bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
AI in English Teaching With ChatGPT
Authors: Owais Amjad Kamal
Published: January 2025

The present study was conducted to determine how the application of artificial intelligence, specifically OpenAI's ChatGPT, in English language instruction influences English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. This study compared and analysed student performance in grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension between students who had instruction with the integration of AI, ChatGPT, and those who did not, but only received traditional means of teaching. The research was carried out with an experimental and a control group. The results of the pre-test and post-test, analysed using SPSS software, showed a significant improvement in the English competence of the experimental group. The ethical concerns in this work include overreliance on AI and issues related to academic integrity. Further, the study highlights the role of AI in education, its learning potential, and the need to disclose its limitations and ethical challenges.
The Effect of Silicon Deficiency on Material Properties of Noduar Cast Iron
Authors: Perera S. D. Rasika
Published: January 2025

The brittle failure of a crankshaft was investigated. The chemical composition and material properties of the crankshaft were analyzed. The hardness profile indicated that the manufacturer used the crankshaft as cast without heat treatment. The chemical composition and material parameters were compared with those found in the literature for similar applications. The yield strength, tensile strength, and hardness values observed for the crankshaft were lower than those observed in other crankshafts in the literature. The chemical analysis revealed that the Si composition deviated from the composition in the literature for a typical crankshaft material. Furthermore, low modularity and irregular nodule distribution were observed. The main reason for this failure was the poor mechanical properties arising from the chemical composition, processing, and inoculation characteristics.
Growth and Yield of Salad Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) Vine Cuttings Under Protected House Conditions in Low Country Wet Zone of Sri Lanka
Authors: Perera U. D. T.
Published: January 2025

No abstract available
Synthesis and Characterization of Iridium(III) Complexes containing (ppy)2Ir-unit and Nitrogen based Donor Ligands
Authors: Perera Sarath D.
Published: January 2025

The treatment of 4-dimethylamino pyridine (L1) with 0.5 equivalent of [Ir(ppy)2(μ-Cl)]2 afforded the neutral yellow complex [Ir(ppy)2(L1)Cl] (1) in 81% yield (ppyH = 2-phenylpyridine). When four equivalents of L1 were reacted with an equivalent of [Ir(ppy)2(μ-Cl)]2 in the presence of NH4PF6 produced the yellow salt [Ir(ppy)2(L1)2]PF6 (2) in 96% yield. Dark brown crystals of [(ppy)2ClIr]2(μ-L2) (3) with a bridging di(4-pyridyl) acetylene ligand (L2) was isolated when [Ir(ppy)2(μ-Cl)]2 was treated with one equivalent of di(4-pyridyl) acetylene. Four iridium(III) complexes (4)-(7) of the type [Ir(ppy)2(N^N)]PF6 were prepared by reacting [Ir(ppy)2(μ-Cl)]2 with an appropriate bidentate ligand (N^N) in the molar ratio of 1:2 in the presence of NH4PF6; the products were isolated in good yields (4, 87%; 5, 92%; 6, 96%; 7, 64%) as colored solids. All new complexes were characterized using a combination of IR, NMR, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis. It is important to devise synthetic routes to cyclometallated Ir(III) complexes as they have shown interesting properties in the fields of cancer research, photovoltaic cells, etc.
Impact of Floods on Productivity in Tea Smallholdings: A Case Study on Lands affected by 2017 Floods in Kaluganga River Basin in Ratnapura District of Sri Lanka
Authors: Mahindapala K. G. J. P. , Jayarathna S. P. A. P. K.
Published: January 2025

In Sri Lanka, flood incidences have frequently been experienced in low country districts and tea smallholdings in low-lying areas are affected often. A plant may undergo stress situations due to inhibition of metabolic activities as a result of submergence.   This work aims to study the effects of flood on productivity related attributes of tea in smallholding sector, based on the flood incident occurred in 2017 in Ratnapura district. Using the baseline data collected by the Tea Small Holding Development Authority, this study was conducted in seven Tea Inspector (TI) ranges in Ratnapura district.  Data were collected using a structured questionnaire from a sample of 98 smallholdings selected on the stratified and random manner and analyzed using descriptive and spearmen correlation tests.  The most of the affected land were located very close to Kaluganga or its tributaries and most of them were completely submerged.  Almost half the affected tea holdings have been submerged more than five days period. The silt that was deposited on the foliage was mostly, remained 2– 4 weeks period. Tea bushes showed multiple responses to the stress situation (defoliation, wilting and rotting).  More than 20% foliage was fallen in 40% of the flooded tea lands while, 20% of the flooded land shown the defoliation of more than 50%. Defoliation is negatively correlated with age of tea. More than 20% casualties were reported in 40% of the affected holdings and which is negatively correlate with age. This study recognizes the ability of TRI 2023 which can withstand in flood hazards. Majority of the affected holdings have shown the very slow recovery even after 6 months. It was estimated that tea yield of affected holdings has dropped by 65% when compare with the previous yield in the study area and has a correlation with flooding duration.
Childbearing intentions and influencing factors among single young adults in South Korea: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Shin Hyewon , Lee Anna , Choi Sunyeob , Jo Minjeong
Published: January 2025

Purpose: To identify the childbearing intentions of young adults in South Korea and examine the factors influencing them using a social-ecological model (SEM).Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. Unmarried employed men and women (n=181) aged 25–40 years completed an online survey. The data included socio-demographic characteristics and responses at four levels: (1) intrapersonal (perception of parenthood and fertility knowledge), (2) interpersonal (quality of family relationships), (3) institutional (work-family culture), and (4) community and public policy (adequacy of government policies and social support systems). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlations, and multiple logistic regression.Results: Approximately 77% of the participants planned to have children, and more than 60% wanted to have two or more children. Among the four levels of SEM, only intrapersonal factors, including intention to marry, fertility knowledge, and attitudes toward parenthood, were statistically significant in influencing childbearing intentions. The model explaining the intention to have a child demonstrated an explanatory power of 59.6%, incorporating factors such as marital intention, perceptions of parenthood, and fertility knowledge.Conclusion: A noticeable gap exists between childbearing intentions and childbirth in South Korea. These findings provide insights into the nursing educational content needed for delivering family planning education to young adults. Targeted interventions such as counseling services and community education should be integrated into nursing practice. Moreover, nursing curricula should discuss factors influencing childbearing intentions to equip future nurses better to support young adults' family planning decisions.
The effect of microlearning educational intervention on communication skills of nurses working in Shiraz Trauma Hospital in 2021
Authors: keshtkaran Zahra , Dadgar Fatemeh , karimian Zahra , Raesi Rasoul , kavoosi Jalal
Published: January 2025

Background:

Nursing is one of the groups that spends more time with patients. Therefore, communication skills are essential for providing comprehensive care and establishing effective relationships. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of microlearning educational intervention on communication skills of nurses.

Materials and Methods:

This quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2021 by convenience sampling. A total of 197 nurses working in Shiraz Martyr Rajaei Trauma Hospital were enrolled in the study. The educational content in this study included multimedia educational content that was made available to nurses through communication software. The data collection tool consisted of two questionnaires, including a demographic information questionnaire and a queen’s communication skills questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, and the significance level was set at 5%.

Results:

Most of the participants in the research were female (70.1%), in the age group of 25–35 years. The scores of the main variables of communication skills, including the ability to receive and send messages, emotional control, listening skills, insight into the communication process, communication skills with certainty, and the total score of communication skills, showed a statistically significant difference before and after the intervention (P value < 0.05).

Conclusion:

Microlearning intervention through multimedia education can be an effective method for improving the communication skills of nurses working in hospital settings. Increasing nurses’ awareness of communication skills is also essential, and it is recommended that this training be provided to nurses periodically to promote the nursing profession, especially using microlearning interventions.
The effect of blended educational methods in communication skills in nursing with students’ interactions with patients: A quasi-experimental study
Authors: Kalati Seyed Hossein , Ahmadzadeh Tori Neda , Kalati Javaneh , Norouzi Parashkouh Nastaran , Karimi Hengameh
Published: January 2025

Background:

Regarding the importance of effective communication in delivering satisfactory nursing care, the current study aims to assess the effect of blended educational methods (lecturing, workshop, role-playing, and group discussion) in nursing students’ communication skills course.

Materials and Methods:

This educational evaluation study was conducted in two educational steps using the quasi-experimental method in Ramsar School of Nursing and Midwifery in 2015. In the first step, communication skills were taught in blended educational methods to all newly admitted nursing students of the fall semester (n = 33). In the second step, after 2 weeks, to evaluate the educational outcome, the communication skills of the students as an experimental group were compared with those of students in the fifth semester as a control group who did not receive any communication skills training (n = 25).

Results:

The results of the paired sample t-test showed a significant difference in the scores for the pre-test and post-test (P < .001). The results of an independent t-test do not indicate any significant difference between the two groups. Only in the listening skills domain, for the item “Avoiding interrupting the audience”, there was a significant difference between the control group and the experimental group (P = 0.04). Two-way multivariate analysis of variance based on Wilks Lambda effect shows that only gender has a significant effect in communication skills terms (F (7, 45) =2.590, P < .001, η2= 0.287).

Conclusion:

According to the results, participating in blended methods for communication skills courses can be as effective in improving communication skills as 2 years of experiential learning of communication skills.
Investigating the electronic health literacy promotion strategies in adolescent girls: A cross-sectional study in Iran
Authors: Tavassoli Elahe , Farsani Sara Eslami , Ganji Forouzan , Dehkordi Ziba Raisi
Published: January 2025

Background:

Today, a fifth of the world’s population is made up of adolescents aged 10–19, 500 million of these people are adolescent girls, and investing in the health of adolescents is one of the main ways to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Health concerns are a phenomenon that preoccupies many people at some point in their lives, and in some cases, even though the evidence does not show a specific disease, the person’s concerns are not resolved and health anxiety continues. E-health literacy helps people manage important health issues, make informed health decisions, or communicate with doctors. The present study was conducted with the aim of investigating the electronic health literacy promotion strategies in adolescent girls of Iran: a cross-sectional study.

Materials and Methods:

This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023 on 351 teenage girls of Iran, whose information was completely recorded in the Sib system. The sampling method was random and was used to collect information from the Electronic Health Literacy Questionnaire and the Health Anxiety Questionnaire. Finally, the data collected by the questionnaire were coded and analyzed after entering into the computer by SPSS version 25 software using descriptive and analytical tests.

Result:

The average age of adolescent girls was 0.834 + 85.15 years. The average score of electronic health literacy in adolescent girls was 79.07 + 14.54, and the average health anxiety score was 83.3 + 35.73. There was an inverse statistical relationship between e-health literacy and health anxiety in girls. The highest average score of health literacy at the age of 17 was for “girls whose fathers are retired and whose mothers are housewives”, fathers and mothers with university education, mothers in the age group of 35–40 years, and fathers in the age group of 40–45 years. There was a significant relationship between e-health literacy and factors such as parents’ occupation, parents’ education, being the second child, and having older siblings (0.05 > 0).

Conclusion:

Improving e-health literacy may be an effective strategy to reduce health anxiety in adolescent girls who are the future mothers of the country. Therefore, developing comprehensive programs for the use of cyberspace, creating simple and understandable media, and educational materials, as well as efficient educational interventions for people with insufficient e-health literacy can be an effective step to develop health literacy skills and ultimately reduce health anxiety among adolescents.
Training medical students in participatory rural appraisal methods using ADDIE framework
Authors: Shrivastava Saurabh RamBihariLal , Rahayu Gandes Retno , Prihatiningsih Titi Savitri
Published: January 2025

Participatory rural appraisal (PRA) methods have a special place in improving the health and well-being of the rural population. In the global vision to deliver contextual medical education to benefit the local population, exposure of medical students to participatory rural appraisal methods plays a vital role. However, all these benefits can only materialize, once we systematically plan and execute the training of medical students, and this essentially requires the adoption of an instructional design. Analyze-Design-Development-Implementation-Evaluation (ADDIE) is one of the most frequently used instructional designs in the field of medical education, owing to its simplicity. To conclude, participatory rural appraisal methods carry immense significance in the delivery of contextual medical education and in improving the health standards of the local population. The ADDIE instructional design is an effective approach to planning and conducting training of medical students on PRA methods.
Association between time consumption of electronic screens with eating behaviors and academic performance for pupils in elementary schools
Authors: Al-Wily Mohammed A. S. , Al-Waly Luay A. M.
Published: January 2025

Background:

Evaluate the association between time consumption of electronic screens with eating behaviors and academic performance for pupils at elementary schools in Mosul city.

Method and Materials:

A descriptive study was carried out at elementary Mosul schools for sixth-grade pupils from December 2023 till March 2024. The sample was selected through two stages, the first stage of elementary schools, which occurred by using the probability (Systematic) sample from 20 elementary schools, the second stage used a nonprobability purposive sample selected sample which entailed 240 pupils from selected elementary schools. A questionnaire was developed that contains four parts: The first part contains two sections: the demographic information of students; the additional portion: information about pupils’ time consumption of electronic screens. third part: the pupils’ eating behaviors. Part four: the pupils’ academic performance. By using a self-administration method for data collection. The questionnaire tool’s validity was confirmed via 13 expert panels. A pilot study was conducted to measure reliability from December 28 to 30, 2023. By Cronbach’s Alpha measurement, the results were 0. 815 at SPSS version 26. The data analysis techniques employed were statistical methods such as descriptive and statistical inference.

Results:

The findings of the study are 73.8% (177) of the sample at a level good academic performance with a total mean of 24.35 and a standard deviation of 8.558 that 78.3% (188) of the sample a good level of pupils’ behavior around food with a total mean of 49.47 and a standard deviation of 12.460. There is a nonsignificant correlation relationship between all-time consumption of electronic screens with all academic performance and behavior around food results in the study at P value ≤ 0.05 except the hours my child uses digital screens per day there is a significant positive correlation relationship with academic performance at P value of 0.007 and also with behavior around food at P value of 0.011.

Conclusion:

The study results regarding the pupils’ behavior around food for time consumption of electronic screens in the study offerings that the majority of the sample results a good level of behavior around food.
Imaging Modalities for Minimally Invasive Pain Intervention for Eagle’s Syndrome
Authors: Arora Prateek , Sangeeth C. , Dey Samarjit , Iqbal Javaid , Shrotriya Charu , Keshwani Manish
Published: January 2025

Patients with an elongated styloid process experience a sharp, stabbing sensation in the throat, which can be extremely discomforting. Available treatment options aim at alleviating the pain symptoms using analgesics, minimally invasive interventions, or surgery. The minimally invasive interventions target the glossopharyngeal nerve, which is near the tip of the elongated styloid process. Due to important neurovascular structures in the vicinity, image guidance increases safety and improves precision. In this series, we discuss various imaging modalities available and their conjecture.
Enhancing neural stem cell integration in the injured spinal cord through targeted PTEN modulation
Authors: Genişcan Simay , Park Hee Hwan , Kim Hyung Soon , Yoo Seokjin , Kim Hyunmi , Jang Byeong Seong , Hwang Dong Hoon , Park Kevin K , Kim Byung Gon
Published: January 2025

Spinal cord injury results in permanent loss of neurological functions due to severance of neural networks. Transplantation of neural stem cells holds promise to repair disrupted connections. Yet, ensuring the survival and integration of neural stem cells into the host neural circuit remains a formidable challenge. Here, we investigated whether modifying the intrinsic properties of neural stem cells could enhance their integration post-transplantation. We focused on phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), a well-characterized tumor suppressor known to critically regulate neuronal survival and axonal regeneration. By deleting Pten in mouse neural stem cells, we observed increased neurite outgrowth and enhanced resistance to neurotoxic environments in culture. Upon transplantation into injured spinal cords, Pten-deficient neural stem cells exhibited higher survival and more extensive rostrocaudal distribution. To examine the potential influence of partial PTEN suppression, rat neural stem cells were treated with short hairpin RNA targeting PTEN, and the PTEN knockdown resulted in significant improvements in neurite growth, survival, and neurosphere motility in vitro. Transplantation of shPTEN-treated neural stem cells into the injured spinal cord also led to an increase in graft survival and migration to an extent similar to that of complete deletion. Moreover, PTEN suppression facilitated neurite elongation from NSC-derived neurons migrating from the lesion epicenter. These findings suggest that modifying intrinsic signaling pathways, such as PTEN, within neural stem cells could bolster their therapeutic efficacy, offering potential avenues for future regenerative strategies for spinal cord injury.
Cell type–dependent role of transforming growth factor-β signaling on postnatal neural stem cell proliferation and migration
Authors: Ware Kierra , Peter Joshua , McClain Lucas , Luo Yu
Published: January 2025

Adult neurogenesis continuously produces new neurons critical for cognitive plasticity in adult rodents. While it is known transforming growth factor-β signaling is important in embryonic neurogenesis, its role in postnatal neurogenesis remains unclear. In this study, to define the precise role of transforming growth factor-β signaling in postnatal neurogenesis at distinct stages of the neurogenic cascade both in vitro and in vivo, we developed two novel inducible and cell type-specific mouse models to specifically silence transforming growth factor-β signaling in neural stem cells in (mGFAP
cre
-ALK5fl/fl-Ai9) or immature neuroblasts in (DCX
creERT2
-ALK5
fl/fl
-Ai9). Our data showed that exogenous transforming growth factor-β treatment led to inhibition of the proliferation of primary neural stem cells while stimulating their migration. These effects were abolished in activin-like kinase 5 (ALK5) knockout primary neural stem cells. Consistent with this, inhibition of transforming growth factor-β signaling with SB-431542 in wild-type neural stem cells stimulated proliferation while inhibited the migration of neural stem cells. Interestingly, deletion of transforming growth factor-β receptor in neural stem cells in vivo inhibited the migration of postnatal born neurons in mGFAP
cre
-ALK5
fl/fl
-Ai9 mice, while abolishment of transforming growth factor-β signaling in immature neuroblasts in DCX
creERT2-ALK5
fl/fl-Ai9 mice did not affect the migration of these cells in the hippocampus. In summary, our data supports a dual role of transforming growth factor-β signaling in the proliferation and migration of neural stem cells in vitro. Moreover, our data provides novel insights on cell type-specific-dependent requirements of transforming growth factor-β signaling on neural stem cell proliferation and migration in vivo.
A crucial role of on-site clinical trial monitoring: Insights from the ethics committee
Authors: Chindhalore Chaitali Ashish , Dakhale Ganesh Natthuji , Gajbhiye Snehalata
Published: January 2025

Background:

On-site monitoring by the institutional ethics committee (IEC) is one of the most effective ways to ensure compliance during research conduct.

Objectives:

The objectives of this study were to analyze the reports of clinical trial (CT) site monitoring conducted by IEC from January 2021 to March 2024 and to assess the impact of the monitoring by analyzing compliance reports submitted by the trial site team.

Methodology:

A retrospective analysis of site monitoring and compliance reports was conducted after obtaining necessary approvals from IEC.

Results:

The present study analyzed 22 reports of site monitoring conducted from 2021 to 2024. A total of 56 deviations were observed during monitoring. The most common deviations observed were related to documentation and record-keeping (31/56). In many cases, logs were incomplete (10/56). Traveling allowance (TA) was given but receipt was not maintained (4/56). Major observed were deducting expenses of consumables from TA, not giving TA and ICF was not signed and dated by patient/LAR. Based on monitoring report, query letters were sent to respective PIs with instructions to submit explanations and compliance reports. The PIs submitted compliance report mentioning CAPA in response to deviations pointed out by ethics committee monitoring team and submitted their reports to the IEC. The percentage improvement in ethical conduct of trials was 96.42%.

Conclusion:

In the present study, active trial site monitoring helped the IEC to identify deviations that were impossible to identify by passive monitoring. Majority of deviations were resolved after being pointed out by IEC highlighting the importance of active monitoring. Thus, on-site CT monitoring is a critical aspect of ethical oversight, ensuring participant safety, maintaining data integrity and credibility, detecting compliance issues, and enhancing trust and transparency.
Risk factor analysis and prediction of multi-organ metastasis in hepatic alveolar echinococcosis
Authors: Xia Pan , Wang Xiang-Qian , Shang-Guan Chao-Liang , Wang Zheng , Xu Wei , Wang Jin-Peng , Liu Zhen , Zhu Hai-Hong
Published: January 2025

Background:

Patients with multiple organ metastases from hepatic alveolar echinococcosis have a high mortality rate. However, predictors of multi-organ metastasis have not been identified. We aimed to develop a nomogram that predicts multi-organ metastasis in patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis.

Methods:

We retrospectively screened patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis who were treated between January 2016 and December 2021 at Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital, China. The outcome of the nomogram was multi-organ metastasis of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis. We collected patients’ basic characteristics, disease course, imaging, and blood laboratory results. The Least Absolute Shrinkage Selection Operator (LASSO) analysis selected the predictors preliminarily. A predictive model was constructed by multivariate logistic regression and presented as a nomogram. The performance of the nomogram was measured by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration diagram, and decision curve analysis (DCA). The model was internally validated by calculating the performance of the validation cohort.

Results:

A total of 353 patients were enrolled in this study. Ninety five (26.9%) patients presented with multi-organ metastases. All participants were randomized into a development cohort (n = 249) and a validation cohort (n = 104). Predictors in this nomogram were the course of the disease, the long diameter of the lesion, multiple intrahepatic lesions, and medication. The ROC curve of the training set was 0.907 (95% CI: 0.870, 0.943). A similar ROC curve was achieved at the validation set (0.927, 95% CI: 0.876, 0.979). The calibration curve demonstrated that the prediction outcome was correlated with the observed outcome.

Conclusion:

The nomogram can predict the risk of multi-organ metastasis in patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis, and help clinicians develop or adjust a reasonable diagnosis and treatment plan in time.
Superposición internacional de competencias persecutorias en casos de responsabilidad penal corporativa
Authors: Wilenmann von Bernath Javier , del Fierro Baraona Nicolás
Published: January 2025

El artículo ofrece una reconstrucción de la superposición de persecuciones y sanciones en casos de derecho penal corporativo que involucran a empresas multinacionales. En casos de esta clase, autoridades penales de distintos países asumen que tienen competencia para investigar y sancionar a una misma empresa por los mismos hechos. El artículo entrega cinco proposiciones que resumen las razones por las que esta configuración es probable, da cuenta de tres formas que tienden a tomar los casos, reconstruye las ventajas y desventajas asociadas a esta configuración y entrega prescripciones sobre el modo de abordarla en el derecho chileno.
Accesoriedad administrativa y derecho penal económico: Consideraciones sobre el rol sistemático del complemento y su interpretación
Authors: Ossandón Widow Magdalena
Published: January 2025

Reconocida la necesidad y legitimidad de las remisiones a la regulación extrapenal en el ámbito del derecho penal económico, este estudio pretende delimitar el rol que la norma o el acto administrativo de referencia cumplen respecto del delito, así como la perspectiva desde la cual deben ser interpretados. El análisis dogmático permite concluir que se trata de elementos del tipo y que su interpretación debe hacerse según los criterios de la normativa extrapenal, con algunas posibilidades de flexibilización de conformidad con el marco sistemático y teleológico del tipo penal.
Global dynamics of 3D type-K monotone Lotka–Volterra system with the identical intrinsic growth rate
Authors: Liang Fengli , Jiang Jifa , Zhang Xiang
Published: January 2025

In this paper, we classify all global dynamics of the three-dimensional type-K monotone Lotka–Volterra system with the identical intrinsic growth rate inside the compactification of the positive octant of

$\mathbb {R}^{3}$

. By means of the replicator equations, it is proved that this system can have exactly

$35$

topologically different phase portraits. As a consequence, we obtain the necessary and sufficient condition for the system to be bounded in the positive octant and verify that the limit set of any orbit of the compactified vector field associated with the system is an equilibrium.
Intermediate geodesic growth in virtually nilpotent groups
Authors: Bodart Corentin
Published: January 2025

We give a criterion on pairs

(G,S)

– where 

G

is a virtually

s

-step nilpotent group and 

S

is a finite generating set – saying whether the geodesic growth is exponential or strictly subexponential. Whenever

s=1,2

, this goes further, and we prove the geodesic growth is either exponential or polynomial. For

s\ge 3

, however, intermediate growth is possible. We exhibit a pair

(G,S)

for which

\gamma_{\mathrm{geod}}(n) \asymp \exp(n^{3/5}\cdot \log(n))

, where 

G

contains a

3

-step nilpotent group – the Engel group – as a finite-index subgroup. This is the first example of group with intermediate geodesic growth. Along the way, we prove results on the geometry of virtually nilpotent groups, including asymptotics with error terms for their volume growth, and disprove a conjecture by Breuillard and Le Donne.
role of multiple household income source in enhancing livelihood in western zone Tanzania
Authors: Jamaldin Sadam , Laurent Mpfubhusa
Published: January 2025

Rural households in developing countries face significant challenges in achieving sustainable livelihoods, with dependence on a single income source often leaving them vulnerable to poverty and food insecurity. This study examines the role of income diversification in promoting livelihood sustainability in Tanzania’s western zone, specifically Kigoma and Katavi regions, which are characterized by high poverty levels and a large refugee population. Income diversification is highlighted as a vital coping strategy for addressing climate variability, low agricultural productivity, and inadequate infrastructure. Using a cross-sectional research design, data were collected from 510 respondents through structured questionnaires, and a multinomial logit model was used for analysis. The findings show that households engaging in diverse income-generating activities—such as agriculture, livestock rearing, small businesses, and fishing—achieve greater food security and income stability. Key determinants of income diversification include education, gender, land access, and infrastructure. The study recommends policies to enhance equitable access to agricultural inputs, financial services, and gender-inclusive opportunities, while promoting non-farm income activities, improving market access, and investing in critical infrastructure. These findings underscore the importance of diversified income strategies in reducing vulnerability and building resilience among rural households.
New (2Z)-1-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-2-[(2E)-3-(2-nitrophenyl)prop-2-en-1-ylidene]hydrazine and its V(II) and Ni(II) complexes: synthesis, characterization and in silico sars-CoV-2 inhibition studies
Authors: O. Eberendu K. , I. Nwankwo C. , M. Mac-kalunta O. , I. Iheanyichukwu J. , E. Otuokere I. , C. Nnaji J. , O. Abaleke I.
Published: January 2025

Hydrazones are an important family of compounds with an azomethine proton (-NHN=CH-), which have been reported to possess high biological activity such as antioxidants, anti-consultants, analgesics, antimicrobial, anti-protozoals, anti-parasitic, anti-platelets, cardio-protective, anti-diabetic, anti-HIV and anti-helminthic. This research was aimed at synthesizing a new aniline hydrazone and its V(II) and Ni(II) complexes, and in silico SARS-CoV-2 inhibition studies. The (2Z)-1-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)-2-[(2E)-3-(2-nitrophenyl)prop-2-en-1-ylidene]hydrazine (DNEAA) was synthesized by the reaction of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine and 3-(2-nitrophenyl)prop-2-enal. DNEAA and its V(II) and Ni(II) complexes were synthesized and characterized by UV-visible, FTIR, and NMR spectroscopy. Molecular docking was performed using Auto Dock Vina software. Spectroscopic analysis suggested that DNEAA coordinated with the metal ions through azomethine nitrogen, NH, two NO2 and two Cl-. An octahedral geometry was proposed for the metal complexes. The ability of DNEAA to chelate V(II) and Ni(II) is hereby assured. Molecular docking results gave binding energies >9.5 kcal/mol. Following these findings, it is recommended that biological studies and preclinical and clinical trials against SARS-CoV-2 protease be carried out.
Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2025, 39(4), 673-686.                                                        
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v39i4.6
Development of an Internet of Things (IoT)- Based solar chilli pepper dryer
Authors: Michael Adebimpe Abiodun , Chukunebikpe Uguru-Okorie Daniel , Omowale Akintaju Alexander , Olutosin Funmilayo Adeyemi
Published: January 2025

Potassium found in chilli pepper works in conjunction with folate to lower the risk of developing heart disease in human. Because of this, its storage and consumption are inevitable. There are a lot of disadvantages to drying it in the sunlight. These include animal interference, pest infestation and dust accumulation. Therefore, this study describes the development of a solar dryer that combines solar energy with Internet of Things (IoT) for effective preservation of chilli pepper. The developed semiautomated solar dryer has sensors and a networked architecture that allows it to monitor humidity and temperature in real time. It includes dual-step DC fan motors and incandescent light bulbs that react dynamically to environmental changes. It is enhanced by an intelligent control system that makes use of a microcontroller. Through precise fan speed adjustments based on temperature and humidity criteria, the system's programming maximizes airflow and speeds up the drying process without sacrificing quality. The dryer effectively removed moisture from chilli pepper either with or without temperature enhancement. For 200g, 400g, 600g, 800g and 1000g specimens of chilli pepper, the average drying time when the dryer was operated with and without additional heat source are 55.2 hours and 62.8 hours respectively. This implies that the moisture removal process was faster when the dryer was operated with additional heat source than when it was operated without the additional heat source. The developed dryer successfully provides clean and speedy drying thereby enhancing the preservation of chilli pepper.
Analysis of aeromagnetic data for subsurface structural features hosting minerals of Sumaila Local Government Area (L.G.A.) of Kano State, Northwestern Nigeria.
Authors: Lawan M. , Saleh M. , Aku M.O. , Shehu J.S. , Musa Y.A , Bunawa A.A.
Published: January 2025

Magnetic anomalies are frequently caused by lava flows, faults, dykes, and other natural phenomena. In regolith research, the magnetic method is a powerful tool that can be used effectively. Because the technique offers a helpful indicator of lithology, structure, weathering, and alteration processes in addition to a reasonably direct mapping of the abundance of magnetic minerals. The present study analyzes aeromagnetic data for the geologic and structural characteristics of Sumaila, a local government area in Kano, Nigeria. The area under study contains indicators such as faults, fractures, and contacts that are significant in mineral exploration. Aeromagnetic data was acquired from the Nigerian Geological Survey Agency (NGSA). The data was subjected to various analyses and processing such as regional/residual separation, reduction to the equator (RTE), vertical derivatives (VD) (First & Second), and analytic signal (AS) using the Oasis Montaj software. Regional/residual separation revealed an NE-SW trend of the magnetic anomalies. The residual anomalous map contains low amplitude field values between -75.7nT and 93.2nT. The FVD map shows a smooth, shallow magnetic body comprising positive and negative magnetic signatures ranging between -0.20nT/m and - 0.17nT/m. The SVD map shows an irregular magnetic signature of low amplitude with values from -0.00151nT/m to 0.00154nT/m. The analysis of vertical derivatives revealed magnetic structures that depict shear zones and possible zones of mineralization. The AS map indicates magnetic anomaly edges and their source positions with values 0.01nT/m to 0.32nT/m. Three major features are isolated: the first cuts through Bunturu, Retsida, and Ringi, the second lies through Gangadugu and Farin Dutse, while the last passes through Gandama Gandarma, Wayo, and Birnin bako.
Evaluation of the effectivenes of TiO2 antireflection coating for solar cell
Authors: Muhammad S.D. , Ali M.H.
Published: January 2025

This study presents the effects of anti-reflection coating (ARC) thickness and operating temperature on the reflectance, open circuit voltage, short circuit current and efficiency of GaAs solar cells with and without TiO2 ARC. The work is conducted in the COMSOL Multi-physics environment where the semiconductor and electromagnetic wave frequency model were implemented. The results showed that, the ARC thickness at 80nm is able to reducing the reflectance from 32% to 5%, which led to the overall efficiency of the solar cell to increase from 19% to 25%. Moreover, at high temperature of 70℃ the thermal voltage and the rate of charge recombination increase leading to decrease in the open circuit voltage from 1.030V to 1.015V resulting in the decrease of efficiency to 23%. The effectiveness of the ARC in enhancing the solar cell efficiency is clearly illustrated in this work. Thus, more efficient panels can be manufactured with the use of ARC.
A hyper-parameter tuned Random Forest algorithm-based on Artificial Bee Colony for improving accuracy, precision and interpretability of crime prediction
Authors: Abubakar Hauwa , Boukari Souley , Gital Abdulsalam Ya’u , Zambuk Fatima Umar
Published: January 2025

Crime prediction plays a crucial role in enhancing public safety and optimizing resource allocation for law enforcement. Traditional methods often fall short in addressing the complex and dynamic nature of crime data, relying on oversimplified assumptions and limited datasets that reduce accuracy and effectiveness. Advanced machine learning techniques, particularly a hyper-parameter tuned Random Forest model optimized using Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithms, present a promising solution. This study proposes an enhanced crime prediction methodology that incorporates ABC-based hyperparameter tuning and Recursive Feature Elimination with Cross-Validation (RFECV) to improve accuracy, interpretability, and robustness. The model leverages ensemble techniques to integrate diverse features from historical crime data, capturing intricate crime patterns more effectively. Performance evaluations will compare the proposed approach with existing models using metrics such as Predictive Accuracy Index (PAI), Predictive Efficiency Index (PEI), Recapture Rate Index (RRI), and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values. By prioritizing accuracy, transparency, and stakeholder engagement, this research aims to develop reliable, interpretable, and data-driven crime prediction models, fostering informed decision-making and proactive crime prevention.The work emphasizes improving crime prediction models through advanced machine learning techniques, including enhanced model development, integration of diverse data sources, focus on interpretability, continuous optimization, and stakeholder engagement. These recommendations aim to create robust, interpretable, and data-driven models that support law enforcement decision-making while addressing biases and existing limitations.
Green synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles using Jatropha tanjorensis aqueous leaf extract and evaluation of their antimicrobial activity
Authors: Sabo Rabiu , Suleiman Salihu , Adamu Yahaya A.
Published: January 2025

The need for environmentally benign nanoparticle production techniques is increasing as a result of existing technologies' negative effects on the environment. An environmentally responsible and sustainable method of producing iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) is the green synthesis, which uses an aqueous leaf extract from Jatropha tanjorensis. Because of its rich phytochemical content, an aqueous leaf extract of Jatropha tanjorensis (J.T.) was used as a reducing and stabilizing agent to enable the successful environmentally friendly synthesis of stable and evenly dispersed iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs). A 0.6 M ferric chloride solution was combined with prepared Jatropha aqueous leaf extract in an optimal 1:4 ratio, causing the solution to become brown instead of green. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and ultravioletvisible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometry were used to characterize the green-synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs). According to these investigations, IONPs were spherically formed, crystalline, naturally stabilized, and within nanoscale dimensions. Gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and fungi were used to test the synthetic IONPs' antimicrobial potential. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were found to have an obvious zone of inhibition, however Candida albicans did not exhibit a defined zone. Iron oxide nanoparticles can be thought of as broad-band antibiotics because they were effective against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. As a result, it can be applied as an antibacterial agent to prevent detrimental bacteria from growing. Such findings provide a promising substitute for traditional chemical synthesis techniques and add to the expanding corpus of research on green nanotechnology and its uses in environmental science and medicine.
Occurrence of inducible clindamycin resistance among clinical isolates of Staphylococcus Aureus in some selected hospitals of Kano Metropolis, Nigeria
Authors: Idris A.M. , Ahmed M.M. , Nasir J. , Ado A.S. , Abba A.I. , Dalhat A.D. , Gwarzo A.M. , Safiyanu M.B.
Published: January 2025

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major public health concern worldwide, responsible for infections in both healthcare settings and the general population. The emergence of multidrug-resistant MRSA strains, including those resistant to macrolides and lincosamides, poses a serious threat to effective treatment due to this bacterial infection. This study aimed to determine the occurrence and resistance pattern of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicillin and inducible clindamycin resistance in some clinical isolates from selected hospitals in Kano metropolis, Kano State, Nigeria. Clinical isolates of MRSA were collected from patients diagnosed with various clinical infections in selected hospitals in Kano Metropolis. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using standard methods, and the presence of inducible clindamycin resistance genes (erm genes) was detected using D-test detection technique. One hundred and fifty (150) clinical isolates of S. aureus were collected for the purpose of this study. The prevalence rate of 39.3% MRSA and 12.0% inducible clindamycin resistance strain among these isolates was obtained. Cotrimoxazole was found to be the most resistant antibiotic against the isolated staphylococcus species in the study. The findings of this study highlight the emergence of MRSA and inducible clindamycin-resistant S. aureus in the study area. Continuous surveillance and monitoring of antimicrobial resistance patterns are essential for effective management of MRSA infections in this region.
Effect of soy flour processing methods on weight gain and physiological parameters in Wistar albino rats
Authors: Stephen Ashiekaa Aunde , Kwagh-hal Ikya JuliusKwagh-ha , Luter Leke , Ahola Oklo David , Praise Alimi John , Bundle Orya
Published: January 2025

Assessment on the effect of selected standard processing methods on body weight, biochemistry, haematological and histological profile of Wistar albino rats fed with soy flours was done. Three soy flour samples were prepared using three processing methods (PM1 –PM3). PM1 involves soaking of clean soy bean seeds, dehulling, sundrying (2-3 days), milling, cooling and packaging; PM2 involves soaking with (0.5% NaHCO3), decanting, washing, dehulling, dehusking, sundrying (2-3 days), milling, cooling and packaging; PM3 involves soaking, blanching (100 ᵒC for 5min), draining, cooling, dehulling, sundrying (2-3 days), milling sieving and packaging. Data of the body weight, biochemistry, haematological and histological indices were statistically analyzed. Weight gain in the test groups B (84.50±13.58 g) and C (51.37±12.46 g) differed and above value for D (35.17±6.17) and control (35.80 ± 4.68(g); AST, ALT, ALP, TP, ALB, GB, T.BILI, D.BILI, and LDH had range of values 37.24±0.01- 41.90±0.17 u/l, 11.00±0.00-13.00±0.00 u/l, 21.99 ±0.01-34.21±0.30 u/l, 56.94±0.02-62.19±0.01g/l, 42.72±0.01-48.87±0.01 g/l, 11.54±0.00-28.74±0.16 g/l, 0.15±0.00-0.85±0.01, mg/dl, 0.14±0.00- 0.61±0.01 mg/dl and 30.55±0.01-34.53±0.02 u/l, respectively. The body weight gain of Wistar Albino rats given soy flour from processing method one (PM1) had the highest weight, followed by that of processing method two (PM2). Liver enzymes and kidney parameters were however, within normal ranges, hence, no appreciable impact on the biochemistry profiles of the Wistar Albino rats fed soy flour from processing methods. The morphological shapes of liver and kidney of rats given soy flour from PM1 and PM3 were perfectly intact. However, the spleen of rats in group D, liver, spleen and kidney of rats in group C showed inflammatory cell within the tissue, loss of tissue (necrosis) while the spleen showed atrophy. The selected standard processing methods appreciably impacted positively on the weight gain of the Wistar Albino rats fed with soy flour from the different processing methods.