bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Residual hydrocarbons in long-term contaminated soils: implications to risk-based management
Authors: Bahar Md Mezbaul , Samarasinghe Samarasinghe Vidane Arachchige Cham , Bekele Dawit , Naidu Ravi 
Published: February 2024

AbstractPetroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) contamination is a widespread and severe environmental issue affecting many countries’ resource sectors. PHCs are mixtures of hydrocarbon compounds with varying molar masses that naturally attenuate at different rates. Lighter fractions attenuate first, followed by medium-molar-mass constituents, while larger molecules remain for longer periods. This results in significant regulatory challenges concerning residual hydrocarbons in long-term contaminated soils. This study examined the potential risks associated with residual PHC and its implications for risk-based management of heavily contaminated soils (23,000–26,000 mg PHC/kg). Ecotoxicological properties, such as seedling emergence and growth of two native plant species—small Flinders grass (Iseilema membranaceum) and ruby saltbush (Enchylaena tomentosa)—and earthworm survival tests in PHC-contaminated soils, were assessed. Additionally, the effects of aging on the attenuation of PHC in contaminated soils were evaluated. Toxicity responses of plant growth parameters were determined as no-observed-effect concentrations: 75%–100% for seedling emergence, < 25%–75% for plant shoot height, and 75%–100% for earthworm survival. After 42 weeks of aging, the total PHC levels in weathered soils decreased by 14% to 30% and by 67% in diesel-spiked soil due to natural attenuation. Dehydrogenase enzyme activity in soils increased during the initial aging period. Furthermore, a clear shift of bacterial communities was observed in the soils following aging, including enrichment of PHC-resistant and -utilizing bacteria—for example, Nocardia sp. This study underscores the potential of natural attenuation for eco-friendly and cost-effective soil management, underlining that its success depends on site-specific factors like water content and nutrient availability. Therefore, we recommend detailed soil assessments to evaluate these conditions prior to adopting a risk-based management approach.
It starts at home: non-economic factors influencing consumer acceptance of battery storage in Australia
Authors: McCarthy Breda , Liu Hongbo 
Published: February 2024

AbstractHomeowners play a critical role in the uptake of low-carbon technologies, yet little is known about the factors that underlie market acceptance of residential battery storage. This research integrates social–psychological, demographic and behavioural factors into a holistic model that predicts market acceptance. Previous research has indicated that social factors play a crucial role in the adoption of rooftop solar. Still, the influence of subjective norms on battery storage, a relatively invisible technology, has yet to be fully understood. An online survey from homeowners in Australia, a mature renewable energy market, is used to provide insights into market acceptance that are relevant to international energy markets. A two-step econometric model, using factor analysis and ordered logistic regression, was used for data analysis. The results show that subjective norms, moral emotions and an environmental self-identity are positively associated with market acceptance. Demographic factors, such as younger age and higher levels of education, predict market acceptance. Motives such as technical interest, autarky and load-shifting behaviours are also relevant. Several recommendations for policymakers and practitioners are offered to improve the acceptance of battery storage, including interventions that exploit social parameters and appeal to consumer psychology.
Genetic Appraisal of RAAS-Associated SNPs: REN (rs16853055), AGT (rs3789678) and ACE (rs4305) in Preeclamptic Women Living with HIV Infection
Authors: Govindsamy Annelene , Singh Shoohana , Naicker Thajasvarie 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Purpose of Review
The primary goal of this review article was to determine whether the three RAAS-associated SNPs, Renin-rs16853055, AGT-rs3789678 and ACE-rs4305 are genetically linked to the development of hypertension in preeclampsia. The secondary goal was to establish if there was a link between these SNPs and HIV infection.

Recent Findings
There is a paucity of findings related to the aforementioned SNPs and preeclampsia. There are no recent findings on the rs16853055 renin polymorphism. The rs3789678 angiotensinogen polymorphism correlated significantly with gestational hypertension. The rs4305 ACE polymorphism showed no significant association with the development of pregnancy-induced hypertension.

Summary
There are conflicting findings when determining the relationship between ethnicity and the predisposition of preeclampsia and hypertension in relation to the discussed RAAS-associated SNPs. To date, the association between RAAS-associated SNPs and preeclamptic women co-morbid with HIV in South Africa has revealed that certain alleles of the AGT gene are more prominent in HIV-infected PE compared to normotensive pregnant HIV-infected women.
Traumatic Brain Injury in Mice Generates Early-Stage Alzheimer’s Disease Related Protein Pathology that Correlates with Neurobehavioral Deficits
Authors: Panayi Nicholas , Schulz Philip , He Ping , Hanna Brandon , Lifshitz Jonathan , Rowe Rachel K. , Sierks Michael R. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractTraumatic brain injury (TBI) increases the long-term risk of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Here, we demonstrate that protein variant pathology generated in brain tissue of an experimental TBI mouse model is similar to protein variant pathology observed during early stages of AD, and that subacute accumulation of AD associated variants of amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau in the TBI mouse model correlated with behavioral deficits. Male C57BL/6 mice were subjected to midline fluid percussion injury or to sham injury, after which sensorimotor function (rotarod, neurological severity score), cognitive deficit (novel object recognition), and affective deficits (elevated plus maze, forced swim task) were assessed post-injury (DPI). Protein pathology at 7, 14, and 28 DPI was measured in multiple brain regions using an immunostain panel of reagents selectively targeting different neurodegenerative disease-related variants of Aβ, tau, TDP-43, and alpha-synuclein. Overall, TBI resulted in sensorimotor deficits and accumulation of AD-related protein variant pathology near the impact site, both of which returned to sham levels by 14 DPI. Individual mice, however, showed persistent behavioral deficits and/or accumulation of toxic protein variants at 28 DPI. Behavioral outcomes of each mouse were correlated with levels of seven different protein variants in ten brain regions at specific DPI. Out of 21 significant correlations between protein variant levels and behavioral deficits, 18 were with variants of Aβ or tau. Correlations at 28 DPI were all between a single Aβ or tau variant, both of which are strongly associated with human AD cases. These data provide a direct mechanistic link between protein pathology resulting from TBI and the hallmarks of AD.
DBHC: Discrete Bayesian HMM Clustering
Authors: Budel Gabriel , Frasincar Flavius , Boekestijn David 
Published: February 2024

AbstractSequence data mining has become an increasingly popular research topic as the availability of data has grown rapidly over the past decades. Sequence clustering is a type of method within this field that is in high demand in the industry, but the sequence clustering problem is non-trivial and, as opposed to static cluster analysis, interpreting clusters of sequences is often difficult. Using Hidden Markov Models (HMMs), we propose the Discrete Bayesian HMM Clustering (DBHC) algorithm, an approach to clustering discrete sequences by extending a proven method for continuous sequences. The proposed algorithm is completely self-contained as it incorporates both the search for the number of clusters and the search for the number of hidden states in each cluster model in the parameter inference. We provide a working example and a simulation study to explain and showcase the capabilities of the DBHC algorithm. A case study illustrates how the hidden states in a mixture of HMMs can aid the interpretation task of a sequence cluster analysis. We conclude that the algorithm works well as it provides well-interpretable clusters for the considered application.
Community Health Navigators for Cancer Screening Among Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing Adults Who Use American Sign Language
Authors: Bergeron E. , Valdez R. , Moreland C. J. , Wang R. , Knight T. , Kushalnagar P. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractDeaf, deafblind, and hard of hearing (DDBHH) individuals experience barriers to accessing cancer screening, including ineffective patient-physician communication when discussing screening recommendations. For other underserved communities, culturally and linguistically aligned community health navigators (CHNs) have been shown to improve cancer screening and care. A needs assessment study was conducted to identify barriers and gather recommendations for CHN training resources. A community-based participatory needs assessment was conducted from May 2022 to June 2022 using three focus groups. Eight were cancer survivors, six advocates/navigators, and three clinicians. All questions were semi-structured and covered screening barriers, observations or personal experiences, perceived usefulness of having a CHN to promote cancer screening adherence, and training resources that may be useful to American Sign Language (ASL)–proficient CHNs, who are also culturally and linguistically aligned. Out of 20 focus group participants, seven self-identified as persons of color. Data highlighted systemic, attitudinal, communication, and personal-level barriers as recurrent themes. The most frequently cited barrier was access to training that supports the role and competencies of CHNs, followed by cultural considerations, access to cancer guidelines in ASL, dialect diversity in sign language, and the health system itself. Unaddressed barriers can contribute to health disparities, such as lower preventive cancer screening rates amongst DDBHH individuals. The next step is to translate recommendations into actionable tasks for DDBHH CHN training programs. As a result, CHNs will be well-equipped to help DDBHH individuals navigate and overcome their unique barriers to cancer screening and healthcare access.
Sequestration of Congo Red from aqueous solution using raw and citric acid-modified Dicerocaryum eriocarpum biomass: isotherm, kinetics and thermodynamics
Authors: Jegede Mobolaji M. , Durowoju Olatunde S. , Edokpayi Joshua N. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIn recent times, dyes such as Congo Red have proven to be resilient environmental pollutants affecting freshwater portability among other media. Its toxicity to humans, animals and plant life is both a cause of concern and a motivation to prioritize decontamination. Many materials have been explored for the removal of this pollutant via adsorption; however, there are notable areas of improvement. Dicerocaryum eriocarpum (DE) seed is a non-toxic, cost-effective plant material which is possible as a sorbent and has not been reported in Congo Red sequestration. This research is therefore based on the removal of Congo Red dye from aqueous solution using raw (RDE) and citric acid-modified DE (CDE). The sorbents were characterized before and after sorption using various characterization techniques such as FTIR, EDS, SEM and BET. The effects of contact time, adsorbent dosage, concentration, pH and temperature were optimized during the experiment. According to experimental findings, modification with citric acid resulted in a reduction of the equilibration interval from 90 to 60 min. Sorption effectiveness increased with an increase in temperature for CDE but a decrease in temperature for RDE. The equilibrium data were best described by the Langmuir isotherm with maximum sorption capacity (qmax) of 51.02 mg/g and 53.19 mg/g for RDE and CDE, respectively. Pseudo-second-order model better suited the kinetic data, while thermodynamic analysis revealed a spontaneous sorption process. Five cycles of desorption experiments using 0.1 M NaOH revealed that the regenerated sorbent effectively removed CR dye for the first three cycles at comparable efficiency to the virgin samples. This study therefore supports the use of DE seed as an easily accessible and efficient sorbent for remediation of harmful dyes from water.
Effects of excipients on the interactions of self-emulsifying drug delivery systems with human blood plasma and plasma membranes
Authors: Le-Vinh Bao , Le Nguyet-Minh Nguyen , Phan Thi Nhu Quynh , Lam Hung Thanh , Bernkop-Schnürch Andreas 
Published: February 2024

AbstractDue to its versatility in formulation and manufacturing, self-emulsifying drug delivery systems (SEDDS) can be used to design parenteral formulations. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the effects of excipients on the behavior of SEDDS formulations upon parenteral administration, particularly their interactions with blood plasma and cell membranes. In this study, we prepared three neutrally charged SEDDS formulations composed of medium-chain triglycerides as the oil phase, polyoxyl-35 castor oil (EL35) and polyethylene glycol (15)-hydroxystearate (HS15) as the nonionic surfactants, medium-chain mono- and diglycerides as the co-surfactant, and propylene glycol as the co-solvent. The cationic surfactant, didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDA), and the anionic surfactant, sodium deoxycholate (DEO), were added to the neutral SEDDS preconcentrates to obtain cationic and anionic SEDDS, respectively. SEDDS were incubated with human blood plasma and recovered by size exclusion chromatography. Data showed that SEDDS emulsion droplets can bind plasma protein to different extents depending on their surface charge and surfactant used. At pH 7.4, the least protein binding was observed with anionic SEDDS. Positive charges increased protein binding. SEDDS stabilized by HS15 can adsorb more plasma protein and induce more plasma membrane disruption activity than SEDDS stabilized by EL35. These effects were more pronounced with the HS15 + DDA combination. The addition of DDA and DEO to SEDDS increased plasma membrane disruption (PMD) activities, and DDA (1% w/w) was more active than DEO (2% w/w). PMD activities of SEDDS were concentration-dependent and vanished at appropriate dilution ratios.
Graphical abstract
The Fate of Soil Organic Carbon from Compost: A Pot Test Study Using Labile Carbon and 13c Natural Abundance
Authors: Grigatti Marco , Ciavatta Claudio , Marzadori Claudio 
Published: February 2024

AbstractRecycled organic waste (OW) can be a valuable nutrient source for plant cultivation; however, knowledge is poor regarding its effect on soil carbon conservation, especially in the frame of organic-mineral fertilisation succession. In this study, four composts, green waste (GWC), anaerobically digested bio-waste (DC), sludge (SSC), and bio-waste (BWC), were compared (10 and 20 Mg volatile solids ha−1) in a ryegrass pot test over two growing cycles (112 + 112 days), along with an unamended control (Ctrl) and a chemical reference (Chem), with and without mineral nitrogen (N) fertilisation. At the end of the two growth cycles, the pot soil was analysed for total- (TOC) and labile-carbon (CL) as well as for 13C isotope natural abundance (δ13C and Δ13C vs. Chem). At day 112, the pot test showed that Ctrl and Chem gained poor TOC (8.48 g kg−1), lower than the compost at both 10 and 20 Mg volatile solids ha−1 (10.01 vs. 11.59 g kg−1). At day 224, a deep soil TOC depletion occurred in the pot soil treated with GWC, DC and BWC at both levels (-10 and -20). However, all the compost treatments showed more depleted soil d13C vs. the references, especially Chem, thus revealing relevant compost-derived carbon conservation. Regarding the compost treatments, the carbon management index (CMI) increased over time, indicating high soil functionality, also showing a good relationship with δ13C, suggesting a probable increase in relative lignin which could have been linked to carbon conservation and increased functionality.
Deep learning-based earthquake catalog reveals the seismogenic structures of the 2022 MW 6.9 Chihshang earthquake sequence
Authors: Sun Wei-Fang , Pan Sheng-Yan , Huang Chun-Ming , Guan Zhuo-Kang , Yen I-Chin , Ho Chun-Wei , Chi Tsung-Chih , Ku Chin-Shang , Huang Bor-Shouh , Fu Ching-Chou , Kuo-Chen Hao 
Published: February 2024

AbstractOn 18 September 2022, the MW 6.9 Chihshang earthquake struck the south half of the Longitudinal Valley, Taiwan, and caused severe damage. A precise and rapid report for the distribution of aftershock sequence after a devastating earthquake provides key information for deciphering the seismogenic structure in the source region. The utilization of deep-learning methodologies for earthquake event detection offers a significant acceleration in data analysis. In this study, we use SeisBlue, a deep-learning platform/package, to extract the whole earthquake sequence from September to October 2022, including the MW 6.5 Guanshan foreshock, the MW 6.9 mainshock, over 14,000 aftershocks, and 866 foal mechanisms from two sets of broadband networks. After applying hypoDD for earthquakes, the distribution of aftershock sequence clearly depicts not only the Central Range Fault and the Longitudinal Valley Fault but also several local, shallow tectonic structures that have not been observed along the southern Longitudinal Valley.
Hyflex delivery mode in a postgraduate course: instructor and student perspectives
Authors: Cumming Therese M. , Gilanyi Lisa , Han Chen 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe global pandemic necessitated changes in the way university courses were delivered, forcing most teaching and learning online. Post-pandemic, many students continue to struggle with attending their classes on campus. It has been suggested that Hyflex delivery mode is a solution to this problem, allowing students to attend class either face to face or online, depending on their individual needs and preferences. There is, however, a dearth of literature focussed on whether the Hyflex model of course delivery is beneficial to students and feasible for instructors. This study explores the experiences and perspectives of both instructors and students of the HyFlex delivery mode in a postgraduate education course. The study employed a qualitative research design, using attendance records, surveys, and interviews to collect data from 11 students and two instructors. The findings suggested that HyFlex offers a flexible and adaptable approach to learning that can meet the diverse needs and preferences of students. Both instructors and students appreciated the flexibility and convenience of HyFlex, as well as the opportunities for engagement and interaction in both the face-to-face and online modes of delivery. However, the study also highlighted the challenges of HyFlex, particularly in relation to technology infrastructure and split instructor attention that could impact on self-efficacy. The authors provide recommendations for addressing these challenges and enhancing the benefits of HyFlex delivery mode. Overall, the study contributes to the growing body of research on HyFlex delivery mode and provides valuable insights for instructors using this mode of delivery in university courses.
Proposal of a methodology for prediction of heavy metals concentration based on PM2.5 concentration and meteorological variables using machine learning
Authors: Park Shin-Young , Lee Hye-Won , Kwon Jaymin , Yoon Sung-Won , Lee Cheol-Min 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIn this study, we developed a prediction model for heavy metal concentrations using PM2.5 concentrations and meteorological variables. Data was collected from five sites, encompassing meteorological factors, PM2.5, and 18 metals over 2 years. The study employed four analytical methods: multiple linear regression (MLR), random forest regression (RFR), gradient boosting, and artificial neural networks (ANN). RFR was the best predictor for most metals, and gradient boosting and ANN were optimal for certain metals like Al, Cu, As, Mo, Zn, and Cd. Upon evaluating the final model’s predicted values against the actual measurements, differences in the concentration distribution between measurement locations were observed for Mn, Fe, Cu, Ba, and Pb, indicating varying prediction performances among sites. Additionally, Al, As, Cd, and Ba showed significant differences in prediction performance across seasons. The developed model is expected to overcome the technical limitations involved in measuring and analyzing heavy metal concentrations. It could further be utilized to obtain fundamental data for studying the health effects of exposure to hazardous substances such as heavy metals.
Sorting It Out
Authors: Gregory Robin , Moore Brooke 
Published: February 2024

Written for parents, teachers, and others who live or work with teenagers, this science-based guide describes how you can become a confident 'decision mentor.' Learn to support young people in making good decisions for themselves. Treating decision making as an essential and learnable skill, the six-step 'Decision-Maker Moves' highlight the power and promise of young people as they shape their lives through the options they choose. Stories, examples, and practical tips show how decisions can transform problems into opportunities. Each chapter provides common-sense advice on when and how to talk with teenagers as they weigh up the often-conflicting values, emotions, and trade-offs affecting their choices. We cannot provide young minds with all the answers, but we can help them as they navigate both life-changing and everyday decisions.
The Foundations of Constitutional Democracy: The Kelsen-Natural Law Controversy
Authors: Gibbs Nathan 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIn the immediate post-war period, a set of thinkers, most notably Jacques Maritain, developed influential natural law theories of constitutional democracy. The central tenet of the natural law approach to the post-war settlement was that, without the type of foundational understanding of the constitutional system it was proposing, the new democratic political institutions would relapse into totalitarianism. In response to this natural law challenge, Hans Kelsen sought to explicate and defend a self-consciously secular and relativistic understanding of the basis of constitutional democracy. This article will examine the debate between the Kelsenian and the natural law view of constitutional democracy. The debate raises questions of foundational importance, and a number of issues are of particular concern in the present global context. These issues concern the role of moral pluralism and its relevance to the structure of constitutional democracy, and the relationship between universal values and the common good of particular communities.