bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Elucidating the relationship between breast cancer and brain cortical structure: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Lin Yilong , Wang Songsong , Zhang Liyi , Yang Qingmo 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Cancer-associated cognitive impairment is a significant challenge for individuals who have survived breast cancer, affecting their quality of life. In this study, we conducted an inaugural comprehensive Mendelian randomization analysis discerning the causal relationship between breast cancer, including its two subtypes, and the cerebral cortical structure. Our analysis indicated that estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer significantly decreased surface area (β = −593.01 mm2, 95% CI: −1134.9 to −51.1 mm2, P = 0.032). At the regional level, estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer showed a significant association with surface area and thickness in 17 cortical regions. These regions included the insula, posterior cingulate, superior frontal, precuneus, fusiform, lateral occipital, and rostral middle frontal. Specifically, estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer had a significant impact on decreasing the surface area of the insula without considering global weight (β = −14.09 mm2, 95% CI: −22.91 to −5.27 mm2, P = 0.0017). The results from meta-analysis and LD Score Regression provide support for our findings. This investigation unveils the correlations between breast cancer, its various subcategories, and the cerebral cortical structure. Notably, breast cancer of the estrogen receptor-negative variety may elicit more widespread cerebral atrophy.
Exploring the antioxidant activity of Fe(III), Mn(III)Mn(II), and Cu(II) compounds in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Galleria mellonella models of study
Authors: Mattos Larissa M M , Hottum Hyan M , Pires Daniele C , Segat Bruna B , Horn Adolfo , Fernandes Christiane , Pereira Marcos D 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are closely related to oxidative stress, aging, and the onset of human diseases. To mitigate ROS-induced damages, extensive research has focused on examining the antioxidative attributes of various synthetic/natural substances. Coordination compounds serving as synthetic antioxidants have emerged as a promising approach to attenuate ROS toxicity. Herein, we investigated the antioxidant potential of a series of Fe(III) (1), Mn(III)Mn(II) (2) and Cu(II) (3) coordination compounds synthesized with the ligand N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)-N-(2-pyridylmethyl)[(3-chloro)(2-hydroxy)]-propylamine in Saccharomyces cerevisiae exposed to oxidative stress. We also assessed the antioxidant potential of these complexes in the alternative model of study, Galleria mellonella. DPPH analysis indicated that these complexes presented moderate antioxidant activity. However, treating Saccharomyces cerevisiae with 1, 2 and 3 increased the tolerance against oxidative stress and extended yeast lifespan. The treatment of yeast cells with these complexes decreased lipid peroxidation and catalase activity in stressed cells, whilst no change in SOD activity was observed. Moreover, these complexes induced the Hsp104 expression. In G. mellonella, complex administration extended larval survival under H2O2 stress and did not affect the insect's life cycle. Our results suggest that the antioxidant potential exhibited by these complexes could be further explored to mitigate various oxidative stress-related disorders.
Understanding the impact of non-shared unmeasured confounding on the sibling comparison analysis
Authors: Esen Buket Öztürk , Ehrenstein Vera , Petersen Irene , Sørensen Henrik Toft , Pedersen Lars 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Background
The sibling comparison analysis is used to deal with unmeasured confounding. It has previously been shown that in the presence of non-shared unmeasured confounding, the sibling comparison analysis may introduce substantial bias depending on the sharedness of the unmeasured confounder and the sharedness of the exposure. We aimed to improve the awareness of this challenge of the sibling comparison analysis.

Methods
First, we simulated sibling pairs with an exposure, a confounder and an outcome. We simulated sibling pairs with no effect of the exposure on the outcome and with positive confounding. For varying degrees of sharedness of the confounder and the exposure and for varying prevalence of the exposure, we calculated the sibling comparison odds ratio (OR). Second, we provided measures for sharedness of selected treatments based on Danish health data.

Results
The confounded sibling comparison OR was visualized for varying degrees of sharedness of the confounder and the exposure and for varying prevalence of the exposure. The confounded sibling comparison OR was seen to increase with increasing sharedness of the exposure and the confounded sibling comparison OR decreased with an increasing prevalence of exposure. Measures for sharedness of treatments based on Danish health data showed that treatments of chronic diseases have the highest sharedness and treatments of non-chronic diseases have the lowest sharedness.

Conclusions
Researchers should be aware of the challenge regarding non-shared unmeasured confounding in the sibling comparison analysis, before applying the analysis in non-randomized studies. Otherwise, the sibling comparison analysis may lead to substantial bias.
Perfect t-Embeddings of Uniformly Weighted Aztec Diamonds and Tower Graphs
Authors: Berggren Tomas , Nicoletti Matthew , Russkikh Marianna 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
In this work we study a sequence of perfect t-embeddings of uniformly weighted Aztec diamonds. We show that these perfect t-embeddings can be used to prove convergence of gradients of height fluctuations to those of the Gaussian free field. In particular, we provide a first proof of the existence of a model satisfying all conditions of the main theorem of [9]. This confirms the prediction of [10]. An important part of our proof is to exhibit exact integral formulas for perfect t-embeddings of uniformly weighted Aztec diamonds. In addition, we construct and analyze perfect t-embeddings of another sequence of uniformly weighted finite graphs called tower graphs. Although we do not check all technical assumptions of the mentioned theorem for these graphs, we use perfect t-embeddings to derive a simple transformation, which identifies height fluctuations on the tower graph with those of the Aztec diamond.
Sex and State-Dependent Effects on Proactive Behaviors of Bent-Wing Bats Across Contexts
Authors: Kuo Y-J , Lee Y-F , Kuo Y-M , Tai Y L 
Published: December 2023

Synopsis
Animals within a population may show distinct behavioral types that differ consistently among individuals over time and across contexts, collectively known as animal personality. Individual state variables arising from intrinsic features of organisms and their interactions with the environment may contribute to or aid in maintaining these interindividual behavioral differences. The present study examined the effects of body mass, body condition, flight morphology, and parasite load on the personality traits of bent-wing bats Miniopterus fuliginosus. We assessed the bats in three testing contexts—hole-board box (HB), tunnel-box (TB), and flight-tent (FT)—that mimicked their natural environmental settings and allowed for different locomotion modes. A principal component analysis loaded the three mutually positively correlated personality traits of the bats—boldness, activity, and exploration—in each context onto a single component of proactiveness. In accordance with the AIC criteria, sex, body mass, body condition index, and wingtip shape were selected as predictors for the proactiveness of the bats in the TB and FT tests. In the HB tests, the biomass and abundances of parasitic bat flies were additionally selected, but body condition was excluded. We found a negative effect of the body mass on the proactiveness of the female bats in both the HB and FT tests, and that on the proactiveness of the male bats in the HB tests but not so in the FT tests. The sexual differences and negative correlation between the body mass of the bats and their proactive responsiveness are consistent with the mechanism of state-dependent energy assimilation efficiency. Our results may also concur with the predicted feedback mechanism stemming from the characteristic conditions associated with the environment of the bats. This latter inference offers insights for exploring the patterns of personality traits along gradients or the seasonality of ecological conditions.
Prosthetic joint infections: 6 weeks of oral antibiotics results in a low failure rate
Authors: Roger Pierre-Marie , Assi Frédéric , Denes Eric 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Background
Need for parenteral administration and total duration of antibiotic therapy for prosthetic joint infection (PJI) are debated. We report our PJI management, in which outpatient care is privileged.

Methods
This was a retrospective multicentre cohort study of PJI managed from January 2017 to Jun 2021. Microbial diagnosis was based on surgical samples. Surgical procedures and antibiotic treatments were reported. Chronic PJI was defined by a course &gt;1 month. Oral antibiotic therapy (OAT) was defined by exclusive use of oral antibiotics or by ≤3 days of parenteral treatments. Management failure was defined by clinical and/or microbial relapse of PJI over 24 months after surgical treatment.

Results
One hundred and seventy-two patients from 13 institutions were included: 103 were male (60%) and mean age was (±SD): 73 ± 12 years. Sites for PJI were mainly hip (50%) and knee (35%), being chronic infections in 70 cases (41%). The main bacterial genus in monomicrobial infections was Staphylococcus spp. (60%). We recorded 41 (24%) implant exchanges. An OAT was prescribed in 76 cases (44%), and the median (range) course for parenteral route was 6 days (4–180) for 96 cases. Median (range) duration of antimicrobials was 42 days (21–180). Management failure was observed in 7/76 (9.2%) cases treated with OAT and 15/96 (15.6%) treated with prolonged parenteral therapy. In multivariate analysis, risk factors for failure were a knee PJI [adjusted OR (95% CI) = 3.27 (1.27–8.40)] and a polymicrobial infection [4.09 (1.46–11.49)].

Conclusions
OAT for 6 weeks for PJI was associated with a low rate of management failure.
Towards a ‘security-centred’ energy transition: balancing the European Union’s ambitions and geopolitical realities
Authors: Marhold Anna-Alexandra 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The European Union (EU) faces a pressing, multi-level energy crisis propelled by the perfect storm of Russia’s war in Ukraine and rapidly progressing climate change. As a result, the EU is scrambling to ensure it has sufficient energy supplies for the foreseeable future while reinventing its energy strategy in the long term. Since the EU is at a critical juncture for squaring EU energy security with European and international legal commitments, this article surveys this radical shift and its consequences. It analyses new EU-wide crisis-response tools and ad hoc bilateral arrangements with third countries against existing legal commitments. Recent developments are only the beginning of a much larger re-evaluation of core notions of the ‘trade-energy security’ nexus. To decarbonize, the EU must move towards a ‘security-centred’ energy transition, premised on ‘security first, compliance second’. This requires reassessing the notion of ‘protectionism’ in geopolitically sensitive areas and the current division of energy competences between the EU and its Member States.
A case of otogenic septic arthritis of the knee
Authors: Ozbek Leyla , Kyriakides Jonathon , Asokan Ajay 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Septic arthritis is a serious condition resulting in rapid destruction of articular cartilage and potential sepsis. Bacterial invasion of a joint occurs most commonly as a result of haematogenous spread from a distant infection. However, an otogenic source of this transient bacteraemia and resultant septic arthritis has not yet been reported in the literature. We report a case of acute septic arthritis of the knee with Streptococcus pyogenes, secondary to acute otitis media of the ear.
Safety assessment of potential probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus AM13-1 with high cholesterol-lowering capability isolated from human gut
Authors: Liu Xudong , Wang Mengmeng , Hu Tongyuan , Lin Xiaoqian , Liang Hewei , Li Wenxi , Zhao Shaowei , Zhong Yiyi , Zhang Haifeng , Ge Lan , Jin Xin , Xiao Liang , Zou Yuanqiang 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
An important risk factor for cardiovascular disease is dyslipidemia, especially abnormal cholesterol levels. The relation between probiotics and cholesterol-lowering capability has been extensively studied. Lactobacillus acidophilus plays a significant role in affecting host health, and produces multitudinous metabolites, which have prohibitory functions against pathogenic microorganisms. In this study, we identified a cholesterol-lowering strain AM13-1, isolated from a fecal sample obtained from a healthy adult male, and performed comprehensive function analysis by whole-genome analysis and in vitro experiments. Genome analyses of L. acidophilus AM13-1 revealed that carbohydrate and amino acid transport, metabolism, translation, ribosomal structure, and biogenesis are abundant categories of functional genes. No virulence factors or toxin genes with experimentally verified were found in the genome of strain AM13-1. Besides, plenty of probiotic-related genes were predicted from the L. acidophilus AM13-1 genome, such as cbh, atpA-D, and dltD, with functions related to cholesterol-lowering and acid resistance. And strain AM13-1 showed high-efficiency of bile salt hydrolase activity and the capacity for removing cholesterol with efficiency rates of 70%. These function properties indicate that strain AM13-1 can be considered as a probiotic candidate for use in food and health care products.
Search for merger ejecta emission from late-time radio observations of short GRBs using GMRT
Authors: Ghosh Ankur , Vaishnava C S , Resmi L , Misra Kuntal , Arun K G , Omar Amitesh , Chakradhari N K 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT
In some cases, the merger of two neutron stars can produce a rapidly rotating and highly magnetized millisecond magnetar. A significant proportion of the rotational energy deposited to the emerging ejecta can produce a late-time radio brightening from interacting with the ambient medium. Detection of this late-time radio emission from short GRBs can have profound implications for understanding the physics of the progenitor. We report the radio observations of five short GRBs – 050709, 061210, 100625A, 140903A, and 160821B using the legacy Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) at 1250, 610, and 325 MHz frequencies and the upgraded-GMRT (uGMRT) at band 5 (1050–1450 MHz) and band 4 (550–900 MHz) after ∼2–11 yr from the time of the burst. The GMRT observations at low frequencies are particularly important to detect the signature of merger ejecta emission at the peak. These observations are the most delayed searches associated with some GRBs for any late-time low-frequency emission. We find no evidence for such an emission. We find that none of these GRBs is consistent with maximally rotating magnetar with a rotational energy of $\sim 10^{53}\, {\rm erg}$. However, magnetars with lower rotational energies cannot be completely ruled out. Despite the non-detection, our study underscores the power of radio observations in the search for magnetar signatures associated with short GRBs. However, only future radio observatories may be able to detect these signatures or put more stringent constraints on the model.
Experimental H2O formation on carbonaceous dust grains at temperatures up to 85 K
Authors: Grieco F , Dulieu F , De Looze I , Baouche S 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT
Water represents the main component of the icy mantles on dust grains, it is of extreme importance for the formation of new species and it represents the main component for life. Water is observed both in the gas-phase and frozen in the interstellar medium (ISM), where the solid-phase formation route has been proven essential to explain abundances in molecular clouds. So far, experiments have focused on very low temperatures (around 10 K). We present the experimental evidence of solid water formation on coronene, PAH-like surface, for a higher range of temperatures. Water is efficiently formed up to 85 K through the interaction of oxygen and hydrogen atomic beams with a carbonaceous grain analogue. The beams are aimed towards the surface connected to a cryostat exploring temperatures from 10 to 100 K. The results are obtained with a QMS and analysed through a temperature-programmed desorption technique. We observe an efficient water formation on coronene from 10 up to 85 K mimicking the temperature conditions from the dense ISM to translucent regions, where the ice mantle onset is supposed to start. The results show the catalytic nature of coronene and the role of chemisorption processes. The formation of the icy mantles could be happening in less dense and warmer environments, helping explaining oxygen depletion in the ISM. The findings have several applications such as the disappearance of PAHs in translucent regions and the snowlines of protoplanetary discs. We stress on how JWST projects characterizing PAHs can be combined with H2O observations to study water formation at warm temperatures.
A spectral study of GRS 1915+105 during its March 2017 NuSTAR observations
Authors: Chauhan Jaiverdhan , Bharali Priya , Lohfink Anne , Abdulghani Youssef , Davidson Eric 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT
The Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array Mission (NuSTAR) observed the enigmatic microquasar GRS 1915+105 twice, on 2017 March 26 and 28. Using these NuSTAR observations, we performed a time-resolved spectral analysis. We detected a type C quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) along with the harmonic and the sub-harmonic in both epochs. From our spectral modelling, we found a dual reflection component, where one of the components comes from the hot inner flow and the second component originates from the exterior region of the accretion disc. Additionally, we found strong, highly ionized accretion disc winds as indicated by Fe xxv (on 2017 March 26) and Fe xxvi (on 2017 March 28) absorption lines, likely ultrafast outflows. Finally, at the end of the second observation, we detected variability class, which marked the onset of heartbeat oscillations in the X-ray light curve. We perform time-resolved spectral analysis to comprehend the physical conditions responsible for the onset of the heartbeat. We found that the accretion disc became highly ionized (log ξ &gt; 4), and the high-energy cut-off showed some signs of increase, approaching &gt;100 keV before the onset of the heartbeat class. We have not detected any signature of accretion disc instabilities thought to cause the heartbeat oscillations. We also found a strong positive correlation between the QPO frequency and the power-law index.
Proper motions in the sub-kiloparsec jet of 3C 78: novel constraints on the physical nature of relativistic jets
Authors: Roychowdhury Agniva , Meyer Eileen T , Georganopoulos Markos , Kollmann Kassidy 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT
Jets from active galactic nuclei are thought to play a role in the evolution of their host and local environments, but a detailed prescription is limited by the understanding of the jets themselves. Proper motion studies of compact bright components in radio jets can be used to produce model-independent constraints on their Lorentz factor, necessary to understand the quantity of energy deposited in the intergalactic medium. We present our initial work on the jet of radio–galaxy 3C 78, as part of Catalogue of proper motions in active galactic nuclei using Very Large Array Studies (CAgNVAS), with a goal of constraining nature of jet plasma on larger (&gt;100 parsec) scales. In 3C 78, we find three prominent knots (A, B, and C), where knot B undergoes sub-luminal longitudinal motion (∼0.6c at ∼ 200 pc), while knot C undergoes extreme (apparent) backward motion and eventual forward motion (∼−2.6c, 0.5c, at ∼ 300 pc). Assuming knots are shocks, we infer the bulk speeds from the pattern motion of Knots B and C. We model the spectral energy distribution of the large-scale jet and observe that a physically motivated two-zone model can explain most of the observed emission. We also find that the jet profile remains approximately conical from parsec to kiloparsec scales. Using the parsec-scale speed from very long baseline interferometry studies (∼0.1c) and the derived bulk speeds, we find that the jet undergoes bulk acceleration between the parsec and the kiloparsec scales providing the first direct evidence of jet acceleration in a conical and matter-dominated jet.
Dynamics in Star-forming Cores (DiSCo): project overview and the first look towards the B1 and NGC 1333 regions in Perseus
Authors: Chen Che-Yu , Friesen Rachel , Li Jialu , Schmiedeke Anika , Frayer David , Li Zhi-Yun , Tobin John , Looney Leslie W , Offner Stella , Mundy Lee G , Harris Andrew I , Church Sarah , Ostriker Eve C , Pineda Jaime E , Hsieh Tien-Hao , Lam Ka Ho 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT
The internal velocity structure within dense gaseous cores plays a crucial role in providing the initial conditions for star formation in molecular clouds. However, the kinematic properties of dense gas at core scales (∼0.01−0.1 pc) has not been extensively characterized because of instrument limitations until the unique capabilities of GBT-Argus became available. The ongoing GBT-Argus Large Program, Dynamics in Star-forming Cores (DiSCo) thus aims to investigate the origin and distribution of angular momentum of star-forming cores. DiSCo will survey all starless cores and Class 0 protostellar cores in the Perseus molecular complex down to ∼0.01 pc scales with &lt;0.05 km s−1 velocity resolution using the dense gas tracer N2H+. Here, we present the first data sets from DiSCo towards the B1 and NGC 1333 regions in Perseus. Our results suggest that a dense core’s internal velocity structure has little correlation with other core-scale properties, indicating these gas motions may be originated externally from cloud-scale turbulence. These first data sets also reaffirm the ability of GBT-Argus for studying dense core velocity structure and provided an empirical basis for future studies that address the angular momentum problem with a statistically broad sample.
Detection of diffuse H i emission in the circumgalactic medium of NGC 891 and NGC 4565 - II
Authors: Das Sanskriti , Rickel Mary , Leroy Adam , Pingel Nickolas M , Pisano D J , Heald George , Mathur Smita , Kingsbury Joshua , Sardone Amy 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT
We probe the neutral circumgalactic medium (CGM) along the major axes of NGC 891 and NGC 4565 in 21-cm emission out to ≳100 kpc using the Green Bank Telescope (GBT), extending our previous minor axes observations. We achieve an unprecedented 5σ sensitivity of 6.1 × 1016 cm−2 per 20 km s−1 velocity channel. We detect H i with diverse spectral shapes, velocity widths, and column densities. We compare our detections to the interferometric maps from the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT) obtained as part of the HALOGAS survey. At small impact parameters, $\gt 31\!-\!43~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of the emission detected by the GBT cannot be explained by emission seen in the WSRT maps, and it increases to $\gt 64\!-\!73~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ at large impact parameters. This implies the presence of diffuse circumgalactic H i. The mass ratio between H i in the CGM and H i in the disc is an order of magnitude larger than previous estimates based on shallow GBT mapping. The diffuse H i along the major axes pointings is corotating with the H i disc. The velocity along the minor axes pointings is consistent with an inflow and/or fountain in NGC 891 and an inflow/outflow in NGC 4565. Including the circumgalactic H i, the depletion time and the accretion rate of NGC 4565 are sufficient to sustain its star formation. In NGC 891, most of the required accreting material is still missing.