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Pedagogical content knowledge, PCK, a concept in teacher education requires additional focus and attention by pre-tertiary teachers to improve teaching and learning and learners' performance. The study adopted PCK model developed by Magnusson et al. (1999) to investigate senior high school (SHS) chemistry teachers PCK in teaching the concept of hybridization. The study adopted a qualitative approach using the case study design. Six chemistry teachers from six SHSs in the Upper West Region of Ghana were purposively sampled for the study. Semistructured interviews, lesson plans analysis and observations were used as data collection instruments. Data was analyzed using content analysis. The findings reveal that most of the teachers have high knowledge of instructional strategies and knowledge of the science curriculum. In addition, it was revealed that many of the teachers have inadequate knowledge in their orientation towards science teaching, assessment of scientific knowledge, and in knowledge of students understanding of science. It was concluded that the teachers' PCK was inadequate since knowledge of instructional strategies and knowledge of curriculum alone does not define an effective science teacher. The study recommended that in-service professional training in PCK should be organized for teachers to improve their classroom practices.

Abstract The gradual progress in aligning financial flows with the adoption of clean technologies reveals a persistent funding gap, signaling a global misallocation of capital. Addressing this challenge necessitates political leadership and robust policies to counteract the insecurities impeding the redirection of financial flows. This study investigates into the impact of energy-related public–private partnership investments (PPPIE) and macro-environmental variables on the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG7) across Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries from 1999 to 2021. Employing the Dynamac command technique, we conduct autoregressive distribution lag analysis and the Bounds Cointegration Test to evaluate ASEAN’s efforts in achieving SDG7. Results indicate that a ten-year exogenous shock to the GDP growth rate initially causes a temporary decline in both GDP and PPPIE, albeit not statistically significant. However, in the long run, the shock becomes statistically significant, correlating with a negative decline in the GDP growth rate. This underscores the negative impact of external factors like the COVID-19 pandemic on the economic growth of ASEAN member countries. Specifically, a percentage increase in PPPIE leads to an 8.3% reduction in the GDP growth rate, revealing a detrimental and unsustainable impact on the economy. This signifies that energy investments in the ASEAN region, are predominantly unsustainable and adversely impact economic growth. Moreover, these energy investments contribute to a significant 52.6% increase in greenhouse gas emissions, indicating a substantial setback in the region’s progress towards meeting SDG7’s clean energy objectives by 2030. This suggests the present state of PPPIE does not align with sustainable clean energy goals of the region. Therefore, recommendations should include diversifying energy sources and investment strategies to enhance sustainable clean energy. Also, policymakers and researchers should reassess the terms and conditions of PPPIE, refining frameworks for private sector involvement to align with long-term economic sustainability goals.

The concept of hybridisation is one of the most difficult concepts for chemistry students to grasp at all levels of learning. Research showed the students conceptual difficulty ranged from their lack of the prerequisite knowledge for grasping the topic hybridisation to chemical bond formation and orientations of atomic orbitals. This study investigated the difficulties Senior High School Students face in learning hybridisation. The study adopted a mixed-method approach using the sequential exploratory design. Purposive sampling was used to select six schools that offer elective chemistry subject. Simple random sampling was then used to select 120 Senior High School form 1 students to take part in the study. Convenient sampling was used to interview 24 students from the sample. Hybridisation Achievement Test (HAT) and Semi-structured interviews were self-constructed and used to collect data. Descriptive statistics and Content analysis were used to analyse the data. Results showed that, majority of students had difficulties in explaining the concept of hybrid orbitals, writing the electron configuration of [subscript 6]C, explaining the effect of hybridisation on formation of chemical bonds in [subscript 6]C, and type of hybridisation and shapes of compounds such as NH[subscript 3], OF[subscript 2], BCl[subscript 3], CO[subscript 2], SiO[subscript 2], C[subscript 2]H[subscript 2], BeF[subscript 2] and C[subscript 2]H[subscript 4]. The study also showed that students had difficulties in explaining and demonstrating the formation of C = C double bond in ethene and other compounds. Equally students were challenged in demonstrating the differences between the formation of sigma and pi bonds in compounds. Students had difficulties in using electron orbital diagrams to explain the shape of CO[subscript 2] as linear. The study concluded that Senior High School form 1 chemistry students in the Upper West Region of Ghana lacked the most basic and fundamental concept of hybridisation. Teachers need to use conceptual change instructional approaches to teach hybridisation in order to foster students' understanding and reduce misconceptions.

Ships connect the global economy through maritime transport. However, their susceptibility to increasing geopolitical conflicts has heightened concerns about the risks to crew safety and navigation security. This systematic literature review (SLR), utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework, rigorously examines the safety and security of autonomous ships in maritime transport. The methodology employs a comprehensive search across major databases including Scopus, Google Scholar, and Science Direct, based on explicit inclusion criteria focusing on recent advancements from 2014 to 2023. By methodically analyzing 58 relevant publications screened from an initial pool of 1407, this paper highlights critical trends and gaps in the application of advanced sensor technologies, cybersecurity measures, and autonomous navigation systems. The findings provide insights into the operational challenges and technological developments shaping the future of maritime safety and security, offering valuable guidance for policymakers and industry stakeholders. This research contributes to scholarly discourse in this industry by mapping the trajectory of technological integration and its implications for maritime operations in a global context.

Abstract Background Onchocerciasis causes chronic systemic inflammation. Several studies have used markers such as haemato-biochemical indices to predict the occurrence of systemic inflammation. This study assessed the variability and predictability of haemato-biochemical indices and blood composite ratios (BCRs) in microfilariae positive (MF+) and microfilariae negative (MF-) subgroups of onchocercomata participants. Methods One hundred and five (105) MF + and 34 MF- participants were retrospectively recruited into the study. Screening for the presence of O. volvulus microfilariae was done from skin snips taken from the left and right iliac crests of participants using established and approved protocols. Haematological and biochemical indices were measured using standard laboratory automated analyzers. Blood composite ratios (BCRs) were calculated as ratios of the absolute parameters involved. Results A significantly increased total WBC, absolute eosinophil, eosinophil percent and absolute basophil were observed in the MF + participants compared to MF- participants. Reduced gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) with increased estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was significantly associated with MF + participants compared to MF- participants. BCRs were significantly higher for eosinophil-to-neutrophil ratio (ENR), eosinophil-to-monocyte ratio (EMR), eosinophil-to-basophil ratio (EBR) and eosinophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (ELR) in MF + participants compared to MF- participants. After multivariate adjustment, onchocercomata participants with increased eosinophil counts (aOR = 13.86, 95% CI [2.07–92.90], p = 0.007), ENR x10 (aOR = 1.42, 95% CI [1.05–1.93], p = 0.025), EMR (aOR = 2.64, 95% CI [1.25–5.60], p = 0.011), EBR (aOR = 1.07, 95% CI [1.01–1.10], p = 0.020) and ELR x10 (aOR = 1.69, 95% CI [1.14–2.51], p = 0.009) were more likely to have microfilaridermia. Conclusions Elevated eosinophil counts with higher ENR, EMR, EBR and ELR levels are significantly associated with microfilaridermia in onchocercomata participants. Combining BCRs with eosinophil count significantly led to an improvement in the conventional model for predicting microfilaridermia.

Corn silk is the long shiny fibers at the top of an ordinary ear of corn (Zea mays). Corn silk contains phytochemicals of medical benefit such as flavonoids compounds which act as antioxidant agents and has been widely reported possess hepatoprotective effect. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of corn silk extract on carbonated alcoholic herbal beverages (CAHB) induced hepatoxicity in adult Wistar rats. A total of forty five adult Wistar rats weighing between 200g and 250g were randomly assigned into nine groups of five rats each in a group. Group A was the normal control group (no CAHB administration). Groups B, C, D, E, F, G, H and I were the CAHB intoxicated groups and treated with corn silk extract at different doses. After administering a carbonated alcoholic herbal beverage, there was a substantial increase (p≤0.05) in the mean concentration of liver enzymes (ALP, ALT, ALT), total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin. While those characteristics reversed to values similar to the control after being treated with varying doses of corn silk extract The oxidative stress parameter (SOD, GPX, Catalase, MDA) shown significant increase in group. Histological examination of the liver revealed infiltrate of inflammatory cells, vascular ulceration, periportal infiltration of inflammatory cell, and vascular congestion in a group treated with carbonated alcoholic herbal beverages (CAHB). The only group exhibiting normal hepatocyte morphology and kupffer cell activity was the one administered 200 mg/kg of maize silk extract. Group D showed a similar and more powerful hepatic architecture after receiving only 600 mg/kg of maize silk extract. The hepatoprotective and anti- oxidative effects of corn silk extract were confirmed by the treatment groups (200 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg), which displayed normal hepatocytes with minor vascular congestion, respectively. Corn silk administration lowers a number of the harmful effects of in vivo carbonated alcoholic herbal beverage administration in the liver of Wister rats, according to the findings in this study.

Gold nanoparticles synthesized via honey-mediated chemical reduction have desirable features that make them ideal candidates for nanoparticle-assisted photothermal therapy (N-PTT). However, their photothermal properties have not been previously explored. In this study, after synthesis and characterization (structural and optical) of the HM-AuNPs, we investigated their photothermal conversion efficiency (η) and absorption cross section (σ a b s ) in aqueous solution, cytotoxic effects in in vitro MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cell culture, and temperature profiles in agarose gel under 810 nm NIR irradiation. The results showed that ≈ 15 nm and primarily spherical HM-AuNPs had η values of up to 40% and an average σ a b s of 2.15 ± 0.08 × 10 − 18 m 2. Furthermore, cell viability was reduced to about 52% and the temperature profile in agarose gel had the typical radially increasing topology. Collectively, the findings show that HM-AuNPs can be used in N-PTT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Conference of the Parties (COP26 and 27) placed significant emphasis on climate financing policies with the objective of achieving net zero emissions and carbon neutrality. However, studies on the implementation of this policy proposition are limited. To address this gap in the literature, this study employs machine learning techniques, specifically natural language processing (NLP), to examine 77 climate bond (CB) policies from 32 countries within the context of climate financing. The findings indicate that “sustainability” and “carbon emissions control” are the most outlined policy objectives in these CB policies. Additionally, the study highlights that most CB funds are invested toward energy projects (i.e., renewable, clean, and efficient initiatives). However, there has been a notable shift in the allocation of CB funds from climate-friendly energy projects to the construction sector between 2015 and 2019. This shift raises concerns about the potential redirection of funds from climate-focused investments to the real estate industry, potentially leading to the greenwashing of climate funds. Furthermore, policy sentiment analysis revealed that a minority of policies hold skeptical views on climate change, which may negatively influence climate actions. Thus, the findings highlight that the effective implementation of CB policies depends on policy goals, objectives, and sentiments. Finally, this study contributes to the literature by employing NLP techniques to understand policy sentiments in climate financing.

Abstract Vector-borne diseases emergence, particularly malaria, present a significant public health challenge worldwide. Anophelines are predominant malaria vectors, with varied distribution, and influenced by environment and climate. This study, in Ghana, modelled environmental suitability for Anopheles stephensi, a potential vector that may threaten advances in malaria and vector control. Understanding this vector’s distribution and dynamics ensures effective malaria and vector control programmes implementation. We explored the MaxEnt ecological modelling method to forecast An. stephensi’s potential hotspots and niches. We analysed environmental and climatic variables to predict spatial distribution and ecological niches of An. stephensi with a spatial resolution of approximately 5 km2. Analysing geospatial and species occurrence data, we identified optimal environmental conditions and important factors for its presence. The model’s most important variables guided hotspot prediction across several ecological zones aside from urban and peri-urban regions. Considering the vector’s complex bionomics, these areas provide varying and adaptable conditions for the vector to colonise and establish. This is shown by the AUC = 0.943 prediction accuracy of the model, which is considered excellent. Based on our predictions, this vector species would thrive in the Greater Accra, Ashanti Central, Upper East, Northern, and North East regions. Forecasting its environmental suitability by ecological niche modelling supports proactive surveillance and focused malaria management strategies. Public health officials can act to reduce the risk of malaria transmission by identifying areas where mosquitoes may breed, which will ultimately improve health outcomes and disease control.

Abstract Background Home gardens are a species-rich socioecological system with a diverse range of cultivated and naturally occurring plants with the potential to make contributions to address sustainable food, biodiversity and climate crisis. However, there is a dearth of information on the socio-demographic profile of home gardeners and the importance of home gardens to ethnobotany, food security and biodiversity. Therefore, the study aimed to assess the socio-demographic profile of home gardeners in the Sunyani municipality as a case in point for the middle belt of Ghana and to evaluate the diversity of plants in home gardens and their ethnobotanical importance. Methods A total of 12 suburbs were selected from three subzones in the Sunyani municipality. In each suburb, 25% of households were randomly selected and if they had a home garden, one adult in the house was interviewed. A list of all plants in the home garden and their uses was obtained from respondents. A Chi-square test was used to assess the distribution of home gardeners among various socio-demographic categories, and binomial logistic regression was employed to determine links between socio-demography and home garden attributes. The ethnobotany R package was used to evaluate the ethnobotanical importance of plants in home gardens. Results A total of 186 respondents were recruited for this study, 79 being females and 107 males. A total of 79 plant species were also identified belonging to 70 genera and 40 families. Trees were the most common plant life form in home gardens, followed by shrubs, herbs, vines, grasses and lianas. Ethnobotanical indices revealed the most important plants in home gardens to be staples, food supplements and medicinal plants. These were Musa paradisiaca, Caripa pabaya, Xanthosoma sagittifolium, Manihot utilisima and Mangifera indica, Moringa oleifera, Citrus sinensis, Capsicum frutescens, Taraxacum officinale, Solanum aethiopicum, Cocos nucifera, Solanum torvum, Persea americana, Dioscorea alata and Elaeis guineensis. Conclusion Plants used as staples, food supplements and medicinal purposes emerged as the most culturally relevant scoring high on all ethnobotanical indices. Home gardens present an opportunity to address food security and nutrition needs of households and communities.

Data processing and climate characterisation to study its impact is becoming difficult due to insufficient and unavailable data, especially in developing countries. Understanding climate's impact on burnt areas in Ghana (Guinea-savannah (GSZ) and Forest-savannah Mosaic zones (FSZ)) leads us to opt for machine learning. Through Google Earth Engine (GEE), rainfall (PR), maximum temperature (Tmax), minimum temperature (Tmin), average temperature (Tmean), Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI), relative humidity (RH), wind speed (WS), soil moisture (SM), actual evapotranspiration (ETA) and reference evapotranspiration (ETR) have been acquired through CHIRPS (Climate Hazards group Infrared Precipitation with Stations), FLDAS dataset (Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) Land Data Assimilation System) and TerraClimate platform from 1991 to 2021. The objective is to analyse the link and the contribution of climatic and environmental parameters on wildfire spread in GSZ and FSZ in Ghana. Variables were analysed (area burnt and the number of active fires) through Spearman correlation and the cross-correlation function (CCF) (2001 to 2021). The tests (Mann-Kendall and Sens's slope trend test, Pettitt test and the Lee and Heghinian test) showed the overall decrease in rainfall and increase in temperature respectively (−0.1 mm; + 0.8°C) in GSZ and (−0.9 mm; + 0.3°C) in FSZ. In terms of impact, PR, ETR, FDI, Tmean, Tmax, Tmin, RH, ETA and SM contribute to fire spread. Through the codes developed, researchers and decision-makers could update them at different times easily to monitor climate variability and its impact on fires.

ABSTRACTGhana is increasingly affected by climate change, increased soil aridity, demographic problems, and unfavourable environmental factors. In the context of conservation, protection and sustainable management, this study assessed the loss, gain and stable areas of vegetation cover in Ghana by considering four districts namely West Gonja and West Mamprusi; Sene and Afram Plains in two major ecological zones respectively (Guinea-savannah and Forest-savannah mosaic) to make a comparative study of their level and intensity of degradation. For this purpose, remote sensing (IMPACT toolbox), GIS and quantitative analysis (PontiusMatrix42) approaches were used and applied on Landsat ETM+, OLI TIRS and Sentinel 2B images (2001, 2011, 2021). The result shows that land uses land covers (LULCs) are changing with a high level of dynamism in both ecological zones, with particular mention over the last decade (2011–2021) in terms of degradation in the Guinean savannah zone. Losses in both zones are more considerable than gains and stability. Each zone is marked more by changes in quantity than exchanges and shifts in LULCs, thus giving us information on the rate of loss of forest resources. It is therefore essential to put in place adequate measures to fight this irreversible loss if no action is taken.

Recent research has explored the potential of rice husk biochar as a low-cost adsorbent for the removal of contaminants from aqueous solutions, including aldrin, mercury (Hg2+), lead (Pb2+), and cadmium (Cd2+). Experimentation involved adding varying doses of biochar to wastewater with different contamination levels, agitating the mixture for 60 min, and filtering the solutions for analysis. The experiment revealed impressive removal efficiencies: 100% for aldrin, 99.92% - 99.99% for Hg2+, 95.90% - 99.52% for Pb2+, and 88.60% - 99.46% for Cd2+. In binary and quaternary mixtures, Hg2+ showed higher removal efficiency than Pb2+ and Cd2+, with the exception of aldrin. The adsorption order was identified as aldrin > Hg2+ > Pb2+ > Cd2+. The Freundlich adsorption isotherm best described heavy metals in the mono and quaternary component adsorption, while the Langmuir adsorption isotherm was a better fit for the binary component. Consequently, the study highlights rice husk biochar as an efficient, sustainable, and environmentally friendly option for wastewater treatment.

Tariff reforms in electricity markets is becoming an area of active evaluation as efforts intensify to decarbonize electricity generation, stabilize the power grid, and maximize the welfare of electricity producers and consumers. Peaks in load profiles occur when demand is not regulated, requiring huge capacity additions, which are not utilized during off-peak periods thus undermining system efficiency. With dynamic pricing of electricity, opportunities can arise to shift demand from peak to off-peak periods and this can help to reduce the need for huge capacity additions. This paper conducts a systematic review of dynamic electricity pricing literature in order to understand the evolution of research in this growing field. 218 relevant journal papers published between 1949 and 2020 are identified from which thematic maps and ontological tables are drawn to understand key subject areas that have emerged over the years and their interlinkages. Six major thematic areas of dynamic electricity pricing research are reported including 1) pricing scheme and modeling, 2) pricing impacts, 3) user demand response, 4) consumption scheduling, 5) load scheduling technologies, and 6) cybersecurity threats and fairness issues. These six major thematic areas are then broken down into twenty second-order themes and fifty eight first-order themes. The review provides an overview of the development of the field while providing insights on its future development. It concludes that, despite coherent themes, the research on dynamic electricity pricing has enormous potential for follow-up work and theory development.

Background: Galectins (Gal’s) are a family of carbohydrate-binding proteins that are known to support the tumour microenvironment through their immunosuppressive activity and ability to promote metastasis. As such they are attractive therapeutic targets, but little is known about the cellular expression pattern of galectins within the tumour and its neighbouring stromal microenvironment. Here we investigated the cellular expression pattern of Gals within pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Methods: Galectin gene and protein expression were analysed by scRNAseq (n=4) and immunofluorescence imaging (n=19) in fibroblasts and epithelial cells of pancreatic biopsies from PDAC patients. Galectin surface expression was also assessed on tumour adjacent normal fibroblasts and cancer associated primary fibroblasts from PDAC biopsies using flow cytometry. Results: scRNAseq revealed higher Gal-1 expression in fibroblasts and higher Gal-3 and −4 expression in epithelial cells. Both podoplanin (PDPN+, stromal/fibroblast) cells and EpCAM+ epithelial cells expressed Gal-1 protein, with highest expression seen in the stromal compartment. By contrast, significantly more Gal-3 and −4 protein was expressed in ductal cells expressing either EpCAM or PDPN, when compared to the stroma. Ductal Gal-4 cellular expression negatively correlated with ductal Gal-1, but not Gal-3 expression. Higher ductal cellular expression of Gal-1 correlated with smaller tumour size and better patient survival. Conclusions: In summary, the intricate interplay and cell-specific expression patterns of galectins within the PDAC tissue, particularly the inverse correlation between Gal-1 and Gal-4 in ducts and its significant association with patient survival, highlights the complex molecular landscape underlying PDAC and provides valuable insights for future therapeutic interventions.

Fournier’s gangrene is a rare life-threatening condition that is characterized by rapid necrotizing spread from the scrotum and perineal area along facial planes to the abdominal wall, the flanks and the upper thighs. We present a case report of post-circumcision Fournier’s gangrene in an infant that was associated with spontaneous rupture of the lower pole of the left scrotum. This report highlights the need for practitioners of circumcision to be skillful in the procedure, use sterile instruments for it and adhere to standard infection prevention and control measures in health facilities.

Some research on climate change has been the basis of climate change denialism (hereafter, CCD is used to refer to denial, denialism, and deniers). There is formative knowledge about the role of political propaganda in climate policies and resulting outcomes. To contribute to the understanding of political ideology and the extent of CCD, we adopt econometric techniques to study the impact of the United States of America's withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. The results show that ideological political propaganda has psychological and philosophical consequences that impact climate change policies. In addition, we find that the effect of a state's economic growth on climate change is mediated by CCD. In particular, low-income capitalist states have a higher propensity to become CCDs because they are more likely to engage in economic expansion even at the expense of environmental sustainability. Global climate change policies depend on high-income nations and industries' willingness to adopt economic policies to achieve sustainable future development. Thus, this study fills the literature gap on the relationship between political ideology and climate change. The findings show that CCD significantly influences voting patterns and socioeconomic outcomes. It impedes states from achieving net-zero emissions and carbon neutrality and it is used as a political propaganda. Subject to these findings, relevant policy suggestions are offered.

One of the best and most affordable ways to remove harmful metals from water is by adsorption. This study investigated the efficiency of guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) eggshells as a low-cost adsorbent for cadmium (Cd) and nickel (Ni) removal from landfill leachate. In replicas, 100 mL wastewater was added to each of the weighed adsorbent dosages (1 g, 1.5 g, 2 g, 2.5 g, 3.0 g, and 3.5 g) in a flat-bottom flask and agitated for 60 minutes at pH of 7.82 and temperature 24 °C. The adsorption efficacy of cadmium and nickel by guinea fowl eggshells were 90.5% to 96.5% and 96.1% to 99.3%, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of cadmium was 4.89 × 10-2 mg/g and an adsorption equilibrium (KL) 22.74 mg/L. The Langmuir isotherm model was better fitted to the results of the experiment than the Freundlich isotherm model.

PurposeDiffusion-weighted MRI (DW-MRI) is a contrast-free modality that has demonstrated ability to discriminate between predefined benign and malignant breast lesions. However, how well DW-MRI discriminates cancer from all other breast tissue voxels in a clinical setting is unknown. Here we explore the voxelwise ability to distinguish cancer from healthy breast tissue using signal contributions from the newly developed three-component multi-b-value DW-MRI model.Experimental designPatients with pathology-proven breast cancer from two datasets (n = 81 and n = 25) underwent multi-b-value DW-MRI. The three-component signal contributions C 1 and C 2 and their product, C 1 C 2, and signal fractions F 1, F 2, and F 1 F 2 were compared with the image defined on maximum b-value (DWI max), conventional apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and apparent diffusion kurtosis (K app). The ability to discriminate between cancer and healthy breast tissue was assessed by the false-positive rate given a sensitivity of 80% (FPR80) and ROC AUC.ResultsMean FPR80 for both datasets was 0.016 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.008-0.024] for C 1 C 2, 0.136 (95% CI, 0.092-0.180) for C 1, 0.068 (95% CI, 0.049-0.087) for C 2, 0.462 (95% CI, 0.425-0.499) for F 1 F 2, 0.832 (95% CI, 0.797-0.868) for F 1, 0.176 (95% CI, 0.150-0.203) for F 2, 0.159 (95% CI, 0.114-0.204) for DWI max, 0.731 (95% CI, 0.692-0.770) for ADC, and 0.684 (95% CI, 0.660-0.709) for K app. Mean ROC AUC for C 1 C 2 was 0.984 (95% CI, 0.977-0.991).ConclusionsThe C 1 C 2 parameter of the three-component model yields a clinically useful discrimination between cancer and healthy breast tissue, superior to other DW-MRI methods and obliviating predefining lesions. This novel DW-MRI method may serve as noncontrast alternative to standard-of-care dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI.

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field.

Abstract Background Understanding nursing students’ knowledge about and attitudes toward older adults’ using context-specific survey instruments can help to identify and design effective learning and teaching materials to improve the care for persons 60 years and above. However, there are no validated instruments to examine nursing students’ knowledge and attitudes toward the care for older adults in the African context. The study aimed to evaluate the items on the Knowledge about Older Patients Quiz and Kogan's Attitudes towards Old People Scale suitable for the African context. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted using second-and third-year nursing students from two public Nursing Training Institutions in Ghana. Using Sahin’s rule of sample size estimate of at least 150 participants for unidimensional dichotomous scales, 170 nursing students were recruited to participate after an information session in their classrooms. Data were collected from December 2019—March 2020 using the Knowledge about Older Patients Quiz and Kogan’s Attitudes Towards Old People Scale. Item response theory was employed to evaluate the Knowledge about Older Patients Quiz difficulty level and discrimination indices. Corrected item-to-total correlation analysis was conducted for Kogan's Attitudes towards Old People Scale. The internal consistency for both scales was examined. Results Of the 170 participants, 169 returned completed surveys. The mean age of participants was 21 years (SD = 3.7), and (54%) were female. Of the 30-items of the Knowledge about Older Patients Quiz, seven items were very difficult for most students to choose the correct response, and one was easy, as most of the students chose the correct response. Although 22 items demonstrated appropriate difficulty level, discrimination indices were used to select the final 15- items that discriminated moderately between upper and lower 25% performing students. The Kuder-Richardson-20 reliability was. 0.30, which was low. Considering Kogan's Attitudes towards Old People scale, 10-items were removed following negative and low corrected item-to-total correlation and a high Alpha coefficient if items were deleted. The final 22-items had a Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.65, which was moderately satisfactory. Conclusion Evaluation of the scales demonstrated essential content validity and moderate internal consistency for the context of our study. Further research should focus on ongoing context-specific refinement of the survey instruments to measure nursing students’ knowledge about and attitudes toward caring for older adults in the African context.

Background: Sedentary behavior and mounting workload among university staff may increase risk of chronic diseases. However, information on the link between physical inactivity (PIA), work-related stress (WRS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk is controversial. This study assessed and determined the association between PIA, WRS and CVD risk among university staff in Nigeria. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 500 teaching and nonteaching staff of a Nigerian university using purposive sampling method. PIA level and WRS were assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and a modified International stress questionnaire, respectively. CVD risk was assessed using the Framingham Heart study questionnaire. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Alpha level was set at P < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of PIA, WRS, and CVD risk were 37.6%, 33.3%, and 61.0%, respectively. Age and high income were significantly associated with PIA in both teaching and nonteaching staff (P < 0.05). In both the groups, older adults and female participants were almost thrice more likely odds ratio (OR) =2.85 (confidence interval [CI] =2.58–3.12) and OR = 2.98 (1.95–5.72) at CVD risk, respectively. Furthermore, individuals with WRS score ≥ 14 (OR = 2.14; CI = 1.14-4.29), and with obesity (OR = 4.20; CI = 2.58-6.25) were more than twice likely to present with CVD risk. The variability of the regression model for the prediction of CVD risk was 13.0% (R2 = 0.130). Conclusion: The prevalence of PIA and work-related stress among Nigerian university staff is high and is associated with high CVD risk. Strategies in reducing PIA and WRS are essential for mitigating CVD risks among Nigerian University staff.

Abstract Background and aims Endoprosthetic replacements of the proximal femur are commonly required to treat destructive metastases with either impending or actual pathological fractures at this site. Modular prostheses provide an off the shelf availability and can be adapted to most reconstructive situations for proximal femoral replacements. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and functional outcomes following modular tumour prosthesis reconstruction of the proximal femur in 100 consecutive patients with metastatic tumours and to compare them with the published results of patients with modular and custom made endoprosthetic replacements. Methods 100 consecutive patients who underwent modular tumour prosthetic reconstruction of the proximal femur for metastases using the METS system from 2001 to 2007 were studied. The patient, tumour and treatment factors in relation to overall survival, local control, implant survival and complications were analysed. Functional scores were obtained from surviving patients. Results and conclusion There were 45 male and 55 female patients. The mean age was 60.2 years. The indications were metastases. Seventy five patients presented with pathological fracture or with failed fixation and 25 patients were at a high risk of developing a fracture. The mean follow up was 15.9 months [range 0–77]. Three patients died within 2 weeks following surgery. 69 patients have died and 31 are alive. Of the 69 patients who were dead 68 did not need revision surgery indicating that the implant provided single definitive treatment which outlived the patient. There were three dislocations (2/5 with THR and 1/95 with unipolar femoral heads). 6 patients had deep infections. The estimated five year implant survival (Kaplan-Meier analysis) was 83.1% with revision as end point. The mean TESS score was 64% (54%–82%). We conclude that METS modular tumour prosthesis for proximal femur provides versatility; low implant related complications and acceptable function lasting the lifetime of the patients with metastatic tumours of the proximal femur.