bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disasters, Pandemics, Vulnerability Factors And Their Impacts On Women And Children In Africa
Authors: MUSASA TAPIWA
Published: February 2025

The article argues that African women and children are vulnerable to any type of disaster or pandemic at the micro or macro level, due to their high levels of susceptibility and unequal access to resources as compared to their male counterparts. The study explores the views of stakeholders in disaster management through document reviews, interviews, focus group discussions and observations. Results of the study reveal that women in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi and South Africa suffered more at the hands of Cyclone Idai in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as compared to their male counterparts. Domestic violence cases against women increased, sexual abuse against women and girls in temporary shelters also increased, and privacy and ante-natal services were limited or not available at all in emergency facilities during Cyclone Idai and COVID19. The article recommends that disaster management in communities should take a continuous multi-stakeholder approach where all parties take turns to be at the forefront in terms of basic needs provisions. More resources should be set aside with enough monitoring and evaluation at national and international levels to cater for the vulnerable communities and sectors of the population like women and children during disasters and pandemics.
Fencing Harare Of Complex Dynamics Surrounding the Peri-urbanisation Process in Zimbabwe
Authors: Madya Rindai
Published: February 2025

Peri-urbanisation has become a global phenomenon that manifests more in the developing world. It is defined as a process where periurban areas found on the outskirts of cities become more urban, be it in economic, physical or social terms. In middle-income countries, peri-urbanisation has been often stimulated by foreign investment, industrial developments and government services, but in poor countries, it has been pushed by the outward expansion of residential areas with inadequate services. The article examines trends and transformations taking place in the peri-urban areas of Harare City. It establishes that the Harare peri-urban interface is undergoing tremendous environmental, social and economic transformations. There are great changes in land-use, land value, settlement density and population growth. Local authorities have developed a tendency of allowing both illegal and legal developments to take place near Harare‘s fringes. This has led to unregulated peri-urban land development near Harare‘s boundary as its neighbours are fencing in the capital city of Zimbabwe, causing urban structures to expand horizontally around the city‘s boundary. The emerging peri-urban development does not respect planning norms and principles that are very crucial in urban land development. These peri-urban developments have configured Harare‘s peri-urban landscape.
Climate-Smart Agriculture In Zimbabwe: Lessons From World Vision Zimbabwe Programming
Authors: MSIMANGA MTHABISI , MUBANGA PRECIOUS , NYATHI NOMQHELE , MUSHANGARI GILBERT , MAPHOSA SITHANDEKILE , NYAMHUNGA DERECK , MADYA FELIX , CHIRISA INNOCENT
Published: February 2025

Climate change has become a public concern with governments and global governing organisations such as the United Nations setting goals aimed at reducing its adverse impacts on public and poor smallholder farmers in developing countries. The article aims to provide an overview of climatesmart agriculture in Zimbabwe. Climate change has disrupted livelihoods in the country as the economy has always been agrarian-backed. In this article, we set out to understand the lessons relating to ways of reducing the adverse impacts wrought out by climate change drawn from World Vision Programming since 2000. It makes the argument that lack of technology and institutional support has been the main hindrance to the adoption of climate-smart agriculture. Moreover, the article makes the argument that climate-smart agriculture suffered a stillbirth in Zimbabwe due to lack of information dissemination to farmers and targeted beneficiaries. The study utilised a qualitative research methodology with a bias towards a case study research design. The study discovered that climate-smart agriculture has had an impact on the agricultural sector with the use of irrigation systems and the adoption of cash crop farming in Zimbabwe.
Perceptions of villagers on traditional food crops production in response to climate change in Bocha village, Manicaland province
Authors: MWAROZVA TINASHE
Published: February 2025

Based on the qualitative approach, this research highlights an assessment of the perceptions of villagers on traditional food crop production in response to climate change. The study was inspired by the need to unearth views on traditional food crop production, how they are produced in the wake of climate change and the mitigation measures they employ to ensure food security and poverty reduction. The study was undertaken in Bocha Village in the Manicaland Province of Zimbabwe. The Indigenous Knowledge (IK) theoretical framework used hypothesised ways of knowing, seeing and thinking, passed down orally from generation to generation and that reflect thousands of years of experimentation and innovation in all aspects of life. A sample of 10 was drawn using purposive sampling. Data was gathered using semistructured interviews and focus group discussions with participants. Findings were thematically presented. The study revealed that villagers view traditional food crops as food security commodities with droughttolerant and climate mitigation potential produced using indigenous knowledge systems. They also reduce poverty through commercial and nutritional benefits derived from their processing
Pandemic Within A Pandemic Genderbased Violence Experiences Of Women In Marondera Urban (2020- 2021), Mashonaland East, Zimbabwe
Authors: Muzuva Prince , Mpofu Hamadziripi Nomaga , Hlungwani Promise
Published: February 2025

This article is a pilot study that is part of broader research on genderbased violence (GBV) during the COVID-19 pandemic in theMarondera Urban District. Women in Marondera Urban have been onthe receiving end of GBV from time immemorial. However, theproblem appears to have increased during the COVID-19-inducedlockdown in Marondera from April 2020 to February 2021. Physical,social, sexual and economic abuse were the most common forms ofviolence in Marondera urban. Using the Broken Windows Theory, thisstudy is premised on the sad reality that GBV continues unabated inthe 21st century with the pandemic worsening the situation. This is aqualitative study where eight participants were purposively selected.Face-to-face interviews were conducted with the eight participants.The findings indicated that before the COVID-19 pandemic, GBV wasalready high, however, the situation further deteriorated during theCOVID-19-induced lockdowns as couples were confined at home mostof the time.
Wood Technology in the Shona Culture: Implications on Education 5.0 within the Context of Zimbabwe’s Curriculum Framework 2015-2022
Authors: KWAIRA PETER
Published: February 2025

The emergence of wood as an engineering material is taken backinto history, as far as the very roots of humanity. It is back then,the relationship between wood and stone is highlighted in the actof fire-making for the sake of human progress and survival. Wecould not have come this far without these two engineeringmaterials. Interestingly, in present day, most of the engineeringsolutions to several problems comprise the application of morethan one material. In Zimbabwe, the advent of Design andTechnology as a subject, together with all its related branches inCurriculum Framework 2015-2022, has turned out to be the caseof history repeating itself, regarding the issue of problem-solving.It is within this scenario, that one focuses on Wood Technology(WT) as part of the Shona culture in a study where the task wasto determine the extent to which the modern-day Design andTechnology Curriculum in Zimbabwe could benefit from the rootsof WT founded in Shona culture. In conclusion, this article bringsto light several opportunities for such benefits.
From Imagination to Reality on Child Spaces for Recreation: Insights and Foresights on Zimbabwe
Authors: MHIZHA SAMSON
Published: February 2025

Much research on the importance of physical and recreational activities and play among children exists globally, though little has been done in Africa in general and Zimbabwe in particular. More importantly, there is limited research evidence and policy dialogues on the importance of planning for child spaces for recreation and play in Zimbabwe. The main objective of the current study is to explore challenges and policy implications for recreational and play spaces in urban Zimbabwe. The study employs a literature review approach and reviews relevant studies from 1980 to 2023. The main challenges discussed include rapid urbanisation without development, little research, ambivalent policy and legal framework, corruption, politics of urban planning, invasions of play and recreational spaces, the prevalence of sedentary lifestyles and lack of scientific knowledge on the importance of physical activities. There is a dearth of public policies on the promotion of children’s play and recreational opportunities, with the situation in communities compounded by a weak public capacity to plan, implement and enforce the promotion of recreational and play facilities
Polska lista ważnych wydarzeń i kontekst jej powstania
Authors:   Departament Strategii Biura KRRiT, Woźniak Albert
Published: February 2025

Art. 20b ust. 3 ustawy o radiofonii i telewizji daje możliwość KRRiT wydania rozporządzenia w sprawie listy ważnych wydarzeń z uwzględnieniem stopnia społecznego zainteresowania określonym wydarzeniem i jego znaczenia dla życia społecznego, gospodarczego i politycznego. W artykule przedstawiono kontekst powstania polskiej listy ważnych wydarzeń oraz kryteria, jakie były brane pod uwagę przy przyjmowaniu rozporządzenia KRRiT w tej sprawie.
Status prawny telewizji hybrydowej na gruncie przepisów ustawy o radiofonii i telewizji
Authors:   Instytut Nauk Prawnych PAN, Zdzikot Tomasz
Published: February 2025

Postępująca konwergencja mediów prowadzi zarówno do daleko idących zmian w sposobie odbioru treści oferowanych za pośrednictwem różnych kanałów komunikacji, jak i do łączenia przez dostawców usług funkcjonujących dotąd całkowicie odrębnie i podlegających odmiennym reżimom prawnym. Jest to źródłem wielu wątpliwości z punktu widzenia ram regulacyjnych nieprzystających do wysoce zaawansowanych technologicznie i innowacyjnych usług. Rozwój systemów hybrydowych łączących telewizję i Internet już dziś wymaga podejmowania prób subsumpcji występujących na rynku stanów faktycznych do obowiązujących przepisów prawa, wśród których w obrębie usług medialnych podstawowe znaczenie ma ustawa o radiofonii i telewizji.
ANALYZING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TRADE OPENNESS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NORTH MACEDONIA: A SVAR APPROACH
Authors: Shapkova Kocevska Katerina , Makrevska Disoska Elena , Tonovska Jasna
Published: February 2025

The relationship between trade openness and economic growth is complex. We employ a structural vector auto-regression (SVAR) model using quarterly data for the period from 2005 to 2022 to estimate the impact of trade openness on the economic growth in North Macedonia. The study's findings indicate a negative and significant relationship between trade openness and economic development in the short and long run. The complexity of this relationship highlights an adverse impact on countries specialising in low-quality production or those with low levels of human capital accumulation, such as North Macedonia. The dynamic effects of shocks to trade openness on interest rates, consumer price index, interest rates, labour force, and exchange rate are investigated using impulse response functions. The paper suggests that North Macedonia's trade strategy requires reorientation towards trade diversification, attracting export-oriented FDIs, and fostering regional trade integration to achieve sustainable economic growth and development.
IMPACT OF DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION ON ECONOMIC GROWTH
Authors: Ćirić Aleksandra
Published: February 2025

We are living in a time of exciting, dynamic and fundamental technological changes. The expansion and development of new digital technologies leads to changes in all aspects of business, from strategic to operational. Digital transformation is the integration of digital technologies into the economy, public administration and society as a whole. Digital transformation is one of the main priorities of the European Union, which is already visible from the Lisbon Strategy and the adoption of the Digital Agendas. In this paper, our goal is to determine whether the progress of the European Union countries in the area of digital transformation, shown through the DESI index (digital economy and society index), has a positive impact on the economic growth of member states, measured by gross domestic product per capital.
THE EFFECTS OF DISCLOSING KEY AUDIT MATTERS IN THE AUDITOR’S REPORT
Authors: Pobrić Amira
Published: February 2025

The aim of this paper is to determine whether the disclosure of key audit matters in the auditor’s report increased the communication and informational value of the auditor’s report, the quality of financial statements and the quality of the audit through the analysis of the results of a large number of empirical studies. Most experimental studies show that key audit matters have the potential to effectively direct the attention of users of financial statements to relevant areas, influence the decisions of users of financial statements and reduce the tendency of managers to perform aggressive financial reporting. However, a larger number of studies have found that there is a lack of a broader capital market reaction to the disclosure of key audit matters and that the disclosure of key audit matters does not lead to a reduction in earnings management. Furthermore, most research show that the introduction of the obligation to disclose key audit matters does not lead to an increase in the audit fee and the auditor’s report lag, but that there are possible negative effects of the introduction of the obligation to disclose this information in terms of managers' reluctance to share information about their accounting choices with auditors and the reduction of scepticism assessment and sceptical actions of auditors.
Phytochemical Profile and Cervical Anticancer Activity of an In Vitro n-Hexane Extract of Kunto Dewo Fruit (Kigelia pinnata) Peel and Flesh
Authors:   Student of Faculty of Medicine, Universitas IndonesiaUniversitas Indonesia, Isbandiputri Swarnasari Nurandita , Dwira Surya ,   Department of Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia, Kristanty Diyah ,   Department of Clinical Phatology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
Published: February 2025

Cervical cancer is the fourth highest cancer occurring and causes death in women. Therefore, adequate management is needed to prevent its development. Currently, the treatment has a variety of adverse side effects, so it needs alternative treatments that are supportive and with minimal side effects. One way is to use herbal plants, such as the Kunto Dewo (Kigelia pinnata) plant which is often used as traditional medicine. This plant has antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects on cancer cells. Knowing the phytochemical profile and in-vitro anticancer activity of the n-hexane extract of peel and flesh of Kunto Dewo (Kigelia pinnata) fruit against cervical cancer HeLa cells. The peel and flesh of Kigelia pinnata fruit are macerated in n-hexane solvent then the resulting filtrate is evaporated to become an extract. The extract is used for phytochemical profile, carry out through phytochemical screening, thin layer chromatography, calculation of total phenol, and total flavonoids. The extract was also tested for cytotoxic activity against cervical cancer HeLa cells using MTT assay. The n-hexane extract of the peel and flesh of the kigelia pinnta fruit contains triterpenoids. In TLC analysis, there were found 4 components in the n-hexane extract of Kigelia pinnata fruit peel and 8 components in the n-hexane extract of Kigelia pinnata fruit flesh. The cytotoxic activity of the n-hexane extract of the peel and flesh of Kigelia pinnata fruit is included in the moderately active category. The n-hexane extract of the peel and flesh of the kigelia pinnata fruit has potential as an anti-cervical cancer.
Structure of METTL3-METTL14 with an m6A nucleotide reveals insights into m6A conversion and sensing
Authors: Qi Shan , Kumar Abhay , Chen Shuang , Zhou Shuo , Parihar Manish , Villalobos Carmen , Gupta Navom , Chan Siu-Hong , Rao Manjeet K , McHardy Stanton F , Haider Shozeb , Gupta Yogesh K
Published: February 2025

The nuclear METTL3-METTL14 transfers a methyl group from SAM to convert the

N
6

of adenosine (A) in RNA to m
6
A and in ssDNA to 6mA. m
6
A marks are prevalent in eukaryotic mRNAs and lncRNAs and modulate their stability and fate in a context-dependent manner. The cytoplasmic METTL3 can act as a m
6
A reader. However, the precise mechanism during m6A writing, reading, or sensing is unclear. Here, we present a ~2.5 Å structure of the methyltransferase core of human METTL3-METTL14 in complex with the reaction product mimic,

N
6

-methyladenosine monophosphate (m
6
A), representing a state post-catalysis but before the release of m
6
A. m
6
A occupies an evolutionarily conserved RNA-binding pocket ~16 Å away from the SAM pocket that also frequently mutates in cancer. We propose a two-step model of
swiveling
of target A upon conversion to m
6
A and
sensing
its methylation status by this pocket, enabling it to actuate enzymes’ switch from writer to an m
6
A-sensor. Cancer-associated mutations show impaired RNA binding dynamics, de-stacking, and defective m
6
A writing and sensing.
Mechanical forces pattern endocardial Notch activation via mTORC2-PKC pathway
Authors: Mu Yunfei , Hu Shijia , Liu Xiangyang , Tang Xin , Lin Jiayi , Shi Hongjun
Published: February 2025

Notch signaling has been identified as a key regulatory pathway in patterning the endocardium through activation of endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the atrioventricular canal (AVC) and proximal outflow tract (OFT) region. However, the precise mechanism underlying Notch activation remains elusive. By transiently blocking the heartbeat of E9.5 mouse embryos, we found that Notch activation in the arterial endothelium was dependent on its ligand Dll4, whereas the reduced expression of Dll4 in the endocardium led to a ligand-depleted field, enabling Notch to be specifically activated in AVC and OFT by regional increased shear stress. The strong shear stress altered the membrane lipid microdomain structure of endocardial cells, which activated mTORC2 and PKC and promoted Notch1 cleavage even in the absence of strong ligand stimulation. These findings highlight the role of mechanical forces as a primary cue for endocardial patterning and provide insights into the mechanisms underlying congenital heart diseases of endocardial origin.
Multi-task snake optimization algorithm for global optimization and planar kinematic arm control problem
Authors: Li Qingrui , Zhou Yongquan , Luo Qifang
Published: February 2025

Multi-task optimization (MTO) algorithms aim to simultaneously solve multiple optimization tasks. Addressing issues such as limited optimization precision and high computational costs in existing MTO algorithms, this article proposes a multi-task snake optimization (MTSO) algorithm. The MTSO algorithm operates in two phases: first, independently handling each optimization problem; second, transferring knowledge. Knowledge transfer is determined by the probability of knowledge transfer and the selection probability of elite individuals. Based on this decision, the algorithm either transfers elite knowledge from other tasks or updates the current task through self-perturbation. Experimental results indicate that, compared to other advanced MTO algorithms, the proposed algorithm achieves the most accurate solutions on multitask benchmark functions, the five-task and 10-task planar kinematic arm control problems, the multitask robot gripper problem, and the multitask car side-impact design problem. The code and data for this article can be obtained from: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14197420.
Comparison of 1-year mortality predictions from vendor-supplied versus academic model for cancer patients
Authors: Gensheimer Michael F. , Lu Jonathan , Ramchandran Kavitha
Published: February 2025

Purpose

The Epic End of Life Care Index (EOLCI) predicts 1-year mortality for a general adult population using medical record data. It is deployed at various medical centers, but we are not aware of an independent validation. We evaluated its performance for predicting 1-year mortality in patients with metastatic cancer, comparing it against an academic machine learning model designed for cancer patients. We focused on this patient population because of their high short-term mortality risk and because we had access to the comparator model predictions.

Materials and Methods

This retrospective analysis included adult outpatients with metastatic cancer from four outpatient sites. Performance metrics included AUC for 1-year mortality and positive predictive value of high-risk score.

Results

There were 1,399 patients included. Median age at first EOLCI prediction was 67 and 55% were female. A total of 1,283 patients were evaluable for 1-year mortality; of these, 297 (23%) died within 1 year. AUC for 1-year mortality for EOLCI and academic model was 0.73 (95% CI [0.70–0.76]) and 0.82 (95% CI [0.80–0.85]), respectively. Positive predictive value was 0.38 and 0.65, respectively.

Conclusion

The EOLCI’s discrimination performance was lower than the vendor-stated value (AUC of 0.86) and the academic model’s performance. Vendor-supplied machine learning models should be independently validated, particularly in specialized patient populations, to ensure accuracy and reliability.
Regulatory Landscape for School Education for Third Gender Pupils in India: Case-Studies from CBSE, ICSE and UP Board in India
Authors: Mittal Priyanka , Singh Babita
Published: February 2025

Aims: Third-gender people in India face discrimination in all aspects of life - social participation, education, job etc. Good education can be a tool to fight against this discrimination but the educational system is usually not very inclusive when it comes to third-gender persons. In this paper, the researchers present an analysis from their survey of the regulatory landscape (laws, policies, guidelines, …) of India in the context of school-level education for third-gender pupils. The paper also presents a brief overview of the international standards to set the scene.
Methodology: Systematic survey of regulation, policy and guideline documents in India for School-level Education.
Results: The analysis indicates that despite the legal recognition of third-gender persons in India and “inclusive education” being one of the central themes of all national-level policies, there is still a lack of concrete guidelines about implementing inclusive education, specifically for third-gender pupils. Furthermore, the guideline documents from three big educational boards in India (CBSE, ICSE and UP board) don’t contain any guideline for inclusion of third-gender pupils. Even the language of the guideline documents themselves was found to be non-inclusive for people of non-binary gender.
Implications and Conclusions: Based on the analysis, the researchers found the gaps in the regulatory landscape of India for inclusion of third-gender pupils and provided recommendations for improving the regulatory landscape in India for school-level education of third-gender persons and also for making the language of these (or others) regulatory documents more inclusive.
Modeling and Optimization of Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue via TiO2-CuO/HAp Catalyst: The Use of Response Surface Methodology and Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Akanbi Temitope Ezekiel , Ajayi Olusegun , Yusuff Adeyinka S. , Obada David
Published: February 2025

This study is focused on the evaluation of the photocatalytic activity of TiO2-CuO/HAp catalyst as prepared by sol-gel method and characterized using FT-IR, XRD, SEM-EDX for the degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) from its aqueous solution under sunlight. The effects of MB concentration, contact time, and catalyst dosage on the degradation of MB were studied using the central composite design (CCD) method. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) modeling techniques were also applied to model the process and examine their corresponding predictive and performance capabilities of the response (degradation efficiency).
The RSM optimized conditions show that TiO2-CuO/HAp achieved 99.62% MB degradation in the designed photocatalytic system that was set under sunlight at 20 mg/L methylene blue concentration, 0.15 g TiO2-CuO/HAp dosage and 2.5hours (150mins) irradiation time. On the other hand, optimization with ANN study revealed that the predicated model was perfectly fitted with the experimental data. The process was also modeled using the adsorption isotherms and kinetic models. The degradation of MB was best described well by the Pseudo-Second-Order model with (R2=0.995) and the equilibrium data for the photodegradation process fits well with the Langmuir isotherm model (R2=0.996). The results of our study will help communicate the most effective and economical options for the removal of dyes in wastewater.
Studies on the Traditional and Phytochemical use of Kigelia africana (LAM.) Benth Leaves Harvested in Mali
Authors: Somboro Aimé Ainin , Cissé Salimatou , Dembélé Niaboula , Keïta Astan , Badiaga Mamadou
Published: February 2025

Kigelia africana, known by its vernacular name “Sinjamba” or “Dindan”, from the Bignoniaceae family, is a medicinal and ornamental plant widely used in African traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to identify traditional uses from herbalists and traditional health practitioners, as well as to study the phytochemistry and antioxidant activity of Kigelia africana leaves. Extracts were prepared using aqueous decoction with reflux heating and Soxhlet extraction for organic extracts.
Phytochemical families were identified using tube reactions. Antioxidant power was evaluated via the DPPH radical scavenging method. Characterization tests showed that the extracts are rich in total phenols, flavonoids, coumarins, tannins, mucilages, and cardiac glycosides. Methanolic and ethanolic extracts exhibited significant antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 163.90 ± 11.49 µg/mL and 192.86 ± 23.35 µg/mL, respectively, compared to ascorbic acid (41.57 ± 0.71 µg/mL). The antiradical activity appears to be linked to the plant’s richness in polyphenols, particularly flavonoids, supporting its traditional use in treating various ailments reported during the ethnobotanical survey.
Global Developmental Delay and the Impact of Overindulgence: A Case Series on Global Developmental Delay, the Excessive Pampering, and the Consequences of Overindulgence in Children
Authors: Natarajan Raj Thilak , Ravi Pradeeba , Arjunan Surendhar , Jayabalan Jayaseelan , Jayaraman Siddharthan , Veeramuthu Indhumathi
Published: February 2025

Background: Global developmental delay (GDD) is a common concern in pediatric practice, often linked to delays across multiple domains. Parenting styles, particularly overprotective and overindulgent approaches, can significantly influence these delays. This case series examines the impact of excessive pampering and overprotection on children with developmental delays and neurodevelopmental disorders.
Methods: Six cases of children aged 2-4 years with conditions such as cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, learning disabilities, and down syndrome were analysed. Parenting influences were assessed through clinical observations, parental interviews, and developmental milestone evaluations.
Results: Excessive parental involvement was associated with delayed developmental progress. Overprotective parenting limited opportunities for social interaction, independent learning, and physical activity, notably in cases of cerebral palsy and down syndrome. Overindulgence contributed to dependency and emotional strain in children with muscular dystrophy and intellectual disabilities. Pampering adversely affected emotional regulation and self-reliance, exacerbating challenges in ADHD and learning disabilities. Across all cases, these parenting styles impaired peer interactions and social development, despite offering short-term emotional security.
Conclusion: While well-intentioned, excessive pampering and overprotection can inadvertently hinder the physical, cognitive, and social development of children with delays. Balanced parenting, emphasizing emotional support and independence, is vital. Early interventions, structured therapies, and parental education can mitigate the negative effects of these parenting styles and promote optimal development.
Comparative Evaluation of the Act of Infection Control Practices among Health-Care-Workers in Edo State, Nigeria: A Multi-site Study
Authors: A. Ehimen Ferguson
Published: February 2025

Healthcare workers are frequently exposed to blood and body fluids during their regular and daily patient care. These practices tend to expose them to preventable infectious diseases such as Human immunodeficiency virus, Hepatitis B and C viruses. Preventing these exposures through adherence to standard precautions is the most important strategy for minimizing the transmission of infectious diseases in healthcare settings.
Objectives: To evaluate the degree to which healthcare professionals at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of health care delivery observe and adhere to established precautionary measures and infection control procedures.
 Methods: The cross-sectional and observational study was conducted amongst HCWs working at three levels of health care settings in Edo state, Nigeria.
Results: Only less than one–third of the health care workers (HCWs) across all the levels of care had good standard precautions’ practices. Personal protective equipments (hand gloves) were worn all the time during patient care by one hundred and sixty six (66.9%) of the HCWs in the Primary Health Care (PHC) compared to 22(51.2%) and 131(65.2%) reported at the Secondary Health Care (SHC) and Tertiary Health Care (THC) respectively.
Conclusion: Generally, there was poor adherence to standard precautions among HCWs at the three levels of health care. These poor practices are a clear indication of regular training on standard precautions and infection control in all healthcare settings. Similarly, For the purpose of examining the availability of infection control supplies and the adherence of healthcare staff to standard procedures, the government must establish an infection control audit committee.
Using Machine Learning and GIS to Monitor Sandbars Along the River Niger in the Niger Delta, Nigeria
Authors: Okpobiri Okechukwu , Akajiaku Charles Ugochukwu , Eteh Desmond Rowland , Moses Paaru
Published: February 2025

The use of GIS and machine learning techniques to map sand bars along the Niger River in the Niger Delta, Nigeria, spanning the period from 1974 to 2024. It integrates DEM, Landsat series satellite imagery obtained from the USGS. Rainfall data from 1983 to 2023, sourced from the Center for Hydrometeorology and Remote Sensing, supplements the analysis. Object-Based Image Analysis is employed to identify and map sand bars, while Support Vector Machines automate classification to ensure precision and recall metrics. ArcGIS 10.5 tracks temporal changes, revealing significant morphological shifts influenced by both natural processes and human activities. Results show a significant reduction in sandbar length from 1.6502 km in 1974 to a low of 0.7437 km in 2004, while sandbar area decreased by 68% to 0.0587 km² by 2004 before partially recovering to 0.1271 km² in 2024. Key parameters such as Aspect Ratio (AR) and Elongation Ratio (ER) demonstrate relative stability, indicating consistent directional flow influence on sandbar shape. Spatial autocorrelation analysis (Moran's Index of 0.138562) links sandbar dynamics to elevation, with a significant correlation between rainfall and sandbar area fluctuations (R² = 0.7576). Regression analysis reveals strong associations among sandbar length, width, and area (R² values up to 0.9737), indicating predictable morphometric responses to environmental changes. Additionally, grain size impacts sandbar stability, with medium to coarse sands forming more stable structures. Comparative global analyses reinforce the broader implications of these findings for sustainable river management, stressing the need for balanced policies in response to climate change, sediment transport, and anthropogenic activities. The study underscores the importance of advanced monitoring technologies for effective riverine ecosystem management and sediment regulation.
Microbiological Contamination Levels of Tomatoes Produced and Sold in Niamey, Niger: A Comparative Analysis
Authors: Alio Almou Abdoulaye , Abdel-kader Alio Sanda , Moustapha Rabiou Maman , Djélifa Hamidou Seybou , Chaibou Yaou , Mahamadou Alio Fody , Seini Sabo Haoua , Hassimi Sadou
Published: February 2025

Fruits and vegetables are an important food source of nutrients, vitamins and fiber, and play a vital role in human health and well-being. They are also recommended for reducing the risk of several diseases. This study aims to assess the microbiological quality of a few samples of tomatoes produced and sold in Niamey. To this end, contamination indicator germs such as Total Aerobic Mesophilic Flora (FAMT), Total Coliforms (TC), Faecal Coliforms (FC), Enterobacteriaceae (ENTR), Faecal Streptococci (FS), Clostridium perfringens (CP) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were enumerated, using methods specific to each germ. Analysis of the results shows that market 4 samples were heavily contaminated with FAMT, CT, CF, Ent and SF (7.06, 5.93, 5.74, 6.31 and 6.06 Log10 CFU/g of tomato respectively), market 1 with CP (5.12 Log10 CFU/g) and market 5 with E. coli (5.35 Log10 CFU/g). Twelve (12) species of enterobacteria were identified, including Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli1, Escherichia vulneris, Pantoea spp 1, Providencia stuartii, Salmonella spp, Salmonella arizonae and Serratia liquefaciens. The sanitary quality of these vegetables is poor. That's why it's essential to follow good hygiene practices in the market, to ensure a healthy vegetable.
Photobiomodulation Mitigates Oxidative Stress Induced by Bothrops jararacussu Venom in C2C12 Myoblast Cells
Authors: Brauner Maíra de Souza Aranha , Silva Luciana Miato Gonçalves , Freitas Sara Cristina Ferreira , Angelis Katia de , Marcos Rodrigo Labat , Oliveira Ana Paula Ligeiro , Junior José Antônio Silva , Zamuner Stella Regina
Published: February 2025

Myonecrosis is a significant complication of Bothropic envenoming, and standard antivenom treatment is ineffective in mitigating local tissue damage. Photobiomodulation has demonstrated potential in reducing the local effects induced by Bothrops snakebite envenoming, though the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of photobiomodulation on oxidative stress in C2C12 myoblast cells exposed to Bothrops jararacussu venom. Cells were incubated with venom (12.5 μg/mL) and immediately irradiated with lasers at wavelength of red 660 nm (red) and 780nm (infrared), with energy densities of 4 and 5 J/cm2, respectively. Key indicators of venom-induced oxidative stress were analyzed, including nitric oxide (NO) levels, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) production, antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase [SOD] and glutathione peroxidase [GPx]), and lipid peroxidation (TBARS).  Results showed that PBM significantly reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and lipid peroxidation while enhancing SOD activity. These findings suggest that PBM provides cellular protection, at least in part, by mitigating oxidative stress.
Pattern and Epidemiologic Characteristics of Malignant Tumours Seen in Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt: A Retrospective Study from January 2017 to December 2022
Authors: Ogbu Christian Chika , Ugwa Okezie Chinedu , Amadi Darlington Chidi
Published: February 2025

Aim: To review malignant tumours seen at Rivers State University Teaching Hospital from January 2017 to December 2022, to assess the gender and age distribution of these tumours and to assess whether there is a correlation between ages of these patients and these malignant tumours.
Place and Duration: Department of Anatomical Pathology, River State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. A retrospective study from January 2017 to December 2022.
Methodology: Four hundred and ninetyeight (498) cases were retrieved from the archives of the hospital cancer registry; 19 cases were excluded due to incomplete data. Data were entered into excel spread sheet and analysed using Microsoft Excel (version 2019).
Results: The mean age was 51.7 ±15.7 years, and the modal age was 51 years. Most of these patients were females (71%). The commonest tumour in females was breast whereas the commonest tumour in males was prostate. There was a correlation between these malignant tumours and age ((χ² =4.25; P = .05).
Conclusion: Majority of the cancers seen in our institution were diagnosed in females in the age bracket 30-69 years and there is a correlation between age and these tumours.
Knowledge Regarding Anaemia and Its Impact on Adolescent Girls of the Kolam Tribe: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Sathyavathi Pasunuri , Singh Neetu , Singh Ayushi
Published: February 2025

Background: Anaemia is a significant global health concern. Most adolescent age groups are more prone to anaemia. Whereas tribal groups are more susceptible to anaemia because of lack of awareness, lack of hygiene etc. Tribals are considered backward, primitive groups who are hesitant to seek out the community's health services. Thus, it is necessary to investigate their current state of health.
Objective: the present study was to know the socio-demographic profile and, Secondly, to find out the knowledge regarding anaemia and lastly, to assess the anaemic status in adolescent girls. Methods: it is a cross-sectional study conducted in a Government Higher Secondary school with purposively selected 60 study subjects aged 17 & 18 years, using a predesigned and pre-tested questionnaire the study was conducted from October 2023 to February 2024. The tools used were a stadiometer, and digital weighing machine for anthropometric assessment and anaemic status was assessed using a hemoglobinometer.
Results: A mean age of 17.23 ± 0.419 years was observed. in which 75% were anaemic i.e. n=60 and only all the study subjects belonged to the Kolam tribe. And only 20% of them are aware that haemoglobin status can assess iron deficiency. Last, but not least, only two-fourth of them were aware of anaemia.
Conclusion: The study reveals the prevalence of anaemia is about 75% and they are not much aware of anaemia and its associated factors.
A escola na prevenção da exploração sexual de crianças e adolescentes: tecendo possibilidades educativas
Authors: Hundertmarck Katiele
Published: February 2025

As violências sexuais contra crianças e adolescentes são violaçõesdos direitos sexuais no que tange ao abuso ou à exploração dos seus corpos.Vislumbrar estratégias de promoção de uma educação para a prevenção dessasviolências é necessário e urgente para o pleno desenvolvimento humano esocial. Por isso, o objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar o curta-metragem Mundosem porteira: um alerta contra a exploração sexual de crianças e adolescentes etrazer para a discussão a potencialidade deste artefato cultural para a educaçãona escola e para a prevenção dessa violência. Foi realizada uma pesquisadocumental a partir da análise do artefato cultural utilizando referencialteórico dos estudos culturais em educação. O filme em análise mostrou quepode ser um promotor de ações preventivas à exploração sexual de criançase adolescentes. As pedagogias culturais que o curta contêm, com algumasexceções discutidas ao longo do texto, nos ensinam que são necessárias açõesintersetoriais e multiprofissionais para a erradicação da violência sexual. O artefatoparece competente para o debate em sala de aula, pois traz elementospedagógicos para se pensar sobre a prevenção das violências pelo campo daeducação. Entre esses elementos estão a atuação da rede de proteção para aidentificação, a prevenção e a eliminação da exploração sexual de criançase adolescentes.
Representações sociais e competência comunicativa intercultural como subsídios para pesquisas em educação
Authors: Villela Ana Paula , Borges Rosimeire Aparecida Soares , Salles Atílio Catosso
Published: February 2025

Este artigo tem por objetivo apresentar reflexões sobre aspectos da teoria das representações sociais, elementos da competência comunicativa e da competência comunicativa intercultural. Para tanto, foi realizado um estudo qualitativo a partir de uma abordagem bibliográfica, o qual se propõe a subsidiar pesquisas na área da educação. Foram consideradas como fundamentação teórica obras de Moscovici (2015), Almeida Filho (1993) e Byram (2020), admitindo também estudos que abordam essas teorias. Este estudo permitiu compreender que as representações sociais possibilitam ao indivíduo uma interpretação de mundo, facilitando a comunicação e orientando os comportamentos e as práticas. Assim, ao admitir que a prática no âmbito escolar não está imune a um conhecimento proveniente da comunicação e da interpretação cultural entre os indivíduos, concebe-se que a identificação das representações sociais que atravessam a realidade educacional pode auxiliar a análise dessa realidade. Nessa esteira de entendimento, ao fundamentar trabalhos no campo da educação na teoria das representações sociais, pode-se analisar elementos da realidade educacional pela lente que essas representações fornecem, de maneira a contribuir com o pesquisador no sentido de ampliar possibilidades de compreensão dos meandros da escola para além do que está colocado.
Manganese(III) Acetylacetonate
Authors: Snider Barry B. , Ferrié Laurent
Published: April 2024

image

[

14284‐89‐0

]

C
15
H
21
MnO
6

(MW 352.30)

InChI = 
1S/3C5H8O2.Mn/c3*1‐4(6)3‐5(2)7;/h3*3,6H,1‐2H3;/q;;;+3/p‐3/b3*4‐3‐;

InChIKey = 
HYZQBNDRDQEWAN‐LNTINUHCSA‐K

(one‐electron oxidant used to oxidize phenols, β‐dicarbonyl compounds, and thiols to the corresponding radical)

Physical Data
: lustrous brown crystalline solid; mp 172 °C.

1

Solubility
: slightly sol water; sol acetone, benzene, chloroform, ether, ethanol, ethyl acetate.

1
(2
R
,2′
R
)‐2,2′‐[(2‐Iodo‐1,3‐phenylene)bis(oxy)]bis[
N
‐(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)propanamide]
Authors: Uyanik Muhammet , Ishihara Kazuaki
Published: April 2024

image

[1226896‐38‐3]

C
30
H
35
IN
2
O
4

(MW 614.5245)

InChI = 
1S/C30H35IN2O4/c1‐16‐12‐18(3)27(19(4)13‐16)32‐29(34)22(7)36‐24‐10‐9‐11‐25(26(24)31)37‐23(8)30(35)33‐28‐20(5)14‐17(2)15‐21(28)6/h9‐15,22‐23H,1‐8H3,(H,32,34)(H,33,35)/t22‐,23‐/m1/s1

InChiKey = 
ZVOKSLMZXDIXPR‐DHIUTWEWSA‐N

(catalyst for oxidative coupling reactions,

1–3

the precursor of chiral organoiodine(III) reagent

1–3

)

Alternative Names
: (
R
,
R
)‐2‐Iodo‐1,3‐bis[1‐(mesitylcarbamoyl)ethoxy]benzene.

Physical Data
: –116.1° (
c
1.0, CHCl
3
).

4

Solubility
: soluble in most organic solvents except hydrocarbons (e.g., hexane) and diethyl ether.

Form Supplied in
: white to off‐white crystal.

Handling, Storage, and Precautions
: light, air, and heat sensitive. Store under inert gas in a dark place at 2–10 °C.

Preparation
: (2
R
,2′
R
)‐2,2′‐[(2‐Iodo‐1,3‐phenylene)bis(oxy)]bis[
N
‐(2,4,6‐trimethylphenyl)propanamide], (
R
,
R
)‐
1a
, can be prepared from 2‐iodoresorcinol in three steps (eq 1).

4,5

The Mitsunobu reaction of 2‐iodoresorcinol with (–)‐ethyl lactate affords
C
2
‐symmetric bisester. Hydrolysis followed by dichlorination with thionyl chloride, and diamidation via mesitylamine gives (
R
,
R
)‐
1a
. (
R
,
R
)‐
1a
is commercially available from FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical Corporation, and Tokyo Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.

image
Parameter adaptive based neural network sliding mode control for electro‐hydraulic system with application to rock drilling jumbo
Authors: Guo Xinping , Wang Hengsheng , Liu Hua
Published: April 2024

Rock drilling jumbo is an important large construction machine used for tunneling construction, and its automation has an urgent demand in engineering. However, the electro‐hydraulic system of the rock drilling jumbo has strong parameters uncertainties and some dynamics that are hard to model accurately, which causes certain challenges for designing model‐based high‐performance control algorithms. To solve these challenges, a parameter adaptive based neural network sliding mode control algorithm is proposed to enhance control performance of the electro‐hydraulic system. The parameter adaptive law is developed to estimate unknown parameters of the system, the neural network is applied for compensating unmodeled dynamics, and then the final control law is designed by sliding mode control method, and the stability demonstration of the closed‐loop system is given. In the simulations, the effectiveness of the designed parameter adaptive law is verified. Extensive comparison experiments are performed on a real rock drilling jumbo driven by proportional valves, the experimental results demonstrate that the developed control algorithm obviously improves the control precision of hydraulic cylinder of the rock drilling jumbo compared with the traditional sliding mode and PID control algorithm, thus the designed control algorithm can be expanded and applied for general hydraulic servo control mechanism.
Photo‐Responsive Decellularized Small Intestine Submucosa Hydrogels
Authors: Duong Van Thuy , Nguyen Han Dang , Luong Ngoc Ha , Chang Chun‐Yi , Lin Chien‐Chi
Published: April 2024

Decellularized small intestine submucosa (dSIS) is a promising biomaterial for promoting tissue regeneration. Isolated from the submucosal layer of animal jejunum, SIS is rich in extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, including collagen, laminin, and fibronectin. Following mild decellularization, dSIS becomes an acellular matrix that supports cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation. Conventional dSIS matrix is usually obtained by thermal crosslinking, which yields a soft scaffold with low stability. To address these challenges, dSIS is modified with methacrylate groups for photocrosslinking into stable hydrogels. However, dSIS has not been modified with clickable handles for orthogonal crosslinking. Here, the development of norbornene‐modified dSIS, named dSIS‐NB, via reacting amine groups of dSIS with carbic anhydride in acidic aqueous reaction conditions is reported. Using triethylamine (TEA) as a mild base catalyst, high degrees of NB substitution on dSIS are obtained. In addition to describing the synthesis of dSIS‐NB, its adaptability in orthogonal hydrogel crosslinking for cancer and vascular tissue engineering is explored. Impressively, compared with physically crosslinked dSIS and collagen matrices, orthogonally crosslinked dSIS‐NB hydrogels supported rapid dissemination of cancer cells and superior vasculogenic and angiogenic properties. dSIS‐NB is also exploited as a versatile bioink for 3D bioprinting.