Planting the seeds to grow a safer society

As an educator who is deeply concerned about the pervasive issue of violence in our society. I've come to realise that our approach to preventing intimate partner violence (IPV) needs a significant shift. "Love should be pain-free" (The Star, Aug 13). While our efforts to protect and empower women and girls are undeniably crucial, they are only half the equation. To truly make a difference, we must broaden our focus and actively engage boys and men in this critical conversation

Unveiling the antinociceptive mechanisms of Methyl-2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-5-benzoxazoleacetate: insights from nociceptive assays in mice

Objective: Methyl-2-(4-chloro- phenyl)-5-benzoxazoleacetate (MCBA), a synthetic benzoxazole derivative with established antipsoriatic efficacy, was investigated for potential antinociceptive effects. This study employs various nociceptive assays in mice to elucidate MCBA's antinociceptive mechanisms. Materials and methods: MCBA's antinociceptive potential was tested against various nociception models induced by formalin, glutamate, capsaicin, a transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) receptor agonist, and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, a protein kinase C (PKC) activator. It was then assessed using the hot plate test and examined within the acetic acid-induced writhing test. During the acetic acid-induced writhing test, MCBA was pre-challenged against selective receptor antagonists such as naloxone, caffeine, atropine, yohimbine, ondansetron, and haloperidol. It was also pre-challenged with ATP-sensitive potassium channel inhibitor (glibenclamide) to further elucidate its antinociceptive mechanism. Results: The results showed that oral administration of MCBA led to a dose-dependent and significant inhibition (p < 0.05) of nociceptive effects across all evaluated models at doses of 60, 120, and 240 mg/kg. Moreover, the efficacy of MCBA's antinociceptive potential was significantly counteracted (p < 0.0001) by specific antagonists: (i) directed at adenosinergic, alpha-2 adrenergic, and cholinergic receptors using caffeine, yohimbine, and atropine, respectively; and (ii) targeting ATP-sensitive potassium channels, employing glibenclamide. Antagonists aimed at opioidergic and serotoninergic receptors (naloxone and ondansetron, respectively) had poor utility in inhibiting antinociceptive activity. Conversely, the dopaminergic receptor antagonist haloperidol potentiated locomotor abnormalities associated with MCBA treatment. Conclusions: MCBA-induced antinociception involves modulation of glutamatergic-, TRVP1 receptors- and PKC-signaling pathways. It impacts adenosinergic, alpha-2 adrenergic, and cholinergic receptors and opens ATP-sensitive potassium channels

Self-assembled micelles loaded with itraconazole as anti-Acanthamoeba nano-formulation

Acanthamoeba castellanii are opportunistic pathogens known to cause infection of the central nervous system termed: granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, that mostly effects immunocompromised individuals, and a sight threatening keratitis, known as Acanthamoeba keratitis, which mostly affects contact lens wearers. The current treatment available is problematic, and is toxic. Herein, an amphiphilic star polymer with AB2 miktoarms [A = hydrophobic poly(ℇ-Caprolacton) and B = hydrophilic poly (ethylene glycol)] was synthesized by ring opening polymerization and CuI catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition. Characterization by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, size-exclusion chromatography and fluorescence spectroscopy was accomplished. The hydrophobic drug itraconazole (ITZ) was incorporated in self-assembled micellar structure of AB2 miktoarms through co-solvent evaporation. The properties of ITZ loaded (ITZ-PCL-PEG2) and blank micelles (PCL-PEG2) were investigated through zeta sizer, scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Itraconazole alone (ITZ), polymer (DPB-PCL), empty polymeric micelles (PCL-PEG2) alone, and itraconazole loaded in polymeric micelles (ITZ-PCL-PEG2) were tested for anti-amoebic potential against Acanthamoeba, and the cytotoxicity on human cells were determined. The polymer was able to self-assemble in aqueous conditions and exhibited low value for critical micelle concentration (CMC) 0.05-0.06 µg/mL. The maximum entrapment efficiency of ITZ was 68%. Of note, ITZ, DPB, PCL-PEG2 and ITZ-PCL-PEG2 inhibited amoebae trophozoites by 37.34%, 36.30%, 35.77%, and 68.24%, respectively, as compared to controls. Moreover, ITZ-PCL-PEG2 revealed limited cytotoxicity against human keratinocyte cells. These results are indicative that ITZ-PCL-PEG2 micelle show significantly better anti-amoebic effects as compared to ITZ alone and thus should be investigated further in vivo to determine its clinical potential

Measurement of 222Rn in ground water and NORMs in top soil in the environs of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant site and associated health hazard

This study determines the prevailing concentrations of 222Rn in twenty groundwater samples and primordial radionuclides in twelve soil samples collected from the surrounding area of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant (RNPP) in Bangladesh. The mean concentration of 222Rn, 226Ra, 232Th and 40K in the studied samples was found to be 4.42 ± 2 Bq/L (Water), 25.2 ± 5.3, 23.9 ± 6.3 and 317.1 ± 31.4 Bq kg−1 (Soil) respectively. Associated health hazards were estimated and compared with the respective safety limits recommended by international organizations. The present results may serve as the base values of naturally occurring radioactive materials in the vicinity of the RNPP in Bangladesh

The governance of blockchain technology in real-time financial reporting

This research delves into the application of Blockchain Technology (BT) in enhancing governance and accountability within Real-time Financial Reporting. Recognised as a pivotal innovation, BT revolutionises diverse sectors by offering robust, transparent, and decentralised solutions, particularly in enhancing internal control systems. This study specifically investigates BT's role in bolstering emerging financial trends such as decentralised finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and its synergy with advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) in the realm of financial reporting. Central to this investigation is the exploration of how BT can be harnessed as a singular, adaptable information source in a multi-stakeholder environment, facilitating immediate data interpretation for decision-making processes. Additionally, the study examines the governance mechanisms within BT networks in the accounting and finance domains and the evolving roles of Stakeholders of Financial Reporting (SFR). The research objectives are twofold: firstly, to understand the accountability and governance complexities involved in employing BT for Real-time Financial Reporting and secondly, to understand how BT's consensus-based verification trait contributes to the flexibility and reliability of information in real-time financial reporting. These objectives are explored through the perspectives of various SFR regarding the use of BT in Real-time Financial Reporting. Employing a phenomenological approach, the study gathers insights through one-to-one interviews with stakeholders in the financial reporting process, selected using a snowballing technique, ensuring the data's relevance, reliability, and validity. The responses are transcribed verbatim and subjected to thematic analysis using NVivo Version 12 identifying and interpreting patterns within the data to address the research questions and summarise key insights. Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT) was used to interpret the responses of the interviewees, based on the key concepts of the theory. The key findings of this study interpret the stakeholders’ views and level of readiness (the evaluation stage) of utilising on the Blockchain Technology, which is crucial in ensuring decentralised decision-making processes and maintaining the security, stability, and integrity of the network, ultimately fostering trust in Real-time Financial Reporting among users and stakeholders. It also enables active participation in shaping the direction of Blockchain development, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements, and fostering innovation and governance and scalability in utilising the consensus-based verification trait is vital as it mitigates the risk of fraud, manipulation, and unauthorised changes to the ledger, ensuring the integrity and immutability of the data stored on the Blockchain. The practical implications of this research are significant, offering valuable insights for accounting and finance professionals on the potential transformative impact of BT on financial reporting processes and the challenges related to governance and accountability and achieving flexible and single source information (immediacy) involved in its widespread adoption. The conceptual framework analyses Blockchain Technology for Real-time Financial Reporting. It weighs the benefits (transparency, accountability, competitive edge) against challenges (verification, governance, cost) to inform industry decisions on Blockchain Technology adoption and implementation strategies. The study concludes that the governance and accountability issues in Real-time Financial Reporting with Blockchain Technology are lack of guidance, global standards, insufficient use cases in the accounting industry and lack of regulation on the use of the technology. The Blockchain trait consensus-based verification achieves real-time flexibility and single source information by providing authorised, verified, transparent and unalterable information in the process towards preparing and issuing a financial report

The decline in intentions to stop watching pornography among young adults

Online pornography has grown tremendously in the past years worldwide including Asian countries. Thus, this study aimed to investigate if there have been any changes in Malaysians’ attitudes toward pornography, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and intentions to stop watching pornography between 2015 and 2019. Data from 160 participants in 2015 and 166 participants in 2019 between 18 and 30 years old were collected using online surveys. The quantitative analysis conducted has shown that attitudes and subjective norms toward pornography have significantly increased while intentions to stop watching pornography have decreased over time. Meanwhile, no significant difference was found on perceived behavioural control. These changes may be due to the influence of technological advancements and entertainment liberalisation. The increase in accessibility and frequency of sexual content via modern media has increased sexual desires within a society, which subsequently decreases their intention to stop watching pornography. As there are many potential risks that are associated with avid pornography watching, we believe that there is a need to incorporate a prudent sexual education within schools to ensure young adults better understand pornography-viewing phenomena. LAY SUMMARY Comparing data between 2015 and 2019, we observed increased pro-pornography attitudes and subjective norms, reduced intentions to quit pornography viewing, and unchanged perceived behavioural control. We recommend enhancing sexual education in schools to foster a better understanding of pornography-related concerns among young adults

Marine Pharmacists Safeguard The Health Of People At Sea

A licensed marine pharmacist is responsible for conducting comprehensive audits to ensure compliance with industry regulations, safety protocols, and quality standards. It is well known that marine waters cover more than 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface. More than 97 per cent of the Earth’s water supply and 90 per cent of its habitable space rely on marine environments

Exploring the Activities of Religious Ministers and Festival Tourism at the Christmas Celebration in St. Lalibela, Ethiopia: A photo-based essay

Religious festivals represent potential for religious tourism, offering unique cultural and spiritual experiences at destinations. Among the methods for promoting religious festivals as a driver for religious tourism is the use of Photo-based essay tools. While this method is not widely explored in academic research, it holds great promise for tourism and events studies. Photographs have a great value in catching the minds of tourists and creating motivation to travel. This photo essay focuses on the religious ministers at the Christmas celebration in Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Ethiopia. Six photo categories were identified. Each category has its own message about the religious festival ceremony. In Lalibela, more than nine hundred religious ministers are found, their vibrant and unforgettable Christmas celebrations at Lalibela’s rock-hewn churches exemplify the enduring allure of religious festivals and underscore the potential for further research to drive development in religious festival tourism at sacred sites

Methods for identification of the opportunistic gut mycobiome from colorectal adenocarcinoma biopsy tissues

Colorectal cancer poses a significant threat to global health, necessitating the development of effective early detection techniques. However, the potential of the fungal microbiome as a putative biomarker for the detection of colorectal adenocarcinoma has not been extensively explored. We analyzed the viability of implementing the fungal mycobiome for this purpose. Biopsies were collected from cancer and polyp patients. The total genomic DNA was extracted from the biopsy samples by utilizing a comprehensive kit to ensure optimal microbial DNA recovery. To characterize the composition and diversity of the fungal mycobiome, high-throughput amplicon sequencing targeting the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) region was proposed. A comparative analysis revealed discrete fungal profiles among the diseased groups. Here, we also proposed pipelines based on a predictive model using statistical and machine learning algorithms to accurately differentiate colorectal adenocarcinoma and polyp patients from normal individuals. These findings suggest the utility of gut mycobiome as biomarkers for the detection of colorectal adenocarcinoma. Expanding our understanding of the role of the gut mycobiome in disease detection creates novel opportunities for early intervention and personalized therapeutic strategies for colorectal cancer. •Detailed method to identify the gut mycobiome in colorectal cancer patients using ITS-specific amplicon sequencing. •Application of machine learning algorithms to the identification of potential mycobiome biomarkers for non-invasive colorectal cancer screening. •Contribution to the advancement of innovative colorectal cancer diagnostic methods and targeted therapies by applying gut mycobiome knowledge

Leader humility and employee service performance: examining the role of meaningfulness in work, thriving at work and trust in the leader

Although the effectiveness of leader humility has been established, there remains a research gap regarding its impact on employee service performance in different industries and cultural contexts. This study examines the perceived influence of leader humility on employee service performance, considering the mediating effects of meaningfulness in work and thriving at work and the moderating effect of trust in a leader. The research focuses specifically on the banking and telecom industries in Bangladesh. Conservation resource theory is the underpinning theory and test of the proposed model. This study investigates how leader humility promotes employee service performance by enhancing meaningfulness in work and thriving at work. Additionally, this study explores the contributions of trust in leaders and leader humility to improve meaningfulness in work. A quantitative research approach is adopted, utilizing a survey instrument adapted from existing studies. Non-probability sampling techniques are employed to collect data from the target respondents. The measurement and structural model analysis are conducted using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). At the same time, the sequential mediation impact of meaningfulness in work and thriving at work and the moderated mediation impact of trust in leaders is analyzed using the PROCESS Macro in SPSS. The hypotheses are validated through a matched manager-employee questionnaire sample comprising 306 participants from two Bangladeshi service companies operating in the banking and telecom sectors. Study findings demonstrate that leader humility improves employee meaningfulness, thriving at work, and service performance. This finding suggests that humble leaders can create a workplace where employees feel purpose, personal growth, and better service. This study also shows that thriving at work mediates the association between meaningfulness in work and employee service performance. This finding shows that meaningful work motivates employees to thrive, improving service performance. This study also finds that meaningfulness and thriving at work sequentially buffer the association between leader humility and employee service performance. Leader humility directly affects meaningfulness, which affects thriving at work and service performance. Trust in the leader also moderates the relationship between leader humility and employee outcomes. This study's noble finding shows that leader humility affects meaningfulness and thriving at work depending on trust in a leader. Trust in the leader influences how well leader humility promotes meaningful work experiences and employee thriving. This study analyzes Bangladesh's banking and telecom sectors, revealing their distinctive dynamics. This discovery makes the results more applicable and has practical implications for these industries. These findings highlight how leader humility improves staff well-being and performance. This study explains leader humility and its contextual factors. This study has theoretical and managerial implications. These consequences are thoroughly investigated, providing practical insights for leaders and companies in comparable situations