bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Hidden Influence and Catalysts of Religious and Moral Education in Ghanaian Basic Schools: Co-Curricular Activities in Perspective
Authors: Tawiah Dennis , Opoku John Kwaku , Addai-Mensah Peter
Published: January 2025

This study investigates the hidden influences and catalysts of Religious and Moral Education (RME) within co-curricular activities in Ghanaian basic schools. The importance of RME in Ghana’s educational system is undeniable, yet the issues of immoral behaviour among students persist, raising concerns about the efficacy of current educational methods. While formal classroom instruction is crucial, the impact of co-curricular activities on moral and religious development is less understood. This study uses a descriptive survey design to explore the practical factors that influence RME through co-curricular activities. Data were collected from 104 participants, including parents, teachers, and students from the Sefwi Wiawso Municipality. Findings indicate that co-curricular activities, such as community service, sports, debates, and cultural events, are essential for moral and religious growth. The study highlights the benefits of co-curricular activities, including the development of empathy, tolerance, leadership skills, and ethical decision-making. Despite these benefits, challenges such as limited resources, inadequate logistic support, and stakeholder disinterest hinder effective implementation. Parents feel excluded and desire more involvement and communication from schools. Teachers emphasize the value of these activities for reinforcing social and cultural values. The study concludes that integrating co-curricular activities into the curriculum is essential for fostering moral and religious development. These insights aim to guide policymakers and educators in improving RME programmes in Ghanaian basic schools, holistic growth of students. This study contributes to scholarship by highlighting the significant role of co-curricular activities in moral and religious education and suggesting practical improvements for educational policy and practice.

Keywords: Co-curricular, Ghanaian Basic Schools, Religious and Moral Education, Holistic Growth, Students, Moral and Ethical Values
Vertical Shear Instability in Thermally Stratified Protoplanetary Disks. I. A Linear Stability Analysis
Authors: Yun Han-Gyeol , Kim Woong-Tae , Bae Jaehan , Han Cheongho
Published: January 2025

Vertical shear instability (VSI), driven by a vertical gradient of rotational angular velocity, is a promising source of turbulence in protoplanetary disks. We examine the semiglobal stability of thermally stratified disks and find that the VSI consists of surface and body modes: surface modes are confined to regions of strong shear, while body modes extend perturbations across the disk, consistent with the previous findings. In thermally stratified disks, surface modes bifurcate into two branches. The branch associated with the strongest shear at mid-height exhibits a higher growth rate compared to the branch near the surfaces. Surface modes generally grow rapidly and require a high radial wavenumber k

R
, whereas body mode growth rates increase as k

R
decreases. Thermal stratification enhances the growth rates of both surface and body modes and boosts VSI-driven radial kinetic energy relative to vertical energy. Our results suggest that simulations will initially favor surface modes with large k

R
, followed by an increase in body modes with smaller k

R
, with faster progression in more thermal stratified disks.
Two novel hyphomycetes associated with ferns from China
Authors: Zhang Jing-Yi , Hyde Kevin D. , Zhang Li-Juan , Bai Song , Bao Dan-Feng , Al-Otibi Fatimah , Lu Yong-Zhong
Published: January 2025

During an ongoing investigation of fungi associated with ferns in southwestern China, three hyphomycetes were discovered on the dead rachises of Angiopteris fokiensis and an unidentified fern. Based on morphology and multi-gene phylogenetic analyses, Arthrobotrys angiopteridis and Corynespora septata are introduced as new species. Arthrobotrys angiopteridis is a nematode-trapping fungus characterized by macronematous, mononematous, hyaline conidiophores, conidiogenous cells with polyblastic denticles at each node, and 0–1-septate, clavate to elongate pyriform, hyaline conidia. Corynespora septata features macronematous, mononematous, pale brown to dark brown conidiophores, integrated, monotretic conidiogenous cells and up to 7-distoseptate with one true septum, subcylindrical to obclavate, hyaline to pale brown conidia. Detailed descriptions and illustrations of these two new species are provided, along with morphological comparisons of the new taxa with closely related species.
Une région archéologique sinistrée : préhistoire dans la région de Zouerate (Mauritanie)
Authors: Vernet Robert , Le Floch Raymond , Pasty Jean-François , Gauthier Yves
Published: January 2025

La préhistoire de la région de Zouerate est d’une exceptionnelle richesse, favorisée par une structure géographique rare. Des reliefs montagneux riches en matières premières lithiques, une immense dépression lacustre, des massifs dunaires et des plaines à l’infini ont fait de cette région, pendant la préhistoire, un carrefour d’influences : depuis l’Oldovayen, toutes les cultures – Acheuléen, Paléolithique moyen, Atérien, Epipaléolithique et Néolithique – y sont densément présentes. Malheureusement, la région a été pillée, partiellement détruite par l’expansion minière et très peu étudiée. Pourtant, en rassemblant toutes les données disponibles (travaux scientifiques et notes éparses ; collections d’objets – qui ont en général privilégié l’Hammami, en bordure de l’Azrag ; entretiens avec les acteurs depuis les années 1960 ; informations apportées par Google Earth ; comparaisons avec les régions voisines...), il a été possible de présenter une synthèse qui se veut un point de départ pour des recherches d’envergure qui n’ont que trop tarder.
L’environnement de l’Afrique dans l’Antiquité. Climat et société, un état de la question
Authors: Leveau Philippe
Published: January 2025

La mise au point de la datation radiométrique par le 14C, puis l’abaissement de son coût ont rapproché les échelles de temps de l’histoire des environnements naturels et celles des sociétés humaines. La patrimonialisation par l’UNESCO des paysages culturels en ont fait un objet d’étude interdisciplinaire pour les sciences de la nature et de la société. Elle conduit à jeter sur eux un regard qui s’affranchit de la notion de dégradation associée par les naturalistes à celle d’anthropisation. L’objectif de cet article est de montrer ce que cette approche apporte à la question de la place des sociétés historiques nord-africaines d’époque romaine dans une évolution des environnements. Celles-ci ont été perçues comme un facteur de leur dégradation plus important que le climat. Mais durant les deux dernières décennies, la géoarchéologie et les géosciences de l’environnement (outils de datation, analyses des composantes des sédiments) ont établi la succession de deux phases : une phase plus humide du II e s. av. J.-C au III e s. ap. J.-C. ; à partir du IV e s., une phase plus sèche entraînant une aridification. Poursuivant une réflexion sur une sécheresse identifiée pour les années 125-128, l’auteur propose un état de la question des relations entre climat et sociétés de l’Afrique romaine. Il se fonde sur les données fournies par les sources écrites et archéologiques et les confronte aux travaux d'environnementalistes (paléoécologues, géomorphologues, climatologues). Il s’interroge sur la relation entre des évènements climatiques (sécheresses, inondations) et la gestion de la ressource hydraulique en milieu urbain (aqueduc) et rural (irrigation, techniques de culture, construction de terrasses).
La rue Bab Azoun - Bab el Oued à la période romaine. Essai de restitution du cardo d' Icosium
Authors: Hadjilah Asma
Published: January 2025

Le long de la rue Bab Azoun - Bab el Oued, une des plus importantes voies de la basse Casbah, les découvertes antiques furent nombreuses depuis 1830, avec la mise au jour de portions de murs, de substructions, et surtout, de plusieurs tronçons d’une voie. Les fouilles préventives menées depuis 2009 au nord de la place des Martyrs avec son lot de découvertes antiques attestent de l’importance de cette ancienne artère ottomane dans l’histoire d’Icosium. Aujourd’hui, une restitution de la voie antique retrouvée à cet emplacement peut être tentée.
Alger, la longue et difficile naissance d’une capitale
Authors: Ben Mansour Abd El Hadi
Published: January 2025

Dans cette étude seront évoquées à la fois l’origine obscure de la cité d’Alger, ainsi que sa filiation sur lesquelles voyageurs, historiens et géographes sont loin d’être d’accord. Petit port créé par des peuples légendaires tels que les Libyens, les Gétules, les Perses, les Mèdes, les Arméniens ? Création de ce port plus précisément par Hercule et ses Grecs, Didon et ses Phéniciens, Juba II et ses Berbères, César et ses Romains...? Autant de conjectures – fabuleuses ? Les noms ne lui manquaient pas, que les auteurs nous ont rapportés : Ruscunum, Saldae, Icosium, Icosim, Iol, Iol Caesarea ou Julia Caesarea, Algezir, Mezgrana, puis Jazâ’ir Banî Mazghanna, Jazâ’ir at-Tha’âliba et enfin Jazâ’ir al-Gharb sous les Ottomans... Parmi les nombreux auteurs sollicités dans cette étude, seront sans doute privilégiés les écrits en latin de l’historien et polygraphe, le Flamand J.-B. Gramaye, qui a beaucoup écrit sur l’« Afrique », dont son fameux Africa illustrata (en 10 livres) de 1622.
La dame de Sedrata : retour sur l’entreprise archéologique de Marguerite van Berchem (1946-1965)
Authors: Aillet Cyrille
Published: January 2025

Cet article retrace les fouilles de Sedrata par l’archéologue suisse Marguerite van Berchem entre 1950 et 1955, et ses efforts pour préserver le site et ses fameux décors pariétaux. Le dépouillement des archives textuelles et photographiques inédites de M. Van Berchem, conservée à Genève, éclaire en effet les aspects méconnus de cette entreprise, l’une des plus considérables qu’ait connue l’archéologie islamique en Algérie à l’époque coloniale.
Aujourd’hui à Chlef le centre Larbi Tebessi, hier à Orléansville le centre Albert Camus (1955-1961)
Authors: du Chazaud Soraya
Published: January 2025

Après le séisme de 1954 à Orléansville, Jean de Maisonseul, ami de Le Corbusier et directeur du service d’Urbanisme du département d’Alger, met en place une équipe dynamique, issue de l’Agence du plan d’Alger dirigée alors par Dalloz et Hanning, et décidée à mettre en œuvre une ville « neuve ». De beaux morceaux d’architecture s’érigèrent à la place des ruines de la cité : le centre commercial Saint Reparatus de Jean Bossu, la mosquée de Robert Hansberger, le Centre de jeunesse et de sports de Louis Miquel et Roland Simounet. Ce dernier prendra le nom d’Albert Camus lors de son inauguration le 4 avril 1961. Rebaptisé Larbi Tebessi, ce centre culturel n’a pas cédé au terrible séisme de 1980, et l’état actuel de son bâti démontre sa résistance à la nature, au temps et aux hommes. Cet ensemble architectural pensé et construit entre 1955 et 1960, en pleine guerre d’Algérie, est un témoignage touchant de la sincérité de ses créateurs humanistes, architectes généreux liés à la terre qui les a vus naître. Aujourd’hui, devenu Centre de jeunesse et des sports, et quoique menacé par l’indifférence des hommes, renaît tout de même l’espoir d’une rénovation attentive pour cette architecture remarquable.
Migrations africaines au Brésil : racisme et nouvelles agentivités
Authors: Santos Gonçalves Maria do Carmo dos
Published: January 2025

La migration africaine contemporaine vers l’Amérique latine est un phénomène qui entretient des liens profonds avec l’histoire des Africains noirs sur le continent. Ainsi, nous cherchons à explorer ces relations à partir des expériences de racisme partagées par les migrants au Brésil, ainsi que leurs modes d’action face à la discrimination raciale. En utilisant la diaspora comme prisme d’analyse, nous présentons deux cas empiriques de mobilisations contre le racisme menées par des groupes de migrants africains dans différents contextes au Brésil. L’objectif est de rechercher les signes d’une conscience diasporique partagée entre les migrants africains et les Afro-brésiliens en raison de leurs expériences communes de la discrimination raciale. Les mobilisations, menées par des migrants noirs, exposent le racisme dans le pays comme un problème structurel, contribuant plus largement aux luttes historiques du mouvement noir au Brésil.
Racisme et xénophobie dans la favela ? Deux temps de la présence d’immigrés angolais à Maré (Rio de Janeiro)
Authors: Quirion Nicolas
Published: January 2025

Dans cet article, nous prenons pour objet l’implantation d’un groupe d’immigrés angolais au sein des favelas de Maré, à Rio de Janeiro. En nous basant sur un travail d’observation participante, mené depuis les lieux de sociabilité des Angolais, nous examinons la nature des relations qui se sont établies entre ce groupe étranger et les résidents brésiliens de la favela. Dans un espace urbain informel et marginalisé, fortement marqué par le racisme structurel, la relation à l’africanité demeure ambiguë. La présence d’immigrés originaires d’un pays d’Afrique Subsaharienne permet de jeter un regard nouveau sur les rapports ethnoraciaux et les recompositions identitaires au Brésil.
L’envers du droit. La législation du travail domestique salarié en Bolivie et au Pérou (xixe-xxie siècles)
Authors: Carpentier-Goffre Laura
Published: January 2025

En Bolivie comme au Pérou, les trois pouvoirs ont historiquement été concentrés entre les mains des hommes criollos des classes supérieures, qui employaient tous du personnel domestique. Les premiers instruments de régulation institutionnelle de cette activité portent l’empreinte des intérêts de classe de ceux qui les ont conçus. À partir des années 1960, une brèche a néanmoins commencé à se creuser entre ces deux pays en matière de politisation du triptyque sexe-race-classe. Les contrastes marqués tant dans la lettre que dans l’esprit des lois d’encadrement du travail domestique, dont ces deux pays se sont respectivement dotés en 2003, reflètent ces trajectoires divergentes. Le présent article propose une sociogénèse de l’encadrement légal de la domesticité au prisme des rapports de domination structurels, point de départ d’une réflexion plus large sur les ressorts de l’ineffectivité des droits des travailleuses domestiques à l’échelle globalisée. Il défend la thèse matérialiste selon laquelle, loin d’être un dysfonctionnement contingent, l’ineffectivité des actuelles lois de régulation des rapports ancillaires est efficace du point de vue de ceux qui les conçoivent, les promulguent et qui ont la charge de les faire appliquer lorsque l’appareil d’État est aux mains de la classe des patron·nes.
“Masters of their proper Goods”: Company Politics and Folio Publication, 1616-1652
Authors: Munro Lucy
Published: January 2025

This article draws attention to the ways in which dramatic folios published in England between 1616 and 1652 exploit not only the figure of the author but also the authority of the playing company. Arguing that the history of the dramatic folio is entwined with that of the King’s Men, the company in which Shakespeare himself had been a sharer, it examines in detail the paratextual materials of the first Jonson folio of 1616, the first Shakespeare folio of 1623, the “Beaumont and Fletcher” folio of 1647 and the single-play folio of Fletcher’s The Wild Goose Chase, issued in 1652 as a supplement to the 1647 folio. It identifies in these volumes a complex interaction between stage and page, one in which competing models of authority combine to support the development of the dramatic folio and promote the interests of the playing company.
Blount, Marlowe, and the First Folio
Authors: Pinkerton Jonathan
Published: January 2025

Edward Blount, part of the publishing consortium for the First Folio, was a serial investor in early modern English poets and dramatists, publishing works by William Alexander, Ben Jonson, George Chapman, John Lyly, and Christopher Marlowe, the latter to whom he was a friend and the self-proclaimed executor of part of his literary estate. Blount claimed as much in the dedication printed in his 1598 publication of Hero and Leander, “By these meditations (as by an intellectuall will) I suppose my selfe executor to the unhappily deceased author of this Poem.” Blount’s edition was published parallel to another early edition of Hero and Leander, printed later that year, which included a posthumous continuation by Chapman. Blount’s endorsement of, and involvement with, the dissemination of Marlowe’s works also included the publication of Marlowe’s translation of Lucan’s First Book (1600), as well as publication of four later editions of Hero and Leander. Much critical interest in recent years has focused on a possible working relationship between Marlowe and Shakespeare, with Marlowe’s hand identified in 1-3 Henry VI. In this light, less critical attention has been given to figures such as Blount who contributed significantly to the later transmission of both authors’ works. In this article, I will argue that Blount’s personal connection with Marlowe, and his willingness to help preserve his works, finds a parallel in his later investment in the First Folio, and sheds light upon how Blount’s investment was not simply financial.
Paradise lost in-folio : esquisse d’une enquête continentale, de Londres à Paris, en passant par Vérone
Authors: Haquette Jean-Louis
Published: January 2025

Suivre l’itinéraire des éditions in-folio du Paradis perdu en italien et en français permet de souligner certaines spécificités de la réception continentale du Paradis perdu. Traduit simultanément en 1729 en français et en italien (mais publié à Londres), il reçoit un traitement éditorial bien différent : la première version italienne in-folio paraît à Londres, puis, illustrée, à Vérone, dans la première moitié du XVIIIe siècle, mais en France il faut attendre la Révolution pour voir paraître une telle édition de l’œuvre du poète anglais. Ces différences relèvent à la fois du débat littéraire européen (la contestation des opinions de Voltaire), du statut symbolique accordé à l’œuvre, et des circonstances éditoriales. S’il faut attendre cinquante ans par rapport à l’Italie pour que paraisse en France une édition in-folio illustrée, c’est non seulement parce que l’horizon d’attente français était plus éloigné de la poésie de Milton que celui de l’Italie, mais aussi parce qu’il n’y eut pas un défenseur de Milton aussi déterminé et disposant d’autant d’appuis culturels et éditoriaux que Paolo Rolli (1687-1765). L’article envisage le contexte éditorial de ces éditions in-folio, les motivations de leurs promoteurs et les destinataires visés.
Printing-Practice-as-Research: Using Letterpress for Research and Teaching Early Modern Literature
Authors: Neuhauser Julian T.S.
Published: January 2025

In this article, I suggest that the “practice” in practice-as-research approaches in early modern and Shakespeare studies could and should move from describing only theatrical or dramatic practice to also describing the practices of literary technologies, especially handpress printing. The article provides a rationale for this approach, touching on performance-based practice-as-research, non-dramatic practice-based work being done on early modern texts, discussion of how this practice-based approach is useful in a pedagogical environment, and scholarship that provides a conceptual backing for my proposed approach. Following this, the article turns to a reflection of this practice-based approach, using my own experiences with printing-practice-as-research as a test case.
Caractériser l’essai argumenté en FLE : analyse contrastive d’un corpus d’apprenants turcophones
Authors: Aykurt-Buchwalter Sülün
Published: January 2025

Des tâches d’écriture de type argumentatif liées au genre épistolaire apparaissent fréquemment à l’examen du DELF B2. Pour maîtriser ce type de tâche, les apprenants sont censés connaître les règles imposées par ce genre discursif en français, ainsi que les variations qui peuvent exister dans certains sous‑genres, par exemple la lettre formelle et le courrier électronique. L’analyse d’un corpus d’essais argumentés rédigés par des apprenants turcophones, en comparaison avec des scripteurs natifs, en adoptant la méthode de l’analyse de moves, permet de comparer la manière dont différents groupes de scripteurs développent les différents objectifs communicatifs dans leur texte. Cela permet également de construire un modèle discursif pour la lettre formelle et le courrier électronique dans un but didactique.
De l’analyse des besoins à l’élaboration d’un dispositif d’accueil des étudiants sinophones en France
Authors: Tran Thi Thu Hoai , Yan Rui
Published: January 2025

Dans cette étude, on s’intéresse aux routines verbales dans l’écrit scientifique et son enseignement avec l’utilisation des corpus. Ces expressions longues comme on l’a constaté, on peut supposer que, cela signifie que sont récurrentes et associées à des fonctions rhétoriques ou argumentatives spécifiques au genre du discours scientifique (guidage du lecteur, formulation des hypothèses, reformulation, etc.) (Kraif & Tutin, 2017). En nous basant sur un corpus d’apprenants composé des travaux universitaires des étudiants du diplôme universitaire (DU) avec un niveau B1/B2 et des étudiants de master du niveau B2/C1, nous observons l’utilisation des routines (erreurs ou utilisations maladroites) chez les étudiants sinophones en la comparant à celle chez les experts. L’étude comparative nous permet de relever l’écart dans l’utilisation des constructions routinisées dans les travaux d’apprenants et de réfléchir sur les matériaux pédagogiques pour enseigner le discours académique auprès de ce public.
Critical Success Factors (CSFs) for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Adoption
Authors: Eybers Sunet
Published: January 2025

Artificial Intelligence has become part of our society, offering new opportunities for organizations to increase their business value proposition. This paper investigates the Critical Success Factors (CSFs) that can be used as a guideline to identify essential items for successfully adopting AI. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify the predominant CSFs published in academic articles between 2020 and 2024. A total of 49 themes and 76 sub-themes, the actual CSFs, were identified using thematic analysis in Atlas.ti. The CSFs were ranked according to the number of occurrences in the final article pool of 37 articles, with the main themes of data, support, and strategy with the most occurrences. The results were consolidated and presented in a CSF framework and practical checklist. The paper makes a significant contribution as organizations can use the CSF framework as well as a checklist to identify essential items that are key to the successful adoption of AI, thereby improving their chances of reaping business value from their investments into AI.
Harnessing AI for Sustainability
Authors: Pancholi Kritika , Shukla Parag
Published: January 2025

This chapter examines how AI and sustainability might operate together, focusing on novel approaches, policy consequences, and investment strategies. The report examines studies on theme investment in finance and sustainability aims. AI's role in cooperatively locating and assessing theme investment opportunities is examined using cognitive modelling, balancing various goals, intelligent data analysis, and problem-solving methods. The findings show that AI-driven thematic investing has enormous potential to help achieve sustainable development goals. By bringing together AI technologies, investors can spot and make the most of options that follow environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles. It improves portfolios and makes them more sustainable over the long term. The integration of AI and thematic investing has profound social and practical implications. By leveraging AI technologies, investors can make more informed decisions that not only yield financial returns but also promote positive social and environmental outcomes. Additionally, the adoption of sustainable investment strategies can drive broader societal shifts towards a more equitable, resilient, and environmentally conscious future.
Gender Diversity and Sustainable Growth Rate
Authors: Ates Sinem
Published: January 2025

This study aims to examine the relationship between gender diversity and sustainable growth rate in an emerging market context. For this purpose, the related data of 383 firm-year observations comprising 77 non-financial companies listed in Borsa Istanbul over the period 2008-2022 was analyzed by random effects and two-step system generalized method of moments estimators. The main results indicate that executive members gender diversity which is measured by the percentage of female executive members is positively correlated with the sustainable growth rate of the company. This finding suggests that females in executive roles, primarily responsible for allocating company resources, play a critical role in driving sustainable growth. This study provides valuable empirical evidence and theoretical insights that contribute to both academic research and practical implications for policymakers, corporate leaders, and investors interested in promoting diversity and sustainable growth in emerging markets.
Sustainability, Financial Value Creation, and Inclusive Growth for Nigerian Manufacturing Companies
Authors: Nwobu Obiamaka Adaeze
Published: January 2025

The purpose of this chapter is to present the discourse on sustainability, financial value creation and inclusive growth for Nigerian manufacturing companies. The data was collected from the Corporate Register. The use of three sustainability reporting standards was analysed based on the stand-alone and annual reports of companies in four manufacturing sub-sectors. The use of the standards is still very low by manufacturing companies in Nigeria. Two stand-alone sustainability reports were found in the food and beverage sub-sector. Two stand-alone reports were prepared using the GRI and UNGC standards. The study proposes that the tone of corporate sustainability should come from the board of directors. The study also proposes a sustainability checklist including indicators adopted from the Global Reporting Initiative. By using a system of sustainability accounting, companies can record, collect information on sustainability, measure, recognise, and report sustainability information to stakeholders to increase financial value creation and inclusive growth.
Measuring Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity in an Organisation
Authors: Hassan Syed Tabrez
Published: January 2025

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are foundational frameworks for cultivating fair, respectful, and inclusive environments across workplaces, educational institutions, and communities. Diversity celebrates the multitude of human differences, including race, ethnicity, gender, age, and socio-economic status. Equity ensures fairness by addressing systemic barriers and biases that perpetuate inequalities, while inclusion emphasizes fostering environments where diverse perspectives are valued, and individuals feel a genuine sense of belonging, respect, and empowerment. This study explores the multidimensional nature of DEI within organizational contexts, highlighting its role in advancing social justice, equality, and innovation. It examines diversity as the representation of varied identities, equity as the commitment to fairness, and inclusion as the cultivation of belonging. Furthermore, this research presents the development of a robust scale to measure DEI within organizations, addressing a critical gap in assessing how well these principles are implemented and experienced by employees. The scale evaluates key dimensions such as representation, access to opportunities, fairness in processes, and the inclusiveness of organizational culture. By integrating theoretical insights with practical measurement tools, the study provides actionable frameworks for embedding DEI in institutional structures. It concludes that embracing DEI not only drives creativity and employee engagement but also equips organizations to dismantle systemic inequities and foster thriving, innovative environments.
Interactive Apps and Games for Early Language Development
Authors: Shirindzi Lebogang Steven , Sikhwari Matodzi Godffrey
Published: January 2025

This chapter investigates and demonstrates how interactive APPS and games can effectively support and enhance early language development in children. To support the mission of this chapter, a thorough exploration of relevant theories of language acquisition and interactive learning is undertaken. Theories such as Piaget's cognitive development stages, Vygotsky's social interactionist theory, and Bruner's constructivist learning theory provide a foundational understanding of how children acquire language skills. By integrating these theories with principles of interactive learning, like active engagement and immediate feedback, the chapter shows how digital tools enhance language development.
Autism Spectrum Disorder and In Vitro Fertilization
Authors: Alexiou Athanasios T. , Kalaniotis Konstantinos , Stavridou Androniki , Kalianioti Ioanna
Published: January 2025

During the last decades, Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) was performed under infertility reasons and gave hope to couples for reproduction. Along with the increase in the use of ART, there was also an increase in the diagnosis of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The consequences of in Vitro Fertilization (IVF) in children were investigated by many studies, including premature birth, low birth weight and developmental disorders, similar factors presented in ASD. Due to similarities between these factors, a correlation was considered possible. The purpose of this review was to investigate the possible correlation between ASD and IVF. The majority of the studies did not present statistically significant correlation between those two factors, following retrospective data. In some studies, correlations between Intracytoplamic Sperm Injection and ASD, and Hormonal Treatment during ART and ASD, were noted. Further research should be implemented in order to identify the main cause of ASD, and giving more information about the contributing factors.
Microbiome and Brain-Gut Microbiota's Influence on Autism Pathogenesis
Authors: Upaganlawar Aman Babanrao , Wankhede Nitu , Kale Mayur , Rahangdale Sandip , Aglawe Manish , Taksande Brijesh , Umekar Milind
Published: January 2025

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by social communication challenges and repetitive behaviors. Emerging evidence suggests that gut microbiota, through the gut-brain axis, play a significant role in ASD pathogenesis. This complex communication network influences neurodevelopment by modulating immune responses, producing neuroactive metabolites, and maintaining gut barrier integrity. In individuals with ASD, specific microbial imbalances and reduced diversity are commonly observed, which are linked to these pathophysiological processes. Genetic predispositions and environmental factors, such as diet and antibiotic use, further affect gut microbiota composition, potentially exacerbating these imbalances. Therapeutic strategies targeting the gut microbiota, including probiotics, prebiotics, dietary modifications, and fecal microbiota transplantation, have shown potential in alleviating ASD symptoms. This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of the gut microbiota's role in ASD.
Evaluation of the Impacts of Mechanical Harvesting on Tea Yield (Cultivar TRI 2027) in the Low Country of Sri Lanka
Authors: Pathiranage S. R. W. , Wijeratne M. A. , De Costa W. A. J. M.
Published: January 2025

Due to worker shortage in the plantation sector of Sri Lanka, timely maintenance of plucking rounds has become a difficult task for the tea growers. As a result, the abandonment of tea fields has become a common practice in the estate sector. Harvesting, the most labour intensive field operation in tea cultivation has adversely affected under worker scarce situations. Although, motorized harvesting is the apparent alternative to manual harvesting when the labour supply is limited, the drastic yield and quality reductions and deterioration of health of tea bushes limit the use of machines for harvesting. Such downsides are reported to be resulted from three basic impacts, viz. removal of arimbu (immature) shoots, higher severity of harvesting and removal of maintenance foliage. Hence, a detailed study was carried out to quantify the contribution of each impact for yield reduction under mechanical harvesting. Results showed that the greatest impact in the yield reduction was exerted by removal of arimbu shoots (55%) followed by higher severity of harvesting (15%) and removal of maintenance foliage (12%). The removal of arimbu shoots and maintenance foliage adversely affect the sink: source relationship of the bush and thus, photosynthesis. This reduces available carbohydrates for growth and affects branch (vascular system) development and thus, the translocation capacity of the bush. Insufficient carbohydrates and poor translocation capacity result in low shoot density and shoot weight, higher dormancy, reduced root starch reserves and consequently reduction in yield. Use of machines only during cropping months, avoiding a deep cut into the plucking table and good agronomic practices minimizing environmental stresses were identified as remedial measures arresting yield losses.
From heart to mind: research advances in the link between coronary artery disease and mental stress-A narrative review
Authors: Liu Gang , Wang Le , Ma Guoping , Li Xiaofeng , Chen Haiyang , Zhang Lijun , He Jia , Liu Sen , Wang Nina , Wang Sen
Published: January 2025

Mental stress, a significant risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD), has garnered widespread attention in recent years. Numerous studies indicate a close link between the development of CAD and mental stress. Mental stress can trigger acute coronary events and worsen CAD via vascular inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, coagulation cascade, and neuro-endocrine-immune response. Additionally, a bidirectional link exists between mental stress and CAD, leading to a vicious cycle that further hinders recovery from the disease. Therefore, early detection, diagnosis, and intervention for mental stress, combined with mental stress management alongside standard CAD treatments, is crucial to effectively breaking this vicious cycle. This narrative review examines the current state of research on the link between mental stress and CAD, examining how mental stress influences the onset, progression, and prognosis of CAD. It aims to emphasize the necessity of early identification and comprehensive management of mental stress to improve patient outcomes and prevent disease progression. It also recommends psycho-cardiology therapy in treatment plans and proposes an innovative model for early screening, diagnosis, and intervention.
Effects of Endurance Training and Chlorogenic Acid on Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress Markers in Prediabetic Male Mice
Authors: Ghasemi Pour Sahar , Marandi Sayyed M.
Published: January 2025

Background:

Many studies have investigated the effects of exercise and chlorogenic acid in controlling and improving diabetes and reducing inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of endurance exercise and chlorogenic acid on oxidative and nitrosative stress indicators in skeletal muscle tissue of male C57BL/6 mice.

Methods:

A total of 35 mice were randomly divided into two groups: a high-fat diet group to induce pre-diabetes and a normal diet group. After inducing pre-diabetes, mice in the high-fat diet group were further divided into control, chlorogenic acid, endurance training, and endurance training + chlorogenic acid groups (n = 7). The exercise protocol was performed incrementally (speed 15–23 m/min) for 10 weeks (three sessions per week for 45 min) on a treadmill. Chlorogenic acid was administered at a rate of 110 mg/kg of body weight three times a week via gavage. Next, 24 hours after the last intervention, tissue samples were taken from the quadriceps femoris muscles and analyzed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Dunnett’s post-hoc test at a significance level of P < 0.05.

Results:

Endurance training significantly decreased glutathione (P = 0.01) and glutathione peroxidase (P = 0.026). Chlorogenic acid consumption also significantly decreased glutathione peroxidase (P = 0.007) and significantly increased the total antioxidant capacity (P = 0.011).

Conclusion:

Endurance training and chlorogenic acid supplementation may be used as therapeutic strategies to improve antioxidant capacity and prevent or reduce diabetes-related complications.
Designing a Registration System for Kidney Transplant Patients with BK Virus Infection in the Transplant Centers of Isfahan Province: Objectives, Design, and Introducing Under Study Indices
Authors: Mortazavi Mojgan , Moinzadeh Firouzeh , Shahidi Shahrzad , Seyrafian Shiva , Taheri Shahram , Khajeh Azad Mehdi
Published: January 2025

Background:

Notice to the importance of BK virus infection in kidney transplant patients, the present study aimed to present a protocol related to design aspects and implement a registration system for kidney transplant patients with BK virus infection in Isfahan Province, Iran.

Method:

The design process and different aspects of implementation and preparation of the platform for the registration of kidney transplant patients with BK virus infection were presented in this study. Indices related to the diagnosis, monitoring of the course of the disease, and the most important criteria related to the disease caused by BK virus and treatment of BK virus infection in kidney transplant patients were searched in reliable scientific databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Up-To-Date, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. A team consisting of experts in nephrology, biostatistics, and epidemiology evaluated the specified variables as an expert panel and evaluated the content validity of the checklists designed quantitatively and qualitatively to finalize them.

Results:

The checklist was finalized in three sections: 1) demographic variables (age, gender, education,…), 2) clinical variables (primary cause of kidney failure, disease history, history of kidney disease in the family, laboratory and diagnostic parameters, clinical manifestations…), and 3) microbiologic information of BK virus infection. This information can be used for the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of the patient.

Conclusions:

Our registry for kidney transplant patients with BK virus infection among the few ones in the world can provide a comprehensive valuable information collection about the risk factors and the course of changes in various indices in these patients and may improve the treatment process.
Client Waiting Time and Satisfaction in a Diagnostic Center Operating Under a Public–private Partnership at a Tertiary Healthcare Facility in Lagos, Nigeria
Authors: Adeniran Adeyinka , Adegboyega Olukayode , Bashir Khadija , Kumuyi Babatunde Rufus
Published: January 2025

Introduction:

This study is of profound significance as it presents a unique and novel assessment of client waiting time in a private–public partnership diagnostic center at a tertiary healthcare center in Lagos. It provides invaluable insights into the healthcare service delivery in Nigeria, a topic of increasing importance in the healthcare sector.

Materials and Methods:

This study employed a rigorous and comprehensive descriptive and cross-sectional approach conducted between February 2023 and June 2023 in Lasuth. The aim was to assess the client waiting time and patients’ satisfaction with services received, and a systematic sampling technique was used to select 1700 patients in the BT diagnostic center. These patients were then interviewed using interviewer-administered questionnaires, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of their experiences. The Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to test the hypothesis.

Results:

The mean age of the participants was 38.53 (standard deviation ± 4.78). Most patients were married (46.2%) and most respondents were unskilled (34.1%). The mean waiting time to register was 24.45 ± 54.32, ranging from a minimum of 1 min to a maximum of 1435 min. More than half (62.8%) of the patients were satisfied with the waiting time to complete their test. The mean duration of investigation in minutes is 32.29 ± 38.13, ranging from a minimum of 0 min to 300 min. The mean waiting time in the laboratory was 31.09 ± 39.84, ranging from 1 min to 240 min, while the mean waiting time to obtain the results from the laboratory was 1835.86 ± 4093.34, with a median time of 120 min. More than half (61.3%) of the patients were satisfied, with a mean of 75.55 ± 13.58, while 22.6% were very satisfied. There was a significant association between sociodemographic variables, waiting time and patient satisfaction, indicating that sociodemographic variables affect patient satisfaction with waiting time or services rendered in the diagnostic center.

Conclusion/Recommendation:

Patients with shorter waiting times were more satisfied than those with longer waiting times. This underscores the urgent need to address the waiting times in healthcare service delivery. By doing so, we can significantly improve patient satisfaction and the quality of care received, inspiring positive change in the healthcare system.
Unpopular yet Invaluable: The Role of Transrectal Ultrasonography in Evaluating Gynecological Pathologies
Authors: Aderibigbe Adeniyi Sunday , Adesunkanmi Omololu O. , Aderibigbe Adeshewa , Ijarotimi Omotade A. , Odewumi Kayode A.
Published: January 2025

Background:

The popular and sensitive transvaginal sonography (TVS) is not always applicable for evaluating pelvic organs in some women such as those with intact hymen (IH) or with endovaginal lesions. This study reviewed gynecologic conditions where transrectal sonography (TRS) was used as an alternative for TVS.

Materials and Methods:

This retrospective study reviewed TRS reports and images of women who had complementary TRS following equivocal initial transabdominal gynecological scan. All scans were carried out in a tertiary radiodiagnostic clinic in South West Nigeria over an 18-month period (April 2023 to October 2024). Relevant published English literatures comparing the sensitivity/image quality of TRS and TVS were also presented.

Results:

Among the 16 cases retrieved, 10 (62.5%) had IH, whereas 6 (37.5%) had no IH (NIH); the median age (interquartile range) for the two groups were 20 (18–28) years and 64 (44–69) years, respectively. Major indications for TRS among the IH were abnormal uterine bleeding (40.0%), primary amenorrhea (30.0%), and menorrhagia/severe dysmenorrhea (20.0%), whereas pelvic organ prolapse (66.7%) and TRS-guided intrauterine device (IUD) removal (33.3%) were the indications among the NIH. The most common TRS findings among the IH group included polycystic ovarian morphology (50.0%), absent or hypoplastic uterus/streak ovaries (30.0%), and submucous uterine fibroid nodules (30.0%), while the 50% of the NIH women had cystoceles and 33.3% had successful IUD removal under TRS-guidance.

Conclusion:

When it is not possible to use TVS in women with gynecological complaints, TRS is a suitable and inexpensive alternative method for evaluating the endometrium and adnexal structures.
Ne bis in idem, acumulación de sanciones penales y administrativas por un mismo hecho y nuevo artículo 78 bis del Código Penal
Authors: Escobar Veas Javier
Published: January 2025

Los casos de acumulación de sanciones penales y administrativas por un mismo hecho, cuya legitimidad ha sido cuestionada por la jurisprudencia principalmente desde la perspectiva de la prohibición de bis in idem, han aumentado significativamente en las últimas décadas. En agosto de 2023, la Ley 21.595 incorporó un nuevo artículo 78 bis al Código Penal, norma cuyo objeto es regular la acumulación o compatibilidad de sanciones penales y administrativas respecto de un mismo hecho. Este trabajo tiene por objeto analizar la aplicación de la prohibición de sanción múltiple en Chile, con especial referencia al nuevo artículo mencionado.
On the largest prime factor of quartic polynomial values: the cyclic and dihedral cases
Authors: Dartyge Cécile , Maynard James
Published: January 2025

Let

P(X)\in\mathbb{Z} [X]

be an irreducible, monic, quartic polynomial with cyclic or dihedral Galois group. We prove that there exists a constant

c_{P}>0

such that for a positive proportion of integers

n

,

P(n)

has a prime factor

\ge n^{1+c_P}

.
Exploration of phthalazine bearing oxadiazolyl–triazole hybrids as selective breast cancer agents: computational docking interactions
Authors: Kumar Konda Santosh , Kuna Sateesh , Pandiri Sreedhar , Akarapu Premalatha , Bhoomandla Srinu , Veera Venkata Nanda Kishore Pilli
Published: January 2025

In this study, a series of novel phthalazine derivatives bearing 1,3,4–oxadiazolyl–1,2,3–triazole moiety were designed, synthesized, and evaluated for anticancer activity. The formation targeted compounds were conﬁrmed for their structure by means of various spectral–analytical techniques like 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, FT-IR, elemental analysis, and mass spectrum. All synthesized compounds were screened for anticancer activity against three different human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, T-47D, and MDA-MB-231. From screening results, compound 5f exhibited the most potent anticancer activity (IC50 = 10.21 ± 2.2, 7.53 ± 0.1 µM) towards T-47D, MCF-7 cell lines and 4b, 5b demonstrated the highest % growth of inhibition (61.25 ± 0.52, 62.48 ± 0.20 µg/mL) against T-47D, and MCF-7 cell lines, respectively, which is equivalent to that reported by the standard cisplatin. The docking study strongly favours compound 4d, 5a, 5e, and 5f to be a dehydrogenase type 1 complexed in breast cancer inhibitor as it displayed a similar interaction to cisplatin (3HB4). Ligand 5f exhibited amino acid interactions and having docking score –11.53 kcal/mol, respectively. The in-silico pharmacokinetics studies support the results obtained from docking and biological evaluation and displayed favourable pharmacokinetic profile for a drug to be orally available.
Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2025, 39(4), 731-748.                                                               
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v39i4.10
Magnetic properties and exchange bias behavior of poly(4-(octyloxy) phenyl-5- (thiophen-3-yl)-2-naphthoate): Insights from temperature-dependent magnetization and EPR spectroscopy
Authors: Esakki Muthu Sankaran , Gaddala Baburao , Ananthakrishnan  , Somanathan  , Mandal  , Kannan Karthik , Kumar Balaraman Nirmal , Arumugam Sonachalam
Published: January 2025

The polymer POPTN was investigated to elucidate its magnetic and optoelectronic properties, with particular emphasis on charge carrier mobility, dichroic behaviour, and magnetic interactions. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies confirmed delocalization over the naphthalene side chains, contributing to the observed paramagnetic behaviour at room temperature. Temperature-dependent magnetic studies revealed paramagnetic behaviour at higher temperatures transitioning to weak ferromagnetism below 10 K. Curie-Weiss analysis indicated antiferromagnetic (AFM) coupling with a paramagnetic Curie temperature (θP) of -203 K. Exchange bias (EB) measurements demonstrated a significant hysteresis loop shift at 2 K, diminishing with increasing temperature and vanishing near 20 K. The maximum exchange bias field (HE) was observed to be 133 Oe at 2 K, attributed to the coexistence of ferromagnetic (FM) and AFM interactions. The interplay of AFM and FM coupling, along with π-π stacking facilitated by the naphthyl moiety, influenced the magnetic properties and anisotropy.
Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2025, 39(4), 791-798.                                                        
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v39i4.14