bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Left ventricular intimal sarcoma: a case report
Authors: Ullah Mohsin , Waidyanatha Sawan , Stamos Konstantinos , Tsanaxidis Nikolaos 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
Secondary cardiac tumours are much more common compared with primary (100–1000 times). The majority of the primary cardiac tumours are benign; however, almost a quarter are malignant, and 95% of these are sarcomas. The rarest type of primary malignant cardiac sarcoma is intimal (spindle cell) sarcoma.

Case summary
A 37-year-old woman presented with episodes of breathlessness. Initially treated for a chest infection, however, the patient continued to deteriorate and presented to the emergency department. A large pericardial effusion was discovered and drained, with samples sent for analysis. A repeat interval echo confirmed the resolution of the pericardial effusion with preserved left ventricular (LV) systolic function. The computed tomography (CT) of the thorax showed suspicious lesions in the heart and lung while the repeat echo raised suspicion of an infiltrative disease. A cardiac magnetic resonance imaging scan was performed, which suggested evidence of an undifferentiated sarcoma involving the posterior wall of the LV and an overlying thrombus. Computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis did not show any evidence of abdominal metastasis. A CT-guided lung biopsy was arranged. On histological analysis, the report was overall strongly supportive of a diagnosis of intimal sarcoma. She underwent chemotherapy until recently.

Discussion
Cardiac intimal sarcomas are the least reported type of primary malignant tumours of the heart. They are encountered more commonly in the large arterial blood vessels, including the pulmonary artery and aorta, and are extremely rare in the heart. A prompt diagnosis is essential as they are considered extremely aggressive.
Differential culprit plaque morphology in acute coronary syndrome: a comparison between very young patients (≤35 years) and older counterparts using optical coherence tomography
Authors: Chaudhary Gaurav , Gupta Basant , Roy Shubhajeet , Chandra Sharad , Sharma Akhil , Pradhan Akshyaya , Bhandari Monika , Vishwakarma Pravesh , Sethi Rishi , Dwivedi Sudhanshu Kumar , Baliyan Vinit , Sharma Prachi , Jaiswal Vikash , Singh Abhishek , Shukla Ayush , Shrestha Sajina , Gimelli Alessia 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Aims
Underlying mechanisms responsible for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in young patients compared with older counterparts are yet to be explored with optical coherence tomography (OCT). This study aims to explore underlying mechanisms of ACS in ≤35- (very young) and &gt;35-year-old (older counterparts) ACS patients using OCT.

Methods and results
This was a prospective, single-centre, investigational study. Patients were divided into groups according to age (≤35 and &gt;35 years) and further subdivided according to the underlying mechanism i.e. plaque rupture (PR) and plaque erosion (PE). A total of 93 patients were analysed. Thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) was significantly higher among older counterparts than very young patients for both PR (80.0% vs. 31.8%, P = 0.002) and PE (66.7% vs. 6.3%, P &lt; 0.001) groups. Microchannels were also significantly more prevalent among older than very young patients for both PR (65.0% vs. 18.2%, P = 0.004) and PE groups (55.6% vs.12.5%, P = 0.013). Macrophages were significantly higher in older than very young patients for both PR (25.0% vs. 0%, P = 0.018) and PE (44.4% vs. 0%, P = 0.003) groups. In contrast, fibrous cap thickness was greater in very young than older patients for both PR (105.71 ± 48.02 vs. 58.00 ± 15.76 µm, P &lt; 0.001) and PE (126.67 ± 48.22 vs. 54.38 ± 24.21 µm, P &lt; 0.001) groups. Intimal thickness was greater in older than very young patients for both PR (728.00 ± 313.92 vs. 342.27 ± 142.02 µm, P &lt; 0.001) and PE (672.78 ± 334.57 vs. 295.00 ± 99.60 µm, P &lt; 0.001) groups.

Conclusion
Frequency of TCFA, microchannels, macrophages, and intimal thickness was significantly higher in older ACS patients compared with very young patients. However, fibrous cap thickness was significantly greater in very young ACS patients compared with older patients.
Correlation of sex hormone levels with orthodontic tooth movement in the maxilla: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Peruga Małgorzata , Lis Joanna 
Published: May 2024

Summary

Background
Sex hormones secreted during the menstrual cycle and the application of orthodontic forces to teeth can affect the metabolism of periodontal ligaments. This study aimed to determine whether there are any differences in orthodontic tooth displacement during the menstrual cycle and when using hormonal contraceptives and whether the amount of female sex hormones influences the efficiency of tooth displacement.

Methods
A total of 120 women aged between 20 and 30 years with Angle Class II requiring transpalatal arch (TPA) to derotate teeth 16 and 26 were included in this study. The participants were divided into two groups: group A, which included women with regular menstruation, and control group B, which included women taking monophasic combined oral contraceptives. Group A was divided into subgroups according to the moment of TPA activation: menstruation (A1), ovulation phase (A2), and luteal phase (A3) (examination I). On intraoral scans, measurement points were marked on the proximal mesial cusps of teeth 16 and 26, and the intermolar distance (M1) was determined. The change in the position of the measurement points 6 weeks after activation (examination II) made it possible to determine the derotating extent of teeth 16 (O16) and 26 (O26) and the widening of the intermolar distance (M2–M1). In examinations I and II, tooth mobility in the alveoli was assessed using Periotest based on the periotest values (PTV) PTV1 and PTV2, respectively.

Results
A significant difference in all parameters was observed among groups A1, A2, and A3 (P &lt; 0.001). Group A3 showed the highest values of parameters O16, O26, and M2–M1, and group A2 showed the lowest values, which did not differ from the control group (P = 0.64). PTV2 and PTV1 were the highest in group A3 and the lowest in groups A1 and B. Intergroup differences were statistically significant (P &lt; 0.001).

Conclusions
With the quantification of changes in tooth mobility in the alveoli during the menstrual cycle in women undergoing orthodontic treatment, it was possible to determine that female sex hormones affect the effectiveness of orthodontic treatment, and the optimal moment for TPA activation is the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle.
Semen adaptation to microbes in an insect
Authors: Otti Oliver , Rossel Natacha , Reinhardt Klaus 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Sperm function is suggested to evolve by sexual selection but is also reduced by microbial damage. Here, we provide experimental evidence that male fertility can adapt to microbes. We found that in vivo, male fertility was reduced by one-fifth if sperm encountered microbes in the females that they had not previously been exposed to, compared to sperm from males that coevolved with these microbes. The female immune system activation reduced male fertility by an additional 13 percentage points. For noncoevolved males, fertility was larger if microbes were injected into females after they had stored away the sperm, indicating microbial protection as a previously unrecognized benefit of female sperm storage. Both medical and evolutionary research on reproductive health and fertility will benefit from considering our findings that the impact of microbes on sperm depends on their joint evolutionary history. Our results may assist in reconciling contradictory results of sexually transmitted disease effects on sperm and bring empirical realism to a recently proposed role of locally adapted reproductive microbiomes to speciation.
Addressing Equity and Justice in Age-Friendly Communities: Considerations for LGBTQ+ Older Adults of Color
Authors: Oswald Austin G , Cooper Lujira 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background and Objectives
This research critically examined the concept of age-friendliness from the perspectives of older Black lesbian women living in New York City (NYC). The primary aim was to extend existing age-friendly frameworks to more inclusively meet the needs of older lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer adults of color, promoting greater equity and justice.

Research Design and Methods
Applying principles from critical participatory action research, we collected and analyzed data from 5 focus groups consisting of 5 older Black lesbian women. Participants shared their daily experiences living in NYC and proposed ideas to enhance the age-friendliness of the city to better accommodate their unique needs and experiences.

Results
Participants called for greater attention to the interaction between identities and structures in relation to age-friendly communities. Historic and contemporary experiences of violence and discrimination, as well as the ever-shifting political context were identified as a key factor shaping their aging experiences. The need for affirming spaces with positive representation of their layered identities was emphasized in the context of age-friendly interventions.

Discussion and Implications
While dominant age-friendly frameworks are universally accepted for improving the health and wellbeing of older adults, the specific challenges of aging with multiple intersecting marginalized identities necessitate a critical perspective. Gerontology needs to take seriously how privilege and oppression operate within society, shaping health and aging trajectories of vulnerable and underserved populations.
Successful Aging and Subjective Aging: Toward a Framework to Research a Neglected Connection
Authors: Sabatini Serena , Rupprecht Fiona , Kaspar Roman , Klusmann Verena , Kornadt Anna , Nikitin Jana , Schönstein Anton , Stephan Yannick , Wettstein Markus , Wurm Susanne , Diehl Manfred , Wahl Hans-Werner 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Research related to subjective aging, which describes how individuals perceive, interpret and evaluate their own aging, has substantially grown in the past two decades. Evidence from longitudinal studies shows that subjective aging predicts health, quality of life, and functioning in later life. However, the existing literature on successful aging has mostly neglected the role of subjective aging. This paper proposes an extended framework of successful aging linking subjective aging conceptually and empirically to Rowe and Kahn’s (1997) three original key criteria of successful aging (i.e., avoiding disease and disability, maintaining high cognitive and physical function, and engagement with life). A particular focus is placed on subjective aging as an antecedent of successful aging. A review of the empirical subjective aging literature shows that subjective aging concepts consistently predict all three of Rowe and Kahn’s criteria of successful aging. Mechanisms underlying these relations are discussed at three levels, namely psychological, behavioral, and physiological pathways. The proposed addition also takes into consideration the interconnections between subjective aging and successful aging throughout the lifespan and across historical time. Finally, we discuss the importance of facilitating successful aging through systematic interventions that support more positive views of aging at the individual and societal level.
Predictors of Complicated Disease Course in Children and Adults With Ulcerative Colitis: A Nationwide Study From the epi-IIRN
Authors: Atia Ohad , Buchuk Rachel , Lujan Rona , Greenfeld Shira , Kariv Revital , Loewenberg Weisband Yiska , Lederman Natan , Matz Eran , Ledder Oren , Zittan Eran , Yanai Henit , Shwartz Doron , Freiman Moti , Dotan Iris , Nevo Daniel , Turner Dan 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background
Data on predictors of complicated ulcerative colitis (UC) course from unselected populations cohorts are scarce. We aimed to utilize a nationwide cohort to explore predictors at diagnosis of disease course in children and adults with UC.

Methods
Data of patients diagnosed with UC since 2005 were retrieved from the nationwide epi-IIRN cohort. Complicated disease course was defined as colectomy, steroid-dependency, or the need for biologic drugs. Hierarchical clustering categorized disease severity at diagnosis based on complete blood count, albumin, C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), analyzed together.

Results
A total of 13 471 patients with UC (1427 [11%] pediatric-onset) including 103 212 person-years of follow-up were included. Complicated disease course was recorded in 2829 (21%) patients: 1052 (7.9%) escalated to biologics, 1357 (10%) experienced steroid-dependency, and 420 (3.1%) underwent colectomy. Probabilities of complicated disease course at 1 and 5 years from diagnosis were higher in pediatric-onset (11% and 32%, respectively) than adult-onset disease (4% and 16%; P &lt; .001). In a Cox multivariate model, complicated course was predicted by induction therapy with steroids (hazard ratio [HR], 1.5; 95% CI, 1.2-2.0), extraintestinal manifestations (HR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.03-1.5) and the disease severity clusters of blood tests (HR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.01-3.1), while induction therapy with enemas (HR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.5-0.7) and older age (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.98-0.99) were associated with noncomplicated course.

Conclusion
In this nationwide cohort, the probability of complicated disease course during the first 5 years from diagnosis was 32% in pediatric-onset and 16% in adults with UC and was associated with more severe clusters of routinely collected laboratory tests, younger age at diagnosis, extraintestinal manifestations, and type of induction therapy.
On the Weak Local Arthur Packets Conjecture for Split Classical Groups
Authors: Liu Baiying , Lo Chi-Heng 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Recently, motivated by the theory of real local Arthur packets, making use of the wavefront sets of representations over non-Archimedean local fields $F$, Ciubotaru, Mason-Brown, and Okada defined the weak local Arthur packets consisting of certain unipotent representations and conjectured that they are unions of local Arthur packets. In this paper, we prove this conjecture for $\textrm{Sp}_{2n}(F)$ and split $\textrm{SO}_{2n+1}(F)$ with the assumption of the residue field characteristic of $F$ being large. In particular, this implies the unitarity of these unipotent representations. We also discuss the generalization of the weak local Arthur packets beyond unipotent representations, which reveals the close connection with a conjecture of Jiang on the structure of wavefront sets for representations in local Arthur packets.
Secrecy, Uncertainty, and Trust: The Gendered Nature of Back-Channel Peace Negotiations
Authors: Corredor Elizabeth S , Anderson Miriam J 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Back-channel negotiations are commonplace in peace negotiations and can serve as crucial mechanisms for reaching agreements. While there has been a moderate increase in scholarship examining back-channel negotiations in the last two decades, none has explored the gendered nature of these spaces. This article analyzes how and why back-channel negotiations are highly gendered processes and why their gendered nature matters for sustainable peace. We begin with a review of the current literature on back-channel negotiations and discuss how and why they are critical mechanisms in peace negotiation and agreement processes. Next, we show how women’s inclusion in peace negotiations and agreement practices matters for sustainable peace. Thereafter, we discuss how secret negotiation spaces are infused with gendered power and masculine logics of war and peace. We argue that three key features of back-channel negotiations—secrecy, uncertainty, and limited trust—come together to create an echo chamber of hypermasculinity ideas, values, styles, and norms that prevent women from achieving descriptive and substantive representation inside fundamental secret negotiation spaces. This article adds to the developing literature on back-channel negotiations and helps us better understand how and why women and their interests are regularly excluded from peace processes despite the global prominence of the United Nations’ Women, Peace, and Security agenda.
Bta-miR-181d and Bta-miR-196a mediated proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis in Bovine Myogenic Cells
Authors: Chengcheng Liang , Raza Sayed Haidar Abbas , Zhimei Yang , Sihu Wang , Shengchen Yu , Aloufi Bandar Hamad , Bingzhi Li , Zan Linsen 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Skeletal muscle is an important component of livestock and poultry organisms. The proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts are highly coordinated processes, which rely on the regulation of miRNA. MiRNAs are widely present in organisms and play roles in various biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. MiR-181d and miR-196a, identified as tumor suppressors, have been found to be involved in cell proliferation, apoptosis, directed differentiation, and cancer cell invasion. However, their role in beef cattle skeletal muscle metabolism remains unclear. In this study, we discovered that overexpression of bta-miR-181d and bta-miR-196a in Qinchuan cattle myoblasts inhibited proliferation and apoptosis while promoting myogenic differentiation through EDU staining, flow cytometry analysis, immunofluorescence staining, and Western blotting. RNA-seq analysis of differential gene expression revealed that after overexpression of bta-miR-181d and bta-miR-196a, the differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in the PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling pathways. Furthermore, the phosphorylation levels of key proteins p-AKT in the PI3K signaling pathway and p-MAPK in the MAPK signaling pathway were significantly decreased after overexpression of bta-miR-181d and bta-miR-196a. Overall, this study provides preliminary evidence that bta-miR-181d and bta-miR-196a may regulate proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation processes in Qinchuan cattle myoblasts by affecting the phosphorylation status of key proteins in PI3K-Akt and MAPK-ERK signaling pathways
Increased eye size is favoured in Trinidadian killifish experimentally transplanted into low light, high competition environments
Authors: Tran Stephanie M , Howell Kaitlyn J , Walsh Matthew R 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Intraspecific variation in vertebrate eye size is well known. Ecological factors such as light availability are often correlated with shifts in relative eye size. However, experimental tests of selection on eye size are lacking. Trinidadian killifish (Anablepsoides hartii) are found in sites that differ in predation intensity. Sites that lack predators are characterized by lower light, high killifish densities, low resource availability, and intense competition for food. We previously found that killifish in sites that lack predators have evolved a larger “relative” eye size (eye size corrected for body size) than fish from sites with predators. Here, we used transplant experiments to test how selection operates on eye size when fish that are adapted to sites with predators are translocated into sites where predators are absent. We observed a significant “population × relative eye size” interaction; the relationship between relative eye size and a proxy for fitness (rates of individual growth) was positive in the transplanted fish. The trend was the opposite for resident fish. Such results provide experimental support that larger eyes enhance fitness and are favoured in environments characterized by low light and high competition.
Applying zero-crossing method for frequency map analysis of dynamical systems
Authors: Yurin Denis , Makukov Maxim , Kuvatova Dana , Gluchshenko Anton , Omarov Chingis 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT
We present a simple method for estimating fundamental frequencies from orbit’s time series of triaxial dynamical systems based on the zero-crossing technique. The simplicity and high performance of the method make it a viable alternative to more advanced, but rather complex and computationally expensive techniques based on Fourier spectral analysis and iterative torus-mapping with action-angle variables. More importantly, the method provides a simple and quick way to identify irregular orbits and quantify their level of chaoticity, allowing to detect even a subtle onset of chaos. To validate the proposed algorithm, we performed comparison tests with synthetic quasi-periodic signals and with other methods using the triaxial Dehnen potential. We found noticeable differences in frequency maps constructed with our method and methods based on Fourier spectral analysis that we attributed to the way we assign static properties to chaotic orbits. At the same time, our frequency maps turn out to be in very good agreement with the maps obtained using the action-based technique.
Towards an observationally motivated AGN dusty torus model – I. Dust chemical composition from the modelling of Spitzer spectra
Authors: Reyes-Amador Omar Ulises , Fritz Jacopo , González-Martín Omaira , Srinivasan Sundar , Baes Maarten , Lopez-Rodriguez Enrique , Osorio-Clavijo Natalia , Victoria-Ceballos Cesar Iván , Stalevski Marko , Ramos Almeida C 
Published: May 2024

ABSTRACT
Spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting is one of the most commonly used techniques to study the dust properties in active galactic nuclei (AGN). Works implementing this technique commonly use radiative transfer models that assume a variety of dust properties. Despite the key role of this aspect, limited effort has been put forward to explore the chemical composition, the role of different optical properties, and the grain size distribution of dust, all of which can have a substantial impact on the theoretical radiative transfer calculations. In this work, we explore the role of the dust chemical composition in the AGN dusty torus through SED fitting to Spitzer/IRS spectra of a sample of 49 nearby AGN with silicate features in emission. We implement a mineralogy model including the popular astronomical silicates and a set of oxides and amorphous silicates with different grain sizes. Wefind that best fits use principally porous alumina, periclase, and olivine. In terms of mass fractions, $\sim 99~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of the dust is composed of dust grains of size $\rm {0.1 \, \mu m}$, with a $\lt 1~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ contribution from $\rm {3 \, \mu m}$ grains. Moreover, the astronomical silicates have a very low occurrence in the best fits, suggesting that they are not the most suited dust species to reproduce the silicate features in our sample.