bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Risk factors for recurrence after surgical repair of coarctation of the aorta in children: a single-center experience based on 51 children
Authors: Zhao Zhenjiang , Pan Zhengxia , Wu Chun , Tian Jie , Qin Jinjie , Zhang Yulin , Jin Xin 
Published: June 2023

BackgroundCoarctation of the aorta (CoA), is a congenital malformation, often combined with several cardiac abnormalities. At present, the operation effect is satisfactory, but postoperative restenosis is still a matter. Identification of risk factors for restenosis and prompt therapy adjustments may improve patient outcomes.Materials and methodsA retrospective clinical study of patients under 12 who had CoA repair in 2012–2021, with a randomized cohort population of 475 patients.ResultsA total of 51 patients (M/F: 30/21) with a mean age of 5.33 (2.00–15.00) months and a median weight of 5.60 (4.20–10.00) kg. The mean follow-up was 8.93 (3.77–19.37) months. Patients were divided into 2 groups: no-restenosis (n-reCoA) (G1, 38 patients) and restenosis (reCoA) (G2, 13 patients). ReCoA was defined as a restenosis requiring interventional or surgery or a pressure gradient &gt;20 mmHg at the repair site as reported by B-ultrasound with the presence of an upper and lower limb blood pressure gradient or growing dysplasia. The overall reCoA incidence was 25% (13/51). In multivariate COX regression, smaller preoperative z-score of the ascending aorta (P = 0.009, HR = 0.68) and transverse aortic arch (P = 0.015, HR = 0.66), arm-leg systolic pressure gradient ≥12.5 mmHg at discharge (P = 0.003, HR = 1.09) were independent risk factors for reCoA.ConclusionThe overall outcome of CoA surgery is successful. Smaller preoperative z-score of the ascending aorta and transverse aortic arch, and an arm-leg systolic pressure gradient ≥12.5 mmHg at discharge increase reCoA risk, and closer follow-up for such patients are required especially within 1 postoperative year.
XCT analysis of drill cores of Opalinus clay and determination of sample size for effective properties evaluation
Authors: Keller Lukas M. 
Published: June 2023

In Switzerland, the Opalinus Clay unit was chosen as host rock for a repository for nuclear waste and has recently been investigated in a deep drilling campaign at possible repository construction sites. X-ray images of drill cores were compiled into virtual rock columns and were statistically analyzed with respect to layered compositional variations. This provides insight into scale-dependent homogenization and improves sampling strategy. To predict the repository behavior, using continuum-based models of Opalinus Clay, requires the knowledge of effective properties related to a minimum volume at which Opalinus Clay behaves homogeneously. It turned out that with respect to rock composition, such a volume does not exist in the sense that a single sample of manageable size provides a reliable mean composition. This is because the variation of the cm to dm thick layers, which differ in composition, does not sufficiently homogenize even at the 10-m scale. Thus, effective properties must be obtained by averaging several handleable samples. Regarding the composition of Opalinus Clay at a particular location, about 30 samples, distributed over the whole thickness, with a length of about 30 cm should be measured so that the relative error of the mean value is not higher than 5%–10%. For the statistical analyses computed tomography (CT) values of X-ray data were calibrated with respect to rock composition based on laboratory measurements. The CT values are largely controlled by the respective volume fraction of calcite, quartz, and porous clay matrix. These three components form &gt;80 vol% of the sedimentary rocks studied (also above and below Opalinus Clay). The relationship between CT value and component contents depends on the rock type. The use of data from different rock types to calibrate CT values with respect to composition can lead to erroneous results.
COVID-19 vaccine coverage, safety, and perceptions among patients with diabetes mellitus in China: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Li Haolong , Ping Fan , Li Xiaomeng , Wang Zhihong , Xiao Jianzhong , Jiang Hongwei , Xue Yaoming , Quan Jinxing , Yao Hebin , Zheng Xianling , Chen Yanming , Li Yufeng , Yu Xiaohua , Xu Lingling , Feng Xinxin , Wang Siyu , Li Yongzhe , Xiao Xinhua 
Published: June 2023

AimsDiabetes mellitus (DM), one of the most common chronic diseases in China, is a risk factor for SARS-COV-2 infection and poor prognosis of COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccine is one of the key measures to control the pandemic. However, the actual coverage of COVID-19 vaccination and associated factors remain unclear among DM patients in China. We conducted this study to investigate the COVID-19 vaccine coverage, safety, and perceptions among patients with DM in China.MethodsA cross-sectional study of a sample of 2200 DM patients from 180 tertiary hospitals in China was performed using a questionnaire developed through the Wen Juan Xing survey platform to collect information regarding their coverage, safety, and perceptions of COVID-19 vaccination. A multinomial logistic regression analysis model was performed to determine any independent relationships with COVID-19 vaccination behavior among DM patients.ResultsIn total, 1929 (87.7%) DM patients have received at least one dose COVID-19 vaccine, and 271 (12.3%) DM patients were unvaccinated. In addition, 65.2% (n = 1434) were booster vaccinated against COVID-19, while 16.2% (n = 357) were only fully vaccinated and 6.3% (n = 138) were only partially vaccinated. The prevalence of adverse effects after the first dose of vaccine, the second dose of vaccine, and the third dose of vaccine were 6.0%, 6.0%, and 4.3% respectively. Multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that DM patients complicated with immune and inflammatory diseases (partially vaccinated: OR = 0.12; fully vaccinated: OR = 0.11; booster vaccinated: OR = 0.28), diabetic nephropathy (partially vaccinated: OR = 0.23; fully vaccinated: OR = 0.50; booster vaccinated: OR = 0.30), and perceptions on the safety of COVID-19 vaccine (partially vaccinated: OR = 0.44; fully vaccinated: OR = 0.48; booster vaccinated: OR = 0.45) were all associated with the three of vaccination status.ConclusionThis study showed that higher proportion of COVID-19 vaccine coverage among patients with DM in China. The concern about the safety of the COVID-19 vaccine affected the vaccine behavior in patients with DM. The COVID-19 vaccine was relatively safe for DM patients due to all side effects were self-limiting.
The role of lean six sigma in driving sustainable manufacturing practices: an analysis of the relationship between lean six sigma principles, data-driven decision making, and environmental performance
Authors: Huang Jing , Irfan Muhammad , Fatima Syeda Saman , Shahid Rao Muhammad 
Published: June 2023

Introduction: In an increasingly competitive manufacturing sector, companies are adopting innovative approaches, such as the Lean Six Sigma methodology, to enhance their operations, competitiveness, and sustainability. This study explores the effect of Lean Six Sigma methodology and data-driven decision-making on sustainable manufacturing practices.Methods: The study employs thematic analysis to clarify and identify principle nodes and themes, including Six Sigma, quality improvement, management approaches, and front-line worker perspectives. The analysis aims to deepen understanding of Lean Six Sigma principles and their implications for sustainable manufacturing practices.Results: The analysis identifies employee motivation, balanced scorecards, company culture, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), and data-driven decision-making as key drivers of sustainable manufacturing practices. Evidence suggests that implementing Lean Six Sigma methodology, promoting data-driven decision-making, and nurturing a positive company culture enhances environmental performance in the manufacturing industry.Discussion: The findings indicate that Lean Six Sigma, data-driven decision-making, and a positive company culture are effective strategies to enhance sustainability in manufacturing, offering valuable insights for companies seeking to improve sustainability while maintaining competitiveness. This study underlines the potential of Lean Six Sigma as a cornerstone of sustainable manufacturing practices.
Genome-wide identification and expression profiling of two-component system (TCS) genes in Brassica oleracea in response to shade stress
Authors: Sadaqat Muhammad , Umer Basit , Attia Kotb A. , Abdelkhalik Amr F. , Azeem Farrukh , Javed Muhammad Rizwan , Fatima Kinza , Zameer Roshan , Nadeem Majid , Tanveer Muhammad Hammad , Sun Sangmi , Ercisli Sezai , Nawaz Muhammad Amjad 
Published: June 2023

The Two-component system (TCS) consists of Histidine kinases (HKs), Phosphotransfers (HPs), and response regulator (RR) proteins. It has an important role in signal transduction to respond to a wide variety of abiotic stresses and hence in plant development. Brassica oleracea (cabbage) is a leafy vegetable, which is used for food and medicinal purposes. Although this system was identified in several plants, it had not been identified in Brassica oleracea yet. This genome-wide study identified 80 BoTCS genes consisting of 21 HKs, 8 HPs, 39 RRs, and 12 PRRs. This classification was done based on conserved domains and motif structure. Phylogenetic relationships of BoTCS genes with Arabidopsis thaliana, Oryza sativa, Glycine max, and Cicer arietinum showed conservation in TCS genes. Gene structure analysis revealed that each subfamily had conserved introns and exons. Both tandem and segmental duplication led to the expansion of this gene family. Almost all of the HPs and RRs were expanded through segmental duplication. Chromosomal analysis showed that BoTCS genes were dispersed across all nine chromosomes. The promoter regions of these genes were found to contain a variety of cis-regulatory elements. The 3D structure prediction of proteins also confirmed the conservation of structure within subfamilies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) involved in the regulation of BoTCSs were also predicted and their regulatory roles were also evaluated. Moreover, BoTCSs were docked with abscisic acid to evaluate their binding. RNA-seq-based expression analysis and validation by qRT-PCR showed significant variation of expression for BoPHYs, BoERS1.1, BoERS2.1, BoERS2.2, BoRR10.2, and BoRR7.1 suggesting their importance in stress response. These genes showing unique expression can be further used in manipulating the plant’s genome to make the plant more resistant the environmental stresses which will ultimately help in the increase of plant’s yield. More specifically, these genes have altered expression in shade stress which clearly indicates their importance in biological functions. These findings are important for future functional characterization of TCS genes in generating stress-responsive cultivars.
Insights into chloroplast genome structure and phylogenetic relationships within the Sesamum species complex (Pedaliaceae)
Authors: Zoclanclounon Yedomon Ange Bovys , Thamilarasan Senthil Kumar , Mo Youngjun , Ahn Byoung-Ohg , Kim Jeong-Gu , Lee Keunpyo 
Published: June 2023

Background: In the Sesamum species complex, the lack of wild species genomic resources hinders the evolutionary comprehension of phylogenetic relationships.Results: In the present study, we generated complete chloroplast genomes of six wild relatives (Sesamum alatum, Sesamum angolense, Sesamum pedaloides, Ceratotheca sesamoides (syn. Sesamum sesamoides), Ceratotheca triloba (syn. Sesamum trilobum), and Sesamum radiatum) and a Korean cultivar, Sesamum indicum cv. Goenbaek. A typical quadripartite chloroplast structure, including two inverted repeats (IR), a large single copy (LSC), and a small single copy (SSC), was observed. A total of 114 unique genes encompassing 80 coding genes, four ribosomal RNAs, and 30 transfer RNAs were counted. The chloroplast genomes (152, 863–153, 338 bp) exhibited the IR contraction/expansion phenomenon and were quite conserved in both coding and non-coding regions. However, high values of the nucleotide diversity index were found in several genes, including ndhA, ndhE, ndhF, ycf1, and psaC–ndhD. Concordant tree topologies suggest ndhF as a useful marker for taxon discrimination. The phylogenetic inference and time divergence dating indicate that S. radiatum (2n = 64) occurred concomitantly with the sister species C. sesamoides (2n = 32) approximately 0.05 million years ago (Mya). In addition, S. alatum was clearly discriminated by forming a single clade, showing its long genetic distance and potential early speciation event in regards to the others.Conclusion: Altogether, we propose to rename C. sesamoides and C. triloba as S. sesamoides and S. trilobum, respectively, as suggested previously based on the morphological description. This study provides the first insight into the phylogenetic relationships among the cultivated and wild African native relatives. The chloroplast genome data lay a foundation for speciation genomics in the Sesamum species complex.
Involvement of CD40-CD40L and ICOS-ICOSL in the development of chronic rhinosinusitis by targeting eosinophils
Authors: Zhou Aina , Shi Chenxi , Fan Yuhui , Zheng Yushuang , Wang Jue , Liu Zhichen , Xie Huanxia , Liu Jisheng , Jiao Qingqing 
Published: June 2023

BackgroundChronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), whose prevalence and pathogenesis are age-related, is characterized by nasal tissue eosinophil infiltration. CD40-CD40 ligand (CD40L) pathway involves in the eosinophil-mediated inflammation, and inducible co-stimulator (ICOS)–ICOS ligand (ICOSL) signal can strengthen CD40-CD40L interaction. Whether CD40-CD40L and ICOS-ICOSL have a role in the development of CRS remains unknown.ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to investigate the association of CD40-CD40L and ICOS-ICOSL expression with CRS and underlying mechanisms.MethodsImmunohistology detected the expression of CD40, CD40L, ICOS, and ICOSL. Immunofluorescence was performed to evaluate the co-localizations of CD40 or ICOSL with eosinophils. Correlations between CD40-CD40L and ICOS-ICOSL as well as clinical parameters were analyzed. Flow cytometry was used to explore the activation of eosinophils by CD69 expression and the CD40 and ICOSL expression on eosinophils.ResultsCompared with the non-eCRS subset, ECRS (eosinophilic CRS) subset showed significantly increased CD40, ICOS, and ICOSL expression. The CD40, CD40L, ICOS, and ICOSL expressions were all positively correlated with eosinophil infiltration in nasal tissues. CD40 and ICOSL were mainly expressed on eosinophils. ICOS expression was significantly correlated with the expression of CD40-CD40L, whereas ICOSL expression was correlated with CD40 expression. ICOS-ICOSL expression positively correlated with blood eosinophils count and disease severity. rhCD40L and rhICOS significantly enhanced the activation of eosinophils from patients with ECRS. Tumor necrosis factor–α (TNF-α) and interleukin-5 (IL-5) obviously upregulated CD40 expression on eosinophils, which was significantly inhibited by the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor.ConclusionsIncreased CD40-CD40L and ICOS-ICOSL expressions in nasal tissues are linked to eosinophils infiltration and disease severity of CRS. CD40-CD40L and ICOS-ICOSL signals enhance eosinophils activation of ECRS. TNF-α and IL-5 regulate eosinophils function by increasing CD40 expression partly via p38 MAPK activation in patients with CRS.
Investigation on characteristics and performance of bearing spacer ring
Authors: Guo Jiang , Zhao Yong , Long Pengyu , Wang Jinglin , Du Benyu , Rajpar Bilal Mustafa , Jin Zhuji , Tang Jiwu 
Published: June 2023

Bearings are widely used in the industry due to their ability to support the movement of rotating bodies. The spacer rings are a key component of double-row roller bearings; therefore, the characteristics and properties of the spacer rings have a significant impact on the bearing functions. However, the lack of the characteristics and performance analysis of the spacer ring limits the improvement of bearing performance. To analyze the characteristics of spacer rings and establish a basis for improving their performance, a new testing method for the characteristics and performance of the spacer ring was presented and corresponding experiments were developed. The test procedure entails the evaluation of basic characteristics, surface properties, and serviceability. Basic characteristics were determined through element testing and cross-section morphological observation; surface properties were assessed through surface morphology and surface roughness detection; and serviceability was identified by cross-section hardness and frictional wear tests. The results show that the proposed test method can comprehensively characterize the performance of the spacer rings. The spacer ring composition mainly contains Fe, Al, P, Si, Ca, and S, which contribute to excellent wear resistance, hardness, strength, and corrosion resistance. The cross-sectional morphology exhibits porous characteristics, which enhance lubricity. In terms of surface property, the surface of the spacer ring is relatively flat, and the surface roughness is generally less than 0.6 μm Sa. The average friction coefficient is 0.85, and the friction and wear properties of the spacer ring are good. This study contributes to establishing the testing and evaluation criteria for the performance of spacer rings in engineering, which helps to improve the performance of bearings.
To explore the effectiveness of atorvastatin in the postoperative formation of collateral blood vessels after encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis in patients with moyamoya disease: a prospective double-blind randomized controlled study
Authors: Gao Gan , Wang Qian-Nan , Hao Fang-Bin , Wang Xiao-Peng , Liu Si-Meng , Wang Min-Jie , Han Cong , Bao Xiang-Yang , Duan Lian 
Published: June 2023

IntroductionThe aim of this large, prospective, double-blind randomized controlled trial is to investigate the effect of atorvastatin on the formation of collateral blood vessels in patients after encephaloduroarteriosynangiosis (EDAS) and to provide a theoretical basis for clinical drug intervention. Specifically, we will determine whether atorvastatin has an effect on the development of collateral vascularization and on cerebral blood perfusion after revasculoplasty in patients with moyamoya disease (MMD).Methods and analysisOverall, 180 patients with moyamoya disease will be recruited and randomly assigned to the atorvastatin treatment group or the placebo control group in a 1:1 ratio. Before revascularization surgery, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning and digital subangiography (DSA) examination will be routinely performed on the enrolled patients. All patients will receive intervention via EDAS. According to the randomization results, patients in the experimental group will be treated with atorvastatin (20 mg/day, once a day, for 8 weeks) and patients in the control group will be treated with placebo (20 mg/day, once a day, for 8 weeks). All participants will return to the hospital for MRI scan and DSA examination 6 months after EDAS surgery. The primary outcome of this trial will be the difference in the formation of collateral blood vessels revealed by DSA examination at 6 months after EDAS surgery between the two groups. The secondary outcome will be an improvement in the dynamic susceptibility contrast sequence cerebral perfusion on MRI at 6 months after EDAS, compared to the preoperative baseline.Ethics and disseminationThis study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the First Medical Center of the PLA General Hospital. All participates will voluntary provide written informed consent before participating in the trial.Clinical trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, ChiCTR2200064976.
Intensity discrimination and neural representation of a masked tone in the presence of three types of masking release
Authors: Kim Hyojin , Epp Bastian 
Published: June 2023

IntroductionHearing ability is usually evaluated by assessing the lowest detectable intensity of a target sound, commonly referred to as a detection threshold. Detection thresholds of a masked signal are dependent on various auditory cues, such as the comodulation of the masking noise, interaural differences in phase, and temporal context. However, considering that communication in everyday life happens at sound intensities well above the detection threshold, the relevance of these cues for communication in complex acoustical environments is unclear. Here, we investigated the effect of three cues on the perception and neural representation of a signal in noise at supra-threshold levels.MethodsFirst, we measured the decrease in detection thresholds produced by three cues, referred to as masking release. Then, we measured just-noticeable difference in intensity (intensity JND) to quantify the perception of the target signal at supra-threshold levels. Lastly, we recorded late auditory evoked potentials (LAEPs) with electroencephalography (EEG) as a physiological correlate of the target signal in noise at supra-threshold levels.ResultsThe results showed that the overall masking release can be up to around 20 dB with a combination of these three cues. At the same supra-threshold levels, intensity JND was modulated by the masking release and differed across conditions. The estimated perception of the target signal in noise was enhanced by auditory cues accordingly, however, it did not differ across conditions when the target tone level was above 70 dB SPL. For the LAEPs, the P2 component was more closely linked to the masked threshold and the intensity discrimination than the N1 component.DiscussionThe results indicate that masking release affects the intensity discrimination of a masked target tone at supra-threshold levels, especially when the physical signal-to-noise is low, but plays a less significant role at high signal-to-noise ratios.