bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Zinc-nanoparticles alleviate the ovarian damage induced by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in pregnant rats and their fetuses
Authors: El-Beltagy Abd El-Fattah B. M. , Bakr Samaa M. , Mekhaimer Samah S. G. , Ghanem Noura F. , Attaallah Amany 
Published: July 2023

AbstractLipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an endotoxin derived from the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria. LPS exposure during early gestation is associated with adverse effects on the placenta as well as on developmental outcomes, including embryonic resorption, fetal death, congenital teratogenesis, and fetal growth retardation. This work aimed to explore the adverse effects of LPS injected at an early stage of gestation on the gonads of pregnant rats and the ovaries of their pups and the role of zinc nanoparticles (Zn-NPs) against these adverse effects. Twenty-four pregnant rats were used in this study. They were divided at gestation day 4 into four groups (n = 6): control, Zn-NPs (20 mg/kg orally from gestation day E14 till the end of weaning), LPS (50 µg/kg at gestation days E7 and E9), and LPS + Zn-NPs group. The body weight and placenta weight were recorded at gestational day 16. At postnatal day 21 (weaning), the mothers rats and their offspring were sacrificed and immediately dissected to remove the ovaries and uteri from the mothers and the ovaries from their offspring for subsequent biochemical, histological, and immunohistochemical investigations. The obtained results revealed that LPS exposure during early gestation caused severe histopathological alterations in the placenta, uterus, and ovaries of mothers, as well as in the ovaries of their pups. Also, the uterine and ovarian sections displayed a positive reaction for caspase-3 antibody and a negative reaction for Bcl-2 antibody, which reflects the apoptotic effect of LPS. Additionally, remarkable reductions in the levels of antioxidants (superoxide dismutase and catalase) and significant increases in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were recorded in the serum of LPS-treated mothers and in the ovarian tissues of their offspring. Further biochemical analysis of the ovarian tissues from LPS-maternally treated offspring showed a significant increase in the levels of caspase-3, TNF-α, and TGF-β1, but a significant decrease in the level of IGF-1. On the other hand, treatment of mothers with Zn-NPs from day 14 of gestation until the weaning day (21st day postnatal) successfully ameliorated most of the deleterious histopathological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical changes induced by LPS.Graphical abstract
Context-guided coarse-to-fine detection model for bird nest detection on high-speed railway catenary
Authors: Zhao Hongwei , Wu Siquan , Tian Zhen , Li Yidong , Jin Yi , Wang Shengchun 
Published: July 2023

AbstractAs a critical component of ensuring the safe and stable operation of trains, the detection of bird’s nests on the rail catenary has always been essential. Low-resolution images and the lack of labelled data, however, make it difficult to detect smaller bird’s nests (those occupying small pixels in the input image). Previous solution relies on manual online patrol or offline video playback, which severely limits the detection efficiency. Previously, this challenge was addressed by manual online patrol or offline video playback, which severely limits detection efficiency. We propose in this work a context-guided coarse-to-fine detection model (CG-CFDM) for solving the bird’s nest detection problem. This solution consists of a context reasoning module and a coarse-to-fine detection network. By detecting domains and matching templates, the context reasoning module generates new labelled context bounding boxes, thereby reducing the burden of annotation. As a result of its delicately designed architecture and powerful representation learning ability, this trained coarse-to-fine detection network further facilitates the detection of bird’s nests in an efficient and accurate manner. Extensive experiments demonstrate that the proposed approach is superior to existing methods in terms of performance and has a great deal of potential for detecting bird’s nests.
Metastatic meningioma: a case series and systematic review
Authors: Himič Vratko , Burman Richard J. , Fountain Daniel M. , Hofer Monika , Livermore Laurent J. , Jeyaretna D. Sanjeeva 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Background
Meningiomas are the most common primary intracranial tumor. While the majority of meningiomas are benign, rarely they can metastasize extracranially. There is a need for a more comprehensive review of these patients to improve our understanding of this rare phenomenon and its prevalence globally. Here we describe our institution’s experience of patients presenting with metastatic meningiomas. We further perform a systematic review of the existing literature to explore common features of this rare manifestation of meningioma and review the efficacy of current treatments.

Methods
We performed a retrospective clinical review of all adult patients with metastatic meningioma managed at our institution over the past 20 years, identifying 6 patients. We then performed a systematic review of cases of metastatic meningioma in the literature ranging from the years 1886 to 2022. A descriptive analysis was then conducted on the available data from 1979 onward, focusing on the grade and location of the primary tumor as well as the latency period to, and location of, the metastasis.

Results
In total, we analyzed 155 cases. Fifty-four percent of patients initially presented with a primary meningioma located in the convexity. The most common site of metastasis was the lung. Risk factors associated with a shorter time to metastasis were male sex and a high initial grade of the tumor. Regarding treatment, the addition of chemotherapy was the most common adjunct to the standard management of surgery and radiotherapy. Despite an exhaustive review we were unable to identify effective treatments. The majority of published cases came from centers situated in high-income countries (84%) while only 16% came from lower- and middle-income countries.

Conclusions
Metastatic meningiomas pose a pertinent, and likely underestimated, clinical challenge within modern neurosurgery. To optimize management, timely identification of these patients is important. More research is needed to explore the mechanisms underlying these tumors to better guide the development of effective screening and management protocols. However, screening of each meningioma patient is not feasible, and at the heart of this challenge is the inability to control the primary disease. Ultimately, a consensus is needed as to how to correctly screen for and manage these patients; genomic and epigenomic approaches could hold the answer to finding druggable targets.
Transferability of the scuffing load capacity of gear oils determined on spur gears to hypoid gears
Authors: Drechsel Alexander , Pellkofer Josef , Stahl Karsten 
Published: July 2023

AbstractThe scuffing load carrying capacity is a decisive design criterion in the development of gears. In addition to the gear geometry, the entire tribological system of the gearbox must also be taken into account. Besides the loads and speeds occuring during the operation of the gears, the lubricant used and its additives have a significant influence on the scuffing load carrying capacity. In particular, hypoid gears show an unfavorable combination of high sliding velocities and high contact stresses in tooth contact with regard to the failure mode scuffing. To ensure safe operation, highly additivated gear oils are generally used in hypoid transmissions. Since it is generally not possible to determine the influence of the lubricant on the load carrying capacity of gears on the basis of physical or chemical oil data alone, experimental test methods are necessary. Due to the high scuffing load carrying capacity of highly additivated hypoid oils, the limits of many test methods are reached. In order to ensure testing highly additivated hypoid oils as close as possible to their application a new hypoid scuffing test was developed. However, since spur gear scuffing test methods can be carried out more quickly and with less resource and effort, the applicability of the spur gear scuffing test S‑A10/16.6R/90 to high additivated hypoid oils is investigated. The comparability of the two test methods and the transferability of the scuffing load carrying capacity of a gear oil determined on spur gears to hypoid gears is evaluated in scope of this paper.
Cleaner and sustainable synthesis of high-quality monoglycerides by use of enzyme technologies: techno-economic and environmental study for monolaurin
Authors: Mustafa Ahmad , Fathy Sara , Kutlu Ozben , Niikura Fumiya , Inayat Abrar , Mustafa Muhamad , Abdellatief Tamer M. M. , Bokhari Awais , Samuel Olusegun David , Pastore Carlo , di Bitonto Luigi , Tawfik M. A. , Munir Mamoona , Mohsen Reham 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Currently, monoglycerides (MG) are produced using a complicated energy-intensive technology that contributes negatively toward greenhouse gas mitigation. This work suggests a cleaner and simpler one-step enzymatic production of α-monolaurin in an inert membrane reactor, where the reaction and enzyme separation are conducted simultaneously in one unit. Candida antarctica lipase (Lipozyme 435) was used to catalyze the esterification reaction between lauric acid and glycerin in a solvent-free system under mild temperatures. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the reaction conditions. The optimal conditions were a molecular sieve of 14.85% w/w, a temperature of 56.95 °C, an enzyme amount of 5.38% w/w, and a molar ratio of 4.75% w/w. The gas chromatography (GC) analysis showed that the α-monolaurin percentage was 49.5% when the enzymatic process (ENZ) was used. The conventional chemical (CHEM) and autocatalytic (AUT) esterification methods were also performed to study their proportional MG yields. The GC results showed the MG percentages of 43.9 and 41.7% for CHEM and AUT, respectively. Economic analysis was also conducted for the suggested enzymatic technique, and the findings were compared with those of the CHEM and AUT technologies. Using a plant capacity of 4950 t/year and 11% interest for the proposed ENZ process, the total capital investment of α-monolaurin production was preferably four times less than that of the CHEM process and three times less than that of the AUT method, presenting investment possibilities. However, the ENZ process showed the least profitability (net profit per day) among the three processes. Nevertheless, the return on investment and net present value for the ENZ process were preferably higher than those of CHEM and AUT because of its interestingly lower inside battery limit plant cost and less energy consumption. The AUT/CHEM processes generated a total carbon dioxide (CO2) exhaust of 678.7 t CO2 eq./year. In contrast, the ENZ process exhausted a total CO2 of only 50 t CO2 eq./year. The present integrated techno-economic and environmental study of α-monolaurin production emphasizes the green and cost benefits of the proposed ENZ technology.

Graphical Abstract
Bundesländerspezifische Versorgungsunterschiede von Epilepsiepatienten in Deutschland
Authors: Kohlhase Konstantin , Rosenow Felix , Golbach Rejane , Strzelczyk Adam , Willems Laurent M. 
Published: July 2023

Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund
Epilepsiepatienten benötigen häufig eine spezialisierte Behandlung, die sich aufgrund der gesundheitspolitischen Zuständigkeit der Bundesländer innerhalb Deutschlands unterscheiden kann.

Ziel der Arbeit
Es erfolgte die Evaluation der bundeslandspezifischen Unterschiede in der Versorgungsstruktur anhand stationärer Krankenhausfälle von Epilepsiepatienten in den Jahren 2000 bis 2020 in Relation zum spezialisierten Behandlungsangebot.

Material und Methoden
Die stationären Krankenhausfälle der Bundesländer wurden mittels Friedman-Test und Zeitreihentrendanalyse ausgewertet. Eine bundeslandspezifische stationäre Minder- bzw. Mehrversorgung von stationären Krankenhausfällen außerhalb des gemeldeten Bundeslandes wurde durch den Vergleich der Wohnsitz- und Behandlungsort-bezogenen Fallzahlen mit einem Schwellenwert von ±5 % analysiert.

Ergebnisse
Nach Altersadaptierung fanden sich signifikant mehr stationäre Fälle in den „neuen Bundesländern“ im Vergleich zu den „alten Bundesländern“ (p < 0,001); die bundesweit höchste Fallzahl bestand im Saarland mit 224,8 ± 11,5 Fällen pro 100.000 Einwohnern. Die Trendanalyse zeigte bis Ende 2016 eine Zunahme der Fälle mit einer Trendumkehr ab 2017 und einem weiteren signifikanten Abfall der Krankenhausfälle im COVID-Jahr 2020. Eine relative stationäre Minderversorgung zeigte sich für Brandenburg, Niedersachsen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Sachsen-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein und Thüringen. Eine übermäßige – möglicherweise kompensatorische – stationäre Mehrversorgung war für alle Stadtstaaten und Baden-Württemberg nachzuweisen. In Bundesländern mit einer relativen stationären Minderversorgung und/oder hohen stationären Krankenhausfallzahlen zeigte sich oftmals eine geringere Ausstattung an spezialisierten Epilepsiezentren, Spezialambulanzen und Epilepsieambulanzen.

Diskussion
In Deutschland bestehen bundeslandspezifische Unterschiede in der Versorgungsstruktur mit einer höheren stationären Krankenhausversorgung in den „neuen Bundesländern“ und im Saarland. Zusätzlich fanden sich Bundesländer mit einer überproportionalen Mehrbehandlung von nicht in diesem Bundesland gemeldeten PatientInnen. Ein möglicher Einflussfaktor kann hierbei die Verfügbarkeit von Zentren mit einer spezialisierten Behandlung von Epilepsiepatienten sein.
A systematic decision-making framework for tackling quantum software engineering challenges
Authors: Akbar Muhammad Azeem , Khan Arif Ali , Rafi Saima 
Published: July 2023

AbstractQuantum computing systems harness the power of quantum mechanics to execute computationally demanding tasks more effectively than their classical counterparts. This has led to the emergence of Quantum Software Engineering (QSE), which focuses on unlocking the full potential of quantum computing systems. As QSE gains prominence, it seeks to address the evolving challenges of quantum software development by offering comprehensive concepts, principles, and guidelines. This paper aims to identify, prioritize, and develop a systematic decision-making framework of the challenging factors associated with QSE process execution. We conducted a literature survey to identify the challenging factors associated with QSE process and mapped them into 7 core categories. Additionally, we used a questionnaire survey to collect insights from practitioners regarding these challenges. To examine the relationships between core categories of challenging factors, we applied Interpretive Structure Modeling (ISM). Lastly, we applied fuzzy TOPSIS to rank the identified challenging factors concerning to their criticality for QSE process. We have identified 22 challenging factors of QSE process and mapped them to 7 core categories. The ISM results indicate that the ‘resources’ category has the most decisive influence on the other six core categories of the identified challenging factors. Moreover, the fuzzy TOPSIS indicates that ‘complex programming’, ‘limited software libraries’, ‘maintenance complexity’, ‘lack of training and workshops’, and ‘data encoding issues’ are the highest priority challenging factor for QSE process execution. Organizations using QSE could consider the identified challenging factors and their prioritization to improve their QSE process.
Preparation of β-Cyclodextrin Conjugated, Gelatin Stabilized SBA 15-CuInS2/ZnS Quantum Dot Nanocomposites for Camptothecin Release
Authors: Rajendran Jose Varghese , Parani Sundararajan , Remya Vasudevan Pillay R. , Lebepe Thabang C. , Maluleke Rodney , Aladesuyi Olanrewaju A. , Thomas Sabu , Oluwafemi Oluwatobi Samuel 
Published: July 2023

AbstractCamptothecin (CPT) is a potential anticancer drug. However, it faces challenges due to its poor water solubility and the need for an efficient drug release system. Herein, we developed a novel system composed of gelatin stabilized, mesoporous silica SBA15 encapsulated CuInS2/ZnS (CIS/ZnS) quantum dots (QDs) conjugated with β-cyclodextrin (β-CDs) for its potential use in the release of CPT. In this multifunctional system, β-CDs served as the drug carrier, SBA15 encapsulated QDs is capable of imaging and the gelatin was used to enhance the carrier-drug interaction. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis confirmed the successful conjugation of β-CDs to the Gel-SBA15 CIS/ZnS QDs, while optical analyses revealed excellent emission properties and high photostability. The β-CD-conjugated Gel-SBA15-CIS/ZnS QD nanocomposite was used to obtain the soluble derivate of CPT which further demonstrated a drug release profile following the triphasic model. Overall, the improved photostability and acceptable drug release profile of the β-CD conjugated Gel-SBA15-CIS/ZnS QD nanocomposite hold great promise for both imaging and therapeutic applications.
Graphical Abstract
Avatars as Proxies
Authors: Sweeney Paula 
Published: July 2023

AbstractAvatars will represent us online, in virtual worlds, and in technologically supported hybrid environments. We and our avatars will stand not in an identity relation but in a proxy relation, an arrangement that is significant not least because our proxies’ actions can be counted as our own. However, this proxy relation between humans and avatars is not well understood and its consequences under-explored. In this paper I explore the relation and its potential ethical consequences.
Association of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy with survival in newly diagnosed glioblastoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ballo Matthew T. , Conlon Patrick , Lavy-Shahaf Gitit , Kinzel Adrian , Vymazal Josef , Rulseh Aaron M. 
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy, an electric field-based cancer treatment, became FDA-approved for patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM) in 2015 based on the randomized controlled EF-14 study. Subsequent approvals worldwide and increased adoption over time have raised the question of whether a consistent survival benefit has been observed in the real-world setting, and whether device usage has played a role.

Methods
We conducted a literature search to identify clinical studies evaluating overall survival (OS) in TTFields-treated patients. Comparative and single-cohort studies were analyzed. Survival curves were pooled using a distribution-free random-effects method.

Results
Among nine studies, seven (N = 1430 patients) compared the addition of TTFields therapy to standard of care (SOC) chemoradiotherapy versus SOC alone and were included in a pooled analysis for OS. Meta-analysis of comparative studies indicated a significant improvement in OS for patients receiving TTFields and SOC versus SOC alone (HR: 0.63; 95% CI 0.53–0.75; p < 0.001). Among real-world post-approval studies, the pooled median OS was 22.6 months (95% CI 17.6–41.2) for TTFields-treated patients, and 17.4 months (95% CI 14.4–21.6) for those not receiving TTFields. Rates of gross total resection were generally higher in the real-world setting, irrespective of TTFields use. Furthermore, for patients included in studies reporting data on device usage (N = 1015), an average usage rate of ≥ 75% was consistently associated with prolonged survival (p < 0.001).

Conclusions
Meta-analysis of comparative TTFields studies suggests survival may be improved with the addition of TTFields to SOC for patients with newly diagnosed GBM.
Capsaicin, The Vanilloid Receptor TRPV1 Agonist in Neuroprotection: Mechanisms Involved and Significance
Authors: Abdel-Salam Omar M.E. , Mózsik Gyula 
Published: July 2023

AbstractHot peppers, also called chilli, chilli pepper, or paprika of the plant genus Capsicum (family Solanaceae), are one of the most used vegetables and spices worldwide. Capsaicin (8-methyl N-vanillyl-6-noneamide) is the main pungent principle of hot green and red peppers. By acting on the capsaicin receptor or transient receptor potential cation channel vanilloid subfamily member 1 (TRPV1), capsaicin selectively stimulates and in high doses defunctionalizes capsaicin-sensitive chemonociceptors with C and Aδ afferent fibers. This channel, which is involved in a wide range of neuronal processes, is expressed in peripheral and central branches of capsaicin-sensitive nociceptive neurons, sensory ganglia, the spinal cord, and different brain regions in neuronal cell bodies, dendrites, astrocytes, and pericytes. Several experimental and clinical studies provided evidence that capsaicin protected against ischaemic or excitotoxic cerebral neuronal injury and may lower the risk of cerebral stroke. By preventing neuronal death, memory impairment and inhibiting the amyloidogenic process, capsaicin may also be beneficial in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s diseases. Capsaicin given in systemic inflammation/sepsis exerted beneficial antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects while defunctionalization of capsaicin-sensitive vagal afferents has been demonstrated to increase brain oxidative stress. Capsaicin may act in the periphery via the vagal sensory fibers expressing TRPV1 receptors to reduce immune oxidative and inflammatory signalling to the brain. Capsaicin given in small doses has also been reported to inhibit the experimentally-induced epileptic seizures. The aim of this review is to provide a concise account on the most recent findings related to this topic. We attempted to delineate such mechanisms by which capsaicin exerts its neuronal protective effects. We also aimed to provide the reader with the current knowledge on the mechanism of action of capsaicin on sensory receptors.
A multilevel analysis of educational transition rates at secondary level in sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Delprato Marcos , Farieta Alejandro 
Published: July 2023

AbstractEstimates show that, in 2019, only 41 per cent of students completed lower secondary and 28 per cent upper secondary education in the sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region (UNESCO, 2021). One of the reasons for the low completion rates is the poor transition across secondary education due to the significant impact of factors at individual, household, and community levels shaping demand and supply constraints. This article employs a three-level logit to investigate the key determinants for transitions and their variability across countries and communities, and explores whether less wealth inequality is at odds with increasing countries’ and communities’ performances. It finds that variation on transition rates is 40–50 per cent larger between communities within countries than between countries themselves, and that heterogeneity is larger for upper secondary transition. Leading sources of inequality are wealth, gender, and communities’ prevalence of early marriage. Further, the article finds that the equity–performance trade-off does not hold across countries, but it does at the community level where communities with stronger rates of transitions are more unequal. The analysis suggests policies to improve SSA youth chances to move up to the next level of secondary education, starting for narrowing heterogeneity across communities, boosting chances for the poorest groups and female youth living in communities with weak social norms, and measures to diminish the impact of community wealth on their transition performance.