bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessing sign language comprehension in adults with intellectual disability and deafness
Authors: Weber Chantal , Weber Christoph , Holzinger Daniel 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Language comprehension is an essential component of human development that is associated not only with expressive language development and knowledge acquisition, but also with social inclusion, mental health, and quality of life. For deaf and hard-of-hearing adults with intellectual disability, there is a paucity of measures of receptive sign language skills, although these are a prerequisite for individualized planning and evaluation of intervention. Assessments require materials and procedures that are accurate, feasible, and suitable for low levels of functioning. We adapted measures of English-language comprehension in young children—a direct assessment and a caregiver questionnaire—into Austrian Sign Language and to the target group of adults with intellectual disability and used them with a non-preselected sample of 67 deaf and hard-of-hearing adults with intellectual disability living in therapeutic communities specifically for deaf and hard-of-hearing people with multiple disabilities in Austria. Findings for both assessments demonstrate their construct validity, excellent internal consistency, and a large symmetrical distribution over the referential age range. Acceptance by the deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals and the caregivers and time-efficient administration suggest high practicability. We recommend further implementation in clinical practice, albeit with cautious interpretation of the results, and the inclusion of the instruments in research on intellectual disability and deafness.
QTL mapping and identification of candidate genes for anthocyanidin accumulation in Salvia miltiorrhiza flowers
Authors: Yu Yan , Li Ziying , Wu Yichao , Xie Gang , Guo Yuhuan , Yang Zaijun 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge is an ornamental plant known for its diverse flower colors, ranging from white to dark violet. To elucidate the regulatory mechanisms underlying flower color, we conducted QTL mapping and identified candidate genes involved in anthocyanidin accumulation. Total anthocyanidin content and six anthocyanidins in the corollas of S. miltiorrhiza were quantified using the pH differential method and HPLC, respectively. Composite interval mapping was employed to identify QTLs, followed by the identification of candidate genes based on stable QTL intervals across at least two different planting environments. These candidate genes were further validated through gene cloning and expression analysis. Anthocyanidin analysis in the F2 population revealed a positive correlation between total anthocyanidin content and flower color intensity. Notably, three major anthocyanidins of delphinidin (Dp), cyanidin (Cy), and petunidin (Pt) were detected in varying degrees of purple flowers, while no anthocyanidins were found in white flowers. In total, 33 QTLs associated with anthocyanidin content were identified, with two major QTLs located on linkage groups LG4 and LG5. Two candidate genes, CHS1 (a chalcone synthase) and TCP15 (a transcription factor), were identified in the genetic intervals of two major QTL sites, respectively. Preliminary verification experiments suggest that CHS1 may play a positive role in anthocyanidin biosynthesis, whereas TCP15 appears to potentially act as a negative regulator. This study provides a foundation for cloning genes controlling flower color and advances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating flower color in S. miltiorrhiza.
‘I knew about political asylum, but not about asylum for gay people’: How queer exiles come to apply (or not) for SOGI asylum in France
Authors: Chossière Florent 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
SOGI asylum has received increasing political and academic attention. Focusing on refugee status determination, academics have emphasized how normative representations of sexual and gender minorities in Northern asylum institutions lead to the exclusion of many SOGI asylum applicants. To broaden the understanding of queer people’s experiences of forced migration and asylum, this paper shifts attention to what happens just before the asylum examination, namely the fact of applying for SOGI asylum itself. Based on 3 years’ ethnographic fieldwork, this research investigates how queer exiles come to apply for SOGI asylum in France. By emphasizing the variety of factors, besides their experiences of persecution, leading them to apply for SOGI asylum, this paper decompartmentalizes asylum from below, denaturalizing the category of LGBT+ refugees by reinserting the asylum application into more general and diversified individual experiences of migration. Doing so, it also counters liberationist and humanitarian narratives associated with SOGI asylum seekers.
Developmental and environmental effects on VTC2-dependent leaf ascorbate accumulation and functions
Authors: Kappel Sandrine , Frieboes Maureen J , Yokoyama Ryo , Kappel Christian , Tóth Szilvia Z , Fernie Alisdair R , Jahns Peter , Smirnoff Nicholas , Aarabi Fayezeh , Armbruster Ute 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
In nature, environmental conditions strongly fluctuate, frequently subjecting plants to periods of immediate photo-oxidative stress. The small molecule ascorbate allows plants to cope with such stress conditions. Ascorbate scavenges reactive oxygen species and enables the rapid and full induction of photoprotective non-photochemical quenching (NPQ). NPQ is dependent on zeaxanthin (Zx), which requires ascorbate as the electron donor during its synthesis by the violaxanthin de-epoxidase. The VTC2 gene encodes for one of two isoforms of GDP-L-galactose phosphorylase, the rate-controlling enzyme of ascorbate biosynthesis. In the current study, by including a newly identified vtc2 allele, we found that loss of VTC2 depleted ascorbate mainly from the mature leaves and thereby limited NPQ specifically in this tissue. Growth in fluctuating light and controlled climate suppressed the slow NPQ induction phenotype of vtc2 mature leaves to some degree. This was concurrent with a constitutively higher accumulation of zeaxanthin under this condition. When plants were shifted to natural conditions, with strongly fluctuating light and temperature, the ascorbate deficient mature leaves of vtc2 bleached. Together, our results reveal developmental and environmental effects on VTC2-dependent ascorbate accumulation and function.
The outer structure of old star clusters in the Small Magellanic Cloud
Authors: Piatti Andrés E 
Published: January 2025

ABSTRACT
We report results on the internal dynamical evolution of old star clusters located in the outer regions of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). Because the SMC has been imprinted with evidence of tidal interaction with the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), we investigated at what extend such an interaction has produced extra-tidal structures or excess of stars beyond the clusters’ tidal radii. For that purpose, we used the Survey of the Magellanic Stellar History DR2 data sets to build number density radial profiles of suitable star clusters, and derived their structural and internal dynamics parameters. The analysed stellar density profiles do not show any evidence of tidal effects caused by the LMC. On the contrary, the Jacobi volume of the selected SMC star clusters would seem underfilled, with a clear trend toward a smaller percentage of underfilled volume as their deprojected distance to the SMC centre increases. Moreover, the internal dynamical evolution of SMC star clusters would seem to be influenced by the SMC gravitational field, being star clusters located closer to the SMC centre in a more advanced evolutionary stage. We compared the internal dynamical evolution of SMC old star clusters with those of LMC and Milky Way globular clusters, and found that Milky Way globular clusters have dynamical evolutionary paths similar to LMC/SMC old star clusters located closer to their respective galaxy’s centres. Finally, we speculate with the possibility that globular clusters belonging to Magellanic Clouds like-mass galaxies have lived a couple of times their median relaxation times.
The human genome encodes a multitude of novel miRNAs
Authors: Gao Fan , Wang Fang , Chen Yue , Deng Bolin , Yang Fujian , Cao Huifen , Chen Junjie , Chen Huiling , Qi Fei , Kapranov Philipp 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Human cells generate a vast complexity of noncoding RNAs, the “RNA dark matter,” which includes a vast small RNA (sRNA) transcriptome. The biogenesis, biological relevance, and mechanisms of action of most of these transcripts remain unknown, and they are widely assumed to represent degradation products. Here, we aimed to functionally characterize human sRNA transcriptome by attempting to answer the following question—can a significant number of novel sRNAs correspond to novel members of known classes, specifically, microRNAs (miRNAs)? By developing and validating a miRNA discovery pipeline, we show that at least 2726 novel canonical miRNAs, majority of which represent novel miRNA families, exist in just one human cell line compared to just 1914 known miRNA loci. Moreover, potentially tens of thousands of miRNAs remain to be discovered. Strikingly, many novel miRNAs map to exons of protein-coding genes emphasizing a complex and interleaved architecture of the genome. The existence of so many novel members of a functional class of sRNAs suggest that the human sRNA transcriptome harbors a multitude of novel regulatory molecules. Overall, these results suggest that we are at the very beginning of understanding the true functional complexity of the sRNA component of the “RNA dark matter.”
Magnetic exchange interaction between unpaired π- and d-electrons in nanographene-metal coordination complexes
Authors: Li Deng-Yuan , Zheng Yuqiang , Ortiz Ricardo , Wang Bing-Xin , Jiang Yashi , Yuan Bingkai , Zhang Xin-Yu , Li Can , Liu Liang , Liu Xiaoxue , Guan Dandan , Li Yaoyi , Zheng Hao , Liu Canhua , Jia Jinfeng , Frederiksen Thomas , Liu Pei-Nian , Wang Shiyong 
Published: January 2025

Abstract
The combination of open-shell nanographenes (NGs) and magnetic transition metals holds great promise for generating various new quantum phases applicable in spintronics and quantum information technologies. However, a crucial aspect in accomplishing this is to comprehend the magnetic exchange interactions between unpaired π- and d-electrons, a topic that has been seldom addressed. In this study, we focus on magnetic π-d exchange interactions between open-shell NGs and a magnetic coordination center of Fe or Co by employing scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy. We synthesize two sets of NG-metal coordination complexes on a Au(111) substrate, secured by coordination bonds of carboxyl acid-Fe (Co). Through analysis of the excitation spectra, we observe a characteristic exchange coupling of 9 meV (5 meV) between the unpaired π-electron and the Fe (Co) d-shell electrons. Our experimental findings are qualitatively in agreement with multiconfigurational quantum chemistry calculations. This work evidences that a substantial magnetic exchange coupling can be achieved and engineered in metal-organic coordination systems, paving the way for designing and customizing extended radical metal-organic frameworks with precisely tailored magnetic properties.
Effectiveness of text message reminder and motivational interview on adherence to methadone treatment in Vietnam: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Le Uyen Thanh Nu , Tran Thuan Thien , Le Giang Truong , Huynh Ha Khanh Mai , Bui Han Hy Thi , Pham Phuong Thu Thi , Nguyen Mai Ngoc Thi , Thai Truc Thanh 
Published: January 2025

Abstract

Background
Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is effective for treating opioid dependence. However, nonadherence can increase the risk of withdrawal syndrome, relapse, and overdose.

Methods
A community-based randomized controlled trial was conducted on 450 opioid-dependent patients undergoing MMT at three clinics in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Patients were randomly allocated into three groups including control, text message reminder (TMR), and motivational interview (MI). Treatment adherence was assessed every 3 months, including complete adherence, consecutive adherence, and weekend adherence.

Results
After 6 months, the MI group had significantly higher complete adherence than the control group (RR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.09–1.69). The TMR group showed higher complete adherence at 3 months (RR = 1.27, 95% CI: 1.02–1.58) and 6 months (RR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.06–1.56) compared to the control group. Weekend adherence in the TMR group was higher than the control group after 6 months (RR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.07–1.31).

Conclusion
MI and TMR effectively improved treatment adherence, particularly complete adherence. Therefore, this study suggests the potential of these two methods in enhancing adherence among MMT patients in Vietnam.
Do modern orthopaedic trainees have sufficient exposure to open shoulder stabilization procedures?
Authors: Duvall Grant T. , Chopra Aman , Wright Melissa A. , Murthi Anand M. 
Published: January 2025

Background:
Arthroscopic stabilization and bone augmentation procedures have become common treatment options for anterior shoulder instability, while the use of open soft tissue stabilization procedures has declined. This study aimed to determine current trends in utilization of open soft tissue stabilization among shoulder surgeons and the relationship between procedure volume in practice and exposure as trainees.

Methods:
Out of the 1,115 American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeon members surveyed, 212 surgeons completed a questionnaire about exposure to open soft tissue stabilization techniques during training, practice patterns for shoulder instability, perceived skill with open soft tissue stabilization procedures, and opinions on the importance of these procedures. Statistical analyses correlated practice numbers, training exposure, and self-perceived facileness.

Results:
Out of the 212 surgeons who completed the survey, 71% (n=153/212) of respondents performed less than 25% of their stabilization procedures in an open manner. Sixty-seven percent (n=143/212) of respondents reported that less than 10% of their open procedures involved only soft tissue. The number of open soft tissue stabilization procedures performed in practice correlated with the number performed during residency (r=0.42; P<0.001) and fellowship (r=0.46; P<0.001). Eighty percent of respondents reported self-perceived facileness with open soft tissue stabilization which correlated with the number of procedures performed in practice (P<0.001), residency (P<0.001), and fellowship (P<0.001). Half of respondents (51%; n=109/212) believed that procedure exposure was necessary for residents.

Conclusion:
Shoulder specialists perform a low volume of open soft tissue stabilization procedures currently. Exposure throughout training correlates with using these procedures in practice, and with surgeon confidence.

Level of evidence:
V
Thickness of Subcutaneous Fat as a Proxy for BMI in Non-ambulatory Patients With Neuromuscular Scoliosis Undergoing Posterior Spinal Fusion
Authors: Sukkarieh Hamdi , Akalonu Chibuzo , Liles Steele , Gillon William Hunter , Melancon Drew , Spears Isaac , Nehete Priyanka , Brooks Jaysson 
Published: January 2025

Background:
Posterior spinal fusion in neuromuscular scoliosis patients carries a significant risk of postoperative surgical site infection (SSI). Body mass index has been associated with increased risk of surgical site infections, but it is difficult to obtain an accurate height of non-ambulatory children with severe neuromuscular scoliosis. Subcutaneous fat thickness has been associated with increased rates of surgical site infections in other surgeries; however, current literature has not elucidated a relationship between subcutaneous fat thickness and surgical site infections in this patient population.

Methods:
A retrospective chart review analyzed non-ambulatory patients with neuromuscular scoliosis who underwent posterior spinal fusion. Patients were stratified into 3 groups (underweight, normal weight, and overweight/obese) based on BMI-for-age percentiles. Subcutaneous fat thickness was measured in both the sagittal and coronal planes at 24 landmarks. Comparisons of categorical data were analyzed using χ2 tests. Logistic regression analysis was used to isolate independent factors associated with surgical site infections.

Results:
A total of 109 patients were analyzed. Thirty-four patients were underweight, 55 patients were normal weight, and 20 were overweight/obese. Twelve patients developed surgical site infections, with only 1 of them requiring an unplanned return to the operating room. Patients in the overweight/obese category had an increased risk of surgical site infection when compared with those in the normal weight and underweight categories (P=0.027). Of the 24 measurements taken, subcutaneous fat thickness to total distance from skin ratios at L2 spinous process (P=0.031), L3 spinous process (P=0.42), and averages of L2, L3, and L4 ratios (P=0.028) were all found to be associated with increased risk of surgical site infection.

Conclusion:
In this study population of patients with neuromuscular scoliosis who underwent posterior spinal fusion, increased BMI was associated with increased risk of SSI. Furthermore, 3 radiographic measurements of subcutaneous fat thickness associated with a higher risk of surgical site infections were identified. This knowledge could contribute to devising preoperative strategies to mitigate surgical risk and postoperative complications.

Level of Evidence:
Level III—a retrospective study
Predictive Models of Visual Decline after Successful Half-dose Photodynamic Therapy in Chronic Central Serous Chorioretinopathy
Authors: Huang Yu-Te , Chou Hsuan-Chung , Lu Jhih-Yi , Huang Yu-Chuen , Kuo Hou-Ting , Yang Chi-Lan , Chen San-Ni 
Published: January 2025

Purpose:
To identify baseline characteristics that predict vision decline (VD) in patients with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy(cCSC) who have anatomically responded to half-dose photodynamic therapy(PDT).

Methods:
Patients with cCSC who underwent half-dose PDT once and achieved subretinal fluid resolution were retrospectively reviewed. They were categorized into the VD group and the vision maintenance/improvement(VMI) group based on visual acuity 6 months post-treatment. Baseline optical coherence tomography(OCT), OCT angiography, fundus autofluorescence(FAF), and choroidal vascular hyperpermeability(CVH) patterns were analyzed to identify predictive factors for the VD group. Predictive models were evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC) from receiver operating characteristic curves to estimate the likelihood of VD.

Results:
A total of 63 patients were reviewed, with 14 in VD group and 49 in VMI group. OCT measurements revealed that VD group had significantly thinner layers from internal limiting membrane(ILM) to external limiting membrane(IE) and from ILM to ellipsoid zone(IEZ)(IE: 79.3 ± 22.2 µm vs. 100.1 ± 20.1 µm, P = .001; IEZ: 93.9 ± 23.7 µm vs. 114.5 ± 19.8 µm, P = .002). The IE and IEZ cutoff values were 84 µm and 95.5 µm(P = .006 and .008), respectively. The predictive model's AUC was 0.743 for IE alone. The best model, which included IE, age, sex, spherical equivalent, FAF, and CVH patterns, achieved an AUC of 0.860.

Conclusions:
Baseline IE and IEZ are significant predictors of VD in cCSC patients after half-dose PDT, making them useful for identifying high-risk patients and discussing these potential outcomes in advance.
A clinical-radiomics nomogram to predict early neurological deterioration in patients with stroke undergoing intravenous thrombolysis
Authors: Zhang Xiao-Guang , Jiang Shan-Shan , Zhang Dong , Chen Shu-Hua , Kong Yu-Ming , Bai Yue-Ying , Gu Zhi-Chun , Yue Yun-Hua 
Published: January 2025

Background:
Anticipating early neurological deterioration in patients with ischemic stroke undergoing intravenous thrombolysis poses a considerable challenge in clinical practice. This study aimed to develop and validate a diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)-based clinical-radiomics nomogram for predicting early neurological deterioration in patients with ischemic stroke without large vessel occlusion or hemorrhagic transformation undergoing intravenous thrombolysis.

Methods:
A total of 273 patients with stroke were randomly divided into training (n = 192) and validation (n = 81) cohorts at a ratio of 7:3. DWI images taken within 24 h post-intravenous thrombolysis were used to extract radiological features. The t-test, least absolute shrinkage, and selection operator algorithm were used for feature selection. These features were used to create a radiomics score (radscore) for each patient. Combined with the clinical features, a logistic regression model was used to select independent risk factors that were used to construct a clinical-radiomics nomogram. The performance of the nomogram was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC), calibration, discrimination, and decision curve analysis.

Results:
A total of 1,307 radiomics features were extracted from each patient’s data. A total of 310 radiomics features were found to be stable after being screened by intraclass correlation coefficients. Seven features were included in the construction of the radscore. The AUC of the clinical-radiomics nomogram was 0.89 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.83–0.95) in the training cohort and 0.95 (95% CI 0.90–0.99) in the validation cohort. The calibration curve and decision curve analysis indicated favorable calibration and net clinical benefits of the nomogram.

Conclusion:
A DWI-based clinical-radiomics nomogram can effectively predict early neurological deterioration in patients with ischemic stroke in the early phase after intravenous thrombolysis.
Can exercise reduce fatigue in people living with kidney disease?
Authors: Wilkinson Thomas J. , Ancliffe Lisa , Macdonald Jamie H. 
Published: January 2025

Purpose of review
In people living with kidney disease (KD) Fatigue is a whole-body tiredness that is not related to activity or exertion. Often self-reported, fatigue is a common and highly burdensome symptom, yet poorly defined and understood. While its mechanisms are complex, many fatigue-related factors may be altered by exercise and physical activity intervention. Thus, this review aims to review the latest research on exercise in reducing fatigue in people living with KD.

Recent findings
The benefits of exercise in KD are well known, yet recent data from clinical trials on fatigue are scarce. Favourable effects on fatigue were found through a myriad of physical activity and exercise-based interventions, including using exercise-based video games, exercise during dialysis, nurse-led exercise programs, and home-based exercise delivered by a novel digital health intervention. Yet, whilst the handful of recent trials show positive efficacy on fatigue across the spectrum of KD, contemporary exercise-based research was impacted critically by COVID-19, and the field is limited by underpowered trials and heterogeneity of assessment tools.

Summary
Fatigue remains, at best, a secondary outcome measure in trials despite it being the most commonly reported symptom in KD. Given its importance to the people it impacts most, better quality evidence is needed to fully understand and optimize the impact of exercise in this group.