julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Sumatran orangutan mothers differ in the extent and trajectory of their expression of maternal behaviour
2025-05-01

Mothers play a crucial role in the early development and survival of mammalian offspring, and differences in maternal care may affect offspring’s development. Whereas previous research has primarily focused on biological and socioecological factors to understand population-level variation in maternal behaviour, the individual as a source of variation remains understudied. We investigated between-individual variation in the average expression of, and plasticity in, six maternal behaviours in Sumatran orangutans ( Pongo abelii ), using 15 years of behavioural data. We found that mothers differed substantially in the average expression of four maternal behaviours, even after controlling for socioecological conditions, biological state characteristics and the offspring’s influence on these behaviours. Furthermore, not controlling for these confounding effects exaggerated or masked between-individual variation. Mothers also substantially differed in how they adjusted three of the maternal behaviours during offspring development, meaning that mothers differed in behavioural plasticity. Our results suggest that Sumatran orangutan mothers are constrained in the average expression of maternal behaviours and their plastic responses, potentially resulting in consistent differences among mothers, otherwise called maternal personality. Our findings highlight that there is biologically meaningful variation around the population mean in maternal behaviour and present novel opportunities to study evolutionary processes that shape maternal behaviour.
Cardiopulmonary fitness and performance in post-COVID patients one year after infection: results from the EPILOC study
2025-05-01

Abstract Background COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, can result in persistent symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath at rest or during exertion, chest pain, palpitations, and reduced exercise capacity. However, the long-term impact on cardiopulmonary fitness remains insufficiently studied in large cohorts a year post-infection. Purpose This study aimed to address the knowledge gap by evaluating deviations from relative normative values in cardiopulmonary performance parameters within this population. Methods This non-interventional population-based multicenter study included 1,153 participants, including 679 with post-COVID syndrome (PASC) and 474 fully recovered controls (CON), who underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) on a bicycle ergometer one year after SARS-CoV2 infection. Key metrics assessed were peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), maximal power and maximum heart rate (HR) at VO2peak, and HR at maximal power, each compared to normative values in an adult population and adjusted for confounders like sex, age, body mass index, smoking, beta-blocker use, pre-existing cardiopulmonary diseases, and study center variations. Results PASC patients showed greater deviations in maximal power at VO2peak (p&amp;lt;0.001, d=-0.84), maximum HR at VO2peak (p&amp;lt;0.001, d=-0.30), and HR at maximal power (p&amp;lt;0.001, d=-0.29) compared to CON. VO2peak deviations were not significant (p=0.701, d=0.02). Conclusions Post-COVID syndrome is associated with sustained impairments in cardiopulmonary function, particularly in HR and power metrics, despite preserved VO2peak. These results highlight the importance of targeted rehabilitation and tailored exercise interventions to restore cardiopulmonary fitness and improve quality of life in PASC patients.Deviations from normative values
Association Between Sleep Duration and Anxiety in US Adults: A Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Study
2025-05-01

Short sleep duration is associated with an increased risk of anxiety, with the strength of this association differing notably across demographic subgroups. Long sleep duration is associated with higher anxiety risk exclusively in specific groups, including non-married individuals and younger adults. Further research is needed to uncover the mechanisms underlying these associations.
NOD2-Induced IκBζ Mediates a Protective Host Response against Epicutaneous Staphylococcus aureus Infection
2025-05-01

IκBζ, an atypical and largely unknown member of the IκB family, is a transcriptional coactivator of selective immune functions. In this study, we investigated the role of keratinocyte-derived IκBζ upon infection with a multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strain. Infection of keratinocytes rapidly induced IκBζ expression, leading to an elevated expression of antimicrobial peptides, IL-17/IL-36-responsive genes, and proteins involved in skin barrier function. Conversely, loss of IκBζ resulted in increased S aureus internalization, epidermal tissue damage, and severe skin infections in vivo. This impaired host defense upon IκBζ depletion was characterized by reduced antimicrobial peptide expression and diminished recruitment of neutrophils and CD4<sup>+</sup> T cells. Importantly, S aureus-induced IκBζ expression required the internalization of the bacteria and its sensing by the intracellular receptor NOD2, which triggered IκBζ and its target gene expression. Thus, we identified NOD2-IκBζ signaling as a key pathway mediating a protective host defense against pathogenic S aureus infections in the skin.
Three-year safety and effectiveness of Hybrid Ablation versus Catheter Ablation: Final results of the CEASE-AF trial
2025-05-01

Abstract Introduction The prospective, multi-center, randomized CEASE-AF trial previously reported that hybrid ablation with left atrial appendage exclusion (LAAE) improved freedom from atrial arrhythmias by 32% and 33% through 12- and 24-months compared to endocardial catheter ablation in patients with non-paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF). In this analysis, we report 3-year outcomes of CEASE-AF. Purpose To evaluate long-term safety and effectiveness of de novo hybrid ablation with LAAE compared to endocardial catheter ablation for non-paroxysmal AF Methods Patients 18-75 years of age with no prior ablation who had symptomatic, drug-refractory persistent AF and enlarged left atrium (&amp;gt;4 cm) or longstanding persistent AF (LSPAF) were eligible. Patients were randomized 2:1 to a) staged epicardial-endocardial (hybrid) ablation to achieve left atrial posterior wall (LAPW) and pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) as well as LAAE or b) endocardial catheter ablation, including repeat ablation with 180 days of the index procedure, to achieve PVI. Effectiveness was freedom from AF, atrial flutter (AFL), or atrial tachycardia (AT) off anti-arrhythmic drugs (AADs) except previously failed AADs at same or lower dose. Rhythm was assessed by 48-hr Holter and adjudicated by an independent core laboratory. The safety endpoint was major complication rate adjudicated by an independent clinical events committee. Reinterventions could include repeat ablations (including epicardial crossover), electrical or pharmaceutical cardioversion, implantation of a permanent pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator, or other interventions. Results 102 patients were in the Hybrid Arm and 52 in the Catheter Arm, with similar baseline characteristics. Mean age was 60.7±7.9 years, mean LAD was 4.7±0.4 cm, 74% were male, and 19% had LSPAF. Through 36-months, effectiveness was 61.1% (58/95) in the Hybrid Arm and 27.5% (14/51) in the Catheter Arm (p&amp;lt;0.001), an absolute difference of 33.6% (95% CI: 15.9%-48.5%). In patients with persistent AF, effectiveness was 61.0% (47/77) in the Hybrid Arm and 32.6% (14/43) in the Catheter Arm (p=0.003). In patients with LSPAF, effectiveness was 61.1% (11/18) in the Hybrid Arm and 0% (0/8) in the Catheter Arm (p=0.007). Through 36-mo, safety rates were 12.7% (13/102) and 9.6% (5/52) in the Hybrid and Catheter Arms, respectively (p=0.79). Safety and effectiveness across the trial duration are shown in the Figures. In the Hybrid Arm, 28.4% (27/95) of patients had a reintervention through 36-mo, compared to 56.9% (29/51) in the Catheter Arm (p&amp;lt;0.001). Conclusion In CEASE-AF, the rhythm control benefit of a hybrid ablation approach exceeded that of an endocardial-only approach for non-paroxysmal AF, and this effect was durable through 36-months without significantly increasing complications.Efficacy Complications
A Theory of Generalized Coordinates for Stochastic Differential Equations
2025-05-01

ABSTRACT Stochastic differential equations are ubiquitous modeling tools in applied mathematics and the sciences. In most modeling scenarios, random fluctuations driving dynamics or motion have some nontrivial temporal correlation structure, which renders the SDE non‐Markovian; a phenomenon commonly known as ‘colored’’ noise. Thus, an important objective is to develop effective tools for mathematically and numerically studying (possibly non‐Markovian) SDEs. In this paper, we formalize a mathematical theory for analyzing and numerically studying SDEs based on so‐called “generalized coordinates of motion.” Like the theory of rough paths, we analyze SDEs pathwise for any given realization of the noise, not solely probabilistically. Like the established theory of Markovian realization, we realize non‐Markovian SDEs as a Markov process in an extended space. Unlike the established theory of Markovian realization however, the Markovian realizations here are accurate on short timescales and may be exact globally in time, when flows and fluctuations are analytic. This theory is exact for SDEs with analytic flows and fluctuations, and is approximate when flows and fluctuations are differentiable. It provides useful analysis tools, which we employ to solve linear SDEs with analytic fluctuations. It may also be useful for studying rougher SDEs, as these may be identified as the limit of smoother ones. This theory supplies effective, computationally straightforward methods for simulation, filtering and control of SDEs; among others, we rederive generalized Bayesian filtering, a state‐of‐the‐art method for time‐series analysis. Looking forward, this paper suggests that generalized coordinates have far‐reaching applications throughout stochastic differential equations.
Fetal heart rate variability in relation to maternal physical activity and metabolic health
2025-05-01

Physical activity (PA) during pregnancy may have a positive effect on the fetal cardiac maturation which is reflected in a decreasing resting heart rate and increasing heart rate variability (HRV). Different types of PA, for example during leisure or work time, have differential effects on HRV; however, this relationship has not yet been investigated in pregnancy. In our work, we related different types of PA during pregnancy with maternal and fetal HRV. We assessed the levels of PA in 95 pregnant women between 28 and 32 weeks of gestational age using the Baecke Physical Activity Questionnaire. Maternal and fetal heart rate and HRV were extracted from magnetocardiography recordings at rest, and maternal anthropometric and metabolic parameters were measured, such as fasting glucose and insulin levels, body mass index, and blood pressure. Pearson correlations were calculated between HRV, PA, and maternal parameters. Principal component analysis and generalized linear models were implemented to further investigate these relationships. Our findings indicate that habitual physical activity, whether during leisure or work, has no significant effect on maternal or fetal HRV at rest. However, leisure-time physical activity, unlike work-related activity, is associated with improved maternal insulin sensitivity. Additionally, our exploratory analyses revealed that lower HRV in both the mother and the fetus is associated with poorer maternal metabolic health quantified through higher fasting insulin levels, triglycerides, and adiposity. Finally, male fetuses showed higher HRV compared to females, highlighting the difference in cardiac development between the two biological sexes.
Measuring Multidimensional Inequality and Its Impact on Civil War Outbreak in 193 Countries, 1810–2010
2025-05-01

ABSTRACT We construct an index of composite inequality covering 193 countries worldwide. For a substantial and unprecedented number of countries, we can trace the long‐term evolution of inequality over 200 years, from 1810 to 2010. This composite index of inequality includes not only post‐tax income inequality but also health and land inequalities. We observe that the risk of a civil war outbreak is consistently increasing with higher levels of within‐country inequality. By applying an instrumental variable approach, we discover that the impact of multidimensional inequality on civil war is causal. This finding is not only relevant for unstable low‐ and middle‐income countries like Chad or South Sudan but also has implications for high‐income countries, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, for which we predict an increased likelihood of civil war.
Simulation-based inference advances water quality mapping in shallow coral reef environments
2025-05-01

Human activities are altering coral reef ecosystems worldwide. Optical remote sensing via satellites and drones can offer novel insights into where and how coral reefs are changing. However, interpretation of the observed optical signal (remote-sensing reflectance) is an ill-posed inverse problem, as there may be multiple different combinations of water constituents, depth and benthic reflectance that result in a similar optical signal. Here, we apply a new approach, simulation-based inference, for addressing the inverse problem in marine remote sensing. The simulation-based inference algorithm combines physics-based analytical modelling with approximate Bayesian inference and machine learning. The input to the algorithm is remote-sensing reflectance, and the output is the likely range (posterior probability density) of phytoplankton and suspended minerals concentrations, coloured dissolved organic matter absorption, wind speed and depth. We compare inference models trained with simulated hyperspectral or multispectral reflectance spectra characterized by different signal-to-noise ratios. We apply the inference model to in situ radiometric data ( n = 4) and multispectral drone imagery collected on the Tetiaroa atoll (South Pacific). We show that water constituent concentrations can be estimated from hyperspectral and multispectral remote-sensing reflectance in optically shallow environments, assuming a single benthic cover. Future developments should consider spectral mixing of multiple benthic cover types.
Populism in Central and Eastern Europe: Manifestations and Impact in Interdisciplinary Perspective
2025-05-01

In light of the increasing autocratization of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), this thematic cluster focuses on the many manifestations of (right-wing) populism and illiberalism and their impact on CEE politics and societies. The interdisciplinary approach constitutes the main contribution of this cluster, which includes four articles that analyze specific aspects of the “chameleon” of populism. While much of the literature explores the political side of populism, we shed light on its relation to political culture and gender and to contexts such as post-communist economies and war. The post-communist CEE allows us to draw broader conclusions about the manifestations and consequences of populism in power due to the variety of empirical cases within this relatively small region. Not least, the political and institutional success of populism in CEE transcends its physical borders, as leaders like Orbán have long been role models for populists such as Donald Trump, Geert Wilders, and others. Emerging from the EU-funded Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network “Delayed Transformational Fatigue in Central and Eastern Europe: Responding to the Rise of Illiberalism/Populism” (FATIGUE), this cluster is a collaborative project of early career scholars.
Vacuum chamber for deposition of gradient thin films: Toward high-throughput structure–property correlative studies
2025-05-01

The advancement of materials science and application in complex multi-component systems is increasingly dependent on high-throughput studies that can efficiently explore the vast compositional space of materials. However, traditional sample preparation methods often struggle to keep pace with modern characterization techniques and data analysis capabilities. To address this challenge, we present a vacuum deposition chamber designed to produce gradient thin films. This chamber enables the deposition of single-component films with thickness gradients or multi-component films with continuous compositional gradients in a single experimental run. Our approach features a custom-designed moving shutter mechanism, which allows precise control over the deposition process and eliminates the need for multiple samples with discrete compositions. This significantly reduces research time and minimizes inconsistencies associated with the production of several individual samples. As a proof of concept, we deposited single-component gradient films of pentacene and diindenoperylene, which are widely studied in thin films for organic optoelectronic applications, and their corresponding binary gradient film. X-ray reflectivity measurements confirm the linear thickness gradients in the former and the linear compositional gradient in the latter samples.
Comparative analysis of open-source against commercial AI-based segmentation models for online adaptive MR-guided radiotherapy
2025-05-01

This study demonstrates that open-source segmentation framework can achieve comparable annotation accuracy to commercial solutions for pelvic anatomy in online adaptive MRgRT. The adapted framework not only maintained high segmentation performance, with 84.8% of contours accepted by physicians or requiring only minor corrections (12.9%) but also enhanced clinical workflow efficiency of online adaptive MRgRT through reduced inference times. These findings establish open-source frameworks as viable alternatives to commercial systems in supervised clinical workflows.
Exploring molecular imaging to investigate immune checkpoint inhibitor-related toxicity
2025-05-01

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) boost the endogenous anticancer immunity, evoking long-lasting anticancer responses in a subset of patients with solid tumors. Simultaneously, ICI are also associated with serious toxicities, impacting treatment duration and the quality of life. The proposed processes underlying ICI-related toxicity include T-cell activation and recruitment to non-tumor tissues, involvement of other immune cells and fibroblasts and the host’ microbiome composition. However, the exact mechanisms of these processes remain incompletely understood, hindering clinicians’ ability to predict and identify ICI-related toxicity in the early stages of treatment. Molecular imaging may play a role as a non-invasive biomarker, providing a tool to study ICI-related toxicity. This review discusses the applications of molecular imaging to answer questions regarding the mechanisms, detection, and prediction of ICI-related toxicity. Potential targets and the current state of development of suitable imaging techniques are discussed.
GPOH Guidelines for Diagnosis and First-line Treatment of Patients with Neuroblastic Tumors, update 2025
2025-05-01

Abstract The clinical course of neuroblastoma is more heterogeneous than any other malignant disease. Many low-risk patients experience regression after limited or even no chemotherapy. However, more than half of high-risk patients die from disease despite intensive multimodal treatment. Precise disease characterization for each patient at diagnosis is key for risk-adapted treatment. The guidelines presented here incorporate results from national and international clinical trials to produce recommendations for diagnosing and treating neuroblastoma patients in German hospitals outside of clinical trials.
Deletion of the HLA‐B Gene in One of the Inherited Haplotypes in a Northern European Family
2025-05-01

ABSTRACT Targeted next generation sequencing‐based HLA typing of a 17‐year‐old female transplant patient showed homozygosity for the HLA‐B allele. The segregation analysis of HLA haplotypes of family members only allowed the conclusion that the B‐allele was deleted in the haplotype inherited from the father and accordingly paternal grandfather, resulting in false homozygous genotyping. The subsequent whole‐genome sequencing of the patient and her father confirmed an approximately 85 kb deletion at 6p21.33 from the 5′ end of the HLA‐B to the 3′ end of the HLA‐C gene extending telomeric to HLA‐C .
Post‐COVID‐Syndrome Patients Might Overestimate Own Cognitive Impairment
2025-05-01

ABSTRACT Background After a COVID‐19 infection, some patients experience long‐term consequences known as Post‐Covid Syndrome, which often includes cognitive impairment. We investigated the congruence between subjectively experienced and objectively measured cognitive deficits after a COVID‐19 infection in an unselected, successively admitted cohort of 46 patients reporting subjective cognitive complaints (SCC). Methods We employed a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery to assess objective cognitive impairment across various cognitive domains. Three different cut‐off criteria were applied, commonly used in the literature to define objective neurocognitive disorder (NCD). Results We observed a notably low congruence between SCC and NCD in Post‐Covid Syndrome, regardless of the cut‐off criterion. Depending on the cognitive domain, only 4% to maximally 40% of the SCC could be objectified. Conclusions One possible explanation for this discrepancy could be the high rate of depressive symptoms observed in the group of patients studied, which may negatively influence the perception of one's cognitive abilities. These findings emphasize the need for careful evaluation of SCC in Post‐Covid Syndrome and suggest that treating depressive symptoms may also alleviate some of the perceived cognitive deficits.
Heterogeneity of Treatment Outcomes Across Therapists and Sites in a Randomized Multicentre Psychotherapy Trial
2025-05-01

ABSTRACT Objective Establishing robust evidence for psychotherapeutic treatment efficacy is crucial in evidence‐based medicine for mental disorders. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are key to minimizing biases such as selection effects and baseline imbalances between study groups. However, another challenge to robust evidence in psychotherapy research is heterogeneity in treatment outcomes due to therapists and clinical sites. While this has been frequently observed in naturalistic settings, therapist‐ and site‐related heterogeneity in treatment outcomes has been understudied in RCTs. Method The present study addresses this gap in a secondary data analysis, examining how therapists and clinical sites differ in treatment outcomes and differential/average treatment effect (i.e., outcome differences between treatment groups) within a large, multicentre RCT. We analysed data from 255 patients with chronic depression treated by 79 therapists in nine study sites, that received two different active psychotherapeutic interventions. Results Therapist‐ and site‐related variances in treatment outcomes appeared relatively small, accounting for 1.1% [0.0%, 8.1%] and 1.7% [0.0%, 9.9%] of the total variance, respectively. Notably, site‐related variance in differential treatment effects appeared relatively larger at 12.5% [0.1%, 44.4%]. These variances were only partially explained by patient or therapist characteristics. Conclusion While the sample size only allowed to estimate the variance contributions of therapists and sites with high uncertainty, the relative size comparison points to the importance of considering site heterogeneity in evaluating RCTs' differential treatment effects. Further research on site characteristics' impact could enhance understanding of psychotherapeutic treatment efficacy across diverse contexts.