bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in treatment of refractory epilepsy: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized sham-controlled trials
Authors: Hawas Yousef , Abbas Abdallah , Alkhawaldeh Ibraheem M. , Zeid Mohamed Abo , Al Azzawi Mohammad Al Diab , Alsalhi Hamza Khaled , Negida Ahmed 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Despite the currently available treatment, one-third of epilepsy patients continue to experience seizures. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has emerged as a potential neuromodulation approach for the non-invasive treatment of refractory epilepsy. This study aims to provide a comprehensive investigation of the efficacy and safety of tDCS in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy. The following databases were searched from inception until June 2023; PubMed, Scopus, Embase, WOS, EBSCO, Cochrane Central, and Ovid MEDLINE. Pooled mean difference was calculated for change in seizure frequency (SF), and number of Interictal epileptiform discharges (IEDs) at different follow-up intervals. We included nine parallel randomized sham-controlled trials with a total of 267 patients. Active tDCS patients had a significantly lower SF per month at 4 and 8 weeks (MD = -4.06, 95% CI [-6.01 to -2.12], p < 0.0001), and (MD = -2.66, 95% CI [-5.09 to -0.23], p = 0.03), respectively. However, weekly SF showed no statistically significant results at 4 weeks of follow-up. The IEDs were observed to significantly decline at 2, 4, and 8 weeks of follow-up. The reported adverse events were mild including mild itching and erythematous rash that resolved spontaneously. In conclusion, tDCS significantly reduced monthly SF and the number of IEDs. Future large RCTs with standard clear informed parameters are still required.
Dietary intervention of propolis and/or turmeric boosted growth, hematology, biochemical profile, and antioxidant-immune responses and their associated gene expression in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) challenged with Edwardsiella tarda
Authors: Edrees Asmaa , Abdel-Daim Asmaa S. A. , Shaban Nema S. , Shehata Olfat , Ibrahim Rowida E. 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Immunostimulant phytogenic feed additives are given great concern for improving fish health, growth, immune responses, and resistance to diseases. This research investigated the impact of dietary propolis (PRO), turmeric (TUR), and their combination on the growth, hematology, antioxidant-immune responses, and their regulating genes in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) during Edwardsiella tarda challenge. For 8 weeks, a total number of 320 fish (20.70 ± 0.14 g) were allocated into four groups at random, each with eight replicates (10 fish each). The first group (1st) was given the basal diet (control) without any supplements. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th groups were supplemented with 1% PRO, 1% TUR, and the mixture (1%PRO + 1%TUR), respectively. The experimental groups were challenged intraperitoneally with E. tarda at a dose of 0.1 mL (1 × 105 CFU) at the termination of the feeding trial, and the fish survival was estimated for an additional 7 days. The results demonstrated that fish-fed diets supplemented with PRO and/or TUR showed higher body weight, condition factor, specific growth rate, feed intake, and feed efficiency utilization than the control group (P < 0.05). The hematological, protein profile, and antioxidant-immune (total antioxidant capacity, lysozymes, and IgM) parameters were substantially improved in the challenged fish fed on PRO and/or TUR diets compared to the challenged non-fed fish. The lipid profile and malondialdehyde were substantially decreased in the challenged fish fed on PRO and/or TUR diets compared to the challenged non-fed group. Notably, a down-turning of nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) expression with up-turning of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) expression was noticed in the challenged fish fed on PRO and/or TUR diets compared to the challenged non-fed fish. Noteworthy, dietary PRO and/or TUR improved the fish survival during E. tarda challenge. The mixture of PRO and TUR can be added to Nile tilapia diets to enhance their growth, immune response, and resistance to E. tarda. These outcomes help in the sustainable development of the Nile tilapia culture industry.

Graphical Abstract
Engineering PLA-MXene nanocomposite with balanced mechanical properties for enhanced shape memory effect
Authors: Maurya Muni Raj , Sha Mizaj Shabil , Latrous Latifa , Megriche Adel , Sadasivuni Kishor Kumar 
Published: November 2024

AbstractPoly(lactic acid) (PLA) as shape memory material has gained attention due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ease of processing by 3D printing. PLA’s environmentally friendly nature makes it an attractive candidate for sustainable and recyclable shape memory applications. However, PLA’s slow shape recovery rate and low shape fixation percentage hinder its applicability as shape memory material. In the present study, we report MXene-modified PLA (PLA/Mx) nanocomposite with enhanced shape memory effect. Solution processing methods mediated the loading of the MXene in the PLA matrix. Different samples were prepared by varying the weight% of the MXene in the PLA matrix. The structure and morphology of samples were analyzed by XRD and TEM characterization. Thermogravimetric analysis was performed to measure the thermal stability of the composite. Compared with pure PLA, with MXene loading, the PLA/Mx composites show an increase in thermal. The shape recovery study on PLA/Mx samples used temperature as an external stimulus. The PLA/Mx composite exhibited a significantly improved shape memory effect than the PLA alone. The study exhibits that a shape memory effect can be improved by tuning the MXene additive loading in the PLA matrix. The material shape recovery effect was validated by fabricating the spiral structure. The fast shape recovery time 3s and shape fixation/recovery of > 95% was observed for 1 wt% of PLA/Mx. The PLA/Mx composite is expected to contribute significantly to implementing innovative shape memory applications, particularly in the biomedical field for sutures, controlled drug release, and minimally invasive devices.
Glioblastoma cells alter brain endothelial cell homeostasis and tight junction protein expression in vitro
Authors: Mokoena Xolisile , Mabeta Peace , Cordier Werner , Flepisi Brian Thabile 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Background
Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive therapy-resistant brain tumour that may impacts the integrity of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is a protective barrier of the central nervous system formed mainly by endothelial cells. This study aimed to investigate the in vitro effect of GBM cells on the BBB.

Methods
Brain endothelial (bEnd.3) cells were used as a model of the BBB. Glioblastoma-conditioned media (CM) was extracted at the 48-h (h) time-point from the U87 GBM cells and diluted to 40% with fresh media. The effect of the U87-CM collected at 48 h on bEnd.3 cell growth was evaluated following 48 and 72 h of treatment using the xCELLigence system. Additionally, bEnd.3 cell growth was also investigated in a U87 and bEnd.3 co-culture model continuously for 48 h using the xCELLigence system. The migration of bEnd.3 cells was assessed following 48 and 72 h using the migration scratch assay. The barrier integrity was evaluated continuously for 1 h using the transwell permeability, and the tight junction (TJ) protein expression was evaluated using Western blot assay following 48 and 72 h.

Results
There was a significant decrease in bEnd.3 cell growth following 32 h (p < 0.05), 40 h (p < 0.01), and 48 h (p < 0.001) of treatment with U87-CM, while co-culturing of bEnd.3 and U87 cells increased cell growth following 16 h (p < 0.05), 24 h (p < 0.001), 32 h (p < 0.01), 40 h (p < 0.001), and 48 h (p < 0.001). The migration of bEnd.3 cells significantly increased following both 24 (p < 0.05) and 48 h (p < 0.01) of treatment with U87-CM. The permeability of bEnd.3 cells co-cultured with U87 for 48 h was significantly increased (p < 0.05) at the 15- and 30-min time points. Furthermore, the expression of ZO-1 and occludin was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in both bEnd.3 cells treated with U87-CM as well as bEnd.3 cells co-cultured with U87 cells.

Conclusion
The current findings suggest that U87 cells alter the integrity of bEnd.3 cells possibly through the secretomes in the CM and through cell–cell interactions in co-culture models. This may assist in the understanding of the mechanisms by which GBM affects the BBB, which may aid in the management thereof.
An Optimized Approach for Detection and Classification of Spam Email’s Using Ensemble Methods
Authors: Fatima Rubab , Fareed Mian Muhammad Sadiq , Ullah Saleem , Ahmad Gulnaz , Mahmood Saqib 
Published: November 2024

AbstractSince the advent of email services, spam emails have been a major concern because users’ security depends on the classification of emails as ham or spam. It’s a malware attack that has been used for spear phishing, whaling, clone phishing, website forgery, and other harmful activities. However, various ensemble Machine Learning (ML) algorithms used for the detection and filtering of spam emails have been less explored. In this research, we offer a ML-based optimized algorithm for detecting spam emails that have been enhanced using Hyper-parameter tuning approaches. The proposed approach uses two feature extraction modules, namely Count-Vectorizer and TFIDF-Vectorizer that provide the most effective classification results when we apply them to three different publicly available email data sets: Ling Spam, UCI SMS Spam, and the Proposed dataset. Moreover, to extend the performance of classifiers we used various ML methods such as Naive Bayes (NB), Logistic Regression (LR), Extra Tree, Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD), XG-Boost, Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), Multi-layer Perception (MLP), and parameter optimization approaches such as Manual search, Random search, Grid search, and Genetic algorithm. For all three data sets, the SGD outperformed other algorithms. All of the other ensembles (Extra Tree, RF), linear models (LR, Linear-SVC), and MLP performed admirably, with relatively high precision, recall, accuracies, and F1-score.
Turbine cooling air estimation in thermodynamic simulations
Authors: Schneider Björn 
Published: November 2024

AbstractModern gas turbines utilize a high amount of the core mass flow rate for component cooling. Thus, a coherent thermodynamic gas turbine representation demands a well-modeled secondary air system, which is able to estimate mass flow rates depending on respective design decisions. In this paper, the focus is set on the estimation of turbine blade cooling air. For this purpose, five different methods are presented and analyzed. The described concepts can be split into empirical and semi-empirical approaches. The semi-empirical approaches, the Horlock [1], Jonsson [2] and the Halliwell [3] method, are able to predict the blade temperature based on a given cooling mass flow rate or the needed cooling air based on a given blade temperature. In contrast, the empirical methods, the Grieb [4] and the Walsh [5] method, can only predict the cooling air consumption. Due to the fully empirical approaches the field of application is limited to the considered engine structures. On the other hand, the empirical methods lead to a better convergence behavior in comparison to the semi-empirical approaches due to their relatively simple calculation methods. The selected cooling air estimations are implemented in the performance code DLRp2 [6–8]. Therefore, processes and methods are deployed that allow to estimate turbines with unlimited cooled stages. Additionally, an off-design procedure is proposed to consider the occurring stagnation temperature drop between stator and rotor based on a reference temperature offset. A simplified thermodynamic gas turbine model is used to analyze the different cooling air estimation methods. For this purpose, sensitivity analyses for the main cooling air parameters are carried out. Moreover, all methods that were developed for the most stressed operating point are compared. Finally, the simplified model is calibrated to NASA’s energy efficient engine [9].
Stable self-assembled oral metformin-bridged nanocochleates against hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: El-Melegy Mohamed G. , El-Kamel Amal H. , Mehanna Radwa A. , Gaballah Ahmed , Eltaher Hoda M. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractDespite its established anti-diabetic activity, Metformin hydrochloride (MET) has been repurposed for the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Owing to MET high aqueous solubility and poor oral permeability, a novel nanoplatform is sought to overcome the current challenges of traditional formulations. In this study, we developed MET-bridged nanocochleates (MET-CO) using a direct bridging method followed by optimization and assessment using various in-vitro and in-vivo pharmacokinetic methods. The optimized nanocochleates MET-CODCP 19, containing dicetyl phosphate (DCP), displayed uniform snail-shaped nano-rolls measuring 136.41 ± 2.11 nm with a PDI of 0.241 ± 0.005 and a highly negative ζ-potential of -61.93 ± 2.57 mV. With an impressive MET encochleation efficiency (> 75%), MET-CODCP 19 exhibited a controlled biphasic release profile, with minimal initial burst followed by prolonged release for 24 h. Importantly, they showed significant MET permeation in both in-vitro Caco-2 and ex-vivo intestinal models compared to non-DCP containing formula or MET solution. The in-vivo oral bioavailability study demonstrated pronounced improvements in the pharmacokinetic parameters with a 5.5 relative bioavailability compared to MET solution. Notably, a significant reduction in IC50 values in HepG2 cells after 24 h of treatment was observed. Furthermore, the optimized formulation showed a significant downregulation of anti-apoptotic and cancer stemness genes, with 12- and 2-fold lower expression compared to MET solution. These promising results highlight the efficacy of the novel MET-bridged nanocochleates as a stable nanoplatform for enhancing the oral bioavailability of MET and boosting its anticancer potential against HCC.
Graphical Abstract
A queer feminist posthuman framework for bioethics: on vulnerability, antimicrobial resistance, and justice
Authors: Sudenkaarne Tiia 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
In this paper, I discuss the bioethical principle of justice and the bioethical key concept of vulnerability, in a queer feminist posthuman framework. I situate these contemplations, philosophical by nature, in the context of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), one the most vicious moral problems of our time. Further, I discuss how gender and sexual variance, vulnerability and justice manifest in AMR. I conclude by considering my queer feminist posthuman framework for vulnerability and justice in relation to the notion of antibiotic vulnerabilities, suggesting a lacuna for further AMR research.
A Novel Pediatric Clinical Skills Curriculum to Prepare Medical Students for Pediatrics Clerkship
Authors: Podraza Lindsay C. , Starnes Lauren S. , Starnes Joseph R. , Patel Anuj , Apple Rachel K. P. 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Introduction
Medical students feel poorly prepared to examine pediatric patients during clerkship. Our institution’s introduction to clinical skills course lacked practice with pediatrics physical examination skills. We developed a novel clinical skills curriculum to increase students’ confidence in examining pediatric patients.

Methods
Ericsson’s deliberate practice conceptual framework guided curriculum design. We utilized a flipped-classroom model to teach the newborn examination. Students watched a video, then practiced with manikins and patients. For the child examination, students attended a lecture and practiced with hospitalized children and facilitators. Students then participated in a Home, Education, Eating/Exercise, Activities/Employment, Drugs, Suicidality, Sexuality, Safety (HEEADSSS) didactic and role play activity. Before and after participation, students completed REDCap surveys ranking confidence in performing pediatric examinations and identifying normal examination findings on a Likert scale (1 = “Not at all confident,” 4 = “Extremely confident”). We analyzed data using Wilcoxon rank sum tests.

Results
A total of 97 students participated in the curriculum. Respectively, 56 (58%) and 32 (30%) students completed pre- and post-participation surveys. Post-participation, students reported increased confidence in identifying normal infant (median [interquartile range]; (2 [2,2] vs 4 [3,4]; p < 0.001) and child (2 [2,2] vs 3 [3,4]; p < 0.001) examination findings as well as HEEADSSS assessment components (2 [1.5,2] vs 4 [3,4]; p < 0.001), and had significantly higher scores on confidence performing infant (2 [2,2.5] vs 4 [3,4]; p < 0.001), child (2 [2,2] vs 3 [3,4]; p < 0.001), and HEEADSSS assessment (2 [2,3] vs 4 [3,4]; p < 0.001).

Discussion
This multi-modal curriculum emphasizing pediatric examination skills improved students’ confidence in pediatric-specific knowledge and skills prior to clerkship.
The Challenges of Patients with Spinal CSF Leaks in Canada: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey
Authors: Hoydonckx Yasmine , Peng Philip , Vydt Charlotte , Amoozegar Farnaz 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT

Background:
Spinal CSF leak can cause disabling headaches and neurological symptoms. Lack of awareness, diagnostic delay and treatment inconsistencies affect the quality of CSF leak care globally. This is the first study aiming to identify and assess these challenges in Canada.

Methods:
A cross-sectional online survey of Canadian patients with spinal CSF leak was designed in collaboration with Spinal CSF Leak Canada, including questions on demographics, headache condition, investigations, treatments, quality of life, financial consequences and out-of-country care.

Results:
The survey captured 103 respondents with confirmed spinal CSF leak diagnosis, of whom 56% were still suffering. The majority were female (80%), most being highly educated, with a mean age of 41.8 (SD: 10.37) years at the time of diagnosis. Inconsistencies in care resulted in variable durations for obtaining diagnosis and treatment. The majority of respondents (88%) had seen multiple physicians, and only 50% had seen a CSF leak specialist. Invasive imaging was not performed in 43%. CSF leak relapse after initial successful treatment occurred frequently (43%). The incidence of rebound intracranial hypertension was high (52.5%), and the treatment was difficult to access (77%). Out-of-country care was common (28%), and the impact on financial health was omnipresent (81.5%).

Conclusion:
The survey demonstrates significant gaps in spinal CSF leak care in Canada, similar to global observations. Lack of awareness and access, delayed care, and inconsistencies in investigations and management are common. Spinal CSF leak significantly impacts patients’ physical, mental and financial well-being. Increased awareness, referral pathways and standardized treatment algorithms are key factors in optimizing patient care in Canada.
The Ultimate Difference: Interpreting and Using “Culture” in Comparisons of Crime and Justice
Authors: Bui Laura 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
This article examines culture, an ambiguous yet prevalent concept in comparisons of crime and justice. It investigates the extent to which culture’s application and meaning across research reflects Western-centric bias in criminological knowledge-production despite it being a concept meant to advance understanding on different groups and places beyond the “Western” worldview. The article extends the discussion on Western-centric bias but also on culture in criminology by tracing the use of this concept on East Asian populations and by identifying patterns of application and meaning in international and comparative research through a scoping review of 230 journal publications. The findings address patterns of culture’s appearance in criminology journals in the past two decades and its meaning. Similar to previous scholarship on Western-centrism in criminology, the article finds that this bias does, too, exist in uses of culture but also shows how culture’s conceptual ambiguity is conducive to this bias, in that some groups and places are given one meaning of culture while others receive another.
Terrorism as an aesthetic signifier: The afterlives of terrorism discourse in Western reactions to wartime suffering
Authors: Tavares Furtado Henrique , Auchter Jessica 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
What are the legacies of the war on terror? This paper seeks to answer this question through an analysis of vernacular uses of terrorism discourse in political commentary on the Ukraine war. The paper describes how the set of tropes, ideas, and recurrent metaphors that constituted the historical backbone of narratives about terrorism before and after 9/11 is now being mobilised in the context of interstate conflict. Instead of rejecting such deployments of terrorism as lay misappropriations of an otherwise-objective concept, we argue that they evidence the aesthetic force of terrorism discourse in organising our ethical relationship to different experiences of (in)human suffering. The paper advances the concept of terrorism as an aesthetic signifier, to provide two contributions to terrorism studies. First, we argue that narrative approaches to the study of political violence in IR can only move forward if they bypass the field’s traditional framing of terrorism – which we dub the (il)legitimacy trap – and push the boundaries of critique beyond the idea of terrorism as unacceptable violence. Second, we contend that IR scholars must situate the signifiers orbiting the discourse on terror within wider racialised aesthetic regimes dictating the visibility and invisibility of collective suffering. With these two moves, we hope to bring more attention to the question of victimisation in terrorism studies, a field historically focused on perpetrators and the conditions of perpetration of violence.
The impact of the Korean safe rates system on work environment and road safety
Authors: Baek Doojoo , Jeong Hyeonil , Liem Wol-San , Kim Kunhyui 
Published: November 2024

AbstractThe regulation of road transport supply chains has recently become a subject of international concern. A significant body of research shows that ensuring minimum rates of pay for truck drivers is important, not only to workers’ health and safety but also to achieving improved road safety outcomes and other policy objectives related to the viability of the road transport industry. For this study, we used an empirical analysis to quantitatively demonstrate the impact of South Korea’s Safe Rates System on factors of the work environment and driver behaviours that affect road safety. Specifically, we looked at the impact of the system on market structure, truck drivers’ monthly net income, average working time, time spent on maintenance, and the frequency of overloading, speeding, and drowsiness while driving. Our results suggest that increased rates of pay for owner truck drivers resulting from the implementation of the Safe Rates System led to a reduction in the average number of contracting steps between client companies who ship goods and the truck drivers who transport them, improvement in the level of market transparency, increased monthly income, decrease in total time worked, decrease in the frequency of overloading, speeding, and drowsiness while driving, and increase in time spent on vehicle maintenance. The level of compliance with the system by clients and transport companies also had an overall positive impact on the industry structure. By empirically demonstrating the system’s impact, our results provide statistical evidence useful to the debate on reintroduction of the Safe Rates System in Korea.