bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Psychometric Evaluation of the Chinese Version of the Vulvovaginal Symptom Questionnaire in Women With Breast Cancer
Authors: Lee Yueh‐Ching , Chang Yuan‐Ching , Chou Cheng‐Chen , Lin Yen‐Kuang , Li Chia‐Hui , Liao Yuan‐Mei 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTAimsTo evaluate the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Vulvovaginal Symptoms Questionnaire for assessing vulvovaginal symptoms and symptom‐related influences in women with breast cancer.DesignA methodological study.MethodsWomen with breast cancer (n = 202) were recruited from the outpatient department of a hospital. Data were collected between July 2020 and October 2021. Psychometric properties, including internal consistency, test–retest reliability and construct validity, were tested after the translation of the original English‐language instrument. The construct validity was examined by testing the hypothesised relationships between the Chinese version of the Vulvovaginal Symptoms Questionnaire with validated instruments associated with quality of life and sexual function and by Confirmatory Factor Analysis.ResultsThe internal consistency and test–retest reliability for the Chinese version of the Vulvovaginal Symptoms Questionnaire's total scale and four subscales were satisfactory. The construct validity was confirmed by significant correlations between scores on the Chinese version of the Vulvovaginal Symptoms Questionnaire with the Chinese version of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire‐Cancer 30 and Quality of Life Questionnaire‐Breast 23 and the Chinese version of the Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire 12. The Confirmatory Factor Analysis verification results showed that the traditional Chinese‐language questionnaire's three‐ and four‐factor models had acceptable model fit indices.ConclusionWe obtained the Chinese version of the Vulvovaginal Symptoms Questionnaire's preliminary and satisfactory psychometric properties. It can help worldwide healthcare professionals adequately assess vulvovaginal symptoms and their influences experienced by Chinese‐speaking women with breast cancer.Implications for PracticeThe Chinese version of the Vulvovaginal Symptoms Questionnaire can help healthcare professionals and researchers concurrently identify vulvovaginal symptoms and related influences, leading to timely and appropriate management. Well‐designed and accessible healthcare services on vulvovaginal and sexual health after breast cancer diagnosis are essential for both healthcare professionals and this population.Reporting MethodWe adhered to the STROBE checklist of cross‐sectional studies.Patients or Public ContributionNo patient or public engagement..
Social identity in environmental protection engagement: How are different kinds of identity related to different types of engagement?
Authors: Hrabetz Barbara , Kraus Elisabeth Barbara , Gruber Hans 
Published: October 2024

AbstractSocial approaches can contribute to clarifying environmental issues. For instance, social identity theory can help to comprehend people's motivations for getting involved in environmental protection. However, the kind of social identity best suited for predicting environmental protection engagement remains unclear. This study examines different categories of social identity in relation to different types of environmental protection engagement. The predictive power of identification with environmentalists, as well as with politicized and non‐politicized environmental groups, are considered separately. Furthermore, environmental protection engagement is divided into pro‐environmental behavior and two different demanding forms of pro‐environmental collective action—participatory environmental action and leadership environmental action. Data collected online from 985 respondents involved in environmental protection were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results showed that while environmental group identification was not significantly related to any kind of environmental protection engagement, environmentalist identification emerged as a predictor of participatory environmental action, leadership environmental action and pro‐environmental behavior. Moreover, these connections were stronger for participants belonging to a politicized environmental group than for those belonging to a non‐politicized environmental group and those not belonging to any environmental group. These results support and extend previous findings on the role of social identity in pro‐environmental collective action and pro‐environmental behavior.
The Orientation in Space of the Maxillary Arch: New and Old Devices in the Prosthetic Digital Workflow
Authors: Gracis Stefano , Appiani Antonello , Scattarelli Paolo , Ori Giacomo , Noè Gaetano 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTObjectiveIn extensive prosthetic rehabilitations and in those involving the anterior area, a correct 3D spatial position is of fundamental importance for effective communication between the clinician and the dental technician. The aim of this article is to analyze the different methods used to position in space and/or in an articulator the maxillary arch in analog workflows highlighting shortcomings and difficulties in order to understand how to overcome them when employing digital workflows.OverviewTraditional mechanical devices, such as anatomical, kinematic, esthetic and postural facebows, have clear indications, but also limitations, especially in cases of skeletal asymmetries. Modern digital tools, including photography, CBCT, facial scanners and jaw recording devices, are here critically analyzed to illustrate the advantages of working in a virtual space.ConclusionsThe adoption of digital tools in the prosthetic workflow represents a significant improvement compared to traditional techniques, as it reduces errors and artifacts of registration and transfer of the position of the maxillary arch in the articulator space. This contributes to more predictable esthetic and functional results, with a positive impact for clinicians and technicians, improving clinical‐laboratory communication, operational efficiency and overall quality of work.Clinical SignificanceThe integration of digital tools into prosthetic workflows represents an important advancement in clinical practice since they reduce human error and facilitate communication between the clinician and the laboratory. When carrying out rehabilitations involving changes in esthetics or occlusal plane orientation, the proper and accurate positioning of the upper arch in space is particularly relevant.
The OsMAPK5–OsWRKY72 module negatively regulates grain length and grain weight in rice
Authors: Wang Fuxiang , Lin Jiexin , Yang Fan , Chen Xiaofeng , Liu Yiyi , Yan Lingnan , Chen Jing , Wang Zonghua , Xie Huaan , Zhang Jianfu , Xu Huibin , Chen Songbiao 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTGrain size and grain weight are important determinants for grain yield. In this study, we identify a novel OsMAPK5–OsWRKY72 module that negatively regulates grain length and grain weight in rice. We found that loss‐of‐function of OsMAPK5 leads to larger cell size of the rice spikelet hulls and a significant increase in both grain length and grain weight in an indica variety Minghui 86 (MH86). OsMAPK5 interacts with OsMAPKK3/4/5 and OsWRKY72 and phosphorylates OsWRKY72 at T86 and S88. Similar to the osmapk5 MH86 mutants, the oswrky72 knockout MH86 mutants exhibited larger size of spikelet hull cells and increased grain length and grain weight, whereas the OsWRKY72‐overexpression MH86 plants showed opposite phenotypes. OsWRKY72 targets the W‐box motifs in the promoter of OsARF6, an auxin response factor involved in auxin signaling. Dual‐luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that OsWRKY72 activates OsARF6 expression. The activation effect of the phosphorylation‐mimicking OsWRKY72T86D/S88D on OsARF6 expression was significantly enhanced, whereas the effects of the OsWRKY72 phosphorylation‐null mutants were significantly reduced. In addition, auxin levels in young panicles of the osmapk5 and oswrky72 mutants were significantly higher than that in the wild‐type MH86. Collectively, our study uncovered novel connections of the OsMAPKK3/4/5‐OsMAPK5‐mediated MAPK signaling, OsWRKY72‐mediated transcription regulation, and OsARF6‐mediated auxin signaling pathways in regulating grain length and grain weight in an indica‐type rice, providing promising targets for molecular breeding of rice varieties with high yield and quality.
Circulating medium‐ and long‐chain acylcarnitines are associated with plasma P‐tau181 in cognitively normal older adults
Authors: Sharmin Tahmida , Chatterjee Pratishtha , Doecke James D. , Ashton Nicholas J. , Huynh Kevin , Pedrini Steve , Sohrabi Hamid R. , Heng Benjamin , Eslick Shaun , Zetterberg Henrik , Blennow Kaj , Garg Manohar , Martins Ralph N. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractAlzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis involves dysregulation in diverse biochemical processes. Nevertheless, plasma tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (P‐tau181), a recognised AD biomarker, has been described to reflect early‐stage cortical amyloid‐β (Aβ) deposition in cognitively normal (CN) adults. Therefore, identifying changes in plasma metabolites associated with plasma P‐tau181 at the pre‐clinical stage may provide insights into underlying biochemical mechanisms to better understand initial AD pathogenesis. In the current study, plasma P‐tau181, quantified via single molecule array (Simoa) technology, and plasma metabolites, quantified via targeted‐mass spectrometry, were investigated for associations in CN older adults and upon stratification by positron emission tomography (PET)‐Aβ load. In addition, the P‐tau181‐linked metabolites were evaluated for cognitive performance and neuroimaging markers of AD and the potential to distinguish between CN Aβ− and CN Aβ+ individuals. Significant positive associations of medium‐ and long‐chain acylcarnitines (ACs) were observed with P‐tau181 in the entire cohort, CN Aβ− and CN Aβ+, suggesting a link between initial Aβ pathology and fatty acid oxidation‐mediated energy metabolism pathways. However, in CN Aβ−, additional linear associations of P‐tau181 were observed with muscle metabolism and nitric oxide homeostasis‐associated metabolites. Upon investigating the P‐tau181‐linked metabolites for cognitive performance, significant inverse correlations of the verbal and visual episodic memory and the global composite score were noted in CN Aβ+ with medium‐ and long‐chain ACs, suggesting prognostic value of ACs accompanying weaker cognitive performance. While investigating neuroimaging markers, ACs had positive associations with PET‐Aβ load and inverse associations with hippocampal volume in CN Aβ+, indicating connections of ACs with initial AD pathogenesis. Furthermore, based on receiver operating characteristics analysis, the associated ACs potentially classified PET‐Aβ status in older adults. Therefore, plasma P‐tau181‐linked circulating ACs may serve as potential prognostic markers for initial AD pathogenesis in CN older adults. However, further cross‐sectional and longitudinal research in highly characterised AD cohorts is needed to validate current findings.image
Knowledge gaps in diagnosing chronic polyneuropathy: Review of national guidelines
Authors: Wiersma M. , van der Star G. M. , Notermans N. C. , van Doorn P. A. , Vrancken A. F. J. E. ,   The EXPRESS Study Consortium
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe prevalence of chronic polyneuropathy will increase due to the aging population, and therefore, it becomes ever so important to optimize the diagnostic process. However, it is uncertain which blood tests are required and when nerve conduction studies (NCS) should be done in the workup of chronic polyneuropathy. We aimed to investigate the methodology used to develop national polyneuropathy guidelines and to provide an overview and strength of evidence of the recommendations. We searched PubMed and websites of national neurological associations as listed on the website of the World Federation of Neurology to identify national guidelines pertaining to the workup of chronic polyneuropathy by neurologists in an outpatient clinic setting. We identified three national guidelines in the United States and seven national guidelines in Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Turkey. The methodology used to develop the guidelines differed greatly. All guidelines recommend a series of blood tests. Some guidelines advise to conduct NCS in all patients, while other guidelines advise to conduct NCS when certain symptoms are present. There is variation in recommendations about the extensiveness of NCS, but all mention measuring the sural nerve and the motor peroneal nerve. The evidence for the recommendations is graded as low. Despite some overlap, there are disparities between guidelines regarding the workup that is advised to do in patients with chronic polyneuropathy. It remains unclear which combination of blood tests are to be strongly recommended. Furthermore, it is undetermined whether NCS are always necessary.
From Marine Culture to Ocean Literacy: Ocean Education as Taiwan's Nation‐Building Project
Authors: Hou Kuang‐hao , Chang Hsin‐mei 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThis paper explores the difficulties related to the implementation of the ocean education policy in Taiwan, based on interviews. Viewing nationalism as an ethnic ideology, a primary objective of the Taiwan Independence Movement (TIM) is to establish an ethnic boundary between Taiwan's residents and the Chinese people on the mainland. One way in which the TIM is seeking to erect this boundary is to assert that Taiwan is a marine nation‐state, contrasting it with China as a continental state. Initially aimed at fostering marine consciousness and culture, Taiwan's ocean education policy later shifted toward improving ocean literacy. The government, which is aligned with the TIM, accepted this shift because its educational goals and approach can serve as a propaganda tool for demonstrating Taiwan's distinctiveness from China. In contrast, frontline educators must adapt ocean education's content to suit the local marine customs, and geographical and economic conditions, and so meet the educational requirements. A strict adherence to the national identification objectives within ocean education raises problems regarding policy implementation. By denying the existence of marine culture in Taiwan, Taiwan's ocean education policy has been assigned a utopian mission that is too radical to be achieved.
Capsular Polysaccharide Production in Bacteria of the Mycoplasma Genus: A Huge Diversity of Pathways and Synthases for So‐Called Minimal Bacteria
Authors: Vastel Manon , Pau‐Roblot Corinne , Ferré Séverine , Tocqueville Véronique , Ambroset Chloé , Marois‐Créhan Corinne , Gautier‐Bouchardon Anne V. , Tardy Florence , Gaurivaud Patrice 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTMycoplasmas are wall‐less bacteria with many species spread across various animal hosts in which they can be pathogenic. Despite their reduced anabolic capacity, some mycoplasmas are known to secrete hetero‐ and homopolysaccharides, which play a role in host colonization through biofilm formation or immune evasion, for instance. This study explores how widespread the phenomenon of capsular homopolysaccharide secretion is within mycoplasmas, and investigates the diversity of both the molecules produced and the synthase‐type glycosyltransferases responsible for their production. Fourteen strains representing 14 (sub)species from four types of hosts were tested in vitro for their polysaccharide secretion using both specific (immunodetection) and nonspecific (sugar dosage) assays. We evidenced a new, atypical homopolymer of β‐(1 → 6)‐glucofuranose (named glucofuranan) in the human pathogen Mycoplasma (M.) fermentans, as well as a β‐(1 → 6)‐glucopyranose polymer for the turkey pathogen M. iowae and galactan (β‐(1 → 6)‐galactofuranose) and β‐(1 → 2)‐glucopyranose for M. bovigenitalium infecting ruminants. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses revealed a huge diversity of synthases from varied Mycoplasma species. The clustering of these membrane‐embedded glycosyltransferases into three main groups was only partially correlated to the structure of the produced homopolysaccharides.
GalNAc‐Conjugated siRNA Targeting Complement C3 Inhibits Osteoclast Activation in Periodontitis
Authors: Chen Yingyi , Liu Yitong , Fu Zhongguo , Xu Junji , Guo Lijia , Cao Huiqing , Gan Liming , Gao Shan , Liu Yi 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTObjectiveThe complement cascade plays an important role in the inflammation amplification and tissue destruction of periodontitis. Importantly, complement C3 was proved to be the central element of complement cascade. Thus, targeting inhibition of C3 has become one of the focuses of treatment method development and exploration.MethodsThe siRNAs targeting C3 were designed and screened for in vitro potency. The selected siRNA was conjugated to GalNAc (GalNAc‐C3 siRNA) for liver‐specific delivery. The mouse model of periodontitis was established by silk ligation. Stereomicroscopy, Micro‐CT, histological and histochemical assessment, and immunofluorescence staining were performed to evaluate the level of bone destructive and osteoclast activity. The influence of GalNAc‐C3 siRNA on inflammatory reactions was determined by qRT‐PCR, ELISA, and flow cytometry.ResultsGalNAc‐C3 siRNA showed great in vivo potency and durability to silence hepatic C3 mRNA expression. GalNAc‐C3 siRNA treatment could effectively inhibit the production of inflammatory cytokines (IL‐17A, TNF‐α, IL‐6, and IFN‐γ) and restrain Th17 differentiation. Importantly, the expression of RANKL and differentiation of osteoclast were inhibited by GalNAc‐C3 siRNA.ConclusionGalNAc‐C3 siRNA could efficiently play a role in bone protection by inhibiting inflammatory responses and osteoclast activities. This therapeutic siRNA may become an effective treatment strategy for periodontitis.
Neighborhood‐Level Deprivation Impacts Graft and Patient Outcomes Among Pediatric Liver Transplant Recipients
Authors: Bitterfeld Leandra , Sanchez‐Garcia Jorge , Jaramillo Catalina 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundThe impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) on pediatric liver transplant outcomes has not been extensively investigated. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of neighborhood‐level deprivation on graft and patient survival among pediatric liver transplant recipients.MethodsThis is a single‐center observational study among children who received a primary liver transplant from March 1996 to March 2023. The Childhood Opportunity Index (COI) score was used to measure the degree of neighborhood deprivation.ResultsA total of 252 children were included, half (52.8%) were female and the majority were non‐Hispanic White (71%). Half (53.6%) of the children had private insurance, and the median COI score was 64. A total of 28 children were transplanted from a very low‐to‐low COI area. Children in very low‐to‐low COI areas had worse patient (HR = 4.90, 95% CI = 1.41–17.04, p = 0.01) and graft (HR = 3.41, 95% CI = 1.19–9.75, p = 0.02) survival outcomes compared to children in moderate‐to‐very high areas when adjusting for clinical characteristics. COI score remained a significant predictor of graft survival after adjusting for race and insurance type (HR = 3.41, 95% CI = 1.12–10.40, p = 0.03).ConclusionsPediatric liver transplant recipients from very low‐to‐low COI score areas have worse graft outcomes when accounting for clinical factors, race/ethnicity, and insurance status. Future research should investigate the impact of multiple, intersecting SDOH factors, rather than solely a collection of isolated variables.
Potato NPH3/RPT2‐like (NRL) member StNRL‐9 interacts with Stphots and negatively regulates late blight resistance
Authors: Lin Tianyu , Qiu Huishan , Cheng Dong , Sun Qingguo , Liu Lang , Tian Zhendong 
Published: October 2024

AbstractBlue light enhances the susceptibility of Nicotiana benthamiana to Phytophthora infestans, a causative agent of late blight disease. Investigating how blue light affects potato late blight resistance is an interesting aspect of exploring new ways to control late blight disease. Blue light photoreceptor phototropins (phot1, phot2) and their downstream interact protein StNRL1 have been shown to negatively regulate late blight resistance. In order to investigate whether other potato NPH3/RPT2‐Like (NRL) family members are involved in regulating late blight resistance, this study focused on the potato NRL proteins containing RxSxS motif at the C‐terminus. Another potato NRL protein StNRL‐9, containing RxSxS motifs, was found to negatively regulate P. infestans resistance in potato and N. benthamiana. Overexpression of StNRL‐9 in potato and N. benthamiana suppresses the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and expression of the PTI marker genes NbWRKY7 and NbWRKY8. Similar to StNRL1, StNRL‐9 interacts with the blue light receptors Stphot1 and Stphot2 on the cell membrane and could promote the degradation of a positive immune regulator StSWAP70. However StNRL‐9 does not inhibit INF1‐mediated cell death (ICD), which is different from the StNRL1 that inhibits ICD, indicating that both StNRL1 and StNRL‐9 inhibit plant immunity in diverse ways. This study provides valuable information for further exploration of how plant phototropins and NRL family proteins regulate plant immunity.
Quantifying the contribution of individual inputs used in Zero Budget Natural Farming
Authors: Duddigan Sarah , Shaw Liz J. , Sizmur Tom , Hussain Zakir , Jirra Kiranmai , Kaliki Hamika , Sanka Rahul , Soma Reshma , Thallam Vijay , Vattikuti Hari Priya , Collins Chris D. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractZero Budget Natural Farming (ZBNF) in Andhra Pradesh promotes home‐made, locally sourced, agrochemical‐free inputs and regenerative land management techniques. Inputs consist of seed treatments (bijamrita), microbial inoculum applied either as a liquid foliar spray (liquid jiwamrita) or solid top dressing (solid jiwamrita) to the soil, and mulching (achhadana). However, some farmers do not use all the recommended inputs. There is a lack of evidence on the effects of partial adoption on the resulting yield and on the contributions of individual inputs to the performance of the overall approach. Controlled field experiments were established over two seasons across four agro‐climatic zones. They consisted of five treatments. A Standard ZBNF treatment, which included application of all four ZBNF amendments (bijamirita, solid jiwamrita, liquid jiwamrita and dead mulch). The subsequent four treatments excluded one of the ZBNF inputs (Minus Bijamrita, Minus Soilid Jiwamrita, Minus Liquid Jiwamrita, and Minus Dead Mulch). Exclusion of each ZBNF input individually resulted in a significantly smaller yield than the treatment where all four inputs were used. However, exclusion of solid jiwamrita, liquid jiwamrita and mulching had a larger yield penalty than exclusion of bijamrita. Partial adoption could therfore impact the efficacy of the ZBNF system to deliver sustainable crop yields and satisfy food security. However, further research is needed to examine the effects of input exclusion in the long term, and possible interactions between different ZBNF inputs.