bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Syphilis and cardiovascular risk: a Taiwanese registry
Authors: Wu Victor Chien-Chia , Yeh Jih-Kai , Chen Shao-Wei , Wu Chia-Ling , Lin Yu-Sheng , Wu Michael , Wei Kai-Che , Chu Pao-Hsien , Chang Shang-Hung , Huang Yu-Tung 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Background and Aims
Studies on the impact of syphilis on the cardiovascular system in large populations are limited. This study investigated the effects of syphilis on cardiovascular outcomes.

Methods
Medical records from 2010 to 2015 were retrieved from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, linked to the Notifiable Infectious Diseases database from the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control. Patients with syphilis were identified, excluding those with missing information, under 20 years of age, or with a history of human immunodeficiency virus infection, acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, aortic regurgitation, replacement of the aortic valve, aneurysm and/or dissection of the aorta, atrial fibrillation, ischaemic stroke, haemorrhagic stroke, and venous thromboembolism. Primary outcomes included new-onset acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, aortic regurgitation, aneurysm and dissection of the aorta, atrial fibrillation, ischaemic stroke, haemorrhagic stroke, venous thromboembolism, cardiovascular death, and all-cause mortality.

Results
A total of 28 796 patients with syphilis were identified from 2010 to 2015. After exclusions and frequency matching, 20 601 syphilis patients and 20 601 non-syphilis patients were analysed. The relative rate (RR) was utilized in the analysis, as the competing risk of death was not considered. Compared with patients without syphilis, patients with syphilis had increased risks of acute myocardial infarction (RR 38%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.19–1.60, P &lt; .001), heart failure (RR 88%, 95% CI 1.64–2.14, P &lt; .001), aortic regurgitation (RR 81%, 95% CI 1.18–2.75, P = .006), atrial fibrillation (RR 45%, 95% CI 1.20–1.76, P &lt; .001), ischaemic stroke (RR 68%, 95% CI 1.52–1.87, P &lt; .001), haemorrhagic stroke (RR 114%, 95% CI 1.74–2.64, P &lt; .001), venous thromboembolism (RR 67%, 95% CI 1.23–2.26, P = .001), cardiovascular death (RR 155%, 95% CI 2.11–3.08, P &lt; .001), and all-cause death (RR 196%, 95% CI 2.74–3.19, P &lt; .001) but not for aneurysm and dissection of the aorta.

Conclusions
This study demonstrates that patients with syphilis have a higher risk of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality compared with those without syphilis.
Lutheran Churches during the Thirty Years War
Authors: Heal Bridget 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Literary and artistic sources from the era of the Thirty Years War provide vivid accounts of the destruction and desecration of churches. This essay looks beyond these highly emotive descriptions and explores the fate of churches in Electoral Saxony, one of the worst-affected areas of the Holy Roman Empire. It considers patterns of destruction and argues that the plundering and desecration of Lutheran churches by Swedish troops was especially shocking to contemporaries. After the war, the reconstruction and refurbishing of churches was a key part of recovery. Records emphasize the importance of local communal endeavours in restoring what had been lost, from whole buildings to furnishings such as altarpieces and liturgical vessels. Wartime destruction reinforced the Lutheran proclivity for well-ordered and ornate places of worship. The essay ends with a consideration of wartime commemoration, investigating how the traumas of the period registered in the material fabric of Saxony’s churches.
Monolithic and local time-stepping decoupled algorithms for transport problems in fractured porous media
Authors: Cao Yanzhao , Hoang Thi-Thao-Phuong , Huynh Phuoc-Toan 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
The objective of this paper is to develop efficient numerical algorithms for the linear advection-diffusion equation in fractured porous media. A reduced fracture model is considered where the fractures are treated as interfaces between subdomains and the interactions between the fractures and the surrounding porous medium are taken into account. The model is discretized by a backward Euler upwind-mixed hybrid finite element method in which the flux variable represents both the advective and diffusive fluxes. The existence, uniqueness, as well as optimal error estimates in both space and time for the fully discrete coupled problem are established. Moreover, to facilitate different time steps in the fracture-interface and the subdomains, global-in-time, nonoverlapping domain decomposition is utilized to derive two implicit iterative solvers for the discrete problem. The first method is based on the time-dependent Steklov–Poincaré operator, while the second one employs the optimized Schwarz waveform relaxation (OSWR) approach with Ventcel-Robin transmission conditions. A discrete space-time interface system is formulated for each method and is solved iteratively with possibly variable time step sizes. The convergence of the OSWR-based method with conforming time grids is also proved. Finally, numerical results in two dimensions are presented to verify the optimal order of convergence of the monolithic solver and to illustrate the performance of the two decoupled schemes with local time-stepping on problems of high Péclet numbers.
High Frequency of Prior Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection by Sensitive Nucleocapsid Assays
Authors: Nkolola Joseph P , Liu Jinyan , Collier Ai-ris Y , Jacob-Dolan Catherine , Senussi Yasmeen , Borberg Ella , Swank Zoe , Walt David R , Barouch Dan H 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Prior infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is typically measured by nucleocapsid serology assays. In this study, we show that the Simoa serology assay and T-cell intracellular cytokine staining assay are more sensitive than the clinical Elecsys assay for detection of nucleocapsid-specific immune responses. These data suggest that the prevalence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection in the population may be higher than currently appreciated.
Why Online Consumption Communities Brutalize
Authors: Sibai Olivier , Luedicke Marius K , de Valck Kristine 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Consumers who socialize in online consumption communities sometimes become alarmingly hostile, toxic, and otherwise verbally violent toward one another—a phenomenon known in sociology as brutalization. Research indicates that short-lived, situational outbursts of verbal violence—such as gross insults, harassment, or trolling—are common in online consumption contexts. However, it does not explain why such behaviors sometimes become endemic, turning entire communities into toxic social spaces. To address this question, the authors studied 18 years of interactions in an online electronic dance music community. Their interpretive analysis reveals three constellations of interacting, mutually reinforcing, forms of direct, structural, and cultural violence—sadistic entertainment, clan warfare, and popular justice—that fuel community brutalization in distinct ways. This article introduces these brutalization constellations, substantiates them with empirical data, and discusses their implications for theories of violence in consumption communities as well as the wider social media sphere.
The influence of fragmented landscapes on speciation
Authors: Ciccheto Juliana Rosa Matias , Carnaval Ana Carolina , Araujo Sabrina Borges Lino 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
In the face of unprecedented global transformations, unravelling the intricate mechanisms governing biodiversity patterns is imperative for predicting and interpreting species responses. An important element in this interplay is fragmentation and the spatial mosaic or arrangement of suitable sites within the landscape. Beyond its well-documented impact on biodiversity loss, fragmented landscapes also influence the origin of biodiversity, by influencing speciation dynamics. This research employs a model that integrates spatial configuration and dispersal abilities of individuals to investigate the impact of landscape configuration on species’ evolutionary trajectories. Specifically, we propose a microevolutionary model where individuals are characterized by their dispersal ability and a genome, allowing population evolution and diversification. Space is explicitly characterized by suitable and unsuitable sites that define fragmented landscapes. Our model demonstrates how intermediate dispersal abilities enhance diversification. However, simulations of more fragmented landscapes result in a lower total number of individuals and a lower percentage of occupied sites by individuals, particularly when species have limited dispersal abilities. Furthermore, we have found that intermediate levels of fragmentation can stimulate greater species richness, while higher levels of speciation and extinction events tend to occur under higher fragmentations. Our results also show a non-monotonic dependence of richness on dispersal, supporting the intermediate dispersal hypothesis as a promotor of diversification, demonstrating the synergistic effects of landscape configuration and species dispersal ability in the processes of speciation, extinction, and diversification. This impact of fragmentation poses a real challenge for biodiversity in the context of a dynamic world.
Well-leg compartment syndrome after laparoscopic low anterior resection in the lithotomy position: a case report and literature review
Authors: Nakayama Yoko , Yamaguchi Minekazu , Inoue Keisuke , Sasaki Masaki , Tamaki Kaho , Hidaka Masaaki 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Well-leg compartment syndrome (WLCS) develops in healthy lower limbs because of surgical factors such as operative position, lower limb compression, and long operative time during abdominopelvic surgery. WLCS can lead to irreversible muscle and nerve damage if a prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment are not provided. We report the case of a 57-year-old male who developed rectal cancer immediately after laparoscopic low anterior resection and was successfully treated with fasciotomy without sequelae. Patients who undergo surgery in the lithotomy position for a prolonged period are at risk of WLCS. Therefore, when determining the differential diagnosis of postoperative lower leg pain, it is necessary to consider WLCS because it is a complication caused by the intraoperative position.
The viability of low-mass subhaloes as targets for gamma-ray dark matter searches
Authors: Aguirre-Santaella Alejandra , Sánchez-Conde Miguel A 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACT
In this work, we investigate the discovery potential of low-mass Galactic dark matter (DM) subhaloes for indirect searches of DM. We use data from the Via Lactea II (VL-II) N-body cosmological simulation, which resolves subhaloes down to $\mathcal {O}(10^4)$ solar masses and it is thus ideal for this purpose. First, we characterize the abundance, distribution and structural properties of the VL-II subhalo population in terms of both subhalo masses and maximum circular velocities. Then, we repopulate the original simulation with millions of subhaloes of masses down to about five orders of magnitude below the minimum VL-II subhalo mass (more than one order of magnitude in velocities). We compute subhalo DM annihilation astrophysical ‘J-factors’ and angular sizes for the entire subhalo population, by placing the Earth at a random position but at the right Galactocentric distance in the simulation. Thousands of these realizations are generated in order to obtain statistically meaningful results. We find that some nearby low-mass Galactic subhaloes, not massive enough to retain stars or gas, may indeed yield DM annihilation fluxes comparable to those expected from other, more massive and acknowledgeable DM targets like dwarf satellite galaxies. Typical angular sizes are of the order of the degree, thus subhaloes potentially appearing as extended sources in gamma-ray telescopes, depending on instrument angular resolution and sensitivity. Our work shows that low-mass Galactic subhaloes with no visible counterparts are expected to play a relevant role in current and future indirect DM search searches and should indeed be considered as excellent DM targets.
H3.1/3.2 regulate the initial progression of the gene expression program
Authors: Funaya Satoshi , Takahashi Yusuke , Suzuki Masataka G , Suzuki Yutaka , Aoki Fugaku 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
In mice, transcription from the zygotic genome is initiated at the mid-one-cell stage, and occurs promiscuously in many areas of the genome, including intergenic regions. Regulated transcription from selected genes is established during the two-cell stage. This dramatic change in the gene expression pattern marks the initiation of the gene expression program and is essential for early development. We investigated the involvement of the histone variants H3.1/3.2 in the regulation of changes in gene expression pattern during the two-cell stage. Immunocytochemistry analysis showed low nuclear deposition of H3.1/3.2 in the one-cell stage, followed by a rapid increase in the late two-cell stage. Where chromatin structure is normally closed between the one- and two-cell stages, it remained open until the late two-cell stage when H3.1/3.2 were knocked down by small interfering RNA. Hi-C analysis showed that the formation of the topologically associating domain was disrupted in H3.1/3.2 knockdown (KD) embryos. Promiscuous transcription was also maintained in the late two-cell stage in H3.1/3.2 KD embryos. These results demonstrate that H3.1/3.2 are involved in the initial process of the gene expression program after fertilization, through the formation of a closed chromatin structure to execute regulated gene expression during the two-cell stage.
Genetic Basis for Mucormycosis Progression in COVID-19 Patients: From Susceptibility to Severity
Authors: Muruganantham Jethendra Kumar , Veerabathiran Ramakrishnan 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
The dynamics of COVID-19 and mucormycosis reveal a complex interplay of genetic factors that influence the susceptibility, severity, and immune responses. COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), exhibits an increased incidence of mucormycosis, particularly in individuals with comorbidities or corticosteroid therapy. Mucormycosis is a fungal infection that affects the sinuses, orbits, and lungs and demands timely intervention with antifungal medications and surgery because of its life-threatening nature. Research on the genetic underpinnings of this intersection has unveiled key insights into the pathogenicity of Mucorales. Breakthroughs in genetic tools have exposed virulence factors, such as the CotH protein family and high-affinity iron-uptake mechanisms. Genetic susceptibility is a pivotal element in identifying individuals at risk of developing COVID-19, facilitating early detection, and allowing for personalized treatment strategies. DPP9, MIF, and TYK2 are among the genes implicated in COVID-19 severity, emphasizing the intricate relationship between genetic makeup and viral response. The genetic landscape extends to viral entry mechanisms, thereby affecting infection efficiency. Specific polymorphisms in genes such as IFNAR2, OAS3, and TYK2 are associated with COVID-19 severity, indicating shared genetic bases between severe and hospitalized cases. Mucormycosis is genetically predisposed, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. The challenge lies in understanding the genetic factors influencing susceptibility and offering insights into pathogenesis and potential therapeutic avenues. Organ transplantation adds another layer, increasing susceptibility to infections such as COVID-19 and mucormycosis. The impact of immunosuppression on COVID-19 severity remains elusive, necessitating ongoing research on the immunological mechanisms. Despite the challenges posed by emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants, the intricate connection between genetic factors and the interplay of COVID-19 and mucormycosis presents an opportunity for personalized treatment, targeted interventions, and refined public health strategies.
Role of Uncertainty in Illness and Coping Strategies in Advance Directive Completion in Patients With End-stage Liver Disease
Authors: Fuson Olivia , Mitra Arnab , Little Carley , Hiatt Shirin , Franklin Heather , Dieckmann Nathan F. , Hansen Lissi 
Published: April 2024

Objective:
We examined the associations among advance directives (ADs) completion, coping, uncertainty in illness, and optimism and pessimism in patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD).

Background:
Although associations among ADs, coping, and uncertainty have been studied in patients with other life-limiting illnesses, these concepts have not been studied together in patients with ESLD.

Patients and Methods:
Patients were recruited at 2 health care institutions as part of a larger prospective study. They were enrolled if they had a diagnosis of nonhepatocellular carcinoma ESLD, Sodium Model for End-Stage Liver Disease ≥15, and no prior history of liver transplantation. Uncertainty, coping, optimism, and pessimism were assessed using the Uncertainty in Illness Scale for Adults, Revised Ways of Coping Checklist, and Life Orientation Test–revised. AD documentation at the time of study enrollment was retrospectively extracted from patient medical records.

Results:
In the sample [N = 181; median age = 57 y, 115 (64%) males], male sex [odds ratio (OR) = 4.66; 95% CI: 1.53, 14.17], being listed or under evaluation for liver transplantation (OR = 3.09; 95% CI: 1.10, 8.67), greater Sodium Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores (OR = 1.10; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.20), and greater uncertainty (OR = 1.04; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.07) were positively associated with AD documentation. Higher coping avoidance was negatively associated with AD documentation (OR = 0.915; 95% CI: 0.840, 0.997).

Conclusions:
Clinicians should consider the role of uncertainty and coping measures to improve patient-specific advance care planning conversations and expand opportunities for all patients with ESLD to file an AD, especially women and patients not listed or under evaluation for transplantation.
Physical Therapy Services During COVID-19 Pandemic: Perception of Families of Brazilian Children With Physical Disabilities
Authors: Bittencourt de Oliveira Pedro , Pessóta Sudati Isabella , Lima Gonçalves Laura Gabrielle , de Campos Ana Carolina 
Published: April 2024

Purpose:
To describe the perspective of caregivers about physical therapy (PT) during the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect of social distancing on the health of children with physical disabilities.

Methods:
This survey research used a remote questionnaire to identify the perceptions of caregivers about the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health of children and adolescents with physical disabilities and on PT services. Data were analyzed using the frequency of responses; open-ended questions were analyzed through a hybrid approach to thematic analysis.

Results:
Caregivers of 47 children with cerebral palsy were included. Although most received regular PT services during the pandemic, worsened children's physical conditions and anxiety were prevalent. Caregivers believed that they lacked technical skills.

Conclusions:
Social distancing impacted the health of children with physical disabilities, especially their physical conditions. Identifying facilitators and barriers for PT services can be helpful in future similar scenarios.

Video abstract Supplemental Digital Content available at:
http://links.lww.com/PPT/A503.
Actomonas aquatica gen. nov., sp. nov., a marine lineage in the phylum Verrucomicrobiota with genetic potential for carbon and nitrogen fixation
Authors: Zhang Ai Hua , Tang Hao , Wang Lu , He Wei , Gao Tian Heng , Gao Zhi Gang , Zhang Dao-Feng 
Published: April 2024

A novel bacterial strain, designated WL0086T, was isolated from a marine sediment sample collected in Lianyungang city, Jiangsu province, PR China. This strain showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Geminisphaera colitermitum TAV2T (92.7 %) of the family Opitutaceae, and all the unclassified cultured and uncultured isolates with similarities >95 % were from marine environments. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile cocci with a size of 0.6–0.8 µm in diameter. Strain WL0086T was positive for both oxidase and catalase, and grew at 20–37 °C (optimum, 28 °C), with 1.5–11.0 % NaCl (w/v; optimum, 2.5–4.0 %) and at pH 5.0–9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0). The major polar lipid profile of strain WL0086T consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylcholine. The major isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone-7 and the predominant fatty acids were iso-C14 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0 and C16 : 1
ω9c. The complete genome consisted of a chromosome with 6 109 182 bp. The G+C content of genomic DNA was 64.0%. Results of phylogenomic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence and the whole genome suggested that strain WL0086T formed a distinct clade closely neighbouring the members of the family Opitutaceae. On the basis of phylogenetic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic evidences, strain WL0086T should represent a novel genus of the family Opitutaceae, for which the name Actomonas aquatica gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WL0086T (=MCCC 1K05844T=JCM 34677T=GDMCC 1.2411T).
Adaptive response of Pseudomonas aeruginosa under serial ciprofloxacin exposure
Authors: Huynh Thuc Quyen , Tran Nguyen Bao Vy , Pham Thi Thuy Vy , Le Vo Bao Tran , Truong Thien Phu , Huynh Van An , Tong Thi Hang , Trinh Thi Truc Ly , Nguyen Van Dung , Pham Le Nhat Minh , Nguyen Thi Hiep , Lin Qifeng , Lim Teck Kwang , Lin Qingsong , Nguyen Thi Thu Hoai 
Published: April 2024

Graphical Abstract
Sub-MICs of ciprofloxacin result in DNA breakage, triggering DNA damage stress and the SOS stress response. This, in turn, induces changes in regulatory factors and the translation machinery. Modifications to regulatory components, including MvaT, RpoS and RpoB, lead to the upregulation (depicted in green) of efflux pumps such as MexEF-OprN and the downregulation (depicted in red) of porins. Additionally, there are alterations in the expression of virulence factors. Concurrently, ciprofloxacin affects metabolic processes, shortens cell lengths and induces the formation of multinucleated filaments due to disruptions in cell replication.