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Objectives: Reports in the last 2 decades suggest that selected patients with masticator space invasion can be treated surgically with reasonable survival. This study is an attempt to identify prognosticators for disease free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in surgically treated pT4 buccal mucosa squamous cell carcinoma (BMSCC) patients. Material and methods: The cohort for this retrospective study comprised 213 patients with pT4a/b BMSCC, treated with curative intent surgery from August 2011 through December 2019. Depending upon masticator space invasion (MSI) patients were divided into 3 groups viz. pT4a, involvement of masseter and/or medial pterygoid (Low MSI) and involvement of lateral pterygoid and/or temporalis (High MSI). Results: The median follow-up in this study was 45 (2–123) months. The 5-year DFS was 53 %, 42 % and 21 % for pT4a, Low MSI and high MSI groups, respectively. The 5-year OS was 68 %, 43 % and 21 % for these three groups. The MSI (HR 1.5, p = 0.113 for Low MSI, HR 2.98, p

In the dynamic landscape of corporate governance, the interplay between board characteristics and financial reporting quality stands as a focal point for scholarly investigation. This study investigates the moderating effect of firm size on the relationship between board independence and financial reporting quality of listed oil and gas companies in Nigeria. The study employs a quantitative research design and the populations of the study were all the oil and gas companies listed on the floor of Nigerian Exchange Group from 2012 to 2021. The study used ten (10) oil and gas companies as the population and sample size. The study further used panel regression technique as method for data analysis. The result of the direct relationship revealed that board independence and board size negatively and significantly influence the financial reporting quality of listed oil and gas companies in Nigeria. In the case of moderated effect, the results indicate that firm size does not significantly moderate the influence of board independence on the financial reporting quality of listed oil and gas companies in Nigeria. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that the interaction between firm size and board independence does not have a significant impact on the financial reporting quality of listed oil and gas companies in Nigeria. Based on the findings, the study recommended that policymakers such as financial reporting council and Securities and Exchange Commission should enforce the code of corporate governance that will provide for mandatory independent directors with financial expertise. Secondly, the firm size should be properly put into consideration in constituting the number of non-executive directors on the board of directors of listed oil and gas companies in Nigeria.

The study examines fear and feeling of insecurity in Ibadan, Nigeria. Residents and staff of hotels were selected through multistage and purposive sampling respectively. The study discovered that the mean relative frequency worry index (RFWI) among the hotel staff was 2.54, while it was 2.44 among the residents of the host communities. The result showed that theft, fraud, robbery sexual abuse, and burglary were the most frequently worried crime in the hotel industry while robbery, theft, fraud, burglary, and sexual abuse were highly worried among the residents of host communities. Using factor analysis, 82.28% of the total variance which comprises mechanical/personal (42.7%), human (19.5%), economic (11.53%), and environmental factors (8.49%) were the factors influencing fear and feeling of insecurity among hotel staff while human/personal (49.30%), economic (11.26%), mechanical (7.49%), and environmental factor (6.52%), representing 74.5% of the whole variance were the factors among the residents of the host communities. The study concluded that fear and feeling of insecurity is associated with different factors.

An office building in Malaysia with a green certification was examined in terms of objective and subjective evaluations of thermal comfort. In this study, thermal comfort data was collected objectively using specific instruments per the ASHRAE 55 standard, and the Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) values were computed. In addition, validated questionnaires were used to assess subjective perceptions of thermal comfort. It was found that, although the PMV model suggested a slightly cool atmosphere occupants experienced a cooler sensation than expected. The divergence highlights the inadequacies of measuring thermal comfort solely based on objective measures and stresses the necessity of incorporating occupant feedback into the assessment process. By focusing on environmental sustainability and occupant well-being, this research provides valuable insight for the management and development of future green office buildings.

Food security is a multidimensional notion and it can be achieved at individual, domestic, regional, countrywide and global levels. This is achieved when all individuals, at all times, have physical and economic access to adequate, safe, and nutritious food to fulfill their intake needs and food choices for an active and healthy life. As a result of COVID-19, global activity has witnessed an exceptional decline. The physical distance, school closures, trade restrictions, and country lockdowns for controlling the COVID-19 pandemic have led to escalated nutritional challenges globally. Food insecurity is defined as the persistent concern about access to sufficient and affordable food at all times. Food insecurity causes stress in people. This review aimed to evaluate the extent of disruption and break in the chain of continuity of food security as a result of the COVID- 19 pandemic. The review perused peculiar causes of food insecurity in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic along with measures to counter them for the attainment of sufficient food security. This review article methodology was inclusive of the utilization of three search engines. These included PubMed, Google as well as Google Scholar. The keywords included food security, food chain, challenges as well as COVID-19, and health outcomes. Articles were included based on being published from the year 2008-2023. Out of 66 articles, 50 were included (75%). The food availability having deteriorated due to the COVID-19 pandemic has affected food security globally leading to various adverse health outcomes. Also, this has added to the burden of hunger and malnutrition across the globe. A special focus on agriculture can aid in dealing with the shortage of food. The COVID-19 pandemic has culminated in tremendous detrimental repercussions on food security. Food chain improvement and efficiency can be of pivotal importance in connection with the food security challenges having ensued following the COVID-19 pandemic. How to cite this: Junejo S, Javaid Q, Lateef M. Food Security Challenges Emanating from COVID-19. Life and Science. 2024; 5(4): 573-. doi: http://doi.org/10.37185/LnS.1.1.574

Drought is one of the major abiotic stresses that affect plant growth and productivity, and plant stress responses are affected by both the intensity of stress and genotype. In Iraqi Kurdistan, tomato plants play a significant role in the country’s economy. Due to climate change, which causes soil moisture to diminish, the crop’s growth and yield have been dropping in recent years. Accordingly, the effects of simulated drought stress on germination parameters were assessed in 64 tomato accessions gathered from the Iraqi Kurdistan region in order to identify sensitive and tolerant accessions. In this respect, the responses associated with drought stress were observed phenotypically and biochemically. Germination percentage (GP) and morphological characteristics such as root length (RL), shoot length (SL), and shoot fresh weight (SFW) were significantly reduced in both stress treatments with polyethylene glycol (PEG-6000) (7.5% PEG and 15% PEG). On the other hand, significant changes in biochemical profiles such as proline content (PC), soluble sugar content (SSC), total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity (AC), guaiacol peroxidase (GPA), catalase (CAT), and lipid peroxidation (LP) in tomato accessions were detected; all biochemical traits were increased in most tomato accessions under the PEG-induced treatments compared to the control treatment (0.0% PEG). Three tomato accessions (AC61 (Raza Pashayi), AC9 (Wrdi Be Tow), and AC63 (Sandra)) were found to be the most tolerant accessions under all drought conditions, whereas the performances of the other tested accessions (AC13 (Braw), AC30 (Yadgar), and AC8 (Israili)) were inferior. The OMIC analysis identified the biomarker parameters for differentiating the highly, moderately, and low tolerant groups as PC, SSC, and TPC. This study shows that early PEG-6000 screening for drought stress may help in choosing a genotype that is suitable for growth in water-stressed environments. Hence, Raza Pashayi, Wrdi Be Tow, and Sandra accessions, which had great performances under drought conditions, can be candidates for selection in a breeding program to improve the growth of plants and production in the areas that face water limits.