bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Data collaboration analysis in predicting diabetes from a small amount of health checkup data
Authors: Uchitachimoto Go , Sukegawa Noriyoshi , Kojima Masayuki , Kagawa Rina , Oyama Takashi , Okada Yukihiko , Imakura Akira , Sakurai Tetsuya 
Published: July 2023

AbstractRecent studies showed that machine learning models such as gradient-boosting decision tree (GBDT) can predict diabetes with high accuracy from big data. In this study, we asked whether highly accurate prediction of diabetes is possible even from small data by expanding the amount of data through data collaboration (DC) analysis, a modern framework for integrating and analyzing data accumulated at multiple institutions while ensuring confidentiality. To this end, we focused on data from two institutions: health checkup data of 1502 citizens accumulated in Tsukuba City and health history data of 1399 patients collected at the University of Tsukuba Hospital. When using only the health checkup data, the ROC-AUC and Recall for logistic regression (LR) were 0.858 ± 0.014 and 0.970 ± 0.019, respectively, while those for GBDT were 0.856 ± 0.014 and 0.983 ± 0.016, respectively. When using also the health history data through DC analysis, these values for LR improved to 0.875 ± 0.013 and 0.993 ± 0.009, respectively, while those for GBDT deteriorated because of the low compatibility with a method used for confidential data sharing (although DC analysis brought improvements). Even in a situation where health checkup data of only 324 citizens are available, the ROC-AUC and Recall for LR were 0.767 ± 0.025 and 0.867 ± 0.04, respectively, thanks to DC analysis, indicating an 11% and 12% improvement. Thus, we concluded that the answer to the above question was “Yes” for LR but “No” for GBDT for the data set tested in this study.
Malnutrition- inflammation- atherosclerosis (MIA) syndrome associates with periodontitis in end-stage renal disease patients undergoing hemodialysis: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Mikami Risako , Mizutani Koji , Gohda Tomohito , Matsuyama Yusuke , Gotoh Hiromichi , Nakagawa Keita , Takemura Shu , Aoyama Norio , Matsuura Takanori , Kido Daisuke , Takeda Kohei , Saito Natsumi , Izumi Yuichi , Iwata Takanori 
Published: July 2023

AbstractMalnutrition-inflammation-atherosclerosis (MIA) syndrome is a significant risk factor for mortality in patients undergoing hemodialysis. This study aimed to investigate the association between MIA syndrome and oral health status in hemodialysis patients. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 254 hemodialysis patients. Comprehensive medical and dental examinations were performed. Three components were included to define MIA syndrome: Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index, serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and history of cardiovascular events as indicators of malnutrition, inflammation, and atherosclerosis, respectively. The association of MIA syndrome components with periodontitis and occlusal support was examined by multiple-ordered logistic regression analysis. Of 254 participants, 188 (74.0%) had at least one component of MIA syndrome. After adjusting for possible confounding factors, severe periodontitis was significantly associated with presence of more components of MIA syndrome (odds ratio [OR]: 2.64, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.44–4.84, p = 0.002) and inflammation and malnutrition components (OR: 2.47 and 3.46, 95% CI 1.16–5.28 and 1.70–7.05, p = 0.020 and 0.001). On the other hand, occlusal support, evaluated by Eichner index, was not significantly associated with MIA syndrome or any of its components. In conclusion, periodontitis is associated with MIA syndrome, particularly with inflammation and malnutrition in hemodialysis patients, independent of occlusal support.
Novel Benchmark for Adult-to-Adult Living-Donor Liver Transplantation. Integrating Eastern and Western Experiences
Authors: Li Zhihao , Rammohan Ashwin , Gunasekaran Vasanthakumar , Hong Suyoung , Chen Chih-Yi , Kim Jongman , Hervera Marquez Kris Ann , Hsu Shih Chao , Kirimker Onur , Akamatsu Nobuhisa , Shaked Oren , Finotti Michele , Yeow Marcus , Genedy Lara , Dutkowski Philipp , Nadalin Silvio , Boehnert Markus U. , Polak Wojciech G. , Bonney Glenn K. , Mathur Abhisek , Samstein Benjamin , Emond Jean C. , Testa Giuliano , Olthoff Kim M. , Rosen Charles B. , Heimbach Julie K. , Taner Timucin , Wong Tiffany CL. , Lo Chung-Mau , Hasegawa Kiyoshi , Balci Deniz , Cattral Mark , Sapisochin Gonzalo , Selzner Nazia , Bin Jeng Long , Broering Dieter , Joh Jae-Won , Chen Chao-Long , Suk Suh Kyung , Rela Mohamed , Clavien Pierre-Alain 
Published: July 2023

Objective:
To define benchmark values for adult-to-adult living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT).

Background:
LDLT utilizes living-donor hemiliver grafts to expand the donor pool and reduce waitlist mortality. While references have been established for donor hepatectomy, no such information exists for recipients to enable conclusive quality and comparative assessments.

Methods:
Patients undergoing LDLT were analyzed in 15 high-volume centers (≥10 cases/year) from three continents over 5 years (2016-2020), with a minimum follow-up of one year. Benchmark criteria included MELD ≤20, no portal vein thrombosis, no previous major abdominal surgery, no renal replacement therapy, no acute liver failure, and no ICU admission. Benchmark cutoffs were derived from the 75th-percentile of all centers’ medians.

Results:
Of 3636 patients, 1864 (51%) qualified as benchmark cases. Benchmark cutoffs including posttransplant dialysis (≤4%), primary nonfunction (≤0.9%), non-anastomotic strictures (≤0.2%), graft loss (≤7.7%), and redo-LT (≤3.6%) at 1-year were below the DDLT benchmarks. Bile leak (≤12.4%), hepatic artery thrombosis (≤5.1%), and CCI® (≤56) were above the DDLT benchmarks, while mortality (≤9.1%) was comparable. The right-hemiliver graft, compared to the left, was associated with a lower CCI® score (34 vs.21, P<0.001). Preservation of the MHV with the right-hemiliver graft had no impact neither on the recipient nor on the donor outcome. Asian centers outperformed other centers with CCI® score (21 vs.47, P<0.001), graft loss (3.0%vs.6.5%, P=0.002), and redo-LT rates (1.0%vs.2.5%, P=0.029). In contrast, non-benchmark low-volume centers displayed inferior outcomes such as bile leak (15.2%), hepatic artery thrombosis (15.2%), or redo-LT (6.5%).

Conclusion:
Benchmark LDLT offers a valuable alternative to reduce waitlist mortality. Exchange of expertise, public awareness and centralization policy are however mandatory to achieve benchmark outcomes worldwide.
Biodegradable hyperbranched poly(amine-co-ester)-based polymeric nanoparticles for mRNA delivery
Authors: Liu Gan , Xiang Wenqiang , Guan Miaomiao , Deng Yang 
Published: July 2023

AbstractDespite the availability of mRNA vaccines utilizing LNP delivery technology, there remains a pressing need for the development of non-viral mRNA delivery vectors that are both more efficient and safe. we present a novel hyperbranched poly(amine-co-ester) (HBPA) system, catalyzed by immobilized lipase, for efficientin vitroandin vivomRNA delivery. By polymerizing four monomers, we successfully synthesized HBPA with a hyperbranched structure, and subsequent modification of the end groups resulted in HBPA-E. Comparative evaluations revealed that HBPA-E outperforms linear PACE and the commercial transfection reagent Lipofectamine MessengerMAX (LipoMM) in terms of intracellular delivery efficiency, while demonstrating lower cytotoxicity. Furthermore, thein vivopulmonary delivery efficiency of HBPA-E was significantly superior to that of LPA-E and the commercialin vivodelivery reagent in vivo-JetRNA. Finally, the HBPA-E can be easily dissolved in ethanol, and its mRNA formulation can be employed as a freeze-drying formulation, making it a valuable candidate for future clinical applications of mRNA delivery.
Applications of poly(lactic acid) in bone tissue engineering: A review article
Authors: Alavi Mahya Sadat , Memarpour Sara , Pazhohan‐Nezhad Hadis , Salimi Asl Ali , Moghbeli Meysam , Shadmanfar Soraya , Saburi Ehsan 
Published: July 2023

AbstractBackgroundBone tissue engineering is a promising approach to large‐scale bone regeneration. This involves the use of an artificial extracellular matrix or scaffold and osteoblasts to promote osteogenesis and ossification at defect sites. Scaffolds are constructed using biomaterials that typically have properties similar to those of natural bone.MethodIn this study, which is a review of the literature, various evidences have been discussed in the field of Poly Lactic acid (PLA) polymer application and modifications made on it in order to induce osteogenesis and repair bone lesions.ResultsPLA is a synthetic aliphatic polymer that has been extensively used for scaffold construction in bone tissue engineering owing to its good processability, biocompatibility, and flexibility in design. However, PLA has some drawbacks, including low osteoconductivity, low cellular adhesion, and the possibility of inflammatory reactions owing to acidic discharge in a living environment. To overcome these issues, a combination of PLA and other biomaterials has been introduced.ConclusionsThis short review discusses PLA's characteristics of PLA, its applications in bone regeneration, and its combination with other biomaterials.
X‐ray micro‐computed tomography of Xenopus tadpole reveals changes in brain ventricular morphology during telencephalon regeneration
Authors: Ishii Riona , Yoshida Mana , Suzuki Nanoka , Ogino Hajime , Suzuki Makoto 
Published: July 2023

AbstractXenopus tadpoles serve as an exceptional model organism for studying post‐embryonic development in vertebrates. During post‐embryonic development, large‐scale changes in tissue morphology, including organ regeneration and metamorphosis, occur at the organ level. However, understanding these processes in a three‐dimensional manner remains challenging. In this study, the use of X‐ray micro‐computed tomography (microCT) for the three‐dimensional observation of the soft tissues of Xenopus tadpoles was explored. The findings revealed that major organs, such as the brain, heart, and kidneys, could be visualized with high contrast by phosphotungstic acid staining following fixation with Bouin's solution. Then, the changes in brain shape during telencephalon regeneration were analyzed as the first example of utilizing microCT to study organ regeneration in Xenopus tadpoles, and it was found that the size of the amputated telencephalon recovered to >80% of its original length within approximately 1 week. It was also observed that the ventricles tended to shrink after amputation and maintained this state for at least 3 days. This shrinkage was transient, as the ventricles expanded to exceed their original size within the following week. Temporary shrinkage and expansion of the ventricles, which were also observed in transgenic or fluorescent dye‐injected tadpoles with telencephalon amputation, may be significant in tissue homeostasis in response to massive brain injury and subsequent repair and regeneration. This established method will improve experimental analyses in developmental biology and medical science using Xenopus tadpoles.
A conservation of resources perspective on public sector employee work engagement
Authors: Brennan Aislinn , Garavan Thomas , Egan Tom , O'Brien Fergal , Ullah Irfan 
Published: July 2023

AbstractResearch on how and when leader–member exchange (LMX) impacts work engagement in different public sector contexts and categories of employees is scarce. Utilising conservation of resources theory, we advance research on LMX and work engagement in two studies. Study 1 investigates the mediating role of a contextual resource (psychological safety) and an energy resource (job crafting) in a resource‐rich context, and Study 2 investigates the moderating role of a personal resource (optimism) in a resource‐poor context. Study 1 uses a three‐wave research design with employees from the engineering and technical divisions of an Irish public utility operating in the energy market and found that both psychological safety and job crafting functioned as partial mediators. Study 2 uses a sample of teachers and tutors from three Irish local authority education and training organisations and found that subordinate optimism moderated the LMX work engagement relationship. Our study findings highlight that both psychological safety and job crafting operated as important linking mechanisms and shed light on how LMX is linked to work engagement in the case of public utility employees. We also found that employee optimism provided an explanation of when it will impact work engagement with employees working in an education context. We highlight theory and practice implications.
A novel crack‐tip singular element for extended finite element analysis
Authors: Wang Xingxing , Ping Xuecheng , Wang Congman , Zheng Hongxia 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe traditional extended finite element method (XFEM) is suitable for simulating crack growth, but the crack‐tip stress field analysis still depends on the enriched function. In this paper, based on the numerical eigensolution of the singular displacement and stress field together with the Hellinger–Reissner (H–R) variational principle, a novel crack‐tip singular element is established to replace the enriched element in the crack‐tip region in the traditional XFEM. The stress field inside the element adopts a series expression instead of only including the leading‐order terms. The element only requires Gaussian integration at the element boundary and avoids mesh refinement in the crack‐tip region. The element can be used to analyze cracks in anisotropic materials, interface cracks, and cracks terminating at the bimaterial interface. The numerical solutions of the singular stress field in various crack forms are presented through numerical examples, which proves the effectiveness and versatility of the novel crack‐tip singular element.
Multi‐decadal trends in biomarkers in harp seal teeth from the North Atlantic reveal the influence of prey availability on seal trophic position
Authors: de la Vega Camille , Kershaw Joanna , Stenson Garry B. , Frie Anne Kirstine , Biuw Martin , Haug Tore , Norman Louisa , Mahaffey Claire , Smout Sophie , Jeffreys Rachel M. 
Published: July 2023

AbstractArctic food webs are being impacted by borealisation and environmental change. To quantify the impact of these multiple forcings, it is crucial to accurately determine the temporal change in key ecosystem metrics, such as trophic position of top predators. Here, we measured stable nitrogen isotopes (δ15N) in amino acids in harp seal teeth from across the North Atlantic spanning a period of 60 years to robustly assess multi‐decadal trends in harp seal trophic position, accounting for changes in δ15N at the base of the food web. We reveal long‐term variations in trophic position of harp seals which are likely to reflect fluctuations in prey availability, specifically fish‐ or invertebrate‐dominated diets. We show that the temporal trends in harp seal trophic position differ between the Northwest Atlantic, Greenland Sea and Barents Sea, suggesting divergent changes in each local ecosystem. Our results provide invaluable data for population dynamic and ecotoxicology studies.
Threats, truths and strategies: The overlooked relationship between protests, nation branding and public diplomacy
Authors: Jiménez‐Martínez César , Dolea Alina 
Published: July 2023

AbstractAlthough protests are an essential part of modern politics, scholars in nation branding, public diplomacy and soft power have had very little to say about these episodes. Discussions in the field have only marginally addressed dissent and disruption, falling into a methodological statism that emphasises what states do to construct and legitimise specific versions of national identity. Debates on nation promotion consequently overlook how individuals and organisations outside the state and outside national boundaries can be equally important in the construction and communication of national images. Drawing on domestic and foreign news coverage of protests in Brazil, Romania and Chile, we propose three frames to analyse the relationship between protests and nation promotion: (1) protests as threats, (2) protests as expression of the true nation and (3) protests as strategic communications. These frames shed light on how bottom‐up efforts contest—overtly or covertly—state‐sponsored versions of national identity and how protests are visibility arenas where competing discourses about the nation are communicated. Protests should therefore be acknowledged not as mere disruptions to national images or reputations but as another expression of the contingent, multifaceted and shifting nature of nationhood, particularly in highly mediatised contemporary societies.
A Novel Free‐hand Technique of Pedicle Screw Placement in the Lumbar Spine: Accuracy Evaluation and Preliminary Clinical Results
Authors: Jiang Weiqi , Leng Ao , Meng Lingzhi , Long Zuoyao , Long Yu , Wang Qi 
Published: July 2023

ObjectivePedicle screw implantation is the most common technique to achieve stability during spinal surgeries. Current methods for locating the entry point do not have a quantified criteria and highly rely on the surgeons' experience. Therefore, we aim to propose a quantified pedicle screw placement technique in the lumbar spine and to investigate its accuracy and safety in clinical practice.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study involving 110 patients who received spinal surgery in our hospital from August 2018 to August 2021. All patients included had herniation of a single lumbar disc and were consistently treated with posterior discectomy, inter‐body fusion, and transpedicular internal fixation. For 54 patients in the observation group, the pedicle screws were placed with our technique, which is located at 4 mm below the superior edge of the transverse process in line with the lateral margin of the superior articular process. For 56 patients in the control group, pedicle screws were placed according to the traditional crista lambdoidalis method. Comparisons were made in terms of the operation time, blood loss, time for exposure, the accuracy of placement, and postoperative complications. Furthermore, we applied our method to 64 patients with indistinguishable crista lambdoidalis and evaluated the accuracy of screw placement and clinical outcomes according to the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score.ResultsThere was no significant difference in intraoperative bleeding, accuracy of placement, and postoperative complications between our technique and the traditional crista lambdoidalis method (P > 0.05). However, the exposure time before screw placement (12.8 ± 0.3 vs. 17.4 ± 0.3, P = 0.001) and the total surgery time (97.2 ± 1.9 vs 102.3 ± 0.9, P = 0.020) were significantly shortened with our method. Additionally, in cases with indistinguishable crista lambdoidalis, our technique showed satisfying accuracy, with 97.6% screws placed in appropriate trajectory on the first attempt and all screws eventually positioned in the safe zone according to the Gertzbein–Robbins grading. All patients experienced steady improvement after surgery.ConclusionPlacing pedicle screws at 4 mm below the superior edge of the transverse process in line with the lateral margin of the superior articular process is a viable pedicle screw placement method. With this method, we observed a higher success rate and shorter operation time. In addition, this method can be applied in cases with indistinguishable crista lambdoidalis, and have satisfied success rate and clinical outcome.
Comparison of electrocardiographic parameters between left bundle optimized cardiac resynchronization therapy (LOT‐CRT) and left bundle branch pacing—cardiac resynchronization therapy (LBBP‐CRT)
Authors: Parale Chinmay , Bootla Dinakar , Jain Ashish , Satheesh Santhosh , Anantharaj Avinash , Ahmed A. Shaheer , Sukumaran Suresh Kumar , Balaguru Sridhar , Selvaraj Raja 
Published: July 2023

AbstractBackgroundIn patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy using left bundle branch area pacing (LBBP‐CRT), the addition of a coronary sinus lead, that is, Left bundle optimized CRT (LOT‐CRT) might confer additional benefits.ObjectivesTo compare the electrocardiographic characteristics between LBBP‐CRT and LOT‐CRTMaterials and MethodsPatients with non‐ischemic cardiomyopathy (NICMP) and left bundle branch block (LBBB) with left ventricular ejection fraction <35% who underwent implantation of an atrial lead, a left bundle lead, and a coronary sinus lead were included in this prospective study. Digital 12‐lead electrocardiograms were recorded in three pacing modes—AAI, DDD with pacing from the LBB lead (LBBP‐CRT), and DDD with pacing from both left bundle and coronary sinus leads (LOT‐CRT). QRS duration (QRSd), QRS area, QT interval, and T peak–T end (TpTe) intervals were compared.ResultsAmong 24 patients, QRSd reduced from 167 ± 21.2 ms to 134.5 ± 23.6 ms with LBBP‐CRT (p < .001) and 129.5 ± 18.6 ms with LOT‐CRT (p < .001) without a significant difference between LBBP‐CRT and LOT‐CRT (p = .15). Patients with QRS duration with LBBP‐CRT > 131 ms showed a significant reduction in QRSd with LOT‐CRT (p = .03). QT interval was reduced with both modes of CRT. LOT‐CRT was associated with a greater reduction in QRS area (p = .001), TpTe interval (p = .03), and TpTe/QT ratio (p = .013) compared to LBBP‐CRT.ConclusionsIn patients with NICMP and LBBB, there was no significant difference in QRSd with LOT‐CRT compared to LBBP‐CRT. However, in patients with QRSd > 131 ms after LBBP‐CRT, LOT‐CRT resulted in a significantly narrower QRS.
Study on the Step by Step Process and Performance of Laser Welding for the Spent Fuel Pool Floor
Authors: Mei Le , Zhang Xiaochun , Zhang Junbao , Shao Changlei , Zhu Jialei , Huang Ran , Wu Chongzhi 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
In order to realize the steel liner underwater repairing of the spent fuel pool of the third generation nuclear power plant, the laser welding process tests were carried out step by step in three environments: air, shallow water, and simulating-repairing of the spent fuel pool floor(high-pressure condition). Through the process optimization, the high-quality forming of the underwater laser welding of duplex stainless steel was realized, and the underwater local dry laser welding process suitable for the spent fuel pool floor of nuclear power plant was developed. The results of nondestructive testing (including visual testing, liquid penetrant testing, ultrasonic testing, and radiographic testing) of welding test pieces under three environments were qualified, and the test results of properties (including tensile, impact, bending, intergranular corrosion, and ferrite content) meet the standard requirements. The underwater weld performance is similar to that in the air environment, and the weld quality meets the requirements of the spent fuel pool construction standard, laying a technical foundation for the application of the spent fuel pool underwater repairing.