bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A throughput analysis of an energy-efficient spectrum sensing scheme for the cognitive radio-based Internet of things
Authors: Miah Md Sipon , Schukat Michael , Barrett Enda 
Published: December 2021

AbstractSpectrum sensing in a cognitive radio network involves detecting when a primary user vacates their licensed spectrum, to enable secondary users to broadcast on the same band. Accurately sensing the absence of the primary user ensures maximum utilization of the licensed spectrum and is fundamental to building effective cognitive radio networks. In this paper, we address the issues of enhancing sensing gain, average throughput, energy consumption, and network lifetime in a cognitive radio-based Internet of things (CR-IoT) network using the non-sequential approach. As a solution, we propose a Dempster–Shafer theory-based throughput analysis of an energy-efficient spectrum sensing scheme for a heterogeneous CR-IoT network using the sequential approach, which utilizes firstly the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) to evaluate the degree of reliability and secondly the time slot of reporting to merge as a flexible time slot of sensing to more efficiently assess spectrum sensing. Before a global decision is made on the basis of both the soft decision fusion rule like the Dempster–Shafer theory and hard decision fusion rule like the “n-out-of-k” rule at the fusion center, a flexible time slot of sensing is added to adjust its measuring result. Using the proposed Dempster–Shafer theory, evidence is aggregated during the time slot of reporting and then a global decision is made at the fusion center. In addition, the throughput of the proposed scheme using the sequential approach is analyzed based on both the soft decision fusion rule and hard decision fusion rule. Simulation results indicate that the new approach improves primary user sensing accuracy by$$13\%$$13%over previous approaches, while concurrently increasing detection probability and decreasing false alarm probability. It also improves overall throughput, reduces energy consumption, prolongs expected lifetime, and reduces global error probability compared to the previous approaches under any condition [part of this paper was presented at the EuCAP2018 conference (Md. Sipon Miah et al. 2018)].
Using machine learning to find the hidden relationship between RTT and TCP throughput in WiFi
Authors: Chaudhry Aizaz U. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractIs it possible to find hidden relationships among variables in WiFi network usingmachine learning(ML)? Can we use ML to find a variable that significantly affects the TCP throughput in WiFi? In this work, we employ a publicly available WiFi dataset to investigate these questions. We use ML techniques, includingprincipal component analysis (PCA),linear regression(LR), andrandom forest(RF), to study the effect of link speed, received signal strength,round-trip time(RTT), and number of available access points on TCP throughput in WiFi. More specifically, we are interested in employing ML to find the variable that most accurately predicts and thereby most significantly affects the throughput. Simple correlation analysis indicates that a combination of multiple variables is more likely to act as a reasonable predictor of the throughput, whereas a single variable, such as RTT, alone is not likely to predict the throughput with reasonable accuracy. From PCA, thefirst principal component(PC1) is seen as highly correlated to RTT. During predictive analysis, it is observed that the LR model is unable to find any hidden relationship between throughput and other variables. However, the RF model discovers that RTT explains the variation in throughput more closely and as such it predicts the throughput more accurately compared to other variables. PC1 captures nearly all of the variation in throughput with the RF model and predicts throughput with very high accuracy, which indirectly confirms RTT as the variable that most significantly affects the TCP throughput in WiFi. Consequently, we discover a very close relationship between RTT and TCP throughput using appropriate ML techniques, and these results can be helpful in developing a better understanding of the relationship between latency and throughput for designing future low-latency networks.
A secure approach to monitoring emergency health resources
Authors: Rivero-García Alexandra , Santos-González Iván , Hernández-Goya Candelaria , Caballero-Gil Pino 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThis proposal presents an optimized, efficient and secure system designed to improve healthcare staff management in emergency situations through a complete tool to classify victims in a emergency situation according the severity of their condition, providing at the same time their location and the best route to reach them. The developed tool consists on a mobile application (assigned to medical and healthcare staff), a web service and Near Field Communication tags (assigned to victims). The mobile application supports secure communication among health staff and implements triage algorithms which result is stored in NFC tags. Apart from this, it helps to indicate which should be the next victim to be treated. The developed web service provides a global view of the emergency status and the current position of victims and staff. Data security is a key objective, overall in health applications; for this reason, tokens are used to protect the triage results before being stored in NFC tags, and the use of IDentity-Based Signcryption provides confidentiality and authentication to communications. Two different signcryption methods are used depending on the communication mode (peer-to-peer or broadcast mode).
Preparing for future waves and pandemics: a global hospital survey on infection control measures and infection rates in COVID-19
Authors: Matoori Simon , Kuritzkes Daniel R. , Goh Yonggeng , Quek Swee Tian , Wang Liang , Sun Ziyan , di Marco Fabiano , Borleri Daniela , Buoro Sabrina , Fagiuoli Stefano , Ferrari Tatiana , Rizzi Marco , Raimondi Federico , Cesa Simonetta , Koh Dow-Mu , Froehlich Johannes M. , Janssen Sonja , Lange Bettina , Egle Alexander , Erb Stefan , Mossdorf Erik , Gutzeit Andreas 
Published: December 2021

AbstractA survey of hospitals on three continents was performed to assess their infection control preparedness and measures,
and their infection rate in hospital health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. All surveyed hospitals used similar PPE but differences in preparedness, PPE shortages, and infection rates were reported.
Disseminated Kaposi sarcoma following COVID-19 in a 61-year-old Albanian immunocompetent man: a case report and review of the literature
Authors: Gardini Giulia , Odolini Silvia , Moioli Giovanni , Papalia Dorothea Angela , Ferrari Vittorio , Matteelli Alberto , Caligaris Silvio 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
COVID-19 and its related anti-inflammatory treatment (steroids, immunomodulators) may induce the reactivation of latent bacterial, parasitic, and viral infections. According to our knowledge, no case of disseminated HHV-8-related Kaposi sarcoma (KS) after COVID-19 and its treatment has been described so far. Only one case of cutaneous KS concurrently with COVID-19 has been previously reported.

Case presentation
We describe a case of disseminated KS in a 61-year-old immunocompetent Albanian man after hospitalization for COVID-19.

Methods for literature research
We used PubMed as biomedical database for the literature research. We selected keyword combinations including “Kaposi sarcoma,” “HHV-8,” “immunocompetent,” “COVID-19,” “SARS-CoV-2,” and “steroids.” No time or language limitation was set. Titles and abstracts of selected articles were systematically screened. Articles were included in the examination if they were published under free access through the digital library of the University of Brescia (Italy), and provided full text. Articles were excluded if the topic was beyond the aim of our study. Finally, we selected 15 articles.

Results
We describe a case of KS in COVID-19 patient and postulate that Interleukin-6 (IL-6) activity and steroid-induced immunodeficiency may play a major role in KS emergence. No published case of disseminated KS following COVID-19 in otherwise healthy individuals was found through the systematic literature review, despite the high incidence of COVID-19 in areas with medium–high prevalence of HHV-8 infection. This observation might be explained by the role of individual genetic susceptibility factors.

Conclusions
SARS-CoV-2 infection and its treatment may lead to reactivation of several latent infections, including HHV-8 and its related clinical syndrome, Kaposi sarcoma.
Agro-morphological traits-based genetic diversity assessment in Ethiopian barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) landrace collections from Bale highlands, Southeast Ethiopia
Authors: Gadissa Fekadu , Abebe Meskerem , Bekele Tesfaye 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundCultivated barley (Hordeum vulgareL.) is one of the world’s important cereal crops. Ethiopia is claimed to be the centre of origin due to its high phenotypic diversity and flavonoid patterns. It is widely cultivated on subsistence bases and important in supporting the livelihood of local poor. However, the local landraces are currently under threat of severing genetic erosion. Hence, assessing the extents of its genetic diversity is timely in improvement and conservation.Methodology120 representative cultivated barley landraces have been collected from Bale highlands, Ethiopia, and tested at two locations using alpha lattice design. Data were collected on 21 agro-morphometric traits and analysed using MINITAB 19, SAS 9.4 and FigTree v1.4.3.ResultsMost morphotypes in each of the qualitative traits considered and mean performance values in most of the quantitative traits revealed wide range of variations suggesting existence of phenotypic diversity among the landraces. Analysis of variance also showed significant variations among the landraces. All the traits, except days to maturity and plant height showed a significant variation for location and treatment-location interactions revealing the high impact of environmental conditions on the variations. Estimates of the variance components also revealed a wider range of variations in most of the traits considered with eventual medium to low genotypic (GCV), phenotypic (PCV) and genotype–environment coefficients of variation (GECV). Estimates of heritability in broad sense (H2) is low (< 40%) in all the traits except in days to maturity. Grouping of the landraces showed poor geographic areas of collection-based pattern suggesting extensive gene flow among the areas.ConclusionThe landraces evaluated in the present study showed high morphological diversity. However, the effect of environment factor is pronounced and thus, multiple locations and years with large number of samples must be considered to exploit the available genetic-based variations for breeding and conservation of the crop.
Identification of a novel signature based on unfolded protein response-related gene for predicting prognosis in bladder cancer
Authors: Zhu Ke , Xiaoqiang Liu , Deng Wen , Wang Gongxian , Fu Bin 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
The unfolded protein response (UPR) served as a vital role in the progression of tumors, but the molecule mechanisms of UPR in bladder cancer (BLCA) have been not fully investigated.

Methods
We identified differentially expressed unfolded protein response-related genes (UPRRGs) between BLCA samples and normal bladder samples in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Univariate Cox analysis and the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator penalized Cox regression analysis were used to construct a prognostic signature in the TCGA set. We implemented the validation of the prognostic signature in GSE13507 from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. The ESTIMATE, CIBERSORT, and ssGSEA algorithms were used to explore the correlation between the prognostic signature and immune cells infiltration as well as key immune checkpoints (PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4, and HAVCR2). GDSC database analyses were conducted to investigate the chemotherapy sensitivity among different groups. GSEA analysis was used to explore the potential mechanisms of UPR-based signature.

Results
A prognostic signature comprising of seven genes (CALR, CRYAB, DNAJB4, KDELR3, CREB3L3, HSPB6, and FBXO6) was constructed to predict the outcome of BLCA. Based on the UPRRGs signature, the patients with BLCA could be classified into low-risk groups and high-risk groups. Patients with BLCA in the low-risk groups showed the more favorable outcomes than those in the high-risk groups, which was verified in GSE13507 set. This signature could serve as an autocephalous prognostic factor in BLCA. A nomogram based on risk score and clinical characteristics was established to predict the over survival of BLCA patients. Furthermore, the signature was closely related to immune checkpoints (PD-L1, CTLA-4, and HAVCR2) and immune cells infiltration including CD8+ T cells, follicular helper T cells, activated dendritic cells, and M2 macrophages. GSEA analysis indicated that immune and carcinogenic pathways were enriched in high-risk group.

Conclusions
We identified a novel unfolded protein response-related gene signature which could predict the over survival, immune microenvironment, and chemotherapy response of patients with bladder cancer.
Bioefficacy and durability of Olyset® Plus, a permethrin and piperonyl butoxide-treated insecticidal net in a 3-year long trial in Kenya
Authors: Gichuki Paul M. , Kamau Luna , Njagi Kiambo , Karoki Solomon , Muigai Njoroge , Matoke-Muhia Damaris , Bayoh Nabie , Mathenge Evan , Yadav Rajpal S. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
Long-lasting insecticide nets (LLINs) are a core malaria intervention. LLINs should retain efficacy against mosquito vectors for a minimum of three years. Efficacy and durability of Olyset® Plus, a permethrin and piperonyl butoxide (PBO) treated LLIN, was evaluated versus permethrin treated Olyset® Net. In the absence of WHO guidelines of how to evaluate PBO nets, and considering the manufacturer’s product claim, Olyset® Plus was evaluated as a pyrethroid LLIN.

Methods
This was a household randomized controlled trial in a malaria endemic rice cultivation zone of Kirinyaga County, Kenya between 2014 and 2017. Cone bioassays and tunnel tests were done against Anopheles gambiae Kisumu. The chemical content, fabric integrity and LLIN survivorship were monitored. Comparisons between nets were tested for significance using the Chi-square test. Exact binomial distribution with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) was used for percentages. The WHO efficacy criteria used were ≥ 95% knockdown and/or ≥ 80% mortality rate in cone bioassays and ≥ 80% mortality and/or ≥ 90% blood-feeding inhibition in tunnel tests.

Results
At 36 months, Olyset® Plus lost 52% permethrin and 87% PBO content; Olyset® Net lost 24% permethrin. Over 80% of Olyset® Plus and Olyset® Net passed the WHO efficacy criteria for LLINs up to 18 and 12 months, respectively. At month 36, 91.2% Olyset® Plus and 86.4% Olyset® Net survived, while 72% and 63% developed at least one hole. The proportionate Hole Index (pHI) values representing nets in good, serviceable and torn condition were 49.6%, 27.1% and 23.2%, respectively for Olyset® Plus, and 44.9%, 32.8% and 22.2%, respectively for Olyset® Net but were not significantly different.

Conclusions
Olyset® Plus retained efficacy above or close to the WHO efficacy criteria for about 2 years than Olyset® Net (1–1.5 years). Both nets did not meet the 3-year WHO efficacy criteria, and showed little attrition, comparable physical durability and survivorship, with 50% of Olyset® Plus having good and serviceable condition after 3 years. Better community education on appropriate use and upkeep of LLINs is essential to ensure effectiveness of LLIN based malaria interventions.

Graphical Abstract
Perinatal origins of chronic lung disease: mechanisms–prevention–therapy—sphingolipid metabolism and the genetic and perinatal origins of childhood asthma
Authors: Wasserman Emily , Worgall Stefan 
Published: December 2021

AbstractChildhood asthma derives from complex host-environment interactions occurring in the perinatal and infant period, a critical time for lung development. Sphingolipids are bioactive molecules consistently implicated in the pathogenesis of childhood asthma. Genome wide association studies (GWAS) initially identified a link between alleles within the 17q21 asthma-susceptibility locus, childhood asthma, and overexpression of the ORMDL sphingolipid biosynthesis regulator 3 (ORMDL3), an inhibitor of de novo sphingolipid synthesis. Subsequent studies of pediatric asthma offer strong evidence that these asthma-risk alleles correlate with early-life aberrancies of sphingolipid homeostasis and asthma. Relationships between sphingolipid metabolism and asthma-related risk factors, including maternal obesity and respiratory viral infections, are currently under investigation. This review will summarize how these perinatal and early life exposures can synergize with 17q21 asthma risk alleles to exacerbate disruptions of sphingolipid homeostasis and drive asthma pathogenesis.
Liquid biopsy to identify biomarkers for immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Ao Huang , Xin Zhang , Jian Zhou 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe past years have witnessed the vigorous development of immunotherapy, mainly immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) targeting the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) protein and its ligand, PD-L1, and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4). Indeed, ICIs have largely revolutionized the management and improved the prognosis of patients with intermediate and advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, biomarker-based stratification of HCC patients for optimal response to ICI treatment is still of unmet need and again, there exists the necessity to dynamically monitor treatment effect in real-time manner. The role of conventional biomarkers in immunotherapy surveillance is largely limited by spatial and temporal tumor heterogeneity whereas liquid biopsy seems to be promising to circumvent tumor heterogeneity to identify candidate patients who may response to immunotherapy, to dynamically monitor treatment effect and to unveil resistance mechanism. Herein, we provide a thorough review about the potential utility of liquid biopsy in immunotherapy for HCC and discuss its future perspectives.
Brush swab as a noninvasive surrogate for tissue biopsies in epigenomic profiling of oral cancer
Authors: Viet Chi T. , Zhang Xinyu , Xu Ke , Yu Gary , Asam Kesava , Thomas Carissa M. , Callahan Nicholas F. , Doan Coleen , Walker Paul C. , Nguyen Khanh , Kidd Stephanie C. , Lee Steve C. , Grandhi Anupama , Allen Clint T. , Young Simon , Melville James C. , Shum Jonathan W. , Viet Dan T. , Herford Alan S. , Roden Dylan F. , Gonzalez Manuel L. , Zhong Jiang F. , Aouizerat Bradley E. 
Published: December 2021

Abstract
Background
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has poor survival rates. There is a pressing need to develop more precise risk assessment methods to tailor clinical treatment. Epigenome-wide association studies in OSCC have not produced a viable biomarker. These studies have relied on methylation array platforms, which are limited in their ability to profile the methylome. In this study, we use MethylCap-Seq (MC-Seq), a comprehensive methylation quantification technique, and brush swab samples, to develop a noninvasive, readily translatable approach to profile the methylome in OSCC patients.

Methods
Three OSCC patients underwent collection of cancer and contralateral normal tissue and brush swab biopsies, totaling 4 samples for each patient. Epigenome-wide DNA methylation quantification was performed using the SureSelectXT Methyl-Seq platform. DNA quality and methylation site resolution were compared between brush swab and tissue samples. Correlation and methylation value difference were determined for brush swabs vs. tissues for each respective patient and site (i.e., cancer or normal). Correlations were calculated between cancer and normal tissues and brush swab samples for each patient to determine the robustness of DNA methylation marks using brush swabs in clinical biomarker studies.

Results
There were no significant differences in DNA yield between tissue and brush swab samples. Mapping efficiency exceeded 90% across all samples, with no differences between tissue and brush swabs. The average number of CpG sites with at least 10x depth of coverage was 2,716,674 for brush swabs and 2,903,261 for tissues. Matched tissue and brush swabs had excellent correlation (r = 0.913 for cancer samples and r = 0.951 for normal samples). The methylation profile of the top 1000 CpGs was significantly different between cancer and normal samples (mean p-value = 0.00021) but not different between tissues and brush swabs (mean p-value = 0.11).

Conclusions
Our results demonstrate that MC-Seq is an efficient platform for epigenome profiling in cancer biomarker studies, with broader methylome coverage than array-based platforms. Brush swab biopsy provides adequate DNA yield for MC-Seq, and taken together, our findings set the stage for development of a non-invasive methylome quantification technique for oral cancer with high translational potential.
A partial migrant relies upon a range-wide cue set but uses population-specific weighting for migratory timing
Authors: Linek Nils , Brzęk Paweł , Gienapp Phillip , O’Mara M. Teague , Pokrovsky Ivan , Schmidt Andreas , Shipley J. Ryan , Taylor Jan R. E. , Tiainen Juha , Volkmer Tamara , Wikelski Martin , Partecke Jesko 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundMany birds species range over vast geographic regions and migrate seasonally between their breeding and overwintering sites. Deciding when to depart for migration is one of the most consequential life-history decisions an individual may make. However, it is still not fully understood which environmental cues are used to time the onset of migration and to what extent their relative importance differs across a range of migratory strategies. We focus on departure decisions of a songbird, the Eurasian blackbirdTurdus merula, in which selected Russian and Polish populations are full migrants which travel relatively long-distances, whereas Finnish and German populations exhibit partial migration with shorter migration distances.MethodsWe used telemetry data from the four populations (610 individuals) to determine which environmental cues individuals from each population use to initiate their autumn migration.ResultsWhen departing, individuals in all populations selected nights with high atmospheric pressure and minimal cloud cover. Fully migratory populations departed earlier in autumn, at longer day length, at higher ambient temperatures, and during nights with higher relative atmospheric pressure and more supportive winds than partial migrants; however, they did not depart in higher synchrony. Thus, while all studied populations used the same environmental cues, they used population-specific and locally tuned thresholds to determine the day of departure.ConclusionsOur data support the idea that migratory timing is controlled by general, species-wide mechanisms, but fine-tuned thresholds in response to local conditions.