bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
(328) RELATION BETWEEN TIME OF PRESENTATION OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION (ED) AND SEARCH FOR INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET WITH IIEF-5 SEVERITY SCORE
Authors: Reyes-Vallejo LA , Gonzalez-Carranza HR 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Introduction
Erectile Dysfunction is a common disease of the male reproductive system, which seriously affects the life quality of patients and their partners.

Objective
Our purpose is to assess the time between the onset of symptoms and the seeking of medical attention for Erectile Dysfunction (ED). We hypothesize that patients with ED searching for information in unreliable sources increases time between symptoms onset and the first medical consultation.

Methods
A questionnaire was given to patients diagnosed with ED during urological consultation (June 2023–June 2024). Questionnaire included questions about seeking information on the Internet, their findings, their source of information, their search motive, the date of onset of ED symptoms and the first time they went to a medical consultation for this reason. IIEF-5 questionnaire was applied to measure the severity of the ED, dividing it into 4 groups (mild, mild–moderate, moderate and severe).

Results
154 questionnaires were collected. Of the patients, 3 (1.95%) had no ED, 40 (25.97%) had mild ED, 61 (39.61%) had mild–moderate ED, 39 (25.32%) had moderate ED and 11 (7.14%) had severe ED. Average age was 51 years (22-82). Average time between the onset of symptoms and the first consultation was 23.7 months (0-178). 94 (61%) of the patients had previously searched for information on the Internet. There was a significant relationship with severity and internet search (p &lt; 0.001). We found a significant relationship between greater severity of ED and less time seeking medical treatment for the mild, mild–moderate and moderate groups (p &lt; 0.001, p &lt; 0.001, p &lt; 0.001). Severe ED group did not have a significant value (p = 0.03). Patients who had previously searched for information on the Internet had a larger time to attend first consultation (p &lt; 0.001).

Conclusions
Patients take an average of 23.7 months from the onset of symptoms of erectile dysfunction until attending consultation Patients with greater severity come for consultation later, except for patients with Severe ED Patients who searched for information on the Internet take longer to attend consultation.

Disclosure
No.
Assessing the efficacy of postbiotics derived from Lactobacillus plantarum on antibiotic resistance genes in nosocomial pathogens such as Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Nezhadi Javad , Ahmadi Ali 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
This study investigated the antibacterial and anti-biofilm properties of postbiotics derived from Lactobacillus plantarum and their effect on the expression of antibiotic resistance genes (ermB and blaKPC) in Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. Cell-free supernatants (CFSs) were analyzed through gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), which showed that butyric acid (14.31%) was the major compound, other metabolites present in CFSs included lactic acid (5.94%), hdroxyacetone (5,21%), benzoic acid (3.12%), Pyrrolo[1,2-a] pyrazine-1,4-dione (1.91%), 2,3-Butanediol (1.04%), and 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one (0.73.%). To investigate the effect of postbiotics on bacterial growth and biofilm formation, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and microtiter plate assays were used. MIC results showed that resistant En. faecalis and P. aeruginosa can grow at concentrations of 2.5 and 5 mg/ml, respectively, after exposure to postbiotics. Furthermore, the microtiter plate results showed that postbiotics significantly reduced biofilm formation: 51%, 45%, and 39% in En. faecalis and 46%, 38%, and 27% in P. aeruginosa at different concentrations. Real-time polymerase chain reaction also confirmed the reduction of resistance genes (ermB; P = 0.007 and blaKPC; P = 0.02) expression. MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay showed that the cell survival rate was 80%. These findings suggest that postbiotics from L. plantarum may be a promising approach for combating bacterial growth, biofilm formation, and antibiotic resistance.
Salman Rushdie and postsecularism: The Satanic Verses and the postcolonial Bildungsroman
Authors: Jussawalla Feroza 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
This article reads Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses as a Bildungsroman that is postcolonial and postsecular. Among the distinctiveness of the postcolonial Bildungsroman is that it can present a protagonist who can negotiate among nationality, religion, secularism, and postsecularism. This article contextualizes The Satanic Verses within Islamic poetic forms and Rushdie’s secular upbringing in postcolonial India. This context shows how Rushdie, rather than blaspheming the Prophet Muhammad, approaches the Prophet’s life story with postsecular wonder and awe. This postsecularism is not a turn towards religion but a means of approaching cultural myths.
Unsayable word: gurbāni, Punjabi poetry, and the postsecular impulse
Authors: Mandair Arvind-Pal S 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
This essay examines some limitations of the critical framework deployed by theorists of modern secular Punjabi literature to establish the distinct of this genre and the nature of secular poetic consciousness in contradistinction from so called “medieval theocentric” literary genres such as gurbāni—better known as Sikh scripture. An important consequence of this reclassification of the “secular modern” versus “medieval sacred” literature, was the de-ontologization of the notion of Word (śabad), achieved by disinvesting the concept of śabad of connection to reality, self and world-making. I offer a different way of reading genres such as gurbāni which not only defy oppositional categories such as premodern/modern, secular/religious, but equally caution us from straightforward identification with the post-secular, post-modern, or post-human.
Religion, secularism, and postsecularism in global south literatures: introduction to the special forum
Authors: Ratti Manav 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
This special forum asks: How is postsecularism shaped by the politics and philosophies of religion, secularism, and postcolonialism? How are the enabling possibilities of postsecularism, combining religion and secularism, explored by writers from the Global South—Africa, Asia, Latin America? Addressing these and other questions, the scholars in this forum examine postcolonial postsecularism across literature, history, criticism, and theory. They study Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Daoism, Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism. They analyze literary genres and devices that include novels, poetry, scripture, epigraphs, intertexts, and internet fantasy fiction. They critique the work of writers from Algeria, Chile, China, India and its diaspora, Mexico, Tunisia, and Turkey.
Boundary obstacles in social innovation: refugees, volunteers, and caseworkers navigating Denmark’s paradoxical borderscape
Authors: Shapiro Ditte , Kohl Katrine Syppli , Jørgensen Rikke Egaa , Sandberg Marie 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Collaborative methods have gained traction in migration studies, policy, and practice, in turn, engendering calls for new collaborations between research and practice. Bringing multiple perspectives to the production of knowledge in refugee research is particularly pertinent in Denmark, where incongruent policy aims of integration and of return creates a paradoxical borderscape that refugees, volunteers, and municipal caseworkers must navigate. This article draws on a practice-research project, co-developed by two large civil society organizations and university researchers that included collaborative ethnography among refugees, volunteers, and caseworkers in and around a social innovation initiative. It investigates how the conflicting expectations of integration and return shape efforts to change social relationships and strengthen the agency of refugees. We approach collaborative efforts from the perspective of boundary work and coin the concept of ‘boundary obstacles’ to describe core challenges to advancing social innovation initiatives with refugees. Building on a thematic analysis of qualitative data comprising fieldnotes and interview transcripts, we identify three boundary obstacles: positionalities, emotionalities, and politicizations. Finally, the article reflects on the prospects and challenges of social innovation and recommends ways to approach those challenges as boundary obstacles that can help set new directions for collaborative research with refugees.
The connections among morphology, environment, and star formation with Galaxy Zoo Hubble
Authors: Ge Xue , Gu Yi-Zhou , Lei Cheng-Long , Zhang Xing-Han 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT
Morphology is an important implication for studying the formation and evolution of galaxies. Previous studies have investigated the effects of spiral arms on star formation activities, but it is not clear how clumpy structure affects this process. In this work, we combine Galaxy Zoo Hubble project and 3D-HST/Cosmic Assembly Near-IR Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey programs to study the influence of morphological structure on star formation processes and the relationship between morphology and the environment at $0 \lt z \lt 1.0$. We find that galaxies with spiral arms and clumpy structures have higher star formation rates than smooth galaxies, and as the redshift decreases, this result remains unchanged. Analysis based on the subsamples, We find that stellar mass is related to the number of arms but not to the number of clumps. In addition, we do not find that an increase in the numbers of arms and/or clumps stimulates greater star formation. We also find that less-clump galaxies preferentially inhabit high-density environments, while more-clump galaxies preferentially inhabit low-density environments. This phenomenon is not significant in spiral galaxies. Our results show that environmental effects may have a greater influence on clumpy structures compared to spiral arm structures, which in turn affects the star formation activities of galaxies.
SIROCCO: a publicly available Monte Carlo ionization and radiative transfer code for astrophysical outflows
Authors: Matthews James H , Long Knox S , Knigge Christian , Sim Stuart A , Parkinson Edward J , Higginbottom Nick , Mangham Samuel W , Scepi Nicolas , Wallis Austen , Hewitt Henrietta A , Mosallanezhad Amin 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT
Outflows are critical components of many astrophysical systems, including accreting compact binaries and active galactic nuclei (AGN). These outflows can significantly affect a system’s evolution and alter its observational appearance by reprocessing the radiation produced by the central engine. sirocco (Simulating Ionization and Radiation in Outflows Created by Compact Objects – or ‘the code formerly known as python’) is a Sobolev-based Monte Carlo ionization and radiative transfer code. It is designed to simulate the spectra produced by any system with an azimuthally symmetric outflow, from spherical stellar winds to rotating, biconical accretion disc winds. Wind models can either be parametrized or imported, e.g. from hydrodynamical simulations. The radiation sources include an optically thick accretion disc and various central sources with flexible spectra and geometries. The code tracks the ‘photon packets’ produced by the sources in any given simulation as they traverse and interact with the wind. The code assumes radiative near-equilibrium, so the thermal and ionization state can be determined iteratively from these interactions. Once the physical properties in the wind have converged, sirocco can be used to generate synthetic spectra at a series of observer sightlines. Here, we describe the physical assumptions, operation, performance and limitations of the code. We validate it against tardis, cmfgen, and cloudy, finding good agreement, and present illustrative synthetic spectra from disc winds in cataclysmic variables, tidal disruption events, AGN, and X-ray binaries. sirocco is publicly available on GitHub, alongside its associated data, documentation and sample input files covering a wide range of astrophysical applications.
Numerical modelling of thermal dust polarization from aligned grains in the envelope of evolved stars with updated POLARIS
Authors: Truong Bao , Hoang Thiem , Giang Nguyen Chau , Diep Pham Ngoc , Nguyen Dieu D , Ngoc Nguyen Bich 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT
Magnetic fields are thought to influence the formation and evolution of circumstellar envelopes around evolved stars. Thermal dust polarization from aligned grains is a promising tool for probing magnetic fields and dust properties in these environments; however, a quantitative study on the dependence of thermal dust polarization on the physical properties of dust and magnetic fields for these circumstellar environments is still lacking. In this paper, we first perform the numerical modelling of thermal dust polarization in the IK Tau envelope using the magnetically enhanced radiative torque (MRAT) alignment mechanism implemented in our updated POLARIS code, accounting for the effect of grain drift relative to the gas. Despite experiencing grain drift and high gas density $n_{\rm gas} \gt 10^6\, \rm cm^{-3}$, the minimum grain size required for efficient MRAT alignment of silicate grains is $\sim 0.007\!-\!0.05\, \rm \mu m$ due to strong stellar radiation fields. Ordinary paramagnetic grains can achieve perfect alignment by MRAT in the inner envelope of $r \lt 500\, \rm au$ due to stronger magnetic fields of $B\sim 10$ mG–1G, producing the polarization degree of $\sim 10~{{\rm per\ cent}}$. The polarization degree can be enhanced to $\sim 20\!-\!40~{{\rm per\ cent}}$ for superparamagnetic grains with embedded iron inclusions. The magnetic field geometry affects the resulting polarization degree due to the projection effect. We investigate the effect of rotational disruption by RATs (RAT-D) and find that the RAT-D effect decreases the dust polarization degree due to the decrease in the maximum grain size. Our modelling results motivate further observational studies at far-infrared/sub-millimeter to constrain the properties of magnetic fields and dust in evolved star’s envelopes.
ExoMol line lists – LXV. Mid-infrared rovibronic spectroscopy of isotopologues of NiH
Authors: Batrakov Kirill , Yurchenko Sergei N , Owens Alec , Tennyson Jonathan , Mitrushchenkov Alexander , Ross Amanda J , Crozet Patrick , Pashov Asen 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT
New line lists for four isotopologues of nickel monohydride, $^{58}$NiH, $^{60}$NiH, $^{62}$NiH, and $^{58}$NiD are presented covering the wavenumber range $\lt 10000$ cm$^{-1}$ ($\lambda \gt 1$ $\mu$m), J up to 37.5 for transitions within and between the three lowest lying electronic states, ${X}\, ^{2}\Delta$, ${W}\, ^{2}\Pi$, and ${V}\, ^{2}\Sigma ^{+}$. The line lists are applicable for temperatures up to 5000 K. The line lists calculations are based on a recent empirical NiH spectroscopic model [Havalyova et al. J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transf., 272, 107800, (2021)] which is adapted for the variational nuclear-motion code duo. The model consists of potential energy curves, spin–orbit coupling curves, electronic angular momentum curves, spin-rotation coupling curves, $\Lambda$-doubling correction curve for $^2\Pi$ states and Born–Oppenheimer breakdown (BOB) rotational correction curves. New ab initio dipole moment curves, scaled to match the experimental dipole moment of the ground state, are used to compute Einstein A coefficients. The BYOT line lists are included in the ExoMol data base at www.exomol.com.
A dynamics-based density profile for dark haloes – III. Parameter space
Authors: Diemer Benedikt 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT
In the previous paper of this series, we proposed a new function to fit halo density profiles out to large radii. This truncated Einasto profile models the inner, orbiting matter as $\rho _{\rm orb}\propto \exp \left[-2/\alpha \ (r / r_{\rm s})^\alpha - 1/\beta \ (r / r_{\rm t})^\beta \right]$ and the outer, infalling term as a power-law overdensity. In this paper, we analyse the resulting parameter space of scale radius $r_{\rm s}$, truncation radius $r_{\rm t}$, steepening $\alpha$, truncation sharpness $\beta$, infalling normalization $\delta _{\rm 1}$, and infalling slope s. We show that these parameters are non-degenerate in averaged profiles, and that fits to the total profiles generally recover the underlying properties of the orbiting and infalling terms. We study the connection between profile parameters and halo properties such as mass (or peak height) and accretion rate. We find that the commonly cited dependence of $\alpha$ on peak height is an artefact of fitting Einasto profiles to the actual, truncated profiles. In our fits, $\alpha$ is independent of mass but dependent on accretion rate. When fitting individual halo profiles, the parameters exhibit significant scatter but otherwise follow the same trends. We confirm that the entire profiles are sensitive to the accretion history of haloes, and that the two radial scales $r_{\rm s}$ and $r_{\rm t}$ particularly respond to the formation time and recent accretion rate. As a result, $r_{\rm t}$ is a more accurate measure of the accretion rate than the commonly used radius where the density slope is steepest.
Little iLocater: paving the way for iLocater
Authors: Harris Robert J , Crass Jonathan , Johnson Marshall C , Bechter Andrew J , Power Jennifer , Calcines Rosario Ariadna , Crepp Justin R , Bechter Eric B , Sands Brian L , Kopon Derek , Ertel Steve , Barboza Santiago , Bianco Andrea 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT
Diffraction-limited radial-velocity instruments offer a pathway towards improved precision and stability, and the exploration of new parameter spaces at high spatial and spectral resolution. However, achieving the necessary performance requires careful instrument design and considerable on-sky testing. We describe the design and construction of ‘Little iLocater’ (Lili), a compact spectrograph that has been used to validate the performance of the front-end fibre-injection system of the iLocater spectrograph. We present the design, assembly, and performance using on-sky data obtained at the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT), including extraction of spectra from standard stars, testing of the atmospheric dispersion corrector to elevations of 40°, and spatially resolved spectra from close companion systems. These results show the front-end fibre-injection system is performing as expected and is indicative of iLocater’s capabilities once installed at the LBT.
Piwi regulates the usage of alternative transcription start sites in the Drosophila ovary
Authors: Chen Jiaying , Liu Na , Qi Hongying , Neuenkirchen Nils , Huang Yuedong , Lin Haifan 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Alternative transcription initiation, which refers to the transcription of a gene from different transcription start sites (TSSs), is prevalent across metazoans and has important biological functions. Although transcriptional regulation has been extensively studied, the mechanism that selects one TSS over others within a gene remains elusive. Using the Cap Analysis of Gene Expression sequencing (CAGE-seq) method, we discovered that Piwi, an RNA-binding protein, regulates TSS usage in at least 87 genes. In piwi-deficient Drosophila ovaries, these genes displayed significantly altered TSS usage (ATU). The regulation of TSS usage occurred in both germline and somatic cells in ovaries, as well as in cultured ovarian somatic cells (OSCs). Correspondingly, RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) initiation and elongation at the TSSs of ATU genes were affected in germline-piwi-knockdown ovaries and piwi-knockdown OSCs. Furthermore, we identified a Facilitates Chromatin Transcription (FACT) complex component, Ssrp, that is essential for mRNA elongation, as a novel interactor of Piwi in the nucleus. Temporally controlled knockdown of ssrp affected TSS usage in ATU genes, whereas overexpression of ssrp partially rescued the TSS usage of ATU genes in piwi mutant ovaries. Thus, Piwi may interact with Ssrp to regulate TSS usage in Drosophila ovaries by affecting Pol II initiation and elongation.
Structural basis of Cas9 DNA interrogation with a 5′ truncated sgRNA
Authors: Kiernan Kaitlyn A , Kwon Jieun , Merrill Bradley J , Simonović Miljan 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
The efficiency and accuracy of CRISPR-Cas9 targeting varies considerably across genomic targets and remains a persistent issue for using this system in cells. Studies have shown that the use of 5′ truncated single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) can reduce the rate of unwanted off-target recognition while still maintaining on-target specificity. However, it is not well-understood how reducing target complementarity enhances specificity or how truncation past 15 nucleotides (nts) prevents full Cas9 activation without compromising on-target binding. Here, we use biochemistry and cryogenic electron microscopy to investigate Cas9 structure and activity when bound to a 14-nt sgRNA. Our structures reveal that the shortened path of the displaced non-target strand (NTS) sterically occludes docking of the HNH L1 linker and prevents proper positioning of the nuclease domains. We show that cleavage inhibition can be alleviated by either artificially melting the protospacer adjacent motif (PAM)-distal duplex or providing a supercoiled substrate. Even though Cas9 forms a stable complex with its target, we find that plasmid cleavage is ∼1000-fold slower with a 14-nt sgRNA than with a full-length 20-nt sgRNA. Our results provide a structural basis for Cas9 target binding with 5′ truncated sgRNAs and underline the importance of PAM-distal NTS availability in promoting Cas9 activation.
Exploring the diversity of anti-defense systems across prokaryotes, phages and mobile genetic elements
Authors: Tesson Florian , Huiting Erin , Wei Linlin , Ren Jie , Johnson Matthew , Planel Rémi , Cury Jean , Feng Yue , Bondy-Denomy Joseph , Bernheim Aude 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
The co-evolution of prokaryotes, phages and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) has driven the diversification of defense and anti-defense systems alike. Anti-defense proteins have diverse functional domains, sequences and are typically small, creating a challenge to detect anti-defense homologs across prokaryotic and phage genomes. To date, no tools comprehensively annotate anti-defense proteins within a desired sequence. Here, we developed ‘AntiDefenseFinder’—a free open-source tool and web service that detects 156 anti-defense systems of one or more proteins in any genomic sequence. Using this dataset, we identified 47 981 anti-defense systems distributed across prokaryotes and their viruses. We found that some genes co-localize in ‘anti-defense islands’, including Escherichia coli T4 and Lambda phages, although many appear standalone. Eighty-nine per cent anti-defense systems localize only or preferentially in MGE. However, &gt;80% of anti-Pycsar protein 1 (Apyc1) resides in nonmobile regions of bacterial genomes. Evolutionary analysis and biochemical experiments revealed that Apyc1 likely originated in bacteria to regulate cyclic nucleotide (cNMP) signaling, but phage co-opted Apyc1 to overcome cNMP-utilizing defenses. With the AntiDefenseFinder tool, we hope to facilitate the identification of the full repertoire of anti-defense systems in MGEs, the discovery of new protein functions and a deeper understanding of host–pathogen arms race.