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Truth about Rape Myths: Understanding the Effects of Sexual Violence and Date Rape Attitudes on Rape Myths Acceptance in Ghana
Get PDFPurpose: Rape myths acceptance is a global phenomenon with dire consequences on how sexual assault victims are perceived and treated. People who hold strong sexual violence beliefs tend to blame the victims for their victimizations while praising the offenders. It has widely been acknowledged that such attitudes hinder crime reporting while promoting violence in society. The main purpose of the current study was to examine the factors that influence rape myths acceptance among students in Ghana.
Method: Data for the study was collected from students attending one of the largest universities in the country between 2021 and 2022.
Results: Our results revealed that sexual violence experience, college date rape attitudes, age, degree program, and ethnicity influenced rape myths acceptance among students.
Conclusion: Based on the findings, we recommend that colleges should create a conducive environment for victims of sexual violence whereby educating students about the harmful effects of rape myths acceptance
Performance of the Classical Model in Feature Selection Across Varying Database Sizes of Healthcare Data
Get PDFMachine learning is increasingly being applied to medical research, particularly in selecting predictive modelling variables. By identifying relevant variables, researchers can improve model accuracy and reliability, leading to better clinical decisions and reduced overfitting. Efficient utilization of resources and the validity of medical research findings depend on selecting the right variables. However, few studies compare the performance of classical and modern methods for selecting characteristics in health datasets, highlighting the need for a critical evaluation to choose the most suitable approach. We analysed the performance of six different variable selection methods, which includes stepwise, forward and backward selection using p-value and AIC, LASSO, and Elastic Net. Health-related surveillance data on behaviors, health status, and medical service usage were used across ten databases, with sizes ranging from 10% to 100%, maintaining consistent outcome proportions. Varying database sizes were utilized to assess their impact on prediction models, as they can significantly influence accuracy, overfitting, generalizability, statistical power, parameter estimation reliability, computational complexity, and variable selection. The stepwise and backward AIC model showed the highest accuracy with an Area under the ROC Curve (AUC) of 0.889. Despite its sparsity, the Lasso and Elastic Net model also performed well. The study also found that binary variables were considered more crucial by the Lasso and Elastic Net model. Importantly, the significance of variables remained consistent across different database sizes. The study shows that no major variations in results between the fitness metric of the model and the number of variables in stepwise and backward p-value models, irrespective of the database's size. LASSO and Elastic Net models surpassed other models throughout various database sizes, and with fewer variables
Determination of Kinetic Parameters and Thermal Characteristics of Epoxy Casuarina Bio Composites
Get PDFBy reinforcing casuarina equisetifolia leaf, a flexible bio fibre, in different volume proportions of 4%, 8%, 12%, 16%, and 20% into the epoxy resin, a bio-based composite was produced utilizing the hand layup method. FT IR spectrum was used to verify the production of epoxy casuarina composite. The produced composites have undergone an extensive thermal investigation using Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Derivative Thermogravimetric (DTG) study and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) analysis. It has been observed that increasing the percentage of casuarina fibre content enhances the thermal stability of epoxy resin. Horowitz- Metzger (HM), Broido and Coats-Redfern (CR) models were worked and the result revealed that the decomposition of casuarina epoxy composite followed one Dimensional Diffusion Model with coefficient of correlation value close to 1. The thermodynamic parameters including Activation energy (Ea), frequency factor (A), Gibbs free energy (ΔG), entropy (ΔS) and enthalpy (ΔH) of epoxy casuarina composites were found to increase with increase in fibre contents. This makes the composite more suitable for making high performance engineering material for various applications
Polymer Shaped Punches Produces with Fused Filament Fabrication to Improve Cup Accuracy in Sheet Metal Forming
Get PDFRapid tooling has become an effective solution for reducing time and costs in tool production. In sheet metal forming, polymer tools produced via additive manufacturing offer performance comparable to traditional tools. However, a key challenge in this area is compensating for the radial expansion of polymer tools during the forming process, which leads to reduced accuracy in the produced parts and limits the achievable forming depth. To address this issue, the authors of this study proposed a novel punch design aimed at containing radial expansion, thereby enabling greater drawing depth and improved part accuracy. Different punch geometries were designed with a re-entrant angle varying between 150° and 180°. Numerical simulations were conducted to evaluate the optimal geometry, identifying the 160° angle as the best option to compensate for radial expansion and reduce punch load. Experimental tests were then performed to verify the numerical results, demonstrating the potential of this new design producing cups with higher drawing depth and best radial accuracy
Suprema Lex Esto Principle and its Implementation
Get PDFThe Suprema Lex Esto principle is debated when applied as a rationale in the implementation of Government Regulation instead of Law Number 1 of 2020 concerning State Financial Policy and Financial System Stability for Handling the COVID-19 Pandemic, the discretion of handling COVID-19 and its impact using the basis of this principle raises a prohibition to make cases or crimes if problems arise. All state expenditures in the field of handling Covid 19 which function to protect the public cannot be said to be state losses. From this background, the problem arises How is the Implementation of the Suprema Lex Esto Principle during the COVID-19 emergency in Indonesia? This research has an object of law research, so this research is juridical research. Because the focus of the study is on the Application of the Suprema Lex Esto Principle during the Covid 19 Emergency, this includes juridical methods in a broad sense, so the approach method used is the empirical method
Molecular Characterisation of an Arcanobacterium sp. Isolate from a Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)
Get PDFThe objective of the current investigation was to provide a comprehensive characterisation of an Arcanobacterium isolate derived from Bubalus bubalis. The confirmation of the species identity of Arcanobacterium sp. 15/M226/2/9 in this study was achieved by examining phenotypic characteristics and phylogenetic analysis. These analyses involved determining hemolysis on Columbia sheep blood agar and biochemical parameters using the Api-Coryne test kit, MALDI-TOF MS, and partial sequencing of the universal gene encompassing the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene, the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region (ISR), and the two housekeeping genes rpoB and gap. Species classification based on sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and the ISR revealed a sequence identity of 98.7% each between Arcanobacterium sp. 15/M226/2/9 and A. bovis reference strain C605018/01/1T. In addition, for the other target genes, rpoB and gap, the concordance was 96.6% and 98.8%, respectively. The present study showed that 15/M226/2/9 isolated from B. bubalis could be a novel species
Height and Weight Characteristics of 4-7-Year-Old Kyrgyz Children: Сonstitutional, Age, and Gender Differences
No full textBackground: Regular monitoring of anthropometric data of children aged 4-7 years is necessary to identify deviations from the norm, develop medical programs and recommendations that meet current needs, and update physical development standards to reflect demographic and socio-cultural changes in Kyrgyzstan.
Aims: The study's purpose was to investigate the height and weight of children aged 4-7, considering the dynamics of age, body type, and gender.
Methods: The physical status of 800 children aged 4-7 years was analyzed using anatomical-anthropometric and bioimpedance methods. The children who participated in the study were ethnic Kyrgyz who lived in the city of Osh and the Osh region.
Result: The study revealed that children aged 4-7 years in Kyrgyzstan exhibit a diverse distribution of body types, including asthenic (15-30%), thoracic (12-23%), muscular (15-20%), digestive (15-32%), and undetermined (16-36%), with no significant predominance of any somatotype between genders. The analysis highlighted that the most common body type in the 4-5 age group was undetermined, while the digestive type prevailed at age 7. Additionally, average body weight and length demonstrated consistent growth across both genders, with boys exhibiting higher values than girls at each age. Over the developmental period, body length increased by 1.01-1.08 times in boys and 1.01-1.05 times in girls, while body weight increased by 1.12-1.21 times in boys and 1.09-1.21 times in girls, indicating a steady growth pattern regardless of somatotype. These findings underscore the importance of monitoring growth parameters in early childhood to support healthy physical development.
Conclusions: The study highlights that children aged 4-7 years in Kyrgyzstan display diverse body types and consistent growth patterns in height and weight, emphasizing the need for ongoing monitoring to ensure healthy physical development
Bacterial Infection Among Covid-19-Infected Patients Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at King Abdullah Hospital in Bisha: A Single-Centre Retrospective Observational Study
Get PDFBackground: The covid-19 pandemic has created significant challenges for healthcare systems worldwide, especially in intensive care units (ICU), which face unprecedented hardship. Despite the primary focus on viral infection, the precise influence of bacterial superinfections on the outcome of severe covid-19 cases, particularly in different hospital settings, remains uncertain.
Objective: to investigate the prevalence, characteristics, and outcomes of bacterial superinfections in covid-19 patients hospitalized in the ICU in Saudi Arabia during the second wave of the pandemic.
Methods: This study was conducted at King Abdullah Hospital in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, and involved retrospective observational analysis. This study examined 121 adult patients admitted to the ICU due to severe covid-19 between April and July 2021. Information regarding demographics, clinical characteristics, radiological findings, and microbiological data was also collected. This study examined the relationship between superinfections and mortality through rigorous statistical analyses, including chi-square testing and multivariable logistic regression.
Results: Most participants in the study were men (57.9%) and Saudi citizens (95.0%), with an average age of 63 ± 17 years. The incidence of superinfections among the patients was 43.8%, significantly higher than that reported in previous studies. Microbiological examinations revealed the presence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) organisms, particularly in respiratory samples. The most common isolates were KLEPNE-XDR (10.7%) and ACIBAU-XDR (8.3%). A statistically significant correlation was observed between superinfection and mortality (p=0.042). Patients with superinfections experienced a significantly higher mortality rate of 55.3% in comparison to those without superinfections, who had a mortality rate of 44.7%. Multivariable logistic regression identified age (aOR 1.040, 95% CI: 1.012-1.068, p=0.004) and non-Saudi nationality (aOR 12.320, 95% CI: 1.242-122.177, p=0.032) as significant predictors of mortality. Interestingly, a high percentage of the patients (89.3 %) were treated with carbapenems.
Conclusion: Our research revealed a notable prevalence of bacterial superinfections, including highly resistant strains, among severely ill covid-19 patients in the ICU. The significant link between superinfections and mortality underscores the pressing need for enhanced diagnostic tools, targeted antimicrobial therapies, and improved stewardship protocols in the ICU setting. The findings of this study have important implications for clinical care and public health policy in the ongoing battle against covid-19 and its consequences
Leptin Signaling: Decoding of Genetic Pathways using Bioinformatics; Shaping Bariatric Surgery Outcomes
Get PDFBackground: Leptin, a hormone central to energy homeostasis and appetite regulation, plays a pivotal role in obesity and metabolic health. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the leptin (LEP) and leptin receptor (LEPR) genes influence leptin signaling and may explain variability in outcomes following bariatric surgery. This bioinformatics-driven study examines the role of LEP and LEPR SNPs in modulating weight loss, metabolic changes, and hormonal responses post-surgery.
Methods: A total of 55 leptin SNPs and 216 leptin receptor SNPs were assessed for functional impact using SIFT, PolyPhen-2, and Mutation Assessor. Pathway enrichment analyses using DAVID and g:Profiler identified biological processes and signaling pathways linked to leptin function. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed via STRING and visualized in Cytoscape to explore molecular interactions. Statistical models evaluated associations between SNPs and surgical outcomes, including weight loss and metabolic improvements. Key pathways with false discovery rates (FDR) < 0.01 were highlighted to emphasize significance.
Results: Bioinformatics analyses revealed LEP and LEPR as critical variants associated with bariatric surgery outcomes. Specifically, LEP rs7799039 G allele carriers exhibited diminished weight loss (p < 0.05) and metabolic improvements. Functional prediction tools consistently indicated deleterious effects on leptin signaling. Pathway enrichment analyses identified leptin's involvement in critical pathways, including the adipocytokine signaling pathway (hsa04920, 2 of 68 genes, strength = 2.46, FDR = 0.0042)," "AMPK signaling pathway (hsa04152, 2 of 120 genes, strength = 2.22, FDR = 0.0064)," and "non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) pathway (hsa04932, 2 of 146 genes, strength = 2.13, FDR = 0.0064). PPI networks underscored leptin’s interactions with key metabolic and inflammatory regulators, such as TNF-α and IL-6, suggesting a broader impact on energy metabolism and inflammation.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates the utility of bioinformatics in elucidating the genetic basis of variable bariatric surgery outcomes. LEP and LEPR SNPs modulate critical pathways influencing weight loss and metabolic responses. Integrating genetic insights with bariatric care could advance precision medicine approaches for obesity management. Future studies with larger cohorts are warranted to confirm these findings and strengthen predictive models
Rheological, Structural and Melt Spinnability Study on Thermo-plastic Starch/PLA Blend Biopolymers and Tensile, Thermal and Structural Characteristics of Melt Spun Fibers
Get PDFIn this study, rheology, structure and melt spinnability of thermoplastic starch TPS/PLA blend compounds as well as characteristics of melt spun fibers was studied. Thermoplastic starch is further modified with tartaric acid and blends are compatibilized using graft copolymer, maleic anhydride grafted PLA. Results from rheology analysis of compounds shows significantly reduced melt flow rate MFR and reduced viscosity as a result of tartaric acid modification and compatibilization, but the viscosity was increased as TPS_TA content in the blend increased. In addition, storage modulus (G`) and loss modulus (G``) were increased with increasing TPS_TA content in the blends. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy FTIR analysis confirmed O-H peak shifts and peak intensity changes associated to starch thermosplasticization and further peak shifts associated with more O-H bond breakages due to tartaric acid modification, indicating acid hydrolysis action of tartaric acid which agrees with results from rheology study. Melt spinning trials show the possibility of melt spinning of biopolymer fibers from blends with up to 40%w/w TPS_TA content. The melt spun fibers have diameter in range of 12.0–124.0 μm depending on take up speed and TPS_TA content. Differential scanning calorimetry DSC analysis of melt spun fibers shows glass transition Tg shifts attributed to molecular orientation and rigid amorphous TPS phase formation as well as the occurrence of double melting peaks Tm associated to different crystals resulting from induced crystallization. The overall result from this study shows the possibility of melt spinning thermoplastic starch/PLA blend biopolymers in to fibers, revealing opportunity to utilize starch biopolymer for fiber spinning. Furthermore, the results also show the need for further research engagements to get fibers with better performance