bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Like a Punch in the Gut: A Novel Perspective On Annual Recurrences of Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Johnston Sasha , Fraser Aileen , Biddle Carrie , Wild Jennifer 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, causes stomach pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. The exact cause is unknown, but it is thought to involve genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. Some people experience annual flare-ups without obvious reason. This article adopts a theory-driven approach to consider how and why past traumatic events may contribute to annual flare-ups.

Methods
We applied learning theory, which explains the development of re-experiencing phenomena in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to better understand the occurrence of annual flares in patients living with UC.

Results
Two possibilities emerged in which associative learning may contribute to annual UC flares. First, flare-ups could be a physical response to sensory cues in the present that overlap with trauma experienced at the first onset of UC. Annual episodes may strengthen the UC flare as a learned physiological response to trauma reminders. Second, flare-ups may result from elevated stress due to trauma re-experiencing at anniversaries. Sensory features of the initial UC trauma may be associated with strong reactions, which generalize to similar stimuli, triggering re-experiencing symptoms and increasing psychological stress. Elevated stress raises glucocorticoid levels, promoting UC-specific inflammation. Stimulus discrimination from cognitive therapy for PTSD may help to over-ride the associations that have formed between sensory features of past trauma, linked reactions, and similar cues in the present.

Conclusions
Research is needed to understand how traumatic events influence the onset and recurrence of ulcerative colitis, as well as the potential benefits of stimulus discrimination for reducing the frequency of annual flares.
Three-layered functionally specialized nest structures enhance strength and water retention in mounds of Globitermes sulphureus (Blattodea: Termitidae)
Authors: Chiu Chun-I , Attasopa Korrawat , Wongkoon Sinsap , Chromkaew Yupa , Liao Hauchuan , Kuan Kuan-Chih , Suttiprapan Piyawan , Guswenrivo Ikhsan , Li Hou-Feng , Sripontan Yuwatida 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Termite mounds are a ubiquitous feature of savanna ecosystems, yet the mechanisms by which termites (Blattodea: Termitoidae) mitigate the challenges posed by seasonal drought and flooding through mound construction remain insufficiently explored. This study investigates the material properties, water retention capabilities, and resistance to raindrop penetration across three distinct layers of Globitermes sulphureus (Haviland, 1898) (Blattodea: Termitidae) nests. Our findings reveal a pronounced diversification and specialization of materials and functions across these layers. Specifically, the outer layer has decreased moisture permeability, the middle layer has enhanced resistance to water penetration, and the innermost layer has a high capacity for water retention. The integration of these functionally specialized layers provides a compelling evidence for explaining how these termites are able to adapt to the fluctuating environmental conditions characteristic of savanna ecosystems. Furthermore, this highlights the nest’s buffering capability against environmental stressors. The complexity of this construction, marked by a level of self-organization rarely observed in the animal kingdom, underscores a significant instance of architectural ingenuity among non-human builders.
Cardiac arrest in pregnancy with successful stabilization and delivery on veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a case report
Authors: Burton Alice , Ratwatte Seshika , Zalcberg David , Morgan Matthew , Narayan Rajit , Cordina Rachael 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Cardiac arrest in pregnancy is rare. Clinicians need to adapt management to the altered anatomy and physiology of pregnancy, and the well-being of two patients (mother and foetus) may come into consideration. The medical literature has limited reports on outcomes following extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in pregnancy.

Case summary
We report the evaluation, management, and outcome of a woman with cardiac arrest and severe left ventricle (LV) dysfunction in mid-trimester of pregnancy. The previously well woman had tolerated two prior term pregnancies without complication. At 25 weeks of gestation, she presented to the hospital with breathlessness and vomiting after a pre-syncopal episode at home. She then had in-hospital cardiac arrest, managed initially with cardiopulmonary resuscitation. The LV was dilated, thin walled, and severely impaired (LV ejection fraction 14%), and there was a secundum atrial septal defect (ASD). She was supported with veno-arterial ECMO. Planned birth occurred 5 days post-arrest for maternal indication. Coronary angiography demonstrated 99% proximal left anterior descending artery stenosis and aneurysm, raising the possibility of previous subclinical Kawasaki disease. She underwent surgical revascularization and ASD closure. Both mother and infant made a good recovery.

Discussion
We report a case of cardiac arrest in pregnancy as first presentation of severe LV dysfunction. The case highlights the role of ECMO for cardiac arrest in pregnancy and outlines specific interventions and management concepts in this setting.
The emerging role of clonal haematopoiesis in the pathogenesis of dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Verdonschot Job A J , Fuster Jose J , Walsh Kenneth , Heymans Stephane R B 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
The increased sensitivity of novel DNA sequencing techniques has made it possible to identify somatic mutations in small circulating clones of haematopoietic stem cells. When the mutation affects a ‘driver’ gene, the mutant clone gains a competitive advantage and has the potential to expand over time, a phenomenon referred to as clonal haematopoiesis (CH), which is emerging as a new risk factor for various non-haematological conditions, most notably cardiovascular disease (e.g. heart failure). Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a form of non-ischaemic heart failure that is characterized by a heterogeneous aetiology. The first evidence is arising that CH plays an important role in the disease course in patients with DCM, and a strong association of CH with multiple aetiologies of DCM has been described (e.g. inflammation, chemotherapy, and atrial fibrillation). The myocardial inflammation induced by CH may be an important trigger for DCM development for an already susceptible heart, e.g. in the presence of genetic variants, environmental triggers, and comorbidities. Studies investigating the role of CH in the pathogenesis of DCM are expected to increase rapidly. To move the field forward, it will be important to report the methodology and results in a standardized manner, so results can be combined and compared. The accurate measurement of CH in patients with DCM can provide guidance of specific (anti-inflammatory) therapies, as mutations in the CH driver genes prime the inflammasome pathway.
Are drivers recurring or ephemeral? observations from serial mapping of persistent atrial fibrillation
Authors: Hunt Bram , Kwan Eugene , Paccione Eric , Orkild Benjamin , Yazaki Kyoichiro , Bergquist Jake , Dong Jiawei , MacLeod Robert S , Dosdall Derek J , Ranjan Ravi 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Aims
Rotational re-entries and ectopic foci, or ‘drivers’, are proposed mechanisms for persistent atrial fibrillation (persAF), but driver-based interventions have had mixed success in clinical trials. Selective targeting of drivers with multi-month stability may improve these interventions, but no prior work has investigated whether drivers can be stable on such a long timescale.

Objective
We hypothesized that drivers could recur even several months after initial observation.

Methods and results
We performed serial electrophysiology studies on paced canines (n = 18, 27–35 kg) at 1−, 3−, and 6 months post-initiation of continual persAF. Using a high-density 64-electrode catheter, we captured endocardial electrograms in the left atrium (LA) and right atrium (RA) to determine the presence of drivers at each major anatomical site. We defined drivers that were repeatedly observed across consecutive studies to be recurrent. The mean probability that any driver would recur was 66% (LA: 73%, RA: 41%). We also found evidence of ‘multi-recurring’ drivers, i.e. those seen in all three studies. Multi-recurring drivers constituted 53% of initially observed drivers with at least one found in 92% of animals, and we found more multi-recurring drivers per animal than predicted by random chance (2.6 ± 1.5 vs. 1.2 ± 1.1, P &lt; 0.001). Driver sites showed more enhancement than non-drivers during late gadolinium enhancement-magnetic resonance imaging (P = 0.04), but we observed no relationship between enhancement and driver recurrence type.

Conclusion
We observed recurring drivers over a 6-month period at fixed locations, confirming our hypothesis. We also found drivers to be associated with fibrosis, implying a structural basis.
Associations Between Loneliness, Epigenetic Aging, and Multimorbidity Through Older Adulthood
Authors: Freilich Colin D , Markon Kristian E , Mann Frank D , Cole Steve W , Krueger Robert F 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Objectives
Loneliness is a pressing public health concern, but the mechanisms by which it leads to declining physical health are uncertain. Prior work has begun to explore epigenetic pathways, with some evidence suggesting a link between loneliness and DNA methylation, though it is unclear whether epigenetic variation can help explain loneliness–health associations.

Methods
Associations between loneliness and epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) were estimated, as well as the degree to which EAA mediated and moderated the association between loneliness and the development of chronic physical health conditions (multimorbidity) in older adulthood. The sample consisted of Health and Retirement Study participants who provided blood draws and consented to methylation profiling (n = 4,018).

Results
Baseline loneliness was associated with greater EAA in the GrimAge measure net of demographic and behavioral covariates (β = 0.07, p = .003). Loneliness and GrimAge each predicted increasing condition counts, but there was no evidence of an interactive effect. The association between loneliness and increasing condition counts was, however, significantly mediated by GrimAge (indirect path β = 0.020, p = .003).

Discussion
These results suggest that the impact of loneliness on multimorbidity may, in part, operate through DNA methylation. The specific intermediary, physiological mechanisms that are involved will require further research, but EAA measures like GrimAge are promising in helping to understand the health impacts of loneliness.
Theoretical investigation of the excitation of leaky modes for multilayered models
Authors: Wu Bo , Shi Caiwang , Chen Xiaofei , Zhang Qi 
Published: October 2024

SUMMARY
The dispersion analysis with array-based methods enables us to detect and analyse the multimode dispersive waves with weak amplitudes. Over the past years, there has been widespread extraction of higher normal modes from earthquake records and ambient noise, which have been extensively employed in near-surface and crustal investigations. Notably, the frequent reporting of leaky modes in recent observations has gained significant attention. This is because leaky modes can provide more constraints on subsurface structures. Particularly, a subset of leaky modes is found to be sensitive to P-wave velocities, which has the potential to compensate for the limitations of traditional surface wave inversion. Nevertheless, due to the lack of knowledge of the excitation and practical application of leaky modes, it is urgent to have an effective guide in selecting certain leaky modes for practical inversion combined with other imaging methods. To this end, the theoretical investigation into the excitation of leaky modes for multilayered models is undertaken. By computing theoretical seismograms for various source mechanisms and source depths with the discrete wavenumber and the normal-mode summation methods, respectively, the qualitative evaluation of the leaky-mode contributions to the synthesized seismograms is conducted. Additionally, the impact of the source depth for the same source mechanism is meticulously examined by the dispersion spectra. Furthermore, with the accurate computation of leaky modes, we categorize the leaky modes into PL and OP (organ-pipe) modes according to their distinctive properties, that is, their attenuation and eigen-displacements, which may be used to explain very well the occurrence of certain leaky modes on the dispersion spectrum and be indicative of the reasonable choice of PL modes to put them into practical inversion for P-velocity structures.
A new semi-analytic model for Stern-layer polarization in pore throats
Authors: Kreith D , Leroy P , Bücker M 
Published: October 2024

SUMMARY
To explain induced polarization, membrane polarization is often referred to as a relevant process taking place in granular media – particularly, when narrow pore throats are present. This polarization effect is based on the membrane-like behaviour of pore throats caused by the presence of an usually negative charge on the pore surface, that influences charge transport in the pore fluid. Existing analytical, 1D models describe the pore system as a series of cylindrical pores with different radii and lengths. The polarization response is calculated by solving the Poisson–Nernst–Planck system for the current densities of one single anion and one single cation species representing the charge transport in the electrolyte and the diffuse layer at the pore surface. To include charge transport in the Stern layer, cations in the Stern layer have so far simply been considered by increasing the concentration of the diffuse layer cations. As we know from numerical modelling, this approach fails to predict the polarization response when the Stern layer is significantly charged. Here, we present a new semi-analytical model that treats the Stern-layer cations as a separate ion species and allows the Stern layer to polarize individually. To validate our new model, we compare it to the previously used analytical model and numerical simulations for different relative charges in Stern- and diffuse layer. We also use electrostatic surface-complexation models for two mineral surfaces (quartz and montmorillonite) to simulate the response of real geologic material under varying chemical conditions. This work is a step forward for considering realistic pore properties in induced-polarization modelling.
No Surprises Act independent dispute resolution outcomes for emergency services
Authors: Duffy Erin L , Garmon Christopher , Adler Loren , Biener Adam , Trish Erin 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
The No Surprises Act banned surprise billing and established a final-offer arbitration system, independent dispute resolution (IDR), to resolve disagreements between health plans and providers. One factor that arbiters must consider in the IDR process is the qualifying payment amount (QPA), the median contracted rate for the same or similar service in the same market as computed by health plans. We analyzed public IDR data from 2023 for the most common disputed professional service: evaluation and management of a moderate to severe emergency medicine visit. Providers won 86% of cases, with mean decisions 2.7 times the QPA. Private equity-backed providers won more often and higher monetary awards than other providers. The mean QPA was 2.4 times Medicare payments. Disputes were dominated by a small group of health plans and providers, so payments may not reflect the overall market for emergency services.
Predicting Outcomes in Hospitalized Patients With Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis in a Prospective Multicenter Cohort
Authors: Chaaban Lara , Cohen Benjamin , Cross Raymond K , Kayal Maia , Long Millie , Ananthakrishnan Ashwin , Melia Joanna 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background and Aims
Acute severe ulcerative colitis (UC) (ASUC) requiring hospitalization affects up to 1 in 4 patients with UC. There is a paucity of prospective and multicenter clinical cohorts to study treatment trends and predictors of disease outcomes. Here, we conduct a US-based multicenter prospective clinical cohort of ASUC to study predictors of the need for medical rescue therapy and colectomy.

Methods
A total of 94 patients hospitalized for ASUC were included across 5 academic centers from December 2018 to December 2021. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected throughout the hospitalization. Patients were followed up to 1-year post-hospitalization to identify predictors of the need for rescue therapy and colectomy.

Results
A total of 21 (22.3%) patients required colectomy within 1 year of admission with 11 (12%) requiring colectomy during the index admission. On multivariate analyses, a BMI &lt; 21.5 kg/m2 (OR = 6.16, P = .02), a simple clinical colitis activity index (SCCAI) greater than 8 (OR = 14.44, P = .01) and an albumin level at admission lower than 2.4 g/dL (OR = 10.61, P = .04) were significant predictors of inpatient colectomy after adjusting for sex, age, and duration of disease.

Conclusions
In a prospective, multicenter cohort of patients hospitalized with ASUC, BMI, SCCAI, and albumin at admission were important determinants of colectomy risk during the index hospitalization and within 1 year of admission. Colectomy rates remain high—22.3% in this cohort across 5 academic, tertiary care centers—underscoring the need to identify the highest-risk patients, establish novel treatment and care paradigms, and examine opportunities to standardize care.
Long-term exposure to PM2.5 and mortality: a national health insurance cohort study
Authors: Moon Jeongmin , Kim Ejin , Jang Hyemin , Song Insung , Kwon Dohoon , Kang Cinoo , Oh Jieun , Park Jinah , Kim Ayoung , Choi Moonjung , Cha Yaerin , Kim Ho , Lee Whanhee 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Previous studies with large data have been widely reported that exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is associated with all-cause mortality; however, most of these studies adopted ecological time-series designs or have included limited study areas or individuals residing in well-monitored urban areas. However, nationwide cohort studies including cause-specific mortalities with different age groups were sparse. Therefore, this study examined the association between PM2.5 and cause-specific mortality in South Korea using the nationwide cohort.

Methods
A longitudinal cohort with 187 917 National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort participants aged 50–79 years in enrolment between 2002 and 2019 was used. Annual average PM2.5 was collected from a machine learning-based ensemble model (a test R2 = 0.87) as an exposure. We performed a time-varying Cox regression model to examine the association between long-term PM2.5 exposure and mortality. To reduce the potential estimation bias, we adopted generalized propensity score weighting method.

Results
The association with long-term PM2.5 (2-year moving average) was prominent in mortalities related to diabetes mellitus [hazard ratio (HR): 1.03 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.06)], circulatory diseases [HR: 1.02 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.03)] and cancer [HR: 1.01 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.02)]. Meanwhile, circulatory-related mortalities were associated with a longer PM2.5 exposure period (1 or 2-year lags), whereas respiratory-related mortalities were associated with current-year PM2.5 exposure. In addition, the association with PM2.5 was more evident in people aged 50–64 years than in people aged 65–79 years, especially in heart failure-related deaths.

Conclusions
This study identified the hypothesis that long-term exposure to PM2.5 is associated with mortality, and the association might be different by causes of death. Our result highlights a novel vulnerable population: the middle-aged population with risk factors related to heart failure.
Khovanov Algebras for the Periplectic Lie Superalgebras
Authors: Nehme Jonas 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
The periplectic Lie superalgebra $\mathfrak{p}(n)$ is one of the most mysterious and least understood simple classical Lie superalgebras with reductive even part. We approach the study of its finite dimensional representation theory in terms of Schur–Weyl duality. We provide an idempotent version of its centralizer, that is, the super Brauer algebra. We use this to describe explicitly the endomorphism ring of a projective generator for $\mathfrak{p}(n)$ resembling the Khovanov algebra of [ 5]. We also give a diagrammatic description of the translation functors from [ 1] in terms of certain bimodules and study their effect on projective, standard, costandard, and irreducible modules. These results will be used to classify irreducible summands in $V^{\otimes d}$, compute $\operatorname{Ext}^{1}$ between irreducible modules and show that $\mathfrak{p}(n)\operatorname{-mod}$ does not admit a Koszul grading.
Stable STFT Phase Retrieval and Poincaré Inequalities
Authors: Rathmair Martin 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
In recent work [P. Grohs and M. Rathmair. Stable Gabor Phase Retrieval and Spectral Clustering. Communications on Pure and Applied Mathematics (2018) and P. Grohs and M. Rathmair. Stable Gabor phase retrieval for multivariate functions. Journal of the European Mathematical Society (2021)], the instabilities of Gabor phase retrieval problem, that is, reconstructing $ f\in L^{2}(\mathbb{R})$ from its spectrogram, $|\mathcal{V}_{g} f|$ where $$ \begin{align*} & \mathcal{V}_g f(x,\xi) = \int_{\mathbb{R}} f(t)\overline{g(t-x)}e^{-2\pi i \xi t}\,\mbox{d}t, \end{align*} $$ have been classified in terms of the connectivity of the measurements. These findings were however crucially restricted to the case where the window $g(t)=e^{-\pi t^{2}}$ is Gaussian. In this work we establish a corresponding result for a number of other window functions including the one-sided exponential $g(t)=e^{-t}{1\kern-3.4pt1}_{[0,\infty )}(t)$ and $g(t)=\exp (t-e^{t})$. As a by-product we establish a modified version of Poincaré’s inequality, which can be applied to non-differentiable functions and may be of independent interest.