bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparative Study of Two-level Cervical Disc Herniation: Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (Acdf) Using Stand-alone Titanium Cage Versus Cage and Plate Fixation - a Retrospective Analysis of Complication Rates and Patient Satisfaction
Authors: Sever Cem , Kilinc Bekir Eray , Akpolat Ahmet Onur , Bozkaya Tayfun , Kurtan Akif , Misir Abdulhamit 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Background:
This study aims to compare the outcomes of two-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) procedures using stand-alone cages versus cage and plate fixation in patients diagnosed with cervical disc herniation (CDH).
Materials and Methods:
This retrospective analysis included 60 patients who underwent two-level ACDF procedures. Patients were divided into two groups: one treated with stand-alone cages and the other with cage and plate fixation. Data on surgical duration, blood loss, fusion stability, and complication rates were collected. Clinical outcomes, including neck pain and functional status, were assessed using standard scoring systems.
Results:
Plate fixation provided superior fusion stability but was associated with longer surgery durations, higher intraoperative blood loss, and increased complication rates. Stand-alone cages reduced intraoperative trauma but demonstrated higher subsidence rates and prolonged fusion times. Both techniques resulted in significant improvements in neck pain and disability scores.
Discussion:
While both approaches are effective for managing cervical disc herniation, each has distinct advantages and limitations. Selecting the most appropriate technique based on patient-specific anatomical and clinical considerations is crucial to optimizing surgical outcomes.
Generalized Sichel Crash Predictive Model: Analysis of Predictor-Dependent Overdispersion in Urban Signalized Intersections
Authors: Mousavi Mobinshah , Behnood Hamid Reza , Hajrajabi Arezou , Moradi Farzad 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Planning to reduce accidents and the resulting costs often require crash prediction processes. Since the distribution of data related to the frequency of crashes often has long tails in addition to overdispersion, studies have shown that sometimes the negative binomial (NB) distribution cannot properly model this type of data. In this study, using the geometric, traffic and crash data of the main intersections in the city of Qazvin, Iran, with the help of NB and Sichel (SI) models in two fixed and predictor-dependent dispersion states of the crash counts, the effect of the two variables of traffic volume and lane width on the number of crashes has been analyzed. According to the analysis, it was found that the full generalized models can better show the effect of predictor variables on the number of crashes. Since the full generalized SI model (-Loglik = 180.03, AIC = 368.06, and BIC = 375.78) has lower goodness of fit criteria than the full generalized NB model (-Loglik = 183.36, AIC = 374.73, and BIC = 383.45), it has better efficiency. The conclusion does not apply for the models with reduced variables. The results show that the dispersion parameter of the SI model can estimate the level of dispersion with more accuracy and confidence.
Integrative Machine Learning Approaches to Identify and Validate Gene Biomarkers for Early Detection of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Srikantamur Mahati Munikoti , Kaur Parneet , Bindewald Eckart , Thirunagari Srinivas , Moorthy Nachiappan Dhatchana 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, and prognosis is poor if the disease is detected at advanced stages. There is an urgent need for early diagnostic biomarkers to facilitate timely interventions. Current diagnostic methods, such as liver function tests (LFTs), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) panels, and imaging techniques like magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound, lack specificity for HCC and do not provide a comprehensive prognosis. This study proposes a machine learning (ML) based approach for identifying early HCC biomarkers using RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data. We analyzed publicly available RNA-seq datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), UCSC Xena, and GEO RNA-seq Experiments Interactive Navigator (GREIN). In this study, we performed various feature selection methods using ML with a Random Forest (RF) model, achieving the best performance in identifying and predicting the top most significantly important genes. Bioinformatics tools, including Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STRING), Gene Ontology (GO), DAVID (Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery), the Human Protein Atlas (HPA), and the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) were used for validation. Through our analysis, we identified six potential early-detection gene biomarkers for HCC: CDKN3, LIFR, MKI67, TOP2A, SLC5A1, and VIPR1.
From Automation to Accountability: A Governance Framework for Sustainable AI and Hybrid Intelligence
Authors: Sammour George , Malas Laila 
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Technological advancements in the contemporary world appear to be a significant contributing factor to the increased prevalence of automation and machine-operated work across various sectors. A technological revolution is currently at its zenith, with the world entering an era in which machines are poised to supplant human labor in industry, raising concerns among individuals. Although this may seem advantageous, it introduces numerous ethical and societal challenges. This study addresses the apparent consequences of mechanized work and asserts the necessity of establishing a sustainable equilibrium between humans and machines to promote social and economic order. The study thus elucidates a proposition wherein such an equilibrium can be achieved through the integration of AI-powered technologies anchored in human decision-making. Lastly, this research presents the SAFE (Sustainable AI Framework for Ethics) framework, which is developed to ensure that hybrid intelligence systems are ethically appropriate and support the “United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”. Within this governance framework, we provide actionable steps to adapt AI to sustainable and ethical governance in a manner that is valuable for individuals, industries, and society.
Law and Political Religion: the Theology of Soviet Law
Authors: Vovk Dmytro 
Published: December 2024

That paper is one of my works, in which I try to apply the concept of political religion to Soviet law studies. Many political philosophers and scholars use this concept for describing the nature of totalitarian regimes, for which metapolitical goals (achieving communism, Nation defense etc.) and the tasks of their own legitimacy strengthening and increasing the control of society presuppose the usage of means which are religious by their nature. Political studies of political religion are quite developed, but legal theory pays almost no attention to such concept. So, in the paper I am trying to answer the question: if Soviet political regime can be defined as political religion, what does it means for law? In this paper I pay significant attention to Soviet law theology, that is the development of Marxism-Leninism dogmas in legal realm, which I call the “symbol of faith” of Soviet Law. I show how the “symbol of faith” guided Soviet legal studies, what philosophical and legal problems they raised and the ways Soviet scholars solved them. I mean such problems as connection between law and economics, law and state, law and factual social relations, the role of law in achieving communism. In 1920s there were different versions of Marxist legal theory (Evgeny Pashukanis, Mikhail Reysner, Pyotr Stuchka, and others), but at the beginning of 1930s the unification of approaches was being made (the 1938 narrow-normative definition of law by Andrey Vyshinsky became its). The Vyshinsky’s definition was partly rejected during post-Stalin era, the new attempts to substantiate the broader understanding of law by connecting it with legal conscience and legal relations appeared. Though these conceptions were formally substantiated as attempts to find “the right one” Marxist understanding of law, their authors were rather trying to reconcile their own vision of law with official ideology. In the paper I also delineate how Soviet law theology influenced Soviet law system. By using some examples, I argue that this theology was not just the set of ideas far from legal practice. For example, Soviet ideological dogmas determined the development of the socialistic legality doctrine as the key doctrine of Soviet legal order. At the same time Soviet legal system has never been developed exclusively under influence of Soviet political religion; it always was a mixture of influences, including Marxist-Leninist teachings, civil law tradition, political reasons etc.
Risk Factors for Silent Brain Infarction in Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation
Patients with Low CHA2DS2-VASc Score
Authors: Hao Lijun , Chen Xing , Sun Wei , Li Chunjian , Li Yimin , Kong Xiangqing 
Published: December 2024

Background:
Silent Brain Infarction (SBI) has been found to be linked to an increased
risk of cognitive impairment and future symptomatic stroke. Atrial fibrillation is a significant
risk factor for SBI. Even in low-risk atrial fibrillation patients, the incidence of SBI remains
high. This study aims to investigate the risk factors for SBI in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation
(NVAF) patients with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of 0 to 1.

Methods:
A total of 301 consecutive low-risk NVAF patients (male: CHA2DS2-VASc=0, female:
CHA2DS2-VASc=1) were enrolled. According to brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging
(MRI), patients were divided into SBI (n=90) and non-SBI (n=211) groups. Baseline characteristics,
blood parameters, and echocardiography results were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression
was performed to identify independent predictors. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC)
curve analysis was used to evaluate the diagnostic power of the relevant risk factors.

Results:
The study revealed that neutrophil count, monocyte count, Platelet-To-Lymphocyte
Ratio (PLR), neutrophil-to-high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (NHR), and left atrial diameter
(LAD) were significantly higher in the SBI group than non-SBI group (p <0.05). Multivariate
logistic regression analysis identified PLR (OR, 1.004; 95%CI 1.001-1.007; p =0.026) and
LAD (OR 1.092; 95%CI 1.054-1.130; p <0.001) as the independent risk factors associated with
SBI. The ROC showed that the Area Under the Curve (AUC) of PLR is 0.589 (95%CI 0.515-
0.662; p =0.015) with an optimal cut-off point of 151 (sensitivity 43.3%, specificity 74.6%). The
AUC of LAD is 0.676 (95%CI 0.606-0.746; p <0.001) with an optimal cut-off point of 39 mm
(sensitivity 61.1%, specificity 72.0%). The AUC of PLR combined with LAD is 0.711 (95%CI
0.646-0.777; p <0.001) with a sensitivity of 63.3% and specificity of 73.5% for SBI.

Conclusion:
PLR and LAD can be independent risk factors for SBI in NVAF patients with low
CHA2DS2-VASc scores. The combination of the two factors can enhance the predictive ability
of SBI in these patients.
Phytochemical and Bioactive Properties of Methanolic Leaf Extracts of Piper Betle (L.) from Sabah
Authors: Md Haris Md Akid , Sani Suraya Abdul , Sabullah Mohd Khalizan , Faik Ainol Azifa Mohd , Sudi Suhaini , Najmuddin Syed Umar Faruq Syed 
Published: December 2024

Introduction
Non-healing wounds can lead to severe complications, highlighting the need for effective treatments. This study aims to develop natural wound care products or complementary therapies, bridging traditional knowledge with modern healthcare.

Methods
Phytochemical compounds and total phenolic and flavonoid content were measured. Antioxidant activities were evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate antioxidant assay and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. Human dermal fibroblast neonatal cells were used to quantify the cytotoxicity effects of Piper betle extracts using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. The extract at different concentrations was used to treat the cells using a scratch wound healing assay. Finally, several dilutions of the extract were tested on three antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to measure the extract's antibacterial activity.

Results
Phytochemical screening identified all other key compounds (phenolic, flavonoid, glycoside, saponin, tannin, terpenoid) but alkaloids. It showed high mean phenolic and flavonoid values with moderately high antioxidant activities, whereby moderate EC50 value (138.8 µg/mL) and even higher metal-reducing ability 5393.79 ± 631.96 mg Fe (II)/g DW was calculated. The IC50 value was moderate at 67.54 µg/mL. The extract showed significant positive effects on the rate of wound closure (P < 0.05), demonstrating fully closed wounds in 24 and 30 hours after treatment. The extract significantly influences antibacterial activity (P < 0.05), with Pseudomonas aeruginosa being the most susceptible to growth inhibition, followed by Salmonella enterica, and lastly, Escherichia coli.

Conclusion
In conclusion, Piper betle leaf extracts fortified its application as a therapeutic antioxidant and wound healing agent by inhibiting bacterial growth and increasing wound contraction rate.
Improving Social Media-Based Support Groups for the Rare Disease Community: Interview Study With Patients and Parents of Children with Rare and Undiagnosed Diseases
Authors: Doyle Tom A , Vershaw Samantha L , Conboy Erin , Halverson Colin M E 
Published: December 2024

Background
The rarity that is inherent in rare disease (RD) often means that patients and parents of children with RDs feel uniquely isolated and therefore are unprepared or unsupported in their care. To overcome this isolation, many within the RD community turn to the internet, and social media groups in particular, to gather useful information about their RDs. While previous research has shown that social media support groups are helpful for those affected by RDs, it is unclear what these groups are particularly useful or helpful for patients and parents of children with RDs.

Objective
This study aimed to identify what specific features of disease-related support groups (DRSGs) the RD community finds particularly useful or supportive and provide a set of recommendations to improve social media–based RD support groups based on this information.

Methods
Semistructured qualitative interviews were performed with patients and parents of patients with RDs. Interview participants had to be at least 18 years of age at the time of the interview, be seen by a genetics specialist at a partner health care institution and be proficient in the English language. Social media use was not a prerequisite for participation, so interview participants ranged from extensive users of social media to those who chose to remain off all social media. All interviews were conducted by phone, recorded, and then transcribed. Interview transcripts were then coded using the 6 steps outlined by Braun and Clarke. Three researchers (TAD, SLV, and CMEH) performed initial coding. After this, the study team conducted a review of themes and all members of the team agreed upon a final analysis and presentation of data.

Results
We conducted 31 interviews (mean age 40, SD 10.04 years; n=27, 87% were women; n=30, 97% were non-Hispanic White). Thematic analysis revealed that social media DRSG users identified the informational usefulness of these groups as being related to the gathering and sharing of specific information about an RD, clarification about the importance and meaning of certain symptoms, and obtaining insight into an RD’s progression and prognosis. Participants also identified that DRSGs were useful sources of practical information, such as tips and tricks about managing RD-related issues and concerns. In addition, participants found DRSGs to be a useful space for sharing their disease-related stories but also highlighted a feeling of exhaustion from overexposure and overuse of DRSGs.

Conclusions
This study identifies the usefulness of DRSGs for the RD community and provides a set of recommendations to improve future instances of DRSGs. These recommendations can be used to create DRSGs that are less prone to splintering into other DRSGs, thus minimizing the risk of having important RD-related information unhelpfully dispersed amongst a multitude of support groups.
Machine Learning in the Management of Patients Undergoing Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: Scoping Review
Authors: Luo Aijing , Chen Wei , Zhu Hongtao , Xie Wenzhao , Chen Xi , Liu Zhenjiang , Xin Zirui 
Published: December 2024

Background
Although catheter ablation (CA) is currently the most effective clinical treatment for atrial fibrillation, its variable therapeutic effects among different patients present numerous problems. Machine learning (ML) shows promising potential in optimizing the management and clinical outcomes of patients undergoing atrial fibrillation CA (AFCA).

Objective
This scoping review aimed to evaluate the current scientific evidence on the application of ML for managing patients undergoing AFCA, compare the performance of various models across specific clinical tasks within AFCA, and summarize the strengths and limitations of ML in this field.

Methods
Adhering to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines, relevant studies published up to October 7, 2023, were searched from PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and ScienceDirect. The final included studies were confirmed based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and manual review. The PROBAST (Prediction model Risk Of Bias Assessment Tool) and QUADAS-2 (Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2) methodological quality assessment tools were used to review the included studies, and narrative data synthesis was performed on the modeled results provided by these studies.

Results
The analysis of 23 included studies showcased the contributions of ML in identifying potential ablation targets, improving ablation strategies, and predicting patient prognosis. The patient data used in these studies comprised demographics, clinical characteristics, various types of imaging (9/23, 39%), and electrophysiological signals (7/23, 30%). In terms of model type, deep learning, represented by convolutional neural networks, was most frequently applied (14/23, 61%). Compared with traditional clinical scoring models or human clinicians, the model performance reported in the included studies was generally satisfactory, but most models (14/23, 61%) showed a high risk of bias due to lack of external validation.

Conclusions
Our evidence-based findings suggest that ML is a promising tool for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of managing patients undergoing AFCA. While guiding data preparation and model selection for future studies, this review highlights the need to address prevalent limitations, including lack of external validation, and to further explore model generalization and interpretability.
Challenges of information security laws and legislations in Nigeria’s institutions of higher education: Views from Yola, Adamawa state
Authors: Nte Ngboawaji Daniel , Teru Vigo Augustine , Ridwan Arifin 
Published: December 2024

The menace of threats against information security worldwide cannot be overemphasis. The whole gamut of statecraft, national security, public safety, international trade and indeed postmodernity revolves around information security. As a country, Nigeria is part of a global system facing this monumental threat and institutions of higher education are a subset of the vulnerability circle. This work therefore seeks to evaluate the challenges of implementation of information security laws and legislations in Nigerian institutions of higher education with special focus of higher education institutions in Yola, Adamawa State. Generally, the work investigated the impact of information security threats and attacks in institutions of higher learning, the role of security laws and legislations in combating these threats, the challenges of information security threats management and indeed possible solutions to these challenges. The work utilised a qualitative research method through the application of archival and documentary research, and Case study research (multiple case study) and interviews from a selected sample. Consequently, the study was able to evaluate the state of awareness of information security in this sector, the implementation challenges of the existing information security laws and regulations and offered valuable policy recommendations to the various stakeholders on how to implement sustainable information security laws and legislations to guarantee the protection of critical data assets not just in institutions of higher education in Nigeria but the entire country and in tandem with global best practice.
Lady Muriel Paget’s Mission to Daugavpils (Part II)
Authors: Swain Geoffrey 
Published: December 2024

In February 1920, Lady Muriel Paget established a children’s hospital in Daugavpils. It was the start of a relief Mission which operated until the autumn of 1922, taking the form eventually of infant welfare clinics and feeding kitchens. From the start of 1921, this Mission was broadened to include Riga and, eventually, Tallinn and Kaunas; but the core of the operation remained Daugavpils. This article explores the centrality of Daugavpils to the work of the Mission, the evolution of Lady Muriel’s ambitions, and the often fraught relationship with her chief funder, the Save the Children Fund (SCF).
The article is published in two parts. Part I covered the period from the origins of the Mission in February 1920 until Lady Paget’s dramatic journey to Daugavpils in October 1920. It explored two major themes. First, it considered how the Mission evolved from an attempt to bring aid to “the Polish frontier” of Russia, and possibly Russia itself, to a Mission focused on Latvia and the Baltic states. Second, it explored the problems faced in establishing and running a hospital, and the gradual realisation that a combination of kitchens and smaller welfare clinics offered a far more effective way of administering aid. Part II of the article focuses on the evolution of the Mission, as SCF funding raised the possibility of greater ambition, but ultimately caused a rift over the correct nature of relief work. As the work done by the Mission evolved, it became clear that SCF, as the main funder, felt that its ambitions had moved away from emergency relief and were becoming closer to developmental work. Funding for the Mission was ended just as a series of child welfare initiatives were getting under way. The Daugavpils flood of April 1922, however, pulled the Mission back to its original ambition of emergency relief.
The Baltic States in the Political and Legal Thought of Pavel N. Miliukov During the Civil War in Russia of 1917–1920
Authors: Sadłowski Michał Patryk 
Published: December 2024

The primary research objective of the article is to study Pavel Nikolaevich Miliukov’s (1859–1943) understanding of the status of the states of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia during the Civil War in Russia from 1917 to 1920, focusing on Miliukov’s political and legal beliefs. As the leader of the Kadet Party, Miliukov had advocated the reconstruction of Russian statehood as close as possible to the 1914 borders, which excluded the existence of the independent Baltic states separately from Russia. The above considerations provide grounds for claiming that Miliukov’s political and legal thought in this period was based on strong nationalism. In this sense, Miliukov, seeing the national awakening among the nations of Central and Eastern Europe, actively tried to oppose these processes.