Exploring Nominalization in English Abstracts of Applied Linguistics Research Articles:A Comparative Study Between Chinese and International Journals

Researchers around the world strive to communicate new knowledge,primarily via publication,with the abstract being crucial in conveying core insights.Previous research has generally analyzed the discourse features of abstracts from a macro perspective and often employed either outdated texts,such as those over a decade old,or papers written by authors with lower English academic writing proficiency as research material.In this study,we analyzed forty abstracts from leading journals in applied linguistics,evenly split between Chinese and international journals.It revealed that the use of nominalization in abstracts by Chinese and international scholars showed similarities due to the universal academic requirement for conciseness.However,due to cultural and educational differences,each group differed in their respective language choices and nominalization usage.By analyzing the application of nominalization in different cultural contexts,the results of our study offered practical suggestions for crafting abstracts that effectively convey information,thereby,contributing to the broader academic community.

Dyslipidemia in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes in a Rural Community in Ganadougou, Mali: A Cross-Sectional Study

Dyslipidemia is a disorder where abnormally lipid concentrations circulate in the bloodstream. The disorder is common in type 2 diabetics (T2D) and is linked with T2D comorbidities, particularly cardiovascular disease. Dyslipidemia in T2D is typically characterized by elevated plasma triglyceride and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels. There is a significant gap in the literature regarding dyslipidemia in rural parts of Africa, where lipid profiles may not be captured through routine surveillance. This study aimed to characterize the prevalence and demo-graphic profile of dyslipidemia in T2D in the rural community of Ganadougou, Mali. We performed a cross-sectional study of 104 subjects with T2D in Ganadougou between November 2021 and March 2022. Demographic and lipid profiles were collected through cross-sectional surveys and serological analyses. The overall prevalence of dyslipidemia in T2D patients was 87.5% (91/104), which did not differ by sex (P = .368). High low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) was the most common lipid abnormality (78.9%, [82/104]). Dyslipidemia was associated with age and hypertension status (P = .013 and.036, respectively). High total and high LDL-C parameters were significantly associated with hypertension (P = .029 and .006, respectively). In low-resource settings such as rural Mali, there is a critical need to improve infrastructure for routine dyslipidemia screening to guide its prevention and intervention approaches. The high rates of dyslipidemia observed in Gandadougou, consistent with concomitant increases in cardiovascular diseases in Africa suggest that lipid profile assessments should be incorporated into routine medical care for T2D patients in African rural settings.

Patterns of Infertility and Abortion in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Infertility and abortion are significant reproductive health concerns globally, impacting individuals' well-being and healthcare systems. In Saudi Arabia, cultural, social, and religious factors influence perceptions and management of these issues, necessitating research to understand the patterns and associated factors. Study Aim: This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the patterns of infertility and abortion among 458 women in Saudi Arabia, focusing on demographic profiles, reproductive histories, medical conditions, and lifestyle factors. Methodology: Participants were recruited from healthcare facilities, and data on age, BMI, reproductive history, medical conditions, assisted reproduction methods, and lifestyle behaviors were collected. Statistical analyses, including chi-square tests, were conducted to examine associations between variables. Results: The majority of participants were aged 30 - 39 years (47.4%), with 76.9% experiencing secondary infertility. Among those with offspring (76.9%), 31% reported using assisted reproduction methods, primarily ovarian stimulators (54.2%). Abortion history was reported by 39.5% of participants. Significant associations were found between age and infertility type (X2 = 5.8, p = 0.054), having offspring and infertility type (X2 = 458.0, p = 0.001), menstrual irregularity and infertility type (X2 = 11.4, p = 0.001), and abortion history and delayed fertility (X2 = 10.4, p = 0.001). Conclusion: Our study reveals significant associations between demographic, medical, and lifestyle factors with infertility patterns and abortion history among Saudi women. These findings emphasize the need for tailored interventions addressing medical conditions, age-related factors, and access to reproductive healthcare services.

A Study on Risk Factors for Venous Thromboembolism and the Requirement of Thromboprophylaxis in Pregnancy and Postpartum Period in a Tertiary Care Centre in South Asian Country: A Cross Sectional Study

Introduction: Thrombosis is a major cause of maternal death worldwide. During pregnancy, the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) increases fourfold to five-fold and contributes towards maternal morbidity and mortality. Sri Lanka does not have a proper assessment tool to detect and manage it in the antenatal care. Objectives: To identify risks factors for VTE among pregnant mothers, postpartum mothers according to RCOG (Royal College of Obstetricians) risk categorization and to assess the requirement of thromboprophylaxis. Method: A cross sectional study was conducted at the antenatal clinics and obstetrics and gynaecology wards (ward 2, 5, 8) of De Soysa Hospital for Women in 2021. Obstetric thromboprophylaxis risk assessment tool recommended by the RCOG was used for the risk assessment of pregnant mothers during the antenatal and postpartum period. Results: In antenatal period, obesity (BMI > 35), age more than 35 years and parity more than 3 were the commonest risk factors. Out of 404 mothers, 67.33% did not have any risk factors. Among others, 18.56%, 0.40%, 2.72%, 0.99% had a score of 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Patients with intermediate (0.99%) and high risk (2.72%) were commenced on thromboprophylaxis from 28 weeks. The low-risk category was not started on any treatment (28.96%, n = 97). Approximately 96% of mothers did not require any thromboprophylaxis during antenatal period. Another 404 postnatal mothers were recruited for the study group. Elective caesarean section and caesarean section during labour were the main risks identified other than pre-existing antenatal risks. 39.95 % of mothers did not have any risk factors and 37.22% of mothers had a score of 1. Conclusions: VTE risk assessment tool can be implemented at national level to detect patients at risk of VTE and improve maternal care.

Book Review of Cross-linguistic Influences

This paper presents an overview of some cross-linguistic influences in multilingual language acquisition on both syntax and lexical level from Gabrys Baker's new book.

The Frequency of the v-AKT Murine Thymoma Viral Oncogene Homologue 1 Gene Amplification among Sudanese Women with Ovarian Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Protein kinase B (AKT/PKB) family is frequently amplified in ovarian cancer (OC). To the greatest of our knowledge, there is a lack of published reports about the amplification of the genes belonging to the AKT family among Sudanese women with OC. The present study was conducted to detect the AKT1 gene amplification and its association with tumour types, grades, and ages among Sudanese women with OC, bearing in mind the ethnic variation. Methods: This institution-based study included 79 cases of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer (OC) at Omdurman Maternity Hospital in the period 2013-2018. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue sections were used to extract RNA. AKT1 gene amplification was assessed using quantitative real-time PCR. Results: The mean age (±SD) of included women was 49.29 (±13.612). The amplification of AKT1 gene was observed in 18/79 (22.8%) of OC women, with a high frequency in women with undifferentiated 1/2 (50%), clear cell 2/6 (33.3%), mucinous 3/11 (27.3%), endometrioid 3/17 (17.6%), and serous carcinomas 5/30 OC (16.7%). High frequency was seen in women with low (26.3%;n = 10/28) rather than in higher (19.5%;n = 8/33) grade carcinoma, and in older (25.8%;n = 8/23) rather than younger (18.2%;n = 2/9) women. No significant association between AKT1 gene amplification and tumour types, grades, and ages of women was observed (Fisher’s Exact test: p = 0.405, 0.593 and 0.851, respectively). Conclusion: AKT1 gene amplification arises in around one-fifth of Sudanese women with ovarian cancer (OC). It is seen more in undifferentiated, clear cell, and mucinous tumours types, and more frequently in low tumour grade and older women, but not to a statistically significant level. These outcomes sustenance previous studies suggesting that activated AKT genes have a vital role in OC progression and may offer a plan for targeted therapy and prognostic evaluation.

Cross-Linguistic Evidence for Distinguishing between Effected and Affected Objects

In today's academic field, the motivation for distinguishing between the effected and the affected objects has received scant attention. This article attempts to probe into this question by citing the related cross-linguistic evidence to justify such a distinction. It concludes that some grammatical constructions or linguistic phenomena across languages cannot be well interpreted without the framework of effected-/affected-object dichotomy. Both types of objects show prototypical properties of direct objects, and they are complementary in the realization of direct-objecthood.

Lung Function Impairment among Gasoline Attendants: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Occupational health is an important consideration, especially for people that work in an environment with pollutants. Gasoline attendants are individuals that work in filling stations. They are constantly exposed to gasoline fumes and automobile engine products from vehicle exhaust. This increases the risk of acute and chronic respiratory diseases and carcinogenesis among them. The risk of health complications tends to increase with the duration of exposure. The study aimed to determine the proportion of gasoline attendants with lung function impairment. Methods and Materials: Two hundred and eight eligible participants were recruited for this study. A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out in Esan West local government area of Edo state, Nigeria. The study was carried out for a period of six months from December 2015 to May 2016. A questionnaire was used to obtain information on demographic characteristics, work history, mode of exposure and duration of exposure to petrol fumes. Lung function was assessed using a DTspiro spirometer (Model POP 10. Serial no 110843-005);also the anthropometric parameters of the respondent were measured. Statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 20.0. Frequency and percentages were used to present categorical data. The mean and standard deviation of continuous variables were calculated and compared using the student’s t-test. The criteria of significant association were assumed for a p-value less than 0.05. Results: A total of one hundred and forty petrol pump attendants and one hundred and forty controls participated in this study. The mean age for petrol pump attendants was 24 ± 3.1 years and 23 ± 2.8 years for the control group. There were no significant differences in the gender distribution and anthropometric parameters as observed in this study. The lung impairment pattern observed in this study was obstructive in twelve (8.6%) gasoline pump attendants and restrictive pattern in thirty-nine (27.9%) gasoline pump attendants, while only four (2.9%) had an obstructive pattern and twelve (8.6%) had a restrictive pattern of lung impairment among the control group. This implies that a restrictive pattern was predominant. This study also observed that there was an increase in the number of gasoline pump attendants with declined lung function compared to the control group. Conclusion: Restrictive pattern of lung impairment was more predominant than the obstructive pattern among gasoline pump attendants. As a result, public health interventions should be instituted among these individuals, especially in developing countries.

Lung Function Impairment among Gasoline Attendants: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Occupational health is an important consideration, especially for people that work in an environment with pollutants. Gasoline attendants are individuals that work in filling stations. They are constantly exposed to gasoline fumes and automobile engine products from vehicle exhaust. This increases the risk of acute and chronic respiratory diseases and carcinogenesis among them. The risk of health complications tends to increase with the duration of exposure. The study aimed to determine the proportion of gasoline attendants with lung function impairment. Methods and Materials: Two hundred and eight eligible participants were recruited for this study. A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out in Esan West local government area of Edo state, Nigeria. The study was carried out for a period of six months from December 2015 to May 2016. A questionnaire was used to obtain information on demographic characteristics, work history, mode of exposure and duration of exposure to petrol fumes. Lung function was assessed using a DTspiro spirometer (Model POP 10. Serial no 110843-005);also the anthropometric parameters of the respondent were measured. Statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 20.0. Frequency and percentages were used to present categorical data. The mean and standard deviation of continuous variables were calculated and compared using the student’s t-test. The criteria of significant association were assumed for a p-value less than 0.05. Results: A total of one hundred and forty petrol pump attendants and one hundred and forty controls participated in this study. The mean age for petrol pump attendants was 24 ± 3.1 years and 23 ± 2.8 years for the control group. There were no significant differences in the gender distribution and anthropometric parameters as observed in this study. The lung impairment pattern observed in this study was obstructive in twelve (8.6%) gasoline pump attendants and restrictive pattern in thirty-nine (27.9%) gasoline pump attendants, while only four (2.9%) had an obstructive pattern and twelve (8.6%) had a restrictive pattern of lung impairment among the control group. This implies that a restrictive pattern was predominant. This study also observed that there was an increase in the number of gasoline pump attendants with declined lung function compared to the control group. Conclusion: Restrictive pattern of lung impairment was more predominant than the obstructive pattern among gasoline pump attendants. As a result, public health interventions should be instituted among these individuals, especially in developing countries.

Cross-linguistic Influences in Second Language Learning

Much of the early research has been made to investigate the influence of the first language(L1) or the languages that learners already know,on the second language(L2) acquisition(SLA).When researchers referring to 'Cross-linguistic Influences' phenomenon,phrases like 'Language transfer,Linguistic interference,the role of mother tongue,Native language influence,and language mixing' are often used,and the one most commonly employed is language transfer.(Odlin,2003,p.436).In this paper,author mainly discusses language transfer.

A Critique of Cross-Linguistic Influence on Word Search In Tip-of-the-Tongue States

This critique gives a brief summary of Cross-Linguistic Influence on Word Search in Tip-of-the-Tongue States and ana-lyzes its strengths and weaknesses from theoretical and methodological perspectives. Apart from critically reviewing the article, thispaper draws inspiration from it with respect to mental lexicon, and proposes that this article can be a research model for studies of L2 influence on the retrieval of L1 in tip-of-the-tongue states in relation to cross-linguistic influence.

Accuracy of Measuring Axillary Temperature Using Mercury in Glass Thermometers in Children under Five Years: A Cross Sectional Observational Study

Background: Measuring axillary temperature with mercury in glass thermometers is continued in clinical practice though there are many limitations. This is mainly due to convenience and cost. This study was conducted to ascertain the accuracy of measuring axillary temperature with mercury thermometers in preschool children. Methods: Axillary temperature was measured in 250 preschool children using standardized mercury thermometers. Time taken to record the final temperature and its correlates were assessed. Results: Time taken to record the final temperature extended up to six minutes. This duration varied according to age, body mass index and body temperature, but a significant variation was noted only with age. Conclusions: Measuring axillary temperature with mercury thermometers is subjected to error. They need to be replaced with suitable alternatives.

Tea Consumption is Associated with Increased Risk of Kidney Stones in Northern Chinese： A Cross-sectional Study

Kidney stones are a common urinary system condition that can progress to kidney disease. Previous studies on the association between tea consumption and kidney stones are inconsistent. A cross-sectional study to investigate the association between tea consumption and kidney stones was conducted from 2013 to 2014 and recruited 9,078 northern Chinese adults. A total of 8,807 participants were included in the final analysis. Participants＇ prevalence of kidney stones was 1.07%, 1.73%, and 2.25% based on their tea consumption frecluencv of never, occasionally,

Association of ABO blood groups with the severity of coronary artery disease: a cross-sectional study

Objective To investigate whether ABO blood groups is associated with the severity of coronary artery disease(CAD). Methods Between January 2015 and December 2017, 1425 first diagnosed CAD patients confirmed by selective coronary angiography were recruited into this cross-sectional study, and their baseline characteristics, ABO blood groups, Gensini score were collected. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to test the association between the severity of CAD and ABO blood groups. Results The Gensini score was significantly higher in the blood group A than in the non-A groups(41.2 ± 32 vs. 38 ± 27;P = 0.026). After adjusting for age, male, smoking, family history of CAD, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia, multivariate linear regression indicated that blood group A was associated with the severity of CAD(β= 3.298, 95% CI: 0.91–6.505, P = 0.044). In diabetes group, A blood type was also associated with increased Gensini score(P = 0.02) after adjusting for age, male, family history of CAD, hypercholesterolemia, smoking and hypertension. Conclusion In this cross-sectional study, the data indicated that blood group A was an independent risk factor of severity of CAD in Chinese population and Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Impact of Frequency of Intercourse on Erectile Dysfunction: A Cross-sectional Study in Wuhan, China

This study was aimed to investigate the influence of coital frequency and masturbation on erectile dysfunction （ED） in Chinese patients. A total of 332 male outpatients with or without ED and volunteers were recruited from Zhongnan Hospital, Wuhan University, China. ED was assessed by using the five-item International Index of Erectile Function scale and the frequency of intercourse by patients＇ self-report. After adjusting for lifestyle factors and diseases-related factors, the analyses showed that coital and masturbation in a certain frequency tended to decrease the risk of ED. Men reporting intercourse once a week had lower risk of ED than those did less than once a week, with age, hyperlipidemia, hy-pertension, diabetes, body mass index, smoking, and drinking as covariates （P=0.67, adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.84; 95% confidence interval [CI]： 0.37-1.88）. For those reporting coital frequency two times per week and three or more times per week, there were 63% （adjusted OR = 0.37; 95% CI： 0.18-0.77） and 85% （adjusted OR = 0.15; 95% CI： 0.07-0.35） lower risk of ED than those reporting intercourse frequency less than once per week, respectively （P〈0.05）. Results indicated that maintaining a regular frequency of intercourse can reduce the risk of ED for males aged among 30 to 75 years.

Association between serumα-L-fucosidase andnon-alcoholic fatty liver disease:Cross-sectional study

AIM: To explore the association between serum α-Lfucosidase(Af U) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAf LD).METHODS: A total of 16473 individuals(9456 men and 7017 women) were included in the current study, who presented for a health examination at the first Affiliated hospital of Zhejiang University School of medicine in 2014. The baseline characteristics of the cohort were compared by NAf LD status. Linear regression analysis and stepwise multiple regression analysis were applied to assess the risk factors for NAf LD. Receiver operating characteristic curve was used to determine the sensitivity and specificity of Af U in the diagnosis of NAf LD.RESULTS: The prevalence rates of NAf LD and metabolic syndrome(met S) were 38.0% and 25.4%, respectively. The NAf LD group had significantly higher Af U levels than the non-NAf LD group(28.7 ± 7.9 U/L vs 26.0 ± 7.3 U/L, P < 0.001) and the prevalence rate of NAf LD increased with progressively higher serum Af U levels. Af U was positively correlated with met S and its five components: central obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and elevated blood pressure and fasting glucose. Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis showed that Af U was associated with an increased risk of NAf LD(OR = 1.009, 95%CI: 1.003-1.014, P < 0.001). The best cut-off value of Af U for the diagnosis of NAf LD was 27.5 U/L. The area under the curve(diagnostic efficacy index) was 0.606. The sensitivity and specificity were 54.6% and 61.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Af U level is significantly associated with NAf LD, and elevated Af U level is an independent risk factor for NAf LD.

Prevalence of diarrhea and associated risk factors among children under-five years of age in Eastern Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

Diarrhea remains a major cause of mortality in children under 5 years of age in Sub-Saharan countries in Africa. Risk factors for diarrhea vary by context and have important implications for developing appropriate strategies to reduce the burden of the disease. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of diarrhea and associated risk factors among children un-der 5 years of age in Kersa district, located in Eastern Ethiopia. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 1456 randomly selected households with at least one child under 5 years of age. A questionnaire and an observational check list were used for col-lecting information on socio-economic charac-teristics, environmental hygiene and behavioral practices, and occurrence of diarrhea among children under 5 years of age. Logistic regres-sion was used to calculate the adjusted odds ratio of 95% confidence interval. The two-week prevalence of diarrhea among children under 5 years of age was 22.5% (95% CI: 20.3-24.6). Improper refuse disposal practices (OR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.20-4.03), lack of hand washing facilities (OR = 1.92, 95%CI: 1.29-2.86), living in rural area (OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.12-3.31), the presence of two or more siblings in a household (OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.33-2.28), and age of the child (OR= 2.25, 95% CI;1.5-3.36) were the major risk factors for diarrhea. This study demonstrated that diarrhea morbidity was relatively high among children under 5 years of age residing in Eastern Ethiopia. Efforts to reduce childhood diarrhea should focus on improving household sanitation, personal hygiene, and child birth spacing.

Periconceptional Folic Acid Supplementation in Chinese Women： A Cross-sectional Study

Objective To investigate the status of folic acid （FA） supplementation and determinants of its use inpregnant Chinese women Methods In this cross-sectional study, questionnaires were used to collect information of participantsand FA supplementation. Women were recruited between 6 and 12 weeks postpartum in Tianjin, China,between July 2015 and July 2016 Results A total of 1,921 women were recruited in the study. Approximately 93.1% of the studyparticipants used FA, while 14.4% of the women taking FA from three months prior to preconception tothree months post-conception. Women who took FA for three months prior to preconception throughat least three months into their pregnancy were more likely to be between 30 and 34 years old （OR =2.91, 95% CI： 1.15, 7.33）, employed （OR = 2.07, 95% CI： 1.17, 3.67）, primigravida （OR = 5.20, 95% CI：3.02, 8.96）, married to spouses with an intermediate education level （OR = 2.92, 95% CI： 1.45, 5.89）, andearn a high family income （OR = 3.19, 95% CI： 1.57, 6.49） Conclusion The prevalence of periconceptional FA intake was far below the requirements of theNational Health and Family Planning Commission of China; therefore, knowledge of FA supplementationshould be strengthened among women who are or planning to become pregnant.