bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Validation of the stratify scale for the prediction of falls among hospitalized adults in a tertiary hospital in Colombia: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Cortés Olga L. , Vásquez Skarlet Marcell , Mendoza Angie Cristina 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe STRATIFY scale has been implemented as a preventive strategy for predicting the risk of accidental falls among hospitalized adults. However, there is still uncertainty about its accuracy. This study aimed to perform an external validation of the STRATIFY fall prediction scale in hospitalized adults in one tertiary care hospital in Bogotá, Colombia. The study was a retrospective cohort of adult hospitalized patients in a high-level complexity care hospital. The sample selected included admitted patients (age ≥ 18), consecutively by the institution between 2018 and 2020, with an evaluation of the fall risk measured by the STRATIFY score given to each at the time of hospital admission. For assessing the scale's feasibility, its discriminative capability was obtained by calculating sensitivity, specificity, likelihood ratios, predictive values, and area under the ROC curve. The evaluation included 93,347 patient hospital records (mean 56.9 years, 50.2% women). The overall sensitivity score was 0.672 [IC 95% 0.612–0.723], the specificity score was 0.612 [IC 95% 0.605–0.615], and the positive likelihood ratio was 1.73 [IC 95% 1.589–1.891]. The area under the ROC curve was 0.69 [IC 95% 0.66–0.72]. Subgroups of age obtained similar results. Applying the STRATIFY scale at hospital admission resulted in a lower performance of the tool–predict falls in hospitalized patients. It is necessary to implement an individual evaluation of the risk factors for falls in order to structure appropriate care plans to prevent and improve hospital safety.
Utility of heparin-binding protein following cardiothoracic surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass
Authors: Johannesson Emilia , Erixon Clara , Sterner Niklas , Thelaus Louise , Dardashti Alain , Nilsson Johan , Ragnarsson Sigurdur , Linder Adam , Zindovic Igor 
Published: December 2023

AbstractCardiothoracic surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) triggers an inflammatory state that may be difficult to differentiate from infection. Heparin-binding protein (HBP) is a candidate biomarker for sepsis. As data indicates that HBP normalizes rapidly after cardiothoracic surgery, it may be a suitable early marker of postoperative infection. We therefore aimed to investigate which variables influence postoperative HBP levels and whether elevated HBP concentration is associated with poor surgical outcome. This exploratory, prospective, observational study enrolled 1475 patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery using CPB, where HBP was measured at ICU arrival. Patients with HBP in the highest tercile were compared to remaining patients. Multivariable logistic regressions were performed to identify factors predictive of elevated HBP and 30-day mortality. Overall median HBP was 30.0 ng/mL. Patients undergoing isolated CABG or surgery with CPB-duration ≤ 60 min had a median HBP of 24.9 ng/mL and 23.2 ng/mL, respectively. Independent predictors of elevated postoperative HBP included increased EuroSCORE, prolonged CPB-duration and high intraoperative temperature. Increased HBP was an independent predictor of 30-day mortality. This study confirms the promising characteristics of HBP as a biomarker for identification of postoperative sepsis, especially after routine procedures. Further studies are required to investigate whether HBP may detect postoperative infections.
Evaluation of barium tungstate nanocrystals for the sorption of radioactive cobalt and europium from aqueous solutions
Authors: Abdel Maksoud M. I. A. , Youssef M. A. , Hassan H. S. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractHerein, barium tungstate BaWO4 nanocrystals were chemically prepared and then estimated as inorganic sorbent material to eliminate the radioactive cobalt and europium from the waste stream. The characterization of BaWO4 nanocrystals is completed over several analytical techniques. TEM and SEM images show the formation of sphere-shaped BaWO4 structures in the nanoscale range. Also, XRD and FTIR revealed the successful preparation of BaWO4. Optimum factors affected by the sorption process are determined using batch mode. Sorption equilibrium was achieved after 60 min with the initial concentration of metal ion at 100 mg/L and at optimum pH five for both radionuclides, respectively. The different kinetic models are applied. The obtained data shows that the sorption process followed a pseudo-second order. The sorption capacity for 60Co at pH of 5 and 25 °C is 310.6 mg g−1, and 152+154Eu is 409.9 mg g−1. The thermodynamic studies illustrated that the sorption process was spontaneous and endothermic.
A comparative analysis of using ensemble trees for botnet detection and classification in IoT
Authors: Saied Mohamed , Guirguis Shawkat , Madbouly Magda 
Published: December 2023

AbstractEnhancing IoT security is a corner stone for building trust in its technology and driving its growth. Limited resources and diversified nature of IoT devices make them vulnerable to attacks. Botnet attacks compromise the IoT systems and can pose significant security challenges. Numerous investigations have utilized machine learning and deep learning techniques to identify botnet attacks in IoT. However, achieving high detection accuracy with reasonable computational requirements is still a challenging research considering the particularity of IoT. This paper aims to analytically study the performance of the tree based machine learning in detecting botnet attacks for IoT ecosystems. Through an empirical study performed on a public botnet dataset of IoT environment, basic decision tree algorithm in addition to ensemble learning of different bagging and boosting algorithms are compared. The comparison covers two perspectives: IoT botnet detection capability and computational performance. Results demonstrated that the significant potential for the tree based ML algorithms in detecting network intrusions in IoT environments. The RF algorithm achieved the best performance for multi-class classification with accuracy rate of 0.999991. It achieved also the highest results in all other measures.
Hemostatic capability of ultrafiltrated fresh frozen plasma compared to cryoprecipitate
Authors: Ichikawa Junko , Iba Toshiaki , Okazaki Ryouta , Fukuda Tomoki , Kodaka Mitsuharu , Komori Makiko , Levy Jerrold H. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis in vitro study evaluated the potential hemostatic effect of fresh frozen plasma (FFP) ultrafiltration on clotting factors, coagulation parameters, and plasma properties. ABO-specific units of FFP (n = 40) were prepared for the concentrated FFP and cryoprecipitate. Plasma water was removed from FFP by ultrafiltration using a dialyzer with a pump running at a 300 mL/min. The aliquot of each concentrated FFP after 50, 100, 200, and 250 mL of fluid removal were measured the standard coagulation assay, clotting activity, and plasma properties to compare those parameters of cryoprecipitate. Concentrated FFP contained 36.5% of fibrinogen in FFP with a mean concentration of 7.2 g/L, lower than the cryoprecipitate level. The levels of factor VIII (FVIII), von Willebrand factor (VWF):antigen (Ag), and VWF:ristocetin cofactor (RCo) were also lower in concentrated FFP, whereas the levels of factor V, factor IX, factor XIII, antithrombin and albumin was higher in concentrated FFP. Maximum clot firmness (MCF) in thromboelastometry was approximately one-half of that in cryoprecipitate. Although the levels of VWF:Ag, VWF:RCo, and FVIII differed depending on the ABO blood types, fibrinogen levels, and MCF were not significantly different among the ABO blood groups in FFP and concentrated FFP.
A machine learning driven nomogram for predicting chronic kidney disease stages 3–5
Authors: Ghosh Samit Kumar , Khandoker Ahsan H. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractChronic kidney disease (CKD) remains one of the most prominent global causes of mortality worldwide, necessitating accurate prediction models for early detection and prevention. In recent years, machine learning (ML) techniques have exhibited promising outcomes across various medical applications. This study introduces a novel ML-driven nomogram approach for early identification of individuals at risk for developing CKD stages 3–5. This retrospective study employed a comprehensive dataset comprised of clinical and laboratory variables from a large cohort of diagnosed CKD patients. Advanced ML algorithms, including feature selection and regression models, were applied to build a predictive model. Among 467 participants, 11.56% developed CKD stages 3–5 over a 9-year follow-up. Several factors, such as age, gender, medical history, and laboratory results, independently exhibited significant associations with CKD (p < 0.05) and were utilized to create a risk function. The Linear regression (LR)-based model achieved an impressive R-score (coefficient of determination) of 0.954079, while the support vector machine (SVM) achieved a slightly lower value. An LR-based nomogram was developed to facilitate the process of risk identification and management. The ML-driven nomogram demonstrated superior performance when compared to traditional prediction models, showcasing its potential as a valuable clinical tool for the early detection and prevention of CKD. Further studies should focus on refining the model and validating its performance in diverse populations.
Integrated omics analysis of coronary artery calcifications and myocardial infarction: the Framingham Heart Study
Authors: Møller Amalie Lykkemark , Vasan Ramachandran S. , Levy Daniel , Andersson Charlotte , Lin Honghuang 
Published: December 2023

AbstractGene function can be described using various measures. We integrated association studies of three types of omics data to provide insights into the pathophysiology of subclinical coronary disease and myocardial infarction (MI). Using multivariable regression models, we associated: (1) single nucleotide polymorphism, (2) DNA methylation, and (3) gene expression with coronary artery calcification (CAC) scores and MI. Among 3106 participants of the Framingham Heart Study, 65 (2.1%) had prevalent MI and 60 (1.9%) had incident MI, median CAC value was 67.8 [IQR 10.8, 274.9], and 1403 (45.2%) had CAC scores > 0 (prevalent CAC). Prevalent CAC was associated with AHRR (linked to smoking) and EXOC3 (affecting platelet function and promoting hemostasis). CAC score was associated with VWA1 (extracellular matrix protein associated with cartilage structure in endomysium). For prevalent MI we identified FYTTD1 (down-regulated in familial hypercholesterolemia) and PINK1 (linked to cardiac tissue homeostasis and ischemia–reperfusion injury). Incident MI was associated with IRX3 (enhancing browning of white adipose tissue) and STXBP3 (controlling trafficking of glucose transporter type 4 to plasma). Using an integrative trans-omics approach, we identified both putatively novel and known candidate genes associated with CAC and MI. Replication of findings is warranted.
Trophic downgrading of an adaptable carnivore in an urbanising landscape
Authors: Leighton Gabriella R. M. , Froneman William , Serieys Laurel E. K. , Bishop Jacqueline M. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractUrbanisation critically alters wildlife habitat and resource distribution, leading to shifts in trophic dynamics. The loss of apex predators in human-transformed landscapes can result in changes in the ecological roles of the remaining mesocarnivores. Decreased top–down control together with increased bottom–up forcing through greater availability of anthropogenic foods can result in a predation paradox. Understanding these changes is important for conserving ecological function and biodiversity in rapidly urbanising systems. Here, we use stable isotope analysis to provide insight into longer term changes in trophic position, niche width and overlap of an elusive, medium-sized urban adapter, the caracal (Caracal caracal) in and around the city of Cape Town, South Africa. Using fur samples (n = 168) from individuals along a gradient of urbanisation we find that overall caracals have a broad isotopic dietary niche that reflects their large variation in resource use. When accounting for underlying environmental differences, the﻿ intensity of anthropogenic pressure, measured using the Human Footprint Index (HFI), explained variation in both food subsidy use (δ13C values) and trophic status (δ15N values). The significantly higher δ13C values (P < 0.01) and lower δ15N values (P < 0.001) of caracals in more urbanised areas suggest that predator subsidy consumption occurs via predictable, anthropogenic resource subsidies to synanthropic prey. These prey species are predominantly primary consumers, resulting in shifts in diet composition towards lower trophic levels. Further, caracals using areas with higher HFI had narrower isotope niches than those in less impacted areas, likely due to their hyperfocus on a few lower trophic level prey species. This pattern of niche contraction in urban areas is retained when accounting for caracal demographics, including sex and age. The removal of apex predators in human-transformed landscapes together with reliable resource availability, including abundant prey, may paradoxically limit the ecological influence of the remaining predators, and bring about a degree of predator trophic downgrading. The dampening of top–down control, and thus ecosystem regulation, likely points to widespread disruption of trophic dynamics in rapidly developing areas globally.
The role of internal variability and external forcing on southwestern Australian rainfall: prospects for very wet or dry years
Authors: Rauniyar Surendra P. , Hope Pandora , Power Scott B. , Grose Michael , Jones David 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe cool-season (May to October) rainfall decline in southwestern Australia deepened during 2001–2020 to become 20.5% less than the 1901–1960 reference period average, with a complete absence of very wet years (i.e., rainfall > 90th percentile). CMIP5 and CMIP6 climate model simulations suggest that approximately 43% of the observed multi-decadal decline was externally-forced. However, the observed 20-year rainfall anomaly in 2001–2020 is outside the range of both preindustrial control and historical simulations of almost all climate models used in this study. This, and the fact that the models generally appear to simulate realistic levels of decadal variability, suggests that 43% might be an underestimate. A large ensemble from one model exhibits drying similar to the observations in 10% of simulations and suggests that the external forcing contribution is indeed larger (66%). The majority of models project further drying over the twenty-first century, even under strong cuts to greenhouse gas emissions. Under the two warmest scenarios, over 70% of the late twenty-first century years are projected to be drier than the driest year simulated during the 1901–1960 period. Our results suggest that few, if any, very wet years will occur during 2023–2100, even if strong cuts to global emissions are made.
Nectin-4 regulates cellular senescence-associated enlargement of cell size
Authors: Katasho Ryoko , Nagano Taiki , Iwasaki Tetsushi , Kamada Shinji 
Published: December 2023

AbstractCellular senescence is defined as irreversible growth arrest induced by various stress, such as DNA damage and oxidative stress. Senescent cells exhibit various characteristic morphological changes including enlarged morphology. In our recent study, we identified Nectin-4 to be upregulated in cellular senescence by comparative transcriptomic analysis. However, there are few reports on the relationship between Nectin-4 and senescence. Therefore, we analyzed the function of Nectin-4 in senescence and its biological significance. When overexpressed with Nectin-4, the cells exhibited the enlarged cell morphology closely resembling senescent cells. In addition, the cell size enlargement during DNA damage-induced senescence was suppressed by knockdown of Nectin-4, while there were no significant changes in senescence induction. These results suggest that Nectin-4 is not involved in the regulation of senescence itself but contributes to the senescence-associated cell size increase. Furthermore, the Nectin-4-dependent cell size increase was found to be mediated by Src family kinase (SFK)/PI3 kinase (PI3K)/Rac1 pathway. To explore the functional consequences of cell size enlargement, we analyzed cell survival in Nectin-4-depleted senescent cells. Single-cell tracking experiments revealed that Nectin-4 knockdown induced apoptosis in senescent cells, and there is a strong positive correlation between cell size and survival rate. These results collectively indicate that Nectin-4 plays a causative role in the senescence-associated cell size enlargement via SFK/PI3K/Rac1, which can contribute to survival of senescent cells.
A pan-cancer analysis of anti-proliferative protein family genes for therapeutic targets in cancer
Authors: Zhang Siming , Gu Jue , Shi Ling-ling , Qian Bo , Diao Xun , Jiang Xiaohui , Wu Jindong , Wu Zhijun , Shen Aiguo 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe recently discovered APRO (anti-proliferative protein) family encodes a group of trans-membrane glycoproteins and includes 6 members: TOB1, TOB2, BTG1, BTG2, BTG3 and BTG4. The APRO family is reportedly associated with the initiation and progression of cancers. This study aims to undertake a comprehensive investigation of the APRO family of proteins as a prognostic biomarker in various human tumors. We performed a pan-cancer analysis of the APRO family based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). With the bioinformatics methods, we explored the prognostic value of the APRO family and the correlation between APRO family expression and tumor mutation burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), drug sensitivity, and immunotherapy in numerous cancers. Our results show that the APRO family was primarily down-regulated in cancer samples. The expression of APRO family members was linked with patient prognosis. In addition, APRO family genes showed significant association with immune infiltrate subtypes, tumor microenvironment, and tumor cell stemness. Finally, our study also demonstrated the relationship between APRO family genes and drug sensitivity. This study provides comprehensive information to understand the APRO family’s role as an oncogene and predictor of survival in some tumor types.
Geostatistical modelling of child undernutrition in developing countries using remote-sensed data: evidence from Bangladesh and Ghana demographic and health surveys
Authors: Baffour Bernard , Aheto Justice Moses K. , Das Sumonkanti , Godwin Penelope , Richardson Alice 
Published: December 2023

AbstractChildhood chronic undernutrition, known as stunting, remains a critical public health problem globally. Unfortunately while the global stunting prevalence has been declining over time, as a result of concerted public health efforts, there are areas (notably in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia) where progress has stagnated. These regions are also resource-poor, and monitoring progress in the fight against chronic undernutrition can be problematic. We propose geostatistical modelling using data from existing demographic surveys supplemented by remote-sensed information to provide improved estimates of childhood stunting, accounting for spatial and non-spatial differences across regions. We use two study areas–Bangladesh and Ghana–and our results, in the form of prevalence maps, identify communities for targeted intervention. For Bangladesh, the maps show that all districts in the south-eastern region are identified to have greater risk of stunting, while in Ghana the greater northern region had the highest prevalence of stunting. In countries like Bangladesh and Ghana with limited resources, these maps can be useful diagnostic tools for health planning, decision making and implementation.
Small workers are more persistent when providing and requiring help in a monomorphic ant
Authors: Turza Filip , Miler Krzysztof 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe common sand-dwelling Formica cinerea ants possess monomorphic workers, yet with considerable and easily identified size variation. Considering the importance of body size in polymorphic ants and other animals, we test whether size-dependent differences in behaviour occur in this species. We focus on the behaviour of large and small foragers in the context of rescue occurring between nestmates when one of them is entrapped and requires help. We show that workers of different sizes are characterized by a similar frequency of rescue activity and time delay to the first act of rescue. However, small workers rescue for longer than large workers. These results indicate that, although there is no size-related rescue specialization in F. cinerea foragers, small rescuers behave differently than large ones in terms of rescue persistence. Additionally, we show that small workers are more active when trapped. We suggest that variation in behavioural persistence of differently-sized workers may increase the efficiency of rescue actions. This study is the first to find a connection between body size and rescue behaviour in ants and the first to quantify and analyze the behaviour of individuals in need of rescue. These findings add substantially to our understanding of social insects and, more generally, highlight the need to study among-individual behavioural variation in social animals, including those in which body size is judged minute and irrelevant.
Inflammatory response in mouse lungs to haze episodes under different backgrounds of particulate matter exposure
Authors: Zhang Yuanhang , Zhang Yuteng , Liu Kai , Zhu Ningning , Pang Jianfeng , Qian Xin , Li Huiming , Liu Xuemei 
Published: December 2023

AbstractParticulate matter (PM) toxicity has mostly been investigated through in vitro exposure or tracheal infusion in animal models. However, given the complexity of ambient conditions, most animal studies do not mimic real-life PM exposure. In this work, we established a novel integrated exposure model to study the dynamic inflammatory response and defense strategies in ambient PM-exposed mice. Three groups of male C57BL/6 mice were kept in three chambers with pre-exposure to filtered air (FA), unfiltered air (UFA), or the air with a low PM concentration (PM2.5 ≤ 75 μg/m3) (LPM), respectively, for 37 days. Then all three groups of mice were exposed to haze challenge for 3 days, followed by exposure in filtered air for 7 days to allow recovery. Our results suggest that following a haze challenge, the defense strategies of mice of filtered air (FA) and low PM (LPM) groups comprised a form of “counterattack”, whereas the response of the unfiltered air (UFA) group could be viewed as a “silence”. While the latter strategy protected the lung tissues of mice from acute inflammatory damage, it also foreshadowed the development of chronic inflammatory diseases. These findings contribute to explaining previously documented PM-associated pathogenic mechanisms.