bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Environment, Society, and Machine Learning
Authors: Scoville Caleb , Faxon Hilary , Chapman Melissa , Fried Samantha Jo , Xu Lily , Boettiger Carl , Reed J. Michael , Lapeyrolerie Marcus , Van Scoyoc Amy , Amironesei Razvan 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
This chapter reviews ways in which machine learning is being deployed in environmental science, policy, and management and considers their sociological implications. The chapter first reviews how machine learning is used to collect and classify data, to harmonize diverse datasets, and to intervene at various phases of the environmental policy cycle. Second, drawing on research and frameworks from science and technology studies, the chapter explores machine learning’s role as environmental infrastructure that is embedded in physical systems and social institutions. Third, drawing on political economic perspectives, the chapter locates the sociology of machine learning and the environment in the context of the analysis of global capitalism and its relationship to environmental, political, and economic inequality. The chapter concludes by outlining several areas for further research in the sociology of machine learning and the environment.
Rule of Law in Europe
Authors: van Aaken Anne 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The rule of law is perceived as the bedrock of peace in Europe. European countries have built their institutions on that very premise: the Council of Europe (CoE) and the European Union (EU). Yet, although the rule of law is not yet on the red list of endangered species in Europe, there is rule of law backsliding in some European States (to a varying degree) and between European States. This chapter discusses the various definitions of the rule of law on the national and European (CoE and EU) level as well as the international rule of law, including the diversity of views on the rule of law in Europe. It shows the interactions of the different layers of the rule of law and deliberates about the current tensions in that multi-layered network, internally within Europe and in its external relations. The latest developments of attempting to safeguard the rule of law are discussed.
Spain and Portugal
Authors: Espósito Carlos , Galvão Teles Patrícia 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The chapter focuses on contemporary international law in Spain and Portugal. There are similitudes in the conception of international law and the experiences of Spain and Portugal in the last fifty years as both countries defined a new commitment to international law and human rights in their democratic constitutions of the 1970s and became members of the European Union (EU) in 1986. In this chapter the reader will find a two-country study, the conceptions and practices of international law in Spain and Portugal. In both cases, they consider certain features that best describe each country’s concept of international law, both in theory and practice.
The Question of Democracy in International Law in the Context of European History
Authors: Poghosyan Sevanna 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
This chapter aims to define the relationship between democracy and international law, examine the role of this concept in altering the political dynamics of Europe over time, and evaluate its present value and significance within the framework of the European international legal system. This investigation is not restricted to the language and history of the term ‘democracy’ in international law. It focuses on pivotal moments and transformative shifts that have impacted the understanding of democracy and its relationship to international law in the context of international legal developments in Europe. The study concludes by demonstrating that the histories and destinies of Europe and the notion of democracy are intricately intertwined and profoundly influence one another, as reflected in the European international legal order.
The Molecular Frequency, Conservation and Role of Reactive Cysteines in Plant Lipid Metabolism
Authors: Cannon Ashley E , Horn Patrick J 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Cysteines (Cys) are chemically reactive amino acids containing sulfur that play diverse roles in plant biology. Recent proteomics investigations in Arabidopsis thaliana have revealed the presence of thiol post-translational modifications (PTMs) in several Cys residues. These PTMs are presumed to impact protein structure and function, yet mechanistic data regarding the specific Cys susceptible to modification and their biochemical relevance remain limited. To help address these limitations, we have conducted a wide-ranging analysis by integrating published datasets encompassing PTM proteomics (comparing S-sulfenylation, persulfidation, S-nitrosylation and S-acylation), genomics and protein structures, with a specific focus on proteins involved in plant lipid metabolism. The prevalence and distribution of modified Cys residues across all analyzed proteins is diverse and multifaceted. Nevertheless, by combining an evaluation of sequence conservation across 100+ plant genomes with AlphaFold-generated protein structures and physicochemical predictions, we have unveiled structural propensities associated with Cys modifications. Furthermore, we have identified discernible patterns in lipid biochemical pathways enriched with Cys PTMs, notably involving beta-oxidation, jasmonic acid biosynthesis, fatty acid biosynthesis and wax biosynthesis. These collective findings provide valuable insights for future investigations targeting the mechanistic foundations of Cys modifications and the regulation of modified proteins in lipid metabolism and other metabolic pathways.
Warfare impact overtakes climate-controlled fires in the eastern Silk Roads since 2000 B.P.
Authors: Zhang Shanjia , Liu Hao , Li Gang , Zhang Zhiping , Chen Xintong , Shi Zhilin , Zhou Aifeng , Dong Guanghui 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Warfare has played an important role in fire regimes; however, it remains unclear whether and when it may have impacted fire history along the Silk Roads. Based on a high-resolution record of black carbon in alpine-lake sediment, and warfare data from historical documents, we explore the relationships between fire, fuel, climate, and human activity along the eastern Silk Roads over the past 6,000 years. Results show that fire activities were low in the middle Holocene but gradually increased in the late Holocene, a pattern closely related to the intensification of drought and the expansion of herbaceous vegetation. However, the intensity and amplitude of paleo-fires increased significantly in the past 2,000 years, a pattern that was no longer synchronized with climate and vegetation changes on centennial timescales; rather, the sequence demonstrated a significant positive correlation with the documented number of wars in different dynasties. We argue that warfare between different political powers may have been the primary influence on the occurrence of five high-intensity fires since 2000 B.P. on centennial timescales in the eastern Silk Roads. Our study certainly reveals the impact of warfare activities related to dynastic change on fire regimes in Chinese history, providing a novel perspective for understanding the impact of human activities on the environment.
Aspects of the Domain-Wall Standard Model
Authors: Okada Nobuchika , Raut Digesh , Villalba Desmond 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
In the “Domain-Wall Standard Model,” all the Standard Model (SM) fields are localized in certain domains in a non-compact 5D space-time. While the SM is realized as a 4D effective theory at low energies, the model involves Kaluza–Klein (KK) modes of the SM particles. In this paper we introduce two simple solvable examples which lead to domain-wall configurations for the SM particles and their KK-modes. Based on the examples, we address a variety of phenomenologies of the Domain-Wall SM, such as the KK-mode gauge boson phenomenology at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), the effect of the KK-mode SM fermions on Higgs boson phenomenology, and the KK-mode fermion search at the LHC with its decay into a corresponding SM fermion and a Nambu–Goldstone boson associated with a spontaneous breaking of the translational invariance in the 5th dimension. We also propose a simple unified picture of localizing all the SM fields.
The PSY-SIM Model: Using Real-World Data to Inform Health Care Policy for Individuals With Chronic Psychotic Disorders
Authors: de Oliveira Claire , Mason Joyce , Luu Linda , Iwajomo Tomisin , Simbulan Frances , Kurdyak Paul , Pechlivanoglou Petros 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Background and Hypothesis
Few microsimulation models have been developed for chronic psychotic disorders, severe and disabling mental disorders associated with poor medical and psychiatric outcomes, and high costs of care. The objective of this work was to develop a microsimulation model for individuals with chronic psychotic disorders and to use the model to examine the impact of a smoking cessation initiative on patient outcomes.

Study Design
Using health records and survey data from Ontario, Canada, the PSY-SIM model was developed to simulate health and cost outcomes of individuals with chronic psychotic disorders. The model was then used to examine the impact of the Smoking Treatment for Ontario Patients (STOP) program from Ontario on the development of chronic conditions, life expectancy, quality of life, and lifetime health care costs.

Study Results
Individuals with chronic psychotic disorders had a lifetime risk of 63% for congestive heart failure and roughly 50% for respiratory disease, cancer and diabetes, and a life expectancy of 76 years. The model suggests the STOP program can reduce morbidity and lead to survival and quality of life gains with modest increases in health care costs. At a long-term quit rate of 4.4%, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of the STOP program was $41,936/QALY compared with status quo.

Conclusions
Smoking cessation initiatives among individuals with chronic psychotic disorders can be cost-effective. These findings will be relevant for decision-makers and clinicians looking to improving health outcomes among this patient population.
Mauritius Responds to its ‘Grey-Listing’ by the Financial Action Task Force Through Statutes: An Informative Review
Authors: Mahadew Bhavna 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
This article reviews the statutory response given by Mauritius to its ‘grey-listing’ by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). It analyses the various legislations that the government had to amend or create to become compliant with the international standards set by the FATF in the wake of combating money laundering and financing of terrorism. The statutory response of Mauritius to its grey-listing by FATF can be considered as a successful one giving that a significant number of laws had to be simultaneously and harmoniously changed to the satisfaction of the FATF in a considerably short period of time. Indeed, in October 2021, Mauritius was removed from the list of jurisdictions under enhanced monitoring, having been placed there in February 2020. Therefore, the expediency which Mauritius responded through laws and the effectiveness with which it managed to restore international business through its financial services sector can humbly serve as lessons or best practices to jurisdictions finding themselves in similar situations with the FATF.
Responses of peritubular macrophages and the testis transcriptome profiles of peripubertal and adult rodents exposed to an acute dose of MEHP
Authors: Fang Xin , Tiwary Richa , Nguyen Vivian P , Richburg John H 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Exposure of rodents to mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) is known to disrupt the blood-testis barrier and cause testicular germ cell apoptosis. Peritubular macrophages (PTMφ) are a newly identified type of testicular macrophage that aggregates near the spermatogonial stem cell niche. We have previously reported that MEHP exposure increased the numbers of PTMφs by 6-fold within the testis of peripubertal rats. The underlying mechanism(s) accounting for this change in PTMφs and its biological significance is unknown. This study investigates if MEHP-induced alterations in PTMφs occur in rodents (PND 75 adult rats and PND 26 peripubertal mice) that are known to be less sensitive to MEHP-induced testicular toxicity. Results show that adult rats have a 2-fold higher basal level of PTMφ numbers than species-matched peripubertal animals, but there was no significant increase in PTMφ numbers after MEHP exposure. Peripubertal mice have a 5-fold higher basal level of PTMφ compared with peripubertal rats but did not exhibit increases in number after MEHP exposure. Further, the interrogation of the testis transcriptome was profiled from both the MEHP-responsive peripubertal rats and the less sensitive rodents via 3′ Tag sequencing. Significant changes in gene expression were observed in peripubertal rats after MEHP exposure. However, adult rats showed lesser changes in gene expression, and peripubertal mice showed only minor changes. Collectively, the data show that PTMφ numbers are associated with the sensitivity of rodents to MEHP in an age- and species-dependent manner.
Tumor necrosis factor alpha gene polymorphism affects the pattern of idiopathic nephrotic syndrome in Kuwaiti Arab children
Authors: Al-Eisa Amal A , Al Rushood Maysoun , Kashyap Sumedha , Haider Mohammad Z 
Published: December 2023

Abstract

Objectives
TNF-α is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that has been implicated in many inflammatory diseases, but its association with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) is poorly understood. This study looked for an association of TNF-α gene polymorphisms with INS, as well as its effect on steroid responsiveness among Kuwaiti Arab children.

Methods
Genotypes of the TNF-a gene polymorphisms were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in 151 INS Kuwaiti Arab patients and 64 age and sex-matched controls. Clinical data of all subjects were reviewed.

Results
The heterozygous AG genotype was detected in 8.6% of INS patients compared 23.4% of the controls (p &lt; 0.01). Comparing steroid responsiveness, AA genotype was significantly more common in steroid-sensitive nephrotic syndrome (SSNS) cases than steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) patients (p = 0.001). However, AG genotype was significantly more common in SRNS patients compared to the SSNS cases (p = 0.001). No difference was found between these two subgroups in the GG genotype frequency.

Conclusion
AG genotype of TNF-a gene polymorphisms may be considered a suitable marker for INS disease among Kuwaiti children. Both AA and AG genotypes may be useful in predicting steroid responsiveness among these cases of Arab ethnicity. The findings might open the era for the use of genetic markers in the early treatment of NS.
Catch me if you can, or how paradigms of tardigrade biogeography evolved from cosmopolitism to ‘localism’
Authors: Gąsiorek Piotr 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
This review synthesizes recent developments in the field of tardigrade biogeography, tracing back to the origins of Baas Becking’s hypothesis that ‘everything is everywhere but the environment selects’ to the latest empirical studies that favour biogeographic structuring of these microinvertebrates. I recapitulate evidence for diverse means of meiofauna dispersal, focusing on the two principal mechanisms suggested for tardigrades: wind (aeolian dispersal/anemochory) and animals (zoochory). I argue that tardigrade species with relatively well-documented geographic distributions display climatic regionalization. The literature treating purportedly cosmopolitan tardigrades is critically scrutinized and evidence for strict cosmopolitanism is deemed insufficient. Due to the presence of numerous endemics restricted to mountains, elevational diversity gradients can be recognized at a local scale (for example, within a single biogeographic region). Finally, the tardigrade faunas of a given region should be likely regarded as part of a regionalized macrometazoan fauna containing a small fraction of widespread, ubiquitous species (called ‘biogeographic noise’ herein).
Development of a Deep-Learning Model for Diagnosing Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Based on CT Images
Authors: Li Kai-Yu , Weng Jun-Jie , Li Hua-Lin , Ye Hao-Bo , Xiang Jian-Wei , Tian Nai-Feng 
Published: December 2023

Study Design.
Retrospective study.

Objectives.
This study aimed to develop an initial deep-learning (DL) model based on computerized tomography (CT) scans for diagnosing lumbar spinal stenosis.

Summary of Background Data.
Magnetic resonance imaging is commonly used for diagnosing lumbar spinal stenosis due to its high soft tissue resolution, but CT is more portable, cost-effective, and has wider regional coverage. Using DL models to improve the accuracy of CT diagnosis can effectively reduce missed diagnoses and misdiagnoses in clinical practice.

Materials and Methods.
Axial lumbar spine CT scans obtained between March 2022 and September 2023 were included. The data set was divided into a training set (62.3%), a validation set (22.9%), and a control set (14.8%). All data were labeled by two spine surgeons using the widely accepted grading system for lumbar spinal stenosis. The training and validation sets were used to annotate the regions of interest by the two spine surgeons. First, a region of interest detection model and a convolutional neural network classifier were trained using the training set. After training, the model was preliminarily evaluated using a validation set. Finally, the performance of the DL model was evaluated on the control set, and a comparison was made between the model and the classification performance of specialists with varying levels of experience.

Results.
The central stenosis grading accuracies of DL Model Version 1 and DL Model Version 2 were 88% and 83%, respectively. The lateral recess grading accuracies of DL Model Version 1 and DL Model Version 2 were 75% and 71%, respectively.

Conclusions.
Our preliminarily developed DL system for assessing the degree of lumbar spinal stenosis in CT, including the central canal and lateral recess, has shown similar accuracy to experienced specialist physicians. This holds great value for further development and clinical application.
Classifying Hand Dexterity Impairment in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy With 10-Second Grip and Release Test
Authors: Liang Guoyan , Ye Yongyu , Zheng Shuhao , Liao Tianying , Wu Weihao , Chen Chong , Chen Junying , Chang Yunbing 
Published: December 2023

Study design.
Diagnostic accuracy study with prospectively collected data.

Objective.
This study aimed to establish optimal cutoff values for the 10-second grip and release (10s-G&R) Test to distinguish between mild, moderate, and severe levels of hand dexterity impairment in patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM).

Background.
The 10s-G&R test is widely utilized to assess hand function in DCM patients. However, whether this test can effectively distinguish between varying severities of hand dexterity impairment, along with the relevant cutoff values, remains unknown.

Materials and Methods.
The authors analyzed hand motion data from 551 consecutively enrolled DCM patients using an artificial intelligent system. In addition, the authors conducted evaluations of functional status, quality of life, and outcome measures. Receiver operating curve analysis was performed to determine cutoff values that differentiate mild, moderate, and severe hand dexterity impairments based on the ability to fasten buttons, as assessed by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire Q2-1. The validity of these cutoffs was assessed by comparing G&R parameters, upper limb disability, overall disease severity, and quality of life among patients in different severity groups.

Results.
The authors identified 16 G&R cycles as the cutoff for moderate hand dexterity impairment and 13 G&R cycles as the cutoff for severe impairment. Patients with severe impairment exhibited significantly worse G&R parameters, more severe upper limb symptoms, greater overall disease severity, and reduced quality of life. Patients completing fewer than 13 G&R cycles within 10 seconds were more likely to have moderate-to-severe DCM, indicating the need for potential surgical intervention.

Conclusion.
The authors propose classifying mild hand dexterity impairment as 17 to 20 cycles on the 10s-G&R test, moderate as 14 to 16 cycles, and severe as 13 cycles or less. Our study underscores that the 10s-G&R test can serve as an effective supplementary tool within the context of other currently available measurement tools.
Modification in ICU Design May Affect Delirium and Circadian Melatonin: A Proof of Concept Pilot Study
Authors: Spies Claudia , Piazena Helmut , Deja Maria , Wernecke Klaus-Dieter , Willemeit Thomas , Luetz Alawi ,   ICU Design Working Group
Published: December 2023

OBJECTIVES:
Nonpharmacologic delirium management is recommended by current guidelines, but studies on the impact of ICU design are still limited. The study’s primary purpose was to determine if a multicomponent change in room design prevents ICU delirium. Second, the influence of lighting conditions on serum melatonin was assessed.

DESIGN:
Prospective observational cohort pilot study.

SETTING:
The new design concept was established in two two-bed ICU rooms of a university hospital. Besides modifications aimed at stress relief, it includes a new dynamic lighting system.

PATIENTS:
Seventy-four adult critically ill patients on mechanical ventilation with an expected ICU length of stay of at least 48 hours, treated in modified or standard rooms.

INTERVENTIONS:
None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:
The clinical examination included a prospective assessment for depth of sedation, delirium, and pain every 8 hours using validated scores. Blood samples for serum melatonin profiles were collected every 4 hours for a maximum of three 24-hour periods. Seventy-four patients were included in the analysis. Seventy-six percent (n = 28) of patients in the standard rooms developed delirium compared with 46% of patients (n = 17) in the modified rooms (p = 0.017). Patients in standard rooms (vs. modified rooms) had a 2.3-fold higher delirium severity (odds ratio = 2.292; 95% CI, 1.582–3.321; p < 0.0001). Light intensity, calculated using the measure of circadian effective irradiance, significantly influenced the course of serum melatonin (p < 0.0001). Significant interactions (p < 0.001) revealed that differences in serum melatonin between patients in standard and modified rooms were not the same over time but varied in specific periods of time.

CONCLUSIONS:
Modifications in ICU room design may influence the incidence and severity of delirium. Dedicated light therapy could potentially influence delirium outcomes by modulating circadian melatonin levels.
Overcoming Reluctance to Nursing Overseas
Authors: Curry Peggy 
Published: December 2023

ABSTRACT:
A North American nurse confronted her ongoing resistance about living in the Middle East and later India. Through studying the Bible and praying, the author overcame her reluctance as she worked as a school nurse on the Arabian Peninsula, faced breast cancer, and later embraced the opportunity to provide nursing care to sex-trafficked women in a brothel. In each setting, the author experienced God's supernatural work of changing her attitude and enabling her to express her faith in Christ to those whom she served and lived among.