bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Responses of soil microbial community activities and soil physicochemical properties to coal fly ash soil amendment
Authors: Li Fangze , Qi Tianqi , Zhang Ge , Lin Xingjie , Li Xiaohua , Wu Zhenqing , Men Shuhui , Liu Hongchao , Zhang Shiwei , Huang Zhanbin 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Background
Hundreds of millions of tons coal fly ash are produced annually to support economic development and industrial production. However, directly applying coal fly ash to agricultural production can decrease the land productivity and pose a threat to the ecosystem due to the poor physicochemical properties and seriously heavy metal pollution.

Methods
In this study, a field experiment to investigate the effects of coal fly ash as a soil amendment was conducted in Hebei province, China. The coal fly ash (CFA) soil field was mixed with the carrier soil (CS, without containing coal fly ash) at different rates (0–40% mass content) in the 0–20 cm layer of top soil and then mixed with a rotovator. The soil was then amended with 0.45–1.80 kg·m− 2 of G1 soil amendment for planting corn.

Purpose
The purpose of this study is to investigate the response mechanism of soil microbial community activities, and soil physicochemical properties to soil amendment and carrier soil in coal fly ash soil.

Key results
The study found that the G1 amendment, which consisted of humic acid, polyacrylamide, zeolite powder, and FeSO4·7H2O, improved the soil chemical properties and physical structure by increasing soil bulk density and macroaggregates. The highest corn yield was observed in B5 (20% CS and 1.3500 kg·m− 2 G1). Meanwhile, the abundance of microorganisms that facilitate the circulation of soil nutrients such as Acidobacteria (77.05%), Sphingomonas (25.60%), Nitrospira (20.78%), Streptomyces (11.32%), and Gaiella (10.20%) was increased.

Conclusions
Overall, our results indicate that the use of coal fly ash soil as a amendment can enhance soil sustainability by improving soil microbial functions. These findings provide a reference for the development and application of coal fly ash soil amendments.
Psychometric properties of stigma and discrimination measurement tools for persons living with HIV: a systematic review using the COSMIN methodology
Authors: Zhang Yizhu , Yang Xianxia , Chai Xinru , Han Shuyu , Zhang Lili , Shao Ying , Ma Jianhong , Li Ke , Wang Zhiwen 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Background
The development of antiretroviral therapy broadly extends the life expectancy of persons living with HIV (PLHIV). However, stigma and discrimination are still great threat to these individuals and the world's public health care system. Accurate and reproducible measures are prerequisites for robust results. Therefore, it is essential to choose an acceptable measure with satisfactory psychometric properties to assess stigma and discrimination. There has been no systematic review of different stigma and discrimination tools in the field of HIV care. Researchers and clinical practitioners do not have a solid reference for selecting stigma and discrimination measurement tools.

Methods
We systematically searched English and Chinese databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycINFO, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, The Cochrane Library, CNKI,, and Wanfang, to obtain literature about stigma and discrimination measurement tools that have been developed and applied in the field of HIV. The search period was from 1st January, 1996 to 22nd November 2021. The COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments (COSMIN) guideline (2018 version) was applied to assess the risk of bias for each involved study and summarize the psychometric properties of each tool. The modified version of the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and, Evaluation (GRADE) method was used to grade the evidence and develop recommendations.

Results
We included 45 studies and 19 PROMs for HIV/AIDS-related stigma and discrimination among PLHIV. All studies had sufficient methodological quality in content validity, structural validity, internal consistency, and the hypothesis testing of structural validity. Limited evidence was found for cross-cultural validity, stability, and criterion validity. No relevant evidence was found concerning measurement error and responsiveness. The Internalized AIDS-related Stigma Scale (IARSS), Internalized HIV Stigma Scale (IHSS), and Wright's HIV stigma scale (WHSS) are recommended for use.

Conclusions
This study recommends three PROMs for different stigma and discrimination scenarios, including IARSS for its good quality and convenience, IHSS for its broader range of items, higher sensitivity, and greater precision, and WHSS for its comprehensive and quick screening. Researchers should also consider the relevance and feasibility of the measurements before putting them into practice.

Systematic review registration
PROSPERO CRD42022308579
Complex coacervate of wheat germ protein/high methoxy pectin in encapsulation of d-limonene
Authors: Jamshidian Hamed , Rafe Ali 
Published: April 2024

Abstractd-limonene is a volatile compound widely used in food flavorings, but it is chemically unstable in the presence of air, light, moisture, and high temperatures. Coacervation is a well-established technique which involves the formation of biopolymer nanocomplexes between negatively charged polysaccharides and positively charged proteins to protect bioactive components. The study shows the effect of pH, protein/polysaccharide ratio and total biopolymer concentration on complex coacervation of defatted wheat germ protein (DWGP) and apple pectin (high methoxyl pectin (HMP)) in the food industry as a carrier and delivery system for d-limonene. DWGP was used for the first time to form coacervate with apple pectin. Turbidity, ζ-potential and particle size of the complex coacervate and their individual biopolymers were examined for preliminary assays of complex coacervation. The optimum condition for DWGP/pectin complex coacervation was found to be at a ratio of 4:1 with a total biopolymer concentration of 1% and a pH of 4.0. The rheological properties of DWGP, pectin, and their coacervate were measured at various pH levels and ratios. The resulting coacervates, used to microencapsulate d-limonene, underwent spray-dried and were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. These findings have the potential to contribute to the development of DWGP/pectin complex coacervates as effective delivery systems for volatile aromas or bioactive compounds.
Graphical Abstract
Small animal PET imaging with the 68Ga-labeled pH (low) insertion peptide-like peptide YJL-4 in a triple-negative breast cancer mouse model
Authors: Chen YueHua , Song ShuangShuang , Sun YanQin , Wu FengYu , Yang GuangJie , Wang ZhenGuang , Yu MingMing 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Background
The aim of this study was to prepare a novel 68Ga-labeled pH (low) insertion peptide (pHLIP)-like peptide, YJL-4, and determine its value for the early diagnosis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) via in vivo imaging of tumor-bearing nude mice. The novel peptide YJL-4 was designed using a template-assisted method and synthesized by solid-phase peptide synthesis. After modification with the chelator 1,4,7‑triazacyclononane-N,N′,N″-triacetic acid (NOTA), the peptide was labeled with 68Ga. Then, the biodistribution of 68Ga-YJL-4 in tumor-bearing nude mice was investigated, and the mice were imaged by small animal positron emission tomography (PET).

Results
The radiochemical yield and radiochemical purity of 68Ga-YJL-4 were 89.5 ± 0.16% and 97.95 ± 0.06%, respectively. The biodistribution of 68Ga-YJL-4 in tumors (5.94 ± 1.27% ID/g, 6.72 ± 1.69% ID/g and 4.54 ± 0.58% ID/g at 1, 2 and 4 h after injection, respectively) was significantly greater than that of the control peptide in tumors at the corresponding time points (P < 0.01). Of the measured off-target organs, 68Ga-YJL-4 was highly distributed in the liver and blood. The small animal PET imaging results were consistent with the biodistribution results. The tumors were visualized by PET at 2 and 4 h after the injection of 68Ga-YJL-4. No tumors were observed in the control group.

Conclusions
The novel pHLIP family peptide YJL-4 can adopt an α-helical structure for easy insertion into the cell membrane in an acidic environment. 68Ga-YJL-4 was produced in high radiochemical yield with good stability and can target TNBC tissue. Moreover, the strong concentration of radioactive 68Ga-YJL-4 in the abdomen does not hinder the imaging of early TNBC.
A Novel Subtype of Acquired Generalized Lipodystrophy Associated With Subcutaneous Panniculitis-Like T-cell Lymphoma
Authors: Hoff Fieke W , Xing Chao , Garg Abhimanyu 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Acquired generalized lipodystrophy (AGL) is an extremely rare disease that is characterized by loss of body fat affecting nearly all parts of the body. It is often associated with autoimmune diseases or panniculitis, whereas in other patients the underlying etiology is unclear. We report a 52-year-old male individual who was diagnosed with subcutaneous panniculitis-like T-cell lymphoma (SPTCL) that spontaneously went into remission. Years later he developed new subcutaneous nodules most concerning for relapse SPTCL or lupus panniculitis, followed by onset of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) that was treated with allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Notably, around the same time, he also developed generalized subcutaneous fat loss of both upper and lower extremities, chest, abdomen, and face that persisted after treatment of the HLH. Whole exome sequencing was performed to search for pathogenic variants that are associated with SPTCL, including those in hepatitis A virus cellular receptor 2 (HAVCR2), but did not detect any potential disease-causing variant. Our report brings to the attention a novel subtype of panniculitis-variety of AGL. Whether generalized loss of subcutaneous fat in this patient is due to lymphoma-associated panniculitis or due to development of adipose tissue-directed autoantibodies as a paraneoplastic “autoimmune” manifestation of SPTCL remains unclear.
Rare faction of flora of the designed landscape reserve “Balka Shchurovka”
Authors: Kyiak S. V. 
Published: April 2024

The article is devoted to the study of the modern distribution of certain rare plant species within the "Balka Shchurovka" beam system (near the settlements of Dniprovske, Novomykolaivka of the Verkhnyodniprovska OTG of the Dnipropetrovsk region) and substantiation of the prospects for granting the object the status of a nature conservation area. The natural diversity of the vegetation cover of the designed reserve consists of zonal steppe vegetation, bairach forests, psamophilic and petrophilic communities, and meadow vegetation. According to indicators of biodiversity, the territory b. Shchurovka is one of the most valuable within the borders of Verkhnyodniprovska OTG of Dnipropetrovsk region. In the process of researching the flora of the planned reserve, a number of new locations of species rare for the region and the region were discovered. 26 regionally rare plant species grow here, 13 species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, 3 species from Resolution 6 of the Berne Convention and Annexes of the Habitats Directive, presented in the flora of Ukraine, 1 species from the World Red List. The list of plants of the Dnipropetrovsk region included in the Red Book of Ukraine includes 56 species of vascular plants, of which 13 species grow within the b. Rat, which is 23% of the total number of red book species of Dnipropetrovsk region. An important and interesting feature of the layer of sand exposed on the right slope of the gully is the presence of blocks of red sandstone enriched with iron oxides. Near the sandstone outcrops, a characteristic complex of flora has formed on sandy soil with the participation of Sempervivum ruthenicum Schnittsp. & C.B. Lehm, Pulsatilla pratensis (L.) Mill. s.l., Thymus pallasianus Heinr.Braun, Peucedanum arenarium Waldst. & Kit. (Taeniopetalum arenarium (Waldst. & Kit.) V. N. Tichomirov), Achillea leptophylla M. Bieb. Jurinea cyanoides (L.) Rchb and Pulsatilla patens (L.) Mill grow here. s.l. - rare species from the Annexes of the Habitats Directive, Annex I of the Berne Convention, which prefer biotopes with an intact structure as part of rare coenoses. The study of the rare fraction of the flora of the beam system in the context of the conservation of biodiversity of the Right Bank Steppe of the Dnieper region can become the basis of the nature conservation concept of sustainable development of the region.
Gut microbiota in professional and amateur athletes: the impact of physical activity on microbiota - what do we know? A literature review
Authors: Szopa Sebastian , Szymonik Julia 
Published: April 2024

Introduction and purpose: The gut microbiota, a diverse community of microorganisms inhabiting our intestines, is pivotal for human health. This intricate microbial ecosystem influences various aspects of health, including digestion, metabolism, immune function and even mental well-being. Comprehending connections between physical activity and gut microbiota is vital for public health advocacy, particularly amidst the rise of sedentary lifestyle. The nature of modern lifestyles contributes to decreased physical activity, exacerbating the health consequences associated with a disrupted gut microbiota. In conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, alterations in the composition and function of the gut microbiota have been observed. These changes, often referred to as dysbiosis, are characterized by a decrease in microbial diversity and shifts in the relative abundance of certain bacterial taxa. The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge regarding the impact of professional and amateur physical activity on gut microbiota.
Description of the state of knowledge: Recent research reveals a significant link between physical activity and the gut microbiota, hinting at its potential health implications. Studies indicate that exercise may promote greater microbial diversity in the gut, contributing to improved metabolic balance and reduced inflammation.
Summary: Exercise can modulate the composition and diversity of gut microbes, promoting a more beneficial profile associated with enhanced metabolic health and immune function. Ongoing research in this area could guide the development of exercise plans that enhance not just physical fitness but also gut health and overall well-being.
Benefits of l-theanine supplementation and its possible role in clinical use – review
Authors: Womperski Karol , Woźniak Justyna , Szymonik Julia , Szopa Sebastian , Elias Jagoda 
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Green tea has been a meaningful element of various cultures among the world for ages and its benefits for human health are widely known. Discovery of its ingredients facilitated the profound research of their positive role and mechanisms of action. One of them – l-theanine - seems to have a multidirectional influence on human health.
Methods and materials: A review of chosen literature from PubMed database, GoogleScholar database between the years 2000-2023 was conducted using the following keywords: “theanine”, “theanine cognition”, “theanine brain activity”, “theanine neural activity”, “theanine neuroprotection”, “theanine stress”, “theanine cancer”, “theanine immunity”, “theanine safety”, “theanine caffeine”, “theanine metabolism”
Aim of study: Review of current knowledge on l-theanine, its benefits for health, mechanisms of action, possible applications in clinical use and safety.
Results: L-theanine has a profitable influence on cognitive performance, stress management, neuroprotection, immunity and exhibits anti-cancer properties while having virtually no detrimental side effects.
Conclusions: Further research on application of l-theanine in clinical use is necessary as studies carried out on humans included only a limited number of participants.
Treatment fatigue among adult patients with chronic heart failure in a tertiary care hospital in Ethiopia: a mixed-methods study
Authors: Hassen Minimize , Mekonnen Desalew , Muhammed Oumer Sada 
Published: April 2024

Background/Aims Patients with heart failure must adhere to strict treatment regimens, including pharmacological treatments, medical appointments and lifestyle modifications. This study aimed to assess the extent of treatment regimen fatigue among patients with heart failure in Ethiopia and identify factors that may exacerbate this. The authors also aimed to gather insights from patients and health professionals about how to ameliorate the impact of treatment regimen fatigue. Methods An explanatory sequential mixed-methods study was conducted at a specialist cardiac clinic in Ethiopia from 1 August to 30 September 2021. In the quantitative stage, the Treatment Regimen Fatigue Scale was delivered via interview to 325 patients with heart failure to collect data on their level of treatment regimen fatigue and analyse this against their demographic, clinical and treatment-related characteristics. The influences of factors on treatment regimen fatigue were tested using the Mann–Whitney U, Kruskal–Wallis and Chi square tests, as appropriate. In the qualitative stage, interviews were conducted with 14 patients with heart failure and 10 specialist health professionals to identify possible interventions to reduce treatment regimen fatigue. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and subject to content analysis to identify themes. Results In the quantitative phase, participants' mean level of treatment regimen fatigue was −48.38±13.1, indicating low levels of fatigue. Several factors had a significant impact on level of treatment regimen fatigue, including living alone (U=7819.5; Z=−3.01; P=0.003); poor knowledge of heart failure (U=4379.0; Z=−4.24; P<0.001); lack of family support (U=6152.5; Z=−4.09; P<0.01); presence of two or more comorbidities (U=11273.5; Z=−2.28; P=0.023); adverse drug effects (U=6990.0; Z=−2.78; P=0.006); poor availability of medications (U=10215.0; Z=−3.43; P=0.001); and reliance on health insurance to obtain medication (X2=7.18; P=0.028). Qualitative results indicated that improving patients' self-care, making changes to the structure of the cardiac clinic (eg more regular follow up with the same clinician) and improving the general healthcare system could reduce treatment regimen fatigue. Conclusions Patients with heart failure seem to experience low levels of treatment regimen fatigue, but this can be influenced by a variety of demographic, clinical and treatment-related factors. Interventions on a local and systemic level could reduce the risk of treatment regimen fatigue, but there is no one-size-fits-all solution.
Student Teachers’ Knowledge of School-level Geometry: Implications for Teaching and Learning
Authors: Mukuka Angel , Alex Jogymol Kalariparampil 
Published: April 2024

<p style="text-align:justify">This study aimed to assess the geometric knowledge of student teachers from a university in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. The study used a sample of 225 first-year student teachers who completed school mathematics baseline assessments on a computer- aided mathematics instruction (CAMI) software. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional research design, using quantitative data to measure student teachers’ geometry achievement level, and qualitative data to explain the challenges encountered. The results show that student teachers exhibited a low level of understanding of school-level geometry. The low achievement levels were linked to various factors, such as insufficient grasp of geometry concepts in their secondary school education, difficulty in remembering what was done years ago, low self-confidence, and lack of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) skills along with the limited time for the baseline tests. These results suggest that appropriate measures should be taken to ensure that student teachers acquire the necessary subject-matter knowledge to teach effectively in their future classrooms.</p>

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Agency Costs of Outside Equity: Evidence From Start-Up Firms in Their First Two Years
Authors: Everett Craig R. 
Published: April 2024

This paper investigates the agency costs associated with outside equity infusions into 4928 randomly selected firms surveyed annually during their first two years of business. Sources of outside equity include angel investors, venture capital or private equity, other companies, or government sources. Changes in outside equity levels are significantly and positively associated with changes in the number of perquisite programs available to employees. These results are robust to controls for observable firm characteristics such as firm size and profitability.
Stability from rigidity via umbilicity
Authors: Scheuer Julian 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
We consider a range of geometric stability problems for hypersurfaces of spaceforms. One of the key results is an estimate relating the distance to a geodesic sphere of an embedded hypersurface with integral norms of the traceless Hessian operator of a level set function for the open set bounded by the hypersurface.
As application, we give a unified treatment of many old and new stability problems arising in geometry and analysis. Those problems ask for spherical closeness of a hypersurface, given a geometric constraint. Examples include stability in Alexandroff’s soap bubble theorem in space forms, Serrin’s overdetermined problem, a Steklov problem involving the bi-Laplace operator and non-convex Alexandroff–Fenchel inequalities.
Machine learning-based compressive strength estimation in nanomaterial-modified lightweight concrete
Authors: Alghrairi Nashat S. , Aziz Farah N. , Rashid Suraya A. , Mohamed Mohd Z. , Ibrahim Amer M. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
The development of nanotechnology has led to the creation of materials with unique properties, and in recent years, numerous attempts have been made to include nanoparticles in concrete in an effort to increase its performance and create concrete with improved qualities. Nanomaterials are typically added to lightweight concrete (LWC) with the goal of improving the composite’s mechanical, microstructure, freshness, and durability qualities. Compressive strength is the most crucial mechanical characteristic for all varieties of concrete composites. For this reason, it is essential to create accurate models for estimating the compressive strength (CS) of LWC to save time, energy, and money. In addition, it provides useful information for planning the construction schedule and indicates when the formwork should be removed. To predict the CS of LWC mixtures made with or without nanomaterials, nine different models were proposed in this study: the gradient-boosted trees (GBT), random forest, tree ensemble, XGBoosted (XGB), Keras, simple regression, probabilistic neural networks, multilayer perceptron, and linear relationship model. A total of 2,568 samples were gathered and examined. The most significant factors influencing CS during the modeling process were taken into account as input variables, including the amount of nanomaterials, cement, water-to-binder ratio, density, the content of lightweight aggregates, type of nano, fine and coarse aggregate content, and water. The performance of the suggested models was assessed using a variety of statistical measures, including the coefficient of determination (R
2), scatter index, mean absolute error, and root-mean-squared error (RMSE). The findings showed that, in comparison to other models, the GBT model outperformed the others in predicting the compression strength of LWC mixtures enhanced with nanomaterials. The GBT model produced the best results, with the greatest value of R
2 (0.9) and the lowest value of RMSE (5.286). Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis showed that the most important factor influencing the prediction of the CS of LWC enhanced with nanoparticles is the water content.