bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of slight ski boot weight variations on ski mountaineering energy cost and mechanical work at race intensity
Authors: Bortolan Lorenzo , Savoldelli Aldo , Fornasiero Alessandro , Nanni Sofia , Gazzi Laura , Decet Marco , Zoppirolli Chiara , Schena Federico , Pellegrini Barbara 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Uphill ski mountaineering performance appears to be related to metabolic cost of locomotion and skiers’ weight. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of slight variations in equipment weight on metabolic and mechanical work (MW) of ski mountaineering, at race pace.

Methods
Thirteen male ski mountaineers were asked to ski on a treadmill at 25% slope and 80% of their maximal aerobic speed. They completed four 5-min bouts with additional weights of 0 kg (control), 0.2 kg, 0.4 kg, and 0.6 kg added to each ski boot in a blind mode and random order. Ski mountaineering energy cost (EC) was determined by gas exchange measurements, while MW was determined from the changes in the mechanical energy of body centre of mass (COM), body segments and equipment.

Results
EC and total MW were significantly (all p < 0.001) and largely (η2 = 0.712 and η2 = 0.704, respectively) increased for every 0.2 kg of mass added, by around 2% and 1%, respectively. The increase in the MW was related to a significant increase in the work needed to lift the weight against gravity and to the increased work done to move the segments of the lower body with respect to COM.

Conclusion
The present investigation shows that even small increments in racing gear weight are associated with an increase in ski mountaineering EC, possibly leading to a consequent decreased performance on uphill terrains.
Analyzing the nexus between environmental sustainability and clean energy for the USA
Authors: Dogan Eyup , Mohammed Kamel Si , Khan Zeeshan , Binsaeed Rima H. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractEnvironmental sustainability is a key target to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs). However, achieving these targets needs tools to pave the way for achieving SDGs and COP28 targets. Therefore, the primary objective of the present study is to examine the significance of clean energy, research and development spending, technological innovation, income, and human capital in achieving environmental sustainability in the USA from 1990 to 2022. The study employed time series econometric methods to estimate the empirical results. The study confirmed the long-run cointegrating relationship among CO2 emissions, human capital, income, R&D, technological innovation, and clean energy. The results are statistically significant in the short run except for R&D expenditures. In the long run, the study found that income and human capital contribute to further aggravating the environment via increasing CO2 emissions. However, R&D expenditures, technological innovation, and clean energy help to promote environmental sustainability by limiting carbon emissions. The study recommends investment in technological innovation, clean energy, and increasing R&D expenditures to achieve environmental sustainability in the USA.
The effect of anaerobic digestate as an organic soil fertilizer on the diversity and structure of the indigenous soil microbial and nematode communities
Authors: Nikolaidou Charitini , Mola Magkdi , Papakostas Spiros , Aschonitis Vassilis G. , Monokrousos Nikolaos , Kougias Panagiotis G. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAnaerobic digestate is a popular soil additive which can promote sustainability and transition toward a circular economy. This study addresses how anaerobic digestate modifies soil health when combined with a common chemical fertilizer. Attention was given to soil microbes and, a neglected but of paramount importance soil taxonomic group, soil nematodes. A mesocosm experiment was set up in order to assess the soil’s microbial and nematode community. The results demonstrated that the microbial diversity was not affected by the different fertilization regimes, although species richness increased after digestate and mixed fertilization. The composition and abundance of nematode community did not respond to any treatment. Mixed fertilization notably increased potassium (K) and boron (B) levels, while nitrate (NO3−) levels were uniformly elevated across fertilized soils, despite variations in nitrogen input. Network analysis revealed that chemical fertilization led to a densely interconnected network with mainly mutualistic relationships which could cause ecosystem disruption, while digestate application formed a more complex community based on bacterial interactions. However, the combination of both orchestrated a more balanced and less complex community structure, which is more resilient to random disturbances, but on the downside, it is more likely to collapse under targeted perturbations.
Bioaugmentation and vermicompost facilitated the hydrocarbon bioremediation: scaling up from lab to field for petroleum-contaminated soils
Authors: Curiel-Alegre Sandra , Khan Aqib Hassan Ali , Rad Carlos , Velasco-Arroyo Blanca , Rumbo Carlos , Rivilla Rafael , Durán David , Redondo-Nieto Miguel , Borràs Eduard , Molognoni Daniele , Martín-Castellote Soledad , Juez Blanca , Barros Rocío 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe biodegradation of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) in soil is very challenging due to the complex recalcitrant nature of hydrocarbon, hydrophobicity, indigenous microbial adaptation and competition, and harsh environmental conditions. This work further confirmed that limited natural attenuation of petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) (15% removal) necessitates efficient bioremediation strategies. Hence, a scaling-up experiment for testing and optimizing the use of biopiles for bioremediation of TPH polluted soils was conducted with three 500-kg pilots of polluted soil, and respective treatments were implemented: including control soil (CT), bioaugmentation and vermicompost treatment (BAVC), and a combined application of BAVC along with bioelectrochemical snorkels (BESBAVC), all maintained at 40% field capacity. This study identified that at pilot scale level, a successful application of BAVC treatment can achieve 90.3% TPH removal after 90 days. BAVC’s effectiveness stemmed from synergistic mechanisms. Introduced microbial consortia were capable of TPH degradation, while vermicompost provided essential nutrients, enhanced aeration, and, potentially, acted as a biosorbent. Hence, it can be concluded that the combined application of BAVC significantly enhances TPH removal compared to natural attenuation. While the combined application of a bioelectrochemical snorkel (BES) with BAVC also showed a significant TPH removal, it did not differ statistically from the individual application of BAVC, under applied conditions. Further research is needed to optimize BES integration with BAVC for broader applicability. This study demonstrates BAVC as a scalable and mechanistically sound approach for TPH bioremediation in soil.
Sexual health behaviours and partner notification practices related to sexually transmitted infections in young adults in Ireland
Authors: Nearchou Finiki , Flinn Clodagh , Mc Laughlin Diarmuid , Niland Rachel 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) impose burdens on individuals and communities, while their prevalence in young people has risen continually in recent years. Partner notification is an effective public health strategy which can limit STI transmission.

Aims
This study aimed to explore young adults’ sexual health behaviours, attitudes toward STI testing, and feelings toward visiting a sexual health clinic. It also aimed to investigate preferences for partner notification and the role of self-efficacy in people’s intentions to notify a partner for STIs including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Methods
A quantitative, cross-sectional design was applied. Participants were 400 adults aged 18–34 years (M = 23 years; SD = 4.27), recruited from the Republic of Ireland.

Results
Over half of the participants reported never being tested for STIs. These young people placed less importance on undergoing regular STI testing and testing after unprotected sex than their counterparts who had been tested for STIs. Self-efficacy was significantly associated with intentions to notify partner(s) for STIs including HIV.

Conclusions
As STIs are becoming increasingly prevalent in young adults, it is important to gain a deeper understanding of the interventions used to break the transmission chain and how different beliefs and attitudes may affect them. Self-efficacy was a key component in PN intentions, suggesting that the belief in someone’s ability or skillset to perform a sexual health behaviour is positively related to their intention to perform the behaviour.
Late orbital radiotherapy combined with intravenous methylprednisolone in the management of long-lasting active graves’ orbitopathy: a case report and literature review
Authors: Verrienti Martina , Gagliardi Irene , Valente Luisa , Stefanelli Antonio , Borgatti Luca , Franco Elena , Galiè Manlio , Bondanelli Marta , Zatelli Maria Chiara , Ambrosio Maria Rosaria 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Purpose
To present a case and review the literature on Orbital Radiotherapy (OR) combined with intravenous methylprednisolone, focusing on its late application in patients with long-lasting active Graves’ Orbitopathy (GO). Additionally, we suggest emerging perspective for future research in this context.

Method
Relevant literature (randomized controlled studies, retrospective studies and reviews) was explored on PubMed from January 1973 to January 2024, searching “orbital radiotherapy” & “Graves disease”.

Results
OR is a well-established second-line treatment for moderate-to-severe active GO, providing response rates comparable to glucocorticoids. Its anti-inflammatory effect makes OR particularly suitable for early active GO, and when combined with glucocorticoids, outcomes are synergistically improved. The emergence of the new Volumetric Modulated Arc Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (VMAT-IGRT) technique enables precise radiation delivery to the target, significantly reducing associated toxicity. This technological advancement enhances the feasibility of radiotherapy in benign diseases like GO. A retrospective study indicated that late OR in patients with long-lasting active GO may improve diplopia and visual acuity, decreasing disease activity. Our case report supports this conclusion.

Conclusions
This report and literature review underscores the importance of considering late OR combined with intravenous methylprednisolone as a viable treatment option for GO patients with prolonged disease activity, emphasizing the crucial role of personalized therapy in managing GO. However, further investigations are warranted to validate this approach in cases of long-lasting active GO.
Acute Administration of HIV-1 Tat Protein Drives Glutamatergic Alterations in a Rodent Model of HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders
Authors: Duffy Brenna C. , King Kirsten M. , Nepal Binod , Nonnemacher Michael R. , Kortagere Sandhya 
Published: March 2024

AbstractHIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are a major comorbidity of HIV-1 infection, marked by impairment of executive function varying in severity. HAND affects nearly half of people living with HIV (PLWH), with mild forms predominating since the use of anti-retroviral therapies (ART). The HIV-1 transactivator of transcription (Tat) protein is found in the cerebrospinal fluid of patients adherent to ART, and its administration or expression in animals causes cognitive symptoms. Studies of Tat interaction with the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) suggest that glutamate toxicity contributes to Tat-induced impairments. To identify changes in regional glutamatergic circuitry underlying cognitive impairment, we injected recombinant Tat86 or saline to medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) of male Sprague–Dawley rats. Rats were assessed with behavioral tasks that involve intact functioning of mPFC including the novel object recognition (NOR), spatial object recognition (SOR), and temporal order (TO) tasks at 1 and 2 postoperative weeks. Following testing, mPFC tissue was collected and analyzed by RT-PCR. Results showed Tat86 in mPFC-induced impairment in SOR, and upregulation of Grin1 and Grin2a transcripts. To further understand the mechanism of Tat toxicity, we assessed the effects of full-length Tat101 on gene expression in mPFC by RNA sequencing. The results of RNAseq suggest that glutamatergic effects of Tat86 are maintained with Tat101, as Grin2a was upregulated in Tat101-injected tissue, among other differentially expressed genes. Spatial learning and memory impairment and Grin2a upregulation suggest that exposure to Tat protein drives adaptation in mPFC, altering the function of circuitry supporting spatial learning and memory.
Global Diversity and Distribution of Rhizosphere and Root-Associated Fungi in Coastal Wetlands: A Systematic Review
Authors: Lumibao Candice Y. , Harris Georgia , Birnbaum Christina 
Published: March 2024

AbstractCoastal wetlands have been long recognized for their importance to biodiversity and many biogeochemical processes including carbon sequestration; however, our understanding of plant-microbe interactions that govern many processes in these ecosystems remains elusive. Fungal communities are known to play critical roles in coastal wetlands, particularly due to their close relationships with plants, yet, systematic understanding of their distributional patterns and the factors shaping these patterns in natural coastal wetland environments has been rarely assessed. We synthesized existing published literature from fifty-one studies spanning 60 years to examine global fungal distributional patterns in coastal wetlands, draw linkages between fungi, the plant communities, and their environment, and identify gaps in fungal research and suggest future research directions. We focused on studies that reported root-associated fungi and fungi from the plant rhizosphere (i.e., soil surrounding roots) in coastal dunes, intertidal flats, salt marshes, and tidal wetlands. Our synthesis has revealed that (1) 203 fungal species were reported from salt marshes, 59 fungal species from coastal dunes, 32 from tidal wetlands, and ten from intertidal flats; (2) rhizosphere fungal communities were more species-rich and reported more often for all ecosystems except in salt marshes; and (3) nineteen different fungal guilds, which are predominantly arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. We conclude that more research is needed to better understand root-associated fungal diversity in less studied ecosystems reviewed here. We have identified knowledge gaps in reported data and outlined suggestions to facilitate future plant-fungal research in these declining, but important, coastal ecosystems.
Patient Preferences for Lifestyle Management in a Multi-site Randomized Lifestyle Trial for Remission of the Metabolic Syndrome
Authors: Iannuzzelli Katherine , Suzuki Sumihiro , Karavolos Kelly , Powell Lynda H. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Background
Randomized behavioral clinical trials are the gold standard for evaluating efficacy of a behavioral treatment. However, because participants are generally unblinded to treatment, preference for a specific treatment option can lead to biased results and/or reduced treatment efficacy. The purpose was to describe the relative frequency and correlates of existence of a preference and patient preference for either an in-person group-based or a remote self-directed, lifestyle treatment prior to randomization to one of these treatments.

Methods
The Enhanced Lifestyles for Metabolic Syndrome (ELM) trial is a multi-site behavioral clinical trial that compares efficacy of a group-based vs. a self-directed approach to lifestyle change on 2-year remission of the metabolic syndrome. Prior to randomization, participants were asked whether they had a preference for a particular treatment and, if so, which approach they preferred. Baseline data were used for a series of logistic regression models to determine behavioral correlates of treatment preference, independent of socioeconomic factors.

Results
Of the 331 participants, 131 (39.6%) had no preference for either treatment. Among the 200 with a preference, 56 (28.0%) preferred the self-directed program. Strength of a pre-existing habit of eating vegetables on most days was an independent correlate of no preference (adjusted OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.01–1.61; p = 0.03) and preference for a self-directed program (adjusted OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.09–2.22; p = 0.01).

Conclusion
A pre-existing habit of eating vegetables was associated with no preference and preference for a less intensive lifestyle treatment. Post-treatment follow-up of the trial results will determine if concordance between preference and treatment assignment influences outcomes.
Successful DNA amplification of DNA from non-destructive buccal swabbing in Vespertilionid and Rhinolophid bats
Authors: Hughes Morgan , Brown Scott K , Martin Rémi , Young Christopher H , Maddock Simon 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAcquiring DNA from wild bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) is typically undertaken utilizing highly invasive (but non-lethal) sampling techniques comprising wing biopsies and occasional blood samples. While non-invasive sampling is possible through the extraction of DNA from faecal samples, it is not always possible to acquire samples from individual bats whilst conducting fieldwork, and as such, this method is primarily applicable to roost occupancy identification. Similarly, wing swabbing is liable to cross-contamination from roost mates. Here we present the first use of oral (buccal) swabbing for successful, species-resolution DNA sequencing of Vespertilionidae and Rhinolophidae in 10 bat species (nine Vespertilionidae and one Rhinolophidae) from the UK.
Surgical Treatment of Adenomyosis
Authors: Bischiniotis Stavros , Mikos Themistoklis , Grimbizis Grigoris F. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Purpose of Review
Adenomyosis is defined as the presence of endometrial tissue within the myometrium. The aim of the review is to describe contemporary surgical approaches for adenomyosis.

Recent Findings
Hysterectomy has been standard practice for the treatment of adenomyosis for many years. However, uterine-sparing interventions have emerged recently allowing patients to retain or even enhance their fertility. If there is no wish for further fertility and no desire for uterine preservation, hysterectomy with bilateral salpingectomy is the gold standard treatment for symptomatic adenomyosis. Otherwise, the objectives of surgery are (a) to remove most (ideally the whole) of the adenomyotic tissue, (b) to preserve the integrity of the endometrial cavity, (c) to reconstruct the uterus, and (d) to preserve the functionality of the ovaries and the tubes. The following surgical methods have been proposed for uterus-sparing treatment of adenomyosis: classical excision of adenomyotic tissue after a single incision of the uterus, wedge resection, double- or triple-flap method, transverse H incision, and the PUSH technique. Post-operative clinical outcomes are in favor of fertility-sparing surgery of adenomyosis. The reduction of dysmenorrhea after uterus-sparing surgery for adenomyosis ranges from 54.6 to 84.6%. The reduction of menorrhagia ranges from 50.0 to 73.7%. The total delivery rate in patients who have undergone any uterus-sparing surgery for adenomyosis is 46.9%.

Summary
In conclusion, hysterectomy has traditionally been the primary treatment for adenomyosis in women. However, contemporary medicine offers several excisional and non-excisional techniques for patients who wish to preserve their fertility.
Multidimensional random motions with a natural number of finite velocities
Authors: Cinque Fabrizio , Cintoli Mattia 
Published: March 2024

AbstractWe present a detailed analysis of random motions moving in higher spaces with a natural number of velocities. In the case of the so-called minimal random dynamics, under some broad assumptions, we give the joint distribution of the position of the motion (for both the inner part and the boundary of the support) and the number of displacements performed with each velocity. Explicit results for cyclic and complete motions are derived. We establish useful relationships between motions moving in different spaces, and we derive the form of the distribution of the movements in arbitrary dimension. Finally, we investigate further properties for stochastic motions governed by non-homogeneous Poisson processes.
Partial Wh-Movement in Indonesian, Criterial Freezing, and Sub-Extraction
Authors: Sato Yosuke 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis paper develops a new analysis of partial wh-movement in Indonesian, a construction which raises seemingly challenging problems for criterial freezing. It is proposed that partially-moving wh-phrases in Indonesian are structured as focused expressions properly containing a wh-interrogative phrase. It is argued that the derivation of partial wh-movement in Indonesian involves sub-extraction, or movement out of a moved element, to evade a freezing violation that would otherwise ensue. More specifically, it involves focus movement of the focused XP to the intermediate non-interrogative C-system, followed by sub-extraction of the QP from the XP to the matrix interrogative C-system. The analysis receives independent empirical support from the amelioration of freezing effects observed in focused wh-questions in Japanese.
Shifting the paradigm of research-to-policy impact: Infrastructure for improving researcher engagement and collective action
Authors: Scott Taylor , Crowley Max , Long Elizabeth , Balma Brandon , Pugel Jessica , Gay Brittany , Day Angelique , Noll Jennie 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe body of scientific knowledge accumulated by the scholarly disciplines such as Developmental Psychopathology can achieve meaningful public impact if wielded and used in policy decision-making. Scientific study of how policymakers use research evidence underscores the need for researchers’ policy engagement; however, barriers in the academy create conditions in which there is a need for infrastructure that increases the feasibility of researchers’ partnership with policymakers. This need led to the development of the Research-to-Policy Collaboration model, a systematic approach for developing “boundary spanning” infrastructure, which has been experimentally tested and shown to improve policymakers’ use of research evidence and bolster researchers’ policy skills and engagement. This paper presents original research regarding the optimization of the RPC model, which sought to better serve and engage scholars across the globe. Trial findings shed light on ways to improve conditions that make good use of researchers’ time for policy engagement via a virtual platform and enhanced e-communications. Future directions, implications, and practical guidelines for how scientists can engage in the political process and improve the impact of a collective discipline are also discussed.