bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The minus thermodynamic law concept: A statement
Authors: NTANTIS Efstratios L. , XEZONAKIS Vasileios
Published: January 2025

Time asymmetry in thermodynamic systems, governed by the Second Law of Thermodynamics, has long been associated with the natural progression toward equilibrium, although interpretations vary widely across scientific perspectives. To address this diversity, a more comprehensive framework that encompasses both equilibrium and non-equilibrium states is essential. This paper introduces the Minus First Law as a foundational principle to expand the thermodynamic framework and more effectively account for time asymmetry. The concept enables an analysis of both symmetrical and asymmetrical states across forward and reverse temporal directions, addressing the complex interplay between the thermodynamic arrow of time and the statistical mechanics arrow. By broadening the theoretical scope, it aims to bridge gaps across macroscopic and microscopic scales, offering a unified perspective on time asymmetry within both equilibrium and non-equilibrium thermodynamic systems. Such an approach could refine our understanding of irreversible processes and deepen insights into the emergence of temporal asymmetry from microscopic dynamics.
Integrating Digital Literacy in Secondary Education: A Comparative Analysis of Effective Teaching Strategies Across Asia
Authors: Apriyanto Apriyanto , Albadri Albadri , Hasnah Sitti , Nugroho Agung Yuliyanto , Smas Musa Hefer
Published: January 2025

This research project examines the ways in which digital literacy is incorporated into the secondary education curriculum in various Asian countries. This study aims to investigate the comparative teaching strategies employed with the aim of enhancing students' digital competencies. Qualitative research methods were employed to obtain data through in-depth interviews, document analysis and participatory observation in secondary schools in five Asian countries: Indonesia, Singapore, India, South Korea and Japan. The findings indicate that technology-based strategies, teacher training and national policies play an instrumental role in the successful integration of digital literacy. The research validates that a comprehensive approach to the incorporation of digital literacy in secondary education in Asia necessitates an interwoven combination of pedagogical strategies, conducive policies and robust technological infrastructure. The insights gained from this research are invaluable for the formulation and refinement of an inclusive and effective digital literacy curriculum.
Bridging the gap: understanding the factors affecting pedestrian safety perceptions in the age of driverless vehicles
Authors: Rezwana Saki , Shaon Mohammad Razaur Rahman , Lownes Nicholas , Jackson Eric
Published: January 2025

he advent of autonomous technologies necessitates a deeper understanding of pedestrian behavior and safety in environments where pedestrians need to interact with driverless vehicles (DV). Our study explores how pedestrians perceive and react to DVs compared with Human-Driven Vehicles (HDV), focusing on objective measures such as gap acceptance (GA) and psychophysiological indicators like Electro-dermal Activity (EDA). Structured in three phases, the study comprises a preliminary questionnaire to gauge public perception, followed by immersive virtual reality (VR) simulations that mimic real-world traffic scenarios within a VR environment, and concludes with a post-experiment survey. The simulation experiment was designed to analyze pedestrian responses to varying traffic scenarios developed using DVs and HDVs, measuring EDA to assess emotional and stress responses leading to changes in the gap acceptance behavior. The study employed hypothesis testing to assess DV's impact on pedestrians' psychophysiological reactions that can lead to changes in pedestrian behavior. This study also explored the effect of education level and perception of pedestrians towards automation technology that may influence outcomes. The analysis of EDA showed higher stress levels in scenarios involving DVs measured using the Galvanic Skin Response component. This result heightened stress response may be attributed to the unpredictability and novelty of DVs. The analysis with gap acceptance (GA) time revealed significant differences in GA times across traffic scenarios. Pedestrians exhibited longer GA times with DVs than HDVs, suggesting cautious crossing behavior. Our results underscore the impact of traffic scenarios on pedestrian behavior and stress levels, highlighting the influence of driverless technology on pedestrian dynamics.
Pengaruh Social Media Marketing dan Influencer Marketing terhadap Keputusan Pembelian Produk Deliwafa di Kota Gresik
Authors: Septrilia Putri Alicya Dewi , Zawawi Abdullah , Zaini Ahmad Afan
Published: January 2025

The ease with which people can access information about a product has given rise to a new shopping system that can be done online. Then, this is used by companies to attract the interest of their potential consumers by utilizing social media as a part of digital marketing, this strategy is also called Social Media Marketing (SMM). One of the social media applications that is currently frequently used is the Tiktok and Instagram applications. The TikTok and Instagram application algorithms are different from other applications, making it easier for people to go viral and be recognized by many people. So, the term influencer emerged as someone who can have an influence on other people. To become a company that can be known to the wider public, a company must have a good brand image so that potential consumers can easily remember what products the brand produces. Referring to this, the question arises of the influence of social media marketing and influencer marketing on purchasing decisions for Deliwafa products in Gresik City. This research used quantitative research with 100 respondents who were followers of the Gresik City branch of the Deliwafa Instagram account who were analyzed using multiple linear regression. Based on the results of data analysis, it is known that social media marketing influences the decision to purchase Deliwafa products in Gresik City, the influencer marketing variabel also has a positive and significant influence on the decision to purchase Deliwafa products in Gresik City
Efisiensi Bank Umum dengan Pendekatan Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) untuk Mewujudkan Green Banking di Indonesia
Authors: Fitri Heti Suryani Fitri , Abrianto Heri , Ramadhani Annisa Alifa , Dewanti Lintang Kresna , Jatiningrum Pebriantika Wahyu , Khairunnisa Khairunnisa
Published: January 2025

Banking competitiveness can be reflected in the level of operational efficiency. Measuring performance based on efficiency is very crucial for banks. Banks that have better performance must manage efficiency levels to be better able to compete. This research aims to determine the level of efficiency of commercial banks and the potential for improving commercial bank inefficiencies. This type of research is quantitative descriptive research. The sample taken used purposive sampling, namely taking KBMI 4 banks, namely commercial banks which have core capital of more than 70 trillion, consisting of Bank BNI, Bank Mandiri, Bank BCA and Bank BRI. The data analysis method uses Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and the software used is MaxDEA. The results of this research show that the KBMI 4 bank that has achieved the most perfect efficiency levels, namely an efficiency score equal to 1, is BRI.  The reason for Bank KBMI's inefficiency 4 is that most of the resources used have not been able to increase interest income and fee based income. Potential improvements that can be made are by increasing Third Party Funds, increasing total assets, reducing labor costs and switching manual transaction strategies to digital transactions
Syariah Pawnship in Indonesia: Analysis of Fiqh and Its Practice in Syariah Financial Institutions
Authors: Mustaniroh Mustaniroh , Musadad Ahmad , Zahro Umi Indasyah , Pujiati Tri
Published: January 2025

Economic and business developments are always accompanied by developments in capital requirements and additional business capital facilities which always require guarantees to maintain the security of the capital provided. business. Pawning is a type of debt and receivable agreement and has been in place since the time of the Prophet. Over time pawnshop institutions were formed to encourage economic survival. This research aims to explain various aspects of sharia pawning starting from the history, legal basis of sharia pawning to the implementation of pawning in both banking and pawnshop institutions in Indonesia. This research is research with a qualitative descriptive approach using documentation studies through references related to sharia pawning in Indonesia. The research results show that sharia pawn operations in Indonesia do not conflict with Islamic sharia (Al-Qur'an, Hadith, Ijma, and DSN Fatwa). Not only that, the principle of pawning is actually in line with maqashid sharia, namely the protection of property, body, mind, offspring and soul. Handling problems at sharia pawnshops by providing several ways to pay off and not adding to the burden of deposits and administration costs. The results of this research provide recommendations that the implementation of sharia pawning can be implemented in the community for the benefit of the people.
Qiyas sebagai Metode Ijtihad dan Implementasinya dalam Transaksi Keuangan Ekonomi Islam Kontemporer
Authors: Ummah Ina Nasihatul , Aziz Jamal Abdul
Published: January 2025

Along with the dynamic development of the times, many new products and cases have emerged in the modern economy. Islamic law has established and set boundaries on these issues concerning halal and haram aspects. The Qiyas method is necessary in legal studies to produce fiqh formulations in Islamic economic and financial law. Qiyas is the fourth source of law in Islam; this method of deriving law provides a broad pathway for finding legal foundations for all encountered issues. Viewed from the various types of 'illah, the deepening of law through the method of qiyas must be done carefully and cautiously. The dynamics of development and innovation of Sharia financial contracts in the Sharia economy will certainly become more modern in accordance with the times. Therefore, this poses a challenge for Muslim scholars to address so that it does not become a concern for the community when the application of Sharia finance contracts is packaged in a modern way, which on one hand requires the use of the qiyas method to determine their legal status. This paper aims to explain the concept of qiyas as a method of ijtihad in Islamic law and then examine the implementation of qiyas in contemporary Islamic economic transactions. The type of writing in this article is a library research study using a qualitative method aimed at discussing several themes about the definition of qiyas, the authority of qiyas, the pillars and conditions of qiyas, the types of qiyas, the dynamics of qiyas development, and the implementation of qiyas in contemporary Islamic economic transactions. In this article, it can be concluded that the implementation of Qiyas to determine its legal status can be formulated in the encyclopedia of contemporary sharia financial contracts that use the Qiyas method in determining the ashl and furu’ from the perspective of Islamic law. With transactions and financial products continuously evolving, many aspects of economic transaction activities that did not exist in the past have only emerged in the contemporary context, or it can be said that these transactions have developed from classical to contemporary.
Pola Fatwa Dewan Syariah Nasional terhadap Produk Lembaga Keuangan Syariah
Authors: Maghfur Arif
Published: January 2025

The National Sharia Council or commonly abbreviated as DSN is an institution under the auspices of the Majlis Ulama Indonesia. The existence of the DSN-MUI institution is to provide legal fatwas related to Islamic Financial Institutions in Indonesia.  The increasing number of problems that exist in Islamic Financial Institutions in Indonesia has made DSN-MUI work hard to be able to provide legal fatwas in accordance with the new products submitted by Sharia Banks. This will continue and develop in accordance with the development of the banking world in Indonesia in particular. Therefore, DSN-MUI as an institution in charge of screening and issuing legal fatwas must be able to provide legal fatwas that are truly in accordance with the understanding of the law in Indonesia. DSN-MUI as an institution that has the right to provide law on Islamic financial products still receives a lot of criticism from various circles, both academics and several fiqh law experts. Among these criticisms is the inconsistency of the DSN-MUI fatwa with the literature of the salaf book, which is currently still a reference for most Indonesia scholars. There are also those who criticize the problem of using fiqh rules. DSN-MUI only uses one rule as a legal basis and does not use other rules, even though other rules are related to these rules. Not to mention the use of verses of the Qur'an, which actually have no connection with the law of the product being fatwad. The existence of these criticisms is not to weaken DSN-MUI, but it is hoped that it can be a reinforcement for DSN-MUI, because what they have fatwa will be a reference for many people in muamalah.
Kontribusi Politik Ekonomi Pertanian dalam Penyediaan Bahan Baku Halal di Indonesia
Authors: Cahyani Putri Tri , Shaleh Chaerul , Rasyid Fauzan Ali
Published: January 2025

The agricultural sector is a vital component of a nation's economy as it provides food supplies and serves as a source of livelihood for millions of people. In the context of Indonesia, with its predominantly Muslim population, the significance of the agricultural sector has grown alongside the increasing demand for halal raw materials. However, the implementation of agricultural political economy policies to support the provision of halal raw materials faces several challenges, including farmers' lack of understanding of halal standards, dependence on imported raw materials, and limited infrastructure and technology. This study employs a qualitative approach using library research methods to analyze the contribution of agricultural political economy policies in supporting the provision of halal raw materials, including identifying relevant challenges and solutions. The findings reveal that policies such as agricultural land protection, fertilizer subsidies, and the development of halal industrial zones have provided a robust foundation for establishing a halal agricultural ecosystem. Nonetheless, strategic measures, such as educating farmers, enhancing local production, and investing in modern technology, remain necessary to overcome the existing obstacles. This study concludes that adaptive and inclusive agricultural political economy policies can strengthen the role of the agricultural sector in sustainably supporting the availability of halal raw materials while simultaneously enhancing the competitiveness of Indonesia's halal products in global markets.
Pengaruh Inflasi, Kurs, dan Investasi Infrastruktur terhadap Pertumbuhan Ekonomi di Indonesia: Analisis Menggunakan Model VECM (1993-2023)
Authors: Putra Trischa , Rahayuningsih Eni Sri
Published: January 2025

This study examines the relationship between inflation, exchange rates, and infrastructure investment on economic growth in Indonesia using the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) approach for the period 1993–2023. Secondary data were obtained from official institutions such as Bank Indonesia, the Central Bureau of Statistics, and the Ministry of Public Works. The analysis reveals that inflation has a significant negative impact on economic growth in the long term, while exchange rates and infrastructure investment show no significant influence. The VECM model also identifies a significant error correction mechanism, with a negative error correction coefficient of 41.49% for the economic growth variable. Impulse Response Function (IRF) and Forecast Error Variance Decomposition (FEVD) analyses indicate minimal contributions of exchange rates and infrastructure investment to the variability of economic growth. This study recommends controlling inflation through monetary policy, stabilizing exchange rates, and enhancing infrastructure investment as strategies to foster sustainable economic growth in Indonesia.
Analysing Low Back Pain Among University Students in Malaysia: A Public Health Perspective on Disability and Influencing Factors
Authors: Purushothaman Vinosh Kumar , Huynh Thua Ke  , Subbarayalu Arun Vijay , Marimuthu Palanivel Rubavathi , Krishnan Vasanthi Rajkumar , Kayarohanam Saminathan
Published: January 2025

Purpose: Low back pain (LBP) and its association with disability has emerged as an area of concern. This study aimed to investigate the influence of demographic, low back pain on disability to provide insights for informed interventions enhancing students’ inclusive health and wellbeing.
Materials & Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 351 students of all genders, aged 17 to 30. Nordic questionnaire was used to check the prevalence of low back pain. Oswestry disability index was employed to assess the back pain induced disability. Logistic regression analysis was used to analyse the association between risk factors and LBP.
Results: Among students, the total prevalence of LBP was 81.5%. Adjusted odds ratio and standardized coefficient, variables such as year of study (OR = 2.526, CI = 1.629–3.923), mode of study (OR = 4.725, CI = 1.767–12.630), and duration of electronic gadgets usage (OR = 2.912, CI = 1.544–5.490) were found to be independent risk factors and predictors for the occurrence of LBP among university students.
Conclusion: The study results demonstrate a substantial association between the use of computers, year of study, and use of electronic gadgets with prevalence of low back discomfort. Future investigations should focus on strategies to emphasize the significance of ergonomic guidance about computer usage and managing study workload throughout different academic years among university students.
Prevalence and Determinants of Functional Disability Among Elderly in Rural Goa, India
Authors: Robin Ronald , Pinto Da Silva Vanita G
Published: January 2025

Background: Functional disability in older adults, defined as the inability to perform essential daily activities, is categorized into Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). Understanding these limitations is key for informing health policies and services. The aim was to estimate the prevalence and identify factors associated with functional disability among the elderly in rural Goa.
Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among the elderly residing in the field practice area of the Rural Health and Training Centre, Mandur, Goa. Data were collected from 300 elderly participants using the Katz ADL Index and Lawton Brody’s IADL Scale. Participants were selected through systematic random sampling.
Results: ADL disability prevalence was 13.7%, while IADL disability was 38.7%. ADL disability was associated with sex, education, financial dependence, co-morbidities, alcoholism, and sensory impairments. IADL disability was linked to age, sex, education, financial dependence, co-morbidities and visual impairment.
Conclusions: The study emphasizes the need for comprehensive geriatric assessments in rural communities, highlighting the importance of evaluating functional status at the primary healthcare level to improve elderly care policies.
Medication Adherence and Its Associated Factors Among Type II Diabetes Mellitus Patients Presenting to Health Centres in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India
Authors: B Ajeetha , Damu Ade Anju , Guthi Visweswara Rao , Meesala Lalith
Published: January 2025

Background: Diabetes is a swiftly expanding health issue. To avoid or postpone the development of complications, patients need to adherent to their antidiabetic drugs. The objective was to assess medication adherence and to determine the association between medication non-adherence and socio-demographic characteristics, co-morbidities, and self-care and medication practices among Type II Diabetes Mellitus patients.
Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted among 216 diabetic patients of more than 18 years of age with duration at least 6 months presenting to the 4 health centres in Tirupati. Medication adherence was assessed using the nine-item Hill-Bone Medication Adherence Scale (HBMAS).
Results: The study found that among the 216 participants, 82.9% were adherent while 17.1% were non-adherent to medications. On multivariate analysis, age group of >60 years (AOR=2.97(95% CI 1.158-7.662), belonging to rural areas (AOR=22.163 (95% CI:2.404-193.678), not following any dietary modifications (AOR= 2.976 (95% CI 0.935-9.479) and dependent on family member for medication intake remembrance (AOR=6.103(0.875-42.546) were found to be more at risk for non-adherence.
Conclusions: One-fifth of the study participants were non-adherent to medications. Increasing age, rural population, not following dietary modifications, and dependent on family members to remind them for medication intake were found to be associated with medication non-adherence.
Prevalence of Dental Fluorosis among 6-18-Year-Olds in Vidarbha, Maharashtra, and Its Association with Geological and Geochemical Fluoride Levels: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Hajare Shilpa T , Pusdekar Yamini , Saoji Ajeet V , Khatri Sachin , Naitam Ravi
Published: January 2025

Background: Endemic Fluorosis is a longstanding public health problem caused by excess fluoride intake through drinking water or food products grown in soil with high fluoride content. Many areas in Maharashtra state, particularly the Vidarbha region are affected by fluorosis. The aim was to determine the prevalence of Dental Fluorosis in children of the age group of 6-18 years and corelate it with the fluoride levels in water, soil and foodgrains.
Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional study will be conducted in randomly selected villages from Vidarbha region using multistage sampling. A total sample of 1230 children aged 6-18 years will be obtained. Dean`s index will be utilized for determining the prevalence of Dental Fluorosis. Fluoride levels of drinking water, soil and foodgrains will be analyzed. 
Results: The salient feature of the study is the fluoride levels in the drinking water and locally grown staple foodgrains like rice, jowar and wheat etc. This will generate evidence that corroborates with the fluorosis levels observed in the selected study region.
Conclusion: The study will be a landmark in nearly a decade providing a comparative account of Dental Fluorosis in villages with high-to-moderate endemicity and co-relate clinical manifestations with fluoride levels in water, soil and foodgrains.
Pilot Study on The Nutritional Assessment and Intervention Kiosk: Utility and User-Centric Performance Evaluation in Combating Malnutrition
Authors: Thakur Shyamli , Bhargava Samir , Gauniyal Mansi
Published: January 2025

Background: To combat double burden of malnutrition, Nutritional Assessment and Intervention Kiosk (NAIK) has been proposed as a potential solution. which provides personalized nutritional assessments and interventions, leveraging the latest digital health technologies. The present pilot study reports user-centric performance evaluation and utility of NAIK to determine its impact on managing malnutrition.
Methodology: The 406 samples were purposively selected to include children aged 2–5 years and their mothers living in urban slum areas of Gautam Budh Nagar District of Uttar Pradesh through the online-based NAIK. In order to evaluate the users' ability to utilize the developed system, the participants were tasked with completing a series of assigned usability tasks. The user-centric performance evaluation of the system was also evaluated.
Results: Out of total 406 sample, till the third visit 123 subjects (30.29%) were retained. A significant majority of respondents found NAIK platform easy to use but most users did feel the need for professional assistance. Overall, the assessments reveal that the NAIK platform is well-received by users. However, minor improvements could enhance clarity and reduce the learning curve for new users.
Conclusions: The positive user feedback on the usability of NAIK further supports its potential as a valuable tool for nutritional interventions in low-resource settings.
Caregiver’s Perspective on Preventing Unintentional Childhood Injuries in South Karnataka, India – A Qualitative Study
Authors: Shetty Sheela , Nayak Baby S , George Anice , Pai Mamatha Shivananda , Hebbar Shrikiran , Noronha Judith A
Published: January 2025

Background: Childhood unintentional injuries are the leading cause of death and disability among young children. Interventions to prevent unintentional injuries are multidimensional, and identifying key areas would facilitate a better understanding and implementation of preventive measures. The present research was conducted to explore and understand caregivers' perspectives on unintentional injuries, which might further contribute to developing injury prevention strategies.
Methods: The study adopted a qualitative approach. In-depth, open-ended, semi-structured, and individual interviews were conducted with caregivers of children between two and five-year-old age groups.
Results: The codes generated from the study are grouped under three major themes: ‘Child behaviour and development’, ‘Caregivers' knowledge and practices’, and ‘Safe environment’. The reasons for unintentional injuries and strategies to prevent them were reflected in the findings. Caregivers demonstrated awareness in a few of the areas by identifying the risk of injuries. Environmental determinants such as a lack of space or inadequate storage facilities were reported as barriers to injury prevention.
Conclusion: Understanding caregivers’ perspectives on injury prevention will enable them to change the behavior among caregivers. However, the barriers and facilitators to prevent injuries can be addressed during the development and implementation of the intervention package.
Pathogenic Menace of MDR Bacteria in Stool and Throat Swab Surveillance Cultures of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Recipients and Evaluation of Post-Transplant Bloodstream Infections: A Cross-Sectional Study from A Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital of Kolkata, India
Authors: Choudhury Kabita , Deb Sonia , Kundu Suman , Dhar Baishali , Dolai Tuphan Kanti , Dey Jayanta Bikash , Bhattacharjee Swagata Ganguly
Published: January 2025

Background
Infections with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) may pose a threat to hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients. Pre-transplant surveillance culture of stool and throat swabs may guide antibiotic therapy in these groups of patients. We have conducted this study to determine the profile of organisms isolated from stool and throat swab cultures, their susceptibility pattern, and the presence of MDRO to detect post-transplant bloodstream infections in this tertiary care teaching hospital in Kolkata.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of one year between 1st January to 31st December 2023. Pre-transplant surveillance culture of stool and throat swabs were performed on seventy patients from the Department of Hematology and processed in the Department of Microbiology using standard laboratory guidelines and their antibiotic susceptibility was done as per CLSI 2023 guidelines. The organisms were phenotypically screened for drug resistance and molecular confirmation was done for carbapenemases producers. Bloodstream infections in these recipients were detected by blood culture.
Results
There were 70 transplant recipients in whom stool surveillance culture yielded maximum incidence of Escherichia coli of which 32.8% were MDRO. Throat surveillance culture yielded Escherichia coli with 51.8% MDRO. blaNDM was the most common carbapenemases gene detected. Post-transplant the incidence of bloodstream infections detected by blood culture was seen in 32 recipients with Acinetobacter baumannii being the predominant Gram-negative isolate.
Conclusion
Colonization with MDRO in HSCT recipients before transplant is a potential threat. Performing stool and throat surveillance cultures before transplantation can inform empirical antibiotic strategies and tailored individualized antibiotic treatment.
In recent years, the interest of researchers in agricultural waste has increased, and instead of being ignored, the waste has become attractive to study and benefit from. Banana peels have attracted the attention of researchers due to their bioactive chem
Authors: Gawade Jeevan
Published: January 2025

In recent years, the interest of researchers in agricultural waste has increased, and instead of being ignored, the waste has become attractive to study and benefit from. Banana peels have attracted the attention of researchers due to their bioactive chemical components, and this review article focuses on the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of banana peels, which can be used as good sources of natural antioxidants and for pharmaceutical purposes in the treatment of various diseases. Banana is an edible fruit of the Musa family (Musaceae) cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions. Banana peel is used as supplementary feed for livestock in their agricultural areas. Its massive by-products are an excellent source of valuable raw materials for other industries by recycling agricultural waste. The aim is to use banana by-products in various food and non-food products and as sources of natural bioactive compounds. It can be concluded that banana peel can be successfully used in food, medicine and other fields. Therefore, banana residues can provide new avenues and research areas for the future.
Applying Technology and Awareness Integration Theory for Quality Early Childhood Care and Education
Authors: Manoukian Eileen , Trube Mary Barbara
Published: January 2025

Administrators from 10 early childhood care and education (ECCE) programs in a Pacific Southwestern state in the United States participated as one part of a qualitative longitudinal study exploring the use of technology at the onset of COVID-19 in March 2020 through May 2023. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore how ECCE program administrators employed technologies to support staff, children, and families while providing continuity of quality in curriculum, pedagogy, professional development, parent engagement opportunities, and community outreach during and following the Pandemic. Findings revealed that diverse technologies were  employed, offered, and supported by ECCE program administrators in the Pacific Southwestern United States. Administrators acknowledged that continued use of technologies contributed to and sustained overall program quality; supported children’s attainment of developmental milestones; and enhanced parent and staff relationships, capacity building, and engagement. Further, this paper reports on ways ECCE program administrators adapted findings from the study to foster inclusion of awareness integration theory into their daily practices. Consistency of quality care and education have promoted children’s development in all domains leading to their formal school readiness. Examples of technology as a post-pandemic contributor to quality in ECCE programs  are shared.
Induction of resistance in tomato against early blight
Authors: Haider Rhizwan , Navish Navish , Raja Muhammad Usman
Published: January 2025

Tomato are used both in as fresh and semi cooked form, therefore, pesticides residues neither accepted nor allowed by stakeholders. Plant resistance inducers (PRIs) or elicitors have shown promising potential to be an effective but safe alternate of pesticides. In this study, we investigated the role of different PRIs against Altenaria solani, causal of agent of early blight of tomato. PRIs used in this study were 0.1 mM methyl Jasmonate (MeJA), 1.0 mM salicylic acid (SA), 1mg/ml chitosan (CH). In addition, 0.2 mM sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and 1mg/pot calcium carbide (CaC2) were also used as donors of nitric oxide (NO) and ethylene (ET) respectively. A. solani was isolated from infected tomato samples which were collected from suburbs of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Pathogenicity was confirmed by Koch’s postulates. Post 48 hrs of priming with PRIs, tomato seedlings were then sprayed by A. solani inoculum. Plants treated with distil water were considered as mock treatment whereas challenged with pathogen as a positive control. Disease symptoms recorded 10 days post inoculation (dpi). MeJA treatment gave the best result as we got percentage of EB index (PEBI) 14.15% compared to positive control (44.98%). Plants treated with CaC2 which is donor of ET and CH gave statistically non-significant results compared to MeJA while gave significant results compared to SA and positive control. Overall, resistant inducers delayed the disease and make the plants tolerant rather immune against the pathogen. Our data imply that there is potential of activating innate immunity in tomato against one of most destructive and widely distributed pathogens by the application of PRIs.
Mortality response of new chemistry insecticides against Thrips orientalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on jasmine under field conditions
Authors: Mehmood Adil , Ahmad Munir , Mehmood Mudasser , Habib Umer
Published: January 2025

Thrips orientalis is an important sap-sucking insect pest affecting various crops, including Jasmine. Chemical control is one of the most commonly employed methods for its management. The efficacy of several insecticides at their recommended field dosage on Jasmine plants against T. orientalis was evaluated. After 240 h, mortality was the highest with fipronil (96%) followed by emamectin benzoate (94%) for the first spray. Following second spray application, mortality with fipronil was 96.8% followed by emamectin benzoate as 94.9% with similar trend as for the first spray application. Out of nine insecticides tested, pyriproxyfen was least effective with 71.1% and 71.9% 240 h after first and second application, respectively. Means of both applications showed fipronil with the highest mortality rate (96.5%) followed by emamectin benzoate (94.5%) which are recommended for effective field management of T. orientalis on Jasmine plants.
New distributional records of genus Hieroglyphus Krauss, 1877 (Acrididae: Hemiacridinae) from upper Sindh-Pakistan
Authors: Soomro Iltaf Ahmed , Panhwar Waheed Ali , Shaikh Abdul Manan
Published: January 2025

The current study was conducted on the genus Hieroglyphus Krauss, 1877, from upper Sindh, Pakistan. A total of 225 specimens were collected from various districts of upper Sindh, Pakistan, over the years 2021 to 2023. The specimens were identified into two species: Hieroglyphus nigrorepletus Bolívar, 1912, and Hieroglyphus perpolita (Uvarov, 1933). This manuscript presents digital photographs of insect species exhibiting morphological characteristics. Moreover, distribution maps are supplied for each species present in upper Sindh, Pakistan. This study aims to establish a reference framework for future Orthopterists examining the Hieroglyphus fauna of this region
Estimation of rodent damages to stored maize and wheat in rural Swabi, Pakistan
Authors: Khanam Surrya , Amin Zobia , Mayamba Alex
Published: January 2025

The presence of rodents in storage structures is one of the major reasons for post-harvest losses in many parts of the world, including Pakistan. In developing countries, rodents are considered a serious pest in household food storages, causing several kinds of losses. To control grain losses, it is necessary to estimate the actual post-harvest damages to the stored grains. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to assess post-harvest storage losses due to rodents in maize and wheat grains stores of District Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The results showed that there were 10.91±1.04 fecal droppings, 7.58± 0.67 rodent hairs, and 28.58 + 2.02 damaged grains per 100 gram of maize. The mean weight loss of 509 + 68.7 was recorded from the maize stores. Likewise, there were 16.25±0.77 droppings, 12.41 + 0.76 hairs and 21.41 + 1.26 damaged grains per 100 gram of wheat. The mean weight loss of 483 + 46.2 was reported from the wheat stores. These finding indicate that rodents were negatively impacting storage structures in the area and proper pest management strategies are required to minimize post-harvest crop losses.
Foliar application of salicylic acid and ascorbic acid mitigates salinity stress in hot pepper through enhanced antioxidants activity
Authors: Iqbal Muhammad , Raza Hassan , Munawar Muneeb , Khan Wajeeha , Siddique Zarghona , Ashraf Muhammad Irfan
Published: January 2025

Three genotypes of hot pepper were subjected to three different levels of salinity in a pot experiment to study the effect of salt stress on vegetative and reproductive growth of hot pepper along with efficacy of exogeneous application of salicylic acid (SA) and ascorbic acid (AsA) in enabling plant to withstand salinity. Two concentrations (1 and 2 mM) of SA and AsA, both individually and in combination were applied through foliar spray. Salinity stress significantly reduced growth of hot pepper with plant height, root length, and biomass decreasing by up to 73.28%, 74.09%, and 82.57%, respectively as compared to control. Likewise, fruit yield per plant was reduced by 76.44%. Activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) were also affected in response to salinity. Among the treatments, the application of 2 mM SA and 2 mM AsA led to greatest improvements in growth and yield, especially in the genotype SV5232-HY. This study will be helpful for selecting salinity-tolerant genotypes for cultivation in saline-prone areas, and demonstrates the potential of using exogenous compounds to enhance plant resilience against salinity stress.
In Silico analysis to identify potential inhibitors of N-Myristoyltransferase in Leishmania donovani through drug Repurposing
Authors: Alam Shoaib , Shehzad Adnan , Ayesha Bibi , Rahman Hamid Ur
Published: January 2025

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or Kalazar, is a vector-borne parasitic disease caused by Leishmania donovani, which is spread through the bite of sand flies from infected animals or humans. The disease continues to be a major health concern due to limited treatment options. One of the key proteins involved in the viability of the parasite is N-myristoyltransferase (NMT), making it a prominent target for new drug development. Development of new drugs require a lot of resources and time. The current study was designed to find potential L. donovani NMT inhibitors from the existing drugs used for other disease through insilico studies. To identify potential inhibitors for NMT, the 3D structure of the L. donovani NMT was obtained from the protein data bank. More than one hundred and fifty potential FDA approved drugs were retrieved from chemspider. These drugs were docked using the online PatchDock server, selecting the top results. The interactions were visualized using GS Viewer and LIGPLOT. The interactions formed include hydrogen bonding, covalent interactions, and hydrophobic interactions with the key active site residues of the target, suggesting at potential mechanism of inhibition. The present study successfully identified promising potential inhibitors of L. donovani NMT. The drugs that showed maximum interactions includes Clarithromycin, Amoxicillin, Bacampicillin and Ciprofloxacin which could serve as candidates for experimental testing in future studies. The findings of the current study lay the foundation for developing new treatments for visceral leishmaniasis.
Penerapan Toleransi dalam Pembuatan JIG Jackcable Menggunakan 3D Printing
Authors: Karyadi Karyadi , Nanda Rizki Aulia , Mulyadi Dodi , Suhara Ade , Sunandar Aris Abdul , Dewadi Fathan Mubina
Published: January 2025

JIG merupakan sebuah komponen yang sangat penting dalam dunia industri baik industri manufacturing dan industri lainnya, JIG adalah sebuah komponen yang akan digunakan dalam penempatan atau dudukan untuk sebuah proses dalam industri. JIG digunakan sebagai media membantu dalam penempatan komponen-komponen produksi yang akan di manufacturing, permasalahan yang timbul adalah pada saat pembuatan JIG memerlukan ukuran yang sesuai terhadap benda yang akan ditempatkan, maka tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah menetapkan sebuah toleransi untuk pembuatan JIG menggunakan mesin 3D Printing. Metode yang digunakan yaitu dimulai dengan pengukuran benda manufacturing yaitu jackcable pada pin 16 dan pin 10. Setelah dilakukan proses pengukuran maka penentuan toleransi sesuai dengan standar yang telah ditetapkan, ketika perhitungan toleransi terhadap hasil pengukuran maka selanjutnya dilakukan proses desain. Hasil desain akan diubah menjadi format G-Code untuk dicetak menggunakan mesin 3D Printing. hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan simbol “i,j,n,m dan e” memiliki toleransi yang sama yaitu 0.5-0.7mm hal tersebut karena pada bagian tersebut toleransi hanya menerapkan tingkat suaian yang longgar atau suaian kasar. Secara keseluruhan dapat disimpulkan hasil penelitian ini pada JIG pin 10 menggunakan suaian sedang dan pada JIG pin 16 menggunakan suaian kasar.
Pemeriksaan Kuat Tarik Belah Beton Dengan Persentase Substitusi Fly Ash Yang Berbeda
Authors: Lubis Julianto
Published: January 2025

Kuat tarik belah beton merupakan salah satu parameter penting dalam melihat  kekuatan beton. Nilai kuat tarik belah beton diperoleh dengan melakukan pengujian tekan dengan cara membebani benda uji secara lateral sampai benda uji mengalami retak sehingga didapat kekuatan tarik belah beton maksimum. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk mengetahui nilai kuat tarik belah beton setelah melalui proses curing dimana persentase penggunaan fly ash dalam campuran beton divariasikan dengan 0%, 40% dan 80%. Pengujian dilakukan di laboratorium dengan menggunakan mesin uji compressor, timbangan analitis dengan benda uji berbentuk silinder ukuran tinggi 30 cm dan diameter 15 cm. Hasil pengujian menunjukkan bahwa semakin besar persentase substitusi campuran flyash, semakin kecil nilai kuat tarik belah beton yang dihasilkan.
Pengaruh Breasfeeding Education Dengan Buku Saku Terhadap Pengetahuan Menyusui Ibu Primipara Di Puskesmas Perdana Tahun 2024
Authors: Mulyanah Teti , Ciptiasrini Uci , Herdiana Hedy
Published: January 2025

Air Susu Ibu (ASI) adalah makanan yang paling tepat untuk bayi. Prevalensi ASI tidak dapat ditandingi oleh apapun, baik suplemen yang dikandungnya maupun bagian dari menyusui atau menyusui itu sendiri . Tujuan penelitian: Untuk mengetahui pengetahuan  Breasfeeding Education Dengan Buku Saku Terhadap Pengetahuan Menyusui Ibu Primipara Metode : Peneliti pada Dalam penelitian ini menggunakan penelitian kuantitatif dengan desain Quasy Experiment dan rancangan penelitian Pre And Post Test dengan populasi 30 responden, cara pengambilan sampel total  sampling intrumen penelitian yg digunakan kuesioner. Uji statistis bivariat   mengunakan chi-square.  Hasil : diketahui Rata-rata (mean) Nilai mean pengetahuan responden sebelum diberikan edukasi buku saku sebesar 75,15 dengan standar deviasi sebesar 9,579 dan mengalami peningkatan setelah diberikan edukasi buku saku teknik menyusui menjadi 88,85 dengan standar deviasi sebesar 6,983. Hasil uji statistik menggunakan uji statistik Paired T-test didapatkan nilai p value = 0,000 maka Ha diterima artinya ada Pengaruh Breasfeeding Education Dengan Buku Saku Terhadap Pengetahuan Menyusui Ibu Primipara Di  Puskesmas Perdana  Tahun 2024..Kesimpulan : berdasarkan hasil didapatkan Terdapat Pengaruh Bre asfeeding Education Dengan Buku Saku Terhadap Pengetahuan Menyusui Ibu Primipara Di  Puskesmas Perdana  Tahun 202. saran : kepada pasien/ responden untuk memahami informasi Hasil peneletian ini menunjukkan pengetahuan ibu primipara terhadap pengetahuan ibu menyusui sangatlah penting.
Effects of Alevi-Sunni Marriages on Children’s Religious Education and Family Relations
Authors: Kurttekin Fatma
Published: January 2025

In this study, the views of parents in Alevi-Sunni marriages on the phenomenon of religion and their children’s religious education are examined. While there has been a growing body of research on the role and significance of religion in Alevi-Sunni families, limited attention has been paid to their attitudes towards their children’s religious education, particularly within the context of cross-religious marriages. Based on this, this study aims to fill this research gap by examining the perspectives of parents in Alevi-Sunni marriages on their children’s religious education and family dynamics, using qualitative methods to provide in-depth insights. Ten families living in Sivas, Ankara and Tunceli, who were contacted through snowball and purposive sampling, participated in the study, in which qualitative research techniques were used. The data used in the study were collected through questionnaires and semi-structured interview forms. The data was analzed with the content analysis. It was determined that the Alevi-Sunni difference did not have a significant impact on the participants’ religious attitudes or their children’s religious education. Almost all parents stated that they wanted their children to choose their own path by acquiring experience and knowledge about both religious interpretations/ understandings.

The study identified two primary areas of difficulty in Alevi-Sunni families: familial opposition to the participants' decision to marry and conflicts surrounding the children's religious education. These tensions may stem from societal pressures to conform to sectarian norms and the fear of losing religious identity through cross/mixed (intrafaith) marriages. Such pressures highlight the need for open dialogue and acceptance within families, which many participants reported as key to resolving conflicts. The provision of religious education in the family and the religious identity of children have been discussed in a separate study. Therefore, in this study, participants’ views on “compulsory” religious education activities, which are also a subject of debate in society, were evaluated. In parallel with the findings in the literature, the participants’ opinions were grouped in three categories, namely “abolishing the courses”, “making the courses optional”, and “improving the courses along with preserving their compulsory status”. Following the interviews, it was seen that the participants could have arguments mostly due to external factors, and that their own religious understanding did not have any impact on family life, religious attitudes or child rearing. Attention was drawn to the need for freedom from prejudices, acceptance of the other as he/she is, honesty, trust and a communicative environment of dialogue in order to reduce the tension in these two areas.