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Abstract The detection of hate speech (HS) in online platforms has become extremely important for maintaining a safe and inclusive environment. While significant progress has been made in English-language HS detection, methods for detecting HS in other languages, such as Bengali, have not been explored much like English. In this survey, we outlined the key challenges specific to HS detection in Bengali, including the scarcity of labeled datasets, linguistic nuances, and contextual variations. We also examined different approaches and methodologies employed by researchers to address these challenges, including classical machine learning techniques, ensemble approaches, and more recent deep learning advancements. Furthermore, we explored the performance metrics used for evaluation, including the accuracy, precision, recall, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, area under the ROC curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, and F1 score, providing insights into the effectiveness of the proposed models. Additionally, we identified the limitations and future directions of research in Bengali HS detection, highlighting the need for larger annotated datasets, cross-lingual transfer learning techniques, and the incorporation of contextual information to improve the detection accuracy. This survey provides a comprehensive overview of the current state-of-the-art HS detection methods used in Bengali text and serves as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners interested in understanding the advancements, challenges, and opportunities in addressing HS in the Bengali language, ultimately assisting in the creation of reliable and effective online platform detection systems.

Abstract Objective To assess the relationship between functional disability and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients. Methodology This cross-sectional study was carried out on 78 adults who met the classification criteria for SSc defined by the American College of Rheumatology/European League of Rheumatology (ACR/EULAR)-2013. The Bangla version of Short Form 36 (SF-36) and Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index (HAQ-DI) were used to measure HRQoL and functional disability in SSc patients. Results The patients' median [IQR] HAQ-DI was 1.4 [0.6–2.1], with 37.2% having a mild functional disability, 33.3 percent having a moderate functional disability, and 29.5 percent having a severe functional disability. The hygiene and activity domains of the HAQ-DI obtained the highest scores, 2.0 [0.0–3.0] and 2.0 [1.0–3.0], respectively. The Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) of the SF-36 had median [IQR] values of 26.2 [15.0–58.1] and 42.0 [19.6–60.6]. The highest score was 50.0 [25.0–75.0] in social functioning. The PCS of the SF-36 was moderately correlated with the HAQ-DI (rs = − 0.629, P

The agriculture sector is a traditional economic pillar of many emerging economies. However, it is facing greater occupational health and safety (OHS) challenges in Pakistan, and its performance is continuously decreasing. An effective OHS implementation provides better control over OHS challenges and may help to restore its former glory. Therefore, this study aims to explore different organizational decision-making styles and safety accountability to put OHS into practice in this sector. Based on institutional theory, a theoretical framework was developed. Two hundred and eighty-seven agriculture farms in Punjab, Pakistan were surveyed and analyzed using SmartPLS 3.3.7. The findings revealed that implementation styles (rational and incremental) and safety accountability positively impact OHS implementation. Similarly, the moderating role of mimetic motives was found positively significant in the relationship between rational style and OHS implementation, and negatively significant in the relationship between incremental style and OHS implementation. While no moderating effect of mimetic motive was found between safety accountability and OHS implementation. This study suggested that OHS implementation should not be viewed as a social or technical issue alone. Strategic arrangements should be made at the organizational level to gain better control over OHS challenges by considering the institutional environment in which the organization operates.

Purpose – Critical digital pedagogy (CDP) is an emerging field in education. The basic tenet of CDP involves taking learners' experiences into account and engaging them in critical thinking about social oppression. With the outbreak of the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, CDP has got more currency and appropriacy in the current paradigm shift in learning and teaching. Design/methodology/approach – This paper scrutinizes different aspects of CDP including its origins, theoretical underpinnings and its implementation in different contexts. It also critically reviews Freire's (1972) problem-posing education and Morris and Stommel's (2017) model of CDP. Findings – The article proposes a CDP model based on the previous ones, which includes the core concepts and criteria of CDP and focuses on EFL classrooms. Research limitations/implications – One of the limitations of CDP is gaining the learners' approval in creating an environment of co-constructing knowledge moving away from traditional practices. In addition to that, the use of new media in the classroom can be intimidating for students and stakeholders alike. The lack of logistic support in many rural, remote and underdeveloped contexts cannot be ignored either Practical implications – The paper provides recommendations for future research in CDP. Originality/value – Critical pedagogy (CP) is a teaching approach in which the oppressed are basically focused and teachers and learners construct knowledge together. Recently, with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, global education had to go online. Consequently, traditional teaching and learning had to undergo a paradigm shift. Along with other changes in traditional teaching and learning practices, there has been a significant change in teaching philosophy. This is how the CDP finds its currency in this emerging unprecedented teaching and learning situation.

Background and objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM) perpetually affects the quality of life. This non-communicable lifelong disease usually develops micro and macro-vascular complications affecting vital organs. Thus, it reduces the functional capability of health as assessed by the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measuring tools. It is not known, how much HRQOL of the diabetic population in Bangladesh is affected. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to estimate the levels of HRQOL of cases with DM attending a tertiary care hospital in Dhaka city. The study considered socioeconomic condition, nutritional status, duration of diabetes and treatment modalities while analyzing the HRQOL. Methods: This study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Dhaka city from July 2016 to June 2017. Patients with DM were considered eligible and were recruited. Those who were found to have complications like retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, hypertension and stroke were excluded based on previous investigations. Once selected, the study protocol was described to each of the diabetic patients. If agreed, the participant was interviewed. Short Form health survey questionnaire (SF-36) was used for assessment of HRQOL. The assessment of physical health components included physical function, role physical, body pain, and general health. Mental health components were emotion, vitality and social function. Results: A total of 150 diabetic patients (m/f: 80/70) were included in the study. Comparisons of demographic variables between male and female participants showed no significant difference. As regards HRQOL, physical function score was significantly reduced among those who had diabetes for more than 10 years (p=0.049). General health component was significantly impaired among those who had higher BMI (10yrs) and higher BMI significantly reduced components of mental health quality. Conclusion: The study revealed that the overall physical and mental quality of life was significantly affected by longer duration of diabetes, obesity and glycemic status. IMC J Med Sci 2018; 12(2): 73-79. EPub date: 31 December 2018 Address for Correspondence: Dr. Naima Ahmed, Lecturer, Department of Community Medicine, Ibrahim Medical College, 122, Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Shahbagh, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh, E-mail: drnaima1911@gmail.com

Multiclass functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) signal classification has become a convenient way for optical brain-computer interface. fNIRS signal classification with high accuracy is a challenging assignment while the signals are produced by means of voluntary and imagery movements of the same limb. Since the activation in time and space of voluntary and imagery movement show a similar pattern, the classification accuracy by the conventional shallow classifiers cannot reach an acceptable range. This paper proposes an accuracy improvement approach with the use of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). In this work, voluntary and imagery hand movements (left hand and right hand) were performed by several participants. These four-class signals were acquired utilizing fNIRS devices. The signals were separated based on the tasks and filtered. With manual feature extraction, the signals were classified by support vector machine and linear discriminant analysis. The automatic feature extraction and classification mechanism of the CNN were applied to the fNIRS signals. From the results, it was found that CNN improves the classification accuracy to an acceptable range, which has not been achieved by any convolutional network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated English-Arabic code mixing as a socio-professional phenomenon among the expatriate Bangladeshi and Indian English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers at the tertiary level of education in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). A socio-linguistic perspective was drawn to determine functional aspects of code mixing usage between the expatriate teachers and the native Arabian speakers. The study also examined the teachers' attitude towards the effect of code mixing in their socio-professional life. A triangulation method was adopted for the investigation: questionnaire, semi-structured interview, and observation. The findings of this study recognized the hypothesis that code mixing serves as a highly functional linguistic tool in the socio-professional life of the expatriate Bangladeshi and Indian ESL teachers in the KSA. It also identified code mixing as a common speech pattern in the communicative dynamics of these teachers' campus discourse through an analysis of domain exposure to code mixing. The study unfolded a significant socio-linguistic and socio-professional aspect of campus communication: how code mixing is intertwined with that of the professional and social needs of expatriate teachers in monolingual situations as in the KSA. This study clicked on the current linguistic situation in the KSA education and thus showed how far the English only educational language policy is effective in its implementation phase in higher education. The researchers believe that the teachers' attitude would provide supplementary data for the language policy makers and educators in the Kingdom to consider this phenomenon into deciding pragmatic institutional language policy in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Regardless of the adverse effects of Bisphenol A (BPA), its use in industry and in day-to-day life is increasing at a higher rate every year. In the present study, a simple and reliable chemical approach was used to develop an efficient BPA sensor based on a Co-Ru-based heterometallic supramolecular polymer (polyCoRu). Surface morphology and elemental analysis were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Furthermore, functional group analysis was accomplished by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). UV-vis spectroscopy was used to confirm the complexation in the ratio of 0.5:0.5:1 (metal 1/metal 2/ligand). Electrochemical characterization of the synthesized polyCoRu was conducted using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analyses. The study identified two distinct linear dynamic ranges for the detection of BPA, 0.197-2.94 and 3.5-17.72 μM. The regression equation was utilized to determine the sensitivity and limit of detection (LOD), resulting in values of 0.6 μA cm -2 μM -1 and 0.02 μM (S/N = 3), respectively. The kinetics of BPA oxidation at the polyCoRu/GCE were investigated to evaluate the heterogeneous rate constant ( k ), charge transfer coefficient (α), and the number of electrons transferred during the oxidation and rate-determining step. A probable electrochemical reaction mechanism has been presented for further comprehending the phenomena occurring at the electrode surface. The practical applicability of the fabricated electrode was analyzed using tap water, resulting in a high percentage of recovery ranging from 96 to 105%. Furthermore, the reproducibility and stability data demonstrated the excellent performance of polyCoRu/GCE., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)