bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impaired value-based decision-making in Parkinson’s disease apathy
Authors: Gilmour William , Mackenzie Graeme , Feile Mathias , Tayler-Grint Louise , Suveges Szabolcs , Macfarlane Jennifer A , Macleod Angus D , Marshall Vicky , Grunwald Iris Q , Steele J Douglas , Gilbertson Tom 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Apathy is a common and disabling complication of Parkinson’s disease characterized by reduced goal-directed behaviour. Several studies have reported dysfunction within prefrontal cortical regions and projections from brainstem nuclei whose neuromodulators include dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline. Work in animal and human neuroscience have confirmed contributions of these neuromodulators on aspects of motivated decision-making. Specifically, these neuromodulators have overlapping contributions to encoding the value of decisions, and influence whether to explore alternative courses of action or persist in an existing strategy to achieve a rewarding goal.
Building upon this work, we hypothesized that apathy in Parkinson’s disease should be associated with an impairment in value-based learning. Using a four-armed restless bandit reinforcement learning task, we studied decision-making in 75 volunteers; 53 patients with Parkinson’s disease, with and without clinical apathy, and 22 age-matched healthy control subjects. Patients with apathy exhibited impaired ability to choose the highest value bandit. Task performance predicted an individual patient’s apathy severity measured using the Lille Apathy Rating Scale (R = −0.46, P &lt; 0.001). Computational modelling of the patient’s choices confirmed the apathy group made decisions that were indifferent to the learnt value of the options, consistent with previous reports of reward insensitivity. Further analysis demonstrated a shift away from exploiting the highest value option and a reduction in perseveration, which also correlated with apathy scores (R = −0.5, P &lt; 0.001).
We went on to acquire functional MRI in 59 volunteers; a group of 19 patients with and 20 without apathy and 20 age-matched controls performing the Restless Bandit Task. Analysis of the functional MRI signal at the point of reward feedback confirmed diminished signal within ventromedial prefrontal cortex in Parkinson’s disease, which was more marked in apathy, but not predictive of their individual apathy severity. Using a model-based categorization of choice type, decisions to explore lower value bandits in the apathy group activated prefrontal cortex to a similar degree to the age-matched controls. In contrast, Parkinson’s patients without apathy demonstrated significantly increased activation across a distributed thalamo-cortical network. Enhanced activity in the thalamus predicted individual apathy severity across both patient groups and exhibited functional connectivity with dorsal anterior cingulate cortex and anterior insula.
Given that task performance in patients without apathy was no different to the age-matched control subjects, we interpret the recruitment of this network as a possible compensatory mechanism, which compensates against symptomatic manifestation of apathy in Parkinson’s disease.
Divergent impacts of the neonicotinoid insecticide, clothianidin, on flight performance metrics in two species of migratory butterflies
Authors: Cibotti Staci , Saum Phineas J , Myrick Andrew J , Schilder Rudolf J , Ali Jared G 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Long-distance flight is crucial for the survival of migratory insects, and disruptions to their flight capacity can have significant consequences for conservation. In this study, we examined how a widely used insecticide, clothianidin (class: neonicotinoid), impacted the flight performance of two species of migratory butterflies, monarchs (Danaus plexippus) and painted ladies (Vanessa cardui). To do this, we quantified the free-flight energetics and tethered-flight velocity and distance of the two species using flow-through respirometry and flight mill assays. Our findings show differential effects of the pesticide on the two species. For painted ladies, we found that clothianidin exposure reduced average free-flight metabolic rates, but did not affect either average velocity or total distance during tethered flight. Other studies have linked low flight metabolic rates with reduced dispersal capacity, indicating that clothianidin exposure may hinder painted lady flight performance in the wild. Conversely, for monarchs, we saw no significant effect of clothianidin exposure on average free-flight metabolic rates but did observe increases in the average velocity, and for large individuals, total distance achieved by clothianidin-exposed monarchs in tethered flight. This suggests a potential stimulatory response of monarchs to low-dose exposures to clothianidin. These findings indicate that clothianidin exposure has the potential to influence the flight performance of butterflies, but that not all species are impacted in the same way. This highlights the need to be thoughtful when selecting performance assays, as different assays can evaluate fundamentally distinct aspects of physiology, and as such may yield divergent results.
Prognostic thresholds of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography mean and maximum standardized uptake values for survival and nodal involvement in lung neuroendocrine neoplasms
Authors: Soldath Patrick , Binderup Tina , Kjaer Andreas , Knigge Ulrich , Langer Seppo W , Petersen René H 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
The mean standardized uptake value (SUVmean) and maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) on fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography are prognostic biomarkers for survival and nodal involvement in non-small-cell lung cancer but their prognostic value in lung neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) remains unexplored. In this study, we aimed to examine whether they are also prognostic biomarkers for survival and nodal involvement in lung NENs.

METHODS
We retrospectively studied patients with typical carcinoid, atypical carcinoid or large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma who had been radically resected at our institution between 2008 and 2020. We measured SUVmean and SUVmax on all primary tumours and lymph nodes that were clinically and/or pathologically involved. We dichotomized the patients into groups of high or low SUVmean and SUVmax of the primary tumour using time-dependent receiver operating characteristic curves and compared their overall survival using Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox models. Lastly, we predicted the patients’ pathological nodal status with SUVmean and SUVmax of the lymph nodes using binomial logistic models.

RESULTS
The study included 245 patients. Patients died earlier if their SUVmean of the primary tumour exceeded 3.9 [hazard ratio 1.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27–3.04, P = 0.002] or SUVmax exceeded 5.3 (hazard ratio 1.85, 95% CI 1.20–2.87, P = 0.006). Likewise, patients had a higher risk of pathological nodal involvement if their SUVmean of the lymph nodes exceeded 3.3 (odds ratio 10.00, 95% CI 2.59–51.01, P = 0.002) or SUVmax exceeded 4.2 (odds ratio 4.00, 95% CI 1.20–14.65, P = 0.028).

CONCLUSIONS
The fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography SUVmean and SUVmax are strong prognostic biomarkers for survival and nodal involvement in lung NENs and could be important guides for making treatment decisions.
Incidence and patterns of atrial fibrillation after catheter ablation of typical atrial flutter—the FLUTFIB study
Authors: Attanasio Philipp , Budde Tabea , Kamieniarz Paul , Tscholl Verena , Nagel Patrick , Biewener Sebastian , Parwani Abdul , Boldt Leif-Hendrik , Landmesser Ulf , Hindricks Gerhard , Huemer Martin 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Aims
In patients with atrial flutter (AFL), ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) is a highly effective procedure to prevent AFL recurrence, but atrial fibrillation (AF) may occur during follow-up. The presented FLUTFIB study was designed to identify the exact incidence, duration, timely occurrence, and associated symptoms of AF after CTI ablation using continuous cardiac monitoring via implantable loop recorders.

Methods and results
One hundred patients with AFL without prior AF diagnosis were included after CTI ablation (mean age 69.7 ± 9.7 years, 18% female) and received an implantable loop recorder for AF detection. After a median follow-up of 24 months 77 patients (77%) were diagnosed with AF episodes. Median time to first AF occurrence was 180 (43–298) days. Episodes lasted longer than 1 h in most patients (45/77, 58%). Forty patients (52%) had AF-associated symptoms.
Patients with and without AF development showed similar baseline characteristics and neither HATCH- nor CHA2DS2-VASc scores were predictive of future AF episodes. Oral anticoagulation (OAC) was stopped during FU in 32 patients (32%) and was re-initiated after AF detection in 15 patients (15%). No strokes or transient ischaemic attack episodes were observed during follow-up.

Conclusion
This study represents the largest investigation using implantable loop recorders (ILRs) to detect AF after AFL ablation and shows a high incidence of AF episodes, most of them being asymptomatic and lasting longer than 1 h. In anticipation of trials determining the duration of AF episodes that should trigger OAC initiation, these results will help to guide anticoagulation management after CTI ablation.
Sugar tax and product reformulation proposals reduce the perceived legitimacy of health-promotion institutions: a randomized population-based survey experiment
Authors: van Meurs Tim , de Koster Willem , van der Waal Jeroen , Oude Groeniger Joost 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Background
Structural nutrition interventions like a sugar tax or a product reformulation are strongly supported among the public health community but may cause a considerable backlash (e.g. inspiring aversion to institutions initiating the interventions among citizens). Such a backlash potentially undermines future health-promotion strategies. This study aims to uncover whether such backlash exists.

Methods
We fielded a pre-registered randomized, population-based survey experiment among adults from the Longitudinal Internet Studies for the Social Sciences panel (n = 1765; based on a random sampling of the Dutch population register). Participants were randomly allocated to the control condition (brief facts about health-information provision/nudging), or one of two experimental groups (the same facts, expanded with either a proposed sugar tax on or reformulation of sugar-sweetened beverages). Ordinary least squares regression was used to estimate the proposed interventions’ effects on four outcome variables: trust in health-promotion institutions involved; perceptions that these institutions have citizens’ well-being in mind (i.e. benevolence); perceptions that these institutions’ perspectives are similar to those of citizens (i.e. alignment of perspectives); and attitudes toward nutrition information.

Results
Trust, perceived benevolence and perceived alignment of perspectives were affected negatively by a proposed sugar tax (−0.24, 95% CI −0.38 to −0.10; −0.15, −0.29 to −0.01; −0.15, −0.30 to 0.00) or product reformulation (−0.32, −0.46 to −0.18; −0.24, −0.37 to −0.11; −0.18, 0.33 to −0.03), particularly among the non-tertiary educated respondents.

Conclusions
Sugar taxes or product reformulations may delegitimize health-promotion institutions, potentially causing public distancing from or opposition to these bodies. This may be exploited by political and commercial parties to undermine official institutions.

Trial registration
https://osf.io/qr9jy/?view_only=5e2e875a1fc348f3b28115b7a3fdfd90. Registered 3 February 2022.
Role of the San1 ubiquitin ligase in the heat stress-induced degradation of nonnative Nup1 in the nuclear pore complex
Authors: Ikeda Takanari , Yamazaki Kenji , Okumura Fumihiko , Kamura Takumi , Nakatsukasa Kunio 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
The nuclear pore complex (NPC) mediates the selective exchange of macromolecules between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are characterized by mislocalization of nucleoporins (Nups), transport receptors, and Ras-related nuclear proteins into nucleoplasmic or cytosolic aggregates, underscoring the importance of precise assembly of the NPC. The assembly state of large protein complexes is strictly monitored by the protein quality control system. The ubiquitin–proteasome system may eliminate aberrant, misfolded, and/or orphan components; however, the involvement of the ubiquitin–proteasome system in the degradation of nonnative Nups in the NPC remains unclear. Here, we show that in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, although Nup1 (the FG-Nup component of the central core of the NPC) was stable, C-terminally green fluorescent protein-tagged Nup1, which had been incorporated into the NPC, was degraded by the proteasome especially under heat stress conditions. The degradation was dependent on the San1 ubiquitin ligase and Cdc48/p97, as well as its cofactor Doa1. We also demonstrate that San1 weakly but certainly contributes to the degradation of nontagged endogenous Nup1 in cells defective in NPC biogenesis by the deletion of NUP120. In addition, the overexpression of SAN1 exacerbated the growth defect phenotype of nup120Δ cells, which may be caused by excess degradation of defective Nups due to the deletion of NUP120. These biochemical and genetic data suggest that San1 is involved in the degradation of nonnative Nups generated by genetic mutation or when NPC biogenesis is impaired.
Civic factions, denied conversions and the first European narrative of Jewish infanticide: Praejectus of Clermont’s Deeds of Austremonius (c.650/75)
Authors: Savill Benjamin 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
This is the first dedicated study of the long-overlooked Gesta (‘deeds’) of Austremonius of Clermont, now understood to be a seventh-century composition. Its central focus is the Gesta’s remarkable anti-Jewish emphases, which reinvent this hitherto obscure missionary as an early apostle martyred by Jews. Building upon earlier research on civic factionalism in Merovingian Clermont, it situates this reinvention within the city’s competitive political environment, and its fraught recent history of Christian-Jewish confrontation. It further explores the long-term significance of the Gesta’s portrayal of Clermont’s Jews as child murderers, perhaps the first of its kind in Latin Europe. A critical translation follows.
Markups, profit shares, and cost-push-profit-led inflation
Authors: Nikiforos Michalis , Grothe Simon , Weber Jan David 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
The post-pandemic surge in inflation was accompanied by a surge in the corporate share of profits. As a result, several economists and policy makers have given to it names such as “profit-led inflation” or “sellers’ inflation.” The present paper discusses the extent to which profit-led inflation, as an explanation for the recent surge in inflation, is compatible with what we know about the price-setting behavior of firms, income distribution, and inflation. We do that in juxtaposition to two recent critiques: that the increase in the profit share is the result of cyclical factors and that the increase in import prices leads to higher profit shares even under constant markups. We show that there is little evidence that the recent surge in profitability is cyclical in nature. Moreover, after outlining the Structuralist/Kaleckian theories of prices and inflation, we argue that profit-led inflation does not require an increase in the markup of the firms and is consistent with these theories. In the face of large import and other price shocks even under constant markups, firms are able to pass the burden of adjustment to real wages. Thus, the term profit-led emphasizes the distributional source and consequences of inflation. We also provide an empirical examination of the markups in the post-pandemic period using data from the Compustat database. We show that, on average, firms were able to increase or maintain their markups, although there is significant heterogeneity across sectors or the position of the firms in the distribution of markups.
Multispecies population-scale emergence of climate change signals in an ocean warming hotspot
Authors: Mills Katherine E , Kemberling Adam , Kerr Lisa A , Lucey Sean M , McBride Richard S , Nye Janet A , Pershing Andrew J , Barajas Miguel , Lovas Carly S 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Ocean waters of the Northeast US continental shelf have warmed rapidly in recent years, with sea surface temperatures rising 2.5 times faster than those of the global oceans. With this strong warming trend, the frequency and duration of marine heatwaves have increased. These temperature changes stood out as a distinct warm temperature regime during the 2010s. During this decade, fish population characteristics also differed from the past. Species distribution shifts were detected for many species, demonstrating one way species could adapt to warming conditions. However, for most species, distribution shifts were insufficient to avoid warmer surface or bottom temperatures. As species occupied warmer habitats, growth patterns aligned with expectations for warming temperatures. Consistent with the temperature-size rule, some species exhibited faster growth at early life stages but plateaued at smaller body sizes; other species, however, experienced reduced growth across all ages, indicating thermal stress. Finally, population productivity indexed by the recruit-to-spawner ratio declined significantly during the 2010s for some populations. Changes in these three processes—distribution, growth, and productivity—indicate the emergence of climate change signals across multiple Northeast US fish populations. These effects create new challenges for fishery managers and industry participants operating in the context of non-stationarity and uncertainty.
Risk of death due to COVID-19 among current and former smokers in the Netherlands: a population-based quasi-cohort study
Authors: van Westen-Lagerweij Naomi A , Plasmans Marjanne H D , Kramer Iris , Harteloh Peter P M , Poos Marinus J J C , Hilderink Henk B M , Croes Esther A 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Background
Research on smoking as a risk factor for death due to COVID-19 remains inconclusive, with different studies demonstrating either an increased or decreased risk of COVID-19 death among smokers. To investigate this controversy, this study uses data from the Netherlands to assess the relationship between smoking and death due to COVID-19.

Methods
In this population-based quasi-cohort study, we linked pseudonymized individual data on smoking status from the 2016 and 2020 ‘Health Monitor Adults and Elderly’ in the Netherlands (n = 914 494) to data from the cause-of-death registry (n = 2962). Death due to COVID-19 in 2020 or 2021 was taken as the main outcome. Poisson regression modelling was used to calculate relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs of death due to COVID-19 for current and former smokers compared with never smokers while adjusting for relevant confounders (age, sex, educational level, body mass index and perceived health).

Results
Former smokers had a higher risk of death due to COVID-19 compared with never smokers across unadjusted (RR, 2.22; 95% CI, 2.04–2.42), age–sex-adjusted (RR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.22–1.55) and fully adjusted (RR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.16–1.45) models. Current smokers had a slightly higher risk of death due to COVID-19 compared with never smokers after adjusting for age and sex (RR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.00–1.48) and after full adjustment (RR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.90–1.29), although the results were statistically non-significant.

Conclusions
People with a history of smoking appear to have a higher risk of death due to COVID-19. Further research is needed to investigate which underlying mechanisms may explain this.
Evaluation of the safety and efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantations in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) using metagenomic sequencing
Authors: Linnehan Barbara K , Kodera Sho M , Allard Sarah M , Brodie Erin C , Allaband Celeste , Knight Rob , Lutz Holly L , Carroll Maureen C , Meegan Jennifer M , Jensen Eric D , Gilbert Jack A 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Aims
Gastrointestinal disease is a leading cause of morbidity in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) under managed care. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) holds promise as a therapeutic tool to restore gut microbiota without antibiotic use. This prospective clinical study aimed to develop a screening protocol for FMT donors to ensure safety, determine an effective FMT administration protocol for managed dolphins, and evaluate the efficacy of FMTs in four recipient dolphins.

Methods and Results
Comprehensive health monitoring was performed on donor and recipient dolphins. Fecal samples were collected before, during, and after FMT therapy. Screening of donor and recipient fecal samples was accomplished by in-house and reference lab diagnostic tests. Shotgun metagenomics was used for sequencing. Following FMT treatment, all four recipient communities experienced engraftment of novel microbial species from donor communities. Engraftment coincided with resolution of clinical signs and a sustained increase in alpha diversity.

Conclusion
The donor screening protocol proved to be safe in this study and no adverse effects were observed in four recipient dolphins. Treatment coincided with improvement in clinical signs.
Extracellular histones promote calcium phosphate-dependent calcification in mouse vascular smooth muscle cells
Authors: Hoshino Tomonori , Kharaghani Davood , Kohno Shohei 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Vascular calcification, a major risk factor for cardiovascular events, is associated with a poor prognosis in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. This process is often associated with the transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) into cells with osteoblast-like characteristics. Damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), such as extracellular histones released from damaged or dying cells, are suspected to accumulate at calcification sites. To investigate the potential involvement of DAMPs in vascular calcification, we assessed the impact of externally added histones (extracellular histones) on calcium and inorganic phosphate-induced calcification in mouse VSMCs. Our study found that extracellular histones intensified calcification. We also observed that the histones decreased the expression of VSMC marker genes while simultaneously increasing the expression of osteoblast marker genes. Additionally, histones treated with DNase I, which degrades dsDNA, attenuated this calcification, compared with the non-treated histones, suggesting a potential involvement of dsDNA in this process. Elevated levels of dsDNA were also detected in the serum of CKD model mice, underlining its potential role in vascular calcification in CKD. Our findings suggest that extracellular histones could play a pivotal role in the vascular calcification observed in CKD.
Coevolution between heat and cold tolerance in endotherms
Authors: Xiao Hongtao , Li Jiale , Yu Guozhi , Yao Yongfang , Xu Huailiang 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Whether the heat and cold tolerance of endotherms evolve independently or correlatively remains unresolved. Both physiological trade-offs and natural selection can contribute to a coevolutionary pattern of heat and cold tolerance in endotherms. Using a published database, we tested the correlation between upper and lower thermal limits across endothermic species with multi-response generalized linear mixed models incorporating phylogenies. We found a positive correlation between upper and lower thermal limits, which suggested a coevolutionary pattern of heat and cold tolerance. Specifically, this relationship between heat and cold tolerance is phylogenetically constrained for tropical endotherms but not for temperate endotherms. The correlated evolution between heat and cold tolerance may have a significant influence on endotherms’ evolution and ecology and needs to be further investigated.