Forensic Analysis of Salivary Nicotine by Calix[4]Arene Customized Gold Nanoparticles in Water and Soil

Nicotine, a potent stimulant found in tobacco products, has significant effects on oral health and overall well-being. Saliva samples showing the presence of nicotine can be very helpful as evidence in a variety of situations. Salivary nicotine levels can reveal smoking habits. It offers proof of whether a person has recently used tobacco goods. Saliva testing can be used, for instance, to support or contradict smoking behaviours in court cases involving custody disputes, child endangerment, or employment regulations. Saliva nicotine testing can be used in criminal investigations to determine a suspect's smoking history. If saliva includes nicotine traces, it can be used to identify the person to a place or occasion, particularly at the crime scene which may reveal discarded cigarette butts or other tobacco-related evidence. Also, exposure to nicotine impacts general health. Saliva tests can reveal whether or not a person uses tobacco, which is important information for determining health risks. For example, nicotine testing can be used by medical practitioners to assess a patient's willingness to stop smoking or to track their progress while participating in smoking cessation programmes. Moreover, some insurance providers take nicotine usage into account when setting insurance premiums or providing coverage. Saliva test results can impact judgments about disability claims, health insurance, and life insurance. However, it's crucial to properly interpret the findings of nicotine tests. Due to the variety of benefits associated with the identification of salivary nicotine, this article aims to develop an affordable technique that can facilitate the in-situ, real-time detection of nicotine in saliva samples

An Examination of a Jordainan Public Figure’s Alleged Defamatory Statement

This paper aims at analyzing an accusation of defamation of the Jordanians in a talk show by a public figure. The person accused of defaming the Jordanians is the former head of the Jordanian royal court, Yousef Aldalabeh. The alleged defamatory statement examined in the current study is a description of the relationship between the king of Jordan and his people as a shepherd/sheep relationship. This statement was claimed to be of offensive nature by many Jordanians. To support or refute this accusation, 318 comments on Facebook regarding the use of the phrase ‘shepherd and sheep’ by Aldalabeh were examined. The comments were divided into two general categories. In the first category of comments, this phrase was viewed as being defamatory, whereas the second encompasses comments in which the phrase was found to carry no defamatory meaning. The analysis revealed that 70.8% of the sample of people how commented on this statement found it to carry a defamatory meaning, whereas 29.2% commented that there is no defamatory element in it. Stating that Aldalabeh was not successful in expressing what he has in mind but meant no offense was the most frequent way for indicating that the statement is not defamatory. On the other hand, insulting Aldalabeh, using sarcasm and arguing that he misinterpreted the metaphorical sense of the disputed statement were associated with the highest frequencies for referring to it as being defamatory.&nbsp

Assessing the Association between Neurocognitive Performance and Quality of Life in Individuals with Chronic Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Chronic pain, a pervasive global health challenge, significantly impacts individuals' daily functioning and quality of life. This cross-sectional study explores the complex interplay between neurocognitive performance and quality of life in individuals experiencing chronic pain, recognizing the multifaceted nature of this phenomenon. Objectives Investigate the association between neurocognitive performance and chronic pain severity. Examine the relationship between neurocognitive deficits and different domains of quality of life in chronic pain. Methods: A diverse sample of 113 participants from Islamabad and Rawalpindi underwent correlational analysis. Neurocognitive performance was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), chronic pain severity was determined by pain history, and quality of life was measured using a validated scale. Demographic information was collected through an online survey. Results: The sample exhibited diversity in age, gender, and education. Pain history varied, with a majority reporting pain duration of 1-2 years. Neurocognitive performance, measured by MoCA, showed a mean score of 6.6 (±2.1), while the Quality of Life Scale yielded a mean score of 82 (±15). Correlation analysis revealed a weak negative association between neurocognitive performance and quality of life, though statistically non-significant (p = .279). Similarly, the correlation between pain history duration and neurocognitive performance was minimal and non-significant (p = .757). Conclusion: Contrary to expectations, the study did not find a significant correlation between neurocognitive performance and quality of life in individuals with chronic pain. The nuanced relationships observed highlight the complexity of chronic pain experiences, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive understanding that goes beyond the traditional pain-cognition paradigm. Tailored interventions should consider individual differences and address diverse cognitive and psychosocial factors, aiming to improve the overall well-being of those navigating the challenges of chronic pain

The Acceptance of The Orang Asli Community's Movement Preachers Towards the Construct of Self-Preparation in Dakwah

The community mobilizers for the Orang Asli community are preachers who carry out the missionary work of the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) in Orang Asli villages. However, do they have sufficient preparation in carrying out the missionary task towards the Indigenous People in the hinterland? This article attempts to analyse the acceptance of Indigenous Community Mobilizers towards items within the construct of self-preparation in preaching. This study is a quantitative research using a survey research design. A total of 140 respondents were selected as the study sample involving all Indigenous Community Mobilizers in Malaysia who have served for more than 5 years. A total of 10 items within the construct of self-preparation were asked to the Indigenous Community Mobilizers. The research data were analysed using SPSS software based on frequency, percentage, and mean. The study results indicate that all 10 items within the construct of self-preparation received approval from the Indigenous Community Mobilizers with a minimum average score of 4.51, indicating a very good level. The implication of the study is that preachers require sufficient self-preparation to carry out preaching duties in the field

Mapping the Regulatory Framework for Telemedicine in Zambia: A Content Analysis

This paper explores the regulatory framework for telemedicine in Zambia. Telemedicine, involving remote clinical services using technology, is a rapidly evolving field intersecting with legal, ethical, and professional domains. The primary aim is to understand Zambia's telemedicine regulatory framework through an analysis of key documents namely the Zambia E-Government Interoperability Standard (eGIF), Zambia Digital Health Strategy 2022-2026, HPCZ Guidelines for the Quality Assurance of Telemedicine Services, and Statutory Instrument 43 of 2023 (SI 43 of 2023). The study addresses the challenge of comprehensively understanding and effectively implementing telemedicine in Zambia, considering the evolving nature of technology and healthcare services. Mapping the regulatory framework is a critical exercise for ensuring legal compliance, maintaining high standards of service, protecting patients, and making informed strategic decisions in the telemedicine sector. The study conducts a detailed exploration and content analysis of the aforementioned documents. This includes examination of their contributions to establishing a strong telemedicine landscape in Zambia, focusing on aspects like interoperability, data security, and healthcare service delivery. Findings reveal each document's significant, yet varied, contributions to the telemedicine framework in Zambia. The eGIF ensures integrated, standardized, and secure digital telemedicine services. The Zambia Digital Health Strategy 2022-2026 promotes telemedicine via digital technology and global alignment, while the HPCZ Guidelines provide a detailed framework focusing on ethical and legal standards. SI. 43 of 2023 emphasizes data security, quality assurance, and collaboration in telemedicine. Comparatively, Zambia's framework, as shaped by the four documents, aligns with global standards but differs in its centralized regulation and strategic focus, lacking extensive coverage on medical device regulations and reimbursement issues seen in other countries. The study suggests the need for a unified approach to telemedicine, emphasizing standardization, legal compliance, accessibility, and inclusivity. Recommendations include improving interoperability, ensuring data security, and fostering user-centric telemedicine services for enhanced healthcare outcomes

A Study on Enhancing the Properties of Geopolymer Concrete Using Hybrid Fibers

Alkali is present in significant quantities in geopolymer concretes. Due of this, their ductility and flexural strength are also low. The flexural strength of concrete is enhanced by the addition of fibers. Flexural strength has been a challenge for geopolymer concretes, thus researchers have tried using fibers to strengthen them. On the other hand, geopolymer concretes have never before utilized hybrid fibers. This study is an effort to incorporate hybrid fibers in geopolymer concrete to prevent its brittle fracture. Experiments are conducted to learn more about the geopolymer concrete's different mechanical characteristics, and then the settings are fine-tuned. Mechanical qualities of geopolymer concrete are improved by determining the optimal molarity of sodium hydroxide, the optimal ratio of sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide, and the optimal proportion of addition of fibers

Python Solutions to Address Natural Language Challenges

Arabic is one of six official languages, according to UNESCO. It's spoken by more than 422 million Arabs, and 1.5 billion Muslims around the world use it when they pray five times a day. Arabs spoke classical Arabic more than 1400 years ago. On the other hand, dialectal Arabic is the everyday language that is used informally and varies from region to region. Modern Standard Arabic borrows from and adds to other languages to fit the needs of its speakers. Arabic is harder to learn because there are three different ways to speak it: the classical way, the modern way, and the casual way. Arabic is hard to work with on computers for more than one reason. Because Arabic has a lot of inflection and derivation, one lemma can turn into many different words with different meanings

Green Synthesis of Guilandina bonduc Seed Extract Mediated Silver Nanoparticles and Its Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Green synthesis is a promising approach for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) that is environmentally friendly and sustainable. In this study, we report a green method for the synthesis of AgNPs using Guilandina bonduc seed extract. The seed extract was used as a reducing and capping agent for the synthesis of AgNPs. The prepared nanoparticles were evaluated for its anti-inflammatory activity using Bovine serum albumin denaturation assay and Egg albumin denaturation assay. The AgNPs also showed significant anti-inflammatory activity in vitro. The results show that the green synthesised silver nanoparticles have excellent anti-inflammatory activity. The results of this study suggest that the green synthesised AgNPs have potential application in the treatment of inflammation. These findings also highlight the potential of Guilandina bonduc seed extract as a source of natural compounds for the green synthesis of AgNPs with biological activity

Investigation of the Comorbidity of Bronchial Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis in Children

Today there is an increasing tendency for all allergic diseases, including a high prevalence of bronchial asthma (BA), as well as an increasing number of patients with co-morbidities. Allergic rhinitis leads in frequency of occurrence with bronchial asthma. In the last decade, the term comorbidity has often been used to define the interrelation as well as the mutual influence of 2 or more syndromes, diseases in one patient. The aim of the research was to study the comorbidity of bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis in children in the Department of Pulmonology. The retrospective study included an analysis of 51 case histories of children diagnosed with atopic bronchial asthma. Of the 51 patients, 28 children (54.9±7%) were diagnosed with allergic rhinitis after examination by an ENT specialist

Self-Regulated Learning of University Students: A Bibliometric Review in Scopus

A student's ability to structure, monitor and evaluate his or her own learning is known as self-regulated learning and is characterized as a process of self-reflection and action. The present study aimed to conduct a worldwide literature review in Scopus on self-regulated learning of university students during the period 2003-2023. It was a bibliometric analysis that defined the metrics of scientific production. The indicators were obtained from 615 documents chosen from the Scopus database using keywords in English ("self-regulated learning", "university students"). The results show that between 2017 and 2022 there was a spike in the number of papers published on the subject (51.5%). The highest scientific production rate is found in the United States (13.8%; n=105), and the highest publication rate in the Education University of Hong Kong (n=10). The journals Asia Pacific Education Researcher, Learning and Individual Differences and Sustainability Switzerland published 10 papers each, while the most cited journal was Computers and Education with 1061, with authors Liang, J.C. and Tsai, C.C., being the most cited (n=7 papers, 338 citations). From the studies analyzed, it is concluded that self-regulated learning in university students has increased in production, authorship and thematic diversity, with changes depending on the social, cognitive and academic development of the students, as well as the process in different educational environments and pedagogical practices