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Phishing URL Detection and Interpretability With Machine Learning: A Cross‐Dataset Approach
Get PDFPhishing attacks pose a significant security threat, particularly through deceptive emails designed to trick users into clicking on malicious links, with phishing URLs often serving as the primary indicator of such attacks. This paper presents a machine learning approach for detecting phishing email attacks by analyzing the URLs embedded within these emails, using Random Forest, eXtreme Gradient Boosting, and Light Gradient Boosting Machine models. Secondary datasets are used to evaluate model behavior and examine the applicability of model features across different samples. The models are assessed using metrics such as accuracy, precision, and recall to demonstrate their effectiveness in distinguishing between benign and malicious email URLs. The SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) framework is employed to interpret the models' decision‐making processes and reinforce the relevance and reliability of key features. Our results show that across four test sets, the three models achieve an average classification error ≈ 4.03% and an average accuracy > > 94%, indicating strong generalization capability across diverse datasets using the same set of features
The Break Line:Chaotic Murder in the 21st Century
Get PDFRafe McGregor & Ema Luna Lalić Abstract: The 21st century is rapidly emerging as an era of entropy, of multi-polar power struggles, of concurrent crises the causes of which are little understood, and of catastrophic vulnerability to phenomena such as climate change and artificial intelligence. This is the world into which war correspondent James Brabazon throws Major Max McLean, a UK Special Forces operator, in his 2018 novel, The Break Line. McLean is a hardened veteran of what criminologist Vincenzo Ruggiero (2019) calls the chaotic murder of war, but his mission takes an unexpected turn when Brabazon switches genre from action adventure to supernatural thriller at the narrative’s crisis. This article situates the novel in the philosophical approach to answering the question of moral impact of literature, as proposed by Richard Rorty (1978, 1989) and Iris Murdoch (1999, 2014). Rorty argues that literature expresses the perspective of the victims of cruelty, which is why it has a great importance for helping to eliminate cruelty and improve solidarity in society. Murdoch emphasises the value of individual moral development facilitated by literature’s potential to support ‘unselfing’, i.e. detachment from one’s own personal feelings or interests. In keeping with Rorty and Murdoch, we argue that The Break Line is an exemplary exercise in psychological and political sensemaking, staging the epistemic and ethical challenges of contemporary authoritarian lawlessness in terms of Jacques Lacan’s (1949, 1955, 1973) register theory, specifically the collapse of the Symbolic in the face of pressure from the Real and a retreat to the Imaginary.<br/
‘I’d love to come back, but it would have to be different’. Exploring former child protection social workers’ rationale for leaving the English child protection system, and the changes required to consider a return.
Get PDFEngland’s children’s social work workforce is in a state of crisis, characterised by record vacancy and agency rates. However, research exploring the factors underpinning this has focussed on current practitioners’ ‘intention to leave’ practice, and there has been a dearth of enquiry that has considered former practitioners’ reasons for leaving social work roles. This remains a critical omission when we consider that former workers provide unique root cause insight in a way that perhaps current workers are not able to. This study considers the experiences of 72 of England’s former child protection social workers through the lens of Job Embeddedness theory. Adopting an iterative mixed method design, the study considered participants’ reasons for leaving child protection work, and the circumstances that might convince them to return. Participants highlighted issues with salary, caseloads, bureaucracy, unpaid overtime and agile working arrangements as factors that had informed their decision to leave child protection. Implications include the need to reform local authority pay scales, prioritise time with children, offer paid overtime, and provide fixed office spaces to enhance the social, psychological and financial bond between workers and the child protection role – with associated positive implications for recruitment and retention within England’s child protection workforce
Scoping review of patients’ experiences and use of remote consultation for multiple long-term conditions in UK primary care
Get PDFBackground: Digital exclusion and Multiple Long-Term Conditions have many risk factors in common. The impact of remote consultation, in primary care on the experience of patients living with Multiple Long-Term Conditions is poorly understood. Aim: To collate and review patients’ experiences and use of remote consultation in UK General Practice for Multiple Long-Term Conditions in relation to: a) Accessibility, b) Continuity of care, and c) Impact on patient journey. Methods: Scoping review was conducted with JBI methodology, using PRISMA-ScR statement. Data analysis was conducted using narrative synthesis. Results: A total of 8,902 abstracts were screened and 365 full texts were reviewed. This resulted in 16 included articles. The themes choice, privacy and communication quality were identified during analysis. Discussion: Majority of studies examined access, demonstrating higher need for access for people with Multiple Long-Term Conditions. Most patients would choose to see their General Practitioner (GP) face-to-face. Avoiding contagion (COVID-19), or upholding continuity were the only contexts where remote GP consultation for Multiple Long-Term Conditions was found to be acceptable to patients. Conclusion: Further research is warranted, particularly into how context and type of remote GP consultation affect the quality of communication and subsequently patient journey and outcomes
An EEG evoked response protocol to assess brain function alterations post-concussion in professional and amateur rugby clubs
Get PDFConcussion is a prevalent and high-profile injury in contact and collision sports like Rugby. Establishing objective markers of concussion is a critical priority to support safe return-to-play (RTP) decisions. Head injuries alter the spectral characteristics of electroencephalography (EEG) signals, highlighting the need for scalable EEG assessment protocols that can be implemented by Rugby clubs during post-injury evaluations. To integrate an easy to use, scalable EEG post-concussion assessment to test for P300 amplitude change associated with concussion that was accessible to both amateur and professional Rugby clubs. The study utilised an easy to administer EEG protocol using a WAVi headset. P300 amplitude (assessed using an auditory oddball task) were quantified in 156 amateur and professional Rugby players at pre-season (baseline) and end of season (EoS; n = 112) points in three different Rugby clubs in South England. Post-concussion EEG measures were collected as events occurred (n = 23) across the season, within 24 h post-concussion, and at 10-14 days follow-up. The study showed significant changes to P300 amplitude in concussed players with P300 voltage decreasing significantly from baseline to post-concussion (p = 0.008). Changes in P300 μV-Peak from pre-season to End of Season (EoS) differed significantly between concussed and non-concussed players (p = 003). Professional players presented with significantly greater pre-season P300 amplitude in comparison to amateur Rugby players (p = 0.01). The data suggest significant P300 amplitude changes after concussion that are quantifiable and consistent, and which can be captured as part of routine assessment in both professional and amateur Rugby clubs. Findings are discussed in relation to the small sample sizes limiting generalisability of the findings, and protocol implementation within club practice. [Abstract copyright: Crown Copyright © 2026. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Tubeless automated insulin delivery versus multiple daily injections in children and adults with type 1 diabetes with elevated HbA 1c (RADIANT):a multicentre, international, parallel-group, open-label, randomised, controlled trial.
Get PDFBACKGROUND: Automated insulin delivery (AID) systems have been shown to improve glycaemic outcomes in people with type 1 diabetes managed with insulin pump therapy. No randomised studies have evaluated the benefits of tubeless AID in both adults and children with suboptimal glycaemia compared with multiple daily injections. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a tubeless AID system compared with multiple daily injections in this population.METHODS: RADIANT was a multicentre, international, parallel-group, open-label, randomised, controlled trial done in 19 hospitals in the UK, Belgium, and France. Participants aged 4-70 years with type 1 diabetes managed with multiple daily injections and continuous glucose monitoring and who had HbA 1c levels of 7·5-11% (58-97 mmol/mol) were randomly assigned (2:1) to tubeless AID or control (multiple daily injections) using a permuted-block design. Participant and study teams were not masked to group allocation. The primary outcome was the adjusted between-group difference in HbA 1c at 13 weeks assessed for superiority. Primary and safety outcomes were assessed in the modified intention-to-treat population (all randomly assigned participants). The study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05923827, and has been completed. FINDINGS: Between Sept 11, 2023, and April 26, 2024, 188 participants were randomly assigned to the AID group (n=125) or the control group (n=63). The AID group had a greater reduction in HbA 1c, from 8·1% (SD 0·7; 65 mmol/mol [SD 7·7]) at baseline to 7·2% (0·6; 55 mmol/mol [6·6]) at 13 weeks, compared with the control group, from 8·1% (0·6; 65mmol/mol [6·6]) at baseline to 8·0% (0·7; 64 mmol/mol [7·7]) at 13 weeks, with an adjusted mean difference of -0·8% (95% CI -1·0 to -0·6; -8·7 mmol/mol [95% CI -10·9 to -6·6]; p<0·0001). During the 13-week trial, no episodes of severe hypoglycaemia or diabetic ketoacidosis occurred in either treatment group. 39 adverse events were reported among 28 participants in the AID group, and three adverse events among three participants in the control group. Two serious adverse events (Kawasaki disease and acute coronary syndrome) occurred in the AID group unrelated to the study device or procedure. INTERPRETATION: Results from this trial show the clinical efficacy of direct transition from multiple daily injections to tubeless AID in adults and children with type 1 diabetes, with no safety concerns, supporting AID as a therapeutic option within standard of care for people with type 1 diabetes.FUNDING: Insulet Corporation.</p
Reimagining national identity in neoliberal education: Truyện Kiều, femininity and discourse in Vietnamese textbooks
No full textThis article examines the construction of national identity within Vietnam's neoliberal education framework, specifically how femininity is portrayed in Vietnamese textbooks via the classic poem ‘Truyện Kiều’. Drawing on Feminist Critical Discourse Analysis (FCDA) and an intersectional perspective, it scrutinises the discursive representation of womanhood in the original text Truyện Kiều versus its depiction in the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET)’s national textbooks. The article situates its analysis within the historical context of Vietnamese nationalism, tracing gender and sexuality relations from pre-colonial bilateral kinship systems through Confucian patriarchal norms to twentieth-century feminist and anti-imperialist movements. It also explores the influence of neoliberal reforms, notably the 1986 Đổi Mới policy, on national identity construction and femininity portrayal in educational materials. Through this critical examination, the article unveils how neoliberal ideologies and nationalist narratives intersect, reconfiguring perceptions of gender and national identity in Vietnamese education
Upregulation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling and farnesoid X receptor and attenuation of oxidative stress and inflammation mediate the protective effect of sitagliptin against diabetic nephropathy in rats
No full textDiabetic nephropathy (DN) is a kidney complication associated with diabetes that can lead to renal failure. The dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor sitagliptin (SITA) has shown potential therapeutic benefits for DN. This study investigated the effect of SITA on DN, focusing on its modulation of the farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) signaling and its suppressive efficacy on inflammation and oxidative stress. Thirty-two male rats were divided into four groups: control, SITA-treated, diabetic, and SITA-treated diabetic rats. SITA was administered orally for 8 weeks to diabetic rats induced with streptozotocin, after which samples were collected for analysis. The results indicate that SITA effectively reduced hyperglycemia, weight loss, and kidney injury and fibrosis. SITA also decreased oxidative stress, inflammatory markers, and apoptosis, as demonstrated by reductions in kidney malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase, nitric oxide (NO), nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB), interleukin (IL)-1β, inducible NO synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), and caspase-3. These protective effects were associated with Kelch-like ECH-associated protein (Keap)-1 inhibition, increased levels of Nrf2 and FXR, and enhanced antioxidant activity as well as Bcl-2 upregulation. In silico analysis showed the binding of SITA with FXR, NF-κB p65, iNOS, Keap-1, caspase-3, and HO-1. In conclusion, SITA mitigates DN by reducing hyperglycemia, inflammation, and oxidative stress, while enhancing antioxidant defenses, FXR and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2025 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Pd-Catalyzed C─C Bond Borylation of Biphenylenes Leading to Tri-Ortho-Substituted Biaryls
Get PDFRing-opening diborylation of carbon─carbon (C─C) single bonds is a powerful strategy for installing two versatile functional groups at nonadjacent carbon atoms, enabling skeletal editing of strained ring systems. However, such transformations remain rare for rings larger than cyclopropanes due to kinetic and thermodynamic challenges. Herein, we describe a palladium-catalyzed diborylation of 1-substituted biphenylenes enabled by a highly electron-rich and sterically demanding N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand. The reaction proceeds via selective cleavage of the least sterically hindered C─C bond and affords ortho-diborylated biphenyls in 39%–89% isolated yields across a broad range of 1-substituted biphenylenes with diverse steric and electronic properties. High regioselectivities (up to >20:1) are observed for cleavage of the least sterically hindered C─C bond. Regioselectivity is modulated by both electronic and steric effects: electron-donating aryl substituents enhance selectivity, as indicated by a Hammett correlation, whereas spherical substituents favour higher selectivity than planar aryl groups. Supporting stoichiometric experiments indicate a pathway involving initial C─C bond activation. The resulting sterically hindered tri-ortho-substituted biaryls may serve as valuable synthetic intermediates, as demonstrated by selective sequential orthogonal postfunctionalization of a representative example
Voices from Laos: navigating the transition from a twice daily to multiple daily insulin regimen in a resource-limited setting
Get PDFBackground Before 2016, no Laotian child was known to have survived type 1 diabetes (T1D) into adulthood. There is an ongoing need for action. Our study explored, in supported youth, the impact of transitioning from a twice to multiple daily injection (MDI) regimen on glycaemic control, and their views/perceptions around how the switch affected their T1D management/quality of life. Methods Data were obtained from medical records/semi-structured interviews; participants recruited as they switched to an MDI regimen. Quantitative data were stratified into glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) 6/12 months before/after the switch, and male/female sex; associations examined using t-tests. Qualitative data were analysed using Gibb’s framework. Results Overall, 24 youth (62.5% female) changed regimens. Mean±SD HbA1c 6/12-month periods before the switch were 8.8±2.3% (73.0 mmol/mol)/8.3±2.2% (67.0 mmol/mol), respectively. In the same periods after the switch, HbA1c improved to 7.6±2.7% (60.0 mmol/mol)/7.7±2.1% (61.0 mmol/mol), respectively. No differences were observed between sexes. Interviews were conducted with 15 youth (73.3% female); mean ages at T1D diagnosis/the switch time were 10.6 and 14.3 years, respectively. Describing how transitioning to an MDI regimen affected T1D management/quality of life, three themes emerged: pragmatism; empowerment and agency; and foundations of success. Conclusions The study provides valuable insights that will guide future work in supporting youth with T1D