bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation is the major source of cardiac adenosine triphosphate production in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Authors: Sun Qiuyu , Güven Berna , Wagg Cory S , Almeida de Oliveira Amanda , Silver Heidi , Zhang Liyan , Chen Brandon , Wei Kaleigh , Ketema Ezra B , Karwi Qutuba G , Persad Kaya L , Vu Jennie , Wang Faqi , Dyck Jason R B , Oudit Gavin Y , Lopaschuk Gary D
Published: January 2024

Aims

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a prevalent disease worldwide. While it is well established that alterations of cardiac energy metabolism contribute to cardiovascular pathology, the precise source of fuel used by the heart in HFpEF remains unclear. The objective of this study was to define the energy metabolic profile of the heart in HFpEF.

Methods and results

Eight-week-old C57BL/6 male mice were subjected to a ‘2-Hit’ HFpEF protocol [60% high-fat diet (HFD) + 0.5 g/L of Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester]. Echocardiography and pressure–volume loop analysis were used for assessing cardiac function and cardiac haemodynamics, respectively. Isolated working hearts were perfused with radiolabelled energy substrates to directly measure rates of fatty acid oxidation, glucose oxidation, ketone oxidation, and glycolysis. HFpEF mice exhibited increased body weight, glucose intolerance, elevated blood pressure, diastolic dysfunction, and cardiac hypertrophy. In HFpEF hearts, insulin stimulation of glucose oxidation was significantly suppressed. This was paralleled by an increase in fatty acid oxidation rates, while cardiac ketone oxidation and glycolysis rates were comparable with healthy control hearts. The balance between glucose and fatty acid oxidation contributing to overall adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production was disrupted, where HFpEF hearts were more reliant on fatty acid as the major source of fuel for ATP production, compensating for the decrease of ATP originating from glucose oxidation. Additionally, phosphorylated pyruvate dehydrogenase levels decreased in both HFpEF mice and human patient’s heart samples.

Conclusion

In HFpEF, fatty acid oxidation dominates as the major source of cardiac ATP production at the expense of insulin-stimulated glucose oxidation.
Quantification of right ventricular amyloid burden with 18F-florbetapir positron emission tomography/computed tomography and its association with right ventricular dysfunction and outcomes in light-chain amyloidosis
Authors: Datar Yesh , Clerc Olivier F , Cuddy Sarah A M , Kim Sirwoo , Taylor Alexandra , Neri Jocelyn Canseco , Benz Dominik C , Bianchi Giada , Yee Andrew J , Sanchorawala Vaishali , Ruberg Frederick L , Landau Heather , Liao Ronglih , Kijewski Marie Foley , Jerosch-Herold Michael , Kwong Raymond Y , Di Carli Marcelo F , Falk Rodney H , Dorbala Sharmila
Published: January 2024

Aims

In systemic light-chain (AL) amyloidosis, quantification of right ventricular (RV) amyloid burden has been limited and the pathogenesis of RV dysfunction is poorly understood. Using 18F-florbetapir positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT), we aimed to quantify RV amyloid; correlate RV amyloid with RV structure and function; determine the independent contributions of RV, left ventricular (LV), and lung amyloid to RV function; and associate RV amyloid with major adverse cardiac events (MACE: death, heart failure hospitalization, cardiac transplantation).

Methods and results

We prospectively enrolled 106 participants with AL amyloidosis (median age 62 years, 55% males) who underwent 18F-florbetapir PET/CT, magnetic resonance imaging, and echocardiography. 18F-florbetapir PET/CT identified RV amyloid in 63% of those with and 40% of those without cardiac involvement by conventional criteria. RV amyloid burden correlated with RV ejection fraction (EF), RV free wall longitudinal strain (FWLS), RV wall thickness, RV mass index, N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, troponin T, LV amyloid, and lung amyloid (each P < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, RV amyloid burden, but not LV or lung amyloid burden, predicted RV dysfunction (EF P = 0.014; FWLS P < 0.001). During a median follow-up of 28 months, RV amyloid burden predicted MACE (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

This study shows for the first time that 18F-florbetapir PET/CT identifies early RV amyloid in systemic AL amyloidosis prior to alterations in RV structure and function. Increasing RV amyloid on 18F-florbetapir PET/CT is associated with worse RV structure and function, predicts RV dysfunction, and predicts MACE. These results imply a central role for RV amyloid in the pathogenesis of RV dysfunction.
Cardiac radiotherapy transiently alters left ventricular electrical properties and induces cardiomyocyte-specific ventricular substrate changes in heart failure
Authors: Mehrhof Felix , Hüttemeister Judith , Tanacli Radu , Bock Matthias , Bögner Markus , Schoenrath Felix , Falk Volkmar , Zips Daniel , Hindricks Gerhard , Gerds-Li Jin-Hong , Hohendanner Felix
Published: January 2024

Aims

Ongoing clinical trials investigate the therapeutic value of stereotactic cardiac radioablation (cRA) in heart failure patients with ventricular tachycardia. Animal data indicate an effect on local cardiac conduction properties. However, the exact mechanism of cRA in patients remains elusive. Aim of the current study was to investigate in vivo and in vitro myocardial properties in heart failure and ventricular tachycardia upon cRA.

Methods and results

High-density 3D electroanatomic mapping in sinus rhythm was performed in a patient with a left ventricular assist device and repeated ventricular tachycardia episodes upon several catheter-based endocardial radio-frequency ablation attempts. Subsequent to electroanatomic mapping and cRA of the left ventricular septum, two additional high-density electroanatomic maps were obtained at 2- and 4-month post-cRA. Myocardial tissue samples were collected from the left ventricular septum during 4-month post-cRA from the irradiated and borderzone regions. In addition, we performed molecular biology and mitochondrial density measurements of tissue and isolated cardiomyocytes. Local voltage was altered in the irradiated region of the left ventricular septum during follow-up. No change of local voltage was observed in the control (i.e. borderzone) region upon irradiation. Interestingly, local activation time was significantly shortened upon irradiation (2-month post-cRA), a process that was reversible (4-month post-cRA). Molecular biology unveiled an increased expression of voltage-dependent sodium channels in the irradiated region as compared with the borderzone, while Connexin43 and transforming growth factor beta were unchanged (4-month post-cRA). Moreover, mitochondrial density was decreased in the irradiated region as compared with the borderzone.

Conclusion

Our study supports the notion of transiently altered cardiac conduction potentially related to structural and functional cellular changes as an underlying mechanism of cRA in patients with ventricular tachycardia.
Seafloor incubation experiments at deep-sea hydrothermal vents reveal distinct biogeographic signatures of autotrophic communities
Authors: Fullerton Heather , Smith Lindsey , Enriquez Alejandra , Butterfield David , Wheat C Geoffrey , Moyer Craig L
Published: January 2024

The discharge of hydrothermal vents on the seafloor provides energy sources for dynamic and productive ecosystems, which are supported by chemosynthetic microbial populations. These populations use the energy gained by oxidizing the reduced chemicals contained within the vent fluids to fix carbon and support multiple trophic levels. Hydrothermal discharge is ephemeral and chemical composition of such fluids varies over space and time, which can result in geographically distinct microbial communities. To investigate the foundational members of the community, microbial growth chambers were placed within the hydrothermal discharge at Axial Seamount (Juan de Fuca Ridge), Magic Mountain Seamount (Explorer Ridge), and Kamaʻehuakanaloa Seamount (Hawai'i hotspot). Campylobacteria were identified within the nascent communities, but different amplicon sequence variants were present at Axial and Kamaʻehuakanaloa Seamounts, indicating that geography in addition to the composition of the vent effluent influences microbial community development. Across these vent locations, dissolved iron concentration was the strongest driver of community structure. These results provide insights into nascent microbial community structure and shed light on the development of diverse lithotrophic communities at hydrothermal vents.
Light irradiation changes the regulation pattern of BtCrgA on carotenogenesis in Blakeslea trispora
Authors: Yang Jiamin , Zeng Mingxi , Wu Hui , Han Zhenlin , Du Zhiyan (Rock) , Yu Xiaobin , Luo Wei
Published: January 2024

CrgA has been shown to be a negative regulator of carotenogenesis in some filamentous fungi, while light irradiation is an inducible environmental factor for carotenoid biosynthesis. To clarify the relationship between CrgA and light-inducible carotenogenesis in Blakeslea trispora, the cis-acting elements of the btcrgA promoter region were investigated, followed by the analyses of correlation between the expression of btcrgA and carotenoid structural genes under different irradiation conditions. A variety of cis-acting elements associated with light response was observed in the promoter region of btcrgA, and transcription of btcrgA and carotenoid structural genes under different irradiation conditions was induced by white light with a clear correlation. Then, RNA interference and overexpression of btcrgA were performed to investigate their effects on carotenogenesis at different levels under irradiation and darkness. The analyses of transcription and enzyme activities of carotenoid structural gene, and accumulation of carotenoids among btcrgA-interfered, btcrgA-overexpressed, and wild-type strains under irradiation and darkness indicate that btcrgA negatively regulates the synthesis of carotenoid in darkness, while promotes the carotenogenesis under irradiation regardless of reduced or overexpression of btcrgA .
Are the magnitudes of earthquakes in Southern California, with incompleteness removed, correlated?
Authors: Taroni Matteo
Published: January 2024

No.

The correlation between the magnitudes of earthquakes is a scientific question usually investigated by statistical seismologists. In the last decades, two opposite answers have been given to the problem of correlation of magnitudes: there is no correlation, that is the magnitude of earthquakes in a seismic catalogue can be considered as random sampling from the magnitude distribution; or, there is a correlation, that is the magnitude of a seismic event can influence the magnitude of the successive event. Here we used the Southern California seismic catalogue, properly treated to remove incompleteness, to answer the question, finding no significant correlation between magnitudes.
An improved estimation of stress drop and its application on induced earthquakes in the Weiyuan Shale Gas Field in China
Authors: Zhang Jiewen , Yang Hongfeng , Zi Jinping , Su Jinrong , Chen Xiaowei
Published: January 2024

Stress drop is a proxy of understanding earthquake source process, and it is controversial whether the stress drops of induced earthquakes associated with hydraulic fracturing and injection activities are similar to those of tectonic earthquakes. The measurement of stress drops is usually biased due to the limitations of observation means, or hidden issues in the estimation approaches. Utilizing a local short-period seismic network, we investigate the stress drops of induced earthquakes in Weiyuan Shale Gas Field in Sichuan Province, China from 2019 to 2020. Totally 11 844 earthquakes are involved in the analysis, and their stress drops are obtained using an improved approach on the basis of the traditional spectral decomposition method combined with a global optimization algorithm to avoid stacking of spectra that is found leading to source parameter underestimation. We divide the studied area into three subareas, and the results show strong stress drop heterogeneity across the entire region. We obtain an average stress drop of 2.29 MPa, piecewise stress drop dependence to earthquake magnitude, and complex depth dependence pattern. Our results indicate that stress drops of induced earthquakes are overall consistent with the induced earthquakes in other areas as well as tectonic earthquakes in different environments. Meanwhile, the complexity in the stress drop dependence to depth possibly reflects the variability of stress drops for different earthquake triggering mechanisms.
Cuticular wax biosynthesis in blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.): Transcript and metabolite changes during ripening and storage affect key fruit quality traits
Authors: Yan Yifan , Gagalova Kristina K , Gerbrandt Eric M , Castellarin Simone D
Published: January 2024

In fruits, cuticular waxes affect fruit quality traits such as surface color at harvest and water loss during postharvest storage. This study investigated the transcriptional regulation of cuticular wax deposition in northern highbush blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) in relation to fruit water loss and surface color during ripening and postharvest storage, as well as the effects of abscisic acid (ABA)-mediated changes in cuticular wax deposition on these fruit quality traits. Total cuticular wax content (μg∙cm−2) decreased during fruit ripening and increased during postharvest storage. Transcriptome analysis revealed a transcript network for cuticular wax deposition in blueberries. Particularly, five OSC-Likes were identified as putative genes for triterpene alcohol production, with OSC-Like1 and OSC-Like2 encoding mixed amyrin synthases, OSC-Like3 encoding a lupeol synthase, and OSC-Like4 and OSC-Like5 encoding cycloartenol synthases. The expression of three CYP716A-like genes correlated to the accumulation of two triterpene acids oleanolic acid and ursolic acid, the major wax compounds in blueberries. Exogenous ABA application induced the expression of triterpenoid biosynthetic genes and the accumulation of β-amyrin and oleanolic acid, as well as increased the ratio of oleanolic acid to ursolic acid. These changes were associated with reduced fruit water loss. The content of β-diketones was also increased by ABA application, and this increase was associated with increased fruit lightness (measured as L* using CIELAB Color Space by a colorimeter). This study provided key insights on the molecular basis of cuticular wax deposition and its implications on fruit quality traits in blueberries.
NATO in Kosovo and the logic of successful security practices
Authors: Newman Edward , Visoka Gëzim
Published: January 2024

NATO's involvement in Kosovo and its transformation from a military intervention to a UN-authorized peacekeeping operation has played a key role in the evolution of the alliance's strategic and political agenda. This article explores the importance of NATO's engagement with Kosovo in retrospect and in relation to the future outlook for European and global peace and security. It focuses on the centrality of this case for NATO's post-Cold War identity and as a key issue in the renewed political conflict associated with the transitional international order. We make three arguments. First, we argue that NATO's involvement in Kosovo has shaped and exacerbated the broader friction associated with the shifting international order. Second, we make the case that this engagement has played a key role in the strategic, political and operational development of NATO and its evolving identity. Thirdly, as a result of this, we argue that NATO's evolution and transformation in Kosovo was guided by what we call the logic of successful security practices. This entails making prudent political choices and implementing practical steps to harmonize divergent strategic interests among NATO members, adapting to shifting security circumstances, and upholding the organization's significance, credibility and influence both within and beyond the Euro-Atlantic community.
Elderly patients benefit from minimally invasive mitral valve surgery: perioperative risk management matters
Authors: Cocchieri Riccardo , Mousavi Iman , Verbeek Eva C , Riezebos Robert K , Yazdanbakhsh Aria P , de Mol Bas A M J
Published: January 2024

OBJECTIVES

The goal was to assess the single-centre results of minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMVS) in the elderly population.

METHODS

All patients referred for minimally invasive valve surgery underwent a standardized preoperative screening. We performed a retrospective analysis of 131 consecutive elderly patients (≥75 years) who underwent endoscopic MIMVS through a right mini-thoracotomy. Survival and postoperative course were assessed in 2 groups: a repair group and a replacement group.

RESULTS

Eighty-five patients underwent mitral valve repair, and 46 had mitral valve replacement. The mean age was 79 ± 2.9 years, and the median follow-up duration was 3.8 years. The cardiopulmonary bypass time (128.7 min vs 155.9 min, P = 0.012) and the cross-clamp time (84.9 min vs 124.1 min, P = 0.005) were significantly longer in the replacement group. Except for more reinterventions for bleeding in the replacement group (10.9% vs 0%, P = 0.005), there were no significant differences in the postoperative course between the 2 groups. Low mortality rates at the midterm follow-up were observed in both groups, and no differences were observed between the 4-and the 12-month follow-up. Survival rates after 1 year and 5 years were 97.6% and 88.6%, respectively, with no significant differences between the 2 groups.

CONCLUSIONS

MIMVS is an excellent treatment option in vulnerable elderly patients with excellent short- and long-term results. Although other studies suggest that repair could be superior to replacement even in older patients, our experience suggests that replacement is equivalent to repair in terms of mortality and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events. Experience and standardized preoperative screening are mandatory to achieve optimal results.
The Movable Type Used by Paul Perny in His Dictionnaire français-latin-chinois de la langue mandarine parlée and His Contribution to the Typography of the Chinese Script in France
Authors: Lee-Lee Xavier , Trujillo-González Verónica C
Published: January 2024

The printing of Chinese characters, as well as their combination with alphabetic letters, has been one of the great challenges for Western typographers. When the missionary Paul Perny published his Dictionnaire français-latin-chinois de la langue mandarine parlée [French-Latin-Chinese dictionary of the spoken Mandarin language] (1869) in Paris, the conceptual design of the structure of its entries as well as the typographical quality of the Chinese characters he used were outstanding in their functionality and, hence, at a level far more advanced than the dictionaries of Chinese in combination with Western languages published in France up to that time. This paper explores the factors that enabled this dictionary to mark a turning point in the printing of Chinese characters in France.
Excitation-time imaging condition reverse-time migration based on a physics-informed neural network traveltime calculation with wavefield decomposition using an optical flow vector
Authors: Li Jian , Du Guoning , Qin Dewen , Yin Wensun , Tan Jun , Liu Zhaolun , Song Peng
Published: January 2024

Although the excitation-time imaging condition offers a lower memory consumption and higher computational efficiency compared to cross-correlation imaging condition, it has not been widely used in industrial applications because of the accuracy problem of traveltime calculation and the influence of low-wave-number noise. In this paper, we introduce the physics-informed neural network (PINN) algorithm to achieve a high-precision traveltime calculation of the source forward wavefield. Subsequently, we introduce a technique for high-precision wavefield decomposition of the reverse-time wavefield via the optical flow vector, enabling us to realize a correlation-weighted stacking imaging of each wavefield. Model experiments and real data processing show that the proposed traveltime calculation algorithm based on PINN offers high accuracy and good applicability in the excitation-time reverse-time migration imaging of complex models, and correlation-weighted stacking imaging based on optical flow vector-based wavefield separation can significantly suppress the noise with low wave-number and achieve high-precision imaging of complex models.
SILCC-Zoom: the dynamic balance in molecular cloud substructures
Authors: Ganguly Shashwata , Walch S , Clarke S D , Seifried D
Published: January 2024

How molecular clouds fragment into dense structures that eventually form stars is an open question. We investigate the relative importance of gravity (both self-gravity and tidal forces) and the volume and surface terms of kinetic, thermal, and magnetic energy for the formation and evolution of molecular clouds and their substructures based on the SILCC-Zoom simulations. These simulations follow the self-consistent formation of cold molecular clouds down to scales of 0.1 pc from the diffuse supernova-driven interstellar medium in a stratified galactic disc. We study the time evolution of seven molecular clouds (of which five are magnetized) over ∼2 Myr. Using a dendrogram, we identify hierarchical three-dimensional substructures inside the clouds with the aim of understanding their dynamics. The virial analysis shows that the dense gas is indeed dominated by the interplay of gravity and turbulence, while magnetic fields and thermal pressure are mostly important for fluffy, atomic structures. However, not all bound structures are gravitationally bound; some are held together by ram pressure aided by other surface terms. Overall, ∼36 per cent of the clouds have >50 per cent of their mass in ‘potentially gravity bound’ structures. A subset of them (70 per cent) is ‘potentially bound’ by gravity on scales >15 pc. A detailed tidal analysis shows that the tidal tensor is highly anisotropic. Yet the tidal forces are generally not strong enough to disrupt either large-scale or dense substructures but cause their deformation. When comparing the tidal and crossing time-scales, we find that tidal forces do not appear to be the main driver of turbulence within the molecular clouds.
General relativistic moving-mesh hydrodynamic simulations with arepo and applications to neutron star mergers
Authors: Lioutas Georgios , Bauswein Andreas , Soultanis Theodoros , Pakmor Rüdiger , Springel Volker , Röpke Friedrich K
Published: January 2024

We implement general relativistic hydrodynamics in the moving-mesh code arepo. We also couple a solver for the Einstein field equations employing the conformal flatness approximation. The implementation is validated by evolving isolated static neutron stars using a fixed metric or a dynamical space–time. In both tests, the frequencies of the radial oscillation mode match those of independent calculations. We run the first moving-mesh simulation of a neutron star merger. The simulation includes a scheme to adaptively refine or derefine cells and thereby adjusting the local resolution dynamically. The general dynamics are in agreement with independent smoothed particle hydrodynamics and static-mesh simulations of neutron star mergers. Coarsely comparing, we find that dynamical features like the post-merger double-core structure or the quasi-radial oscillation mode persist on longer time scales, possibly reflecting a low numerical diffusivity of our method. Similarly, the post-merger gravitational wave emission shows the same features as observed in simulations with other codes. In particular, the main frequency of the post-merger phase is found to be in good agreement with independent results for the same binary system, while, in comparison, the amplitude of the post-merger gravitational wave signal falls off slower, i.e. the post-merger oscillations are less damped. The successful implementation of general relativistic hydrodynamics in the moving-mesh arepo code, including a dynamical space–time evolution, provides a fundamentally new tool to simulate general relativistic problems in astrophysics.
Massive black hole binaries as sources of low-frequency gravitational waves and X-shaped radio galaxies
Authors: Curyło Małgorzata , Bulik Tomasz
Published: January 2024

We present the study of multimessenger signatures of massive black hole (MBH) binaries residing in the centres of galaxy merger remnants. In particular, we first focus on the gravitational wave background (GWB) produced by an ensemble of MBH binary inspirals in the frequency range probed by the Pulsar Timing Array (PTA) experiments. The improved estimates of the characteristic strain were obtained with the inclusion of environmental effects on the MBH binary orbital decay within the galaxy merger remnants, added in post-processing to the semi-analytical model of galaxy formation and evolution SHARK. Secondly, we explore two, intriguing in terms of the MBH binary evolution studies, hypotheses aiming to explain the origins of X-shaped radio galaxies – a peculiar type of objects with double lobe structures, constituting approximately 6–10 per cent of known radio loud galaxies. The two considered scenarios involve either an abrupt change in the jet direction after an MBH merger (a spin-flip) or an unresolved close binary, where each of the two components produces a jet. We find that the estimated GWB amplitude at the reference frequency $f_0=1 \, {\rm yr}^{-1}$ is in the range of $A_{\rm { yr^{-1}}} = 1.20\times 10^{-15}{\!-\!}1.46\times 10^{-15}$, which is 50 per cent lower than the strain of the signal detected by the PTA experiments. We also show that the spin-flip scenario considered in gas-poor mergers reproduces the observed properties of X-shaped radio galaxies well in terms of flip angle, redshift, and luminosity distributions.
Targeted search for gravitational waves from highly spinning light compact binaries
Authors: Wang Yi-Fan , Nitz Alexander H
Published: January 2024

Searches for gravitational waves from compact binary mergers, which to date have reported ∼100 observations, have previously ignored binaries whose components are consistent with the mass of neutron stars (1–2 M⊙) and have high dimensionless spin >0.05. While previous searches targeted sources that are representative of observed neutron star binaries in the Galaxy, it is already known that neutron stars can regularly be spun up to a dimensionless spin of ∼0.4, and in principle reach up to ∼0.7 before breakup would occur. Furthermore, there may be primordial black hole binaries or exotic formation mechanisms to produce light black holes. In these cases, it is possible for the binary constituent to be spun up beyond that achievable by a neutron star. A single detection of this type of source would reveal a novel formation channel for compact binaries. To determine whether there is evidence for any such sources, we use pycbc to conduct a targeted search of LIGO and Virgo data for light compact objects with high spin. Our analysis detects previously known observations GW170817 and GW200115; however, we report no additional mergers. The most significant candidate, not previously known, is consistent with the noise distribution, and so we constrain the merger rate of spinning light binaries.
Optimal data compression for Lyman-α forest cosmology
Authors: Gerardi Francesca , Cuceu Andrei , Joachimi Benjamin , Nadathur Seshadri , Font-Ribera Andreu
Published: January 2024

The Lyman-α three-dimensional correlation functions have been widely used to perform cosmological inference using the baryon acoustic oscillation scale. While the traditional inference approach employs a data vector with several thousand data points, we apply near-maximal score compression down to tens of compressed data elements. We show that carefully constructed additional data beyond those linked to each inferred model parameter are required to preserve meaningful goodness of fit tests that guard against unknown systematics, and to avoid information loss due to non-linear parameter dependences. We demonstrate, on suites of realistic mocks and Data Release 16 data from the Extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey, that our compression approach is lossless and unbiased, yielding a posterior that is indistinguishable from that of the traditional analysis. As an early application, we investigate the impact of a covariance matrix estimated from a limited number of mocks, which is only well conditioned in compressed space.
Spatiotemporal map of star clusters in the Magellanic Clouds using Gaia: synchronized peaks and radial shrinkage of cluster formation
Authors: Dhanush S R , Subramaniam A , Nayak Prasanta K , Subramanian S
Published: January 2024

We present a detailed view of cluster formation (CF) to trace the evolution and interaction history of the Magellanic Clouds (MCs) in the last 3.5 Gyr. Using the Gaia DR3 data, we parametrized 1710 and 280 star clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), where 847 and 113 clusters are newly characterized in the outer LMC and SMC, respectively. We estimated the age–extinction–metallicity–distance parameters using an automated fitting of the colour–magnitude diagram (CMD) after field star removal, followed by a Markov chain Monte Carlo technique. We report a first-time detection of two synchronized CF peaks in the MCs at 1.5 ± 0.12 Gyr and 800 ± 60 Myr. We recommend that the choice of the metallicity (Z) values of isochrones for clusters with age ≤ 1–2 Gyr are ZLMC  = 0.004–0.008 and ZSMC = 0.0016–0.004 for the LMC and SMC, respectively. We found evidence for spiral arms in the LMC, as traced by the cluster count profiles over the last 3.5 Gyr. The density maps provide evidence of ram-pressure stripping in the north-east of the LMC, a severe truncation of CF in the south of the LMC, and a radial shrinkage of CF in the SMC in the last 450 Myr. The last SMC–LMC interaction (∼150 Myr) resulted in a substantial CF in the north and eastern SMC, with a marginal impact on the LMC. This study provides important insights into the CF episodes in the MCs and their connection to the LMC–SMC–MW interactions.
Growth of structures using redshift space distortion in f(T) cosmology
Authors: Briffa Rebecca , Escamilla-Rivera Celia , Levi Said Jackson , Mifsud Jurgen
Published: January 2024

Cosmology faces a pressing challenge with the Hubble constant (H0) tension, where the locally measured rate of the Universe’s expansion does not align with predictions from the cosmic microwave background calibrated with lambda-cold dark matter model. Simultaneously, there is a growing tension involving the weighted amplitude of matter fluctuations, known as S8,0 tension. Resolving both tensions within one framework would boost confidence in any one particular model. In this work, we analyse constraints in f(T) gravity, a framework that shows promise in shedding light on cosmic evolution. We thoroughly examine prominent f(T) gravity models using a combination of data sources, including pantheon+ (SN), cosmic chronometers, baryonic acoustic oscillations, and redshift space distortion data. We use these models to derive a spectrum of H0 and S8,0 values, aiming to gauge their ability to provide insights into, and potentially address, the challenges posed by the H0 and S8,0 tensions.
The correlation function and detection of baryon acoustic oscillation peak from the spectroscopic SDSS-GalWCat galaxy cluster catalogue
Authors: Abdullah Mohamed H , Klypin Anatoly , Prada Francisco , Wilson Gillian , Ishiyama Tomoaki , Ereza Julia
Published: January 2024

We measure the two-point correlation function (CF) of 1357 galaxy clusters with a mass of log10M200 ≥ 13.6 h−1 M⊙ and at a redshift of z ≤ 0.125. This work differs from previous analyses in that it utilizes a spectroscopic cluster catalogue, $\tt {SDSS-GalWCat}$, to measure the CF and detect the baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) signal. Unlike previous studies which use statistical techniques, we compute covariance errors directly by generating a set of 1086 galaxy cluster light-cones from the GLAM N-body simulation. Fitting the CF with a power-law model of the form ξ(s) = (s/s0)−γ, we determine the best-fitting correlation length and power-law index at three mass thresholds. We find that the correlation length increases with increasing the mass threshold while the power-law index is almost constant. For log10M200 ≥ 13.6 h−1 M⊙, we find s0 = 14.54 ± 0.87 h−1 Mpc and γ = 1.97 ± 0.11. We detect the BAO signal at s = 100 h−1 Mpc with a significance of 1.60σ. Fitting the CF with a Lambda cold dark matter model, we find $D_\mathrm{V}(z = 0.089)\mathit{r}^{\mathrm{ fid}}_\mathrm{ d}/\mathit{r}_\mathrm{ d} = 267.62 \pm 26$ h−1 Mpc, consistent with Planck 2015 cosmology. We present a set of 108 high-fidelity simulated galaxy cluster light-cones from the high-resolution Uchuu N-body simulation, employed for methodological validation. We find DV(z = 0.089)/rd = 2.666 ± 0.129, indicating that our method does not introduce any bias in the parameter estimation for this small sample of galaxy clusters.
When to use spironolactone, eplerenone or finerenone in the spectrum of cardiorenal diseases
Authors: Kobayashi Masatake , Girerd Nicolas , Zannad Faiez
Published: January 2024

Kidney disease frequently coexists with cardiovascular (CV) diseases, and this dual presence significantly amplifies the risk of adverse clinical outcomes. Shared pathophysiological mechanisms and common CV risk factors contribute to the increased expression of mineralocorticoid receptors, which in turn can drive the progression of chronic CV–kidney disorders. The steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) spironolactone and eplerenone have demonstrated efficacy in improving patient outcomes in cases of heart failure with reduced ejection fraction or after a myocardial infarction, but have limited value in patients with chronic kidney disease. The non-steroidal MRA finerenone has now established itself as a foundational guideline-recommended therapy in patients with diabetic kidney disease. To date, these pharmacological agents have been developed in distinct patient populations. The consequences of their distinct pharmacological profiles necessitate further consideration. They have not undergone testing across the entire spectrum of cardiorenal scenarios, and the evidence base is currently being complemented with ongoing trials. In this review, we aim to synthesize the existing body of evidence and chart the future trajectory for the use of spironolactone, eplerenone and finerenone in improving clinical outcomes across the diverse spectrum of cardiorenal diseases. By consolidating the current state of knowledge, we seek to provide valuable insights for informed decision making in the management of patients with these complex and interconnected conditions.
Basketball
Authors: Surdam David George
Published: January 2024

Basketball was one of the first sports to have a documented origin, beginning in late 1891. James Naismith’s charge was to develop physical exercises and activities to help develop the morals of his white, Anglo-Protestant male students. Naismith created the game to provide a competitive sport for wintertime indoor physical education. He probably never envisioned that the game would become popular across various groups. The game was amenable for urban populations, since the playing area was much smaller than for football and baseball. The simple playing equipment, too, made the game attractive for low-income participants. African Americans were early participants—segregated, of course, from white players. Black women, too, have long enjoyed the game. They faced the additional burden of fighting stereotypes about females and athletic competition. Aside from a few regions, female players only belatedly received acclaim. The white press paid scant attention to these participants. African Americans struggled against segregation and limited access to playing courts, but by the 1920s, black teams such as the New York Rens and Harlem Globetrotters competed successfully against white professional teams and began to be chronicled in mainstream newspapers. Despite demonstrations of black competence in basketball, colleges and universities often excluded blacks from their teams or refused to play opponents with black players. Although there were no integration events as dramatic as Jackie Robinson’s integration of Major League Baseball in college or professional basketball, blacks made steady inroads into the game. By the 1950s, sportswriters frequently recognized top-flight African American players and openly discussed the injustices faced by black players. The National Basketball Association integrated in 1950 and within a decade, Bill Russell and Elgin Baylor were top players. Black players earned greater prominence in college basketball, and by the 1960s, black players began to outnumber white players in All-American or All-Star recognition in both college and professional basketball. The 1963 Loyola Ramblers and 1966 Texas Western teams gained championships and notoriety for playing mostly blacks in their starting lineup. The 1966 Texas Western upset of the all-white Kentucky Wildcats induced college coaches in the South to integrate their teams by the early 1970s. Black players dominated basketball for the remainder of the 20th century, raising questions of why they dominated. Such questions were rife with potential for offense. Basketball is, however, one of the bastions of opportunity for black youths, although at a price. Scholars, ranging from sociologists to economists, began investigating African American sports.
Immanuel Kant: Political and Legal Philosophy
Authors: Pinheiro Walla Alice
Published: January 2024

Kant is an influential figure for contemporary political philosophy. Although this influence was long due to an application of Kant’s ethical theory to political questions, Kant’s political writings, and, more recently, his legal philosophy have been rediscovered thanks to exegetical work refuting superficial interpretations and traditional clichés of Kant’s theory. Additionally, new applications of Kant’s legal-political philosophy show its continuing relevance to contemporary political problems. Kant’s legal and political thought are deeply interconnected. There are two reasons for this. First, the normative priority of Right (Recht) over politics. Politics must conform to Right (Recht) and not the other way around (8: 429). Politics should be thus regarded as “ausübende Rechtslehre”: as applied Doctrine of Right. Kant thinks that if this normative relation is upheld, politics will not conflict with morality (8: 370). Second, the way Kant attempts to mediate between pure reason and empirical reality, between a “metaphysics of Right” and imperfect political societies. Because we must also realize the requirements of reason, Kant is careful to ensure that what reason commands is at least not ruled out or made impossible by natural mechanisms, human nature, and the historical development of particular political communities. The world and human affairs must be such as to enable ideals of reason to guide us in changing the world and our lives. Kant’s views on politics are known mainly from the so called “shorter political writings”: “On the Common Saying: That may be correct in theory, but it is of no use in practice” (1793), Toward Perpetual Peace (1793), and The Conflict of the Faculties (1798). But Kant’s political views are not confined to these, and they are also scattered in other works, such as in his writings on anthropology, history, teleology, and aesthetics. The Critique of Pure Reason (1781), Kant’s revolutionary work on the nature and limits of knowledge, is also relevant, although there are discussions whether it is possible to engage with Kant’s legal-political thought without embracing his transcendental idealism, which some regard as contentious. Unfortunately, Kant’s legal theory has not received the same attention as his political philosophy. This has been changing in the last twenty years with the publication of seminal scholarly work on Kant’s legal thought. Kant’s legal philosophy and his mature views on political philosophy are developed in the Doctrine of Right, the first part of the later work titled The Metaphysics of Morals (1797). This work has long been dismissed as the work of a senile mind, an attitude expressed early on by Fichte and Schopenhauer. Some now regard the Doctrine of Right as one of the greatest philosophical works in legal philosophy.
Emotional and Affective Issues in Environmental and Sustainability Education
Authors: Pihkala Panu
Published: January 2024

Environmental and sustainability education (later: ESE) can evoke and include a broad spectrum of emotions, ranging from joy and excitement to sadness and powerlessness. These eco-emotions (also called environmental emotions and ecological emotions) can be related to many things: for example, to relationships with more-than-human nature (later: nature), to the content of education, and to the pedagogical style of the educator. Emotions affect learning outcomes in many ways, and they may be important learning outcomes in their own right. They also have complex connections with both action and well-being. Classic themes in ESE are care, empathy with nature, and place attachment, often combined with awe and wonder. It has been argued that if people care for the environment affectively, they are more motivated to shape their behavior to be more sustainable. Another major theme is difficult emotions because of environmental problems and threats. Although this theme has been present in ESE for long, it has grown much more intense over time. It is related both to current losses and to predictions of future, connecting ESE with futures education. Phenomena such as eco-anxiety, ecological grief, and eco-guilt are now much discussed (see also the separate Oxford Bibliographies article Education for Sustainable Development), and this bibliography focuses on them; there are large separate literatures on positive emotions. The relation of difficult emotions to hope and action has strongly interested ESE scholars. Scholars have studied eco-emotions among both students and educators. It has been pointed out that educators need self-reflection and social support in order to engage constructively with eco-emotions. Furthermore, scholars have applied critical theory, decolonial theory, feminist theory, and various anti-oppressive pedagogies to point out that there are power structures and social norms around eco-emotions which need attention. Awareness of these factors can facilitate more just and open engagements with eco-emotions in education, and scholars have warned against overly strong presuppositions of the superiority of certain emotions and their valences. For example, the so-called negative emotions such as anxiety, worry, fear, grief, guilt, and anger can be important for transformative learning. Applying various resources, for example from psychology, educators and scholars have explored context-sensitive methods for encountering these eco-emotions in a constructive way. Key recommendations include public recognition of emotional issues by the educator, validation of various emotions, providing various opportunities for action, and use of embodied and creative methods to engage with emotional energies. Arts-based and contemplative methods have been prominently applied to the subject area, for example in new kinds of place-based activities.
Digital Gender Diversity
Authors: Szulc Łukasz
Published: January 2024

Since about the mid-2010s, the idea of gender diversity has come to enjoy unprecedented popularity, not only in academia but also in politics and popular culture, and especially in the Anglophone world, but also elsewhere. New terms for gender identities—such as nonbinary, genderqueer, genderfluid, demigender, or agender—have proliferated in youth cultures and have been adopted by mainstream media. Digital media have played a key role in the emergence and popularization of these terms, not least because culture in general has become heavily digitalized in the recent two or three decades. Moreover, digital media have allowed many alternative gender communities to flourish, connect to each other, and explore and express a wide range of gender identifications. This bibliography presents an overview of the emerging research on digital gender diversity, understood here as any challenge to the gender binary in digital cultures. The focus is placed on social media, but the bibliography also includes works on other digital technologies, including voice-activated personal assistants, fan fiction websites, video games, advertising, and biotechnologies. The bibliography first lists major works that provide a general overview of the topic and center on the conceptual rethinking of the idea of gender. The next section focuses on how the gender binary has been reproduced or challenged in digital structures, especially through social media design and governance, interfaces, and algorithms. The following section moves on from works on digital media production to studies of digital media use. In two subsections, it elaborates on research into social media use by ordinary users and content creators, respectively, emphasizing users’ agency and its limitations. The subsequent section zooms in on the discussions about gender normativity and gender transgression in video games from the perspective of both game players and developers. The final section drifts away from the focus on digital media and, instead, offers a selection of works that analyze gender diversity from a historical and global perspective. While digital media have undoubtedly helped gender diversity to rise to prominence as an important topic for social and political discussions—especially in the Anglophone world—gender diversity has a much longer history across the globe—a history that should be acknowledged in any analysis of digital gender diversity.