bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
APPLICATION OF THE CAMA ALGORITHM IN MASS PROPERTY VALUATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF SRPSKA
Authors: Stanković Dragan
Published: February 2025

The real estate market is an integral part of the economic development of every country and contributes to promoting investments, production, increasing income, as well as socio-economic stability. Every country strives to achieve stability in the real estate market. The most important factor in the stability of the real estate market is real estate prices. Real estate prices determine the general well-being of citizens. They also affect the operations of banks (through mortgages, sales, etc.). It is extremely important to stabilize real estate prices. Only in this way is it possible to implement policies and macroeconomic measures that will make the real estate market an efficient segment of the overall socio-economic system. For all these reasons, it is very important to accurately assess real estate prices. Mass appraisal or Computer-Assisted Mass Appraisal (CAMA) are terms usually applied for the valuation of real estate for property taxation purposes. The development of computational technologies enables computer-supported methods for valuing all properties. CAMA represents a computer algorithm for the mass and individual calculation of real estate values. The use of the term Computer-Assisted Mass Appraisal techniques is defined as the systematic assessment of the value of all properties on a given date using standardized procedures and statistical testing. The CAMA algorithm consists of several components: Model specification (mathematical form of the model or valuation model); Sales prices and descriptive property data; Income and expense data and descriptive property data; Model calibration software (usually multivariate statistical methods); Calibrated models (a function of input data with established model coefficients; a mathematical expression for calculating the estimated value); Attributes (characteristics required by the appraisal model in a computer-readable form); Valuation software (software for applying the calibrated model to the characteristics of input attributes to create value estimates; creating an estimate file and generating defined reports or producible); Value estimates (file or database of value estimates). The goal of this research is to estimate the value of real estate using the mass appraisal method - the CAMA algorithm. The specificity of forming the estimated value of real estate lies in defining the market value of real estate if the prices from sales contracts entered into the Real Estate Price Register (formed based on supply and demand for apartments) are known, forming value zones (location factor), value tables (relational tables and value levels), additional influence factors (apartment location factor within a building), and an equation for estimating real estate value. The research results show that deviations between notarial contract prices and estimated values correspond to the standards applied in mass real estate value appraisal in all countries that implement them.
OPTIMISING EMPLOYEE DEVELOPMENT PROCESSES: PERCEPTIONS OF MICROLEARNING AS AN INNOVATIVE SOLUTION
Authors: Ostin Vasilii
Published: February 2025

The author conducted a systematic literature review to emphasize the researched topic’s current trends and related historical development of the key terms. To address the determined research gap, a quantitative approach was employed. The author primarily used a questionnaire survey to gather viewpoints from training participants. This study explores the integration of the microlearning trend into employee learning and development processes. It aims to better understand the attitudes towards microlearning utilization of the current training participants. Furthermore, it seeks to determine the practical pillars associated with microlearning adoption within organizations. The research confirmed that training participants have diverse associations with microlearning, which current businesses can leverage to structure succeeding learning content. These associational benefits can support current businesses with a microlearning formation and a better understanding of relevant implementation prerequisites. This study explores a rarely covered topic, that is addressing a research gap within the European context. The exploration of microlearning significance, its related aspects, and learners’ feedback offer valuable understandings, that provides a number of outcomes to contribute to theoretical and empirical wisdom of this research.
THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF UNIVERSITY TEACHERS IN CURRICULUM INTERNATIONALISATION: INSIGHTS FROM SLOVENIA AND BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
Authors: Aškerc Zadravec Katarina , Kljajić Živana
Published: February 2025

This article examines the role of professional development in enabling academic staff to effectively internationalise university curriculum, focusing on higher education institutions in Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The primary objective is to analyse how pedagogical training courses enhance the ability of university teachers to integrate global and intercultural dimensions into teaching practices. Employing a qualitative methodology, the study uses semi-structured interviews and responses and content analysis to gather and interpret insights from 22 university teachers across various academic disciplines. Findings highlight the significance of professional development programs in fostering teachers’ global competencies, enhancing intercultural awareness, and improving teaching methodologies. Participants reported increased self-confidence, the incorporation of international elements into syllabi, and refined assessment practices. Key challenges identified include institutional resistance to change, insufficient resources, and cultural and linguistic barriers. Despite these obstacles, the study underscores the transformative impact of internationalisation-focused trainings on both university teachers’ pedagogical approaches and students’ preparedness for a globalised world. The article provides valuable insights for policymakers and higher education institutions seeking to develop inclusive, internationally oriented curriculum. It emphasizes the necessity of cohesive national and institutional strategies to overcome existing challenges and advance global competencies in higher education.
Analysis and Dynamic Prediction of Bus Dwell Time Under Rainfall Conditions
Authors: SUN Baoyun , YANG Yaping , DONG Lei , LU Honglin , WANG Zimin
Published: February 2025

Exploring the degree to which bus stop times are affected by rainfall is necessary for a reasonable formulation of bus-scheduling management schemes under rainy conditions. Although numerous mathematical models have been proposed, the predictive accuracy of existing models is insufficient for the precise formulation of bus policies. This study considered linear bus stops in Shenyang as research targets, and based on field survey data, we analysed the bus dwell time and its influencing factors under varying degrees of rainfall. The Pearson correlation analysis method and SPSS software were used to reveal the degree of influence of parameters, such as the number of passengers boarding and alighting buses, rainfall level, number of berthing spaces, load rate and presence of signalised intersections, on the bus stop time under rainfall conditions. Support vector machine, k-nearest neighbour and backpropagation (BP) prediction models were established, and the BP neural network model, having the best prediction effect, was optimised using a genetic algorithm (GA). The constructed GA-BP prediction model was more realistic than the BP prediction model and can be used to predict bus dwell times under rainfall conditions. The study findings will facilitate bus punctuality and improve customer appeal for bus services.
Planning and Layout Method for Community Bus Stops Based on Carbon Reduction Benefits
Authors: LI Yang , XIANG Chenyu , LIU Ning
Published: February 2025

Regarding “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals”, with the transportation sector as a key area of carbon emissions, the development of low-carbon transportation is imminent. Urban bus route scheduling is pivotal in realizing carbon emission reduction in transportation, and this paper focuses on the achievement of optimal bus-stop layouts for increased convenience for residents. To realise carbon reduction benefits, this paper focuses on achieving the minimum personal bus trip average carbon emission, passenger trip costs and bus operation costs, while reducing the impact on other bus stops and routes by proposing bus stop planning and layout method under the micro-community scale. Through the simulated annealing algorithm, the optimised bus stop can optimise the average carbon emission of the residents’ personal trip by 36.87%, while the probability of residents choosing low-carbon trip increased by 4.94%, choosing medium-carbon trip increased by 1.48% and choosing high-carbon trip decreased by 10.84%, realising a substantial carbon reduction benefit. Furthermore, this paper introduces the emotional coefficient of the residents’ public transport trip to determine the effect of travel, waiting and connecting times thereof. Accordingly, new methods and ideas are presented for urban bus stop planning, and the process toward ‘carbon neutrality’ and ‘carbon peaking’ is accelerated.
Passenger Satisfaction Analysis of an Urban Subway Based on Travel Behaviour Characteristics
Authors: PAN Fuquan , CHENG Shuai , ZHANG Lixia , YANG Xiaoxia , YANG Jinshun
Published: February 2025

The study explores the relationship between subway passenger satisfaction and passenger travel behaviour characteristics from the perspective of subway passengers. This study takes Qingdao as an example and designs a questionnaire that includes the basic personal information and travel behaviour characteristics of passengers and evaluates their subway satisfaction. A total of 6340 valid questionnaires were obtained through the combination of online surveys and on-site random surveys. By using the fuzzy synthetic evaluation, the overall score of passenger satisfaction with the Qingdao subway is determined. According to the relationship between passenger satisfaction and travel behaviour characteristics, the chi-square test is used to select the correlation variables group. The results show that there is no significant correlation among the satisfaction of subway passengers, the main means of transportation and the availability of private cars; the frequency of taking the subway is related to the satisfaction of subway passengers; and the purpose of travelling and the reasons for choosing the subway are significantly related to the satisfaction of subway passengers. Finally, based on the analysis of the differences in satisfaction under different conditions, some suggestions were proposed to improve the satisfaction of subway passengers.
The Silicon Shrink
Authors: Oberhaus Daniel
Published: February 2025

Why the race to apply AI in psychiatry is so dangerous, and how to understand the new tech-driven psychiatric paradigm.

AI psychiatrists promise to detect mental disorders with superhuman accuracy, provide affordable therapy for those who can't afford or can't access treatment, and even invent new psychiatric drugs. But the hype obscures an unnerving reality.In The Silicon Shrink, Daniel Oberhaus tells the inside story of how the quest to use AI in psychiatry has created the conditions to turn the world into an asylum. Most of these systems, he writes, have vanishingly little evidence that they improve patient outcomes, but the risks they pose have less to do with technological shortcomings than with the application of deeply flawed psychiatric models of mental disorder at unprecedented scale.

Oberhaus became interested in the subject of mental health after tragically losing his sister to suicide. In The Silicon Shrink, he argues that these new, ostensibly therapeutic technologies already pose significant risks to vulnerable people, and they won't stop there. These new breeds of AI systems are creating a psychiatric surveillance economy in which the emotions, behavior, and cognition of everyday people are subtly manipulated by psychologically savvy algorithms that have escaped the clinic. Oberhaus also introduces readers to the concept of “swipe psychology,” which is quickly establishing itself as the dominant mode of diagnosing and treating mental disorders.

It is not too late to change course, but to do so means we must reckon with the nature of mental illness, the limits of technology, and what it means to be human.
Nonlinear
Authors: Bethune Kevin G.
Published: February 2025

From the acclaimed designer and bestselling author of Reimagining Design, a nonlinear approach to navigating design's nuances in pursuit of meaningful innovation.

In Nonlinear, Kevin Bethune shows us that we can reject trodden paths of digital or physical product creation by taking advantage of a nonlinear approach. To unlock meaningful innovation that breeds new and novel outcomes, he writes, teams need to embark on a journey into the proverbial forest of ambiguity, the result of a rapidly converging, dynamic, and exponentially changing landscape. The journey is less about getting it right or wrong, and more about using the information we have at our disposal to understand our choices and unlock new learning.

Nonlinear begins by taking the reader through Bethune's professional zigs and zags. The author explains that while his interdisciplinary leaps were rare at the time he took them, these varied experiences unlocked perspectives about design and innovation that uniquely prepared him for our present moment and for the future. He then showcases the role of quantitative information to strategically frame and set boundary conditions for our creative exploration, and he highlights the role of qualitative insights to provide the substance necessary to begin crafting solutions that address unmet needs. The book also identifies accelerants (or flywheels) that will help readers as they reflect on their journey through the forest of ambiguity, with a specific emphasis on diversity, a key theme for Bethune, a Black man who has navigated new horizons. Readers will enjoy having the chance to customize the author's perspectives and make them their own at both an individual and a team level.
Molecular determinants of Neu5Ac binding to a tripartite ATP independent periplasmic (TRAP) transporter
Authors: Goyal Parveen , Dhanabalan KanagaVijayan , Scalise Mariafrancesca , Friemann Rosmarie , Indiveri Cesare , Dobson Renwick CJ , Vinothkumar Kutti R , Ramaswamy Subramanian
Published: February 2025

N -Acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) is a negatively charged nine-carbon amino sugar that is often the peripheral sugar in human cell-surface glycoconjugates. Some bacteria scavenge, import, and metabolize Neu5Ac or redeploy it on their cell surfaces for immune evasion. The import of Neu5Ac by many bacteria is mediated by tripartite ATP-independent periplasmic (TRAP) transporters. We have previously reported the structures of SiaQM, a membrane-embedded component of the Haemophilus influenzae TRAP transport system, (Currie et al., 2024). However, none of the published structures contain Neu5Ac bound to SiaQM. This information is critical for defining the transport mechanism and for further structure-activity relationship studies. Here, we report the structures of Fusobacterium nucleatum SiaQM with and without Neu5Ac. Both structures are in an inward (cytoplasmic side) facing conformation. The Neu5Ac-bound structure reveals the interactions of Neu5Ac with the transporter and its relationship with the Na+ binding sites. Two of the Na+-binding sites are similar to those described previously. We identify a third metal-binding site that is further away and buried in the elevator domain. Ser300 and Ser345 interact with the C1-carboxylate group of Neu5Ac. Proteoliposome-based transport assays showed that Ser300-Neu5Ac interaction is critical for transport, whereas Ser345 is dispensable. Neu5Ac primarily interacts with residues in the elevator domain of the protein, thereby supporting the elevator with an operator mechanism. The residues interacting with Neu5Ac are conserved, providing fundamental information required to design inhibitors against this class of proteins.
Reading Jaume Roig’s Espill
Authors: Dangler Jean
Published: February 2025

What lessons did readers take from the Espill (The Mirror)?
This book examines key marginalia in sixteenth-century printed copies of the fictional, pedagogic tale about the alleged dangers of earthly women composed by Valencian physician Jaume Roig. Written in Catalan verse in approximately 1460, the Espill focuses on two main themes, misogyny and religious material, including the critique of religious personnel but also absolute praise of the Virgin Mary. More than 50 printed copies of the work exist today, an extraordinary number for the period.

The book argues that readers seemed to interpret contrasting secular misogyny and holy topics as harmonious, with the Espill's misogyny synchronizing with its religious message and materials. Readers appear to have considered the Espill as a guide, whether with regard to biblical stories and lessons, women's menstruation, or women's shameful character, and did not demonstrate outrage or perplexity about women's portrayal. The annotative evidence, previously overlooked, sheds light on misogyny's relationship to larger systems of power and on the broader connection between women's depiction in the Espill and in Isabel de Villena's proto-feminist Vita Christi, both of which derived from Valencia's same late fifteenth-century social and professional milieu.
A Reader's Guide to Thomas Mann's Doctor Faustus
Authors: Boes Tobias
Published: February 2025

Provides the English-speaking reader with the tools needed to appreciate Thomas Mann's most ambitious novel, one of the greatest literary works of the twentieth century, now timely once again.

In 1938, the great German author and Nobel Prize winner Thomas Mann emigrated to the United States. There, he became a figurehead for the intellectual opposition to Nazism, giving more than 150 public lectures and recording more than fifty anti-Nazi radio addresses that the BBC broadcast into Germany. His political activities also left a profound mark on his fiction, most importantly on the 1947 novel Doctor Faustus: The Life of the German Composer Adrian Leverkühn as Told by a Friend. Ostensibly the biography of a fictional modern composer, Doctor Faustus also serves as a post-mortem of Nazism and a reckoning with five centuries of cultural history that led to dazzling heights but failed to prevent Germany's ultimate fall.

Doctor Faustus is an astonishingly complex novel, both because of the range of its intellectual references and because of its stylistic inventiveness, which has provoked comparisons with Joyce. And yet, at a time when democracy around the world once again seems in retreat and the forces of irrationalism are in advance, it is also an extremely timely book. This guidewill equip English-speaking readers with all the tools necessary to appreciate one of the greatest literary works of the twentieth century.

This book is available as Open Access under the Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND.
Speaking German Musically: Poetic Recitation in Central Europe, 1760-1820
Authors: Waeber Jacqueline
Published: February 2025

Shows how poetic recitation and the interweaving of music and poetry contributed to the advent of a German identity in late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century Europe.

The art of reciting a text out loud, known as Vortragskunst, be it in a private circle or in a concert hall, originated in German-speaking countries in the 1760s, and by the nineteenth century had become a well-established practice subjected to an artistic blossoming unparalleled in the rest of Europe.

In this book Jacqueline Waeber explains and examines how and why this happened, focusing on the origins of poetic recitation and its development during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, a period essential to the development of modern German literature and theatre, bookended by the two main figures who contributed to the theoretical and aesthetical tenets of poetic recitation, the poet Friedrich Gottlieb Klopstock (1724-1803) and Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832).

Poetic recitation quickly gained attraction for the Lied and the musical melodrama, both musical genres that were driven by a search for new declamatory styles. As a result, poetic recitation became increasingly 'musicalized' by the frequent addition of a musical accompaniment. As the book shows, this intertwining of music and poetry made a huge contribution to the advent of German identity through the reappraisal of its language.
Brahms: Symphonist
Authors: Pascall Robert
Published: February 2025

This long-awaited book situates the symphonies in their biographical context, offers text-critical investigations, presents matters of performance practice and gives an analytical overview of each work including Brahms's unfinished Fifth Symphony.

In Brahms: Symphonist, the late Robert Pascall offers new revelations about Brahms symphonies resulting from a life-long pursuit of Brahms scholarship. Completed shortly before his death, Pascall's book brings together four scholarly perspectives. First, it situates the symphonies in their biographical context narrating their genesis, performance history and reception. Second, the book offers text-critical observations, by investigating the relationships between sketches, manuscript sources, publications and arrangements made by the composer or by others in his lifetime. Third, matters of performance practice are presented: how were the symphonies performed in Brahms's lifetime, what performance values did Brahms espouse, what were the practicalities of performance, and what legacy as conductor did Brahms pass on to succeeding generations? Finally, the book gives an analytical overview of each work. One of the book's highlights is a reappraisal of the materials for Brahms's unfinished Fifth Symphony, situating them in relation to the broader question of Brahms's 'retirement' from composition. Brahms: Symphonist will be required reading for students and scholars of nineteenth-century and Romantic music, Johannes Brahms aficionados, as well as those interested in the development of the nineteenth-century symphony.
A History of India
Authors: Torri Michelguglielmo
Published: February 2025

Comprehensive and in-depth exploration of one of the oldest civilisations in the world, revealing the dynamic changes of its society, the links to the rest of the world and the underlying forces that led to India's significant role on today's global stage.

This three-volume history of India explores the dynamics at play in the subcontinent from the first human settlements to the 2014 general election.

The first volume examines the history of India from the first human settlements in the subcontinent up to the death of Emperor Aurangzeb in 1717. The political, military, economic and social developments are analysed against the backdrop represented by the rise, decline, fall and renaissance of flourishing urban civilizations. The book also demonstrates that, despite exceptions, an essentially harmonious coexistence prevailed between Hinduism and Islam, which often resulted in cooperation.

The second volume covers the collapse of the Mughal Empire to the end of colonialism in 1947. It analyses the features of the most important pre-colonial Indian states and the role played by British colonialism. Finally, the volume closely examines the rise and evolution of Indian nationalism, the reasons that forced the British to end their rule, and the causes of partition.

The third volume examines the political, economic and social evolution of India from independence to the 2014 general election. It argues that the period is subdivided into two main phases. The main features of the first phase were a secular democracy, a dominant-party system, and an economy where the state played a crucially important economic role. The second Neoliberal Age, was characterized by the eclipse of the dominant party system and the implementation of neoliberal economic policies, which sped up development but widened social and economic disparities, and also saw the rise of Hindutva.
The Painted Histories of the Welles-Ros Bible (Paris, BnF Fr.1)
Authors: Smith Kathryn A
Published: February 2025

A lavishly illustrated study of the Welles-Ros Bible, exploring its provenance, ownership, design and production.

At some point between c.1366 and 1373, the noblewoman Maud de Ros, widow of the Lincolnshire baron John de Welles, commissioned what is now the earliest surviving entire translated Bible from England. The Welles-Ros Bible contains the most complete edition of the Anglo-Norman Bible - a close, often literal translation of the Vulgate into insular French - as well as 82 narrative, highly personalized illustrations.

As this first long-form study of the manuscript argues, Maud commissioned the Bible to serve as a mirror, guide, family archive, dynastic chronicle, and source of spiritual instruction and consolation for her youthful son, John, 5th Baron Welles (1352-1421). Moreover, Maud played a key role in the production of the text edition and the design of many of the images. This book analyzes the manuscript, its text, and its vivid illuminations in the context of rich traditions of medieval biblical translation, production, and illustration, offering fresh insights into the roles of images in shaping and mediating scripture and religious experience. Adding to our understandings of life among the lower nobility in later fourteenth-century England, this cultural history of a major artefact also expands our picture of the cultural patronage and creative agency of laywomen, as well as medieval strategies of memorialization, responses to the Plague, and ideas about gender, identity, sexuality and the emotions.
Peace Not War: Traditions of Restorative Justice in Imperial Ethiopia, 1769 - 1960
Authors: Schaefer Charles
Published: February 2025

Examines one of the few documented early examples of restorative justice from Africa or Latin America.

With a writing system, Ethiopian emperors as well as pretenders to the throne chronicled their exploits including peace-building feats, and this book showcases and analyses historically verified instances, from as early as 1769, where restorative justice modalities were used to resolve conflict and bring peace to the country.

Peace not War traces Ethiopia's evolving understanding of restorative justice from the 'forgive and forget' approach which characterized the Zemene Mesafint (Era of the Princes), where perpetrators were exonerated, allowing them to recoup and build their armies to fight another day, to conditional forgiveness, recorded by the imperial court and dependent on atonement. Ethiopia's long history of experimentation with different forms of restorative justice demonstrates ingenuity, flexibility, and adaptability, but as the twentieth century progressed, workable, indigenous forms of restorative justice were sidelined by Western codified law that emphasized retribution.
A History of India Volume 3
Authors: Torri Michelguglielmo
Published: February 2025

Comprehensive and in-depth exploration of one of the oldest civilisations in the world, revealing the dynamic changes of its society, the links to the rest of the world and the underlying forces that led to India's significant role on today's global stage.

This is the third of a three-volume history of India, characterized by three main arguments: (a) Indian history has been crucially conditioned by the connections linking the Indian subcontinent to the remainder of the world; (b) Indian society was never static, but always crisscrossed by powerful currents of change; (c) colonialism caused both the crystallization of a 'traditional' society - which, in that shape, had never really existed before - and, at the same time, the rise of modernity.

This volume examines the political, economic and social evolution of India from independence to the 2014 general election. It argues that the period is subdivided into two main phases; the Longer Nehruvian Era, which extended well after Nehru's death in 1964, and the Neoliberal Age. The book shows that the Longer Nehruvian Era was articulated in two stages. In the first, which ended with Nehru's death, the features which characterized India until the late 1980s and early 1990s came into being. The main ones were a secular democracy, a dominant-party system, and an economy where the state played a crucially important economic role. The second stage of the longer Nehruvian era was characterized by the decline of these characterizing features, which, however, were still in place at the end of the 1980s. The years 1989-1991 - here examined in depth - saw the tumultuous transition to a new historical phase. This new phase, the Neoliberal Age, was characterized by the eclipse of the dominant party system and the implementation of neoliberal economic policies. The neoliberal policies sped up development but, in spite of some governmental efforts to protect the lower social strata, widened social and economic disparities.
The Neoliberal Age was also characterized by the rise of Hindutva. Already in power in the years 1999-2004, it made a comeback in the 2014 general election, whose detailed analysis concludes this volume.
Early Bilateral Corneal Ectasia after Photorefractive Keratectomy with Non Identifiable Preoperative Risk Factor: A Case Report
Authors: Alswailmi Farhan Khashim , Parrey Mujeeb Ur Rehman
Published: February 2025

Corneal ectasia following Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK) remains a relatively rare but significant complication; however, its onset can range from a few weeks to many years. This case report presents the earliest known onset of bilateral corneal ectasia after PRK in the absence of predictable preoperative risk factors. A 21-year-old male with stable refraction and no family history of keratoconus underwent an uneventful PRK for myopic astigmatism. Despite normal preoperative corneal tomography, bilateral ectasia was diagnosed within one week after surgery. This case emphasises the potential for rapid onset of corneal ectasia following PRK and highlights the importance of patient counseling regarding this early complication.
Knowledge on Child Protection among Children: A Study on Selected Schools in Munali Constituency of Lusaka, Zambia
Authors: Munyima Ui , Mubita Aurick , Mumba Moonga H. , Siamabele Brivery , Kanyamuna Vincent
Published: February 2025

Child abuse remains a significant problem affecting children globally, manifesting in various forms such as sexual, physical, emotional, and psychological abuse. Many children also face forced labor, prostitution, abduction, and trafficking. Motivated by the prevalence and persistence of these issues, this study focused on two key objectives: to examine the knowledge children in Munali Constituency have on child protection and to explore the sources of this knowledge. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative and qualitative methods (QUAL+quant). The study involved 328 pupils selected through systematic random sampling and four key informants purposively chosen. Data were collected using questionnaires, Key informant interviews and three focus group discussions. Quantitative data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and Excel, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. The findings revealed that children primarily received their knowledge of child protection from schools. However, this knowledge was largely inadequate to provide a clear understanding of child protection. Many children had limited knowledge of what child protection meant, including who to report abuse to, where to seek safety, and how to protect themselves from harm. The study concluded that children lack comprehensive knowledge of child protection and access to practical resources for reporting and addressing abuse. It recommended the need for more extensive and practical education on child protection, delivered through diverse sources, to ensure children are empowered to recognize, respond to, and prevent abuse effectively. The study faced limitations due to the vulnerability of children, as discussions about child protection could evoke emotional distress, especially for those with prior trauma. To mitigate this, researchers avoided intrusive questions and ensured a safe, supportive environment to promote participants' comfort.
Analysing Costs and Marketing Channels in Natural Rubber Marketing in Karnataka, India
Authors: K. N. Nithin, , S. B. Mahajanashetti,
Published: February 2025

This study examines the costs and marketing channels involved in the trade of natural rubber in Karnataka, the third-largest rubber-producing state in India. Conducted in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, the research focuses on the marketing arrangements for rubber latex and rubber sheets. The findings reveal that a significant majority (63.33%) of farmers prefer selling rubber sheets through Type-2 Rubber Producers’ Societies (RPS), which handle over 60% of the rubber production. The study highlights that transportation is the largest cost component across all channels. The study also identifies three primary marketing channels: Channel-1 (Farmer → Type-1 RPS → Manufacturers), Channel-2 (Farmer → Type-2 RPS → Marketing Co-operatives → Manufacturers), and Channel-3 (Farmer → Primary Dealer → Secondary Dealer → Manufacturers). The analysis of price spreads shows that Channel-1 provides the highest producer share in the consumer’s rupee (97.94%), followed by Channel-2 (95.72%) and Channel-3 (95.03%). The study underscores the need for optimized logistics and improved marketing efficiency.
Fostering Ethical and Competent Practices in Modern Clinical Psychology
Authors: Osman Mutaz , Simnani Madiha
Published: February 2025

Ensuring ethical and competent practice in clinical psychology is fundamental to delivering high-quality mental health services. This article investigates the interplay between professional competence and ethical standards through a comprehensive literature review and qualitative interviews with four experienced clinical psychologists from Malaysia, the UAE, Sudan, and Kashmir. Key focus areas include the importance of robust educational foundations, continuous professional development (CPD), effective supervision and mentorship, and proficiency in evidence-based therapeutic modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). Additionally, the report addresses core ethical challenges, including maintaining professional boundaries, ensuring confidentiality in the digital age, fostering cultural competency, and managing the ethical implications of emerging technologies. Findings highlight that a balanced integration of rigorous training, ongoing education, and ethical vigilance is crucial for enhancing clinical competence and upholding ethical standards. The report recommends implementing comprehensive training programs, improving accessibility to CPD, strengthening mentorship frameworks, and promoting self-care practices among practitioners to support sustained professional integrity and effective therapeutic outcomes. This research contributes to the field by providing actionable strategies for advancing both competency and ethical practices in clinical psychology, ensuring culturally sensitive and ethically responsible mental health care.
Dietary African Yam Bean Meal (Sphenostylis sternocarpa) as a Complementary Substitute for Soybean Meal in African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Fingerlings: Effect on Intestinal Histology and Zootechnical Performance
Authors: Kazeem Gbadamosi, Oluyemi , Oluchukwu Alao, Felicia
Published: February 2025

Background: The effects of soybean meal replacement with African yam bean meal on the intestinal histology and zootechnical performance of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus fingerlings was assessed in this study. One hundred and eighty C. gariepinus fingerlings weighing 13.62±0.12g were randomly distributed into plastic tanks at ten fish per tank in triplicate and fed six rations (treatments) representing graded replacement levels of soybean with African yam bean for 70 days. Soybean meal was replaced with African yam bean (AYB) at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% denoted as the control T1 (0%), T2 (20%), T3 (40%), T4 (60%), T5 (80%) and T6 (100%) respectively. Weekly weighing of fish was done and data collected was subjected to statistical analysis. Zootechnical performance was based on growth performance and nutrient utilization efficiency.
Results: After the feeding trials, tissue samples from the intestines were removed by dissection for histological study. Tissue sections were compared after examination under the microscope for differences in the morphology of the tissues. The histology of the intestine of fish fed African yam bean meal included diets showed apparently normal intestinal villi and enterocytes in T2, T3 and T4. Histology of the intestine of C. gariepinus in T6 had disorganized enterocytes which induced enteritis in the fish. The result on growth performance and nutrient utilisation showed that body weight gain, specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio were significantly different from each other (P< 0.05). The best feed conversion ratio was recorded in the control.
Conclusions: This study showed that African yam bean can replace soybean up to 60% in the diet of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus for required growth without any negative effect on the gut histology of the fish.
Therapeutic Potential of Ginger-supplemented Diet in Reversing Lead-induced Nephrotoxicity
Authors: Lawal Muhsinat Bisola , Hassan Luqman Adepoju , Ojo Foluso Olamide , Adetoro Emmanuela Kehinde , Lawal Rasheed Tunde , Olayemi Olamide Samuel , Oladele Oluwabukola Margaret , Aderibigbe Oluseyi Yemi
Published: February 2025

Background: The flowering plant ginger, scientifically known as Zingiber officinale offers numerous health benefits, including immune support. Its bioactive compounds such as shogaols and gingerols, contribute to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
Objective: To access ginger (Zingiber officinale) as a protective agent against Nephrotoxicity induced by Lead by accessing the levels of inflammatory markers (Interleukin -6, Tumor Necrosis Factor), kidney function (Creatinine), and general kidney morphology.
Methods: Twenty-four (24) female Wistar rats weighing 150-170g were carefully divided into four groups (6 per group) and housed in plastic cages. The groups were Groups A (Control), B (the Lead), C [Lead and ginger (1%)], and D [Lead and ginger (5%)]. The rats were treated for 28 days, the control and the Lead groups were fed with normal rat diets and distilled water, while the Lead and ginger group was fed with ginger supplemented diet.
On day 29, the rats were sacrificed using cervical dislocation following animal ethical guidelines. Blood samples were collected from the apex of the heart (intracardiac puncture), stored in a heparinized bottle, and centrifuged to undergo further analysis (creatinine, interleukin 6, and Tumor Necrosis Factor). The kidney was removed and fixed in 10% neutral buffered formalin. The organ was then processed for histological analysis.
Results: The results showed a statistically significant increase (P<0.05) in the levels of creatinine, Tumour Necrotic Factor Alpha (TNF-alpha), and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in group B compared to group A. While a statistically significant decrease (P<0.05) was observed in groups C and D compared to group B.  Histomorphological distortion was observed in group B compared to group A, while the lesion was reversed in groups C and D.    
Conclusion: This study found that ginger has substantial health benefits for kidney tissues, particularly in nephrotoxicity caused by lead. Its ability to preserve kidney tissue, decrease inflammation, and improve kidney function highlights its significance as a treatment option for preventing or lessening kidney harm associated with toxic substances or underlying health issues. Further investigations are necessary to explore the possible adverse effects or contraindications that could be associated with ginger supplements or ginger-supplemented diets in humans.
Assessment of the Seed Health Status of Selected Leafy and Fruit Vegetables in Bangladesh
Authors: Arfin Tanjina , Alam Md. Shahinoor , Masrur Talha Zubair , Amin Mehedi , Akter Karima , Ahmmed Abu Noman Faruq , Kayess Md. Omar
Published: February 2025

The seed health status of leafy vegetable crops, such as spinach and Indian spinach, and fruit vegetable crops, including bottle gourd, sweet gourd, and sponge gourd, was studied in the Seed Health Laboratory (SHL) at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, during 2015. Loose seeds for each crop were collected from various sources at the wholesale seed market in Dhaka. Two seed health testing methods, namely the inspection of dry seeds and the blotter method, were conducted following ISTA guidelines. The prevalence of seed-borne fungi in different vegetable seeds varied significantly depending on seed categories and sources. Seven types of seed-borne fungi were identified across the seeds of the five vegetable crops: Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Chaetomium sp., Rhizopus spp., Nigrospora sp., Bipolaris sp., and Fusarium sp. Among these, seven fungi were detected in leafy vegetable seeds, while six were recorded in fruit vegetable seeds. Using the blotter method, seeds collected from Alo Bij Vander exhibited the highest prevalence of seed-borne fungal infections in spinach and Indian spinach, whereas seeds from Bismillah Seed Store showed the lowest prevalence of infections. The prevalence of seed-borne fungi was highest in sweet gourds and lowest in Indian spinach. Overall, the findings indicate that the seed health status of loose vegetable seeds was unsatisfactory. However, further studies with more representative seed samples collected from Siddik Bazaar, Dhaka, are needed to provide a clearer understanding of the seed health status across different seed sources.
Combination Nutrient Management for Sustainable Economically Effect on Onion (Allium cepa L.) Seed Production at Maitsebri, Northern, Ethiopia
Authors: Asgele Kiros
Published: February 2025

Field experiment was conducted at Shire-Maitsebri Agricultural Research Center research station, located in northern Ethiopia to study the combination nutrient management for sustainable economically effect on onion (Allium cepa L.) seed production during 2016/17 dry season under irrigation. Bombay Red onion variety was used for the study. The treatments consisted five combination of NP fertilizer rates {0, 25 %, 50 %, 75 % and 100 % of recommended NP fertilizer rates (69 kg N and 92 kg P2O5 ha-1)} and four rates of vermicompost (0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 t ha-1). The experiment was laid out in a factorial arrangement using randomized complete block design with three replications. Data were collected on onion seed production and its partial budget analysis. The highest seed yield per hectare (1462.5 kg ha-1) were obtained from plants grown at 75 % of RDF with vermicompost at 2.5 t ha-1 which were about 263% higher than seed yield from unfertilized control plot. The highest net benefit (Birr 443693.5 ha-1) was recorded from application of 75 % of RDF with 2.5 t ha-1 vermicompost. It can, thus, be concluded that the combined application of 75 % of RDF with vermicompost at 2.5 t ha-1 can improve yield and quality of seed of Bombay Red onion variety in the study area.
Pathogenic Fungi Communities in Contrasted Yam Field Soils are Dominated by The Genus Fusarium in Centre Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: Ghislaine Kouadjo-Zézé Claude , Anicet Ebou , Marie-Stéphanie Kouadio Aka Niangoran , Romain Kouakou Fossou , Jacob Nandjui , Adolphe Zézé
Published: February 2025

Below-ground pathogenic fungi of yam, a globally important food crop are shown to be responsible of field and storage diseases and as such are important threats to yam health. However, yam soil pathogenic fungi community composition and soil determinants remain unclear. Here, we explored the effects of soil physicochemical characteristics on soil fungal phytopathogens in contrasted yam fields. Illumina miseq was used to characterize pathogenic fungi communities in yam field soils. In this work, we hypothesise that pathogenic community composition could be linked to specific physicochemical properties within yam contrasted soils. Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) and variance partitioning were used to identify the soil properties that significantly influence pathogenic fungi community compositions within the three sites in a yam production zone. The results have shown that despite the fact that the three sites exhibited contrasted soils grouped in two types according to physicochemical parameters, four ubiquitous genera including Fusarium, Penicillium, Aspergillus and Trichoderma were identified within pathogenic fungi communities in yam field soils, with Fusarium as the most dominant core genus. Soil type determined the distribution of pathogenic fungi communities in yam field soils, and this effect was attributed to soil properties related to yam soil cation exchange capacity (CEC) and silt content as well as three micronutrients including Na, N and total phosphorus.
Role of Phosphorous Fertilizers and P Solubilizers on Growth, Yield and Economics of Different Cultivars of Gain Amaranth (Amaranthus hypochodriacus)
Authors: S. R. Anand , P. R. Somashekarappa, , H.M. Atheekur Rehman,
Published: February 2025

A Field experiment was carried out for two years during Kharif season 2018 and 2019 at Main Research Station (MRS), Hebbal, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore. The pooled data of two years indicated that among the varieties, grain yield was significantly higher with Suvarna (1839 kg ha-1) as compared to KBGA-4 (1671 kg ha-1). Among P levels, significantly higher grain yield was recorded with application 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + PSB @ 2.5 kg ha-1 + VAM @ 2.5 kg-1ha soil application + RD of NK&S (848 kg ha-1) which was on par with RDF (2091 Kg ha-1) and 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 + PSB @ 2.5 kg ha-1 + VAM @ 2.5 kg ha-1 soil application +RD of NK&S (1894 kg ha-1). However, significantly higher yield advantage and agronomic efficiency of P were recorded with application 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 + PSB @ 2.5 kg ha-1 + VAM @ 2.5 kg ha-1 soil application + RD of NK&S (848 kg and 28.26, respectively) which was on par with 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + PSB @ 2.5 kg/ha + VAM @ 2.5 kg ha-1 soil application (522 kg and 26.12, respectively) and Recommended dose of fertilizer (NPKS). Similarly, plant height and panicle length was followed the same trend. Significantly higher gross returns, net returns and B:C ratio were recorded with application of 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + PSB @ 2.5 kg ha-1 + VAM @ 2.5 kg ha-1 soil application + RD of NK&S (Rs. 110970 ha-1, Rs.85381 ha-1 and 4.34, respectively) which was on par with RDF (NPKS) and 20 kg P2O5 ha-1 + PSB @ 2.5 kg ha-1 + VAM @ 2.5 kg ha-1 soil application as compared to other treatments. Hence, application of 30 kg P2O5 ha-1 + PSB @ 2.5 kg ha-1 + VAM @ 2.5 kg ha-1 soil application + RD of NK&S is optimum for higher grain yield in grain amaranth.