bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Absence of Type I Interferon Autoantibodies or Significant Interferon Signature Alterations in Adults With Post–COVID-19 Syndrome
Authors: Achleitner Martin , Mair Nina K , Dänhardt Juliane , Kardashi Romina , Puhan Milo A , Abela Irene A , Toepfner Nicole , de With Katja , Kanczkowski Waldemar , Jarzebska Natalia , Rodionov Roman N , Wolf Christine , Lee-Kirsch Min Ae , Steenblock Charlotte , Hale Benjamin G , Bornstein Stefan R 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Genetic defects in the interferon (IFN) system or neutralizing autoantibodies against type I IFNs contribute to severe COVID-19. Such autoantibodies were proposed to affect post–COVID-19 syndrome (PCS), possibly causing persistent fatigue for &gt;12 weeks after confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. In the current study, we investigated 128 patients with PCS, 21 survivors of severe COVID-19, and 38 individuals who were asymptomatic. We checked for autoantibodies against IFN-α, IFN-β, and IFN-ω. Few patients with PCS had autoantibodies against IFNs but with no neutralizing activity, indicating a limited role of type I IFNs in PCS pathogenesis. In a subset consisting of 28 patients with PCS, we evaluated IFN-stimulated gene activity and showed that it did not correlate with fatigue. In conclusion, impairment of the type I IFN system is unlikely responsible for adult PCS.
Rapid population decline in McKay’s Bunting, an Alaskan endemic, highlights the species’ current status relative to international standards for vulnerable species
Authors: Richardson Rachel M , Amundson Courtney L , Johnson James A , Romano Marc D , Taylor Audrey R , Fleming Michael D , Matsuoka Steven M 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The McKay’s Bunting (Plectrophenax hyperboreus) is endemic to Alaska, breeds solely on the remote and uninhabited St. Matthew and Hall islands (332 km2) in the central Bering Sea, and is designated as a species of high conservation concern due to its small population size and restricted range. A previous hypothesized population estimate (~2,800 to 6,000 individuals) was greatly increased (~31,200 individuals) after systematic surveys of the species’ entire breeding range in 2003, establishing McKay’s Bunting as one of the rarest passerines in North America. In 2018, we replicated the 2003 surveys and used density surface models to estimate breeding season densities, distributions, and population change over the intervening time period. Our results indicate that the McKay’s Bunting population declined by 38% (95% CI: 27 to 48%) from ~31,560 to 19,481 individuals since 2003. Spatial model predictions showed no areas with an increase of birds on either St. Matthew or Hall islands but revealed declines across 13% (42 km2) of St. Matthew Island. Declines disproportionately occurred both in marginal habitats with reduced rocky nesting substrate and in high-density hotspots along the coast of St. Matthew Island. The total area occupied by breeding adults decreased by 8%, and high-density hotspots shifted inland from the coast of St. Matthew Island to higher elevations on both islands, the latter potentially responses to exceptionally warm weather and reduced spring snow cover in 2018. Additionally, we observed low numbers of predators and interspecific competitors in 2018, suggesting that these did not cause the decline. Our findings indicate that McKay’s Bunting meets international standards for elevating its conservation status from Least Concern to Endangered based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species ranking criteria. Additional population monitoring and studies to identify the causal mechanisms of the recent population decline of this rare species could assist future population assessments.
Corpus Modeling and the Geometries of Text
Authors: Stoltz Dustin S. , Combs Marissa A. , Taylor Marshall A. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
This chapter explores the theoretical implications of spatial metaphors in the field of computational text analysis and inspects how the properties of topologies aid and inhibit our theories of textual meaning. Rather than mining for “ground truth,” machine learning algorithms for text, especially word embedding models, provide a selectively simplistic map of the semantic space. The representation of that textual map depends not only on the choice of algorithm but also on the composition of the corpora used to train them. Along with reviewing the technical aspects of embedding text into space, this chapter surveys the consequences of training algorithms with internal and external objectives. The implications of different types of training corpora are enumerated, with particular attention to ethical considerations. More scholarship, institutional support, and technical infrastructure directed toward the careful building, documenting, and sharing of corpora as well as machine learning models trained on those corpora are recommended.
Gender, Sex, and the Constraints of Machine Learning Methods
Authors: Lockhart Jeffrey W. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
This chapter discusses the wide array of ways that gender and sex interact with machine learning (ML) and the artificial intelligence technologies that rely on it. Some of these interactions are intentional; others are unintentional or even against practitioners’ concerted efforts. Some are born out of the allure of a seemingly simple variable that is aligned with the technical needs of ML. Often, gender lurks without invitation, because these methods mine data for associations, and gendered associations are ubiquitous. In a growing body of work, scholars are using ML to actively interrogate measurements and theories of gender and sex. ML brings with it new paradigms of quantitative reasoning that hold the potential to either reinscribe or revolutionize gender in both technical systems and scientific knowledge.
Meaning and Machines
Authors: Stuhler Oscar , Stoltz Dustin S. , Martin John Levi 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Given the non-sentient nature of current machines, it can be puzzling to attempt to use ideas regarding “meaning” to explicate their results, even when these involve language outputs, often considered the acme of meaning creation. This chapter proposes a formal approach to meaning that treats it as a dyad of a relation of reference, allowing a clear translation to the case of data analysis, and considers the ways that machine learning may be used to help human analysts explore the meanings in some set of data. Building on the two ways (formal and informal) that humans learn language, the chapter proposes that there are two promising approaches to using machines, a more formal, grammar-based, one, and a more informal, embedding-based, one. Each of these has certain advantages and disadvantages, and the chapter suggests ways that analysts can best make use of developing technologies as opposed to letting their theoretical imagination be hijacked by the path of the development of computer science.
Europe and International Law
Authors: Anghie Antony 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Historians of international law have emphasized its European character. This chapter explores implications of this assertion by discussing how European ideas became the basis of international law through the processes of imperialism. It studies specific jurists, Vitoria and Grotius, to suggest some of the main features of European international law. It then surveys the different ways in which non-European peoples understood, adopted, adapted, and contested European international law over the past two centuries. The chapter concludes by suggesting some of the enduring legacies of European international law, such as the nation-state and capitalism, and what these might mean for the future of international order.
Arabidopsis HSFA9 Acts as a Regulator of Heat Response Gene Expression and the Acquisition of Thermotolerance and Seed Longevity
Authors: Wang Xiaohua , Zhu Yan , Tang Ling , Wang Yuanyuan , Sun Runze , Deng Xin 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Heat-shock transcription factors (HSFs) are crucial for regulating plant responses to heat and various stresses, as well as for maintaining normal cellular functions and plant development. HSFA9 and HSFA2 are two of the Arabidopsis class A HSFs and their expressions are dramatically induced in response to heat shock (HS) stress among all 21 Arabidopsis HSFs. However, the detailed biological roles of their cooperation have not been fully characterized. In this study, we employed an integrated approach that combined bioinformatics, molecular genetics and computational analysis to identify and validate the molecular mechanism that controls seed longevity and thermotolerance in Arabidopsis. The acquisition of tolerance to deterioration was accompanied by a significant transcriptional switch that involved the induction of primary metabolism, reactive oxygen species and unfolded protein response, as well as the regulation of genes involved in response to dehydration, heat and hypoxia. In addition, the cis-regulatory motif analysis in normal stored and controlled deterioration treatment (CDT) seeds confirmed the CDT-repressed genes with heat-shock element (HSE) in their promoters. Using a yeast two-hybrid and molecular dynamic interaction assay, it is shown that HSFA9 acted as a potential regulator that can interact with HSFA2. Moreover, the knock-out mutants of both HSFA9 and HSFA2 displayed a significant reduction in seed longevity. These novel findings link HSF transcription factors with seed deterioration tolerance and longevity.
Can artificial intelligence reach human thought?
Authors: Fokas Athanassios S 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The transformative achievements of deep learning have led several scholars to raise the question of whether artificial intelligence (AI) can reach and then surpass the level of human thought. Here, after addressing methodological problems regarding the possible answer to this question, it is argued that the definition of intelligence proposed by proponents of the AI as “the ability to accomplish complex goals,” is appropriate for machines but does not capture the essence of human thought. After discussing the differences regarding understanding between machines and the brain, as well as the importance of subjective experiences, it is emphasized that most proponents of the eventual superiority of AI ignore the importance of the body proper on the brain, the laterization of the brain, and the vital role of the glia cells. By appealing to the incompleteness theorem of Gödel’s and to the analogous result of Turing regarding computations, it is noted that consciousness is much richer than both mathematics and computations. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, it is stressed that artificial algorithms attempt to mimic only the conscious function of parts of the cerebral cortex, ignoring the fact that, not only every conscious experience is preceded by an unconscious process but also that the passage from the unconscious to consciousness is accompanied by loss of information.
The Right to Silence Under Scrutiny: Unveiling the Significance of Section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of India
Authors: Chadha Vaibhav , Poddar Deepali 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The often-overlooked provision of criminal law, which holds significant importance is section 313 of the Code of Criminal Procedure 1973. Section 313 grants the accused an opportunity to provide their statement, ensuring their right to be heard and preventing self-incrimination. This article explores the background, evolution, and objectives of section 313 CrPC, as well as its alignment with the principles of natural justice. The main aim of the article is to demonstrate how India still falls short in upholding the right to silence as per section 313, through a detailed analysis of various judgments passed by the Supreme Court of India, and laws enacted in other jurisdictions around the world. The article addresses the issue of Indian courts using adverse inferences from an accused person’s silence, which conflicts with Article 20(3) of the Indian Constitution. It argues that drawing such inferences should be reconsidered by the courts, as it contradicts important legal principles and undermines the right to a fair trial.
Empowering the Care of Older Adults Through the Use of Technology
Authors: Xu Heng , Xie Bo , Chang Chu-Hsiang 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic and other global crises have significantly affected the lives of older adults, impacting their healthcare, social connections, and daily routines. While the increasing digitization and automation of services offer benefits such as remote healthcare access and reduced isolation, these technologies also pose challenges in terms of unfamiliarity, learning curves, and privacy and security concerns. Addressing these issues requires a collaborative approach across various fields, including health informatics, gerontology, social psychology, human–computer interaction, and cybersecurity and privacy. Understanding the cognitive, emotional, and sociocultural factors influencing older adults’ use of technologies is crucial for creating inclusive and accessible digital tools. This multidisciplinary effort, as highlighted in the special issue of Work, Aging and Retirement, aims to enhance our understanding of aging and technology in today’s world, empowering older adults to remain connected and maintain their well-being.
Primary prevention of HPV-related diseases from the patients’ perspective in Poland
Authors: Trojnarska Dominika , Jach Robert 
Published: December 2023

Objectives
This study aimed to assess the knowledge of human papillomavirus (HPV) and attitudes toward HPV vaccination (HPVv) among female patients in Poland, investigating the impact of sociodemographic factors on these aspects. The study also explored awareness of state-funded bivalent vaccination and gauged willingness to vaccinate children, especially in the aspect of the newly introduced nonavalent vaccine.

Material and methods
An 11-question questionnaire was administered to newly referred patients at a dysplasia consultation center in Kraków University Hospital between February and December 2022. Statistical analysis using IBM SPSS Statistics 25 evaluated sociodemographic characteristics, HPV knowledge, attitudes toward HPVv and correlations among responses.

Results
By December 2022, 187 completed forms were received, primarily from women aged 30-40 years, residing in large cities, and with higher education qualifications. While most were aware of HPV’s association with cancer and abnormal cytology, over 40% were unaware of its asymptomatic nature. Higher education is correlated with better HPV awareness. Participants generally showed positive attitudes toward HPVv for themselves and their children, yet only a small fraction had received the vaccine. Education significantly influenced HPV knowledge, with higher education levels linked to better awareness and willingness to vaccinate children. Awareness of HPV is positively correlated with knowledge test performance and vaccination attitudes.

Conclusion
The study revealed a lack of awareness regarding government co-financing for the bivalent vaccine. Campaigns endorsing reimbursed vaccination were found to be inadequate, highlighting the need for corrective measures to enhance awareness and improve vaccination rates, particularly for individuals outside the age range between 12 and 13 years relying on self-financing or sporadic government initiatives.
The Combined Application of Bleomycin and Triamcinolone for Treating Refractory Keloids
Authors: Mozafari Nikoo , Mollaabasi Faeghe , Mansouri Parvin , Robati Reza M. 
Published: December 2023

BACKGROUND
Triamcinolone acetate injections are considered the first treatment option for keloids, but quite high proportions of keloids either do not respond to triamcinolone or develop recurrence. Beneficial effects of intralesional bleomycin have been recently shown in the treatment of keloids and hypertrophic scars. However, the efficacy of combination therapy using intralesional triamcinolone and bleomycin remains undetermined.

OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of using bleomycin and triamcinolone mixture to treat refractory keloids.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
In total, 33 patients with resistant keloids (including 8 men and 25 women) and a mean age of 36.52 years (age range of 18–65 years) were enrolled in this study. A mixture of bleomycin (1 u/cc) with triamcinolone acetonide (13.3 mg/cc) was injected intralesionally into the keloids every 4 to 6 weeks for a maximum of 6 cycles. The clinical improvement was evaluated using the Japan Scar Scale (JSS) and the physician's global assessment of the flattening of the lesions. Side effects were also noted and recorded.

RESULTS
In all patients, the total JSS scores decreased significantly after treatment (2.33 ± 1.05), compared with baseline (11.61 ± 2.59), (p < .001); 26 keloids (78.8%) showed an excellent response (75%–100% flattening), 7 keloids (21.2%) showed a fair response (25%–75% flattening), and 0 keloids (0%) showed a poor response (<25% flattening). Observed side effects were ulceration (33.3%), hyperpigmentation (33.3%), hypopigmentation (15.15%), secondary infection (33.3%), and telangiectasis (15.15%).

CONCLUSION
The combined use of bleomycin and triamcinolone offers a promising treatment option for individuals who have not responded well to traditional therapies.
Bone mass, fracture risk, and associated factors in postmenopausal women living with HIV
Authors: Leite-Silva Paula R. , Pinheiro Rebeca S. , Barbosa-Ferreira João M.B. , Balieiro Antonio , Sabidó Meritxell , Lacerda Marcus V.G. , Chaves Yury O. , Nogueira Paulo A. , Benzaken Adele S. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Objective
The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of low bone mass (osteopenia/osteoporosis), the factors associated with low bone mass, and the risk of fractures in Brazilian postmenopausal women living with HIV (WLH) in the Amazon region

Methods
This is a cohort study with a cross-sectional assessment at baseline conducted between March 2021 to August 2022 with 100 postmenopausal WLH undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART) between 45 and 60 years of age and 100 age-matched HIV-negative women. Data on bone mineral density in the lumbar spine (LS) and femoral neck (FN) were collected using dual x-ray absorptiometry and the 10-year risk of hip and major osteoporotic fractures was assessed using the Fracture Risk Assessment tool (FRAX).

Results
The age of menopause onset occurred earlier in WLH (P < 0.001). No differences in prevalence of osteoporosis and osteopenia in LS and FN were observed except for a lower T score in FN in WLH (P = 0.039). The FRAX for major osteoporotic fracture and hip fracture were low in both groups, despite the mean of both FRAX scores was higher in WLH (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that years since menopause onset, higher body mass index and higher FRAX major osteoporotic fracture were associated with the WLH group, while a higher frequency of physical activity was registered in the HIV-negative group. Multivariate analysis also showed that in WLH, a lower T score in FN was associated with years since menopause onset and body mass index and that the number of years since menopause onset was associated with a lower T score in the LS and a higher score in the FRAX hip fracture.

Conclusions
Our findings show a high prevalence of low bone mass (osteopenia/osteoporosis) in Brazilian postmenopausal women from the Amazon region. Women living with HIV have higher FRAX scores than HIV-negative women and a lower T score in the FN.
Surgical Procedures, Complications, and Durations in Patients with Noma Disease: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Gebretsadik Heron G. 
Published: December 2023

Background:
Noma is a devastating disease that causes severe destruction of facial tissue, necessitating comprehensive surgical intervention for functional restoration and improved quality of life. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify common surgical procedures used for noma defect reconstruction in Ethiopia, analyze their durations, and assess associated complications.

Methods:
The study retrospectively analyzed noma patient records from Facing Africa’s database, covering electronic medical data from 2007 to 2019, and utilized SPSS version 2020 for analysis.

Results:
Facing Africa treated 235 noma cases (2007–2019) with 438 procedures. The most commonly used surgical technique was reconstructive surgery, which encompassed two or more other surgical methods and was used in 177 cases. This was followed by the submental flap in 47 cases and ankylosis release in 35 cases. The study also found complications in 11 cases, including flap necrosis, abscesses, and ankylosis-related mouth restriction. Additionally, the analysis of 102 noma cases revealed significant variations in the duration of surgical procedures, ranging from 10 to 48 hours for specific cases, with the majority (63.7%) requiring 2 to 5 hours. The mean duration of noma surgery was calculated to be 4.08 hours.

Conclusions:
Comprehending common surgical techniques, complications, and durations benefits surgical planning, resource allocation, and patient care. Thus, the results of this study are a useful contribution to the development of effective noma treatment. However, further research and continuous efforts are needed to refine surgical practices, address potential complications, and enhance patient care in the battle against this devastating disease.
Artificial intelligence scoring of liver biopsies in a phase II trial of semaglutide in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
Authors: Ratziu Vlad , Francque Sven , Behling Cynthia A. , Cejvanovic Vanja , Cortez-Pinto Helena , Iyer Janani S. , Krarup Niels , Le Quang , Sejling Anne-Sophie , Tiniakos Dina , Harrison Stephen A. 
Published: December 2023

Background and Aims:
Artificial intelligence–powered digital pathology offers the potential to quantify histological findings in a reproducible way. This analysis compares the evaluation of histological features of NASH between pathologists and a machine-learning (ML) pathology model.

Approach and Results:
This post hoc analysis included data from a subset of patients (n=251) with biopsy-confirmed NASH and fibrosis stage F1–F3 from a 72-week randomized placebo-controlled trial of once-daily subcutaneous semaglutide 0.1, 0.2, or 0.4 mg (NCT02970942). Biopsies at baseline and week 72 were read by 2 pathologists. Digitized biopsy slides were evaluated by PathAI’s NASH ML models to quantify changes in fibrosis, steatosis, inflammation, and hepatocyte ballooning using categorical assessments and continuous scores. Pathologist and ML-derived categorical assessments detected a significantly greater percentage of patients achieving the primary endpoint of NASH resolution without worsening of fibrosis with semaglutide 0.4 mg versus placebo (pathologist 58.5% vs. 22.0%, p < 0.0001; ML 36.9% vs. 11.9%; p=0.0015). Both methods detected a higher but nonsignificant percentage of patients on semaglutide 0.4 mg versus placebo achieving the secondary endpoint of liver fibrosis improvement without NASH worsening. ML continuous scores detected significant treatment-induced responses in histological features, including a quantitative reduction in fibrosis with semaglutide 0.4 mg versus placebo (p=0.0099) that could not be detected using pathologist or ML categorical assessment.

Conclusions:
ML categorical assessments reproduced pathologists’ results of histological improvement with semaglutide for steatosis and disease activity. ML-based continuous scores demonstrated an antifibrotic effect not measured by conventional histopathology.