananja Namalie , Jayasena Hiruni , Thebuwana Kunchana , Samarawickrama Vajira Tharanga , de Silva Hithanadura Janaka 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Management of liver abscesses in patients with thalassaemia is a challenge due to difficult venous access, other organ dysfunction, diabetes mellitus and etc. Here we report four thalassaemia patients with liver abscess where three of them had presented repeatedly with liver abscesses and three of them developed Covid-19 infection as well followed by a mini review of previously reported cases.
Novel Insights into Systemic Sclerosis using a Sensitive Computational Method to Analyze Whole-Genome Bisulfite Sequencing Data
Authors: Yu Jeffrey C. Y. , Zeng Yixiao , Zhao Kaiqiong , Lu Tianyuan , Klein Kathleen Oros , Colmegna Inés , Lora Maximilien , Bhatnagar Sahir R. , Leask Andrew , Greenwood Celia M. T. , Hudson Marie 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background: Abnormal DNA methylation is thought to contribute to the onset and progression of systemic sclerosis. Currently, the most comprehensive assay for profiling DNA methylation is whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS), but its precision depends on read depth and it may be subject to sequencing errors. SOMNiBUS, a method for regional analysis, attempts to overcome some of these limitations. Using SOMNiBUS, we re-analyzed WGBS data previously analyzed using bumphunter, an approach that initially fits single CpG associations, to contrast DNA methylation estimates by both methods.
Methods: Purified CD4+ T lymphocytes of 9 SSc and 4 control females were sequenced using WGBS. We separated the resulting sequencing data into regions with dense CpG data, and differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were inferred with the SOMNiBUS region-level test, adjusted for age. Pathway enrichment analysis was performed with Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). We compared the results obtained by SOMNiBUS and bumphunter.
Results: Of 8268 CpG regions of >60 CpGs eligible for analysis with SOMNiBUS, we identified 131 DMRs and 125 differentially methylated genes (DMGs; p-values less than Bonferroni-corrected threshold of 6.05-06 controlling family-wise error rate at 0.05; 1.6% of the regions). In comparison, bumphunter identified 821,929 CpG regions, 599 DMRs (of which none had >60 CpGs) and 340 DMGs (q-value of 0.05; 0.04% of all regions).The top ranked gene identified by SOMNiBUS was FLT4, a lymphangiogenic orchestrator, and the top ranked gene on chromosome X was CHST7, known to catalyze the sulfation of glycosaminoglycans in the extracellular matrix. The top networks identified by IPA included connective tissue disorders.
Conclusions: SOMNiBUSis a complementary method of analyzing WGBS data that enhances biological insights into SSc and provides novel avenues of investigation into its pathogenesis.
Presence of Endometrioma Decreased Blastocyst Formation Rate but Not Impair Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) outcome
Authors: Chang Jui-Chun , Yi Yu-Chiao , Chen Ya-Fang , Guu Hwa-Fen , Kung Hsiao-Fan , Chen Li-Yu , Chuan Shih-Ting , Chen Ming-Jer 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Purpose: These study aims to assess the impact of endometrioma on patients who undergo ART treatment due to endometriosis.
Methods: Retrospective study was conducted in women ≤ 40 years of age who underwent ART treatment at an academic medical center between January 2014 and December 2020. Two-hundred-and-eight women had received IVF/ICSI treatment due to endometriosis and there were 89 patients’ presence of endometrioma. Patients were further divided into primary endometrioma, recurrent endometrioma and those having received cystectomy for endometrioma prior to IVF/ICSI. The control group included 624 infertile women without endometriosis.
Results: In the endometrioma subgroup (B) the blastocyst formation rate was significantly lower when compared with the endometriosis (A) and control groups (C). The cumulative live birth rates (CLBRs) (60.5% versus 49.4% versus 56.9%, p=0.194 in A versus B, p=0.406 in A versus C, p=0.878 in B versus C) were comparable. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that female age, total FSH dose and blastocyst formation rate were the significant variables in predicting CLBR (OR: 0.89, CI: 0.80–0.99, p < 0.025, OR:0.68 CI:0.53-0.88, p=0.003 and OR: 30.04, CI: 9.93–90.9, p < 0.001, respectively). The CLBRs were comparable 47.1%, 60% and 57.9% in the primary endometrioma, s/p cystectomy and recurrent endometrioma group.
Conclusion: Although the blastocyst formation rate was lower in the endometrioma group, CLBR was not worse than those who were in the endometriosis or control group. Cystectomy for endometrioma did not alter IVF/ICSI outcomes if ovarian reserve was comparable. Recurrent endometrioma did not worsen IVF/ICSI outcomes than primary endometrioma.
Lipid Profiling Leymus chinensis Root Insensitive to Ca Deprivation
Authors: Nan Yang , Dong Yanbin , Zhang Lili , Zhang Lijuan , Qi Zhi , Luan Haiye , Yang Ju 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background

Leymus chinensis (L. chinensis) is a perennial native forage grass widely distributed in the steppe of Inner Monoglia as the dominant species. Calcium (Ca) as an essential mineral element important for plant’s adaptation to its growth environment.

Results

In this study, significance of Ca for L. chinensis growth and membrane stability was investigated and compared with that for Arabidopsis. Previously it was found that Ca deprivation strongly inhibited Arabidopsis seedling growth, disrupted the plasma membrane stability and selectivity, accompanied with increasing fluid-phase based endocytosis and contents of all major membrane lipids. In contrast, L. chinensis seedlings growth and root endocytosis activity were not affected by Ca deprivation. The plasma membrane maintained high selectivity. The PC:PE ratio, an indicator of the membrane stability, is five times higher in the L. chinensis than the Arabidopsis. In addition, Ca deprivation did not affect contents of all major lipid types in L. chinensis. Ca deprivation increased the MDA contents and decreased the SOD activity in L. chinensis, which were opposite with Arabidopsis. L. chinensis roots have higher contents of PC, PI, MDGD, PG, CL, DGDG, LPC, but less of PE, DAG, TAG, PS, LPA, LPE, LPS than those in Arabidopsis roots. Moreover, 31 unique lipid species were found in L. chinensis, and 66 unique in Arabidopsis.

Conclusions

This study revealed that L. chinensis root has unique membrane lipid composition without much Ca dependence, which might be accounted for the plant’s ability to distribute wide-range of natural environment.
Removal of Extracellular Vimentin in Blood Confers Resistance to Viral Infection
Authors: Kim Hae-Mi , Wang Mingda , Kim Sura , Park Jungha , Hong Seong-Tshool 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
The in vitro studies have repeatedly showed that extracellular vimentin (eVIM) promotes the penetration of viruses by acting as an adhesion factor, indicating that reduction of the eVIM density in the blood could be an effective approach to treat viral infections. However, despite its solid evidences, it has not been investigated previously whether circulating vimentin actually plays a pathogenic role during viral infections in vivo experiments. Here we provide in vivo evidence that eVIM plays a critical role during viral infections. Reduction of blood eVIM in the SARS-CoV-2-infected Roborovski SH101 hamster by i.v. injection of hzVSF-v13, a humanized anti-eVIM monoclonal antibody, treated COVID-19 by suppressing inflammation and viral replication. The overall therapeutic efficacy of hzVSF-v13 for COVID-19 was better than that of Remdesivir. We believe that this work provides an in vivo foundation for development of hzVSF-v13 as antiviral drugs to various other viral infections in addition to COVID-19.
Race Towards Environmental Sustainability in the G-20 Countries: Do Green Finance and Political Stability Play a Crucial Role
Authors: Çitil Mücahit , Ilbasmis Metin , Olanrewaju Victoria Olushola , Barut Abdulkadir , Karaoğlan Sadık , Ali Muhammad 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
As the negative repercussions of environmental devastation, such as global warming and climate change, become more apparent, environmental consciousness is growing across the world, forcing nations to take steps to mitigate the damage. Thus, the current study assesses the effect of green investments, institutional quality, and political stability on air quality in the G-20 countries for the period 2004–2020. The stationarity of the variables was examined with the Pesaran (2007) CADF, the long-term relationship between the variables by Westerlund (2007), the long-run relationship coefficients with the MMQR method proposed by Machado & Silva (2019), and the causality relationship between the variables by Dumitrescu & Hurlin (2012) panel causality. The study findings revealed that green finance investments, institutional quality and political stability increased the air quality, while total output and energy consumption decreased air quality. The panel causality reveals a unidirectional causality from green finance investments, total output, energy consumption and political stability to air quality, and a bidirectional causality between institutional quality and air quality. According to these findings, it has been found that in the long term, green finance investments, total output, energy consumption, political stability, and institutional quality affect air quality. Based on these results, policies implications were proposed.
The Modified Lymphocyte C-reactive Protein Score is a Promising Indicator for Predicting 3-year Mortality in Elderly Patients with Intertrochanteric Fractures
Authors: He Zile , Zhang Chuangxin , Ran Mingzi , Xu Shuai , Wang Zilin , Liu Yanhong , Li Hao , Lou Jingsheng , Mi Weidong , Cao Jiangbei 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background
Hip fractures are common in elderly patients, and almost all the patients undergo surgery. This study aimed to develop a novel modified lymphocyte C-reactive protein (CRP) score (mLCS) to simply and conveniently predict 3-year mortality in elderly patients undergoing intertrochanteric fracture surgery.
Methods
A retrospective study was conducted on elderly patients who underwent intertrochanteric fracture surgery between January 2014 and December 2017. The mLCS was developed according to the value of CRP and lymphocyte counts. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to identify independent risk factors for 3-year mortality after surgery. The performances of the lymphocyte CRP score (LCS) and mLCS to predict 3-year mortality were then compared using C-statistics, decision curve analysis (DCA), net reclassification index (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI).
Results
A total of 291 patients were enrolled, of whom 52 (17.9%) died within 3 years after surgery. In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, mLCS (hazard ratio (HR), 5.415; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.743–16.822; P = 0.003) was significantly associated with postoperative 3-year mortality. The C-statistics of LCS and mLCS for predicting 3-year mortality were 0.644 and 0.686, respectively. The NRI (mLCS vs. LCS, 0.018) and IDI (mLCS vs. LCS, 0.017) indicated that the mLCS performed better than the LCS. DCA also showed that mLCS had a higher clinical net benefit.
Conclusions
mLCS is a promising predictor that can simply and conveniently predict 3-year mortality in elderly patients undergoing intertrochanteric fracture surgery.
Perseverance, partnerships and passion: Ingredients for successful local government policy to promote healthy and sustainable diets
Authors: Barbour Liza R. , Woods Julie L. , Brimblecombe Julie K. 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Background – Local government authorities are well-placed to invest in evidence-based food policies that promote a population-wide shift to healthy and sustainable diets. This study describes the contextual factors that facilitated or impeded policy-making related to healthy and sustainable diets within a ‘best-performing’ local government in Victoria, Australia.
Methods –Guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), data from semi-structured interviews with individuals involved in developing the City of Greater Bendigo’s Food System Strategy were analysed using a seven-stage framework method.
Results – Semi-structured interviews (n=24) were conducted with City of Greater Bendigo employees (n=15) and key stakeholders working for local organisations (n=6) or at a state or national level (n=3). Interviewees mostly held positions of leadership (n=20) and represented diverse areas of focus from health (n=7), food systems (n=4) and planning and public policy (n=3). Data analysis revealed 12 cross-cutting themes; eight facilitating factors and four impeding factors. Facilitating factors included perseverance, community engagement, supportive state policy, effective leadership, a global platform and networks, partnerships, workforce capacity and passion, and the use of scientific evidence. Impeding factors included access to financial resources, prohibitive state and federal policy, COVID-related interruptions to community engagement and competing stakeholder interests. Overall, this study suggests that the City of Greater Bendigo’s success in developing an evidence-based local food system policy is built upon (i) a holistic worldview that embraces systems-thinking and credible frameworks, (ii) a sustained commitment and investment throughout the inner-setting over time, and (iii) the ability to establish and nurture meaningful partnerships built upon values of reciprocity and respect.
Conclusions – Despite insufficient resourcing and prohibitive policy at higher levels of government, this ‘best performing’ local government in Victoria, Australia developed an evidence-based food system policy by employing highly skilled and passionate employees, embracing a holistic worldview towards planetary health and harnessing global networks. Local government authorities aspiring to develop integrated food policy should nurture a workforce culture of taking bold evidence-informed policy action, invest in mechanisms to enable long-standing partnerships with community stakeholders and be prepared to endure a ‘slow-burn’ approach.