bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Iraqi EFL Learners' Recognition of House-Related Idioms: An Investigation of the Learners’ Performance and Relevant Cultural Cognition Idiosyncrasies
Authors: Hadi Shahla Abdul Kadhim 
Published: October 2022

Iraqi EFL learners' recognition of meanings of house-related idioms has been Investigated. The paper assumes that cultural idiosyncrasies related to the conceptual knowledge underlying the idiomatic expression may become obstacles to learners’ recognition of the correct interpretation, while having conceptual knowledge similar to that of the target will do the opposite. A multiple-choice test was adopted, and the learners were asked to choose an idiom's accurate meaning out of four-meaning options provided for each of the ten sentences of the test. The analysis highlights the role of conventional knowledge in patterning learners' thinking. It also foregrounds some learners’ tendency to literalism by mapping from one physical domain to another one, which can be an analogy of the preliminary step of the universal mechanism of humans' mental conceptualization that widens and matures through interaction to cover abstract domains of human existence. It is also found that it is the immediate dynamic cultural knowledge rather than knowledge due to cultural membership, which governs individuals' thinking and guides their choices.
NiFe2O4/ZnO-coated Poly(L-Lactide) nanofibrous scaffold enhances osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Shariati Shiva , Seyedjafari Ehsan , Mahdavi Fatemeh Sadat , Maali Amirhosein , Ferdosi-Shahandashti Elaheh 
Published: October 2022

Background: A combination of bioceramics and polymeric materials has attracted the research community’s interest in bone tissue engineering. These composites are essential to support cell attachment, proliferation, and osteogenesis differentiation, which are vital as a classic strategy in bone tissue engineering. In this study, NiFe2O4/ZnO-coated poly L-Lactide (PLLA) was employed as a scaffold to evaluate the osteogenic differentiation capability of human adipose tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs).Material and methods: The electrospun PLLA nanofibers were fabricated, coated with nanocomposite (NiFe2O4/ZnO), and evaluated by the water contact angle (WCA), tensile test, attenuated total reflectance fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Then, the osteogenic differentiation potential of hAMSCs was assessed using NiFe2O4/ZnO-coated PLLA compared to tissue culture plastic (TCP) and a simple scaffold (PLLA) in vitro conditions.Results: The adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of hAMSCs were supported by the mechanical and biological properties of the NiFe2O4/ZnO-coated PLLA scaffold, according to SEM and 4′,6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI) staining patterns. During bone differentiation, Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzyme activity, biomineralization, calcium content, and osteogenic gene expression (ALP, Osteonectin, Osteocalcin, Collagen type I, and Runx2) were higher on NiFe2O4/ZnO-coated PLLA scaffold than on PLLA scaffold and TCP.Conclusion: Based on our results, the osteogenic differentiation of hAMSCs on the improved biological scaffold (PLLA coated with NiFe2O4/ZnO) could accelerate due to the stimulating effect of this nanocomposite.
RETRACTED: Targeted delivery of 5-fluorouracil, miR-532-3p, and si-KRAS to the colorectal tumor using layer-by-layer liposomes
Authors: Shahidi Maryamsadat , Abazari Omid , Dayati Parisa , Haghiralsadat Bibi Fatemeh , Oroojalian Fatemeh , Tofighi Davood 
Published: October 2022

Co-delivery of siRNA or miRNA with chemotherapeutic drugs into tumor sites is an attractive synergetic strategy for treating colorectal cancer (CRC) due to their complementary mechanisms. In the current work, a liposome nanoparticle (Huang et al., Cancer Metastasis Rev., 2018, 37, 173–187) coated by cationic chitosan (CS) using a controlled layer-by-layer (LbL) process was designed to deliver simultaneous si-KRAS, miRNA-532-3p, and 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) into CRC cells. The LbL NPs exhibited a spherical structure with an average size of 165.9 nm and effectively protected si-KRAS and miRNA-532-3p against degradation by serum and nucleases. Interestingly, the LbL NPs were successfully entered into cells and efficiently promoted cytotoxicity and suppressed cancer cell migration and invasion. In vivo, the LbL NPs reduced tumor growth in SW480-tumor-bearing mice models. In conclusion, these results suggested that the LbL NPs co-loaded with 5-FU and miR-532-3p/si-KRAS might provide a promising potential strategy for inhibiting the malignant phenotypes of CRC cells.
Validity and reliability of the Output sport device for assessing drop jump performance
Authors: Montoro-Bombú Raynier , Field Adam , Santos Amândio Cúpido , Rama Luis 
Published: October 2022

The devices for measuring plyometric exercise in field conditions are becoming increasingly prevalent in applied research and practice. However, before the use of a device in an applied setting, the validity and reliability of such an instrument must be determined. The study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Output Sport, an inertial measurement unit (IMU), through comparisons with a force plate for research purposes. A repeated measure test-retest study was performed. Reliability was assessed during single-session trials (i.e., intrasession reliability). A total of 34 national/university level athletes (13 females, 21 males) performed three drop jumps with a fall from 30 cm while both devices recorded ground contact time (GCT), flight time (FT), jump height (HJ), and reactive strength index (RSI). T-tests demonstrated that data collected from the IMU device were significantly different to the force platform for all reported variables (all p &lt; 0.01). The intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) demonstrated good-to-excellent reliability, but with a large range of confidence intervals (CI 95%) for GCT (0.825, 0.291–0.930), FT (0.928, 0.756–0.958), HJ (0.921, 0.773–0.964), and RSI (0.772, 0.151–0.907). The Bland-Altman test showed that the device overestimated contact times and underestimated the other variables. Upon landing, greater ground contact times (i.e., ≥0.355ms) were associated with higher reliability. These results suggest that a single IMU can be used to track changes somewhat accurately and reliably in jump metrics, especially when the GCT is greater than 0.355ms. It is recommended that before practitioners and trainers use the device as a cost-effective solution in the field, further research should be carried out to evaluate a range of data on the type of exercise to be performed.
KARGAMobile: Android app for portable, real-time, easily interpretable analysis of antibiotic resistance genes via nanopore sequencing
Authors: Barquero Alexander , Marini Simone , Boucher Christina , Ruiz Jaime , Prosperi Mattia 
Published: October 2022

Nanopore technology enables portable, real-time sequencing of microbial populations from clinical and ecological samples. An emerging healthcare application for Nanopore includes point-of-care, timely identification of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) to help developing targeted treatments of bacterial infections, and monitoring resistant outbreaks in the environment. While several computational tools exist for classifying ARGs from sequencing data, to date (2022) none have been developed for mobile devices. We present here KARGAMobile, a mobile app for portable, real-time, easily interpretable analysis of ARGs from Nanopore sequencing. KARGAMobile is the porting of an existing ARG identification tool named KARGA; it retains the same algorithmic structure, but it is optimized for mobile devices. Specifically, KARGAMobile employs a compressed ARG reference database and different internal data structures to save RAM usage. The KARGAMobile app features a friendly graphical user interface that guides through file browsing, loading, parameter setup, and process execution. More importantly, the output files are post-processed to create visual, printable and shareable reports, aiding users to interpret the ARG findings. The difference in classification performance between KARGAMobile and KARGA is minimal (96.2% vs. 96.9% f-measure on semi-synthetic datasets of 1 million reads with known resistance ground truth). Using real Nanopore experiments, KARGAMobile processes on average 1 GB data every 23–48 min (targeted sequencing - metagenomics), with peak RAM usage below 500MB, independently from input file sizes, and an average temperature of 49°C after 1 h of continuous data processing. KARGAMobile is written in Java and is available at https://github.com/Ruiz-HCI-Lab/KargaMobile under the MIT license.
Urokinase-loaded cyclic RGD-decorated liposome targeted therapy for in-situ thrombus of pulmonary arteriole of pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Li Jingtao , Zhang Xiaofeng , Mo Yingying , Huang Tongtong , Rao Huaqing , Tan Zhenyuan , Huang Liuliu , Zeng Decai , Jiang Chunlan , Zhong Yanfen , Cai Yongzhi , Liang Binbin , Wu Ji 
Published: October 2022

Backgroud:In-situ thrombosis is a significant pathophysiological basis for the development of pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, thrombolytic therapy for in-situ thrombus in PH was often hampered by the apparent side effects and the low bioavailability of common thrombolytic medications. Nanoscale cyclic RGD (cRGD)-decorated liposomes have received much attention thanks to their thrombus-targeting and biodegradability properties. As a result, we synthesized urokinase-loaded cRGD-decorated liposome (UK-cRGD-Liposome) for therapy of in-situ thrombosis as an exploration of pulmonary hypertensive novel therapeutic approaches.Purpose: To evaluate the utilize of UK-cRGD-Liposome for targeted thrombolysis of in-situ thrombus in PH and to explore the potential mechanisms of in-situ thrombus involved in the development of PH.Methods: UK-cRGD-Liposome nanoscale drug delivery system was prepared using combined methods of thin-film hydration and sonication. Induced PH via subcutaneous injection of monocrotaline (MCT). Fibrin staining (modified MSB method) was applied to detect the number of vessels within-situ thrombi in PH. Echocardiography, hematoxylin-eosin (H &amp; E) staining, and Masson’s trichrome staining were used to analyze right ventricular (RV) function, pulmonary vascular remodeling, as well as RV remodeling.Results: The number of vessels with in-situ thrombi revealed that UK-cRGD-Liposome could actively target urokinase to in-situ thrombi and release its payload in a controlled manner in the in vivo environment, thereby enhancing the thrombolytic effect of urokinase. Pulmonary artery hemodynamics and echocardiography indicated a dramatical decrease in pulmonary artery pressure and a significant improvement in RV function post targeted thrombolytic therapy. Moreover, pulmonary vascular remodeling and RV remodeling were significantly restricted post targeted thrombolytic therapy.Conclusion: UK-cRGD-Liposome can restrict the progression of PH and improve RV function by targeting the dissolution of pulmonary hypertensive in-situ thrombi, which may provide promising therapeutic approaches for PH.
Time course of estazolam in single-strand hair based on micro-segmental analysis after controlled oral administration
Authors: Xu Duoqi , Ji Jiaojiao , Xiang Ping , Yan Hui , Duan Gengli , Shen Min 
Published: October 2022

The mechanism of estazolam incorporation into hair was investigated by studying the time course of estazolam along single-strand hair after two oral administration of estazolam at 28 days interval. Estazolam in single hair segments 0.4 mm in length was verified and quantified by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). The distributions of estazolam within a strand of hair (collected at 12 h, 28 days, and 56 days post-administration) were visualized by micro-segmental analysis. The highest estazolam concentration (1.5–9.9 pg/mm) was detected in the hair bulb region (S1), and it then decreased through the hair shaft to the distal end, with a small fluctuation (0.3–3 pg/mm) near the junction of the hair roots and shafts (S4–S7) 12 h after drug intake. These findings suggested that the incorporation of estazolam occurred in two regions, mainly in the hair bulb and to a lesser extent in the upper dermis zone. Models using internal temporal markers (TIMs) and temporal intervals (TIs) were constructed to estimate the day of estazolam ingestion. The estimation accuracy was within an average error of 1.7 mm and 3.0 mm between the calculated and actual positions, based on the TIMs and TIs 56 days after estazolam intake. These findings can help in further elucidation of the drug incorporation mechanism, which is crucial for interpreting hair analysis results used to reveal individual drug-use history.
One-stage resection of intravascular leiomyomatosis involving the right heart chamber through a single laparotomy
Authors: Wang Chaonan , Shao Jiang , Ma Xiao , Zhou Yan , Ma Guotao , Cheng Ninghai , Cao Dongyan , Lai Zhichao , Song Xitao , Li Kang , Liu Bao 
Published: October 2022

ObjectivesThis retrospective study aimed to summarize the feasibility and experience of utilizing a one-stage operation via single laparotomy to treat intracardiac leiomyomatosis (ICL).Materials and methodsA retrospective study of 13 patients with ICL who underwent one-stage resections was conducted at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from June 2015 to December 2021. All patients had their tumors removed by single laparotomy and were divided into a short venotomy group (6 cases) and an extensive venotomy group (7 cases). We reviewed the patient characteristics, surgical procedures, postoperative pathology, and perioperative and follow-up outcomes of all patients.ResultsAll patients underwent surgery for ICL resection using single laparotomy with a 100% success rate. Two patients had tumors distal to the right ventricle (RV), 2 patients had tumors that protruded into the RV in diastole and were confined to the right atrium (RA) in systole, and the other 9 patients had tumors confined to the RA that did not involve the tricuspid valve. The tumor was completely resected in 10 patients, yet 3 patients had a residual tumor. Six patients completed the surgery with short venotomy, 7 completed the surgery with extensive venotomy, and 9 underwent simultaneous total hysterectomy and bilateral adnexal resection. The mean operative time was 370.8 ± 111.0 min, and the mean blood loss was 992.3 ± 994.5 mL. Intraoperative blood loss was lower (483.3 ± 213.7 ml vs. 1429.2 ± 1208.0 ml; P = 0.020) and operative time was shorter (286.5 ± 71.9 min vs. 443.1 ± 84.4 min; P=0.004) in the short venotomy group than in the extensive venotomy group. At a mean follow-up of 26.3 ± 18.8 months, 1 patient had a local recurrence in the pelvis, and 1 patient died of pancreatic cancer, while the remaining patients had no recurrence during follow-up.ConclusionOne-stage resection of ICL patients by means of a single laparotomy is feasible and effective.
Growth differentiation factor-15 as a modulator of bone and muscle metabolism
Authors: Hong Seok Woo , Kang Jeong-Hyun 
Published: October 2022

This study aims to clarify the potential role of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) as a myokine in bone metabolism and muscle function in females with osteoporosis. In total, 45 female participants (71.0 ± 8.5 years) with distal radius fractures were recruited. Participants were classified as healthy/osteopenic (n = 28) (CON) or osteoporotic (n = 17) (OP) according to their T-score from the areal bone mineral density (aBMD) of the femoral neck. Body mass index, upper arm and calf circumferences, and handgrip strength were assessed. Total hip, femoral neck, and lumbar spine aBMD was measured via dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. The focal bone quality of the distal radius was evaluated via 3D reconstructed computed tomographic images. Serum levels of GDF-15, insulin-like growth factor-1, and inflammatory markers such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6, and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), as well as the corresponding mRNA levels in the pronator quadratus muscle were determined. Participants in the OP group had higher serum GDF-15 levels than those in the CON group. The mRNA levels of GDF-15, IL-1β, and TNF-α in the pronator quadratus muscle were significantly higher in the OP group than in the CON one. Levels of both serum GDF-15 and GDF-15 mRNA in muscle were positively correlated with age and negatively associated with the aBMD of the total hip and focal bone quality of the distal radius. Handgrip power was not correlated with circulating GDF-15 levels but was correlated with circumferences of the upper arm and calf, and levels of GDF-15 mRNA in muscle specimens. The mRNA levels of GDF-15 were correlated with those of inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-1β. The mRNA levels of TNF-α were associated with circumferences of the upper arm and calf and with the aBMD of the total hip. The mRNA levels of GDF-15 in muscle were correlated with serum levels of GDF-15 and TNF-α. GDF-15 may have associations with bone metabolism in humans via paracrinological and endocrinological mechanisms. Maintenance of muscle mass and function would be influenced more by GDF-15 in muscle than by circulating GDF-15. The role of GDF-15 in bone metabolism and muscle homeostasis could be related to inflammatory responses.
Reduction in risk of contrast-induced nephropathy in patients with chronic kidney disease and diabetes mellitus by enhanced external counterpulsation
Authors: Zeng Chun-Mei , Zhao Yan-Mei , Zhong Xin-Jing , Wu Zi-Jia , Bai Jing , Qiu Shi-Yu , Li Yi-Yi 
Published: October 2022

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) in the prevention of contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) in patients with combined chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) by comparing the changes in renal function-related indicators in patients before and after coronary angiography (CAG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).MethodsThere were 230 subjects consecutively included in the study. Of these, 30 cases with DM underwent rehydration therapy, and 200 cases underwent EECP therapy in addition to rehydration therapy, comprising 53 patients with DM and 147 patients without. All the patients were tested to measure the renal function indicators before and after CAG/PCI.ResultsThe postoperative results of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (Scr), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), B2 microglobulin, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein in the three groups showed a statistically significant difference (P &lt; 0.05). After EECP therapy, patients with DM showed a significant decrease in BUN (9.1 ± 4.2 vs. 7.2 ± 3.0, t = 3.899, P &lt; 0.001) and a significant increase in eGFR (41.5 ± 12.7 vs. 44.0 ± 15.6, t = −2.031, P = 0.047), while the patients without DM showed a more significant difference (P &lt; 0.001). Patients with DM showed a lower percentage of elevated Scr (66.7% vs. 43.4%, P = 0.042), a higher percentage of elevated eGFR (30.0% vs. 52.8%, P = 0.044), and a lower incidence of CIN (16.7% vs. 3.8%, P = 0.042) after EECP therapy.ConclusionTreatment with EECP can reduce Scr in patients with combined CKD and DM post CAG/PCI, increase eGFR, and decrease the incidence of CIN.
Application of electrostatic separation and differential scanning calorimetry for microplastic analysis in river sediments
Authors: Kurzweg Lucas , Schirrmeister Sven , Hauffe Maurice , Adomat Yasmin , Socher Martin , Harre Kathrin 
Published: October 2022

A method with the potential for comprehensive microplastic monitoring in river sediments is presented in this study. We introduce a novel combination of electrostatic separation, density separation, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Currently, microplastic analysis in sediments is limited in terms of sample masses, processing time, and analytical robustness. This work evaluated a method to process large sample masses efficiently and still obtain robust results. Four particulate matrices, including commercial sands and river sediments, were spiked with PCL, LD-PE, and PET microplastic particles (63–200 µm). Samples with a mass of 100 g and 1,000 g (sand only) contained 75 mg of each microplastic. After electrostatic separation, the mass of sand samples was reduced by 98%. Sediment samples showed a mass reduction of 70–78%. After density separation, the total mass reduction of sediment samples was above 99%. The increased concentration of total organic carbon seems to have the highest impact on mass reduction by electrostatic separation. Nevertheless, the recovery of microplastic was independent of the particulate matrix and was polymer-specific. In 100 g samples, the average recovery rates for PCL, LD-PE, and PET were 74 ± 9%, 93 ± 9%, and 120 ± 18%, respectively. The recoveries of microplastic from 1,000 g samples were 50 ± 8%, 114 ± 9%, and 82 ± 11%, respectively. In scale up experiments, high recoveries of all microplastics were observed with a decrease in standard deviation. Moreover, the biodegradable polymer PCL could be used as an internal standard to provide quality assurance of the process. This method can overcome the current limitations of routine microplastic analysis in particulate matrices. We conclude that this method can be applied for comprehensive microplastic monitoring in highly polluted sediments. More studies on electrostatic separation and polymer-specific recovery rates in complex matrices are proposed.
Complex streamflow responses to climate warming in five river basins in South Yakutia, Russia
Authors: Wang Ping , Shpakova Raisa N. 
Published: October 2022

The climate is warming much faster than the global average at the northern mid–high latitudes, leading to intensified hydrological cycles. However, it is unclear whether the response of streamflow to climate change is uniform across river basins with areas of 104–105 km2. In this study, monthly streamflow data from five river basins (Bol’shoy Patom, Chara, Olekma, Timpton, and Uchur) and gridded monthly temperature and precipitation data from the Russian South Yakutia at 53.5–61.5°N were analysed to investigate changes in their annual streamflow from 1934 to 2019 and their responses to climate warming. The results showed significant increasing trends in air temperature for all five basins at rates of 0.20°C–0.22°C/decade (p &lt; 0.001), with faster warming after the 1980s. Apart from the Uchur River Basin, increasing trends in annual precipitation were observed in the other four river basins at rates of 9.3–15.7 mm/decade (p &lt; 0.01). However, temporal changes in streamflow were much more complex than those in air temperature and precipitation among the five basins. Only two of the five basins showed significant increasing trends in annual streamflow with change rates of 17.1 mm/decade (p &lt; 0.001) for the Chara River and 7.7 mm/decade (p &lt; 0.05) for the Olekma River. Although the other three basins showed slightly increasing trends in annual streamflow (1.8–4.0 mm/decade), these trends did not pass significance tests (p &gt; 0.05). By analysing the temperature-precipitation-streamflow relationships, we determined that the annual streamflow positively responds to precipitation, while winter streamflow is most sensitive to temperature. With climate warming, the streamflow during the winter period (October-April) increased significantly in four of the five river basins at rates of 1.4–3.1 mm/decade (p &lt; 0.001), suggesting that warming-induced permafrost thawing increases baseflow. Although the streamflow response of large Siberian rivers to climate change is consistent, our results suggest that the streamflow response to climate change in relatively small river basins (104–105 km2) is much more complex.