bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Odontogenic sinusitis: A literature review
Authors: George Michael , Noor Anthony , Thorpe Andrew Raymond Darren Scott , Sritharan Niranjan , Riffat Faruque 
Published: November 2023

AbstractAimTo present the most recent evidence about odontogenic sinusitis.Materials and methodsAn electronic search was conducted in MEDLINE via OVID, Embase via OVID and PubMed for odontogenic sinusitis.ResultsOdontogenic sinusitis originates from pathology of the dentition and surrounding structures. This disease differs from sinusitis of other causes in pathophysiology, diagnosis, microbiology and management. Symptoms of unilateral nasal obstruction and purulent discharge are highly suggestive of the disease. Computed tomography is considered the gold standard in assessing the relationship between dental conditions and sinus disease. Failure to eliminate the dental source of infection will often result in treatment failures. Collaboration and multidisciplinary management between dental surgeons and otolaryngologists is imperative for the successful identification and treatment of the disease, as either treatment in isolation may be inadequate leading to poor patient outcomes. Primary dental treatment may be effective in patients with lower sinonasal disease burden and similarly, patients suffering from minimal dental disease may recover from sinus surgery alone. Combined dental and sinus surgery results in disease resolution in 90%–100% of patients; however, controversy remains regarding the optimal sequence of interventions.ConclusionThis review describes the aetiological, microbiological, clinical findings and diagnostic methods, as well as clinical and patient factors influencing treatment modalities of odontogenic sinusitis. Furthermore, a management decision tree is provided.
The Quality of Life of the Patients with Thoracic Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum after Surgery Using EQ‐5D‐5L
Authors: Li Junhu , Deng Zhipeng , Wang Linnan , Wang Lei , Yang Hailing , Yang Xi , Song Yuemin 
Published: November 2023

ObjectiveThere is a lack of studies on the quality of life (QoL) after posterior laminectomy in patients with thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (TOLF), and risk factors associated with poor prognosis remain controversial. Therefore, the present study was conducted to illustrate the QoL for TOLF patients after surgery and determine its relationship with their demographic, surgery‐related, clinical characteristics and imaging data.MethodsOne hundred and eighteen patients diagnosed with thoracic myelopathy because of TOLF were enrolled in this retrospective study. They all underwent posterior decompressive laminectomy from August 2010 to January 2022. The QoL was evaluated based on the EQ‐5D‐5L. Collecting gender, age, number of operations, compressed segments, Frankel grade, complications, body mass index (BMI), symptoms and duration, modified Japanese Orthopaedic Association (mJOA) score (preoperative), follow‐up time and type of ossification, increased signal on Sagittal T2‐weighted Images (ISST2I), occupancy rate and analyzing by Mann–Whitney U‐test, Kruskal–Wallis test, the χ2‐test, and logistic regression tests.ResultsAverage follow‐up 70.8 months (18–149), the mean age was 59.74 ± 9.81 years and the mean score for the QoL based on the EQ‐5D‐5 L and visual analogue scale (VAS) score were 0.71 ± 0.28 and 78.88 ± 10.21 at the final follow‐up. Moderate and severe problems were found in the pain/discomfort in 22.0% of the patients. These mobility and usual activities numbers were slightly higher (24.6% and 30.4%, respectively). The mean scores for QoL and VAS were significantly higher in patients with mild and moderate neurological impairment, normal BMI, <60 years of age, no dural tears, symptom relief at hospital discharge, unilateral and bilateral ossification on axial CT scan, ≤ 50% spinal canal occupancy on CT and MRI, and none or fuzzy on ISST2I.ConclusionQoL after posterior laminectomy in TOLF patients is generally satisfactory compared to preoperative levels. Preoperative mJOA score, Age, comorbid diabetes, the major symptom is activity limitation, BMI, ISST2I, Intraoperative dural tears and spinal canal occupancy rate correlate significantly with the corresponding dimensions and are predictive. Age, spinal canal occupancy rate, ISST2I, preoperative mJOA score, BMI are significantly associated with and have predictive value for overall postoperative QoL.
Bone Healing and Clinical Outcome Following Medial Opening‐wedge High Tibial Osteotomy Using Wedge‐Shaped Cancellous Allograft
Authors: Chen Jinlun , Li Jiahao , Zhang Haitao , Feng Wenjun , Ye Pengcheng , Qi Xinyu , Li Jie , Deng Peng , Li Yijin , Huang Yiwei , Zeng Jianchun , Zeng Yirong 
Published: November 2023

ObjectiveMedial opening‐wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOWHTO) is considered to be an effective treatment for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (KOA) of isolated the medial compartment with varus alignment of the lower extremity. However, the choice of material to fill the void remains controversial. This study aims to evaluate the bone union of the osteotomy gap using a novel wedge‐shaped cancellous allograft after MOWHTO and its effect on clinical outcomes.MethodsAll patients who underwent MOWHTO using a novel wedge‐shaped cancellous allograft combined with TomoFix locking compression plate (LCP) fixation between January 2016 and July 2020 were enrolled. The radiographic parameters including hip‐knee‐ankle angle (HKAA), medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA), femorotibial angle (FTA) and posterior tibial slope angle (PTSA) were measured between pre‐operative and post‐operative radiographs. Knee Society score (KSS) and range of motion (ROM) were assessed preoperatively and at last follow‐up. Patients included in this study were divided into two groups according to the correction angle: small correction group (< 10°; SC group) and large correction group (≥ 10°; LC group). The modified Radiographic Union score for tibial fractures (mRUST) was used to assess the difference in bone healing between the two groups at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively and at the final follow‐up. A paired student's t test was conducted for comparison of differences of the relevant data pre‐operatively and post‐operatively.ResultsA total of 82 patients (88 knees) were included in this study. The HKAA, MPTA, FTA and PTSA increased from −6.4° ± 3.0°, 85.1° ± 2.6°, 180.1° ± 3.2° and 7.7° ± 4.4° preoperatively to 1.2° ± 4.3° (p < 0.001), 94.4° ± 3.3° (p < 0.001), 171.0° ± 2.8° and 11.8° ± 5.8° (p < 0.001) immediately postoperatively, respectively. However, no significant statistic difference was found in above‐mentioned parameters at last follow‐up compared to immediate postoperative data (p > 0.05). All patients in this study achieved good bone healing at the final follow‐up and no significant differences in mRUST scores were seen between the SC group and LC group. The KSS‐Knee score and KSS‐Function score improved significantly from 55.4 ± 3.7 and 63.3 ± 4.6 preoperatively to 86.4 ± 2.8 (p < 0.001) and 89.6 ± 2.9 (p < 0.001) at last follow‐up, respectively. Nevertheless, there was no significant difference in ROM between pre‐operation and last follow‐up (p > 0.05).ConclusionFor MOWHTO, the wedge‐shaped cancellous allograft was a reliable choice for providing good bone healing and clinical outcomes.
Predicting Union, Osteomyelitis, and Amputation Outcomes of Gustilo IIIC Open Tibial Fractures: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Chen Shih‐Heng , Lien Po‐Hao , Lan Ching‐Yu , Hsu Chung‐Cheng , Lin Cheng‐Hung , Lin Yu‐Te , Lin Chih‐Hung , Yu Yi‐Hsun 
Published: November 2023

ObjectiveOpen tibial fractures are frequently encountered in high‐energy traumas and can result in significant complications such as nonunion, osteomyelitis, and even amputation. Among open tibial fractures, Gustilo type IIIC cases are particularly challenging due to the concomitant occurrence of neurovascular injuries and soft tissue defects. This study aimed to assess factors that affect union time and complications in Gustilo IIIC tibial fractures.MethodsPatients who presented at our center with IIIC open tibial fractures from January 2000 to October 2020 were eligible for this retrospective analysis. Patient demographics, fracture characteristics, and the timing, number, and type of surgical intervention were documented. Outcomes of interest included union time, occurrence of osteomyelitis, and amputation. We performed univariate analyses including chi‐squared test, Fischer's exact test, analysis of variance, and Kruskal–Wallis test based on the normality of the data and multivariate analyses including Cox proportional hazards model and logistic regression analyses.ResultsFifty‐eight patients were enrolled and grouped by fracture healing time; eight had timely union (13.8%); 27 had late union (46.6%); eight had delayed union (13.8%); three had nonunion (5.2%); and 12 underwent amputation (20.7%). Nine fractures (15.5%) were complicated by osteomyelitis. Union time was prolonged in cases of triple arterial injury, distal third fractures, multiple trauma with injury severity score (ISS) ≥ 16 points, and increased bone defect length. Additionally, a bone gap >50 mm, diabetes mellitus, low body mass index, and triple arterial injury in the lower leg were significant risk factors for amputation. A time from injury to definitive soft tissue coverage of more than 22 days was the major risk factor for osteomyelitis. A scoring system to predict union time was devised and the predicted probability of union within 2 years was stratified based on this score.ConclusionIIIC tibial fractures involving the distal third of the tibia, fractures with bone defects, triple arterial injury, and multiple trauma with ISS ≥16 points demonstrated delayed union, and an effective prediction system for union time was introduced in this study. Early soft tissue coverage can reduce the risk of osteomyelitis. Finally, diabetes and severe bone and soft tissue defects pose a higher risk of amputation.
Targeted knockout of early nodulin‐like 3 (MusaENODL3) gene in banana reveals its function in resistance to Xanthomonas wilt disease
Authors: Ntui Valentine Otang , Tripathi Jaindra Nath , Shah Trushar , Tripathi Leena 
Published: November 2023

SummaryNodulins and nodulin‐like proteins play an essential role in the symbiotic associations between legumes and Rhizobium bacteria. Their role extends beyond the leguminous species, as numerous nodulin‐like proteins, including early nodulin‐like proteins (ENODL), have been identified in various non‐leguminous plants, implying their involvement in functions beyond nodulation, such as nutrient transport and growth modulation. Some ENODL proteins have been associated with plant defense against pathogens, as evident in banana infected with Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum (Xcm) causing banana Xanthomonas wilt (BXW) disease. Nonetheless, the specific role of ENODL in plant defense remains to be fully elucidated. The MusaENODL3 gene was found to be repressed in BXW‐resistant banana progenitor ‘Musa balbisiana’ and 20‐fold upregulated in BXW‐susceptible cultivar ‘Gonja Manjaya’ upon early infection with Xcm. To further unravel the role of the ENODL gene in disease resistance, the CRISPR/Cas9 system was employed to disrupt the MusaENODL3 gene in ‘Gonja Manjaya’ precisely. Analysis of the enodl3 edited events confirmed the accurate manipulation of the MusaENODL3 gene. Disease resistance and gene expression analysis demonstrated that editing the MusaENODL3 gene resulted in resistance to BXW disease, with 50% of the edited plants remaining asymptomatic. The identification and manipulation of the MusaENODL3 gene highlight its potential as a critical player in plant‐pathogen interactions, offering new opportunities for enhancing disease resistance in crops like banana, an important staple food crop and source of income for resource‐poor farmers in the tropics. This study provides the first evidence of the direct role of the ENODL3 gene in developing disease‐resistant plants.
Self‐perceived problems in daily activities and strategy building in people with different stages of dementia
Authors: Ross Sabrina D. , Kreß Jennifer , Rodriguez Francisca S. 
Published: November 2023

BackgroundPeople with dementia experience severe problems in their daily lives. However, little is known about self‐perceived problems in the course of dementia. The aim of our study was to assess self‐perceived problems with daily activities as well as individually developed strategies of older people of different cognitive status.MethodsSemi‐structured interviews were conducted with 25 participants (mean age 67.6 years, 56% female, 24% healthy, 28% mild dementia, 48% severe dementia). Questions addressed problems in daily activities, their occurrence and the behaviour toward them, and their developed strategies. Information was summarized quantitatively and evaluated using the chi‐squared and Kruskal–Wallis tests.ResultsSelf‐perceived problems included awareness of physical and cognitive deficits in managing daily life, disturbing factors, and lost autonomy. Increased cognitive impairment was associated with more problems in daily life, even though people with severe dementia seemed not to recognize them. The most frequently reported strategies included orderliness, doing things immediately, and the use of external aids. While healthy people and those with mild dementia developed strategies, those with severe dementia reported only few strategies.ConclusionOur findings indicate that self‐perceived problems in daily life and strategy development are strongest in mild dementia, while people with more severe dementia tend to perceive no problems at all while correctly reflecting their current state of dependency. Importantly, despite memory loss during early stages of dementia, strategies are still being developed. Accordingly, strategies for daily living should be taught in early dementia to sustain an independent lifestyle.
Multivariate pattern analysis of EEG reveals nuanced impact of negation on sentence processing in the N400 and later time windows
Authors: He Yifei , Sommer Johanna , Hansen‐Schirra Silvia , Nagels Arne 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThe neurocognitive mechanism underlying negation processing remains controversial. While negation is suggested to modulate the access of word meaning, no such evidence has been observed in the event‐related potential (ERP) literature on sentence processing. In the current study, we applied both univariate ERP and multivariate pattern analysis (MVPA) methods to examine the processing of sentence negation. We investigated two types of negative congruent/incongruent sentence pairs with truth‐value evaluation (e.g., “A robin is a/not a bird”) and without (e.g., “The woman reads a/no book”). In the N400 time window, ERPs consistently showed increased negativity for negative and incongruent conditions. MVPA, on the other hand, revealed nuanced interactions between polarity and congruency. In the later P600 time window, MVPA but not the ERPs revealed an effect of congruency, which may be functionally distinct from the N400 window. We further used cross‐decoding to show that the cognitive processes underlying the N400 window for both affirmative and negative sentences are comparable, whereas in the P600 window, only for the truth sentences, negative sentences showed a distinct pattern from their affirmative counterparts. Our results thus speak for a more interactive, but nevertheless serial and biphasic, and potentially construction‐specific processing account of negation. We also discuss the advantage of applying MVPA in addition to the classical univariate methods for a better understanding of the neurobiology of negation processing and language comprehension alike.
Motility, oxidative status and morphology of frozen‐thawed bovine semen are not impacted by fatty acid exposure in vitro
Authors: Vieira Camila Cupper , Missio Daniele , Brum Daniela dos Santos , Menezes Rafaela Dalmolin , Cibin Francielli Weber Santos , Mesquita Fernando Silveira , Gonçalves Paulo Bayard Dias , Ferreira Rogério 
Published: November 2023

AbstractWhile sperm migrate within the reproductive tract of cows experiencing negative energy balance (NEB), they come into contact with elevated concentrations of non‐esterified fatty acids (NEFA). For this reason, this study aimed to investigate the effects of three different NEFA – palmitic acid (PA), stearic acid (SA), and oleic acid (OA) – on bovine sperm motility, kinetic parameters, oxidative status, and morphology. Frozen thawed semen samples from Bos taurus bulls were incubated with varying concentrations of each fatty acid, and the sperm's characteristics were analysed at different time points. Computer‐Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) was employed to assess sperm motility and kinetic parameters. Concurrently, the production of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and total antioxidant capacity were measured to determine the oxidative status. Additionally, sperm morphology was evaluated. In Experiment 1, different concentrations of PA did not show significant effects on total motility, progressive motility, or any kinetic parameters analysed. Similarly, PA did not have a significant impact on the oxidative status or sperm morphology. In Experiment 2, SA at various concentrations did not lead to significant changes in total motility, progressive motility, or any kinetic parameters evaluated. Furthermore, SA did not affect oxidative status or sperm morphology. In Experiment 3, the concentrations of OA used did not result in significant changes in total motility, progressive motility, or any kinetic parameters studied. Likewise, OA did not induce any alterations in oxidative status or sperm morphology. Overall, the results from all three experiments indicate that PA, SA and OA, at the in vitro conditions and tested concentrations, do not exert detrimental effects on bovine sperm function and morphology. These results provide insights that contribute to our understanding of how fatty acids can impact the reduction of fertility rates in cows facing NEB. This, in turn, lays the foundation for additional critical investigations in this area. Further studies are necessary to validate these findings in vivo.
Is it all about the government's early response? A configurational analysis of 27 cases in governing COVID‐19 in China
Authors: Tan Haibo , Li Yanwei , Huang Jiachen , Liu Xiaozhou 
Published: November 2023

AbstractGovernance and policy authors are concerned with the effectiveness of crisis management. In this study, the effectiveness of 27 Chinese provinces in addressing COVID‐19 is examined using the QCA approach. The contribution identifies four pathways for explaining effective crisis management and two for explaining ineffective crisis management. Strong analytical capacity is a relatively critical condition for achieving effective crisis management. This study contributes to the existing governance and policy literature through uncovering the mechanisms underlying effective crisis management.
Regulatory noncompliance among unlicensed care homes: Evidence from Poland
Authors: Łuczak Paweł , Ławrynowicz Maciej 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThe development of markets for private for‐profit care homes often raises concerns about the quality of services provided by these care homes. To address the fundamental needs of their residents, governments introduce quality regulations and, through mandatory licensing, allow private care homes to enter the market. However, in some countries, evidence reveals that many private care homes operate without a mandatory licence; information about the basic characteristics of these unlicensed care homes (UCHs) and their operations is often unavailable because they try to remain ‘invisible’; they have also received little research attention. This article fills this gap using the case of Poland. The study employs a unique dataset combining inspection reports produced during public monitoring of UCHs and in‐depth interviews with owners of such care homes. This article explores how the regulation of markets for private care homes does not lead to the comprehensive licensing of such care homes. The findings show that the regulation enabled UCHs to remain ‘partially visible’ to many parties, including public sector entities. The findings contribute to a wider debate about the marketisation of long‐term care, particularly regarding the noncompliance of private providers.
Does the unemployment trap still exist? The case of the Italian minimum income scheme
Authors: Busilacchi Gianluca , Fabbri Alessandro 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThe question of whether welfare benefits imprison recipients in unemployment traps has been at the centre of academic and political debates in recent decades. Empirical evidence at the micro level supports the existence of work disincentive effects of welfare benefits, although of a small magnitude. However, the question of whether this translates into lower aggregate employment remains unsettled. This study innovates the existing literature by providing an estimation of the impact of the monetary component of the Italian minimum income scheme (MIS) on the employment rate. Isolating this impact from the spurious pro‐work effects of the Active Labour Market Policies embedded in every contemporary MIS is possible because in the Italian case, in the first quarters of implementation of the policy, the activation side was not operating. We adopt a difference‐in‐differences method and find that the impact of the monetary component of the Italian MIS on the employment rate is not statistically significant. The finding is robust to different treatment definitions, different specification models and weighted and unweighted econometric analysis. We then carry out a heterogeneous analysis and find that the impact, despite being indistinguishable from zero on average, is significant and negative for provinces with weak labour demand.
Perennial soil characteristics are the main factor driving in vitro inhibition of the wheat fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum in a French case study
Authors: Simon Lena , Langin Thierry , Nowak Benjamin , Marliac Gaëlle 
Published: November 2023

AbstractSoils are termed ‘suppressive’ when they can limit the emergence and propagation of plant diseases. However, little is known regarding what factors determine suppressiveness and whether they could be improved for a given soil. Agricultural practices, such as tillage systems, influence the properties of the soil, and could be a lever to improve soil suppression of pathogens. In this study, we investigated the impact of soil type and crop management practices on soil suppressiveness towards Fusarium graminearum, a major winter wheat (Triticum aestivum) pathogen. As it is transmitted via crop residues left on soil, F. graminearum is susceptible to soil suppression. Soil suppressiveness has been evaluated in more than a 100 sampled fields in the Limagne plain (Puy‐de‐Dôme, France), to represent a great diversity of soil types (either calcisol, vertisol or fluvisol) and cropping systems (organic, reduced tillage or intensive cropping systems). The physicochemical composition of the sampled soils and crop management practices, identified through farmer surveys, were included in a generalized linear mixed‐effect model to explain soil fungistasis. A fungistasis test was performed by putting a plug of PDA‐agar inoculated with Fusarium in contact with the soil and measuring the area of fungal growth. This test revealed a wide variety of soil fungistatic properties, ranging from conducive soils (22% of soil covered by fungal growth) to very suppressive soils (1% of soil covered). Suppressiveness was related to soil perennial properties (p‐value <.001) rather than practices. Overall, these results show that soil type and composition play a key role in fungistasis, and that soil suppressiveness is a complex, multifactorial process.