bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
IMPACT OF PARENTAL PERCEPTION ON PEDIATRIC VISION CARE IN RURAL AND URBAN AREAS OF DISTRICT RAHIM YAR KHAN.
Authors: Aleeza Naeem  , Sarmad Siddique  , Ubaidullah Jan  , Sobia Yousif  , Ghashia Gul  , Rabia Akram  , Iqra Manzoor  , Ayesha Saleem
Published: February 2025

Background
Pediatric vision care is crucial for early detection and management of ocular conditions that can impact a child's development, academic performance, and quality of life. Parental perception plays a pivotal role in determining whether children receive timely eye examinations and appropriate interventions. Disparities in healthcare awareness and access between rural and urban populations contribute to differences in pediatric vision care utilization. Understanding these variations is essential for developing targeted interventions to improve eye health outcomes in children.
Objective
To evaluate the impact of parental perception on pediatric vision care in rural and urban areas of District Rahim Yar Khan.
Methods
A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at LRBT Eye Hospital and Yousaf Eye Hospital from November 2023 to July 2024. A total of 400 participants aged 0–15 years were included using a non-probability sampling technique. The sample was equally divided into rural (n=200) and urban (n=200) groups. After obtaining informed consent, parents were interviewed regarding their awareness and attitudes toward pediatric eye care, and children underwent comprehensive ophthalmic examinations. Slit lamp examination assessed the lids, conjunctiva, cornea, lens, fundus, retina, and macula. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, and statistical comparisons were made between rural and urban groups.
Results
Slit lamp examination revealed lid inflammation in 3.8%, redness in 1.3%, and lesions in 0.5%, while 94.5% had normal lids. Conjunctivitis was observed in 7.3%, foreign body presence in 1%, and 91.8% had normal conjunctiva. Corneal findings included opacity (0.3%), inflammation (0.8%), and neovascularization (0.3%), with 98.8% having a healthy cornea. All participants had clear lens media. Fundus examination showed hemorrhages in 0.3% and blood vessel abnormalities in 0.3%, with 99.8% having normal fundus findings. Rural parents exhibited significantly lower awareness of pediatric vision care, with 92.0% seeking an eye doctor only when complaints arose, compared to 44.5% in urban parents. Eye examination history showed that 99.5% of rural children had never been examined, compared to 33.5% in urban areas. Healthcare accessibility also differed, with only 23.5% of rural participants having access to eye care services compared to 100% in urban areas.
Conclusion
Parental perception significantly influences pediatric vision care, with rural parents demonstrating lower awareness and healthcare-seeking behaviors compared to urban parents. Socioeconomic and educational disparities contribute to these differences, highlighting the need for targeted awareness programs and improved healthcare accessibility in rural areas to ensure early detection and management of childhood eye conditions.
IMPACT OF REFRACTIVE CORRECTION ON VISUAL FATIGUE, EYE MOVEMENT AND READING SPEED IN ADULTS
Authors: Ghashia Gul  , Sarmad Siddique  , Ubaidullah Jan  , Malik Ruhullah  , Natasha Aftab  , Sobia Yousif  , Rabia Akram  , Ayesha Saleem
Published: February 2025

Background
Refractive errors are a leading cause of visual impairment, significantly affecting daily activities that require sustained attention, such as reading. Uncorrected refractive errors contribute to visual fatigue, inefficient eye movements, and reduced reading performance, impacting overall visual function and comfort. While refractive correction primarily improves visual acuity, its broader effects on visual fatigue, ocular motility, and reading speed remain underexplored. This study investigates the impact of refractive correction on these parameters in adults, providing evidence for its role in enhancing functional vision.
Objective
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of refractive correction on visual fatigue, eye movement efficiency, and reading speed in adults with uncorrected refractive errors.
Methods
A pre-post experimental design was employed, including 45 adults (16 males, 29 females) aged 18–35 years with diagnosed refractive errors. Participants underwent baseline assessments for visual fatigue using the Visual Fatigue Scale (VFA), eye movement efficiency using the Eye Movement Index (EMI), and reading speed using the MNREAD Test. Following individualized refractive correction (glasses or contact lenses), participants were reassessed after four weeks. Paired t-tests and multivariate analysis were conducted to evaluate changes across all parameters.
Results
Refractive correction significantly improved reading speed from 179.09 WPM (SD = 4.171) to 212.24 WPM (SD = 5.126) (p < 0.001). Visual fatigue scores significantly decreased from 4.33 (SD = 0.640) to 1.89 (SD = 0.573) (p < 0.001), while the eye movement index improved from 73.71 (SD = 2.685) to 49.31 (SD = 4.949) (p < 0.001). Baseline visual fatigue scores showed a positive correlation with reading speed improvements.
Conclusion
Refractive correction significantly reduces visual fatigue, optimizes eye movement efficiency, and enhances reading speed in adults with refractive errors. These findings highlight the functional benefits of correction beyond visual acuity, supporting its role in improving overall visual performance. Future research should investigate long-term effects and potential complementary interventions, such as visual training, to further enhance visual efficiency.
La religieuse et l’écoute de l’esprit pour l’évangélisation en profondeur selon Simone Pacot
Authors:   Université Félix HOUPHOUËT-BOIGNY (Côte d’Ivoire), KOUASSI Kpa Yao Raoul
Published: February 2025

La vie religieuse est le choix d’une vie qui est dite spéciale surtout qu’il faut des sacrifices et du discernement. La religieuse est avant tout une femme. Comme telle, elle rencontre aussi de nombreux obstacles dans ce monde rempli de contradictions et d’incitations à la paresse. Pour les surmonter, la religieuse doit toujours écouter la voie d’inspiration pour bien accomplir sa mission. Si, pour S. Pacot, l’Esprit n’agit jamais seul, il faut la collaboration humaine dans l’écoute de l’Esprit. Ici, nous voulons insister sur la collaboration de la religieuse avec l’Esprit et montrer comment celle-ci peut changer sa manière d’annoncer l’évangile à travers l’évangélisation en profondeur.
The Postmodern Text: Answer to the Problem of Meaning
Authors: Kumar Raunak
Published: February 2025

Postmodernism uncovers an ugly face of semantic dominance of certain stereotypical narratives over the ‘others,’ often discarded narratives of empathy and equality. This paper focuses on some of the debates in literary theory where the philosophy of metaphysics is slowly replaced with a philosophy of the consciousness. It attempts to highlight hidden presuppositions in all former criteria of textual judgment in Hermeneutics, New Criticism, etc. Another significant argument in support of Postmodernism is the analogous similarity drawn between Sarte’s Existentialism and Derrida’s methodology of Deconstruction. By using a specimen postmodern text, the paper attempts to describe the ways in which the text itself destabilizes stereotypes of character, structure, and language. Representation is a double-edged sword, false or true, it is a fallacy in either case. Destabilizing the base (i.e. language) of representation allows flexibility and complexity in identity.
Hip Hop as Cultural Capital: Remixing Bourdieu's Theory to Affirm Cultural Wealth
Authors: Turner Milanika
Published: February 2025

Despite their popularity in the United States of America, rap music and hip hop culture are misunderstood by many and often characterized as violent, misogynistic, vulgar, and/or venomous. Furthermore, scholarly examinations of rap music rarely emerge from within the actual culture, even though an insider’s perspective could yield valuable emic knowledge. The objective of this study is to assess the cultural value of hip hop and rap through a content analysis of popular music. Billboard music charts provide data on music trends by compiling the most popular rap  songs for six years (2006–2011) ranked by sales, radio airplay, and audience impressions. Stratified random sampling of just over five percent of the population (N = 215) generated the subset for this pilot study (n = 12). Lyrics of all songs in the sample have been analyzed through the lens of Critical Race Theory along six forms of cultural capital identified in literature: aspirational, linguistic, social, familial, resistant, and navigational. This has made it possible to reframe the discourse on hip hop and rap by establishing how the music operates as cultural capital, as well as commands respect for and establishes the legitimacy of the knowledge and products generated within hip hop culture.
Stereotypes, Sexuality, and Intertextuality in Alice Randall's The Wind Done Gone
Authors: Woltmann Suzy
Published: February 2025

Towards the end of Alice Randall’s 2001 novel The Wind Done Gone (TWDG), the reader is confronted by an epistolary inclusion: the narrator’s mother, Mammy, writes from beyond the grave to negotiate a marriage proposal for her daughter. Mammy’s voice is clear. As Cynara, the narrator, tells us, “syllable and sound, the words were Mammy’s” (162). TWDG retells the history of Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind (GWTW), and the inclusion of Mammy’s voice and identity is not just a source of support for GWTW’s protagonist, Scarlett, but is jarring and even revolutionary. Randall gives voice to characters who lacked agency in GWTW and, in doing so, infuses them with complex personhood. TWDG’s heteroglossic approach signifies other literary works, especially its source text and slave narratives. The paper argues that TWDG intertextually parodies the portrayal of stereotypes and sexuality found in GWTW, and worries the line of African-American literary tradition through its use of the rhetorical tools of irony, signposting front cover portraiture, and confirmation documents found in slave narratives; by doing so, the adaptation illustrates the continued haunting presence of slavery in today’s cultural imagination and pushes against its ideological effects. This matters because, as Cheryl Wall, Henry Louis Gates Jr, Avery Gordon, and others show, African-American authors often rely on signifying past works as a sort of literary tradition that highlights racist discourse. The paper modifies the current theoretical discussion about postmodern adaptation, which posits that reworking something that already exists intervenes in the previous political moment as well as the contemporary one to bring a new set of knowledge. This applies to TWDG; however, the paper contends that reworking and parody have a specific function that intersects with African-American literary criticism. This is essential since in Mitchell’s iconographic text filled with nostalgia about the enslaved South, Cynara could not write her own text. There is no singular original she is referring back to, but rather a multitude of previous texts along with slavery’s haunting legacy. TWDG responds in an original way not only to the romanticized view of the Confederate South created in Mitchell’s immensely popular epic, but also to recurring race and gender issues in the years since its publication.
Post-Apartheid 'Disgrace': Language and Politics of Human Rights
Authors: Thakur Chinmaya Lal
Published: February 2025

This paper enquires into the ethics and politics of formal mechanisms that are configured to address wrongs and violations of human rights committed against select groups of people in specific historical circumstances. It reads the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) established by the post-Apartheid government of South Africa as an attempt to deal with the violent and painful history of racial subjugation. It suggests that there are at least two ways in which the TRC’s own historical and affective mandate gets complicated: firstly, the Commission seems to have deliberately ignored the fact that the Apartheid was systematic violence perpetuated against communities of people, not individuals, and secondly, that the Commission’s preferred method of operation, that is an individual confessing his/her crimes in public, marked an uneasy cohabitation of the discourses of the legal or secular and the religious. In conclusion, it reads J.M. Coetzee’s 1999 novel Disgrace as presenting ethical configurations that suggest a movement beyond this mode of an individual’s confession being situated within a secular-religious binary.
Economía de plataformas: retos y normativa
Authors: Franch Fluxa Juan
Published: February 2025

Esta monografía analiza el impacto de las plataformas desde una perspectiva multidisciplinar. El ejercicio de su hegemonía en el mercado digital, donde se han

convertido en operadores dominantes, ha generado un importante impacto e influencia en los mercados y sus operadores tradicionales, los entornos geográficos y recursos donde se desarrolla su actividad, las prácticas y modelos de negocio, las relaciones contractuales y laborales o, incluso el ejercicio de las potestades de control de las administraciones.

El texto se ha redactado desde la formación diversa de sus autores en materias tan variadas como son el derecho, economía, marketing, geografía

o la criminología. Esta obra se divide en once capítulos donde la actividad turística y el transporte han sido los sectores que han concentrado la mayor parte de los esfuerzos y reflexiones para aportar respuestas a este complejo fenómeno que se ha denominado economía de plataformas. No obstante, esos retos normativos y el contexto en el que actúan e influencian las plataformas continúan como cuestión abierta y en evolución. Esta obra se estructura a partir de unos capítulos que siendo independientes en su tratamiento no pueden considerarse estancos y permiten entender la mencionada trascendencia y posición dominante que la sociedad y los usuarios de internet han otorgado a estos prestadores de servicios de la sociedad de la información que, frecuentemente, han creado mercados que no existían y, sin duda, requieren de una legislación que respete las políticas de impulso del mercado digital europeo que pretende auspiciar la Unión Europea. Un nuevo mercado que, obviamente, plantea externalidades positivas y negativas que han motivado unos destacados dilemas sociales y también profundos debates tanto en los parlamentos como en los gobiernos de los estados y ciudades.
Influence of Parental Socio-Cultural Status on Prevention of Teenage Pregnancies in Narok-North Sub-County, Narok County, Kenya
Authors: Akuno Elon M. , Okello Lazarus Millan , Otengah Wilson A. P.
Published: February 2025

Teenage pregnancy is detrimental to the wellbeing of teenage girls because of its negative impact on health, social and educational outcomes. Parents may encounter challenges that prevent them from helping their daughters in preventing pregnancies. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate influence of parental socio-cultural status on prevention of teenage pregnancies. The study was guided by the Social Network Theory. Descriptive Cross-Sectional Survey Design and Mixed Method approach directed the study. The target population of the research was 59,996 families in Narok-North Sub- County. Snowball sampling was applied to obtain a sample size of 165 families from the target population. Simple random sampling was applied to get 10 Key Informants. Data was collected using questionnaires and interview schedules. Internal consistency was calculated to test the reliability of the questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.85. Validity was confirmed with the help of experts from the department and in training of Research Assistants. Data was examined by use of SPSS version 26.0. The Pearson Correlation test revealed that parental socio-cultural status has moderate and positive influence on prevention of teenage pregnancy (at P value <.05 Mean r = .54). Majority (82.6%) of respondents endorsed that cultural norms encourage early marriages. Majority (42.9%) of respondents endorsed that teenagers get into sexual relationships in order to meet basic needs. This aligns with the assumption of the Social Network Theory’s application to this study, that the family unit’s outcome in terms of teenage pregnancies is influenced by the cultural norms that surround the respondents. The Study therefore recommends that the Ministry of Interior and National Administration to strengthen policy aimed at curbing cultural practices that predispose teenage girls to pregnancies.
Effect of Psychological Vulnerability on Interoceptive Sensitivity, Awareness and Accuracy among Individuals with Amphetamine Addiction
Authors: Khurshid Maria , Khan Mussarat Jabeen , Afzal Arslan , Taha Syed Muhammad , Zaidi Syed Gufran Sadiq , Khan Hasnat
Published: February 2025

The present study examined the effect of Psychological Vulnerability on Interoceptive sensitivity, Awareness and Accuracy among individuals with amphetamine addiction. This research states that there is a relationship between psychological vulnerability and Interoceptive sensitivity, awareness and accuracy. 200 participants were selected from different rehabilitation centers and hospitals of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. They were selected by non-probability purposive sampling. Psychological Vulnerability Scale, Multidimensional Assessment of Awareness Scale, Interoceptive Accuracy Scale and Body sensation questionnaire were used for data collection. SPSS used for data analysis. Correlation and regression analysis was used to analyze the hypotheses. Results showed that Psychological Vulnerability is significant negatively correlated with Interoceptive Awareness and Interoceptive Accuracy. Interoceptive Sensitivity is significant positive correlated with Interoceptive Awareness and non-significant negative correlated with Interoceptive Accuracy. Psychological Vulnerability is non-significant positive correlated with Interoceptive Sensitivity. These results revealed that higher psychological vulnerability is associated with reduced interoceptive sensitivity, accuracy, and awareness among amphetamine addicts.By acknowledging the prevalence of amphetamine addiction in our society and its adverse effects on interception we can develop variety of self- awareness programs for individuals with addiction and their families to assist them in everyday intimidating circumstances. In order to better understand and manage addiction, these findings highlight the complex interplay between psychological factors and interoception in the context of amphetamine addiction. They also highlight the need for thorough assessments, intervention, and awareness programs that address both psychological vulnerabilities and interoceptive processes.
НЕКОТОРЫЕ АСПЕКТЫ ИЗУЧЕНИЯ ФОРТИФИКАЦИОННЫХ СООРУЖЕНИЙ СЕВЕРНОЙ БАКТРИИ IV – II ВВ. ДО Н. Э.
Authors: Базаров Борис
Published: February 2025

В этой статье приводится описание системы оборонительных сооружений и ее особенностей IV–II вв. до н. э. В результате проникновения греческой культуры в Среднюю Азию в эллинистический период в соответствии с местными культурными традициями формируется уникальная культура, очевидная в гончарном деле, искусстве и архитектуре, а также в системе оборонительных сооружений. Образуется своеобразная система обороны существующих городов на территории Северной Бактрии. Анализируются особенности оборонительных стен городов и крепостей, протейхизмы (дополнительная передняя стена), рвов. Они являлись компонентами трехлинейной системы обороны северобактрийских городов IV–II вв. до н. э. В свою очередь, отдельно приводится описание системы оборонительных сооружений Северной Бактрии. Более того, обсуждаются сведения о типах городских стен, башен и рвов эллинизированной Бактрии. В систему оборонительных сооружений входят крепости, форты, пограничные стены, отдельные наблюдательные башни и системы пограничной обороны. В Северной Бактрии они образовывали две линии обороны.
СЕМАНТИКА ОРНАМЕНТА СВАСТИКИ НА ПРИМЕРЕ НАХОДОК С МУНЧАКТЕПА
Authors: Кораева Замира
Published: February 2025

В статье рассматриваются некоторые виды бус из сердолика, выявленные в ходе археологическихраскопок Папской группы Ахсикентского археологического отряда на могильнике Мунчактепа в 1987–1989 гг., датированые V–VIII веками н. э. Погребения были осуществлены в хумах, оссуариях и ка-мышовых гробах представляя собой грунтовые, ямные и подбойные могилы. Орнамент на бусах былвыполнен травлением содовым раствором поташа, с нанесением растительных и геометрических мо-тивов. В статье описываются три вида бусин разных размеров, с изображением различных вариантоворнаментального мотива «свастика», а также прослеживаются пути распространения символа. Изделияиз сердолика были излюбленным камнем среди народов Средней Азии, вкючая, то, что на памятникахФерганы встречается часто. На могильнике Мунчактепа они были зафиксированы в детских и женскихпогребениях. На этом основании можно предположить, что орнамент «свастика» был сакральным (ма-гическим) для жителей этой местности. У народов Центральной Азии свастика это солярный знак,имевший древние истоки происхождения.
МОГИЛЬНИК САПАЛЛИНСКОЙ КУЛЬТУРЫ ДЖАРКУТАН 4В, - ИТОГИ ИЗУЧЕНИЯ
Authors: Каспаров Армен
Published: February 2025

В последние десятилетия археологическая наука раскрыла многие ранее неизвестные страницы эпохибронзы Узбекистана. Многие из них, так или иначе, связаны с протобактрийской древнеземледельческойсапаллинской культурой. Продемонстрировав своим формированием и развитием протоурбанистическиеформы, она оказалась необычайно богата и своим духовным наследием. В статье речь пойдет о могильникеДжаркутан 4ВГ Стратиграфия и данные планиграфии позволяют установить 4 последовательных комплекса- джаркутанский, кузалинский, молалинский, бустанский. На основе статистико-комбинаторногометода исследования нами изучены 22 объекта, из которых 17 являются непосредственно погребениями,а остальные определены как комплексы ритуально-церемониального назначения. Графически отмеченныена общем плане раскопа погребения дают не только общую визуальную картину, но и помогают уточнитьэтап, определить назначение объекта, и, если последний является погребением - конкретизироватьего. Анализ погребальной обрядности позволило выделить 2 варианта ингумации - трупоположение ивторичное захоронение. Мы выявили 5 объектов непогребального назначения, позволившие отнести ихк символическим погребально-церемониальным культам. Выявленный комплекс артефактов некоторыхпогребений и детали погребального обряда указывают на этнокультурные связи древних земледельцев ипастушеских племен степной части Евразии во второй половине П тыс. до н. э. В связи с этим повышаетсяинформационная ценность предоставляемого материала, позволяющая дополнить имеющиеся сведения омифо-ритуальных действиях обитателей сапаллинской культуры.
НАДПИСИ КАТТАБУЛАК ИЛИ ПИКТОГРАФИЧЕСКОЕ ПИСЬМО ЦИВИЛИЗАЦИИ ОКСА
Authors: Шайдуллаев Шапулат , Шайдуллаев Алишер
Published: February 2025

В статье приведены сведения о надписях и пиктографических знаках, нанесенных на керамику Катта-булака, недавно открытого памятника эпохи бронзы в предгорьях Кугитангтау. Насчитываются всего42 знака, среди которых вместе написанных – 10. Эти пиктографические символы имеют различнуюформу, нарисованы на керамике перед обжигом с помощью острого инструмента. Они были сопостав-лены с надписями и пиктографическими знаками Сапаллитепа, Джаркутана, Тиллябулака, Каттабулака,а также памятников Дашлинского оазиса. Изучая бактрийские надписи эпохи бронзы, авторы пришлик заключению, что данные надписи являлись ранней бактрийско-маргианской системой письменности.В заключение авторы отмечают, что пиктография Каттабулака составляет культурное единство с пикто-графией Гонура и Тоголока в древней Маргиане и пиктографией Сапаллитепа, Жаркутана, Тиллабулака,Дашли в древней Бактрии и подводят ее под общее название «Пиктография цивилизации Окса».
ХОРАЗМНИНГ ЎРТА АСР БРОНЗА КЎЗГУЛАРИ
Authors: Турганов Бахыт
Published: February 2025

Мақолада Хоразмнинг ўрта асрларга оид ёдгорликларидан қайд қилинган бронза кўзгуларитаҳлил этилди. Мавзунинг хронологик чегараси VI–XIV асрлар билан белгиланади. Хоразмёдгорликларидаги бронза кўзгуларининг келиб чиқиши қўшни минтақалардаги ўхшаш тур-лари қиёслаш асосида ўрганилди. Бронза кўзгулардаги трансформацион ўзгаришлар, янгили-клар аниқланди ва нақшларда безатилиш жиҳатларига кўра таснифланди. Хоразмнинг VI–XIасрлардаги ёдгорликларидан нақшсиз, қадимги анъаналар асосида тайёрланган кўзгулар то-пилган. Айниқса, Хоразмда XII–XIV асрларда геометрик, ўсимликсимон нақшларда безатил-ган ва зооморфли бронза кўзгулар кенг тарқалади. Бу даврда турли хил шакллардаги бронзакўзгуларнинг Хоразмга кириб келишида Олтин Ўрда ва Шарқий Европа кўчманчилар билансавдо-иқтисодий ҳамда маданий алоқалари асосий омил бўлиб хизмат қилади. Хоразмга им-порт сифатида кириб келган бронза кўзгуларнинг баъзи шакллари маҳаллий заргарлар томо-нидан ўзлаштирилади. Ўрта асрлардаги бронза кўзгуларнинг Хоразм ижтимоий ҳаётидагирамзий, эстетик, магик хусусиятлари ва илоҳий вазифалари тўғрисида тарихий маълумотлар-ни беради. Мақолада бронза кўзгуларнинг Хоразм моддий ва маънавий маданиятида тутганўрни ва аҳамияти ёритилди.
THE CASPIAN-CENTERED COOPERATIONS AND THEINCREASİNG IMPORTANCE OF AZERBAIJAN AFTER THECURRENT CRISIS IN UKRAINE
Authors: Doğacan  BAŞARAN
Published: February 2025

After the current crisis in Ukraine, which started on February 24, 2022, the Northern Corridor was blocked and serious problems were experienced in logistics flows. The energy crisis that occurred after the crisis in Ukraine, on the other hand, had a profound effect on Europe. In this process, Europe turned to the search for alternative suppliers in order to end its dependence on Russian gas. In this context, on July 18, 2022, an agreement was signed between the European Union (EU) and Azerbaijan to increase transportation of 8 billion cubic meters of natural gas carried through theSouthern Gas Corridor to 20 billion cubic meters annually until 2027. However, this figure is below the EU's needs. This is an important opportunity for the official Baku. Because the cooperation to be developed in the Caspian, both in logistics and energy, will allow Azerbaijan to increase its geopolitical and geoeconomic gains. Moreover, the environment of stability in the South Caucasus after the end of the Second Karabakh War made the Caspian-centered projects safe initiatives. Therefore, the interest of the West in the region is increasing. In this context, Azerbaijan is deepening its cooperation with Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. In this article, the increasing geopolitical and geoeconomic importance of Azerbaijan in the context of Caspian-centered cooperation is examined. The limitation of the article is that Russia and Iran, which are under the pressure of sanctions despite being littoral to the Caspian Sea, are not included in the analysis.
A Deweyan Critique of the Critical Thinking versus Character Education Debate
Authors: Axtell Guy
Published: February 2025

What distinguishes the philosophies of education advanced by pragmatists? Does pragmatism have something distinctive to offer contemporary philosophy of education? This paper applies these questions, which Randall Curren asks in “Pragmatist Philosophy of Education” (2009), to a more specific current debate in philosophy of education: the debate over educating for critical thinking, and/or for intellectual virtues. Which, if either, should be given priority in higher education, and why? This paper develops a Deweyan approach to these questions, inviting character content but also offering specific ways for educators and institutions to stay alert to the pedagogical and indoctrination concerns with character education initiatives, including those for intellectual virtues specifically.
The full length BEND2 protein is dispensable for spermatogenesis but required for setting the ovarian reserve in mice
Authors: Huang Yan , Bucevic Nina , Coves Carmen , Felipe-Medina Natalia , Marcet-Ortega Marina , Nikou Nikoleta , Madrid-Sandín Cristina , López-Panadés Maria , Buza Carolina , Ferrer Miralles Neus , Iborra Antoni , Pujol Anna , Pendás Alberto M , Roig Ignasi
Published: February 2025

Infertility affects up to 12% of couples globally, with genetic factors contributing to nearly half of the cases. Advances in genomic technologies have led to the discovery of genes like
Bend2
, which plays a crucial role in gametogenesis. In the testis,
Bend2
expresses two protein isoforms: full-length and a smaller one. Ablation of both proteins results in an arrested spermatogenesis. Because the
Bend2
locus is on the X chromosome, and the

Bend2
-/y

mutants are sterile, BEND2’s role in oogenesis remained elusive.In this study, we employed a novel
Bend2
mutation that blocks the expression of the full-length BEND2 protein but allows the expression of the smaller BEND2 isoform. Interestingly, this mutation does not confer male sterility and mildly affects spermatogenesis. Thus, it allowed us to study the role of BEND2 in oogenesis. Our findings demonstrate that full-length BEND2 is dispensable for male fertility, and its ablation leads to a reduced establishment of the ovarian reserve. These results reveal a critical role for full-length BEND2 in oogenesis and provide insights into the mechanisms underlying the establishment of the ovarian reserve. Furthermore, these findings hold relevance for the diagnostic landscape of human infertility.
A Comprehensive Review of Shortest Path Algorithms for Network Routing
Authors: Hadi Harem Mahdi , Ibrahim Ibrahim Mahmood
Published: February 2025

The rapid development of digital technology and the increasing interconnection of devices have made computer networks indispensable to modern life. Global data movement, communication, and applications like cloud computing, IoT, e-commerce, and smart cities are all made possible by these networks. Routing algorithms particularly shortest path algorithms are crucial for determining the most effective data transmission routes and are largely responsible for the dependability and efficiency of these networks. Because these algorithms maintain stability and reliability while lowering latency, costs, and energy consumption, they are crucial to network operation.
Shortest path problem solving has long relied on fundamental algorithms with origins in graph theory, such as Bellman-Ford and Dijkstra's. Despite their successes, the growing complexity and dynamic nature of contemporary networks have exposed their shortcomings. Advanced approaches, including heuristic, hybrid, and AI-driven methods, have been developed to get around these challenges. Innovations like ant colony optimization and blockchain-based algorithms have improved computing efficiency, security, and adaptability.
The Internet of Things, VANETs, and SDNs are just a few of the domains that use these algorithms; each has specific requirements, like real-time adaptation and energy efficiency. Reinforcement learning and prediction models driven by machine learning have further increased routing efficiency, while simulation tools such as Mininet and OMNeT++ have been essential for evaluating algorithm performance in practical scenarios. As emerging technologies like blockchain and quantum computing become more widely accepted, shortest path algorithms will continue to advance, ensuring their suitability in the rapidly evolving digital environment. This study, which looks at their development, applications, and possible future directions, emphasizes their importance in creating modern networks.
Assessment of Soil Respiration in Response to Decomposition of Different Crop Residues
Authors: Abdullahi Ghali Leko , Bhagwan Pandit Vaibhav , Ravali Ch. , Gireesha D. , Raj G. Bhupal
Published: February 2025

C: Nratio of crop residues is the key factor dictating the decomposition of crop residues and soil respiration. Crop residue incorporation is one of the best residue management options, which not only enhances soil health, but also reduces environmental pollution.
Aim: To investigate the effects of various crop residues viz., paddy, sunflower, cotton and red gram on soil respiration.
Study Design: Completely Randomized Design.
Place and duration of study: Study was conducted for 120 days at soil science laboratory during the year 2023-24, School of Agriculture, SR university, Warangal.
Methodology: An incubation study was conducted after pre-incubation. Soil respiration was measured by alkali trap method, at different days after incubation.
Results: The results indicated that incorporating crop residues significantly increased soil respiration rates, with the highest CO₂ emissions observed in treatments with both residues and nitrogen. Among the treatments, soil with paddy residue and nitrogen showed the highest respiration rate, demonstrating the synergistic effect of residue incorporation and nitrogen addition in enhancing organic matter decomposition. The lowest soil respiration was recorded in soil alone (control) treatment throughout the incubation period.
Conclusion: The study concludes that the incorporation of crop residues, especially when combined with nitrogen, significantly enhances soil respiration. The research provides critical insights for developing strategies that promote sustainable agriculture, emphasizing the need for residue retention and appropriate nutrient management to maximize soil productivity while minimizing environmental impacts.
Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation by Arable Farmers in Mmanoko Village, Kweneng District, Botswana
Authors: L Motshwarakgole, , G Mmopelwa, , K. Tlhalerwa,
Published: February 2025

Climate change is one of the major environmental challenges facing the world today. It is widely believed that it will have significant adverse impacts on rainfed agriculture that is practiced mostly by small-scale famers in developing countries. Worldwide, farmers have continued to adapt to the effects of clmate as adaptation is considered one of most viable options to the adverse impacts of climate change and variability. This cross-sectional survey was carried out in Mmanoko village in the Kweneng District, Botswana. The aim of the study was to determine and evaluate climate change adaptation strategies in response to impacts of climate change on arable farming in Mmanoko village. A Multi-Criteria Evaluation (MCE) method was also used to evaluate, score, prioritize adaptation strategies using a predetermined set of four criteria (effectiveness, flexibility, institutional compatibility and equity). Farmers reported to have observed a decrease in the rainfall amounts, increase in the mean temperatures, delayed onset and early cessation of rains over the past 10 years. The most commonly used adaptation measures included crop diversification (mixed cropping, crop rotation, intercropping), shifting of planting dates; the use of drought-tolerant and early maturing crops. The results of the MCE method revealed that farmers preferred adaptation strategies that are effective, flexible, compatible with existing legilsation as well as easily accessible to all regardless of their socio-economic status. Crop diversification (intercropping, mixed cropping and crop rotation) was the most highly rated adaptation practice in terms of effectiveness, flexibility, compatibility and equity.
Optimizing Nutrient Management for Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana) in Lateritic Soils of Odisha: Effects on Growth, Yield and Economics
Authors: Behera Rahul Dev , Sahu S. , Priyadarshini S. , Biswal S. , Das Ipsita , Mishra P. J. , Barik N. C. , Mohanty P. , Jena D.
Published: February 2025

Finger Millet is a nutritional powerhouse as it contains many essential nutrients including iron, protein, calcium, dietary fibre, and carbohydrates. Since it's a gluten-free cereal, it has received attention for its impressive value in nutrition thus serving as a potential tool in battling malnutrition. It is resistant to extreme weather conditions. Despite its rich nutrient content, recent studies show lesser intake of millets as a whole. Therefore, a field experiment has been conducted at the farmers' field of Bargarh district of Odisha in kharif, 2023 in Lateritic soil under the demonstration programme of Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Bargarh to assess the impact of nutrient management practices on the growth, yield, and economics of finger millet crop at Bargarh district of Odisha. The recommended dose (40:20:20) was applied through Farmer's practice (FP). Recommended practice (RP), application of lime @0.25 LR; lime is applied 15 days before flowering followed by N-P2O5-K2O (30:20:20 kg ha-1). Each treatment was replicated 10 times on randomized block design. Nutrient management practices at applied dose resulted in the increased yield along with the entire yield attributes of the crop. Also, the maximum net return and B:C was noted in RP when compared with FP. Finger millet thresher was proved to be effective as it increased the working capacity than the traditional practices. The cost of threshing was found to be low than the conventional practices for threshing of one quintal of finger millet.
Prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Hemodialysis Patients in Egypt: A Systematic Review
Authors: Elsaied Reham Mohammed , Omar Ahmed Abd Elhamid Abo , Atlam Samir Abdelmaguid , Gabr Mamdouh Ahmed
Published: February 2025

Background: Patients on hemodialysis (HD) are at high risk of acquiring hepatitis c virus (HCV) infection which is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in this subpopulation. The aim of this work was to establish a comprehensive characterization of HCV epidemiology among HD patients in Egypt.
Methods: In this systematic review we gathered all reports related to HCV prevalence among HD patients in Egypt published between 2010 through 2022. Studies that had proper sampling and measurement method as well as valid statistical analysis were selected.
Results: A high overall prevalence of HCV infection among HD patients in Egypt is (45.13%) which is considerably higher than the global levels. Strikingly, 7.14% of HD patients developed serconversion while on HD, thus highlighting the acquisition of HCV infection during HD. Furthermore, the overall prevalence of HCV infection in HD patients was much higher than that in the general population in all included studies, reinforcing the role of HD in the transmission of HCV infection among HD patients. The decline in HCV prevalence among HD patients in Egypt from 65% in the year 2016, to 41% in the year 2017, to 34.8% by the year 2020, reflects improved standards of infection control in HD centers.
Conclusions: Egypt is challenged with a very high HCV prevalence among HD patients, with evidence for some ongoing HCV transmission. It is important for health care policy makers and health care providers to deal with the mechanisms of HCV transmission in HD units and treat infected HD patients to reduce the transmission rates as well as the prevalence of HCV among HD patients.
Genotypic & Phenotypic Correlation Analysis for Yield and Economic Traits in Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)
Authors: Yadav Preeti , Ram C. N. , Neetu  , C.S. Anjana , Kumar Subham , Yadav Shweta
Published: February 2025

The experiment was carried out during Rabi season of the year 2020-2021 at Main Experiment Station Department of Vegetable Science, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhya (U.P.) India. Genotypic & Phenotypic correlation study was undertaken on 75 genotypes & three checks (NDF-1, RF-101, RF-205) in Augmented Block Design. The study revealed that seed yield per plant showed highly and positively significant correlation with days to maturity (0.289**). Whereas Test weight with nodes per plant (0.389**), Plant height with Number of branches per plant (0.341**), Umbel diameter with days to 50% flowering (0.311**) &Number of umbel per plant with days to 50% flowering (0.318**) showed highly and positively significant correlation with each other. While significant positive correlation was also shown for Number of umbellate per umbel (0.207**) with seed yield per plant and test weight with umbel diameter (0.233*) followed by inter nodal length (0.216*). Plant height showed significant correlation with fruit per umbellate (0.276*) followed by number of umbellate per (0.257*). Path coefficient analysis indicated that the highest positive direct effect at phenotypic level was found on days to maturity (0.2956) followed by number of umbellate per umbel (0.1637), plant height (0.1597), nodes per plant (0.1062), number of umbels per plant (0.0232), 1000-seed weight (0.0549), number of branches per plant (0.0011) and days to 50% flowering (0.2960). Therefore, this study showed the contributing characters among these genotypes having positive & higher magnitude of Genotypic & Phenotypic Correlation on with higher yield.
Pollination Strategies for Advancing Protected Cultivation of Vegetable Crops
Authors: Athira K S , Pradeepkumar T
Published: February 2025

Protected cultivation is a transformative agrotechnology offering enhanced yield, quality, and resource efficiency. Pollination, a critical determinant of crop productivity, faces unique challenges in controlled environments, necessitating innovative strategies. This review highlights various pollination techniques, including manual, mechanical, and biotic methods, and their application in vegetable crop cultivation. While manual methods like hand pollination ensure precision, they are labor-intensive. Mechanical solutions, such as handheld vibrators, air blowers, and electrostatic devices, provide scalable alternatives but often lack the efficiency of natural pollinators. Biotic agents, including bumblebees, honeybees, stingless bees, and solitary species like carpenter bees and Australian blue-banded bees, emerge as sustainable and effective solutions. Their adaptability to greenhouse conditions and selective pollen transfer capabilities significantly enhance fruit set, quality, and yield. Emerging technologies, such as robotic pollinators and pulsating  air systems, further complement traditional methods. This review underscores the importance of integrating diverse pollination strategies to optimize productivity in protected cultivation systems.
Comparing the Dibbling and Drilling Techniques in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Based on the Plants' Reproductive and Vegetative Growth
Authors: Kakade S. V. , Mahatale P. V. , Nandeshwar B.C. , Chandankar G.D. , Potkile S.N. , Yenpreddiwar M.D. , Nemade Devyanee K. , Parshuramkar Subhangi G. , Raut Maya M.
Published: February 2025

Compared to the conventional way of sowing, drilling and dibbling assure a uniform distribution of seeds at the right depth, which improves germination, maximizes plant spacing, and eventually increases agricultural yields. So, current investigation was carried out in the Wheat Research Unit's research farm, Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola, during the 2017–2018 Rabi seasons to evaluate the impacts of drilling and dibbling, the planting technique to assess the growth and reproductive characteristics and eventually, the yield of the wheat varieties being studied. Ten treatments were used in the Factorial Randomized Block design (FRBD) experiment, which was triple-replicated. First factors are varieties V1 (AKAW 4210-6) and V2 (AKAW 4627). Five different sowing techniques were used in the treatments: S1 (drilling at 20 cm @ 100 kg ha-1), S2 (drilling at 20 cm @ 50 kg ha-1), S3 (dibbling at 15 x 15 cm), S4 (dibbling at 15 x 20 cm), and S5 (dibbling at 20 x 20 cm) as the second component. In comparison to the other type chosen for the study, variety AKAW 4210-6 fared to be better in terms of in almost all the growth and reproductive traits and observed profitable. In the study comparatively, dibbling method of sowing at 20 × 20 cm possibly helped to improve the grain yield more than 10 percent because it significantly increased the growth attributes, such as number of leaves plant-1, leaf area plant-1, number of effective tillers m-2, chlorophyll content index (%), and dry matter accumulation plant-1 (g), when compared to the drilling technique of sowing.
The Ethical and Legal Implications of Shadow AI in Sensitive Industries: A Focus on Healthcare, Finance and Education
Authors: Balogun Adebayo Yusuf , Metibemu Olufunke Cynthia , Olutimehin Abayomi Titilola , Ajayi Adekunbi Justina , Babarinde Damilola Comfort , Olaniyi Oluwaseun Oladeji
Published: February 2025

This study examines the ethical and legal implications of Shadow AI in healthcare, finance, and education by analyzing unauthorized AI deployments and their impact on data privacy, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance. Using a quantitative research approach, descriptive statistics, ordinal regression modeling, and network analysis were employed to assess AI violations using the MITRE ATLAS AI Incident Database, EU AI Act Public Database, and IBM X-Force Threat Intelligence Report. Findings reveal that privacy breaches are most prevalent in education (22 cases), bias-related issues dominate finance (20 cases), and cybersecurity risks are highest in healthcare (19 cases). Legal risk analysis shows a 20% probability of regulatory intervention, with breach type as the strongest determinant. Anomaly detection identified healthcare as the most vulnerable to AI-driven cyber threats (8 anomalies). This study contributes to AI governance literature by quantifying the impact of regulatory interventions on Shadow AI risks, demonstrating how enforcement actions influence unauthorized AI adoption trends. It also underscores the limitations of current frameworks (e.g., GDPR, HIPAA, SEC regulations) in mitigating AI-related violations. The findings emphasize the urgent need for sector-specific AI compliance frameworks, AI ethics committees, and real-time cybersecurity monitoring systems to mitigate risks. Strengthening legal accountability and regulatory enforcement is critical to preventing the unchecked proliferation of Shadow AI in sensitive industries. Recommendations include sector-specific AI compliance frameworks, AI ethics committees, cybersecurity policies, and stricter regulatory enforcement.
Doxorubicin induces deglycosylation of cancer cell‐intrinsic PD‐1 by NGLY1
Authors: Wu Dexuan , Wu Zhen , Yao Han , Yan Xiaojun , Jiao Zishan , Liu Yajing , Zhang Meng , Wang Donglai
Published: May 2024

Tumor cells can express the immune checkpoint protein programmed death‐1 (PD‐1), but how cancer cell‐intrinsic PD‐1 is regulated in response to cellular stresses remains largely unknown. Here, we uncover a unique mechanism by which the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin (Dox) regulates cancer cell‐intrinsic PD‐1. Dox upregulates PD‐1 mRNA while reducing PD‐1 protein levels in tumor cells. Although Dox shortens the PD‐1 half‐life, it fails to directly induce PD‐1 degradation. Instead, we observe that Dox promotes the interaction between peptide‐N(4)‐(N‐acetyl‐beta‐glucosaminyl)asparagine amidase (NGLY1) and PD‐1, facilitating NGLY1‐mediated PD‐1 deglycosylation and destabilization. The maintenance of PD‐1 sensitizes tumor cells to Dox‐mediated antiproliferative effects. Our study unveils a regulatory mechanism of PD‐1 in response to Dox and highlights a potential role of cancer cell‐intrinsic PD‐1 in Dox‐mediated antitumor effects.