bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Bentonite and Poultry Waste on Growth of Maize
Authors: Hakim Abd Alshammari Abbas , Saber Sarwan Al-Wattifi Abbas 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
This study was conducted to find out the effect of Bentonite mineral and poultry waste and the addition of some elements on the characteristics of the maize plant. Levels of poultry waste (M0, M1, and M2) and three chemical elements: magnesium, zinc, and copper (Emg, Ezn, and Ecu) separately, and the effect of these factors on the growth characteristics of maize. The results showed the following:
1. The P2 addition level of the mineral Bentonite was superior to the rest of the levels in the studied plant characteristics, such as plant height, chlorophyll, dry weight of shoot and root systems, and weight of 1000 grains.
2. The M2 addition level to poultry waste was superior to the rest of the levels in the studied plant characteristics, such as plant height, chlorophyll, dry weight of the shoot and root system, and the weight of 1000 grains.
3. The binary interactions between the metal and poultry waste, P2M2 and the metal, and the chemical elements, P2Ecu, on the one hand, and the interaction between the poultry waste, and the chemical elements, M2Ecu, on the other hand, showed significant superiority over the rest of the treatments in collecting the studied plant characteristics.
4. The results showed that there was a significant difference between the treatments as a result of the triple interactions between the experimental factors (Bentonite mineral, poultry waste, and chemical elements) if the P2M2Ecu treatment outperformed the rest of the treatments in the studied plant traits.
Electrospinning for Creation of Zinc Oxide/ Poly(methyl methacrylate) Nanofiber Scaffolds
Authors: Saati S.A.A.AL , Shakir Kadhim Qasim , Abed Alkhadum Mahdi Ausama , Alfalluji Ali L. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
The ability of catalysis and the great interest in the study of nanofibers of zinc oxide nanoparticles loaded on the polymer PMMA in this study. These particles are initially considered unstable, except when combined with pure PMMA, these particles are more stable. By examining zinc oxide nanoparticles using X-ray diffraction to find out the degree of crystallization (XRD) and (FT-IR) for the purpose of studying the chemical changes that occur inside the compound. The surface morphology was best represented by the SEM electronic survey approach. Nanofibers were created by electrospinning of PMMA/ZnO with different concentrations of ZnO of 3%, 6% and 12%. Nanofiber displays good morphology this hybrid compound can be used in many applications because it is easy to use and inexpensive.
Identifying and Check Names of Wild Plants from Brassicaceae Family in Western Desert District of Iraq
Authors: Mousa M O , Shahatha S S , AlFahdawy H S M , Abood N M , Mukhlif F H 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Several field trips were carried out in the winter and spring of 2019 and 2023 in Western Desert District of Iraq, resulting in the collection and identification of more than 490 plant samples from the Brassicaceae family. The total number of species reached 48 species belonging to 35 genera. Among them is the new species Morettia parviflora Boiss., which is recorded for the first time in Iraq. In addition to recording a new presence of five species in this District, namely: Camelina hispida Boiss., Glastoria glastifolia (DC.) O. ktze., Lepidium latifolium L., Sinapis alba L. and Sterigmostemum Sulphureum (Banks) Bornm. scientific names were checked, and this study worked to adopt internationally accepted names, it was arranged in tables that included the first publication, habitat, duration and life form, note that the largest percentage of species were annual herbs (40 Species, 83%), and the life form (Therophytes) had the highest percentage (37 species, 77%). A map was prepared for the distribution of the new species in the district and the country. The species M. parviflora was also treated taxonomically, some plant samples were deposited in Iraqi National Herbarium with the numbers 68314, 68315, 68316 and 68317.
Effect of stearic acid concentration on the superhydrophobic properties of sponge coated by Fe2O3-MgO nanocomposite
Authors: Jumaah Sabah H. , Sabry Raad S. , Aziz Wisam J. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
The nanocomposite (Fe2o3-MgO) was prepared using the hydrothermal method. A super hydrophobicity surface was successfully fabricated using a nanocomposite with stearic acid at different molar ratios using the dip coting method on the sponge. The prepared samples were characterized by XRD, FE-SEM, AFM, Raman and contact angle techniques. The XRD pattern of Fe2O3-MgO nanocomposite exhibits that the XRD pattern aligns well with both reference codes for iron oxide and magnesium oxide. This consistency validates the presence of both iron and magnesium oxide phases in the nanocomposite. FESEM images of the coated sponges apparent that all the coated sponges share a strikingly similar morphology. They exhibit a layered structure, with plates that are arranged in parallel to each other. According to AFM results, the (Fe2O3-MgO) nanocomposite exhibited the highest surface roughness among the three samples, with an Ra of 69.41 nm and an Rq of 83.30 nm. The contact angles of samples with x = 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 are equal to 140.1°, 142.3°, 147.6°, and 152.9°, respectively. Therefore, there is a direct relationship between the molar ratio of stearic acid to nanocomposite and the contact angle. As the molar ratio increases, the contact angle also rises, due to the increase in surface roughness.
Production of Nano Beta-Glucans From Baking Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Its Comparison With Extracted Beta-Glucans
Authors: Naseer Sadiq Batol , Fadel Mousa Ebtisam 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
In this study, the valid bread yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used for the purpose of the polysaccharide beta-glucan, and the diagnosis of lyophilization was confirmed, as the biological cell of the yeast was grown in SDA Agar medium and incubated at a temperature of 37 degrees Celsius for 48 hours, and the sugar fermentation test was conducted and completed. Identifying its microscopic and cultural characteristics, diagnostic tests showed that it was Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. Beta-glucan was extracted from yeast cells using the (acid-base) method. The extracted beta-glucan was diagnosed using Infrared rays (FT-IR) and (HPLC) technology. Comparing the results of the tests with the standard beta-glucan compound. The extracted beta-glucan was converted into a nanocomposite by (base - acid) method. The physical, chemical and functional properties of the nanocomposite were determined. The ability to bind water to the nanocomposite was (293%) and the ability to bind fat (254%). The average size of the nano-beta-glucan particles included in Soft cheese manufacturing using the Size Analyzer device reached 189.4 nm.Filed Emission Scanning electron microscope (FESEM) was used to detect the surface of the extracted and prepared Nano beta-glucan compound, which reached, respectively. As for the (XRD), UV-Vis, Fourier spectrometer was determined. The inhibitory effectiveness of the extracted and Nano beta-glucan compound against pathogenic bacteria was estimated, while Gram-negative bacteria was inhibited as well, as it was for E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 23 and 21 mm, respectively, The results showed that there was no growth inhibition zone for lactic acid bacteria.
Study of The Inhibition Corrosion of Aluminum Metal Using Peppermint Oil in An Acidic Medium
Authors: Emad Kazem Susan , Saeed Othman Ahmed 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
This study included the study of the efficiency of peppermint oil inhibition of aluminum corrosion in acidic medium HCl at concentrations (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 M) on the corrosion rate in the presence and absence of the inhibitor peppermint oil at different concentrations (1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 ppm).In order to study the effect of changing the temperature (303, 313, 323, 333 K) on the corrosion rate in the absence and presence of the inhibitor, different concentrations of the inhibitor were chosen in addition to the acid concentration (1M). The experiments were carried out using the weight loss method to calculate the erosion rate. The expected heat of adsorption enthalpy was (-29.913 KJ/mol), with a negative sign indicates that the process is exothermic. The value of the free energy of adsorption ranged from (11.086-15.067 KJ/mol. (The results showed that Freundlich adsorption isotherm equation is the best fit to examine the adsorption process, also a scanning electron microscope. Showed the surface of aluminum before and after corrosion according to the results of the study, it was found that the used inhibitor reduces corrosion in acidic media. Its anti-corrosion efficacy also improves with increasing inhibitor concentration and with decreasing temperature.
Fintech in Banking Institutions
Authors: Lu Lerong 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis chapter considers Fintech innovations in the banking industry. The case study focuses on digital-based challenger banks that have quickly emerged after the global financial crisis 2007–2008, such as Monzo, Starling, Revolut, N26, and WeBank. It examines the phenomenon of ‘too big to fail’, which indicates the market concentration and systemic importance of large global banks. Digital banks (or neo banks) adopt a simplified, efficient, and low-cost business model based on the internet and smartphone apps. Digital banks are known for their unique distribution channels and bespoke financial services for retail customers and SMEs underserved by incumbent banks. This chapter discusses various factors contributing to the rapid rise of digital banks and assesses their advantages over traditional banks. It also analyses how digital banks fit into the existing regulatory system, and identifies key regulatory issues such as deposit insurance, capital requirement, and data safety.
Conclusion
Authors: Lu Lerong 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThis chapter presents the key findings in the book to inform researchers, practitioners, policy-makers, and any Fintech enthusiasts. It identifies the main achievements of Fintech innovations for financial consumers, Fintech corporations, and society as a whole. It provides readers with a comprehensive and critical understanding of the Fintech ecosystem and its impact on banking, online P2P lending, and digital money. It focuses on the transformative force of Fintech, while also emphasising the importance of addressing legal, regulatory, and ethical considerations to ensure the sustainable growth of Fintech in the 21st century. Fintech, if properly regulated, is capable of creating a more efficient, democratic, and inclusive financial industry. This chapter draws a conclusion for the book.
The Missteps of the Nahḍa Intellectuals
Authors: Oweidat Nadia 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
This chapter examines Abu Zayd’s ideas on the scholars of the nahḍa, which was a movement among the first generation of scholars in the Muslim world to encounter the pressure of Europe’s progress. These scholars had to address the issue of the compatibility of modernity and Islam. Even as their task may ultimately have proved an impossible one, these modernists nevertheless achieved a measure of success, and this chapter examines the reasons for this phenomenon. While Abu Zayd admired and was influenced by the nahḍa scholars, he also critiqued them, especially Muhammad ʿAbduh (1849–1905) and Taha Hussain (1889–1973), for the intellectual direction that the Arab world took.
Islamic Secularism
Authors: Oweidat Nadia 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Abu Zayd believed in the need for institutional separation between religion and the state. Such separation, he argued, would not only protect the rights of individuals to have freedom of conscience without fear of persecution, but it also protects the integrity of Islam itself. This chapter clarifies Abu Zayd’s definition of secularism. In his view and that of his fellow modernists, secularism empowers religion because it frees it from the grip of religious and political institutions to enable its interpretation to proceed “in a scientific manner that purifies it from myths and at the same time utilizes its inherent momentum to achieve progress, justice and liberty.”
Association of Cardiovascular Health in Young Adulthood With Long-Term Blood Pressure Trajectories
Authors: Guo James W , Ning Hongyan , Allen Norrina B , Reges Orna , Gabriel Kelley Pettee , Lloyd-Jones Donald M 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Cardiovascular health (CVH) in young adulthood (YA) has been associated with cardiovascular outcomes in older age. However, little is known about the relationship between YA CVH and mid-life blood pressure (BP) trajectories.

METHODS
Baseline CVH (defined by 7 of the American Heart Association’s [AHA] Life’s Essential 8 [LE8] metrics, excluding BP) was measured in YA with individual metrics scored and averaged as a composite LE8 score. Categorical CVH status was defined as high, moderate, and low. Latent class analysis was used to identify trajectories of mid-BP (mean of systolic blood pressure [SBP] and diastolic blood pressure [DBP]) from average ages 35 to 55 years. Multinomial logistic regression was used to estimate the association of YA CVH status (continuously and categorically) with mid-life BP trajectory group membership.

RESULTS
There were 3,688 participants from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study in YA with follow-up data for mid-life BP trajectories. We observed 3 BP trajectory groups, labeled as Persistently-Low, Middle, and High-Increasing. On average, each 10-points higher baseline LE8 score (mean [SD] of 73.5 [13.1]) in YA was associated with adjusted odds ratios of 0.78 (95% CI, 0.72–0.84) for membership in the Middle and 0.65 (0.57–0.73) for membership in the High-Increasing trajectory groups. Compared with categorical low CVH status at baseline, those with high CVH were significantly less likely to be in the Middle and High-Increasing BP trajectory groups.

CONCLUSIONS
Moderate or low CVH status in YA is associated with elevated mid-life BP trajectory. These data suggest that young adult CVH promotion may be important for the primordial prevention of hypertension.
Timing of egg-laying in relation to a female’s social environment in European starlings
Authors: Leonard Kathryn M , Williams Tony D 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
It is widely assumed that female birds use nonphotic supplemental cues, including social factors, to fine-tune timing of egg-laying to local conditions, but our knowledge of the nature of these social cues and how they operate remains limited. We analyzed the relationship between a female’s social environment (nearest neighbor distances, residency, female -and- network familiarity, synchrony) and variation in timing of egg-laying in European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) using individual, residual laying date (controlling for annual variation) and temperature-independent residual laying date (accounting for the effect of ambient temperature on laying date). Female social environment varied systematically with overall spatial distribution of nest-boxes (linear vs clumped boxes) but this was not associated with spatial variation in laying date or temperature-independent residual laying date. We found no evidence for any relationships between individual variation in social environment and individual, residual laying date and only weak evidence for any association with individual, temperature-independent residual laying date. The latter was associated with (1) nearest neighbor distances in the linear habitat, with females nesting closer to neighbors laying earlier than predicted by temperature, but not in the two clumped habitats, and (2) neighbor familiarity: females with an intermediate number of returning females (3/8) laid closest to the predicted date. Finally, despite the fact that synchrony was not associated with other social environment metrics, females with lower laying synchrony among neighbors laid earlier than predicted by temperature. This suggests that some components of the female-female social environment could act as supplemental cues for timing of egg-laying.
Maternal investment and early thermal conditions affect performance and antipredator responses
Authors: Iglesias-Carrasco Maider , Zhang Jiayu , Noble Daniel W A 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Exposure to increased temperatures during early development can lead to phenotypic plasticity in morphology, physiology, and behavior across a range of ectothermic animals. In addition, maternal effects are known to be important contributors to phenotypic variation in offspring. Whether the 2 factors interact to shape offspring morphology and behavior is rarely explored. This is critical because climate change is expected to impact both incubation temperature and maternal stress and resource allocation. Using a fully factorial design, and Bayesian multivariate mixed models, we explored how the manipulation of early thermal environment and yolk-quantity in eggs affected the morphology, performance, and antipredator behavior of 2 sympatric Australian skink species (Lampropholis delicata and L. guichenoti). We found that juveniles from the hot treatment were larger than those on the cold treatment in L. guichenoti but not L. delicata. Using repeated behavioral measures for individual lizards, we found an interaction between incubation temperature and maternal investment in performance, with running speed being affected in a species-specific way by the treatment. We predicted that changes in performance should influence antipredator responses. In support of this prediction, we found that maternal investment impacted antipredator behavior, with animals from the yolk-reduced and cold treatment resuming activity faster after a simulated predatory attack in L. delicata. However, the prediction was not supported in L. guichenoti. Our results highlight the importance of exploring the multifaceted role that environments play across generations to understand how different anthropogenic factors will impact wildlife in the future.
Short-homology-mediated PCR-based method for gene introduction in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe
Authors: Zhang Cai-Xia , Hou Ying-Chun 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Schizosaccharomyces pombe is a commonly utilized model organism for studying various aspects of eukaryotic cell physiology. One reason for its widespread use as an experimental system is the ease of genetic manipulations, leveraging the natural homology-targeted repair mechanism to accurately modify the genome. We conducted a study to assess the feasibility and efficiency of directly introducing exogenous genes into the fission yeast S. pombe using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) with short-homology flanking sequences. Specifically, we amplified the NatMX6 gene (which provides resistance to nourseothricin) using PCR with oligonucleotides that had short flanking regions of 20 bp, 40 bp, 60 bp and 80 bp to the target gene. By using this purified PCR product, we successfully introduced the NatMX6 gene at position 171 385 on chromosome III in S. pombe. We have made a simple modification to the transformation procedure, resulting in a significant increase in transformation efficiency by at least 5-fold. The success rate of gene integration at the target position varied between 20% and 50% depending on the length of the flanking regions. Additionally, we discovered that the addition of dimethyl sulfoxide and boiled carrier DNA increased the number of transformants by ~60- and 3-fold, respectively. Furthermore, we found that the removal of the pku70+ gene improved the transformation efficiency to ~5% and reduced the formation of small background colonies. Overall, our results demonstrate that with this modified method, even very short stretches of homologous regions (as short as 20 bp) can be used to effectively target genes at a high frequency in S. pombe. This finding greatly facilitates the introduction of exogenous genes in this organism.
Surgeon age in relation to patients’ long-term survival after gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma: nationwide population-based cohort study
Authors: Leijonmarck Wilhelm , Mattsson Fredrik , Asplund Johannes , Markar Sheraz , Lagergren Jesper 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background
Increasing surgeon age may influence patient outcomes after complex procedures due to gained experience but also decreased technical and cognitive abilities. This study aimed to clarify whether surgeon age influences patients’ long-term survival after gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma.

Methods
Population-based cohort study including all patients who underwent open and curatively intended gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma between 2006 and 2015 in Sweden, with follow-up throughout 2020. Surgeon age, categorized into three equal-sized groups (tertiles), was assessed in relation to 5-year all-cause mortality rate (main outcome) and 5-year disease-specific death (secondary outcome) using multivariable Cox regression adjusted for patient age, sex, education, co-morbidity, pathological tumour stage, tumour sublocation and neoadjuvant therapy. Lymph node yield, resection margin status, in-hospital complications and annual surgeon volume of gastrectomy were considered potential mediators.

Results
Among 1647 patients, the 5-year all-cause mortality rate was increased for surgeon age ≥55 years (adjusted HR 1.21, 95% c.i. 1.04 to 1.41) and borderline elevated for age 47–54 years (HR 1.16, 95% c.i. 0.99 to 1.36), compared with age ≤46 years. Five-year disease-specific death was increased for surgeon age ≥55 years (HR 1.25, 95% c.i. 1.06 to 1.48) and 47–54 years (HR 1.22, 95% c.i. 1.02 to 1.44), compared with age ≤46 years. The associations attenuated and became statistically non-significant after adjustment for lymph node yield, resection margin status and complications.

Conclusion
Surgeon age ≥47 years might be associated with worse long-term survival in patients who undergo gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma, possibly mediated in part by differences in lymph node yield, resection margin status and complications.
Strength and resilience of developing brain circuits predict adolescent emotional and stress responses during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Hu Linfeng , Stamoulis Catherine 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has had profound but incompletely understood adverse effects on youth. To elucidate the role of brain circuits in how adolescents responded to the pandemic’s stressors, we investigated their prepandemic organization as a predictor of mental/emotional health in the first ~15 months of the pandemic. We analyzed resting-state networks from n = 2,641 adolescents [median age (interquartile range) = 144.0 (13.0) months, 47.7% females] in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study, and longitudinal assessments of mental health, stress, sadness, and positive affect, collected every 2 to 3 months from May 2020 to May 2021. Topological resilience and/or network strength predicted overall mental health, stress and sadness (but not positive affect), at multiple time points, but primarily in December 2020 and May 2021. Higher resilience of the salience network predicted better mental health in December 2020 (β = 0.19, 95% CI = [0.06, 0.31], P = 0.01). Lower connectivity of left salience, reward, limbic, and prefrontal cortex and its thalamic, striatal, amygdala connections, predicted higher stress (β = −0.46 to −0.20, CI = [−0.72, −0.07], P &lt; 0.03). Lower bilateral robustness (higher fragility) and/or connectivity of these networks predicted higher sadness in December 2020 and May 2021 (β = −0.514 to −0.19, CI = [−0.81, −0.05], P &lt; 0.04). These findings suggest that the organization of brain circuits may have played a critical role in adolescent stress and mental/emotional health during the pandemic.