bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Measurement Invariance of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire Across 17 Countries
Authors: Schutte Lusilda , Brdar Ingrid , Wissing Marié P. , Tončić Marko , Araujo Ulisses , Carlquist Erik , Castro Solano Alejandro , Freire Teresa , Hernández-Pozo María del Rocío , Jose Paul E. , Martos Tamás , Nakamura Jeanne , Nuñez del Prado Chaves Pamela , Russo-Netzer Pninit , Singh Kamlesh , Slezackova Alena , Soosai-Nathan Lawrence , Unanue Wenceslao , Vella-Brodrick Dianne A. , Delle Fave Antonella 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe Meaning in Life Questionnaire assesses presence of and search for meaning in life. Although the questionnaire has shown promising psychometric properties in samples from different countries, the scale’s measurement invariance across a large number of nations has yet to be assessed. This study is aimed at addressing this gap, providing insight into how meaning in life is constructed and experienced across countries and into the extent to which cross-country comparisons can be made. A total of 3867 adult participants from 17 countries, aged 30–60, balanced by gender, and with at least secondary education, completed the questionnaire as part of the Eudaimonic and Hedonic Happiness Investigation. Single sample confirmatory factor analysis, multigroup confirmatory factor analysis, and alignment optimization were applied to investigate the scale’s performance across the samples. Good psychometric properties and high levels of approximate measurement invariance emerged for the Presence subscale after removal of item 9, the only reverse-phrased item. Performance of the Search subscale varied more across samples, suggesting caution in interpreting related results supporting approximate measurement invariance. The conceptualization of presence of meaning operationalized in the corresponding subscale (without item 9) appears consistent across countries, whereas search for meaning seems to be less universally homogenous and requires further exploration. Moreover, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire does not reflect the conceptual distinction between “purpose” and “meaning” currently acknowledged by researchers. This issue should be further explored in studies addressing the scale’s performance across cultures.
Spinal pseudoarthrosis following osteoporotic vertebral fracture: prevalence, risk factors, and influence on patients’ activities of daily living 1 year after injury
Authors: Wakao Norimitsu , Sakai Yoshihito , Watanabe Tsuyoshi , Osada Naoaki , Sugiura Takaya , Iida Hiroki , Ozawa Yuto , Murotani Kenta 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Purpose
To investigate the prevalence and risk factors and influence of pseudoarthrosis on activities of daily living (ADL) of patients with osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF).

Methods
Spinal pseudoarthrosis is defined as the presence of a cleft in the vertebral body on a lateral X-ray image in the sitting position at 1 year after admission. Of the total 684 patients treated for OVF between January 2012 and February 2019 at our institution, 551 patients (mean age, 81.9 years; a male-to-female ratio, 152:399) who could be followed up to 1 year were included in this study. Prevalence, risk factors, and influence of pseudoarthrosis on the ADL of patients as well as fracture type and location were investigated. Pseudoarthrosis was set as the objective variable. Total bone mineral density, skeletal muscle mass index, sex, age, history of osteoporosis treatment, presence of dementia, vertebral kyphosis angle, fracture type (presence of posterior wall injury), degree of independence before admission, history of steroid use, albumin level, renal function, presence of diabetes, and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis were set as explanatory variables for multivariate analysis of the influence of pseudoarthrosis on the walking ability and ADL independence before and 1 year after OVF.

Results
In total, 54 (9.8%) patients were diagnosed with pseudarthrosis 1 year after injury (mean age, 81.3 ± 6.5 years; male-to-female ratio, 18:36). BKP was performed in nine patients who did not develop pseudoarthrosis after 1 year. In the multivariate analysis, only the presence of posterior wall injury was significantly correlated with the presence of pseudoarthrosis (OR = 2.059, p = 0.039). No significant difference was found between the pseudarthrosis group and the non-pseudarthrosis group in terms of walking ability and ADL independence at 1 year.

Conclusions
The prevalence of pseudoarthrosis following OVF was 9.8%, and its risk factor was posterior wall injury. The BKP group was not included in the pseudoarthrosis group, which may have led to an underestimation of the prevalence of pseudoarthrosis.

Summary
The prevalence, risk factors, and influence of spinal pseudoarthrosis on patients’ ADL following osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) were investigated. Pseudoarthrosis occurs in 9.8% 1 year after the injury in patients with OVF. Posterior wall injury was the risk factor of pseudoarthrosis.
A pair of gametologous genes provides further insights into avian comparative cytogenomics
Authors: Sazanov Alexei A. , Sazanova Anna L. , Nefedov Mikhail D. , Griffin Darren K. , Romanov Michael N. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractExploration of avian gametologous genes, i.e., homologous genes located on both the Z and W chromosomes, provides a crucial information about the underlying mechanism pertaining to the evolution of these chromosomes. The domestic chicken (Gallus gallus (Linnaeus 1758); GGA) traditionally serves as the primary reference subject of these comparative cytogenomic studies. Using bioinformatic, molecular (overgo BAC library scanning), and cytogenetic (BAC-based FISH) techniques, we have investigated in detail a pair of UBE2R2/UBE2R2L gametologs. By screening a gridded genomic jungle fowl BAC library, CHORI-261, with a short labeled UBE2R2L gene fragment called overgo probe, we detected seven specific clones. For three of them, CH261-019I23, CH261-105E16, and CH261-114G22, we identified their precise cytogenetic location on the Gallus gallus W chromosome (GGAW). They also co-localized with the UBAP2L2 gene on the, as was shown previously, along with the CH261-053P09 BAC clone also containing the GGAW-specific UBE2R2L DNA sequence. The fine mapping of the UBE2R2/UBE2R2L homologs in the chicken genome also shed the light on comparative cytogenetic aspects in birds. Our findings provided further evidence that bird genomes moderately changed only during evolution and are suitable for successful use of interspecies hybridization using both overgo-based BAC library screen and BAC-based FISH.
Sexual and reproductive complications and concerns of survivors of childhood, adolescent and adult cancer
Authors: Gerstl Brigitte , Signorelli Christina , Wakefield Claire E. , Deans Rebecca , Vaishnav Tejnei , Johnston Karen , Neville Kristen , Cohn Richard J. , Anazodo Antoinette 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Cancer survivors may experience infertility and sexual dysfunction following cancer treatment. Survivors report significant gaps in oncofertility care and consider these issues important, yet they are rarely discussed. The aims of this study were to evaluate survivors’ sexual and reproductive complications across age groups and to identify specific groups of survivors at risk for sexual and reproductive complications.

Method
We report data collected from survivors of cancers diagnosed in childhood, adolescence and adulthood following the development and piloting of a reproductive survivorship patient reported outcome measure (RS-PROM).

Results
One hundred and fifty survivors participated in the study (mean age at cancer diagnosis was 23.2 years [SD, 10.3 years]). About 68% of participants expressed concerns about their sexual health and function. Survivors (50%) expressed at least one body image concern, with the female gender the most common risk factor for all subgroups. A total of 36% of participants reported at least one concern regarding their fertility, with more male than female survivors reporting fertility preservation prior to treatment. Females compared with male participants were more likely to feel less physically attractive after treatment (OR = 3.83, 95% CI = 1.84–7.95, p < 0.001). More females than males were also more likely to feel dissatisfied with the appearance of a scar(s) after treatment (OR = 2.36, 95% CI = 1.13–4.91, p = 0.02).

Conclusion
The RS-PROM identified multiple reproductive complications and concerns for cancer survivors in the survivorship period.

Implications for Cancer Survivors
Utilising the RS-PROM in conjunction with a clinic appointment could help identify and address cancer patients’ concerns and symptoms.
Sustaining HIV Research in Resource-Limited Settings Using PLAN (People, Learning, Adapting, Nurturing): Evidence from the 4 Youth by Youth Project in Nigeria
Authors: Iwelunmor Juliet , Tucker Joseph D. , Ezechi Oliver , Nwaozuru Ucheoma , Obiezu-Umeh Chisom , Gbaja-Biamila Titilola , Oladele David , Musa Adesola Z. , Airhihenbuwa Collins O. 
Published: March 2023

Abstract

Purpose of Review
Sustaining evidence-based interventions in resource-limited settings is a perennial challenge. Despite growing research on the significance of sustainability, few frameworks describe why and how to plan for sustainability in settings limited with resources. Drawing on a synthesis of the literature on sustainability, including the Dynamic Sustainability Framework, we review lessons learned from research to date, to point out a path forward for sustaining evidence-based interventions in resource-limited settings.

Recent Findings
We describe PLAN or why people learning, adapting, and nurturing the core values of an intervention can enhance its sustainability over time. PLAN is a dynamic framework that simplifies the process of planning for sustainability of evidence-based interventions throughout the lifecyle of an intervention, taking into consideration the people that matter as well as the learning, adaptation, and nurturing involved with understanding and studying the interactions between interventions/innovations, practice settings, intervention fit, and the broader ecological contexts in which implementation occurs. We use case-study data from our ongoing pragmatic HIV implementation trial, the 4 Youth by Youth project, to detail the value and implications of why people learning, adapting, and nurturing HIV interventions implemented in resource-limited settings matter.

Summary
PLAN is designed to further the dialogue on ways research and practice teams can critically work to ensure the sustainability of their evidence-based interventions from the onset, particularly in settings and with populations limited with resources. It also illustrates how attention to sustainability from the beginning may foster actions necessary for sustained program → sustained benefits → sustained capacity → sustained value, but in the absence of early and active planning, none of this will occur. Ultimately, we hope to accelerate the sustainability of evidence-based HIV interventions, and making a PLAN at the bare minimum may ensure that the goals of continuing and maintaining desirable features of any evidence-based interventions can be realized.
The illegal trade in European eels: outsourcing, funding, and complex symbiotic-antithetical relationships
Authors: Alonso Aitor Ibáñez , van Uhm Daan P. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractWhilst traditionally, the study of the illegal wildlife trade has been focused on species that consider the role of the Western world as a consumer or transit hub, the study of the illegal trade in European eels is a landmark opportunity to deem the role of Europe as a source area for wildlife trafficking. Based on a qualitative methods research design, this case study delves into the nature of the illegal trade in European eels. In the context of globalization, a global eel market developed at the same time as stocks decreased sharply. The process of criminalization of the trade and fishing of eels, in combination with criminogenic asymmetries, has been facilitating opportunities for crime groups. In the legal-illegal continuum, upper- and underworld actors interact along the chain from rivers to worldwide consumers. This constant interaction fuels the illegal trade by providing the underworld with vital elements for its continuity, such as protection, finance, or laundering. In particular, this research focusses on the different legal-illegal interactions by looking at outsourcing, funding and complex symbiotic-antithetical relationships.
Influence of cognitive reserve on neuropsychological performance in subjective cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment older adults
Authors: López-Higes Ramón , Rubio-Valdehita Susana , Delgado-Losada María Luisa , López-Sanz David 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThe analysis of the relationships between cognitive reserve and different cognitive domains has become a matter of interest since it can help us detect deviations from the typical ageing process. The main objective of our study was to analyse a structural equation model representing cognitive reserve’s relationships with three cognitive domains (episodic memory, working memory, and sentence comprehension) in older adults with subjective cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment patients, in a cross-sectional study. A total of 266 Spanish-speaking older adults, from 65 to 80 years old, voluntarily participated in the study. The assessment protocol includes questionnaires as well as screening and domain-specific tests, providing relevant information for the classification of participants in the two groups previously mentioned (n1 = 150 and n2 = 116). The proposed model presented metric and configural invariance as well as stability across groups, since the indices reflecting goodness-of-fit reach acceptable values. Our hypotheses are partially confirmed since cognitive reserve strongly influences working memory and it does moderately in sentence comprehension in both groups, but it hardly influences episodic memory in the subjective cognitive decline group, while both are inversely associated in the patients’ group. Working memory could be considered as a mechanism through which cognitive reserve exerts its protector role on other cognitive domains: on sentence comprehension in both groups, and on episodic memory in the subjective cognitive decline group. However, in mild cognitive impairments patients, cognitive reserve does no longer influence episodic memory via working memory in a significant manner.
Association between response to anti-PD-1 treatment and blood soluble PD-L1 and IL-8 changes in patients with NSCLC
Authors: Yi Ling , Wang Xiaojue , Fu Siyun , Yan Zhuohong , Ma Tianyu , Li Siqi , Wei Panjian , Zhang Hongtao , Wang Jinghui 
Published: March 2023

AbstractIn this study, we explored the dynamic changes in blood sPD-L1 and its clinical value during anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. First, we established a sandwich ELISA for functional sPD-L1 that can bind to PD-1 and has biological functions. By monitoring functional sPD-L1 in 39 NSCLC patients treated with anti-PD-1 antibodies, we found a positive correlation between baseline sPD-L1 and tissue PD-L1 (P = 0.0376, r = 0.3581), with patients with lymph node metastasis having higher sPD-L1 levels (P = 0.0037) than those without lymph node metastasis. Although baseline functional sPD-L1 and PFS did not correlate significantly in this study, changes in sPD-L1 in patients with different clinical responses showed different trends. Blood sPD-L1 increased in 93% of patients after two cycles of anti-PD-1 treatment (P = 0.0054); sPD-L1 in nonresponsive patients continued to increase (P = 0.0181), but sPD-L1 started to decline in responsive patients. Blood IL-8 levels were associated with tumor load, and when combined with IL-8, the evaluation accuracy of sPD-L1 improved to 86.4%. This study preliminarily shows that the combination of sPD-L1 and IL-8 is a convenient and effective method for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in NSCLC patients.
Comparison of two high dose rate intracavitary brachytherapy regimens in treatment of cervical cancer: a preliminary report
Authors: Krishna Abhishek , Hasib AG , Fernandes Donald , Athiyamaan M. S. , Rao Sandesh , Shankar Sharaschandra , Ali Mohsina , Priyadarshini Hepsiba , Sophia Maria , Shridhar CH , George Seby , Babu Amrutha , Banerjee Sourjya , Sunny Johan , Srinivas Challapalli , Lobo Dilson 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Background
To assess and compare the local control and toxicities between HDR Intracavitary Brachytherapy with 7.5 Gy and 9 Gy per fraction after EBRT in treatment of carcinoma cervix.

Methodology
A total of 180 patients were randomly assigned to 2 arms. Arm A received HDR intracavitary brachytherapy with a dose of 7.5 Gy per fraction, 1 fraction per week for 3 fractions and Arm B received 9 Gy per fraction, 1 fraction per week for 2 fractions. Patients were evaluated on follow up for assessment of local control and toxicities.

Results
The median follow up was 12 months (6–18 months). In arm A 89% of the patient had complete response and 11% had recurrence or metastasis. In arm B 93% of the patient had complete response and 7% had recurrence or metastasis. Grade 2/3 diarrhoea was seen in 4.4% of patients in Arm A and in 7.7% in Arm B. Grade 2/3 proctitis was seen in 3.3% of patients in 7.5 Gy arm and in 6.6% in 9 Gy arm. One patient in each arm had grade 1 haematuria. The overall duration of treatment was significant lower in Arm B compared to Arm A (59 days vs 68 days, p = 0.01).

Conclusion
The result of this clinical study shows that Intracavitary brachytherapy with a dose of 9 Gy per fraction is non inferior to other schedules in term of local control and does not result in increased toxicity.
Efficacy and selectivity of tumor-treating field therapy for triple-negative breast cancer cells via in-house delivery device
Authors: Smothers Austin R. , Henderson Jason R. , O’Connell John J. , Stenbeck Jonathan M. , Dean Delphine , Harvey Tyler G. , Booth Brian W. 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Triple-negative breast cancer continues to be one of the leading causes of death in women, making up 7% of all cancer deaths. Tumor-treating electric fields are low-energy, low-frequency oscillating electric fields that induce an anti-proliferative effect on mitotic cells in glioblastoma multiforme, non-small cell lung cancer, and ovarian cancer. Little is known about effects of tumor-treating fields on triple-negative breast cancer and known research for tumor-treating fields only utilizes low (< 3 V/cm) electric field intensities.

Methods
We have developed an in-house field delivery device capable of high levels of customization to explore a much wider variety of electric field and treatment parameters. Furthermore, we investigated the selectivity of tumor-treating field treatment between triple-negative breast cancer and human breast epithelial cells.

Results
Tumor-treating fields show greatest efficacy against triple-negative breast cancer cell lines between 1 and 3 V/cm electric field intensities while having little effect on epithelial cells.

Conclusion
These results provide a clear therapeutic window for tumor-treating field delivery to triple-negative breast cancer.
Modeling the Resilience of Power Distribution Systems Subjected to Extreme Winds Considering Tree Failures: An Integrated Framework
Authors: Hou Guangyang , Muraleetharan Kanthasamy K. 
Published: March 2023

AbstractOverhead electrical power distribution systems (PDS) are very susceptible to extreme wind hazards. Power outages can cause catastrophic consequences, including economic losses, loss of critical services, and disruption to daily life. Therefore, it is very important to model the resilience of PDS against extreme winds to support disaster planning. While several frameworks currently exist to assess the resilience of PDS subjected to extreme winds, these frameworks do not systematically consider the tree-failure risk. In other words, there is no integrated framework that can simultaneously consider tree failures, PDS component failures induced by falling trees, resilience assessment, and evaluation of resilience enhancement with vegetation management. Therefore, this study proposed an integrated simulation framework to model the resilience of PDS against extreme winds, which includes tree fragility modeling, PDS fragility modeling, PDS component failure estimation, system performance evaluation, system restoration modeling, and resilience enhancement evaluation. The framework is demonstrated with a power distribution network in Oklahoma. The results show that the estimated system resilience will reduce if tree failures are considered. Crown thinning can effectively enhance the system’s resilience, but the effectiveness is affected by both wind speed and direction.
Generalized metabolic flux analysis framework provides mechanism-based predictions of ophthalmic complications in type 2 diabetes patients
Authors: Batagov Arsen , Dalan Rinkoo , Wu Andrew , Lai Wenbin , Tan Colin S. , Eisenhaber Frank 
Published: March 2023

AbstractChronic metabolic diseases arise from changes in metabolic fluxes through biomolecular pathways and gene networks accumulated over the lifetime of an individual. While clinical and biochemical profiles present just real-time snapshots of the patients’ health, efficient computation models of the pathological disturbance of biomolecular processes are required to achieve individualized mechanistic insights into disease progression. Here, we describe the Generalized metabolic flux analysis (GMFA) for addressing this gap. Suitably grouping individual metabolites/fluxes into pools simplifies the analysis of the resulting more coarse-grain network. We also map non-metabolic clinical modalities onto the network with additional edges. Instead of using the time coordinate, the system status (metabolite concentrations and fluxes) is quantified as function of a generalized extent variable (a coordinate in the space of generalized metabolites) that represents the system’s coordinate along its evolution path and evaluates the degree of change between any two states on that path. We applied GMFA to analyze Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients from two cohorts: EVAS (289 patients from Singapore) and NHANES (517) from the USA. Personalized systems biology models (digital twins) were constructed. We deduced disease dynamics from the individually parameterized metabolic network and predicted the evolution path of the metabolic health state. For each patient, we obtained an individual description of disease dynamics and predict an evolution path of the metabolic health state. Our predictive models achieve an ROC-AUC in the range 0.79–0.95 (sensitivity 80–92%, specificity 62–94%) in identifying phenotypes at the baseline and predicting future development of diabetic retinopathy and cataract progression among T2DM patients within 3 years from the baseline. The GMFA method is a step towards realizing the ultimate goal to develop practical predictive computational models for diagnostics based on systems biology. This tool has potential use in chronic disease management in medical practice.