bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The relationship between symptom perception and fear of progression in patients with chronic heart failure: a multiple mediation analysis
Authors: Xiong Juanjuan , Qin Jingwen , Zheng Guixiang , Gao Ya , Gong Kaizheng 
Published: February 2023

Abstract

Aims
Studies have shown that symptom perception is associated with fear of progression (FOP) in many diseases and regulated by psychological factors. Whether the association also occurs in patients with chronic heart failure (HF) remains unclear, as do the specific mechanisms involved. This study aimed to explore the multiple mediation effects of self-care confidence and mental resilience on the relationship between symptom perception and FOP in Chinese patients with chronic HF.

Methods and results
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 247 patients with chronic HF recruited from two hospitals in Yangzhou, China. The sociodemographic and clinical data and self-reported questionnaires including heart failure somatic perception, fear of progression, self-care confidence, and mental resilience were collected. Data analysis relating to correlations and mediating effects was carried out by SPSS 26.0 and PROCESS v3.3 macro. Fear of progression was positively correlated with symptom perception (r = 0.599, P &lt; 0.01), but negatively correlated with self-care confidence (r = −0.663, P &lt; 0.01), mental resilience-strength (r = −0.521, P &lt; 0.01), and mental resilience-toughness (r = −0.596, P &lt; 0.01). The relationship between symptom perception and FOP was mediated by self-care confidence [effect = 0.095, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.054–0.142)] and mental resilience-toughness [effect = 0.033, 95% CI (0.006–0.074)], respectively, and together in serial [effect = 0.028, 95% CI (0.011–0.050)]. The proportion of the mediating effect accounting for the total effect was 31.0%.

Conclusion
Self-care confidence and mental resilience-toughness were multiple mediators of the association between symptom perception and FOP in patients with chronic HF. Interventions targeted at strengthening self-care confidence and mental resilience may be beneficial for the reduction of FOP, especially with regard to toughness.
Under-representation of ethnic and regional minorities in lipid-lowering randomized clinical trials: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Sawant Sonia , Wang Nelson 
Published: February 2023

Abstract

Aims
The efficacy of lipid-lowering therapies (LLT) amongst different ethnicities and regions remains unclear. We aimed to assess cardiovascular event reductions associated with LLT according to ethnicity and region in previously published randomized clinical trials (RCTs).

Methods and results
Medline, EMBASE, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched for RCTs of statins, ezetimibe, or proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors comparing intensive vs. less-intensive low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) defined as the composite of cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, and revascularization. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusted per mmol/L reduction in LDL-C. Fifty-three trials with 329 897 participants were included. Amongst participants, 39.5% were from Europe, 16.0% from North America, 9.0% from Japan, 2.8% from Australasia, 1.8% from South America, 1.1% from Asia, 0.6% from South Africa, and 29.2% were unspecified. Amongst trials reporting ethnicities, there were 60.3% White, 20.2% Japanese, 9.4% Asian, 5.5% Black, and 4.7% Latin American. There was reduction in MACE with LLT in regions including Australasia (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.67–0.85), North America (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.69–0.83), Europe (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.71–0.86), and Japan (RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.63–0.85) and in Black ethnicity (RR 0.55, 95% CI 0.37–0.82). Head-to-head comparisons between regions and ethnicities revealed no significant differences in MACE reduction.

Conclusion
Despite under-representation in clinical trials, regional and ethnic minority groups such as Australasia and Blacks appear to derive at least as much cardiovascular benefit from LLT.
Non-invasive stereotactic arrhythmia radiotherapy for ventricular tachycardia: results of the prospective STARNL-1 trial
Authors: van der Ree Martijn H , Dieleman Edith M T , Visser Jorrit , Planken R Nils , Boekholdt S Matthijs , de Bruin-Bon Rianne H A , Rasch Coen R N , Hoeksema Wiert F , de Jong Rianne M A J , Kemme Michiel J B , Balt Jippe C , Wilde Arthur A M , Balgobind Brian V , Postema Pieter G 
Published: February 2023

AbstractAimsStereotactic arrhythmia radiotherapy (STAR) is suggested as potentially effective and safe treatment for patients with therapy-refractory ventricular tachycardia (VT). However, the current prospective knowledge base and experience with STAR is limited. In this study we aimed to prospectively evaluate the efficacy and safety of STAR.Methods and resultsThe StereoTactic Arrhythmia Radiotherapy in the Netherlands no.1 was a pre-post intervention study to prospectively evaluate efficacy and safety of STAR. In patients with therapy-refractory VT, the pro-arrhythmic region was treated with a 25 Gy single radiotherapy fraction. The main efficacy measure was a reduction in the number of treated VT-episodes by ≥50%, comparing the 12 months before and after treatment (or end of follow-up, excluding a 6-week blanking period). The study was deemed positive when ≥50% of patients would meet this criterion. Safety evaluation included left ventricular ejection fraction, pulmonary function, and adverse events. Six male patients with an ischaemic cardiomyopathy were enrolled, and median age was 73 years (range 54–83). Median left ventricular ejection fraction was 38% (range 24–52). The median planning target volume was 187 mL (range 93–372). Four (67%) patients completed the 12-month follow-up, and two patients died (not STAR related) during follow-up. The main efficacy measure of ≥50% reduction in treated VT-episodes at the end of follow-up was achieved in four patients (67%). The median number of treated VT-episodes was reduced by 87%. No reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction or pulmonary function was observed. No treatment related serious adverse events occurred.ConclusionsSTAR resulted in a ≥ 50% reduction in treated VT-episodes in 4/6 (67%) patients. No reduction in cardiac and pulmonary function nor treatment-related serious adverse events were observed during follow-up.Clinical trial registrationNetherlands Trial Register—NL7510.
Populist Leadership, Opportunistic Decision-Making, and Poliheuristic Theory: Cristina Kirchner's Decision to Defy “The Vultures”
Authors: Fouquet Stephan 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThis study asks how two typically observed empirical manifestations across cases of international populist agency—issue-specific mass mobilization and personalistic decision-making—operate within politicized decision contexts to produce foreign policy outputs. Integrating a political-strategic conceptualization of populism with poliheuristic theory (PH), it is argued that the definitional components of populist leadership imply a particular inclination toward opportunistic decision-making. While PH suggests that most chief executives rely on heuristic option rejection but finally switch to more analytic option selection, the logic of political-strategic populism could enable and compel leaders to make entirely heuristic choices with a non-compensatory focus on domestic political constraints and opportunities. The plausibility of this proposition is probed with a theory-testing process-tracing of the Argentine President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's decision to defy holdout creditors in a polarizing sovereign debt litigation. The results indicate more potential to analyze within-case mechanisms through which populism influences decision-making processes and outcomes.
A high-quality reference genome for the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces osmophilus
Authors: Jia Guo-Song , Zhang Wen-Cai , Liang Yue , Liu Xi-Han , Rhind Nicholas , Pidoux Alison , Brysch-Herzberg Michael , Du Li-Lin 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Fission yeasts are an ancient group of fungal species that diverged from each other from tens to hundreds of million years ago. Among them is the preeminent model organism Schizosaccharomyces pombe, which has significantly contributed to our understandings of molecular mechanisms underlying fundamental cellular processes. The availability of the genomes of S. pombe and 3 other fission yeast species S. japonicus, S. octosporus, and S. cryophilus has enabled cross-species comparisons that provide insights into the evolution of genes, pathways, and genomes. Here, we performed genome sequencing on the type strain of the recently identified fission yeast species S. osmophilus and obtained a complete mitochondrial genome and a nuclear genome assembly with gaps only at rRNA gene arrays. A total of 5,098 protein-coding nuclear genes were annotated and orthologs for more than 95% of them were identified. Genome-based phylogenetic analysis showed that S. osmophilus is most closely related to S. octosporus and these 2 species diverged around 16 million years ago. To demonstrate the utility of this S. osmophilus reference genome, we conducted cross-species comparative analyses of centromeres, telomeres, transposons, the mating-type region, Cbp1 family proteins, and mitochondrial genomes. These analyses revealed conservation of repeat arrangements and sequence motifs in centromere cores, identified telomeric sequences composed of 2 types of repeats, delineated relationships among Tf1/sushi group retrotransposons, characterized the evolutionary origins and trajectories of Cbp1 family domesticated transposases, and discovered signs of interspecific transfer of 2 types of mitochondrial selfish elements.
Three-dimensional inversion of semi-airborne electromagnetic data with a second-order finite-element forward solver
Authors: Rochlitz Raphael , Becken Michael , Günther Thomas 
Published: February 2023

SUMMARYThe analysis of controlled-source electromagnetic (EM) data recorded with semi-airborne exploration systems requires advanced simulation and inversion tools that are capable of handling realistic survey geometries. Semi-airborne EM setups with elongated transmitters deployed in mountainous terrain prohibit the exploitation of secondary-field formulations in numerical approximations without producing hardly quantifiable errors. Building upon the open-source software custEM for forward modeling and pyGIMLi for geophysical inversion, we present an inverse modeling procedure based on highly accurate second-order finite-element forward solutions on irregular grids and fast-converging Gauss–Newton minimization. Using the total-field formulation of the electric field approach in combination with a direct solver enables calculating explicit sensitivities with comparatively cheap back-substitutions for thousands of ground and airborne receiver stations in multiple flight areas. Second-order basis functions show general superiority over first-order basis-functions regarding the accuracy and performance of the forward problem. Beyond that, synthetic and real data inversion studies related to semi-airborne geometries indicate that second-order basis functions help particularly to avoid high modeling errors for the weakest field components and artifacts in the vicinity of transmitters or at the surface. This leads generally to a better convergence and final inversion results of higher robustness and quality. The presented tools are freely available such as the underlying software.
Subcontinental lithospheric mantle discontinuities beneath the Eastern Himalayan Plate Boundary System, NE India
Authors: Chaudhury Jashodhara , Mitra Supriyo 
Published: February 2023

SUMMARY
We use P-wave receiver function (P-RF) analysis and joint inversion with Rayleigh wave group velocity dispersion data to model the shear wave velocity (Vs) structure of subcontinental lithospheric mantle (SCLM) discontinuities beneath northeast (NE) India. The most prominent SCLM discontinuity is the Hales Discontinuity (H-D) observed beneath the Eastern Himalayan Foreland Basin (Brahmaputra Valley) and Shillong Plateau. The P-to-SV converted phase from the H-D (Phs) is a positive amplitude arrival at ∼10–12 s and has positive moveout with increasing ray-parameter. From joint inversion, the H-D is modelled at a depth range of 90–106 km, with 11–12 per cent Vs increase beneath the Brahmaputra Valley. Beneath the Shillong Plateau the H-D is at a depth range of 86–99 km, with 6–10 per cent Vs increase. An intralithospheric discontinuity (ILD) has been identified in the Shillong Plateau station P-RFs, as a positive amplitude PILDs phase, arriving at 8–8.5 s. This is modelled at a depth range of 66–75 km with Vs increase of 2–9 per cent. We construct 2-D profiles of depth-migrated common-conversion-point stack of P-RFs to distinguish the SCLM discontinuity arrivals from crustal phases. 3-D spline-interpolated surface of the H-D has been constructed to visualize its lateral variations. We use xenolith data from the Dharwar Craton, which has similar geological age, petrology and seismic structure as the Shillong Plateau, to petrologically model the SCLM H-D and ILD Vs structure in NE-India. From the calculated Vs structure we conjecture that the H-D is a petrological boundary between mantle peridotite and kyanite-eclogite, with its origin as metamorphosed paleosubducted oceanic slab, similar to other global observations. We further speculate that the shallower ILD could be formed as a contact between frozen asthenosphere-derived metasomatic melts within the SCLM.
Acid ceramidase involved in pathogenic cascade leading to accumulation of α-synuclein in iPSC model ofGBA1-associated Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Kumar Manoj , Srikanth Manasa P , Deleidi Michela , Hallett Penelope J , Isacson Ole , Feldman Ricardo A 
Published: February 2023

AbstractBi-allelic mutations in GBA1, the gene that encodes β-glucocerebrosidase (GCase), cause Gaucher disease (GD), whereas mono-allelic mutations do not cause overt pathology. Yet mono- or bi-allelic GBA1 mutations are the highest known risk factor for Parkinson’s disease (PD). GCase deficiency results in the accumulation of glucosylceramide (GluCer) and its deacylated metabolite glucosylsphingosine (GluSph). Brains from patients with neuronopathic GD have high levels of GluSph, and elevation of this lipid in GBA1-associated PD has been reported. To uncover the mechanisms involved in GBA1-associated PD, we used human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived dopaminergic (DA) neurons from patients harboring heterozygote mutations in GBA1 (GBA1/PD–DA neurons). We found that compared with gene-edited isogenic controls, GBA1/PD–DA neurons exhibit mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) hyperactivity, a block in autophagy, an increase in the levels of phosphorylated α-synuclein (129) and α-synuclein aggregation. These alterations were prevented by incubation with mTOR inhibitors. Inhibition of acid ceramidase, the lysosomal enzyme that deacylates GluCer to GluSph, prevented mTOR hyperactivity, restored autophagic flux and lowered α-synuclein levels, suggesting that GluSph was responsible for these alterations. Incubation of gene-edited wild type (WT) controls with exogenous GluSph recapitulated the mTOR/α-synuclein abnormalities of GBA1/PD neurons, and these phenotypic alterations were prevented when GluSph treatment was in the presence of mTOR inhibitors. We conclude that GluSph causes an aberrant activation of mTORC1, suppressing normal lysosomal functions, including the clearance of pathogenic α-synuclein species. Our results implicate acid ceramidase in the pathogenesis of GBA1-associated PD, suggesting that this enzyme is a potential therapeutic target for treating synucleinopathies caused by GCase deficiency.
Genome-wide association study identifies novel candidate malaria resistance genes in Cameroon
Authors: Esoh Kevin K , Apinjoh Tobias O , Amambua-Ngwa Alfred , Nyanjom Steven G , Chimusa Emile R , Amenga-Etego Lucas , Wonkam Ambroise , Achidi Eric A 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Recent data suggest that only a small fraction of severe malaria heritability is explained by the totality of genetic markers discovered so far. The extensive genetic diversity within African populations means that significant associations are likely to be found in Africa. In their series of multi-site genome-wide association studies (GWAS) across sub-Saharan Africa, the Malaria Genomic Epidemiology Network (MalariaGEN) observed specific limitations and encouraged country-specific analyses. Here, we present findings of a GWAS of Cameroonian participants that contributed to MalariaGEN projects (n = 1103). We identified protective associations at polymorphisms within the enhancer region of CHST15 [Benjamin–Hochberg false discovery rate (FDR) &lt; 0.02] that are specific to populations of African ancestry, and that tag strong eQTLs of CHST15 in hepatic cells. In-silico functional analysis revealed a signature of epigenetic regulation of CHST15 that is preserved in populations in historically malaria endemic regions, with haplotype analysis revealing a haplotype that is specific to these populations. Association analysis by ethnolinguistic group identified protective associations within SOD2 (FDR &lt; 0.04), a gene previously shown to be significantly induced in pre-asymptomatic malaria patients from Cameroon. Haplotype analysis revealed substantial heterogeneity within the beta-like globin (HBB) gene cluster amongst the major ethnic groups in Cameroon confirming differential malaria pressure and underscoring age-old fine-scale genetic structure within the country. Our findings revealed novel insights in the evolutionary genetics of populations living in Cameroon under malaria pressure with new significant protective loci (CHST15 and SOD2) and emphasized the significant attenuation of genetic association signals by fine-scale genetic structure.
Admissible Homomorphisms and Equivariant Relations Between Weighted Projective Lines
Authors: Chen Jianmin , Lin Yanan , Ruan Shiquan , Zhang Hongxia 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
The string group acts on the category of coherent sheaves over a weighted projective line by degree-shift actions. We study the equivariant relations induced by degree-shift actions between weighted projective lines. We prove that such an equivariant relation is characterized by an admissible homomorphism between the associated string groups. We classify all these equivariant relations for the weighted projective lines of domestic and tubular types, respectively.
The cofactors and domains of a staphylococcal capsule-producing enzyme preserve its structure, stability, shape and dimerization ability
Authors: Chakraborty Tushar , Banerjee Nilanjan , Sinha Debasmita , Seal Soham , Chatterjee Subhrangsu , Sau Subrata 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
CapF, a staphylococcal capsule-producing enzyme, binds Zn2+ ion and NADPH using its C-terminal domain (CTD) and N-terminal domain (NTD), respectively. To elucidate the roles of cofactors and domains, we have systematically investigated the related recombinant proteins, rCapF, rCTD, recombinant NTD (rNTD) and the Zn2+-free rCapF/rCTD, Apo-rCapF/Apo-rCTD. The results show that the secondary structure, tertiary structure, shape and surface hydrophobicity of Apo-rCapF and Apo-rCTD are different from those of rCapF and rCTD. The removal of Zn2+ made rCapF thermo-sensitive, whereas both rCTD and Apo-rCTD are thermo-resistant proteins. Further, Apo-rCapF and rCapF existed as the dimers, whereas rCTD and Apo-rCTD formed a mixture of dimers and tetramers in the aqueous solution. Zn2+ maintained the structure of NTD as well. The NADPH binding activity and Cys accessibility of rNTD, rCapF and Apo-rCapF were significantly different from each other. The binding of NADPH to the above three proteins freely occurred, liberated heat at 25°C and increased their diameters. In addition, the structure, stability, shape and oligomerization ability of rNTD, rCTD and rCapF little resembled each other. Collectively, the domains and cofactors of CapF contribute to preserving its conformation, stability, shape and dimerization ability.
Valentino’s syndrome: a bizarre clinical presentation
Authors: Machaku Dennis , Suleman Mujaheed , Mduma Elias , Nkoronko Mugisha 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
A perforated peptic or duodenal ulcer may cause an unusual expression of right lower quadrant pain. In Valentino’s syndrome, the chemical fluid from the ulcer flows via the right paracolic gutter to the right iliac fossa, causing peritoneal irritation and chemical appendicitis which will mimic pain in the right lower quadrant. We report a case of a 23-year-old male patient who presented with cramping lower abdominal pain with fevers and vomiting. His pain was mostly in the right lower quadrant and radiated to his back. A perforation-related pneumoperitoneum was found on a computed tomography scan, along with an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen and thickening of the pyloric antrum. Valentino’s syndrome’s aberrant clinical picture mimicking acute appendicitis is a pathognomonic presentation of the disease. Right lower abdominal pain should also prompt the scrutiny of atypical differentials, such as perforated ulcers. Physicians need to manage these patients with a high index of suspicion.
The wheat basic helix-loop-helix gene TabHLH123 positively modulates the formation of crown roots and is associated with plant height and 1000-grain weight under various conditions
Authors: Wang Jinping , Li Chaonan , Mao Xinguo , Wang Jingyi , Li Long , Li Jialu , Fan Zipei , Zhu Zhi , He Liheng , Jing Ruilian 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Crown roots are the main components of the fibrous root system in cereal crops and play critical roles in plant adaptation; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying their formation in wheat (Triticum aestivum) have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we identified a wheat basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) protein, TabHLH123, that interacts with the essential regulator of crown root initiation, MORE ROOT in wheat (TaMOR). TabHLH123 is expressed highly in shoot bases and roots. Ectopic expression of TabHLH123 in rice resulted in more roots compared with the wild type. TabHLH123 regulates the expression of genes controlling crown-root development and auxin metabolism, responses, and transport. In addition, we analysed the nucleotide sequence polymorphisms of TabHLH123s in the wheat genome and identified a superior haplotype, TabHLH123-6B, that is associated with high root dry weight and 1000-grain weight, and short plant height. Our study reveals the role of TabHLH123 in controlling the formation of crown roots and provides beneficial insights for molecular marker-assisted breeding in wheat.
The galaxy formation origin of thelensing is lowproblem
Authors: Chaves-Montero Jonás , Angulo Raul E , Contreras Sergio 
Published: February 2023

ABSTRACTRecent analyses show that ΛCDM-based models optimized to reproduce the clustering of massive galaxies overestimate their gravitational lensing by about 30 per cent, the so-called lensing is low problem. Using a state-of-the-art hydrodynamical simulation, we show that this discrepancy reflects shortcomings in standard galaxy–halo connection models rather than tensions within the ΛCDM paradigm itself. Specifically, this problem results from ignoring a variety of galaxy formation effects, including assembly bias, segregation of satellite galaxies relative to dark matter, and baryonic effects on the matter distribution. All these effects contribute towards overestimating gravitational lensing, and when combined, explain the amplitude and scale dependence of the lensing is low problem. We conclude that simplistic galaxy–halo connection models are inadequate to interpret clustering and lensing simultaneously, and that it is crucial to employ more sophisticated models for the upcoming generation of large-scale surveys.