bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of species diversity, richness, and abundance of dung beetles between wildlife and wildlife-livestock ecosystems of Namibia.
Authors: Ndozi Mukendwa Hosticks , Gohole Linnet 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Assessing the species diversity, richness, and abundance of dung beetles in wildlife and wildlife-livestock ecosystems is crucial in understanding the effects of anthropogenic processes on the community structures of dung beetles to improve conservation strategies in Namibia. We tested the hypothesis that the species diversity, richness, and abundance of dung beetles in wildlife ecosystems will be better than in wildlife-livestock ecosystems. Sampling of dung beetles was carried out using baited pitfall traps for a period of 12 months. Linear transects of 1.1 km in length were installed with 12 pitfall traps separated by a distance of 100 m from each other. An independent samples test (P = 0.05) was used to compare the species diversity of dung beetles in two ecosystems. A total of 56,701 individuals were collected from both wildlife and wildlife-livestock ecosystems belonging to 44 species, 25 genera, and 8 tribes. The species diversity of the two ecosystems was similar (H’; t = 1.146, df = 22, P > 0.05). The wildlife ecosystem was more species-rich (n = 43) when compared to the wildlife-livestock ecosystem (n = 35). The species abundance and richness were significantly difference between the two ecosystems (p = < 0.05). A higher Shannon-Wiener Index (H’ = 2.63) was reported in wildlife ecosystems than in wildlife-livestock ecosystems. Different land-use systems have proven to have an impact on species assemblage of dung beetles. We concluded that wildlife ecosystems in Namibia can provide a rich ecological and functional dung beetle community.
Reimplementing Mizar in Rust
Authors: Carneiro Mario 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

This paper describes a new open-source proof processing tool, \texttt{mizar-rs}, a wholesale reimplementation of the Mizar proof system, written in Rust. In particular, the main Mizar processing tool \texttt{verifier} is implemented, which can be used to verify the Mizar Mathematical Library (MML). This is to our knowledge the first and only external implementation of the system. We have used this to verify the entire MML in 11.8 minutes on 8 cores, a 4.8$\times$ speedup over the original Pascal implementation. Since Mizar is not designed to have a small trusted core, checking Mizar proofs entails following Mizar closely, so our ability to detect bugs is limited. Nevertheless, we were able to find multiple memory errors, four soundness bugs in the original (which were not being exploited in MML), in addition to one non-critical bug which was being exploited in 46 different MML articles. We hope to use this checker as a base for proof export tooling, as well as revitalizing development of the language.
Prediction of Vancomycin Plasma Concentration in Elderly Patients based on Multi-Algorithm Mining Combined with Population Pharmacokinetics
Authors: Ma Pan , Ma Huan , Liu Ruixiang , Wen Haini , Li Haisheng , Huang Yifan , Li Ying , Xiong Lirong , Xie Linli , Wang Qian 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background
The pharmacokinetics of vancomycin exhibit significant interindividual variability, particularly among elderly patients. This study aims to develop a predictive model that integrates machine learning with population pharmacokinetics (popPK) to facilitate personalized medication management for this demographic.
Methods
A retrospective analysis incorporating 33 variables, including popPK parameters such as clearance and volume of distribution. A combination of multiple algorithms and Shapley Additive Explanations was utilized for feature selection to identify the most influential factors affecting drug concentrations.
Results
Models incorporating popPK parameters consistently outperformed those without. Our final ensemble model, composed of support vector regression, light gradient boosting machine, and categorical boosting in a 6:3:1 ratio, included 16 optimized variables. This model demonstrated superior predictive accuracy compared to models utilizing all variables, with validation metrics including an R² of 0.635, mean square error of 4.067, mean absolute error of 29.877, absolute accuracy within ± 5 mg/L of 64.86%, and relative accuracy within ± 30% of 75.68%.
Conclusions
This study presents a rapid and cost-effective predictive model for estimating vancomycin plasma concentrations in elderly patients. The model offers a valuable tool for clinicians to accurately determine effective plasma concentration ranges and tailor individualized dosing regimens, thereby enhancing therapeutic outcomes and safety.
Comparison of Neoadjuvant Chemoimmunotherapy and Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Resectable Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Study with 3-Year Survival Analysis
Authors: Wang Peiyuan , Chen Yujie , Lei Mengxia , He Hao , Zhang Derong , Lin Junpeng , Lin Hui , Wei Wenwei , Chen Peng , Zhuang Fengnian , Chen Weijie , Zhou Hang , Gao Pengqiang , Wang Feng , Liu Shuoyan 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background
Neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy (nCIT) for locally advanced esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) has shown short-term benefits, but long-term survival outcomes are unclear. This study compares nCIT and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (nCT) in resectable ESCC.
Patients and Methods:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on ESCC patients who underwent nCT or nCIT followed by esophagectomy. Propensity score matching (PSM) with a caliper of 0.02 was employed to minimize bias. The primary endpoints included disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS).
Results
A total of 131 comparable pairs of ESCC patients receiving nCT and nCIT were selected for the final analysis. The nCIT had higher rates of pathological complete response (pCR) and major pathological response (mPR) compared to nCT. Additionally, nCIT led to significant tumor down-staging, higher rates of R0 resection, and increased lymph node clearance during surgery. Patients who received nCIT exhibited improved disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) at the 3-year follow-up. The incidence of distant and mixed relapses was lower in the nCIT group compared to the nCT group. However, the risk of locoregional relapse was comparable between the two groups. Subgroup analyses showed that the benefits of nCIT were generally observed across most patient subgroups. Interestingly, in patients without pCR or mPR, nCIT still demonstrated better survival benefits than nCT.
Conclusion
nCIT demonstrated superior pathological response rates and improved 3-year DFS and OS compared to nCT alone in locally advanced ESCC, but long-term survival validation is needed.
Development and Optimization of Machine Learning Algorithms for Predicting In-hospital Patient Charges for Congestive Heart Failure Exacerbations, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations and Diabetic Ketoacidosis
Authors: Arnold Monique , Liou Lathan , Boland Mary Regina 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background
Hospitalizations for exacerbations of congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) are costly in the United States. The purpose of this study was to predict in-hospital charges for each condition using machine learning (ML) models.
Results
We conducted a retrospective cohort study on national discharge records of hospitalized adult patients from January 1st, 2016, to December 31st, 2019. We used numerous ML techniques to predict in-hospital total cost. We found that linear regression (LM), gradient boosting (GBM) and extreme gradient boosting (XGB) models had good predictive performance and were statistically equivalent, with training R-square values ranging from 0.49–0.95 for CHF, 0.56–0.95 for COPD, and 0.32–0.99 for DKA. We identified important key features driving costs, including patient age, length of stay, number of procedures. and elective/nonelective admission.
Conclusions
ML methods may be used to accurately predict costs and identify drivers of high cost for COPD exacerbations, CHF exacerbations and DKA. Overall, our findings may inform future studies that seek to decrease the underlying high patient costs for these conditions.
Inter-rater agreement and variability in visual reading and of [18F]Flutemetamol PET
Authors: Takenaka Akinori , Nihashi Takashi , Sakurai Keita , Notomi Keiji , Ono Hokuto , Inui Yoshitaka , Ito Shinji , Arahata Yutaka , Takeda Akinori , Ishii Kazunari , Ishii Kenji , Ito Kengo , Toyama Hiroshi , Nakamura Akinori , Kato Takashi 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to validate the concordance of visual ratings of [18F]flutemetamol amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) images and to investigate the correlation between the agreement of each rater and the Centiloid (CL) scale.
Methods: A total of 192 participants, clinically classified as cognitively normal (CN) (n=59), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (n=65), Alzheimer's disease (AD) (n=55), or non-AD dementia (n=13), participated in this study. Three experts conducted visual ratings of the amyloid PET images for all 192 patients, assigning a confidence level to each rating on a three-point scale (certain, probable, or neither). The positive or negative determination of amyloid PET results was made by majority vote. The CL value was calculated using the CapAIBL pipeline.
Results: Overall, 101 images were determined to be positive, while 91 images were negative. Of the 101 positive results, the three raters were in complete agreement for 92 results and in disagreement for 9 results. Of the 91 negative results, the three raters were in complete agreement for 75 results and in disagreement for 16 results. Interrater reliability among the three experts was particularly high, with both Fleiss’ kappa and Conger’s kappa measuring 0.83 (0.76-0.89). The CL value was significantly greater for positive cases with complete agreement and significantly lower for negative cases with complete agreement. Cases with rater disagreement had intermediate CLs. In cases with a high confidence level, the visual ratings judged as positive or negative were in almost complete agreement. However, as confidence levels decreased, experts’ visual ratings became more variable. The lower the confidence level was, the greater the number of cases with disagreement in visual ratings.
Conclusions: Three experts independently rated 192 amyloid PET images, achieving a high level of interrater agreement. However, in patients with intermediate amyloid accumulation, visual ratings varied. Therefore, caution should be taken in determining positive and negative decisions in these patients.
Spontaneous high clonal expansion of Wilms’ tumor gene 1 (WT1)-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes in patients with WT1-expressing solid tumor
Authors: Morimoto Soyoko , Tanaka Yukie , Nakata Jun , Fujiki Fumihiro , Hasegawa Kana , Nakajima Hiroko , Nishida Sumiyuki , Tsuboi Akihiro , Hosen Naoki , Kagawa Naoki , Maruno Motohiko , Myoui Akira , Enomoto Takayuki , Izumoto Shuichi , Sekimoto Mitsugu , Hashimoto Naoya , Yoshimine Toshiki , Kumanogoh Atsushi , Oji Yusuke , Oka Yoshihiro , Sugiyama Haruo 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Wilms’ tumor protein 1 (WT1)-targeted immunotherapy has been used in patients with leukemia and solid tumors. However, the spontaneous WT1-specific immune response before WT1 peptide vaccination in patients with WT1-expressing tumors (PTs) remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated whether WT1-specific cytotoxic CD8+ T-lymphocytes (CTLs) are clonally expanded in the peripheral blood outside of tumor sites. Clonal expansion of WT1126 peptide (a.a.126–134)-specific CTLs (WT1126-CTLs) was compared between seven PTs and five healthy volunteers (HVs), and their T-cell receptors (TCRs) were analyzed at the single-cell level. Overall, 433 and 351 TCR β-chains of WT1126-CTLs were detected from PTs and HVs, respectively, and complementarity-determining region 3 was sequenced for clonality analysis. The frequencies of WT1126-CTLs were higher in human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A*02:01+ PTs than in HLA-A*02:01+ HVs, although the difference was not statistically significant. WT1126-CTLs of differentiated types, including memory and effector, were higher in PTs than in HVs, whereas those of the naïve type were higher in HVs than in PTs. WT1126-CTL clonality was significantly higher in PTs than in HVs. Furthermore, the frequency of effector WT1126-CTLs positively correlated with WT1126-CTL clonality in PTs, whereas the frequency of naïve phenotype WT1126-CTLs tended to be negatively correlated with clonality. In conclusion, these results suggest that the WT1 protein in tumor cells is highly immunogenic, thereby stimulating endogenous naïve-type WT1126-CTLs and enabling them to clonally expand and differentiate into effector-type WT1126-CTLs.
Evapotranspiration Measurements in Pasture Classes, Crops, and Native Cerrado Based on Sensors Embodied on Uavs
Authors: Lima Gabriella Santos Arruda , Ferreira Manuel Eduardo , Sales Jepherson Correia , Passos Joelson Souza , Madari Beata Emoke , Carvalho Márcia Thaís Melo , Machado Pedro Luiz Oliveira Almeida 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

In Brazil, agriculture consumes most of the available freshwater, especially in the Cerrado biome, where the rain cycle is marked by long periods of drought. This study, conducted at Embrapa Arroz e Feijão [Rice and Beans] unit in Santo Antônio de Goiás, Goiás, estimated evapotranspiration (ET) in different crops and soil cover. Using multispectral Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) images and weather station data, we applied the "Simple Algorithm for Evapotranspiration Retrieving" (SAFER) to calculate ET in bean, pasture, and Semideciduous Seasonal Forest areas. The results showed a good agreement between UAV and satellite data, with R² = 0.84, also validated with flow towers by the eddy covariance method. UAV-based ET was observed to correspond well to tower (EC) during full vegetative development of beans but is underestimated at the beginning of planting and in the final periods of plant senescence, due to the influence of soil or straw cover. These findings contribute to a better understanding of water dynamics in the system and to enhancing sustainable agricultural practices. This method, adapted for multispectral aerial imaging, can be applied flexibly and on demand, in different contexts and ground cover. The study highlights the importance of integrated agricultural practices for better management of water resources and preservation of the Cerrado in balance with cultivation areas.
Investigating the Propagating effects of Griseofulvin on Erectile Dysfunction: A Comprehensive Computational and Molecular Docking Study on Human Phosphodiesterase 5 proteins (1UDT and 1UDU).
Authors: Shinggu John , Etim Emmanuel , Humphrey Samuel , Bako Bulus 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a prevalent condition affecting a significant portion of the male population. This research delves into the potential link between Griseofulvin, a known antifungal medication, and its impact on erectile function. A comprehensive computational approach was employed. Optimization of griseofulvin was carried out using the highly reputable density functional theory (DFT) with the B3LYP functional and 6–31*G(d,p) using water and ethanol as the solvents of interest. We explored the interactions of Griseofulvin with Human Phosphodiesterase 5 proteins (PDE5), specifically targeting the crystal structures 1UDT and 1UDU. Molecular docking studies provided valuable insights into the binding mechanisms of Griseofulvin with PDE5, shedding light on potential allosteric modulation and conformational changes. Further molecular docking studies were carried out on other popular antifungal drugs like amphotericin, terbinafine and ketoconazole in order to compare their interactions with 1UDT and 1UDU with that of griseofulvin. Through an array of computational analyses, including molecular dynamics simulations and binding free energy calculations, we aimed to elucidate the propagating effects of Griseofulvin on the catalytic activity and structural stability of PDE5. The findings from this research could contribute to a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying Griseofulvin's impact on erectile function, potentially opening avenues for the development of novel therapeutic interventions for ED.
Structural disadvantage and HIV risk – comparing risk factors between trans women’s partnerships with cis men and trans women sexual partners
Authors: Wilson Erin C. , Suprasert Bow , Trujillo Dillon , Sicro Sofia , Hernandez Christopher J. , Turner Caitlin M. , McFarland Willi , Arayasirikul Sean 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Introduction: Little is known about differences in HIV risk for trans women by partner gender, particularly with respect to social determinants and partner-level circumstances that affect behavior. We examined differences in demographic, social determinants, and HIV-related risk behaviors for trans women with cis men and trans women sexual partners.
Materials and Methods: Data are from a cross-sectional survey of trans women and their sexual partners conducted between April 2020 and January 2021. Interviews were held remotely during shelter-in-place due to Covid-19 via videoconference. Analysis characterizedassociations between HIV risk and protective behaviors comparing trans women with cisgender men partners to trans women with non-cisgender sexual partners.
Results: A total of 336 sexual partners were identified from 156 trans women. Trans women with cis men partners had significantly less education and employment and more incarceration and recidivism than trans women with trans women partners. Trans women and their cisgender men partners had shared experiences of unstable housing, incarceration, and HIV. Trans women with cisgender men partners reported significantly more sex exchange partners, receptive condomless sex, receptive or insertive condomless sex while using substances, and HIV infection compared to trans women with trans women partners.
Conclusions:Trans women with cisgender men sexual partners faced higher HIV risk than trans women with trans women sexual partners. These risks may be related to the social and economic drivers that both trans women and their cis men partners faced, including barriers to education and employment, along with incarceration and recidivism. Interventions focused on economic stability, workforce development and post incarceration re-entry support for housing and employment for trans women with cis men partners and the cisgender men partners as well may have the most impact on reducing HIV risk and incidence.
A multi-objective UAV fault diagnosis framework based on attention joint multi-spatial shared knowledge
Authors: An Xue , Li Shaobo , Zhang Yizong , Shen Mingming , Wang Yan , Wu Xiao 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

In recent years, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have had excellent performance in various fields, but their frequent component faults often lead to damages and serious accidents, so it is crucial to carry out timely fault diagnosis for them. Deep learning is widely used in the field of UAV fault diagnosis due to its superior feature extraction capability, but the increasing complexity of UAV faults and the scarcity of data have limited the development of deep learning in this field. To address the above problems, this paper proposed an Attention-based Joint Multi-Spatial Shared Knowledge Network (A-MSKN) for multi-objective fault diagnosis of UAVs under small samples. A-MSKN considers both complementary relationships between different tasks and intra-task dependencies within the same task for individual fault samples in different time intervals. Firstly, a single fault sample is divided into multiple sub-samples based on different time slices, and different sub-samples are coded to obtain different feature sub-spaces. Then, a sharing unit based on attention is designed to share not only the different feature subspaces within a task but also the features related between different tasks in a more fully shared way, to obtain more fault information for fault diagnosis under small samples. Finally, the effectiveness of the A-MSKN in the case of small samples was verified by testing it on real faulty flight data.
Prevalence and associated risk factors of stunting, wasting/thinness, and underweight among primary school children in Kandahar city, Afghanistan: a cross-sectional analytical study
Authors: Rahimi Bilal Ahmad , Khalid Aziz Ahmad , Lali Wais Mohammad , Khalid Wahid Ahmad , Rahimi Javed Ahmad , Taylor Walter R 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background Undernutrition, which includes stunting, wasting, and underweight, is a global problem, especially among children of low- and middle-income countries. To our knowledge, this study is first of its type from Afghanistan. Its main objectives were to estimate the prevalence and associated risk factors of stunting, wasting/thinness, and underweight among primary school children in Kandahar city of Afghanistan.Methods This school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 1205 primary school children aged 6–12 years during a period of six months (October 2022–March 2023). Anthropometric measurements and other data were collected from all the participants. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, Chi square test, and multivariate logistic regression.Results Among the 1205 enrolled school students, 83.6% had undernutrition, with 47.4%, 19.5%, and 25.6% having stunting, wasting/thinness, and underweight, respectively. Statistically significant factors associated with stunting were age group 6–9 years (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 1.3, 95% CI 1.1–1.7), being girl (AOR 2.3, 95% CI 1.8–3.0), poverty (AOR 2.2, 95% CI 1.5–3.2), large family (AOR 3.0, 95% CI 2.4–3.9), uneducated mother (AOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.0–2.6), jobless head of the family (AOR 3.3, 95% CI 2.3–4.8), and skipping breakfasts (AOR 1.7, 95% CI 1.2–2.3). Main factor associated with wasting/thinness were age group 6–9 years (AOR 30.5, 95% CI 11.8–78.7), skipping breakfasts (AOR 22.9, 95% CI 13.9–37.8), and history of sickness during the past two weeks (AOR 17.0, 95% CI 6.6–43.8). Also, main factors associated with underweight were age group 6–9 years (AOR 2.6, 95% CI 1.6–4.1), skipping breakfasts (AOR 2.6, 95% CI 1.8–3.6), and poor sanitation (AOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.1–3.2).Conclusions Stunting, wasting/thinness, and underweight are highly prevalent among primary school children (both girls and boys) in Kandahar city. It is recommended that local government (Afghanistan Ministry of Education and Ministry of Public Health) with the help of international organizations and donor agencies should implement comprehensive school-based feeding programs, as well as conduct health and nutrition education programs for the improvement of health and nutritional status of school children in Kandahar.