bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A novel score to predict left ventricular recovery in peripartum cardiomyopathy derived from the ESC EORP Peripartum Cardiomyopathy Registry
Authors: Jackson Alice M , Goland Sorel , Farhan Hasan Ali , Yaseen Israa Fadhil , Prameswari Hawani Sasmaya , Böhm Michael , Jhund Pardeep S , Maggioni Aldo P , van der Meer Peter , Sliwa Karen , Bauersachs Johann , Petrie Mark C 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Background and Aims
There are no established clinical tools to predict left ventricular (LV) recovery in women with peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). Using data from women enrolled in the ESC EORP PPCM Registry, the aim was to derive a prognostic model to predict LV recovery at 6 months and develop the ‘ESC EORP PPCM Recovery Score’—a tool for clinicians to estimate the probability of LV recovery.

Methods
From 2012 to 2018, 752 women from 51 countries were enrolled. Eligibility included (i) a peripartum state, (ii) signs or symptoms of heart failure, (iii) LV ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 45%, and (iv) exclusion of alternative causes of heart failure. The model was derived using data from participants in the Registry and internally validated using bootstrap methods. The outcome was LV recovery (LVEF ≥50%) at six months. An integer score was created.

Results
Overall, 465 women had a 6-month echocardiogram. LV recovery occurred in 216 (46.5%). The final model included baseline LVEF, baseline LV end diastolic diameter, human development index (a summary measure of a country’s social and economic development), duration of symptoms, QRS duration and pre-eclampsia. The model was well-calibrated and had good discriminatory ability (C-statistic 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74–0.83). The model was internally validated (optimism-corrected C-statistic 0.78, 95% CI 0.73–0.82).

Conclusions
A model which accurately predicts LV recovery at 6 months in women with PPCM was derived. The corresponding ESC EORP PPCM Recovery Score can be easily applied in clinical practice to predict the probability of LV recovery for an individual in order to guide tailored counselling and treatment.
Genetically proxied low-density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering via PCSK9-inhibitor drug targets and risk of congenital malformations
Authors: Ardissino Maddalena , Slob Eric A W , Reddy Rohin K , Morley Alec P , Schuermans Art , Hill Phoebe , Williamson Catherine , Honigberg Michael C , de Marvao Antonio , Ng Fu Siong 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Aims
Current guidelines advise against the use of lipid-lowering drugs during pregnancy. This is based only on previous observational evidence demonstrating an association between statin use and congenital malformations, which is increasingly controversial. In the absence of clinical trial data, we aimed to use drug-target Mendelian randomization to model the potential impact of fetal LDL-lowering, overall and through PCSK9 drug targets, on congenital malformations.

Methods and results
Instrumental variants influencing LDL levels overall and through PCSK9-inhibitor drug targets were extracted from genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data for LDL on 1 320 016 individuals. Instrumental variants influencing circulating PCSK9 levels (pQTLs) and liver PCSK9 gene expression levels (eQTLs) were extracted, respectively, from a GWAS on 10 186 individuals and from the genotype-tissue expression project. Gene-outcome association data was extracted from the 7th release of GWAS summary data on the FinnGen cohort (n = 342 499) for eight categories of congenital malformations affecting multiple systems. Genetically proxied LDL-lowering through PCSK9 was associated with higher odds of malformations affecting multiple systems [OR 2.70, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.30–5.63, P = 0.018], the skin (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.33–3.75, P = 0.007), and the vertebral, anorectal, cardiovascular, tracheo-esophageal, renal, and limb association (VACTERL) (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.16–1.96, P = 0.007). An association was also found with obstructive defects of the renal pelvis and ureter, but this association was suggestive of horizontal pleiotropy. Lower PCSK9 pQTLs were associated with the same congenital malformations.

Conclusion
These data provide genetic evidence supporting current manufacturer advice to avoid the use of PCSK9 inhibitors during pregnancy.
Predicting worsening heart failure hospitalizations in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators: is it all about alerts? A pooled analysis of nine trials
Authors: Botto Giovanni Luca , Sinagra Gianfranco , Bulava Alan , Gargaro Alessio , Timmel Tobias , Giacopelli Daniele , D’Onofrio Antonio , Guédon-Moreau Laurence 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Aims
To predict worsening heart failure hospitalizations (WHFHs) in patients with implantable defibrillators and remote monitoring, the HeartInsight algorithm (Biotronik, Berlin, Germany) calculates a heart failure (HF) score combining seven physiologic parameters: 24 h heart rate (HR), nocturnal HR, HR variability, atrial tachyarrhythmia, ventricular extrasystoles, patient activity, and thoracic impedance. We compared temporal trends of the HF score and its components 12 weeks before a WHFH with 12-week trends in patients without WHFH, to assess whether trends indicate deteriorating HF regardless of alert status.

Methods and results
Data from nine clinical trials were pooled, including 2050 patients with a defibrillator capable of atrial sensing, ejection fraction ≤ 35%, NYHA class II/III, no long-standing atrial fibrillation, and 369 WHFH from 259 patients. The mean HF score was higher in the WHFH group than in the no WHFH group (42.3 ± 26.1 vs. 30.7 ± 20.6, P &lt; 0.001) already at the beginning of 12 weeks. The mean HF score further increased to 51.6 ± 26.8 until WHFH (+22% vs. no WHFH group, P = 0.003). As compared to the no WHFH group, the algorithm components either were already higher 12 weeks before WHFH (24 h HR, HR variability, thoracic impedance) or significantly increased until WHFH (nocturnal HR, atrial tachyarrhythmia, ventricular extrasystoles, patient activity).

Conclusion
The HF score was significantly higher at, and further increased during 12 weeks before WHFH, as compared to the no WHFH group, with seven components showing different behaviour and contribution. Temporal trends of HF score may serve as a quantitative estimate of HF condition and evolution prior to WHFH.
Fiscal transfers and common debt in a Monetary Union: a multi-country agent–based stock flow consistent model
Authors: Caiani Alessandro , Catullo Ermanno 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Using a refined version of our multi-country AB-SFC model of a Monetary Union the paper aims at providing a tentative assessment of the economic effects of transforming the European Monetary Union into an Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfer Union (IFTU) with its own fiscal capacity. Countries contribute proportionally to their GDP, whereas funds are redistributed according to a mechanism that gives more funds to countries performing worse than the average of the Union in cyclical terms. Our simulations show that an IFTU inspired by such a redistribution principle acts as a stabilizer of international trade, allowing us to stabilize and improve the Union GDP performance without affecting the stability of public finances. When the Union is allowed to borrow on capital markets, i.e. in a Fully Fledged Fiscal Transfer Union (FFFTU), these effects are enhanced and a part of the public debt burden shifts from the national to the Union level, leaving the total burden almost stable. An interesting result to assess the political acceptability of the proposal is that “core” countries eventually benefit the most from the introduction of this mechanism, despite being more frequently net contributors. Finally, we show that an FFFTU with common debt might help to soften the impact of an exogenous demand shock, while, because of the fact that it mainly operates as a stabilizer of aggregate demand, it does not seem to provide beneficial effects when facing a supply shock to production.
Evidence of Reduced Virulence and Increased Colonization Among Pneumococcal Isolates of Serotype 3 Clade II Lineage in Mice
Authors: Sekulovic Ognjen , Gallagher Caitlyn , Lee Jonathan , Hao Li , Zinonos Stavros , Tan Charles Y , Anderson Annaliesa , Kanevsky Isis 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Recent phylogenetic profiling of pneumococcal serotype 3 (Pn3) isolates revealed a dynamic interplay among major lineages with the emergence and global spread of a variant termed clade II. The cause of Pn3 clade II dissemination along with epidemiological and clinical ramifications are currently unknown. Here, we sought to explore biological characteristics of dominant Pn3 clades in a mouse model of pneumococcal invasive disease and carriage. Carriage and virulence potential were strain dependent with marked differences among clades. We found that clinical isolates from Pn3 clade II are less virulent and less invasive in mice compared to clade I isolates. We also observed that clade II isolates are carried for longer and at higher bacterial densities in mice compared to clade I isolates. Taken together, our data suggest that the epidemiological success of Pn3 clade II could be related to alterations in the pathogen's ability to cause invasive disease and to establish a robust carriage episode.
Unraveling the Role of Social Media on Adolescents’ Daily Goals and Affect: The Interplay Between Basic Psychological Needs and Screen Time
Authors: Van de Casteele Marlies , Soenens Bart , Ponnet Koen , Perneel Simon , Flamant Nele , Vansteenkiste Maarten 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Despite the common belief that spending excessive time on social media apps harms adolescents' daily functioning, the impact of screen time is likely to differ depending on how well the use of social media aligns with adolescents' psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Grounded in self-determination theory, the aim of this study was to examine how both screen time and basic psychological needs on social media relate to adolescents’ daily goal striving and affective states. To this end, a 7-day diary study was conducted, and screen time (i.e. duration and frequency) was monitored objectively through an application on adolescents’ smartphones. In two daily surveys, participants reported on their basic psychological needs (i.e. satisfaction and frustration of the needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness) when spending time on social media, their experienced goal interference (i.e. guilt, goal conflict and rumination) and their affective states (i.e. positive and negative affect). Examining the data of 107 adolescents (M age = 15.28 years, SD = 1.66, range = 12–19; 53.3% female), multilevel path analyses revealed that, at the daily level, frustration of the basic psychological needs on social media was associated with temporary increases in guilt, goal conflict and negative affect. On the contrary, when adolescents felt satisfied with their needs during their time on social media, they reported better affective states. The duration of screen time also yielded an interfering effect (i.e. main effect), but this effect was attenuated when adolescents experienced high need satisfaction during their time on social media (i.e. interaction effect). Some lingering effects were found, with need satisfaction on SMU in the afternoon predicting lower guilt and goal conflict and need frustration on SMU relating to elevated rumination in the evening. These findings highlight the complex interplay between basic psychological needs on SMU and screen time for adolescents’ daily goal striving and affective well-being.
Sodium butyrate administration improves intestinal development of suckling lambs
Authors: Sun Mengzhen , Ji Wenwen , Ye Hongwei , Cai Yitao , Yun Yan , Wei Xiaoshi , Wang Chong , Mao Huiling 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the effects of sodium butyrate (SB) supplementation on growth performance, intestinal barrier functions, and intestinal bacterial communities in sucking lambs. Forty lambs of 7 d old, with an average body weight (BW) of 4.46 ± 0.45 kg, were allocated into the control (CON) or SB group, with each group having five replicate pens (n = 5). Lambs were orally administered SB at 1.8 mL/kg BW in the SB group or the same volume of saline in the CON group. Treatments were administered from 7 to 35 d of age, when one lamb from each replicate was slaughtered to obtain intestinal tissues and contents. The results showed that supplementation with SB tended to increase the BW (P = 0.079) and the starter intake (P = 0.089) of lambs at 35 d of age. The average daily gain of lambs in the SB group was significantly greater than that in the CON group (P &lt; 0.05). The villus height of jejunum in the SB group was markedly higher (P &lt; 0.05) than that in the CON group. In ileum, lambs in the SB group had lower (P &lt; 0.05) crypt depth and greater (P &lt; 0.05) villus-to-crypt ratio than those in the CON group. Compared with the CON group, the mRNA and protein expressions of Claudin-1 and Occludin were increased (P &lt; 0.05) in the SB group. Supplementation with SB decreased the relative abundances of pathogenic bacteria, including Clostridia_UCG-014 (P = 0.094) and Romboutsia (P &lt; 0.05), which were negatively associated with the intestinal barrier function genes (P &lt; 0.05). The relative abundance of Succiniclasticum (P &lt; 0.05) was higher in the SB group, and it was positively correlated with the ratio of villi height to crypt depth in the jejunum (P &lt; 0.05). Compared with the CON group, the function “Metabolism of Cofactors and Vitamins” was increased in the SB group lambs (P &lt; 0.05). In conclusion, SB orally administration during suckling period could improve the small intestine development and growth performance of lambs by inhibiting the harmful bacteria (Clostridia_UCG-014, Romboutsia) colonization, and enhancing intestinal barrier functions.
The Judge-Made ‘Duty’ to Consider Climate Change in South Africa
Authors: Murcott Melanie Jean , Vinti Clive 
Published: January 2024

AbstractEnvironmental legislation in South Africa does not explicitly require that the executive branch consider climate change in environmental decision-making. Yet, in a handful of climate cases, the executive has been found to have acted unlawfully (and thus unconstitutionally) by failing to do so. We argue that the case law has implicitly introduced a ‘duty’ to consider climate change mitigation and adaptation issues. The precedent set entails that in order to act lawfully as required by the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, decision-makers must take climate change into account in various contexts. This article describes the role of the judiciary within South Africa’s transformative constitutional regime, and the interpretive approach they are mandated to adopt. The interpretive approach is a feature of South Africa’s normative conceptualization of the separation of powers. We then describe how, in the exercise of this role, the ‘duty’ to consider climate change has emerged and evolved through three instances of climate litigation in the High Courts, and one before the Water Tribunal. We conclude that the power of judiciary in South Africa to respond to the myriad human rights and justice implications of the climate crisis derives not only from constitutionally entrenched human rights. Equally important are the mechanisms within the broader transformative architecture of the constitutional order. By making this modest point, we hope to deepen the understanding of the utility of human rights in climate litigation in the Global South.
Principles of logics for plausible reasoning
Authors: Billington David 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Plausible reasoning concerns situations that have an inherent lack of precision, which is not quantified; that is, there are no degrees or levels of precision, and hence no use of numbers like probabilities. A hopefully comprehensive set of principles that clarifies what it means for a formal logic to do plausible reasoning is presented. Several important plausible-reasoning examples that guide the development of some of the principles are also given. Versions of these principles and examples have appeared in Billington (2017) and chapter 4 of Billington (2019). Each principle in this article is the same as, or an improvement on, the corresponding principle in chapter 4 of Billington (2019); for a detailed comparison, see the Appendix. A propositional plausible logic that satisfies all these principles appears in Billington (2017, 2019). This shows that all the principles together are consistent.
Is milbemycin a game changer against antifungal drug-resistant mycoses?
Authors: Kano Rui , Yamada Tsuyoshi , Tamura Takashi , Makimura Koichi 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Milbemycin oximes are macrocyclic lactones that have a broad spectrum of activity against nematode infection in animals. They are known to block drug efflux, which increases the susceptibility of fungi to azoles. We investigated the effects of milbemycin on the azole susceptibility of fungi (Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, C. auris, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Trichophyton rubrum). To screen for changes in azole susceptibility, fungal growth was tested on a culture medium containing 1 μg/ml milbemycin. The results showed that milbemycin increased the azole susceptibility of azole-resistant strains of C. albicans, C. auris, C. neoformans, and T. rubrum. Thus, milbemycin might be useful against antifungal drug-resistant strains.
Molecular typing and antifungal susceptibility profile of Candida krusei bloodstream isolates from Türkiye
Authors: Karakoyun Ayşe Sultan , Spruijtenburg Bram , Unal Nevzat , Meijer Eelco F J , Sucu Mete , Hilmioğlu-Polat Süleyha , Meis Jacques F , de Groot Theun , Ilkit Macit 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Candida krusei also known as Pichia kudriavzevii is a potentially multidrug-resistant yeast because it is intrinsically resistant to fluconazole and develops acquired resistance to echinocandins and polyenes. Here, we aim to provide a better understanding of the epidemiology and transmission modes of C. krusei infections by comparing invasive bloodstream (n = 35) and non-invasive vaginal (n = 20) C. krusei isolates. The genetic relatedness of the isolates was assessed using a newly described short tandem repeat (STR) analysis and their sensitivity to eight antifungal compounds was evaluated by antifungal susceptibility testing using the CLSI microbroth dilution method. All C. krusei isolates revealed unique STR genotypes, indicating the absence of clonal transmission in the study group. Furthermore, no drug-resistant or non-wild-type isolates were identified. Our findings demonstrated high resolution of STR genotyping for the detection and simultaneous genetic analysis of multiple C. krusei strains in clinical samples and excellent in vitro activity of common antifungal agents against invasive strains.
TESS duotransit candidates from the Southern Ecliptic Hemisphere
Authors: Hawthorn Faith , Gill Sam , Bayliss Daniel , Osborn Hugh P , Pelisoli Ingrid , Rodel Toby , Smith Darnbrook Kaylen , Wheatley Peter J , Anderson David R , Apergis Ioannis , Battley Matthew P , Burleigh Matthew R , Casewell Sarah L , Eigmüller Philipp , Günther Maximilian N , Jenkins James S , Lendl Monika , Moyano Maximiliano , Osborn Ares , Ramsay Gavin , Ulmer-Moll Solène , Vines Jose I , West Richard 
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACT
Discovering transiting exoplanets with long orbital periods allows us to study warm and cool planetary systems with temperatures similar to the planets in our own Solar system. The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission has photometrically surveyed the entire Southern Ecliptic Hemisphere in Cycle 1 (2018 August–2019 July), Cycle 3 (2020 July–2021 June), and Cycle 5 (2022 September–2023 September). We use the observations from Cycle 1 and Cycle 3 to search for exoplanet systems that show a single transit event in each year, which we call duotransits. The periods of these planet candidates are typically in excess of 20 d, with the lower limit determined by the duration of individual TESS observations. We find 85 duotransit candidates, which span a range of host star brightnesses: 8 &lt; Tmag &lt; 14, transit depths between 0.1 per cent and 1.8 per cent, and transit durations between 2 and 10 h with the upper limit determined by our normalization function. Of these candidates, 25 are already known, and 60 are new. We present these candidates along with the status of photometric and spectroscopic follow-up.
The 3D geometry of reflection nebulae IC 59 and IC 63 with their illuminating star gamma Cas
Authors: Eiermann Jacob M , Caputo Miranda , Lai Thomas S -Y , Witt Adolf N 
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACT
The early-type star gamma Cas illuminates the reflection nebulae IC 59 and IC 63, creating two photodissociation regions (PDRs). Uncertainties about the distances to the nebulae and the resulting uncertainty about the density of the radiation fields incident on their surfaces have hampered the study of these PDRs during the past three decades. We employed far-ultraviolet (UV) – optical nebula – star colour differences of dust-scattered light to infer the locations of the nebulae relative to the plane of the sky containing gamma Cas, finding IC 63 to be positioned behind the star and IC 59 in front of the star. To obtain the linear distances of the nebulae relative to gamma Cas, we fit far-infrared archival Herschel flux data for IC 59 and IC 63 with modified blackbody curves and relate the resulting dust temperatures with the luminosity of gamma Cas, yielding approximate distances of 4.15 pc for IC 59 and 2.3 pc for IC 63. With these distances, using updated far-UV flux data in the 6–13.6 eV range for gamma Cas with two recent determinations of the interstellar extinction for gamma Cas, we estimate that the far-UV radiation density at the surface of IC 63 takes on values of G0 = 58 or G0 = 38 with respective values for E(B − V) for gamma Cas of 0.08 and 0.04 mag. This is a substantial reduction from the range 150 ≤ G0 ≤ 650 used for IC 63 during the past three decades. The corresponding, even lower new values for IC 59 are G0 = 18 and G0 = 12.
Precipitable water vapour measurement using GNSS data in the Atacama Desert for millimetre and submillimetre astronomical observations
Authors: Sugiyama Junna , Nishino Haruki , Kusaka Akito 
Published: January 2024

ABSTRACT
Precipitable water vapour (PWV) strongly affects the quality of data obtained from millimetre- and submillimetre-wave astronomical observations, such as those for cosmic microwave background measurements. Some of these observatories have used radiometers to monitor PWV. In this study, PWV was measured from 2021 April to 2022 April using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) instruments in the Atacama Desert, Chile, where several millimetre- and submillimetre-wave telescopes are located. We evaluated the accuracy of these measurements by comparing them to radiometer measurements. We calculated the PWV from GNSS data using csrs-ppp (Canadian Spatial Reference System Precise Point Positioning), an online software package. When using GNSS data alone, the estimated PWV showed a systematic offset of $+1.08$ mm. When combining GNSS data with data from a barometer, which was co-located with the GNSS receiver, the estimated PWV showed a lower systematic offset of −0.05 mm. The GNSS PWV showed a statistical uncertainty of 0.52 mm with an averaging time of an hour. Compared to other PWV measurement methods, GNSS instruments are robust in bad weather conditions, have sufficient time resolution, and are less expensive. By demonstrating good accuracy and precision in low-PWV conditions, this paper shows that GNSS instruments are valuable tools for PWV measurements for observing site evaluation and data analysis for ground-based telescopes.