bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Prevalence and Distribution of (Biopsied) Oral Lesions in an Oral Surgery Unit in East Malaysia
Authors: Wong LS , Seow JD , Lim SK , Chieng YL
Published: January 2025

The prevalence of an oral lesion varies by geographic regions. The Dental Specialist Clinic, Hospital Sibu in Malaysia is one of the main referral centers in Sarawak. The aim of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and distribution of common referred oral lesions to Dental Specialist Clinic, Sibu Hospital from year 2006 until 2011. A total of 187 histopathological records of oral tissue biopsied that fulfil the inclusion and exclusion criteria were reviewed and analysed. Oral and maxillofacial diseases were seen more in female (female to male ratio was 1.5:1), young adults (28%) and among Ibans (43%). Majority of biopsy specimens were of soft tissue origin (70%). The most common biopsied lesions were inflammatory lesions (25.1%). Tumours formed 32.6% of the entire sample with malignant tumour constitute of 12.8%. Other common histopathological diagnoses comprised intrabony and soft tissue cysts, odontogenic tumour, benign tumour, benign fibroosseous lesions, and premalignant lesions. Future population study is required to clarify the epidemiology of oral lesions in Malaysia.
Ten-year Review of Salivary Gland Tumours at Two Referral Centres in Malaysia
Authors: NP Kipli , WM Mustafa , KK Tay
Published: January 2025

Objective:

To determine the pattern of occurrence of salivary gland tumours in Hospital Umum Sarawak and Hospital Kuala Lumpur over ten years.

Design:

Cross-sectional retrospective study.

Methods:

Medical records of patients presenting with tumours of the salivary glands in the two centres from 2000 to 2009 were reviewed. Demographic, clinical and histologic information data was analysed.

Results:

Overall there was higher frequency of malignant tumours (66.7%). Females were more frequently affected and 15/36 cases (41.7%) presented with malignant tumours. Indians (5.6%) showed low prevalence compared to Malays, Chinese and Bumiputera Sarawak. Bumiputera Sarawak were also more likely to present with malignant rather than benign salivary gland tumours with 8/10 tumours encountered being malignant.

Pleomorphic adenoma (30.6%) was the most common diagnosis. The most frequent malignancy was mucoepidermoid carcinoma (27.8%) followed by adenoid cystic carcinoma (16.6%) and adenocarcinoma not otherwise specified (13.9%), polymorphous low-grade adenocarcinoma, salivary duct carcinoma and carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma.

Majority of the tumours occurred on the maxilla/palate (21/36 cases) with malignant tumours comprising twice as many as benign tumours. Out of a total of 36 cases, only 4 cases involved the parotid glands.

Surgery was the primary mode of treatment followed by combination of surgery and radiotherapy. More than half the cases reported absence of disease upon last review. A third of the cases (11/36) were lost to follow-up.

Conclusion:

Females showed higher frequency of salivary gland tumours with preponderance for malignant tumours. There is racial variation with Indians presenting with low prevalence. Pleomorphic adenoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma are the most common benign and malignant salivary gland tumours respectively. The main treatment option is surgery for both benign and malignant tumours. The authors proposed a larger scale study including other centres and standardized histopathological reporting for a true relative frequency of the distribution.
Oral Submucous Fibrosis
Authors: Goel Saurabh , Ahmed Junaid , Singh Mohit Pal , Nahar Prashant
Published: January 2025

Background:

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a precancerous condition associated with the use of betel/areca nut in various forms. It is characterized by restricted mouth opening, tongue protrusion and cheek rigidity.

Purpose:

To correlate the clinical staging with histopathological grading in OSMF patients.

Materials and Methods:

A hospital-based study was conducted on 100 OSMF cases. A detailed history of each patient was recorded along with clinical examination. Punch biopsy was performed for histopathological correlation. Clinical staging of the disease in terms of the ability to open one's mouth was correlated with histopathological grading.

Results:

The male to female ratio of OSMF cases was 5:1. All forms of areca nut products were associated with OSMF. Chewing of panmasala was associated with early presentation of OSMF as compared to chewing of other products of areca nut.

Conclusion:

In the present study, statistical analysis showed that there is no significant correlation between clinical staging and histopathological grading. The possibility of difference in the severity and extent of fibrosis in different regions of the oral mucosa and involved muscles were considered as contributory factors for this variation.
Giant Sialolith in the Hilum of Right Submandibular Duct
Authors: Jalil Norma Abd , Siew Han Fong , Kuan Jeremy Lee Ju , Adnan Khairulzaman
Published: January 2025

Sialolithiasis is a common disease of the salivary glands associated with the formation of stones within the duct or gland structure. A 40 year old woman with an unusual sized sialolith in the hilum of the right submandibular duct is described. She presented with relatively mild symptoms despite the size of the sialolith. Excision of the gland and stone were performed via a cervical approach under general anaesthesia. A review of previously reported surgical approaches and their complications was done.
Ultrasound Monitoring of Distraction Wound
Authors: Sathyanarayanan R.
Published: January 2025

Introduction:

Ultrasound has been shown to be a noninvasive efficient and inexpensive way to evaluate distraction wound healing. Other methods include clinical examination, plain radiographs, computed tomography, dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). These techniques are expensive and obligate the patient to serial radiation exposure. The purpose of this study was to confirm the feasibility of ultrasound to evaluate mandibular distraction wound.

Materials and Methods:

Distraction devices were placed via submandibular incision in ten patients. The protocol consisted of 5 day latency and distraction rates of 1mm/day. Ultrasound and radiographs were used to evaluate the distraction wound during third and fifth week of fixation.

Results:

Plain radiographs taken during third and fifth week of fixation showed that desired gap was achieved and maintained. Ultrasound showed regions of new bone formation in the distraction wound.

Conclusion:

The result of the present study indicates that ultrasound is potentially useful for the assessment of bone formation in distraction wound which favours early removal of the distractor rather than waiting till the plain radiographs reveal new evidence of bone formation.
Oral squamous cell carcinoma in young patients
Authors: Jalil Norma Abd , Maarof Fadzira
Published: January 2025

Introduction:

Oral squamous cell carcinoma accounts as a major oncological problem worldwide. It commonly affects elderly men and rarely occurred in young patients. This study evaluated the clinical and pathological findings, treatment and outcome of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in patients aged 40 years old and below in our centre.

Methodology:

Patients with OSCC treated at Queen Elizabeth Hospital from 2003 to August 2013 were identified. The medical files were reviewed and data were collected. Results: There were 12 patients with slight female preponderance (female-male ratio 1.4: 1) and the tongue (75%) was the common site affected. Most of the patients had risk factors and only four patients did not. Five patients were treated with surgery and adjuvant radiotherapy, four patients received surgical treatment only, one patient underwent chemotherapy, one patient received palliative treatment and one patient refused any form of treatment. At the time of analysis, 4 patients are still under follow up.

Conclusion:

Although oral cancer in young patient is rare, most of our patients were diagnosed at advanced stage. It is strongly recommended to increase public awareness and more intensive screening programme to prevent OSCC with early detection and early treatment intervention.
Osteoradionecrosis cured with Pentoxifyllin and Tocopherol
Authors: Nabil Syed , Rajandram Rama Krsna , Nordin Rifqah , Jabar Nazimi Abdul
Published: January 2025

The radiation induced fibroatrophic process was recently proposed as an explanation on the pathophysiological pathway for the development of osteoradionecrosis. The use of pentoxifylline and tocopherol has been suggested to be able to reverse this process. The authors report a case of a longstanding osteoradionecrosis in a 60 years old male. The patient was successfully cured after six month of pentoxifylline 400mg and tocopherol 500IU twice a day.
Calcifying Ghost Cell Odontogenic Cyst in Mandible – A Rare Case Report
Authors: Sathyanarayanan R , Suresh V , Shyamala M , Monica S
Published: January 2025

Calcifying ghost cell odontogenic cystis a unique and relatively uncommon odontogenic lesion characterised by diverse clinical, radiological and biological behaviour. It can exhibit a solid neoplasm or a cyst or sometimes both. It is rare developmental odontogenic cyst with notable presence of histopathological features which include a cystic lining demonstrating “ghost epithelial cells”. We report a case of calcifying ghost cell odontogenic cyst in mandible with an aggressive behaviour treated in an aggressive manner.
Distraction osteogenesis in the craniomaxillofacial region. Part II
Authors: Mahdah S , Bariah K , Azmi MN , Saleh I , Nabil S , Hariri F
Published: January 2025

Distraction osteogenesis (DO) has been revolutionized in the past 20 years. Ever since the technique was introduced by Ilizarov, the application of this technique has been extended into various regions in human body including the craniomaxillofacial region. Extensive research in various aspects of this technique has been done to provide scientific evidence and better understanding thus optimizing the surgical outcome to patients. The superiority of DO in overcoming limitations in conventional surgery resulted in greater application in treating deformities in the craniomaxillofacial region. This article, the second part of a two part series on DO's application in the craniomaxillofacial region, emphasizes on the clinical aspects of DO focusing on the peri-operative issues, important surgical aspects, related complications and reliability of this technique. Understanding of the clinical and technical components of DO will ensure favourable and predictable outcomes when DO becomes the treatment of choice.
Untreated Mandibular Condyle Fracture Resulting in TMJ Ankylosis in A Child
Authors: Lee JJK , Lee CW
Published: January 2025

Management of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) ankylosis in children has always been fraught with challenges for the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon. The most common cause of TMJ ankylosis remains an undiagnosed or untreated condyle fracture of the mandible. Various treatment modalities have been discussed in the literature, the two most common b eing the gap arthroplasty (GA) and interpositional arthroplasty (IA).

In our case here, a 10 year old boy presented with complaint of inability to open his mouth after suffering a fall on his chin when he was 8 months of age. Investigations revealed a radiopaque mass at the left TMJ region signifying a complete bony ankylosis. Following a gap arthroplasty procedure, his mouth opening increased from 1mm to 20mm. He was subsequently put on a strict physiotherapy and jaw exercise regime. At final review 6 months post-op, his mouth opening was noted to have stabilised at 20mm.

TMJ ankylosis is an unfortunate, though rare, sequelae of traumatic injury to the mandibular condyle. Early diagnosis and subsequent close monitoring through regular follow up is essential to prevent or reduce the likelihood of an ankylosis developing. The treatment modality, be it GA or IA, should, first of all, provide sufficient passive opening and secondly, be supplemented with an aggressive regime of jaw exercises. However, all patients and parents should be warned of the possibility of reankylosis and be kept under strict follow up.
Bernard – von Burrow Webster Flap for reconstruction of midline lower lip defect
Authors: Ismail MRY , Mustafa WMW , al Junid STSA , Hanim NI
Published: January 2025

Carcinoma of the lip is a common problem encountered by clinicians. Surgical intervention is usually recommended. Full thickness defects of up to one third of the lip can be closed by primary closure with excellent results. Local and distant flaps often required in larger defects. Due to the functional and aesthetic importance of the lip, the reconstruction of resulting defect is challenging. We report our experience of using Bernard von Burrow Webster flap to reconstruct larger lower lip defect after ablative surgery in a patient with Clear Cell Carcinoma of minor saliva gland at the lower lip region.
A Multi Center Clinicopathologic Study of Intraoral Minor Salivary Gland Tumours in Malaysia
Authors: Mustafa WM , Jalil NA , Kipli NP , Tay KK
Published: January 2025

Intraoral minor salivary gland tumours (MSGT) are uncommon, with geographic variations in frequency and distribution. This study aims to analyze the clinicopathologic features of these tumours in the Malaysian population. Three major oromaxillofacial referral centers in Malaysia were selected. These centers are Department of Oral Surgery, Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Department of Oral Surgery Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Kota Kinabalu and Department of Oral Pathology Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching. All cases histopathologically recorded as intraoral MSGT from 2000 to 2012 were evaluated retrospectively with regard to patient's age, ethnicity, gender and tumour location and type. Out of 76 cases of intraoral MSGT, 40.8% were benign and 59.2% were malignant. Pleomorphic adenoma and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) were the most common benign and malignant tumours, respectively. The palate was the most common site of involvement (46.1%). Male to female ratio was 1:1.8. The mean age of the patients was 45.25±17.5 years for benign and 47.1±18.1 years for malignant tumours. The indigenous people of Sabah and the Malaysian Chinese were most likely to present with intraoral MSGT. Intraoral MSGTs in the present study shows many characteristics similar to other studies.
Extranasopharyngeal Angiofibroma
Authors: Mahdah Saridah , Oo Aung Lwin , Kadir Kathreena
Published: January 2025

Extranasopharyngeal angiofibroma (ENA) is a rare entity. It is a highly vascular benign tumour, which can be locally aggressive. The distinct feature of ENA from nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is the site of origin is away from the nasopharyngeal region. Surgical removal remains as the first line of treatment. Being vascular in nature, it carries the risk of excessive bleeding intra-operatively. The role of embolization prior to surgical excision has been highlighted and delivers tremendous help in controlling the excessive blood loss. Despite the rarity of ENA, inclusion of ENA as differential diagnosis of head and neck tumour should not be missed. We report a case of ENA of maxilla with bony erosion that was initially diagnosed of ossifying fibroma.
Do Oral Bacteria pose a danger to the integrity of the Blood Brain Barrier?
Authors: Crean StJohn , Pritchard Anna Barlach , Alder Jane E.
Published: January 2025

This review will explore the emerging link between oral bacteria and brain inflammatory changes. The authors discuss in detail how oral pathogens access the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) potentially leading to a significant change in its essential brain protecting capacity. We will first describe the current thinking on the structures and mechanisms which contribute to the protective properties of the BBB. We will explore the barrier's various functions exploring how it provides protection to brain tissues via exclusion of external agents, but also via expulsion of cerebral by products, particularly via transmembrane transportation. We will then describe how systemic inflammatory conditions can affect and disrupt this anatomical and physiological arrangement, highlighting the differences in those visible to observation and those that manifest functionally. Finally we will summarise the current evidence around how oral bacteria may induce systemic inflammation secondary to oral bacteria gaining access to the systemic circulation, and how this may act to bring out the changes at the BBB, recognised to weaken the privileged position brain tissue expects to enjoy. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons should consider these effects following invasive oro-facial procedures.
Radial Forearm Free Flap Reconstruction of the Upper Lip
Authors: Yahya Atika Farrah , Mustafa Wan Mahadzir Bin Wan , Zakaria Zairizam bin
Published: January 2025

Reconstruction of the total lip defect can be very challenging. Like-with-like tissue reconstruction is almost impossible if more than 80% of total lip is lost. Thus, the microvascular free flap is the option of choice, with the aim of preventing microstomia and to maintain oral intake. The radial forearm free flap (RFFF) which is also known as the Chinese flap was used in this case. We report a 64-year old lady who was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the upper lip. Total lip resection was performed due to large tumour size. The defect was reconstructed with RFFF. The result was promising in terms of function.
Case Series
Authors: Shan Chia Hui , Ying Hey Jing , Audimulam Harshinie , Fong Low Li , Balasundram Sathesh
Published: January 2025

The question of whether suture materials play a role in the occurrence of wound infection has always been the subject of debate ever since it was first introduced into the market. Once suture material becomes contaminated, local mechanisms against the microbial biofilm becomes ineffective. Triclosan coated polyglactin 910 (Vicryl Plus) sutures is believed to inhibit microbial colonization of the suture. We report a series of 10 cases of exaggerated tissue reaction at suture sites with delayed wound healing in which coated polyglactin suture material was used in patients sustaining laceration wounds. Surgical excision of the granulation tissue with residual suture materials was required for 9 cases whereas suture extrusion occurred in the remaining 1 case. All wounds healed uneventfully after the secondary procedure. The role of triclosan coated suture material as a potential irritant should be explored further as suture granulomas may be preventable by using the appropriate suture material.
A Simple and Lightweight Browser-based 3-Dimensional Visualization Tool
Authors: Nazimi Abd Jabar , Nabil Syed , Ramli Roszalina
Published: January 2025

Objectives:

This study aimed to describe a method of using a simple and lightweight browser-based visualization tool for viewing of a 3-dimensional (3D) reconstructed computed tomography (CT) image based on set of Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) data.

Methods:

First, the DICOM data was imported and converted into Standard Tessellation Language (stl) in binary format. Next, it is uploaded to a web-based viewing tool prepared using the HyperText Markup Language (HTML) script licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution.

Results:

Large DICOM datasets could be used in the stl format on a simple, lightweight online visualization tool for 3D viewing. It uses the drag and drop feature and does not require any program installation. No plugin or file upload is required.

Conclusion:

This simple technique showed the merit of a simple, lightweight internet script for easy 3D online viewing. It provides advantages in the form of portability, no software requirement as well as handling of a relatively small size of data. However, although it is deemed sufficient for online 3D viewing, clinicians should be aware that this method only serves as a visualization platform and may not replace the actual need for radiological assessment, both in 2 or 3 dimensional environments as it may require further validation processes. Nevertheless, this technique may serve as a unique platform for 3D image viewing for daily use by clinicians and for communicating with their patients.
Dental implant in the rehabilitation of an adult cleft patient
Authors: Mustafa Wan Mahadzir , Ibrahim Ariffien
Published: January 2025

Introduction:

Successful dental rehabilitation of the cleft lip and palate patient can be difficult to achieve without careful planning and sustained effort. A case is reported where tertiary osteoplasty using cancellous autogenous iliac bone graft was performed as dental implant site development prior to restoration. This was followed by the insertion of a root analogue dental implant and later the provision of suprastructure. Good long term results were obtained in this case. The success of this case supports the use of iliac bone to enhance alveolar ridge width prior to dental implant placement in a skeletally mature patient. A dental implant placed in the bone grafted area of a cleft patient is an effective long-term solution to replace missing upper lateral incisor tooth in an adult patient with alveolar cleft.
Retrospective Study on Facial Fractures in Adults – Clinical Research
Authors: Shuen Apphia Ooi Wei , Hong Cosmas Yong Liong , Ismail Hanisah Binti , Ting Low Ting , George Nithia Susan , Hanapi Nur Sulwana , Din Shah Kamal Jamal , Mustafa Wan Mahadzir
Published: January 2025

A facial fracture is the breakage of a bone in the skull. This can lead to functional and esthetic disability. Long-term data analysis is instrumental in evaluating current preventive measures and the need for improvement or change. This study aims to record and describe the demographical and etiological pattern for facial fractures presenting to Hospital Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Relevant data comprising of patient demographic and clinical details were collected through clinical records from the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Department, Hospital Kuala Lumpur using forms in a retrospective manner from 2010-2015. The data collected were reviewed and analysed using SPSS v.23. A total of 1044 cases were recorded, of which 904 (86.6%) were male. Predominance is seen in the 21-30 years age group (40.3%) and Malay ethnicity (50.9%). Road traffic accidents (702 cases, 67.2%) were the leading cause, with 570 cases (81.2%) involving motorcycles, of these 70.4% occurred in ages below 30 years. Mandible involvement is seen in 624 cases (59.8%), zygoma in 269 cases (25.8%) and maxilla in 191 cases (18.3%). 805 (77.1%) of cases sustained single bone fractures while another 239 (22.9%) had fractures in multiple bones. There is a significant association between GCS less than 8/15 with sustaining multiple fractures (p<0.01). Highest involvements were seen in males and the 21-30 years age group. Road traffic accidents were the most common cause of facial fractures. Most commonly affected bones were the mandible, zygoma and maxilla respectively. Further education and prevention efforts targeted at risk groups are needed to prevent and reduce facial fractures.
Orthokeratinized Odontogenic Cyst of The Mandible
Authors: Khalik Nor Izzaty Abd , Ismail Muhammad Ridwan Yeop , Ismail Sumairi
Published: January 2025

Orthokeratinized odontogenic cyst (OOC) is a relatively rare developmental odontogenic cyst that occurs in the jaw bones. It was initially defined by Wright in 1981 as Orthokeratinized variant of Odontogenic Keratocyst (OKC) with distinct clinicopathological features. After undergoing a few revisions, OOC was finally considered its own entity as another type of odontogenic cyst in 2010. The OOC may appear as a multilocular radiolucency at the posterior mandible that may be suggestive of ameloblastoma or OKC and can be mistakenly diagnosed clinically as a Dentigerous Cyst due to involvement of an impacted tooth. As the recurrence rate of OOC is low, the choice mode of treatment is enucleation. The purpose of this article is to present a case of OOC arising in the right angle of mandible which is associated with an impacted lower right wisdom tooth.
Anatomy of the Descending Palatine Artery Pertaining to LeFort I Maxillary Osteotomy
Authors: Rajaran Jothi Raamahlingam , Mohd Nur Sabrina , Sabeth Siti Masyitah Solehah Abdul
Published: January 2025

Maintaining an intact descending palatine artery during LeFort I osteotomy procedure is essential to avoid excessive intraoperative bleeding and preserving vascularity of the osteotomized segments. The aim of the study was to understand the anatomical position of the descending palatine artery pertaining to LeFort I osteotomy. The study was also designed to identify if there are any differences between the right versus left sides and male versus female samples. This was a cross sectional study which included 124 CBCT images done from 2015 to 2018. The acquired images were screened based on inclusion and exclusion criteria; 100 images were included in this study. This was followed by standardized measurements of 1) Anterior length (AL) 2) Width of pterygoid plate (WPP) 3) Depth of descending palatine canal (DDP) 4) Distance from descending palatine canal to root surface of upper second molar (DPR) and followed by statistical analysis. The mean distance of AL was 34.32mm with a shortest recorded distance of 30.61mm. Mean distance of WPP was 8.60mm with a shortest recorded distance of 5.47mm. The mean length of DPP was 13.23mm with a shortest recorded distance of 9.0mm. The mean distance of DPR was 7.42mm with a shortest recorded distance of 3.0mm. No significant differences were noted in right versus left measurements and male versus female measurements. No significant differences in distance were seen between gender and sides. Minimal distances in each reading can be used as a guide for ‘safe distance’ during LeFort 1 osteotomy.
Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma Arising in the Accessory Parotid Gland
Authors: Maisi Steve , Nordin Rifqah , Nabil Syed
Published: January 2025

Accessory parotid gland (APG) tumour is a rare pathology located at the mid-cheek or infra-zygomatic region. APG is usually away and separated from the main parotid gland. APG lies on the masseter muscle anteriorly and empties into the Stensen's duct via multiple accessory ducts. We report a case of mid cheek swelling associated with APG. In the literature, the prevalence of accessory parotid gland tumours is around 1% to 7.7%. High suspicion is needed for the diagnosis of accessory parotid gland tumours because of its rarity.
Host immune response as predictive and prognostic indicators for oral cancer
Authors: Rean Wong Gou , Ramanathan Anand , Shirney Lim , Zulkipli Luqman Hakim Bin , Chun Tan Guan , Azmin Wan Nur Aishah Binti Wan , Zain Rosnah Binti
Published: January 2025

The prognostic value of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and lymphocytic host response (LHR) in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of TIL and LHR levels in OSCC and explore the LHR role in the development of oral cancer by assessing the association of LHR patterns in OPMD and OSCC.

Methods:

This study examined 40 OSCC and 19 OPMD Formalin Fixed Paraffin Embedded (FFPE) tissues from Malaysian Oral Cancer Database and Tissue Bank System (MOCDTBS) coordinated by Oral Cancer Research and Coordinating Centre, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya (OCRCC-UM). The predictor variables were the TIL level and LHR pattern. The main outcome assessment parameter was overall survival.

Result:

Nineteen (19) OSCC tissues (47.5%) showed high level of TIL, eleven (11) OSCC tissues (27.5%) and three (3) OPMD tissues (15.8%) showed strong LHR pattern. Strong and intermediate LHR profile is associated with OSCC (p<0.01) in comparison to OPMD. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that both strong LHR and high TIL were prognostic factors for overall survival (p=0.020 and p=0.014 respectively)

Conclusion:

Both LHR and TIL showed its potential as prognostic indicators for OSCC in this study. However, their role as independent prognostic indicators is yet to be shown in this preliminary study, thus recommending future studies to explore this aspect of research with a larger sample size.
Many partitions of mass assignments
Authors: Blagojević Pavle V. M. , Crabb Michael C.
Published: January 2025

In this paper, extending the recent work of the authors with Calles Loperena and Dimitrijević Blagojević, we give a general and complete treatment of problems of partition of mass assignments with prescribed arrangements of hyperplanes on Euclidean vector bundles. Using a new configuration test map scheme, as well as an alternative topological framework, we are able to reprove known results, extend them to arbitrary bundles as well as to put various types of constraints on the solutions. Moreover, the developed topological methods allow us to give new proofs and extend results of Guth and Katz, Schnider, and Soberón and Takahashi. In this way we place all these results under one “roof”.
Двумерная парижская задача о разорении и вычисление констант типа Пикандса
Authors: Jasnovidov Grigori Aleksandrovich , Shemendyuk Aleksandr
Published: January 2025

В работе исследуется асимптотика одновременной парижской вероятности разорения двумерного процесса риска, определенного дробным броуновским движением. Этот процесс риска моделирует процесс прибыли страховой и перестраховочной компаний, где страховые выплаты распределяются между ними в заданных пропорциях. Мы также предлагаем способ моделирования констант типа Пикандса и Питербарга, появляющихся в исследуемой асимптотике вероятности разорения.
Ветвящийся процесс в случайной среде, начинающийся с большого числа частиц
Authors: Afanasyev Valeriy Ivanovich
Published: January 2025

Пусть задана последовательность критических ветвящихся процессов в случайной среде $Z^{(k)}=\{ Z_i^{(k)}, i=0,1,…\}$, $k=1,2,…$, отличающихся друг от друга только численностью $k$ начального поколения. Предположим, что дисперсия $\sigma^2$ шага сопровождающего случайного блуждания конечна и положительна. Зафиксируем $x\in (0,+\infty)$. Положим $Z^{(n,x)}=Z^{(m_n(x))}$, где $m_1(x),m_2(x),…$ - последовательность натуральных чисел, причем $\ln m_n(x) \sim \sigma \sqrt{n} x$ при $n\to\infty$. Доказаны предельные теоремы о моменте вырождения процесса $Z^{(n,x)}$, о нормированном процессе с непрерывным временем, построенном по $Z^{(n,x)}$ и о нормированном логарифме процесса $Z^{(n,x)}$.
Engaging Minds, Inspiring Motivation: The Impact of Integrating OER in Informal Learning Environments
Authors: Ndiangui Peter , Cooke Rachel , Koklu Onder
Published: January 2025

This qualitative case study, conducted at a university in Southwest Florida, investigates the transformative role of Informal Learning Environments (ILEs) in enhancing student engagement and motivation. Examining diverse ILEs—including home settings, university spaces beyond classrooms, museums, community centers, malls, and digital platforms—the research highlights how these environments spark curiosity and promote self-directed learning. The study engaged twenty-nine participants, exploring how ILEs foster inquiry, critical thinking, and innovative problem-solving through dynamic, interactive experiences. Grounded in self-directed learning and constructivist theories, the research also examines the integration of Open Educational Resources (OERs) and informal strategies such as Autohistoria Teoría (learning through personal narrative), autodidacticism (self-guided learning), peripatetic learning (movement and dialogue) and several others. Semi-structured interviews captured qualitative insights into participants’ experiences. Findings reveal that ILEs significantly enhances subject-specific knowledge, nurture intrinsic motivation, and supports lifelong learning. By empowering learners to take ownership of their education, ILEs foster deeper engagement and a sustained passion for learning. While the sample size limits generalizability, the study provides actionable recommendations, encouraging educators, policymakers, and institutions to incorporate ILEs into formal education systems. For example, creating interactive, hands-on spaces and involving students in course design can drive engagement and motivation. This study underscores the pivotal role of ILEs in advancing educational innovation, advocating for their integration into traditional educational paradigms to transform how learning is designed and delivered.
Investigating the Academic Performance of Math-Phobic Middle School Students
Authors: Ekeh Martin Chukwudi , Onuike Princewill Chinagorom
Published: January 2025

A staggering 80% of middle school students in Owerri Educational Zone 1, Nigeria, exhibit significant maths phobia, severely impacting their academic performance in mathematics. Based on a representative sample of 9,873 JSS2 students, this study reveals a statistically significant negative correlation between maths phobia and academic achievement, highlighting the detrimental influence of this pervasive issue. To address this critical challenge, the researchers propose a multi-faceted intervention encompassing three key areas: (1) Demystifying Mathematics: Traditional, phobia-inducing pedagogical approaches must be replaced with engaging and student-centred methods. Interactive activities, real-world applications, and positive reinforcement can foster positive attitudes and reduce phobias, transforming maths from a feared subject into an accessible and rewarding experience. (2) Strengthening Student Support: Recognising the isolating nature of maths phobia, the study emphasises the need for robust school counselling services. Equipped with appropriate coping mechanisms and strategies for managing phobia, students can navigate maths challenges with increased resilience and confidence. (3) Empowering Parents: Collaborative efforts between schools, parent-teacher associations, and educational professionals are crucial in educating parents on effective support strategies. Creating a supportive and inclusive environment where educators, counsellors, and parents work together can pave the way for a future where all students thrive in mathematics.
Principals and Teachers’ Perceptions about Using Technology in Children's Education
Authors: Ngozwana Nomazulu Alice
Published: January 2025

The use of technology in children's education has been a topic of interest after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, rural schools are often situated in remote and quite underdeveloped areas where there is lack of resources and basic infrastructure. This study reports on the principals and teachers’ perceptions about using technology in the classrooms, including devices aimed to improve children’s education. It was conducted within four Limpopo rural schools in South Africa. It used a phenomenological design, and qualitative approach to collect the data. A semi-structured interview guide was utilised with nine teachers and four school principals. The data were analysed thematically being a more accessible form of analysis for qualitative research. The findings showed the potential benefit of using technology to improve communication and children's education in those schools that have limited access to technology. Additionally, it was found that school policies forbid students from using technology on school property, which served as a barrier for its utilization in the classrooms. The study made a series of recommendations that could promote educational equity, boost student performance, and deepen the teacher-parent-school relationships in those rural schools.
Pedagogical Approaches for Teaching Education for Sustainable Development in the Technology Education Curriculum
Authors: Blose Princess
Published: January 2025

This study investigates pedagogical strategies to teach sustainable development within the Technology curriculum in South African secondary schools, with an emphasis on the Senior Phase. Despite the global acknowledgment of sustainable development as a critical topic, its practical application in the South African Curriculum Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) is limited. This study seeks to fill this gap by studying the pedagogical tactics used by Technology teachers to build sustainability skills. Eight technology teachers from the Ehlanzeni region in Mpumalanga Province were carefully chosen to participate. Data was collected through observations and interviews, and analysed using content analysis. The findings show that while teachers are aware of sustainable development concepts, converting this understanding into successful classroom implementation presents substantial hurdles. The study identifies teacher collaboration as the primary instrument for incorporating sustainable development principles into the technology curriculum; nevertheless, practical implementation was challenging. This study responds to the requirement of integrating sustainable development into all South African disciplines, notably the Technology curriculum It emphasises the importance of specific interventions to bridge the gap between policy intent and classroom practice.
The Opportunities for Professional Growth When Using Knowledge of Students’ Prior Science Ideas in the Teaching of Evolution and Genetics: A Self-Study
Authors: Tshuma Tholani , Nyamupangedengu Eunice
Published: January 2025

This inquiry sought to investigate the opportunities and potential challenges of engaging in a self-study approach as a strategy for enhancing professional growth during my teaching of the topic of evolutionary genetics to 24 twelfth-grade students. I had, for many years, experienced pedagogical deficits and shortcomings when teaching evolutionary genetics despite my professional knowledge from my teacher training. I always struggled to a) represent this content in ways that make it comprehensible to my students, b) motivate my students to accept this topic, and c) address students’ misconceptions. Vygotsky’s social constructivism of knowledge and the idea of pedagogical reasoning and action as propounded by Shulman were the key theoretical lenses that guided this inquiry. Collected data included pre- and post-intervention data, students’ conceptions of evolutionary genetics ideas, lesson transcripts, my reflections, pedagogical actions and reasoning during my teaching, and notes on collaborative activities with critical friends. The collected data was analysed from a quantitative and qualitative approach. Thematic analysis for emerging themes was done from a deductive to inductive data analysis approach. This study established that through the idea of opening up for professional feedback from critical friends, one ought to make one’s pedagogical reasoning and actions public. This opening up makes one ‘vulnerable’ to severe criticism or ‘attack' by critical friends. However, despite this setback, it offers unlimited professional growth opportunities beyond one’s personal biases, interpretations, and teacher training expertise on key issues of practice. The ‘negative’ and positive critiques from others are powerful critical reflection points for enhancing professional development. However, through engaging in open feedback collaborative sessions, a practitioner experiences internal tensions between the 'inner egoistic voice' and the probing 'outer voice'. Thus, the ability to objectively reconcile one’s inner voices in the wake of the usually unfriendly outer voices is a crucial starting point for one to realise professional growth as a practitioner.
Tackling Gendered Violence: Social Workers Intervention in Violence That is Meted Against Men? A Case Study of a Rural Town in a South Africa
Authors: Kasa Luvo
Published: January 2025

The study discusses the issue of gendered violence against men and whether laws and legislation equally protect them. It focuses on the findings of research conducted in Bityi, outside Mthatha, which aimed to improve social work interventions in dealing with gender-based violence cases regardless of client gender. It summarises the literature on violence against men and how the concept of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) against men worked in practice. The study also offers a reflection on men's experiences with violence and the need for improved social work intervention. The research was conducted with 12 selected participants using snowball sampling and qualitative methods, and findings were gathered through semi-structured interviews and analysed using thematic content analysis. The study found that men are also victims of gendered violence and further recommended that social workers should be at the forefront of speaking against all forms of violence.
The Ambivalence of Accounting Education Among University Students: Towards a Collaborative Learning Environment
Authors: Sithole Nosihle Veronica , Dube Bekithemba
Published: January 2025

This empirical paper proposed collaborative learning as a strategy to enhance performance in Accounting among university students. There has been a notable continuous trend of poor performance in Accounting from the first-year level to the fourth year. Again, there is also a noticeable decline in the number of students majoring in Accounting despite alternatives to enhance Accounting among university students. This paper is underpinned by bricolage theory which advocates the reworking the existing ideas or items to produce something new to improve human conditions. We responded to two questions: what is the cause of poor performance in Accounting among university students and how collaborative learning can be utilised to mitigate poor performance in Accounting among university students? Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with three students and three lecturers who were purposively sampled. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data collected. Findings revealed that lack of content conceptualisation, students’ negative attitudes towards Accounting, lack of academic commitment, and lack of Accounting pedagogical skills are the main reasons for poor performance among university students. Further, findings revealed that collaborative learning in Accounting among university students broadens students’ content knowledge and produces students with a variety of skills. In light of the above findings, we argued that collaborative learning should premise the teaching and learning of Accounting in higher education from a bricolage perspective.
A Pedagogical Approach Towards Ameliorating the Global Effects of Covid-19 Pandemic Through Forest Restoration and Environmental Sustainability
Authors: Olatoye Tolulope Ayodeji , Fru Raymond
Published: January 2025

This study investigated a pedagogical approach towards ameliorating the global effects of the COVID-19 pandemic through forest restoration and environmental sustainability. This research is considered apt and timely as it underscores the urgent need for forest restoration and environmental sustainability solutions in our fragile ecosystems amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its associated challenges, such as forest degradation and the complexities of forest conservation. The study was conducted using a systematic review of the COVID-19 pandemic and its imminent challenges towards achieving forest restoration and environmental sustainability, drawing insights from renowned international academic journals, electronic publications, Google Scholar, and other academic websites. Pedagogically, integrating these findings into rural education curricula can significantly enhance students' understanding of environmental issues and the importance of sustainability. By incorporating concepts of forest conservation and environmental sustainability into classroom teachings, educators can foster a sense of environmental stewardship among students. Specifically, in rural education, equipping students with knowledge about sustainable practices and the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic empowers them to engage in local conservation efforts and advocate for sustainable development within their communities. This approach not only prepares students to address environmental challenges but also promotes holistic development and improved quality of life in rural areas. Suggested strategies for curbing the adverse effects of COVID-19 include reforestation, preservation of wildlife habitats, and controlling human population growth and urbanization. This study provides recommendations on forest conservation and environmental sustainability to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Case Study on Preschool Children's Perceptions of Biomimicry
Authors: Yüncü Sevim , Darıca Nilüfer , Erdoğan Mermer Sümeyra
Published: January 2025

The main purpose of this research is to examine the biomimicry perceptions of preschool children. A case study, one of the qualitative research models, was used in the research. This research was conducted with the participation of 11 girls and 10 boys, aged between 50-65 months, who were studying in an independent kindergarten affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in Gaziantep in the 2023-2024 academic year. Photographs and observer notes were used as data collection tools in the research. In explaining the science of biomimicry, the book "I am Hezarfen" written by Müzeyyen Erkul Art and Science Center and Suat Turgut (2018) was used. Through the activities, children were given detailed information about the science of Biomimicry and presentations were made. Within the scope of our study, one-week activity plans were created using the 5E model. At the end of this planning process, the children were allowed to create product designs. Findings emerged that during the activities, children used problem solving, collaboration, communication, research-discovery and creative thinking skills, which are 21st century skills. As a result, it has been observed that the activities carried out with preschool children have positive effects on children's perceptions of biomimicry.
Examination of American Psychological Association Books in the Context of Well-Being and Children’s Rights
Authors: Gündoğdu Meltem , Bulut Pedük Şenay
Published: January 2025

In this study, which aims to examine American Psychological Association (APA) books in the context of well-being and children's rights, the document analysis method, one of the qualitative research methods, was used. The research sample consists of 30 books. Psychological Well-Being Review Checklist in Children's Illustrated Books and Child Rights Review Checklist in Children's Illustrated Books were used as data collection tools. The data obtained through descriptive analysis are presented with frequencies and direct quotations. According to the findings, it was seen that APA books contain many positive statements about supporting well-being in children. It was determined that the most statements about well-being were in the self-regulation and the least statements were in the low externalization categories. In the contents of APA books, whose ultimate purpose is not to teach children's rights, the most statements about children's rights were about development and least about protection. Another conclusion is that the articles regarding the right to development positively support well-being. In summary, it was determined that APA books contain implicit content for teaching children's rights and can be functionally used to support well-being.