bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The significance of heart rate variability in patients with frequent premature ventricular complex originating from the ventricular outflow tract
Authors: Zhang Baowei , Yu Jinbo , Wu Yizhang , Li Xiaorong , Xie Xin , Tao Aibin , Yang Bing 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackgroundAs an indicator of cardiac autonomic nervous activity, heart rate variability (HRV) is closely linked to premature ventricular complexes (PVCs). However, its role in patients with frequent PVCs originating from the ventricular outflow tract remains unclear.HypothesisHere, we hypothesize that there may be alterations in HRV among patients with frequent PVCs originating from the ventricular outflow tract, which could play significant roles in the management of such patients.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted, including 106 patients with frequent outflow tract PVCs and 106 healthy participants as controls. HRV was assessed based on the 24‐hour Holter recording. The originating foci of PVCs were identified during radiofrequency catheter ablation.ResultsPatients with frequent outflow tract PVCs exhibited decreased levels of high frequency (HF), standard deviation of all NN intervals, and standard deviation of the average NN intervals, but increased ratios of low frequency to HF (LF/HF ratio), even after propensity score‐matched analysis. Further investigation revealed that patients with PVCs originating from right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) had much higher LF/HF ratios. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the LF/HF ratio was independently associated with PVCs originating from RVOT. Receiver operating characteristics curve indicated that the LF/HF ratio effectively determined the origin of PVCs (the area under the curve = 0.75, p < .001).ConclusionsPatients with frequent outflow tract PVCs exhibited impaired HRV. Additionally, the LF/HF ratio played a significant role in determining the origin of outflow tract PVCs.
INTRAGRO: A machine learning approach to predict future growth of trees under climate change
Authors: Aryal Sugam , Grießinger Jussi , Dyola Nita , Gaire Narayan Prasad , Bhattarai Tribikram , Bräuning Achim 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe escalating impact of climate change on global terrestrial ecosystems demands a robust prediction of the trees' growth patterns and physiological adaptation for sustainable forestry and successful conservation efforts. Understanding these dynamics at an intra‐annual resolution can offer deeper insights into tree responses under various future climate scenarios. However, the existing approaches to infer cambial or leaf phenological change are mainly focused on certain climatic zones (such as higher latitudes) or species with foliage discolouration during the fall season. In this study, we demonstrated a novel approach (INTRAGRO) to combine intra‐annual circumference records generated by dendrometers coupled to the output of climate models to predict future tree growth at intra‐annual resolution using a series of supervised and unsupervised machine learning algorithms. INTRAGRO performed well using our dataset, that is dendrometer data ofP. roxburghiiSarg. from the subtropical mid‐elevation belt of Nepal, with robust test statistics. Our growth prediction shows enhanced tree growth at our study site for the middle and end of the 21st century. This result is remarkable since the predicted growing season by INTRAGRO is expected to shorten due to changes in seasonal precipitation. INTRAGRO's key advantage is the opportunity to analyse changes in trees' intra‐annual growth dynamics on a global scale, regardless of the investigated tree species, regional climate and geographical conditions. Such information is important to assess tree species' growth performance and physiological adaptation to growing season change under different climate scenarios.
Microhabitat characteristics of the critically endangered big‐headed turtle Platysternon megacephalum
Authors: Xiao Fanrong , Bu Rongping , Ye Zihao , Wang Jichao , Shi Hai‐Tao 
Published: October 2023

AbstractUnderstanding the microhabitat requirements of an animal is vital for ensuring the success of targeted conservation and microhabitat restoration measures. The big‐headed turtle (Platysternon megacephalum) is a freshwater species that is distributed across Southeast Asia. Owing to the human threats posed by illegal pet trade and overharvesting for food and medicinal purposes, the species has undergone rapid decline. However, in Hainan, their microhabitat characteristics are still unknown, which is neither conducive to the conservation of the species nor to the establishment of the Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park. This study examined the microhabitat characteristics of P. megacephalum using sample plot methods in the Diaoluo Mountain area of Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park. Our results indicated that P. megacephalum prefers stream microhabitats with rocky substrates, several caves, and a high diversity of food sources. Microhabitat characteristics did not differ significantly between adults and juveniles. Our results suggest that protecting microhabitats and main food sources is important for the conservation of P. megacephalum. Our findings provide a reference for the protection of this species in Jianfeng Ridge, Yingge Ridge, and other areas in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park.
How much do field mice prefer dwarf bamboo seeds? Two‐choice experiments between seeds of Sasa borealis and several tree species on the forest floor
Authors: Suzuki Hanami , Kajimura Hisashi 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBambusoideae is a taxon of mass‐flowering monocarpic perennials with a long life cycle. Forest ecosystems are affected by Bambusoideae seeding and death events in various ways, including an increased abundance of Apodemus spp. The utilization and preference of dwarf bamboo seeds over tree seeds by field mice remain elusive. Therefore, we aimed to determine whether field mice prefer dwarf bamboo to tree seeds. We examined one dwarf bamboo species (Sasa borealis) against four tree species with varying acorn/fruit traits (Castanea crenata, Quercus crispula, Fagus crenata, and Lindera triloba). The seeds were placed in a container in a forest among dead S. borealis culms, with an automatic camera monitoring the setup. The examined seeds were mainly foraged by two field mouse species, Apodemus speciosus and Apodemus argenteus, with preference in the following order: C. crenata, L. triloba, S. borealis, F. crenata, and Q. crispula. Our findings indicated that during S. borealis mast seeding years, predation pressure on F. crenata and Q. crispula seeds could be considerably reduced. This suggests that mast seeding might disrupt the normal pattern of survival, and seed dispersal patterns, potentially altering the forest vegetation composition.
Fear, concealment, and time of day interactively predict group size of a common ungulate
Authors: Delisle Zackary J. , Sample Richard D. , Swihart Robert K. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAnimals commonly form groups with conspecifics. Hypotheses on the drivers of group size often (but not always) pertain to fear of predation and food availability or quality. However, for a more complete understanding of group forming, multiple, possibly interacting mechanisms should be considered. We used camera traps, detectability estimates from distance sampling, and hierarchical Bayesian modeling to index group size and test multiple additive and interacting group‐formation hypotheses in white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), within Indiana, USA. We found a strong relationship between our index of group size and (1) a three‐way interaction between spatiotemporal pulses in fear of natural predation risk and anthropogenic development and (2) a three‐way interaction between the local cover (defined as the amount of vegetative cover in the immediate area of the camera), the area of concealment (defined as forests or wetlands) within the larger landscape, and time of day. Specifically, we documented larger groups in areas near anthropogenic development, in areas with high predator use intensity, and when predators were active. Additionally, we found larger groups during dawn and dusk when deer were most active in locations with sparse local cover when the area of concealment in the surrounding landscape was small, and within dense local cover when the area of concealment in the surrounding landscape was large. Our methods can aid future behavioral and ecological studies, as we present a clear and easily replicable strategy that infers group membership from spatiotemporal proximity, corrects for differences in detectability, and enables sampling across large spatial and long temporal scales. Our findings indicate that fear of natural predators and anthropogenic disturbance interactively explain variation in group size.
Photolysis Products of Fluorinated Pharmaceuticals: A Combined Fluorine Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry Approach
Authors: Mundhenke Thomas F. , Bhat Akash P. , Pomerantz William C.K. , Arnold William A. 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
The aqueous photolysis of four pharmaceuticals with varying fluorinated functional groups was assessed under neutral, alkaline, advanced oxidation, and advanced reduction conditions with varying light sources. Solar simulator quantum yields were 2.21 × 10−1 mol Ei−1 for enrofloxacin, 9.36 × 10−3 mol Ei−1 for voriconazole, and 1.49 × 10−2 mol Ei−1 for flecainide. Florfenicol direct photolysis was slow, taking 150 h for three degradation half-lives. Bimolecular rate constants between pharmaceuticals and hydroxyl radicals were 109 to 1010 M−1 s−1. Using a combined quantitative fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (19F-NMR) and mass spectrometry approach, fluorine mass balances and photolysis product structures were elucidated. Enrofloxacin formed a variety of short-lived fluorinated intermediates that retained the aryl F motif. Extended photolysis time led to complete aryl F mineralization to fluoride. The aliphatic F moiety on florfenicol was also mineralized to fluoride, but the resulting product was a known antibiotic (thiamphenicol). For voriconazole, the two aryl Fs contributed more to fluoride production compared with the heteroaromatic F, indicating higher stability of the heteroaromatic F motif. The two aliphatic CF3 moieties in the flecainide structure remained intact under all conditions, further supporting the stability of these moieties found in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances under a variety of conditions. The advanced treatment conditions generating hydroxyl radicals or hydrated electrons accelerated the degradation, but not the defluorination, of flecainide. The combination of 19F-NMR and mass spectrometry proved powerful in allowing identification of fluorinated products and verifying the functional groups present in the intermediates and products. The results found in the present study will aid in the understanding of which fluorinated functional groups should be incorporated into pharmaceuticals to ensure organofluorine byproducts are not formed in the environment and help determine the water-treatment processes that effectively remove specific pharmaceuticals and more generally fluorinated motifs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:2285–2296. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
Emergency medical services preparedness in mass casualty incidents: A qualitative study
Authors: Saadatmand Vahid , Ahmadi Marzaleh Milad , Abbasi Hamid Reza , Peyravi Mahmoud Reza , Shokrpour Nasrin 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackground and AimsThe effective response of emergency medical services in mass casualty incidents (MCIs) calls for sufficient preparation. The components of preparation must be determined first to achieve this goal. This study aimed to describe the elements of preparedness of emergency medical services for MCIs.MethodsA qualitative study was carried out on emergency medical service systems in Iran (from April 2022 to mid‐March 2023), using in‐depth semistructured interviews with participants who were managers and members of the incident command team, experts, technicians, paramedics, and telecommunicators of emergency medical services. Interviews were carried out face‐to‐face and via telephone. The data were collected using voice recorder and transcript and analyzed by content analysis method. This study was conducted using the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research.ResultsThirty‐six participants were included in the study. A total of 834 codes were analyzed. Thirteen components were extracted from the study and classified as five categories including “Strengthening management and organization,” “individual and group empowerment,” “capacity expansion,” “technology and infrastructure development,” and “operational response measures.”ConclusionEmergency medical service preparedness in response to MCIs is a critical issue. For improving preparedness, the main components must be identified. The study results described the elements of emergency medical service preparedness, which could be used as a framework for developing the national model of emergency medical service preparedness in MCIs.
Videographic analysis of blink dynamics in patients with chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia, myogenic ptosis, and facial nerve palsy using smartphone camera: A comparative analysis
Authors: Hedayati Amlashi Nazanin , Rajabi Mohammad Taher , Shafie Mahan , Heidarzadeh Somayeh , Rajabi Mohammad Bagher , Hosseini Seyedeh Simindokht , Haadi Ainaaz , Soltani Parnian 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackground and AimsCongenital myogenic ptosis (CMP), chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia (CPEO), and facial nerve palsy (FNP) are among the disorders which can seriously affect the blink dynamics of patients. Smartphone videography is a simple, convenient, and inexpensive way to capture eyelid movement. This study has measured and compared a variety of blink dynamics in these patients compared to healthy controls using 2‐dimensional smartphone videography to enhance the utility of this method in both clinical and research settings.MethodsA total of 30 adult participants with a complaint of impaired eyelid movements including 10 with CMP, 10 with CPEO, and 10 with unilateral FNP, as well as 10 healthy controls were recruited. Using a smartphone camera with a resolution of 240 frames per second in 720 p, various blink dynamics were measured.ResultsAll case groups had significantly lower values of peak and average closing velocities, average opening velocity, and palpebral aperture and significantly higher values of eyelid closing duration, compared to controls. FNP participants also had significantly lower values in the full blink rate and peak opening velocity (POV) measures, and CPEO patients showed significantly lower values in the POV. Other measures were not statistically significantly different compared to healthy controls.ConclusionOur results indicated that all patients with CMP, FNP, and CPEO had different blinking dynamics compared to healthy controls, which is consistent with previous studies. Smartphone videography has achieved sufficient resolution and frame‐rate to provide valuable information and anatomic details for clinical and research purposes. Further studies could utilize smartphone videography for further investigation and confirmation of the methodology in various conditions.
Development of a population‐level prediction model for intensive care unit (ICU) survivorship and mortality in older adults: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Khan Sikandar H. , Perkins Anthony J. , Fuchita Mikita , Holler Emma , Ortiz Damaris , Boustani Malaz , Khan Babar A. , Gao Sujuan 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackground and AimsGiven the growing utilization of critical care services by an aging population, development of population‐level risk models which predict intensive care unit (ICU) survivorship and mortality may offer advantages for researchers and health systems. Our objective was to develop a risk model for ICU survivorship and mortality among community dwelling older adults.MethodsThis was a population‐based cohort study of 48,127 patients who were 50 years and older with at least one primary care visit between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017. We used electronic health record (EHR) data to identify variables predictive of ICU survivorship.ResultsICU admission and mortality within 2 years after index primary care visit date were used to divide patients into three groups of “alive without ICU admission”, “ICU survivors,” and “death.” Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify EHR predictive variables for the three patient outcomes. Cross‐validation by randomly splitting the data into derivation and validation data sets (60:40 split) was used to identify predictor variables and validate model performance using area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUC) curve. In our overall sample, 92.2% of patients were alive without ICU admission, 6.2% were admitted to the ICU at least once and survived, and 1.6% died. Greater deciles of age over 50 years, diagnoses of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder or chronic heart failure, and laboratory abnormalities in alkaline phosphatase, hematocrit, and albumin contributed highest risk score weights for mortality. Risk scores derived from the model discriminated between patients that died versus remained alive without ICU admission (AUC = 0.858), and between ICU survivors versus alive without ICU admission (AUC = 0.765).ConclusionOur risk scores provide a feasible and scalable tool for researchers and health systems to identify patient cohorts at increased risk for ICU admission and survivorship. Further studies are needed to prospectively validate the risk scores in other patient populations.
Exploring Depression and Nutritional Covariates Amongst US Adults using Shapely Additive Explanations
Authors: Huang Alexander A. , Huang Samuel Y. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBackgroundDepression affects personal and public well‐being and identification of natural therapeutics such as nutrition is necessary to help alleviate this public health concern.ObjectiveThe study aimed to identify feature importance in a machine learning model using solely nutrition covariates.MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted using a modern, nationally representative cohort, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES 2017−2020). Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the validated 9‐item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ‐9), and all adult patients (total of 7929 individuals) who completed the PHQ‐9 and total nutritional intake questionnaire were included in the study. Univariable regression was used to identify significant nutritional covariates to be included in a machine learning model and feature importance was reported. The acquisition and analysis of the data were authorized by the National Center for Health Statistics Ethics Review Board.Results7929 patients met the inclusion criteria in this study. The machine learning model had 24 out of a total of 60 features that were found to be significant on univariate analysis (p < 0.01 used). In the XGBoost model the model had an Area Under the Receiver Operator Characteristic Curve (AUROC) = 0.603, Sensitivity = 0.943, Specificity = 0.163. The top four highest ranked features by gain, a measure of the percentage contribution of the covariate to the overall model prediction, were Potassium Intake (Gain = 6.8%), Vitamin E Intake (Gain = 5.7%), Number of Foods and Beverages Reported (Gain = 5.7%), and Vitamin K Intake (Gain 5.6%).ConclusionMachine learning models with feature importance can be utilized to identify nutritional covariates for further study in patients with clinical symptoms of depression.
Delivered relative dose intensity in adolescent and young adult germ cell tumours in England: Assessment of data quality and consistency from clinical trials compared to national cancer registration data
Authors: Hughes Nicola F. , Cromie Kirsten J. , Feltbower Richard G. , McCabe Martin G. , Stark Dan 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAdolescent and young adults (AYA) with germ cell tumours (GCT) have poorer survival rates than children and many older adults with the same cancers. There are several likely contributing factors to this, including the treatment received. The prognostic benefit of intended dose intensity is well documented in GCT from trials comparing regimens. However, evidence specific to AYA is limited by poor recruitment of AYA to trials and dose delivery outside trials not being well examined. We examined the utility of cancer registration data and a clinical trials dataset to investigate the delivery of relative dose intensity (RDI) in routine National Health Service practice in England, compared to within international clinical trials. Linked data from the Cancer Outcomes and Services Dataset (COSD) and the Systemic Anti‐Cancer Therapy (SACT) dataset, and data from four international clinical trials were analysed. Survival over time was described using Kaplan‐Meier estimation; overall, by age category, International Germ‐Cell Cancer Collaborative Group (IGCCCG) classification, stage, tumour subtype, primary site, ethnicity and deprivation. Cox regression models were used to determine the fully adjusted effect of RDI on mortality risk. The quality of both datasets was critically evaluated and clinically enhanced. RDI was found to be well maintained in all datasets with higher RDIs associated with improved survival outcomes. Real‐world data demonstrated several strengths, including population coverage and inclusion of sociodemographic variables and comorbidity. It is limited in GCT however, by the poor completion of data items enabling risk classification of patients and a higher proportion of missing data.
Anxiety, distress tolerance, and the relationship between complex posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and alcohol use in veterans
Authors: Whiteford Seb , Quigley Martyn , Dighton Glen , Wood Katie , Kitchiner Neil , Armour Cherie , Dymond Simon 
Published: October 2023

AbstractObjectivesLittle is known about whether distress tolerance and anxiety mediate the relationship between comorbid complex posttraumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) and alcohol use among military veterans. Here, we investigated the contribution of distress tolerance and anxiety on the strength of the CPTSD and alcohol use association. We hypothesized that the impact of a two‐factor model of CPTSD derived from subscale scores on the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ)—namely ITQ PTSD and ITQ Disturbances in Self Organization (DSO; e.g., issues with affective regulation/self‐belief and shame)—on alcohol use severity would be mediated by anxiety but not by distress tolerance.MethodsParticipants included 403 community‐dwelling United Kingdom (UK) veterans (91.64% male, Mage = 51.15 years, SD = 12.48) recruited as part of a larger, online study.ResultsFindings indicated that the influence of CPTSD symptoms on alcohol use severity was mediated by anxiety, not by distress tolerance, with greater relative impact due to ITQ DSO status than ITQ PTSD status.ConclusionsWe identified the mediational influence of anxiety and distress tolerance on the association between CPTSD subscales and alcohol use in UK veterans. Interventions for anxiety may be adapted for reducing problematic alcohol use and the impact of CPTSD symptoms in veterans with comorbid PTSD and alcohol use disorder.