Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is among the most common and consequential musculoskeletal conditions globally, with prevalence approximately 12-15% of adults at any given time and lifetime prevalence approaching 80%. The conventional biopsychosocial framework for CLBP recognises the substantial contribution of psychological factors (pain catastrophising, fear-avoidance behaviours, depression) alongside biomechanical and tissue-based contributors. Virtual reality (VR) applications for pain rehabilitation have emerged with multiple proposed mechanisms including attentional modulation of pain perception, graded exposure to feared movements, biofeedback-based motor retraining, and immersive engagement supporting exercise adherence. We undertook a 12-week three-arm cohort study of 246 patients with CLBP comparing VR rehabilitation (n=122), standard physiotherapy (n=72), and education-only intervention (n=52). VR rehabilitation produced substantially superior outcomes: mean pain reduction at 12 weeks 3.4 NRS points (vs 2.0 standard PT and 1.0 education), 64% achieving ≥30% pain reduction (vs 39% and 16%), and superior functional and quality-of-life outcomes. Strongest predictors of success included VR engagement, standard physiotherapy versus education alone, non-specific mechanical CLBP, recent pain onset, and active exercise engagement during VR. Concurrent opioid use, active workers' compensation claims, and high baseline catastrophising were associated with worse outcomes.

Stroke is the second-leading cause of death and a leading cause of acquired disability globally, with disproportionate burden in low- and middle-income countries where it occurs in younger populations and where rehabilitation infrastructure is often substantially limited. Comprehensive rehabilitation requires multidisciplinary teams, equipment, and time-intensive services that are challenging to deliver in resource-constrained settings. We undertook a 6-month three-arm cohort study of 298 stroke patients comparing comprehensive low-resource rehabilitation (n=128), community-based rehabilitation (n=98), and standard care only (n=72). The comprehensive low-resource model used task-specific training, mirror therapy, constraint-induced movement therapy adapted for resource constraints, family caregiver training, and home-based maintenance. At 6 months, mRS 0-2 (good functional outcome) was achieved by 46% of comprehensive rehab patients versus 22% of standard care patients. Mean Barthel index at 6 months was 88, 78, and 62 respectively. Strongest predictors of good outcome included comprehensive rehabilitation model, mild stroke severity, early rehabilitation initiation, age <65, and family caregiver involvement. Severe stroke, haemorrhagic type, persistent dysphagia, and untreated depression predicted worse outcomes. The findings support that meaningful rehabilitation can be delivered even with limited resources through appropriate task-specific training and family engagement.

Vitamin D deficiency is highly prevalent globally and particularly in South Asian populations despite abundant ambient sunlight. Contributing factors include urban indoor lifestyle, cultural clothing patterns, darker skin pigmentation, traditional dietary patterns low in vitamin D, atmospheric pollution affecting UVB transmission, obesity-related sequestration, and limited fortification of common foods. Consequences span musculoskeletal (osteoporosis, falls, fractures, osteomalacia, bone pain), cardiometabolic, immunological, and possibly other domains. We undertook a 24-month prospective cohort study of 412 primary care attendees with structured screening and adherence-based supplementation. Severe deficiency (<10 ng/mL) affected 19.9%, deficiency (10-19.9 ng/mL) 40.8%, insufficiency (20-29.9 ng/mL) 27.2%, with only 11.7% sufficient (≥30 ng/mL) at baseline. A standardised screening and supplementation pathway achieved 87% adequate replenishment (≥30 ng/mL) at 6 months among adherent patients. 24-month fracture-free survival differed substantially by adherence: 91% in high adherence versus 71% in low adherence (deficient subgroup). Strongest predictors of severe deficiency included limited sun exposure, veiled clothing, darker skin, obesity, elderly age, CKD, malabsorption, anticonvulsants/steroids, vegan diet, and lower SES.

Intermittent fasting (IF) eating patterns that involve regular voluntary abstention from food and drink for specified periods has gained substantial popular and research attention as a weight-management and cardiometabolic intervention. Multiple protocol variants exist including time-restricted eating (TRE; daily eating window of 8-10 hours), modified fasting (5:2 or alternate-day patterns), and religious/cultural variants (Ramadan-style fasting). We undertook a 24-week prospective cohort study of 312 adults engaging in structured intermittent fasting under clinical supervision. Protocol distribution was 45.5% time-restricted 16:8, 18.6% 14:10 modified TRE, 19.9% 5:2 modified fasting, 10.3% alternate-day modified fasting, and 5.8% Ramadan-style religious fasting. Mean 24-week weight loss across the cohort was 4.8 kg (range -16 to +6 kg) with 62% achieving ≥5% weight loss. Metabolic markers improved substantially: mean HbA1c reduced from 7.4% to 6.0% in the T2DM subgroup, mean systolic BP reduced 12 mmHg, mean LDL reduced 22 mg/dL. Strongest predictors of successful weight loss included ≥80% protocol adherence, baseline obesity, time-restricted eating protocol, concurrent dietary quality improvement, physical activity, and family support. Disordered eating history, shift work, and multiple psychotropic medications were associated with worse outcomes.

Malaria remains an important public-health problem in Nigeria, and understanding its temporal and seasonal distribution is essential for targeted prevention and service planning. This study examined quarterly malaria incidence recorded at Specialist Hospital Bauchi over ten years (2016–2025). A retrospective longitudinal design was used with secondary hospital records comprising 40 quarterly observations. Descriptive statistics, graphical temporal-trend analysis, regression analysis, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Tukey’s honestly significant difference (HSD) procedure were applied. The quarterly means were 179.5 cases for Q1, 224.5 for Q2, 216.1 for Q3, and 174.4 for Q4, indicating that Q2 had the highest average burden and Q4 the lowest. Marked inter-annual fluctuations were observed in Q1 and Q3, whereas Q2 remained comparatively high and stable. The ANOVA showed statistically significant differences in mean malaria incidence among quarters, F(3,35)=12.45, p<0.001. Tukey HSD indicated significantly higher incidence in Q2 than Q1 (mean difference=45.2, p=0.002) and in Q3 than Q1 (38.1, p=0.008), while Q4 was significantly lower than Q2 and Q3 (p<0.001 and p=0.001, respectively). The regression analysis reported in the source project explained 74.1% of variation in the temporal outcome (R²=0.741), but the overall model was not statistically significant at the 5% level, F(4,5)=3.58, p=0.097. The findings demonstrate a pronounced seasonal pattern, with the greatest malaria burden occurring in Q2 and Q3. Malaria-control activities, surveillance, and resource allocation should therefore be intensified before and during these high-risk periods.

This study investigated work-life balance as a correlate of marital satisfaction of married teachers in Delta State. Three research questions and one null hypothesis guided the study. The study adopted a correlational research design. The population consisted of 8,526 married teachers in public secondary schools across the 25 Local Government Areas in Delta State. The sample size for this study comprised 879 married teachers. A multistage sampling method was used in the selection of participants. The instrument that was used to collect data in this study is a questionnaire. The face validity of the instrument was estimated by researcher’s supervisors and two other experts. The content and construct validities were estimated through factor analysis of the Principal Component Analysis method. Cronbach alpha reliability index was used to determine the internal consistency of the items in the instrument. The data were analysed using mean, standard deviation, Pearson’s coefficient of determination and Regression statistics. The hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that married teachers in Delta State generally experience a low level of work–life balance and marital satisfaction. The finding also revealed that there is a significant relationship between Work-life balance and marital satisfaction of married teachers in Delta State. The study recommended amongst others, that school administrators and the Delta State Ministry of Education should implement family-friendly workplace policies.

Production planning and control (PPC) is a critical managerial function in the electrical industry because production decisions must respond to changing customer requirements while maintaining appropriate capacity, resources, inventory, cost and delivery performance. This empirical study examines demand forecasting, production scheduling, bottleneck identification, technology use and operational improvement in the electrical industry in Madhya Pradesh. The analysis is based on survey data from 500 respondents contained in the study dataset. Descriptive statistics and factor-analysis results are used to identify the dominant practices and improvement priorities. The findings show that customer demand is the leading influence on production scheduling and control (70.6%), while demand variability is the most frequently identified factor affecting PPC (43.0%). Market research and analysis is the dominant forecasting practice (52.6%), followed by collaboration with suppliers and customers (39.4%). Process mapping and analysis is the most commonly reported method for identifying bottlenecks (43.2%). The dataset further indicates substantial scope for technology-enabled forecasting and PPC improvement. PPC software is used by 57.8% of respondents, whereas demand-forecasting software is reported by only 2.2%. Adoption of new technologies is the leading recommendation for improving PPC (63.4%). The findings suggest that electrical manufacturers can strengthen operational responsiveness by integrating demand information, forecasting, capacity planning, process analysis and digital PPC tools.

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has emerged as a significant component of India's digital payment ecosystem and has transformed the way consumers, businesses and financial institutions conduct transactions. The present study examines the impact of UPI transactions on the Indian economy with special reference to Karnataka. The study analyses the growth and trends of UPI transactions during the period 2021–22 to 2025–26 and examines their contribution to financial inclusion, economic development, consumer transactions and business activities. The study is based primarily on secondary data collected from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), Government of India and other reliable sources. Descriptive and analytical techniques such as percentage analysis, growth rate, trend analysis and appropriate statistical tools are used to examine the data. The findings indicate that UPI transactions have increased significantly in both volume and value, demonstrating the growing adoption of digital payments across India. The expansion of UPI has improved transaction efficiency, reduced dependence on cash, supported financial inclusion and created opportunities for MSMEs and small businesses. Karnataka, with its strong digital infrastructure, banking network, technology sector and entrepreneurial ecosystem, has significant potential to benefit from the continued growth of UPI. However, challenges such as cyber fraud, digital illiteracy, connectivity issues, transaction failures and privacy concerns remain significant. The study concludes that UPI has evolved beyond a payment mechanism into an important component of India's digital economic infrastructure. Strengthening cybersecurity, digital literacy, infrastructure and inclusive payment services will be essential for maximising the economic benefits of UPI in India, particularly in Karnataka.

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as lindane continue to pose significant ecological threats because of their persistence, bioaccumulation potential, and toxicity to aquatic organisms. This study investigated the effects of lindane on antioxidant enzyme activities in Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia). Seventy-five juvenile fish were exposed to different concentrations of lindane selected following a preliminary range-finding test. Acute toxicity tests were conducted to determine the 96-h median lethal concentration (LC₅₀), while separate groups were exposed to sublethal concentrations for 28 days to evaluate chronic oxidative stress responses. The activities of glutathione S-transferase (GST), quinone reductase (QR), peroxiredoxin (Prx), thioredoxin (Trx), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and glutathione reductase (GR) were determined using standard spectrophotometric methods. Results showed a concentration-dependent decline in the activities of all antioxidant enzymes following lindane exposure. GST activity decreased from 5.20 U in the control group to 4.20 U at the highest sublethal concentration (30% LC₅₀). Similar reductions were observed in QR, Prx, Trx, MPO, and GR activities, indicating progressive impairment of the antioxidant defence system with increasing lindane concentration.The observed inhibition of antioxidant enzymes demonstrates that lindane induces oxidative stress, weakens cellular detoxification mechanisms, and compromises immune function in O. niloticus. These findings highlight the toxicological consequences of lindane contamination in aquatic environments and support the use of antioxidant enzymes as sensitive biomarkers for monitoring pesticide-induced oxidative stress in fish. The study underscores the need for continuous environmental monitoring, stricter regulation of persistent organic pollutants, and effective pollution control measures to safeguard aquatic ecosystems. Further investigations should focus on the molecular mechanisms underlying lindane-induced oxidative stress and its long-term ecological consequences, including interactions with other environmental stressors.

This study examines customer and retailer perceptions towards selected Amul dairy products and identifies the major factors influencing customer purchase decisions and retailer preference. The study uses a descriptive research design and combines primary survey data with secondary sources. The final analysis reported in the project covers 159 customer respondents and 50 retailer respondents. Customer perception was measured across product quality, product availability, price, taste and brand image, while retailer perception was examined through product quality, product availability, retailer satisfaction, profit margin and service quality. Customer responses were measured through a five-point Likert scale. The customer questionnaire demonstrated good internal consistency, with Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.786. The data were non-normal; therefore, non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis tests were used for group comparisons. Customer perception was strongly positive, with an overall mean of 4.4447, while retailer perception was also positive, with an overall mean of 4.2760. Product quality, taste, price, availability and brand image were important contributors to customer purchase decisions. Retailers highlighted product quality, brand reputation, consumer demand, distribution support and profit margin as important considerations. Significant differences were observed in selected customer groups for availability, price and overall perception, while retailer differences were particularly associated with profit margin across outlet type and business ownership. The study concludes that Amul should preserve its strong quality and brand position while strengthening supply reliability, retailer profitability, promotional support, customer feedback systems and product innovation.

The 1947 Partition of British India was one of the largest forced migrations in human history, with an estimated 15-20 million people displaced along newly constituted national borders. Despite the fact that there is a wide body of literature available on the political aspects of Partition and the experiences of the elites, subaltern refugees—agricultural labourers, small and marginal farmers, artisans and marginalised castes—are underrepresented in academia. In the following sections, the paper directly engages with the lived experiences of the subaltern refugees during the critical years (1946-1952) by looking at experiences of displacement, relief camp life, and the early stages of rehabilitation. Conducted through archival methods across five Indian states, this paper interprets how subaltern groups accessed and negotiated preservation of cultural practices, social networks, economic practices, and relief systems that had been largely designed by and for the elite. The study shows that subaltern refugees forged alternative paths of survival and resistance, that resist dominant tales of passive victimhood to offer up instead multilayered processes of negotiation between sacrifice and agency in their path to rehabilitation and social inclusion. Results show that 78% of agricultural communities got land allocations, 67% of the artisan communities continue traditional trades, and less than 35% had good relief camp conditions. The study helps fill the gap about how societies were (re-)shaping their indigenous cultures while adapting to new geographical and political constructs, and provides material to inform modern-day forced migration studies and refugee policy practice.

Primary liver cancer, predominantly Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) and Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Accurate clinical management relies heavily on precise 3D volumetric lesion segmentation and non-invasive radiogenomic subtyping from multi-modal abdominal Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans. However, current Deep Learning (DL) architectures encounter severe limitations due to extreme intra-tumoral heterogeneity, highly irregular lesion morphology, ill-defined boundaries, and severe class imbalance. To resolve these challenges, this paper presents a novel, innovative hybrid architecture termed D-LKA-UNETR++ (Deformable Large Kernel Attention UNETR++). Our proposed model integrates three core algorithmic innovations: (1) a Deformable Large Kernel Attention (D-LKA) encoder mechanism that expands receptive fields while dynamically adapting to complex spatial lesion boundaries; (2) a Bottleneck Gradient-Enhanced Context Extraction (G-CE) module that preserves structural multi-frequency features and prevents loss of spatial gradients; and (3) a Dual-Cross Attention (DCA) feature fusion decoder that mitigates semantic gaps between encoder features and upsampled representations. Benchmarking across public clinical repositories including the LiTS benchmark dataset, 3D-IRCADb01, and MSD Task08 demonstrates that D-LKA-UNETR++ achieves state-of-the-art segmentation fidelity, yielding a Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) of 0.912 ± 0.018 for tumor lesions and 0.978 ± 0.005 for organ parenchyma. Furthermore, integrating multi-phase radiomic feature extraction with deep bottleneck embeddings enables zero-shot classification between HCC, ICC, and benign hemangioma lesions with an AUC of 0.964. Extensive validation confirms superior generalization across diverse scanner protocols, rendering D-LKA-UNETR++ a clinically viable framework for real-world automated oncological diagnostics.

Road accessibility is a fundamental component of regional development, influencing economic growth, accessibility to healthcare, educational opportunities, and the efficient delivery of public services. This study investigates the spatial distribution of road accessibility across the 13 administrative blocks of Madurai District, Tamil Nadu, using Geographic Information System (GIS)-based buffer analysis and Nearest Neighbour Distance (NND) statistics. Road network datasets comprising National Highways, State Highways, Major District Roads, and village roads were digitized and integrated into a GIS environment to classify accessibility into three categories: high (<1 km), moderate (1–2 km), and low (>2 km). The analysis produced an observed mean nearest neighbour distance of 6.98 km and an expected mean distance of 8.44 km, producing an NNI value of 0.83 with a Z-score of approximately −3.47. These results indicate a statistically significant clustered distribution of road accessibility concentrated around the urban core of Madurai. The findings demonstrate substantial spatial disparities in transportation infrastructure between urban and rural areas of the district. The study provides valuable evidence for prioritizing rural road development, improving emergency healthcare accessibility, strengthening transportation connectivity, and promoting balanced regional development. The integration of GIS spatial analysis with Nearest Neighbour statistics offers an effective framework for infrastructure planning and sustainable transportation management.

This study was aimed at evaluating the physicochemical and divalent minerals quality of the surface and groundwater in Ogbele community in Ahoada East Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria, following the upsurge in oil and gas industrial activities in the area. Water samples were collected from five different locations along the Sombreiro River (surface water) as well as five dugout wells and boreholes (groundwater) in selected locations in the community and analyzed for physicochemical properties and divalent minerals using standard APHA methods and AAS respectively. Results for physicochemical parameters of the surface water showed pH (7.20±0.05), Turbidity (5.41±0.03 NTU), Nitrates (0.26±0.01 mg/L), Chlorides (15.80±0.05 mg/L), BOD (2.43±0.03 mg/L), COD (48.00±0.20 mg/L), Magnesium (0.443 ± 0.002 mg/L) and Calcium (39.93 ± 0.03 mg/L). In dugout well water pH was 7.32±0.02, Turbidity 8.79±0.04 NTU, Nitrates 0.22±0.01 mg/L, Chlorides 10.80±0.05 mg/L, BOD 6.49±0.03 mg/L, COD 16.00±0.10 mg/L, Magnesium 0.483 ± 0.002 mg/L and Calcium 6.14 ± 0.04 mg/L. Borehole water pH was 7.58±0.02, Turbidity 1.72±0.02 NTU, Nitrates 0.39±0.01 mg/L, Chlorides 15.80±0.05 mg/L, BOD 3.24±0.04 mg/L, COD 16.00±0.20 mg/L, Magnesium 0.413 ± 0.002 mg/L and Calcium 3.07 ± 0.02 mg/L. This study concludes that while most water quality parameters in Ogbele Community are below the maximum allowable limits (MAL) set by WHO, NESREA and NSDWQ regulatory standards, levels of turbidity (for surface and dugout well samples), BOD (for dugout well sample) and COD (for all the water samples) exceeded the regulatory limits. Therefore, there is need for intervention and continuous monitoring of the water quality to prevent potential health risks associated with increase in non-biodegradable compounds in the various water sources.

This study was aimed at assessing heavy metal and microbial contamination in the water sources available to inhabitants of Ogbele community in Ahoada East Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria, following the upsurge in industrial activities in the area. Water samples were collected from five different locations along the Sombreiro River (surface water) as well as five dugout wells and boreholes (groundwater) in selected locations in the community and analyzed. Heavy metal content of the water was analyzed using AAS (GBC XplorrAA model) and microbial load was analyzed using standard APHA methods. Results of heavy metal content in the surface water showed Lead (Pb) 1.81±0.01 mg/L, Chromium (Cr) 0.003±0.0001 mg/L, Cadmium (Cd) 0.004±0.0001 mg/L and Nickel (Ni) 0.374±0.002 mg/L. Concentration of Pb, Cr, Cd and Ni in the dugout well water was 2.10±0.01 mg/L, 0.010±0.0001 mg/L, 0.297±0.008 mg/L and 0.237±0.002 mg/L respectively. The borehole water had Pb (1.88±0.01 mg/L), Cr (0.003±0.0001 mg/L), Cd (0.004±0.0001 mg/L) and Ni (0.546±0.002 mg/L). The levels of Pb, Cd and Ni in all the water samples were above the regulatory limits of 0.01 mg/L, 0.003 mg/L and 0.02 mg/L respectively. Results of microbial load indicated negligible presence of Faecal Coliform Bacteria (FCB) and Total Coliform Bacteria (TCB) in the surface, dugout well and borehole water. However, the Total Heterotrophic Bacteria (THB) count in surface water was 140.0 CFU/mL and 440.0 CFU/mL in dugout well water. This study concludes that sources of water in Ogbele community contain levels of Pb, Cd and Ni which exceed the regulatory limits set by WHO, NESREA and NSDWQ. Therefore, there is need for decontamination and continuous monitoring of the water quality to prevent potential toxicity associated with heavy metal and microbial contamination of the water resources.

Indigenous medicinal knowledge has remained an integral component of healthcare practices among tribal and rural populations residing in forest habitats.[1] The Kalsubai Harishchandragad Wildlife Sanctuary is enriched with diverse medicinal flora and traditional ethnomedicinal practices preserved by tribal healers and local Gunijans.[2] The present pilot study was conducted to document medicinal plants and their traditional therapeutic applications in Ratangad and nearby forest regions of Kalsubai Harishchandragad Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra. A pilot ethnomedicinal field survey was carried out from August 2025 to April 2026 in Ratangad and adjoining areas covering nearly 25 km forest region. Data were collected through repeated field visits and interviews with 10 local Gunijans and traditional healers. Information regarding vernacular names of plants, plant parts utilized, therapeutic indications and methods of administration were systematically recorded. Photographic documentation and field observations were also maintained during the survey period.Various medicinal plant species belonging to different botanical families were identified and documented during the study. These plants were traditionally employed in the management of fever, respiratory disorders, skin ailments, digestive disturbances, wounds and musculoskeletal conditions. Decoction, paste, powder and fresh juice were among the commonly practiced dosage forms.The present pilot survey revealed rich ethnomedicinal knowledge among tribal inhabitants of Ratangad and surrounding forest areas. Proper documentation of medicinal flora and traditional therapeutic practices may contribute towards conservation of indigenous knowledge and encourage future scientific exploration.

This study investigated consensus moderation, grade distribution consideration, and script allocation practices for quality assurance in public universities in the South-|East geopolitical zone of Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population comprised 7,360 academic staff from the fourteen public universities in the South-East geopolitical zone of Nigeria, while a sample of 736 academic staff was selected from seven universities using the stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected using a researcher-developed instrument titled: Consensus Moderation, Grade Distribution Consideration, and Script Allocation Practices for Quality Assurance Questionnaire (CMGDCSAPQAQ), which was validated by experts and yielded a Cronbach's alpha reliability coefficient of 0.85. Of the questionnaires administered, 678 valid copies were retrieved and analysed using mean and standard deviation to answer the research questions, while the z-test was used to test the null hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that consensus moderation, consideration of grade distribution, and script allocation significantly promote quality assurance by enhancing fairness, consistency, transparency, objectivity, and academic integrity in assessment practices. The study concluded that effective implementation of these moderation practices strengthens academic standards and institutional credibility. It was recommended that universities institutionalise regular consensus moderation, periodically review grade distributions, and adopt transparent, technology-supported script allocation systems to sustain quality assurance in public universities.

Parents play an important role in the life of their children. It is believed that a child’s first school is their home and that their first teachers are their parents. However, becoming the best parent does not happen overnight and such life management can be extra challenging especially for parents of exceptional children. This study was done to describe the experiences, describe the life management strategies of parents with exceptional children and develop a short course program to enhance the lives of parents with exceptional children. The research utilized purposive sampling and was participated by seven participants based on the following criteria: participant must be a working parent, a bonafide resident of Batangas province and have atleast one child diagnosed with any type of disability. Also, the exceptional child must be enrolled in class attending interventions or therapies. Further, the study used the descriptive phenomenological research design. Findings revealed that the experiences of parents with exceptional needs were being filled with negative emotions, needing personal adjustments, negative social response, constant worrying, emotional dysregulation, celebrating every milestone, embracing exceptionality, supporting child, providing continuous nurturance and allowing child to live normally. Also, their life management strategies were practical preparation, support system, religious coping and positive outlook.

This study assessed the availability and utilization of mechatronic facilities for teaching and learning automobile technology in government technical colleges in Nigeria. Three research questions and three hypotheses guided the study. A descriptive survey design was adopted across the six geo-political zones. The population comprised automobile technology teachers and workshop instructors in federal and state government technical colleges. A sample of 420 respondents was drawn through multistage sampling. Data were collected with a structured, validated questionnaire on a four-point scale, with a reliability coefficient of 0.91. Research questions were answered with means and standard deviations against a criterion mean of 2.50, and hypotheses were tested with the independent-samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) at the 0.05 level of significance. Findings showed that most modern mechatronic facilities were available only to a low extent, that utilization was consistently lower than availability across every facility category, and that the widest gaps occurred for emerging high-voltage and electric-vehicle trainers. The t-test showed no significant difference between teachers and workshop instructors in their ratings, while ANOVA revealed a significant difference in utilization across geo-political zones. The study recommends that government adequately equip technical-college mechatronic workshops, retrain teachers on modern automotive diagnostic systems, and address the inter-zonal disparities that constrain practical instruction.

This study investigated the Garri Production and its Socio-Economic Impact on the Development Of Okpameri Communities in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. The research was guided by four specific objectives: to examine the effect of garri production on household income, highlight the factors influencing its occupational adoption, investigate the production processes involved, and analyze its overall impact on community development. Adopting a descriptive qualitative and empirical survey research design, the study purposively sampled 150 active garri processors across five major processing hub communities: Ibilo, Ogugu, Iki-ran, Imoga, and Ekpe. Data were collected through face-to-face oral interviews, on-site observations of processing workflows, a structural field questionnaire, and an extensive review of relevant secondary literature on women’s agricultural involvement. The empirical findings revealed that garri production serves as a critical economic anchor, constituting the primary source of livelihood for 82.67% of the respondents, with a significant average monthly net income of ₦79,673.57. Socio-cultural generational legacy (38.67%) and the abundance of local raw cassava roots (30.67%) were identified as the primary drivers of occupational adoption, proving that the trade heavily drives female financial autonomy. The study concluded that garri production is a highly viable commercial engine bottlenecked primarily by primitive infrastructure and physical health risks. Based on these outcomes, it is recommended that the Ministry of Agriculture introduces affordable automated rotary dryers and mechanical peelers to increase safety and daily output.

Background: Ageing is a continuous and irreversible process characterised by a decline in the functional capacity of an individual resulting from structural changes with the advancement of age. With the disintegration of the traditional joint family system, migration of the younger generation, and increasing economic dependence, old age homes have emerged as a credible alternative accommodation for the elderly in India. Quality of Life (QOL) is defined by the World Health Organization as an individual’s perception of their position in life within the context of the culture and value systems in which they live, and in relation to their goals, expectations, standards, and concerns. Assessing the quality of life of elderly individuals under institutional care is essential, as they are often deprived of person-centred attention available to those living with family.
Objective: To assess the quality of life of elderly individuals residing in old age homes in Udaipur.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 50 elderly individuals aged above 60 years residing in old age homes in Udaipur, selected using a random sampling technique. The Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) was used as a screening tool, and participants scoring 20 or above were included. Quality of life was assessed using the Older People’s Quality of Life Questionnaire (OPQOL-35). Descriptive statistics, including mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percentage, were computed using statistical software.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 75.72 years, with an equal distribution of 25 males and 25 females. The mean OPQOL-35 score was 117.72 with a standard deviation of 14.32. On categorisation of the OPQOL-35 outcome, none of the participants fell into the “worst quality of life” or “good quality of life” categories, while all 50 participants (100%) fell into the “follow-up needed” category, indicating a consistent degradation of quality of life across the sample.
Conclusion: The findings indicate a significant degradation of quality of life among elderly individuals residing in old age homes in Udaipur, with all participants requiring regular follow-up. The absence of a caregiver at home was the most important reason cited for institutional residence. The alternative hypothesis is therefore accepted and the null hypothesis rejected. The results highlight the need for structured geriatric rehabilitation, person-centred care, and periodic quality of life assessment within institutional settings.

This study re-examines the relationship between Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) and organizational commitment among academic and senior non-academic staff in Nigerian public universities. Motivated by the intensifying pressures of global competition, institutional reform, and rising expectations for educational quality, the study investigated how five SHRM dimensions: recruitment and selection, training and development, performance management, compensation and rewards, and employee participation relate to staff commitment. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used, drawing 350 academic and senior non-academic staff from Nigerian public universities through a multistage sampling procedure. Data were gathered with a structured, expert-validated instrument (the Strategic Human Resource Management and Organizational Commitment Questionnaire, SHRMOCQ), whose internal consistency was confirmed through Cronbach's Alpha. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression were used to analyze the data at the 0.05 significance level. Respondents rated both SHRM implementation (grand mean = 3.89, SD = 0.61) and organizational commitment (grand mean = 3.95, SD = 0.58) as high. All SHRM dimensions correlated positively and significantly with commitment, with training and development and employee participation standing out as the strongest predictors; together the SHRM dimensions explained just over half of the variance in commitment, supporting rejection of the null hypotheses. The study concludes that strengthening strategic HR systems is a practical lever for building a more committed university workforce in Nigeria and recommends sustained investment in staff development, transparent recruitment and appraisal systems, equitable rewards, and participatory governance.

Education is one of the most significant instruments for individual development, social transformation, economic progress, and national development. In the twenty-first century, higher education has acquired a broader role than the traditional transmission of knowledge. Universities and colleges are increasingly expected to develop critical thinking, creativity, communication abilities, digital competence, ethical awareness, employability skills, research capacity, and social responsibility among learners. The rapid growth of technology, globalization, changing employment patterns, environmental challenges, and emerging social issues has transformed the expectations placed upon higher education institutions. Education at the higher level therefore needs to become learner-centred, inclusive, flexible, innovative, and connected with real-life needs. This paper examines the role of education in higher education with particular emphasis on learning, knowledge creation, skill development, personality development, research, technological advancement, social development, employability, citizenship, and lifelong learning. The paper also discusses major challenges affecting the effectiveness of higher education and highlights the importance of quality, equity, digital transformation, teacher development, interdisciplinary learning, and value-based education. The study adopts a theoretical and descriptive approach based on the analysis of relevant educational literature, policy documents, and scholarly perspectives. It concludes that higher education can contribute substantially to sustainable individual and social development when it combines academic knowledge with practical skills, ethical values, innovation, research, and social responsibility.

This study examined the efficacy of co-adopting the Yoruba language with foreign-language concepts, particularly English and French, in teaching complex scientific concepts to secondary school students in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. The study was motivated by the observation that language barriers and unfamiliar scientific terminologies may contribute to students' difficulties in understanding and applying complex scientific concepts. The study specifically examined the factors responsible for low academic performance in science, compared the academic performance of students taught using English/French with those taught using Yoruba, and investigated differences in knowledge retention and conceptual application between the instructional approaches. The study adopted a pre-test and post-test research design. A total of sixty (60) final-year science students were selected from four secondary schools, with fifteen (15) students selected from each school. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on factors affecting students' academic performance, while achievement and retention tests were used to assess students' understanding, knowledge retention and conceptual application of a selected topic in a science subject. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean scores and comparative analysis. The findings indicated that language difficulty, unfamiliar scientific terminology, inadequate practical activities, insufficient instructional materials and limited laboratory facilities were among the factors associated with students' low academic performance. The study recommends that science teachers should strategically integrate Yoruba explanations with standard scientific vocabulary, while educational policymakers and curriculum developers should consider appropriate multilingual approaches in science education. Such an approach could enhance students' comprehension, participation, academic performance, knowledge retention and application of scientific concepts.

This paper investigates the financial impact of mandatory Environmental, Social, and
Governance (ESG) disclosures on firm value among companies listed on the Malawi Stock Exchange (MSE). The study employed the quantitative research design and utilized content analysis and panel data regression to measures the correlation between ESG compliance scores and corporate valuation indicators, specifically Tobin’s Q and Market-to-Book (MTB) ratios. Grounded in signaling theory, the research evaluates whether transparent sustainability practices, aligned with Malawi Vision 2063 (MW2063), enhance market confidence and therefore affect the firm value. Preliminary findings suggest that while financial performance remains a primary driver, ESG disclosure quality acts as an emerging determinant of long-term value creation. The study provides empirical evidence to support regulators and corporate boards in strengthening disclosure policies.

Begum Samru (c. 1753–1836), born as Farzana, stands as one of the most remarkable and unconventional figures in late Mughal India. Rising from humble and contested origins, often described as a nautch girl (dancing girl) or courtesan in Delhi’s kothas, she transformed into a formidable military commander, astute political operator, and autonomous ruler of the principality of Sardhana about 58 years. Following the death of her companion, the Austrian mercenary Walter Reinhardt Sombre (Samru), in 1778, she inherited and successfully consolidated control over his jagir, commanding a disciplined mercenary army of approximately 3,000–4,000 troops that included European officers. This paper examines how Begum Samru defied the rigid gender norms, social hierarchies, and political instabilities of 18th- and early 19th-century India. Amid the decline of the Mughal Empire, European colonial incursions, and regional power struggles, she navigated alliances with Mughal emperors such as Shah Alam II, led military campaigns, and expanded her territory and wealth. Her 1781 conversion to Roman Catholicism, adopting the name Joanna Nobilis, further distinguished her as the only Catholic ruler in northern India while she continued to embody Mughal courtly traditions, holding darbar in male attire, smoking the hookah, and projecting sovereign authority. Drawing on historical records, contemporary accounts, paintings, and architectural legacies (including the Basilica of Our Lady of Graces at Sardhana), this research analyzes Begum Samru’s strategies of self-representation, identity negotiation, and power consolidation. It argues that her life challenges conventional narratives of women’s roles in pre-colonial and early colonial India, illustrating themes of agency, adaptation, and resilience. By defying expectations of her age- as a woman, a former courtesan, and a non-aristocrat—she carved a unique space as a power broker whose influence extended across Mughal, regional, and emerging British spheres until her death in 1836, leaving behind one of the largest fortunes of her time.

In India not only is there a large gap between Demand and supply of electricity but also almost 60,000 villages are un-electrified. To overcome this problem solar energy is the best option with effective control schemes either on load side or source side. This work is carried out to demonstrate fuzzy-logic as a effective tool for output control of standalone PV system where there is no alternative source of power to maintain reliability of the system, Optimal control strategy for a grid independent photo-voltaic system consisting of a PV collector array, a storage battery, and loads (critical and noncritical loads) is designed and validated using Fuzzy-logic.

Access to equity finance remains a critically important yet persistently underutilized pathway for growth among Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in India, notwithstanding the sector's considerable contribution to national economic output, employment generation, and export earnings. With over 6.5 crore registered MSMEs collectively contributing approximately 30% of India's GDP, employing 28 crore persons, and accounting for over 45% of merchandise exports (MoMSME, 2023–24; SIDBI, 2025), the structural underdevelopment of equity finance channels for this sector represents a significant policy concern. This study examines the regulatory architecture, eligibility criteria, listing procedures, and market performance of the BSE-SME platform a dedicated equity capital market segment established in March 2012 under Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) oversight. Employing a descriptive research design grounded in secondary data from BSE-SME platform records, MSME Annual Reports (2020–21 to 2023–24), Reserve Bank of India publications, and peer-reviewed academic literature, the study undertakes a longitudinal analysis of platform performance between 2021 and 2026. Findings indicate substantial absolute growth: total companies listed increased from 338 to 728; market capitalization expanded from ₹26,032 crore to ₹2,09,912 crore; and total capital raised grew from ₹3,492 crore to ₹15,961 crore. However, with only 527 companies actively listed as of June 2026, the platform remains accessible to a negligibly small fraction of India's 4.5 crore Udyam-registered enterprises, revealing a vast structural gap attributable to informational asymmetry, regulatory preparedness deficits, compliance apprehensions, and inadequate institutional outreach. The study concludes with evidence-based policy recommendations including targeted awareness programs, capacity-building initiatives for SME promoters, and integration with complementary government financing schemes such as CGTMSE and PMEGP.

Background: Traditional homoeopathic anatomy examinations often suffer from subjective paper setting, resulting in disproportionate weightage given to topics and lower content validity.
Objectives: To develop, validate, and implement a standardized assessment blueprint for the First-BHMS Human Anatomy curriculum to ensure proportional syllabus coverage and enhanced content validity.
Methods: A mixed-methods study conducted over one academic year. A panel of subject matter experts (SMEs) calculated weightage for topics based on instructional hours and clinical relevance (using the National Commission for Homoeopathy First BHMS Syllabus). A prospective blueprint matrix was mapped against cognitive domains (Knowledge, Comprehension, Application). Content Validity Ratio (CVR) and Content Validity Index (CVI) were calculated. Post-examination feedback was gathered from faculty and students.
Results: The developed blueprint achieved high social validation, with an overall Item-CVI of (>0.85). Blueprint-aligned question papers demonstrated significantly better distribution across regions (e.g., Head & Neck, Thorax, Extremities) and cognitive domains compared to past non-blueprinted papers (p < 0.05). Student satisfaction regarding exam fairness rose markedly.
Conclusion: Educational blueprinting is an effective tool to eliminate examiner bias, ensure uniform syllabus distribution, and fortify the content validity of summative anatomy examinations in homoeopathic education.

It has been a problem for a long time to create electronic voting (e-voting) system which meets the legal demands of politicians. Digital currency technologies have become an exciting development of technology in the field of information technology. Blockchain systems deliver an infinite variety of sharing economic applications. The purpose of this paper is to assess the use of blockchain as a tool for the implementation of decentralized e-voting system. This paper outlines criteria for creation e-voting system and the ethical and technical constraints that blockchain can be used as a tool for implementing those systems. The paper begins with an overview of several of the common blockchain system that blockchain provides as a software. I also suggest a new, blockchain-based e-voting method addressing all the constraints we have found. More broadly this paper assesses the ability of decentralized ledger technology by discussing a case study, i.e. the voting system and applying a blockchain-based framework that enhances safety which reduces costs of organizing a national election.

Small-scale agribusiness enterprises play a significant role in promoting employment, food security, poverty reduction, and economic development in Malawi. Despite their contribution to national development, many of these enterprises continue to experience financial constraints that limit investment and business expansion. Microfinance institutions (MFIs) have emerged as important providers of financial services by extending credit to entrepreneurs who are often excluded from conventional banking systems. However, empirical evidence regarding the extent to which access to microfinance loans influences investment decisions among urban agribusiness enterprises remains limited.
This study examined the influence of access to microfinance institution loans on investment expansion among small-scale agribusiness enterprises operating in Area 25, Lilongwe City. A quantitative cross-sectional research design was employed, and primary data were collected from 40 respondents using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistical techniques, including frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, were used to analyse the data.
The findings indicate that access to microfinance loans positively influences investment in productive assets, working capital, inventory expansion, market development, and business diversification. Respondents strongly agreed that microfinance loans facilitate enterprise expansion, with an overall mean score of 4.16, suggesting that improved financial access contributes significantly to business growth. The study concludes that microfinance institutions remain an important source of investment capital for small-scale agribusiness enterprises and recommends that policymakers and microfinance providers strengthen financial inclusion strategies through affordable loan products, flexible repayment schedules, and complementary business development services.

Informal street vending is a prominent feature of urban economies in Sub-Saharan Africa, providing essential livelihoods while presenting significant challenges to urban governance and market management. This study examined the effects of informal street vending on market organization in Lilongwe City Market (Lizulu), Malawi. Adopting a descriptive cross-sectional quantitative design, primary data were collected from 60 key market stakeholders—including informal vendors, formal traders, market committee members, and city council officials—using structured questionnaires. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression. Findings reveal that formal unemployment, household poverty, and rural-urban migration are the primary drivers of informal vending. Concurrently, informal vending significantly contributes to aisle congestion, waste accumulation, and unfair competition for tax-paying formal traders. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that socio-economic growth factors (β= 0.468, p < 0.001) and regulatory capacity constraints (β= 0.325, p = 0.001) jointly explain 51.0\% of the variance in market organization disruption (R = 0.510, F = 29.663, p < 0.001). The study concludes that eviction-driven approaches are ineffective in isolation. It recommends upgrading market infrastructure, implementing participatory governance, simplifying micro-enterprise licensing, and establishing designated vending zones to harmonize informal livelihoods with orderly urban management.

This study assessed the impact of village savings groups on women's decision-making power process in Chimutu community. Village savings groups were widely recognized as an effective strategy for improving financial inclusion, increasing household income, and promoting women's economic empowerment. The study assessed how participation in these groups influences women's ability to make decisions regarding household finances, children's education, healthcare, business investments, and other family matters. A qualitative, approach was used to collect data from women participating in village savings groups through questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions. The findings showed that participation in village savings groups enhances women's access to financial resources, increases their confidence and economic independence, and strengthens their role in household and community decision-making. However, the study also identified challenges such as age difference, limited financial literacy, and education back ground that continue to affect women's empowerment. The research concludes by recommending policies and interventions that strengthen village savings initiatives and promote gender equality to improve women's participation in decision-making processes and sustainable community development.

Speech and language disorders constitute a significant public health and educational concern, particularly in developing countries where access to specialized speech-language therapy services remains limited. This study investigated communication disorders among selected Nigerian speakers from a clinical linguistic perspective, with the aim of identifying the linguistic characteristics, neurological correlates, and social implications of speech and language impairments while proposing context-appropriate therapeutic interventions. A descriptive observational design was adopted involving 40 purposively selected participants with clinically diagnosed or observable communication disorders from hospitals, rehabilitation centres, and educational institutions in Gusau and Talata Mafara, Zamfara State, Nigeria. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, clinical observations, digital speech recordings, and acoustic analyses using Praat software. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, while phonetic, phonological, syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic analyses were employed to characterize language impairments. Phonological and articulatory disorders were the most prevalent (35%), followed by fluency disorders (20%), aphasia (17.5%), dysarthria (15%), apraxia of speech (7.5%), and mixed language disorders (5%). Acoustic analysis revealed abnormal speech parameters, including elevated fundamental frequency, reduced speech intensity, prolonged speech duration, increased pause duration, and unstable formant patterns. Stroke, developmental neurological disorders, traumatic brain injury, hearing impairment, and oro-motor dysfunction were identified as major underlying causes. The disorders significantly affected participants' academic achievement, employment performance, social interaction, and psychological well-being. The findings demonstrate the value of integrating clinical linguistics with speech-language pathology to enhance diagnostic accuracy and rehabilitation outcomes. The study recommends strengthening speech-language therapy services, expanding specialist training programmes, and integrating early screening and intervention into Nigeria's healthcare and educational systems to improve communication outcomes and quality of life for affected individuals.

Fermented millet pap (akamu) is a popular traditional food in Nigeria, particularly among infants and adults. However, poor hygiene during processing and handling may expose it to microbial contamination, posing potential health risks. This study assessed the microbial quality and characterized bacterial and fungal contaminants in fermented millet pap sold in Unguwar Jaaji, Katsina Metropolis, Nigeria. A total of ten (10) pap samples were collected from different vendors and analyzed using standard microbiological techniques. Bacterial and fungal isolates were identified using Gram staining, biochemical tests, and morphological examination. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and expressed as mean ± standard deviation, frequencies, and percentages. The mean aerobic mesophilic bacterial count was 13.34 ± 3.47 × 10⁸ CFU/mL, while the mean fungal count was 8.84 ± 2.08 × 10⁸ CFU/mL. Staphylococcus aureus (50%) and Penicillium spp. (30%) were the predominant bacterial and fungal isolates, respectively. The high microbial loads and presence of potentially pathogenic organisms indicate poor hygienic practices during production and handling. Improved sanitation, adherence to good manufacturing practices, and routine microbiological monitoring are recommended to ensure the microbiological safety of fermented millet pap.

The rapid growth of digital technology, smartphones, social media, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence has significantly transformed marketing practices in India. Modern marketing has moved beyond traditional advertising and increasingly incorporates digital marketing, social media marketing, influencer marketing, content marketing, mobile marketing, personalised marketing, and artificial intelligence-based marketing. The present study examines the role of modern marketing methods in influencing consumer behaviour in India. The study adopts a quantitative research approach and considers a sample of 200 respondents. Data are measured using a five-point Likert scale and analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The study focuses on social media marketing, digital advertising, influencer marketing, content marketing, mobile marketing, and personalised/AI-based marketing as major modern marketing methods. The findings indicate that modern marketing methods have a positive relationship with consumer engagement, purchase intention, brand awareness, and consumer decision-making. Digital and social media-based marketing emerge as particularly important because of their ability to provide interactive, personalised, and easily accessible communication. The study suggests that Indian businesses need to integrate traditional marketing with modern digital strategies to reach increasingly technology-oriented consumers. The research also highlights the importance of creating relevant content, maintaining consumer trust, protecting customer data, and using emerging technologies responsibly. The study contributes to the understanding of changing marketing practices in India and provides practical implications for businesses seeking to improve customer engagement and competitive performance in an increasingly digital marketplace.

The rapid development of information and communication technologies (ICT) has significantly transformed higher education systems worldwide. Computer universities play a critical role in producing skilled graduates who can meet the demands of the digital economy. However, improving teaching performance remains a significant challenge due to technological changes, evolving industry requirements, and increasing expectations for graduate competencies. This research proposes an integrated framework for improving teaching performance in computer universities through eight major factors: student-centered teaching methods, technology integration, curriculum modernization, faculty professional development, student engagement, infrastructure development, industry collaboration, and quality assurance systems.
This study adopts a conceptual research approach based on educational theories, previous research findings, and higher education quality frameworks. A quantitative validation approach using survey methods, reliability analysis, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and structural equation modeling (SEM/PLS-SEM) is proposed for future empirical evaluation. The proposed framework demonstrates that effective teaching performance requires the integration of innovative pedagogy, digital technologies, qualified faculty members, modern infrastructure, and strong university-industry partnerships. The findings provide practical recommendations for computer universities seeking to enhance educational quality, student learning outcomes, and graduate employability.

Social media use has become an integral part of undergraduate students' academic, social, and personal lives because it facilitates communication, learning, and information sharing. Despite these benefits, excessive and uncontrolled use has increasingly been associated with adverse psychological outcomes, including anxiety, depression, stress, loneliness, poor self-esteem, sleep disturbances, and reduced academic performance. Although previous studies have examined the relationship between social media use and mental health, limited attention has been given to the coping strategies adopted by undergraduate students, particularly in Nigerian polytechnic institutions. This study assessed the coping strategies adopted by undergraduate students to manage the psychological effects of social media use in Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara, Delta State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey research design was adopted. A sample of 400 undergraduate students was selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured researcher-developed questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, were used to answer the research questions, while inferential statistics were employed to test the hypotheses at a 5% level of significance using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27.0. The findings revealed that students adopted several adaptive coping strategies, including limiting time spent on social media, engaging in physical exercise and recreational activities, seeking emotional support from family and friends, practicing digital detox, and participating in academic, religious, and social activities. However, professional counselling services were the least utilized coping strategy. The study concludes that undergraduate students primarily rely on self-regulation, social support, and healthy lifestyle practices to manage the psychological effects of social media use. It recommends strengthening campus mental health services, promoting digital wellness education, improving mental health literacy, and encouraging greater utilization of professional counselling services to enhance students' psychological well-being.

Nurse migration has emerged as a major health workforce challenge in Nigeria because of its adverse effects on healthcare service delivery, workforce stability, and patient outcomes. This study assessed nurses’ migration and Dr. (Mrs) Augustina Isabu C its perceived effects on healthcare service delivery in selected hospitals in Delta State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted involving 138 registered nurses selected from three hospitals in the state. Data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire that examined the perceived effects of migration, factors associated with migration, and possible retention strategies. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, were used to summarize the data, while independent sample t-tests and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were employed to test differences in perceptions at a 5% level of significance. The findings revealed that nurses perceived migration to have a moderate negative impact on healthcare service delivery (mean = 2.73, SD = 1.03). The major consequences identified included shortages of skilled nurses, increased workload among remaining staff, reduced mentorship opportunities, prolonged patient waiting times, and disruptions in continuity of care. Factors associated with migration included low employment opportunities, excess workload without compensation, economic hardship, poor remuneration, poor job satisfaction, and limited career advancement opportunities. Respondents identified scholarships, improved staffing levels, flexible work arrangements, mentorship programmes, and retention incentives as effective strategies for reducing migration. The study concludes that comprehensive workforce retention policies focusing on improved remuneration, better working conditions, career development, and supportive work environments are essential for strengthening healthcare service delivery in Delta State, Nigeria.

This study was conducted to determine the implementation of Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) program as well as its needs and challenges in the Schools Division of Iloilo, Philippines, for School Year 2025-2026. The respondents of the study were the 386 junior high school teachers selected through stratified random sampling using fishbowl technique. The statistical tools used were frequency count, percentage, ANOVA, and Pearson’s r and the level of significance was set at 0.05. Findings revealed that the extent of implementation of ARAL program was very great as assessed by the respondents when taken as a whole and classified by highest educational attainment, length of service, grade level taught, school size, and congressional district; for the respondents the resources in the implementation of ARAL program were mostly needed to effectively achieve its desired goals and the challenges in the implementation of ARAL program which hinder the achievement of its desired goals were occasionally experienced; there were no significant differences in the extent of implementation of ARAL program as assessed by the respondents when grouped by highest educational attainment, length of service, grade level taught, school size and congressional district; there were significant differences in the needs in the implementation when respondents were grouped by highest educational attainment, grade level taught, school size and congressional district but not when grouped by length of service; there were significant differences in the challenges encountered when respondents were grouped by educational attainment, length of service, grade level taught but not when grouped by school size, and congressional district; and finally, there were significant relationships among implementation, needs and challenges of ARAL program.

The emergence of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) and Large Language Models (LLMs) presents a fundamental shift in the accounting profession, challenging traditional audit methodologies and workforce structures. This literature synthesis examines the tension between augmentation, which means enhancing human cognitive capabilities, and automation, which means replacing manual auditor tasks, within external auditing, with a specialized focus on the emerging economic and institutional landscape of Sri Lanka. By synthesizing recent empirical literature, regulatory frameworks and professional standards, this paper analyzes how GenAI transforms key audit phases, from risk profiling and contract abstraction to automated workpaper generation and disclosure verification. Furthermore, it evaluates Sri Lanka's unique market dualism between Big Four local affiliates and Non-Big Four firms, highlighting disparities in technological infrastructure, talent readiness, and regulatory oversight by bodies such as CA Sri Lanka and the Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Monitoring Board (SLAASMB). The paper synthesizes an analytical framework demonstrating that while routine transactional verification faces high automation, high-judgment domains remain firmly augmented under a human-in-the-loop (HITL) paradigm. Strategic recommendations for firms, regulators and educators are provided to navigate algorithmic governance, hallucination risks and data sovereignty.

This study was aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the Health Information Management (HIM) policies and procedures of Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH), Okolobiri. Specifically, the study evaluated the level of awareness of HIM policies and procedures, determined the extent of compliance, evaluated the effectiveness of policy implementation, identified factors influencing policy implementation and examined the relationship between compliance and effective health information management practices. A descriptive cross sectional survey design was used. The study population was 47 Health Information Management staff and 43 were study respondents (census sampling technique). A structured questionnaire, which was expert validated and tested for reliability, was used to collect data. To answer the research objectives, descriptive statistics that included frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviations were used; and to test the hypotheses at the 0.05 level of significance, Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Multiple Linear Regression were used.
The results showed that there is a high level of awareness of HIM policies and procedures among the respondents (Grand Mean = 4.34). It was determined that the adherence to the policies was at moderate level (Grand Mean = 3.36) and the effectiveness of the execution of policies was at moderate level (Grand Mean = 3.44). Staff training, management support, ICT infrastructure, funding, supervision and leadership commitment were among the organizational factors that were found to be the major determinants of effective policy implementation. The relationships between awareness and effective policy implementation (r = 0.624; p < 0.05) and compliance and effective health information management practices (r = 0.718; p < 0.05) were significant, as shown in the inferential analysis. The organizational factors also had a strong effect on the implementation of policies (R² = 0.612, p < 0.05). The study findings indicate that the capacity of staff, organization and policy compliance can be improved to strengthen the effectiveness of Health Information Management practices. It calls for continuous professional training, regular review of policies, better monitoring and evaluation tools, better ICT infrastructure to facilitate effective health information management and quality health services provision.

Interest rate volatility, distinct from the level of interest rates, has emerged as a significant but under-researched threat to small enterprise financial decision-making in developing economies. This study examined the relationship between perceived interest rate volatility and the financing and investment decisions of small enterprises operating in Lilongwe Central Business District (CBD), Malawi, and evaluated whether firm size moderates this relationship. The study adopted a quantitative, descriptive-correlational design using a cross-sectional survey. Data were collected from 100 registered small enterprises drawn through stratified random sampling from a population of 135 firms, yielding a response rate of 90.9%. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple and moderated regression. The findings show that volatility significantly reduced reliance on bank-loan financing while increasing reliance on trade credit and informal sources, and significantly reduced the share of capital (long-term) investment relative to working-capital investment. Firm size significantly moderated the volatility-investment relationship: the smallest enterprises experienced investment effects more than five times larger than the largest small enterprises. The study concludes that interest rate volatility is a powerful, size-differentiated determinant of small enterprise financial behavior and recommends that monetary authorities and financial institutions prioritize rate predictability and size-targeted lending products.

Employee training and development are fundamental components of strategic human resource management because they enhance employee competencies, institutional capacity, and organizational performance. Within Malawi's public governance sector, continuous investment in employee development is essential for improving public service delivery, accountability, transparency, and institutional effectiveness. However, limited empirical evidence exists on the relationship between employee training and organizational performance in Malawi's public governance institutions. This study examined the impact of employee training and development on organizational performance using one public governance institution as the research setting and assessed the influence of training relevance and frequency on performance.
The study adopted a quantitative descriptive survey design guided by Human Capital Theory and Lifelong Learning Theory. A census approach targeted all 66 employees, with 55 completed questionnaires returned, representing an 83.3% response rate. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analysed using frequencies, percentages, and tables. Secondary data from Malawi Vision 2063, the Public Sector Reform Programme, and scholarly literature supported contextual interpretation.
Findings show that employee training and development positively influence organizational performance by improving productivity, competence, confidence, teamwork, and service delivery. However, challenges included inadequate training opportunities, irregular implementation, limited specialised professional development, and weak monitoring of outcomes. The study concludes that competency-based and continuous training is a strategic investment for strengthening organizational performance in Malawi's public governance sector. It recommends regular training needs assessments, stronger training policies, increased investment in professional development, and effective monitoring systems to align employee development with governance reforms and Malawi Vision 2063 and sustainable institutional transformation.

The 1994 Constitution of the Republic of Malawi enshrines a Bill of Rights, stating that every detained person has the right to be released with or without bail unless the interests of justice require otherwise. Despite these constitutional protections, unlawful and prolonged pretrial detentions persist, impacting the citizenry and the criminal justice system. This study investigates the impact of prolonged pretrial detentions and examines the Malawi Police Service's (MPS) role in minimizing such occurrences. Using a hybrid research methodology with 40 participants at Lilongwe Model Police Station, the study assesses the adequacy and utilization of pretrial detention laws. The main objective is to mitigate the impact of prolonged detentions by identifying causes and suggesting solutions. Findings indicate that prolonged pretrial detention significantly infringes on human rights, causes socioeconomic and psychological distress, and is exacerbated by factors such as lack of departmental coordination, inadequate legal knowledge, and resource constraints. The study concludes that effective utilization of existing laws, such as police bail and Section 161 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Code (CP&EC), can substantially reduce these detentions and uphold constitutional values.

This study examined the level of utilization of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) among students and staff of Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was adopted for the study. The study population comprised 250 students and staff of Bowen University. Data were collected using a 20-item structured questionnaire, while a stratified random sampling technique was employed to select respondents. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression to identify factors influencing the utilization of insecticide-treated nets. The findings revealed that although a high proportion of respondents had heard about insecticide-treated nets and believed in their effectiveness, the overall utilization rate was only 35.6%. This level of utilization falls below the 60% coverage target recommended by the Roll Back Malaria Programme. Furthermore, lack of belief in the effectiveness of ITNs was found to be a significant predictor of non-utilization (β = −2.857, p = 0.004, OR = 0.057, 95% CI = 0.008–0.391), indicating that respondents who did not believe in the effectiveness of ITNs were significantly less likely to use them than those who did.The study concludes that despite high awareness of insecticide-treated nets, their utilization remains inadequate among members of the Bowen University community. It concludes by recommending the use of insecticide-treated nets as a key strategy for malaria prevention because they have been shown to significantly reduce malaria-related morbidity and mortality, particularly among vulnerable populations.

This study empirically investigated the effect of coping mechanisms on unemployed graduates in Anambra State. The study was guided by three research questions. A descriptive survey design was adopted with a population of 18,450 unemployed graduates registered with Anambra State job centers and NYSC pass-outs in the 2023/2024 session. A sample of 400 respondents was drawn using multi-stage sampling across the three senatorial zones. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled “Coping Mechanism and Unemployed Graduates Questionnaire (CMUGQ)” with a reliability coefficient of 0.84. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions with a 2.50 decision benchmark. Findings revealed that unemployed graduates in Anambra State adopt both adaptive coping mechanisms such as active planning, religiosity, social support, and acceptance, and maladaptive mechanisms including substance use, self-blame, and behavioral disengagement. Results further showed that adaptive coping significantly enhanced psychological wellbeing, resilience, and career readiness, while maladaptive coping increased anxiety, depression, and involvement in social vices. The study concluded that prolonged unemployment pushes graduates toward negative coping patterns. It was recommended that the Anambra State government should establish graduate empowerment schemes, structured mentorship programs, trauma-informed career counseling, and public-private job creation initiatives to strengthen adaptive coping and reduce negative outcomes among unemployed graduates.

Background
Hand hygiene is one of the simplest, safest, and most cost-effective measures for preventing communicable diseases among school children. Inadequate hand hygiene contributes to the transmission of infections, resulting in increased absenteeism and poor health outcomes. School-based health education using Video-Assisted Teaching (VAT) provides an effective and engaging approach to improve children's understanding of proper hand hygiene practices.
Objectives
To assess the knowledge regarding hand hygiene practices among school children in selected schools, Bangalore.
Materials and Methods
A quantitative research approach was adopted for the study among 40 school children selected using a non-probability convenience sampling technique. A Video-Assisted Teaching (VAT) session on hand hygiene practices was conducted. Following the educational session, a structured knowledge questionnaire was administered to assess the knowledge of the participants. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results
The findings revealed that 36 (90%) school children had adequate knowledge, while 4 (10%) had moderately adequate knowledge.
None of the participants had inadequate knowledge. The overall mean knowledge score was 13.73 ± 1.43, with a mean percentage score of 91.5%.
Conclusion
The study concluded that the majority of school children possessed adequate knowledge regarding hand hygiene practices. The incorporation of Video-Assisted Teaching in school health education can support awareness regarding proper hand hygiene and encourage healthy hygienic practices among children.

Supply chain localisation has become an important strategic response for foreign retailers operating in developing economies where currency instability, import dependence, and logistical constraints frequently disrupt business operations. In Malawi, persistent foreign exchange shortages and rising import costs create pressure on retailers to adopt sourcing strategies that sustain performance, yet empirical evidence on how localisation contributes to organisational performance within Malawi’s retail sector remains limited.
This study examined the relationship between supply chain localisation and firm performance among foreign-owned discount retailers in Malawi, using a quantitative cross-sectional design. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires administered to managers, employees, and customers of a foreign-owned retail chain in Lilongwe City, and analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression.
The findings show that respondents generally perceived localisation as contributing positively to performance, with local sourcing associated with lower operational costs and stronger supplier partnerships. Regression analysis identified local supplier cost reduction as the only statistically significant predictor of operational performance (β = 0.399, p = 0.012), while correlation results revealed persistent challenges with product availability, pointing to capacity constraints within local supply networks.
The study concludes that supply chain localisation is an effective strategic capability for improving firm performance in Malawi’s retail sector, particularly through cost efficiency, and recommends greater investment in local supplier development, stronger supplier partnerships, and supportive domestic sourcing policies.

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a significant public health and human rights concern that affects millions of people globally, particularly women. Although governments and non-governmental organizations have established support services such as counselling, medical care, legal aid, and social welfare services, many survivors fail to utilize these services. This study aimed to identify the barriers to the utilization of support services among intimate partner violence survivors in Malawi. A qualitative research design was employed, involving 20 participants comprising 17 intimate partner violence survivors and three key informants from the police, health, and child protection sectors. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that social stigma, cultural norms that encourage preservation of marriage, lack of awareness of available support services, corruption, and economic dependence were the major barriers preventing survivors from seeking help. Counselling and medical care were identified as the most commonly available support services. The study concludes that addressing these barriers requires coordinated efforts among government institutions, healthcare providers, social workers, community leaders, and civil society organizations. The study recommends strengthening community awareness, improving access to survivor-centred services, and enhancing institutional accountability to promote the utilization of support services.

This research analysed how rapid inflation affects the growth trajectory and operational survival of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) located in Area 23 Township, Lilongwe, Malawi. Grounded in a pragmatic paradigm, the investigation adopted a convergent parallel mixed-methods approach to gather and evaluate both statistical and narrative data simultaneously. The empirical sample consisted of 55 participants, including 45 enterprise owners selected via stratified random sampling who completed quantitative surveys, and 10 key stakeholders (representatives from local business groups and financial institutions) who participated in semi-structured interviews. Quantitative responses were analysed using descriptive statistics and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) linear regression in SPSS (Version 26), whereas thematic analysis was applied to qualitative transcripts.
The statistical outcomes demonstrated a strong, statistically significant negative impact of inflation transmission channels on business performance, with the regression model explaining 61.0% of the overall variation in enterprise results (R2 = 0.610, F=21.368, P<0.001). Sudden increases in operational costs emerged as the most damaging predictor (β = -0.455, P<0.001), followed by declining consumer purchasing power (β=-0.341, P=0.003) and institutional credit barriers (β = -0.198, P = 0.039). Qualitative testimony reinforced these statistical findings, revealing that surging wholesale prices, high logistics fees, reduced customer buying power, and elevated loan interest rates are the central forces driving small business decline. The study concludes that ongoing price instability remains a major structural bottleneck to informal urban development and recommends that policymakers introduce targeted low-interest credit facilities and inflation-adjusted financial safeguards for local entrepreneurs.

Transport logistics is a fundamental component of operational effectiveness in public sector security institutions because it facilitates the timely deployment of personnel, patrol operations, emergency response, and the delivery of essential security services. Despite increasing investment in transport systems, many public sector security institutions continue to experience vehicle shortages that constrain operational performance and reduce organisational efficiency. Understanding the relationship between vehicle availability and operational efficiency is therefore essential for informing evidence-based policy and resource allocation aimed at strengthening institutional performance.
This study assessed the effect of vehicle availability on operational efficiency in public sector security institutions. Specifically, the study examined how the adequacy of operational vehicles, timely vehicle allocation, vehicle availability for patrol coverage, and vehicle shortages influence operational efficiency. The study was guided by the Resource-Based View (RBV), which considers organisational resources as critical determinants of organisational performance.
A quantitative research approach employing a descriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted. Data were collected from 68 participants selected from a target population through structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, were used to summarise the data, while Pearson's Product-Moment Correlation analysis was employed to determine the relationship between vehicle availability and operational efficiency. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), with statistical significance assessed at the 5% level.
The findings revealed that although respondents generally perceived vehicle allocation procedures to be timely, the overall availability of operational vehicles was inadequate to support routine operational activities and patrol coverage. Most respondents indicated that vehicle shortages constrained operational performance by limiting mobility, delaying emergency response, and reducing service delivery capacity. Correlation analysis further demonstrated a statistically significant positive relationship between vehicle availability and operational efficiency, indicating that improvements in vehicle availability are associated with enhanced operational performance.
The study concludes that vehicle availability is a significant determinant of operational efficiency in public sector security institutions. It recommends increased investment in fleet acquisition, timely vehicle replacement, preventive maintenance programmes, and improved transport resource management to strengthen operational capability and enhance service delivery. The findings contribute to the growing body of knowledge on transport logistics and provide practical evidence to support transport planning and resource management within public sector security institutions.

Small-scale enterprises play a significant role in Malawi's economic development by creating employment opportunities, generating household income, and promoting local economic activity. (World Bank, 2022; OECD, 2023). However, many entrepreneurs continue to face challenges related to limited access to business information, financial resources, markets, and strategic partnerships. Social networking has emerged as an important mechanism (Aldrich & Zimmer, 1986; Sendawula et al., 2023) through which entrepreneurs can access these resources and improve business performance.
This study examined the effect of social networking on the growth and sustainability of small-scale enterprises in Chinsapo, Lilongwe. A descriptive quantitative research design was employed using structured questionnaires administered to 60 randomly selected small-scale entrepreneurs. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), employing descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. The findings revealed that entrepreneurs actively engage in networking activities, particularly through collaboration with suppliers, customers, fellow entrepreneurs, and digital platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook.

Background: Globally, increased concern for the environment has made eco-labels an important tool in guiding consumer choices. Incredible and informative eco-labels can greatly influence consumer buying tendencies. Although consumer awareness enhances sustainable consumption, few studies have examined level of eco-label awareness in developing countries such as Malawi.
Study Objective: To examine the level of eco-label awareness among product consumers in Lilongwe’s City Centre and surrounding areas.
Methodology: The study utilized descriptive cross-sectional quantitative research design using a structured questionnaire to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics and consumer eco-label awareness. The study used non- random convenience sampling technique. Data were analysed in IBM SPSS statistics with means, modes, frequencies and proportions calculated to describe the sample characteristics. The confidence interval was set at 95% and differences were considered significant at P-value < 0.05.
Findings: 73 adult participants were enrolled. Out of these 62% were females. Consumers demonstrated moderate eco-label awareness with an awareness mean score of 3.23 (SE = 0.11). Female respondents showed slightly higher eco-label awareness than males, but this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.13). The most recognized eco-labels were Keep Clean (89.04%), Energy Efficient (84.93%), and Suitable for Recycling (82.19%), while Suitable for Re-use (28.77%), Forest Stewardship Council® (30.14%), and Green Product (34.25%) were least recognized. There were no significant gender differences in eco-label recognition.
Conclusion: This study suggests that consumers in City Centre and surrounding areas have a moderate level of eco-label awareness. The results call for improved and stronger consumer-related education and enforcement of clear eco-labels information to promote sustainable consumption. Further research should examine eco-label awareness between urban and rural residents with a bigger sample.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a significant role in economic development, employment creation, and poverty reduction in developing economies. Despite their contribution to economic growth, many SMEs face challenges in accessing and repaying loans obtained from microfinance institutions and commercial lenders. Loan default remains a major concern among financial institutions in Malawi, limiting access to credit and reducing the effectiveness of financial inclusion initiatives. This study examined the influence of financial literacy on microloan repayment among SMEs in Malawi, using evidence from SMEs operating in Dowa District. Specifically, the study assessed the relationship between financial literacy and loan repayment behavior among SME operators.
A quantitative research design was employed, and primary data were collected from 60 SME operators through structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis were used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that financial literacy positively influences repayment behaviour through improved budgeting, record keeping, financial planning, and communication with lenders. Budgeting knowledge demonstrated a significant positive relationship with communication with lenders (r = 0.57), suggesting that financially literate entrepreneurs are more proactive in managing repayment obligations. However, external factors such as inflation, high interest rates, and multiple borrowing continue to constrain repayment performance.
The study concludes that financial literacy is a critical determinant of loan repayment among SMEs and recommends strengthening financial literacy training programmes, integrating borrower education into lending practices, and promoting supportive policy interventions. The findings contribute to the growing literature on SME finance and provide practical implications for financial institutions, policymakers, and development practitioners.

Entrepreneurship is widely recognised as an important strategy for reducing youth unemployment and promoting economic development, particularly in developing countries. Despite increased efforts to integrate entrepreneurship education into higher education, limited evidence exists on whether entrepreneurial literacy translates into entrepreneurial intentions among university students in Malawi. This study examined the influence of entrepreneurial literacy on entrepreneurial intentions among students from selected public and private universities in Lilongwe, Malawi. Specifically, it assessed students' entrepreneurial literacy, examined its relationship with entrepreneurial intentions, compared entrepreneurial intentions across institutional types, and identified strategies for strengthening entrepreneurship education.
A quantitative cross-sectional research design was adopted, and data were collected from 68 students using structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and an independent samples t-test were employed to analyse the data using SPSS. The findings revealed that students possessed high levels of entrepreneurial literacy, particularly in business planning, financial management, opportunity recognition, and marketing. Respondents also demonstrated positive entrepreneurial intentions, with most considering entrepreneurship a desirable career path. However, no statistically significant difference was found in entrepreneurial intentions between students from public and private universities (t = 0.247, p = .806), indicating that institutional type does not significantly influence entrepreneurial aspirations. The study concludes that entrepreneurial literacy plays an important role in fostering entrepreneurial intentions regardless of institutional affiliation. It recommends strengthening entrepreneurship education through experiential learning approaches, including mentorship, business incubation, industry partnerships, and enterprise development initiatives, to support students in transforming entrepreneurial intentions into successful business ventures.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are widely recognised as key contributors to employment creation, income generation and economic development in developing economies. Despite their importance, many SMEs in Malawi continue to experience declining sales volumes due to numerous socio-economic challenges (Enaifoghe & Vezi-magigaba, 2023). This study examined the socio-economic factors influencing the sales volume of SMEs operating in Kawale Market, Lilongwe. Specifically, the study sought to determine the average sales volume of SMEs, assess the socio-economic factors influencing sales performance, and identify the major challenges affecting business growth. A quantitative research approach employing a descriptive research design was adopted. Primary data were collected from 80 SME operators using structured questionnaires selected through simple random sampling. Data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), employing descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis to determine the relationship between socio-economic variables and sales volume. The findings revealed that age and business experience positively influenced sales volume, while limited access to finance, high competition, government regulations, and supply chain disruptions remained significant obstacles to business performance. The study concludes that improving access to affordable finance, strengthening entrepreneurial skills, promoting financial literacy and creating a supportive business environment are essential for improving SME sales performance. The findings contribute to the growing body of literature on SME development in Malawi and provide practical implications for policymakers, financial institutions and SME support organisations seeking to promote sustainable enterprise growth.

Customer retention is a key determinant of organizational sustainability in the financial services sector, particularly among Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOs). Growing competition from commercial banks, microfinance institutions, and digital financial service providers has increased the need for high-quality customer service to retain members. Despite the important role of SACCOs in promoting financial inclusion in Malawi, limited empirical evidence exists on the relationship between customer service quality and customer retention. This study examined the effect of customer service quality on customer retention in selected SACCOs in Lilongwe District, Malawi.

This study analysed the effect of business environmental challenges—specifically access to finance, infrastructure deficits, and regulatory burdens—on the performance of women entrepreneurs in Likuni, a peri-urban area of Lilongwe, Malawi. The research was guided by four specific objectives: assessing the impacts of financial access, infrastructure quality, and regulatory procedures on business performance, and identifying interventions to enhance the local entrepreneurial ecosystem. A mixed-methods research design was adopted, combining a quantitative cross-sectional survey with qualitative key informant interviews. Utilizing simple random sampling based on Yamane’s (1967) formula, a sample of 67 women entrepreneurs was drawn from a target population of 80. Data were collected via structured questionnaires and analysed using SPSS Version 26, employing descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression; qualitative data were analysed thematically.
Findings revealed that 70% of respondents had never accessed formal credit, and access to finance emerged as the strongest positive predictor of business performance (β= 0.638, p < 0.001). Infrastructure deficits, notably the absence of electricity (75% of respondents) and high transport costs (67.2%), severely constrained daily operations and revenue potential. Regulatory burdens contributed to widespread informal operations (83.6%) and served as a significant negative predictor of performance (β= -0.333, p = 0.037). The findings support Institutional Theory and Social Capital Theory, demonstrating that while formal institutions frequently fail women entrepreneurs, informal social networks function as vital yet limited coping mechanisms. Coordinated policy reforms in financial inclusion, infrastructure development, and regulatory simplification are strongly recommended.

The present study focuses on the formulation and evaluation of completely free of no more added artificial fragrances. The main objective of the study was to develop a safe, effective, and stable sunscreen formulation capable of protecting the skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. A sunscreen formulated with mogra (jasmine) and glycerine, completely free of no more added artificial fragrances, provide deep hydration, potent antioxidant protection, and soothing benefits without imperil the irritation, stinging, or redness associated with synthetic scents or perfumes. In formulation of Sunscreens cosmetics manufacturers often added synthetic fragrances or heavy masking oils to mask up the natural odour of chemical or physical UV filters. The sunscreen cream was prepared by emulsification method using glycerine, beeswax, liquid paraffin, zinc oxide, triethanolamine, preservatives, mogra, and distilled water. The prepared formulation was evaluated for various physicochemical and pharmaceutical parameters including colour, odour, texture, consistency, pH, viscosity, spread ability, SPF value, UV absorbance, skin irritation, wash ability, stability. The formulation showed satisfactory organoleptic properties with good consistency and pleasant appearance. The pH of the formulation was found to be suitable for skin application. The sunscreen cream demonstrated good spread ability, acceptable viscosity, stability, and non-irritant behaviour on the skin.

This study evaluates the operational and financial dynamics of seaports in Nigerian maritime trade through the lens of Queueing Theory, specifically addressing how port-related factors affect the flow of shipping trade and logistics (STL). Utilizing an ex-post-facto research design, the study examines a 30-year time series dataset (1995–2024) sourced from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA). A multiple regression model was employed to ascertain the relationship between Shipping Trade and Logistics, and Port Turnaround Time (PORT), Ship Calls (SHIP), Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT), and Shipping Expenses (EXPS. The empirical findings, among others, reveal that Port Turnaround Time has a negative and highly significant impact on shipping trade and logistics, establishing that the 'wait' acts as a severe structural barrier. Conversely, Shipping Expenses exert a positive and statistically significant impact on trade flow, representing the increased economic commitments that accompany trade facilitation. The study’s independent variables collectively account for 94.3% of the variation in Nigeria's maritime trade flows. Post-estimation diagnostics confirm the absence of serial correlation, heteroskedasticity and multicollinearity, validating the empirical model. To optimize the Nigerian maritime supply chain and 'price the wait' constructively, the study recommends accelerated investment in port infrastructure, streamlined and digitized customs examination procedures and the expansion of berthing and cargo-handling facilities to accommodate larger modern vessels.

Background: Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder of the extrapyramidal system characterised by tremor, bradykinesia, and rigidity. The chronic and disabling nature of the condition leads to increased psychological stress and a reduced quality of life (QOL). Pranayama, or controlled breathing exercises, increases parasympathetic activity and reduces sympathetic activity, thereby helping to reduce stress, while Occupational Therapy (OT) improves functional performance and QOL in individuals with Parkinson’s Disease.
Objective: To study the effectiveness of Pranayama combined with Occupational Therapy on perceived stress and quality of life in patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease.
Methods: A prospective randomized controlled study was conducted on 30 mild to moderate (Hoehn and Yahr stages 1–3) idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease patients aged 40–70 years. Participants were allocated into a control group (n = 15) receiving conventional Occupational Therapy and an experimental group (n = 15) receiving Pranayama (Anulom-Vilom and Kapalbhati) along with conventional Occupational Therapy over an eight-week period. Perceived stress and quality of life were assessed before and after the intervention using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire. Data were analysed using the paired t-test.
Results: Both groups demonstrated significant improvement in quality of life across all domains of the WHOQOL-BREF. However, the reduction in perceived stress was statistically significant only in the experimental group, indicating that the combined effect of Pranayama and Occupational Therapy was more effective in reducing stress. The psychological domain showed markedly greater improvement in the experimental group compared with the control group.
Conclusion: Occupational Therapy combined with Pranayama is effective in reducing perceived stress and improving the quality of life in patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s Disease. Occupational Therapy alone also improved quality of life but was not sufficient to significantly reduce stress levels. Incorporating Pranayama into rehabilitation programmes may enhance psychological well-being and overall quality of life in Parkinson’s Disease.

Efficient usage of renewable energy systems like photovoltaic (PV) and wind energy systems greatly benefit from Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) techniques. The primary objectives of these advanced MPPT algorithms are addressing slow response times, inefficiency in partial shading, and other issues such as undulated behavior around the Maximum Power Point (MPP). This paper provides a comparative analysis of various advanced MPPT techniques, namely P&O with adaptive step size, fuzzy logic based Incremental Conductance (INC), Artificial Neural Networks (AAN), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Genetic Algorithms (GA), and Sliding Mode Control (SMC) techniques. Key metrics considered for evaluating the techniques included tracking speed, overall efficiency, the complexity of the algorithms, and performance under varying conditions. The study showed that higher utilization of fuzzy logic in conjunction with hybrid integrated intelligent control mechanisms was more effective. The proposed method will demonstrate that the strategy performs noticeably better than conventional techniques in terms of responsiveness, stability, and efficiency.

Background: Stroke is the leading cause of serious long-term disability in adults, and more than 60% of stroke survivors suffer from persistent neurological deficits that impair activities of daily living. The paretic upper limb is a common and undesirable consequence of stroke that increases activity limitation. Mirror therapy is a therapeutic intervention that focuses on moving the unimpaired limb while watching its mirror reflection superimposed over the unseen impaired limb, thereby creating a visual illusion of enhanced movement capability of the impaired limb. Augmented feedback may be provided as knowledge of performance, which concerns the nature or quality of the movement pattern produced, or as knowledge of results, which concerns the end result or overall outcome of the movement.
Objective: To compare the effect of knowledge of performance and knowledge of results when given alongside mirror box therapy in improving hand function in patients with chronic stroke.
Methods: An experimental study was conducted on 30 patients aged between 50 and 65 years with a first episode of unilateral stroke with hemiparesis during the previous 12 months. Participants were randomly allocated by the chit method into Group A, receiving knowledge of performance (n = 15), and Group B, receiving knowledge of results (n = 15). Both groups underwent 30 minutes of mirror therapy per day in addition to 50 minutes of conventional stroke rehabilitation, five days a week, for four weeks. Hand function was assessed pre- and post-intervention using the upper limb score of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment and the Jebsen Test of Hand Function. Data were analysed using the paired t-test for within-group comparison and the independent samples t-test for between-group comparison.
Results: Both groups demonstrated significant improvement in Fugl-Meyer Assessment scores following the four-week intervention. In Group A, mean scores improved from 21.53 to 40.26 (t = –10.31; p < 0.05), while in Group B they improved from 23.00 to 26.53 (t = –2.12; p = 0.05). On post-intervention between-group comparison, the mean Fugl-Meyer Assessment score was significantly higher in Group A (40.26) than in Group B (26.53) (t = 2.03; p < 0.05). No statistically significant between-group differences were observed for the card turning, stacking checkers, or large light objects subtests of the Jebsen Test of Hand Function.
Conclusion: Knowledge of performance proved to be more effective than knowledge of results when given alongside mirror box therapy in improving hand function in patients with chronic stroke, in terms of Fugl-Meyer Assessment scores. The experimental hypothesis can therefore be partially accepted. Incorporating performance-related augmented feedback into mirror therapy programmes may enhance motor recovery of the upper limb following stroke.

Securidaca longipedunculata is an important medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of infectious diseases owing to its rich phytochemical composition. This study investigated the phytochemical constituents and antibacterial activity of the methanolic leaf extract of Securidaca longipedunculata against selected clinically isolated bacterial pathogens. Qualitative phytochemical screening was carried out using standard analytical procedures. The antibacterial activity of the methanolic leaf extract was evaluated against clinically isolated bacteria using the agar well diffusion method at different concentrations. Antibacterial efficacy was assessed by measuring the zones of inhibition (ZOI), while the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined using standard microbiological techniques. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, glycosides, cardiac glycosides, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds. The methanolic leaf extract exhibited concentration-dependent antibacterial activity against all tested bacterial isolates. Bacillus subtilis was the most susceptible organism, producing the largest inhibition zone (16 mm) at 200 mg/mL, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (14 mm), while Escherichia coli showed the least susceptibility with an inhibition zone of 12 mm at the same concentration. The MIC and MBC results further confirmed the inhibitory and bactericidal potential of the extract against the tested organisms. The methanolic leaf extract of Securidaca longipedunculata possesses diverse bioactive phytochemicals and demonstrates promising antibacterial activity against clinically important bacterial pathogens. These findings support the ethnomedicinal use of the plant and suggest its potential as a natural source of antimicrobial agents for future pharmaceutical development.

The study examined the role of self-esteem and self-efficacy on perceived tramadol abuse among undergraduates of universities in Benue state, Nigeria. This study adopted a cross-sectional survey design. It was carried out in Benue state, Nigeria. The setting for this study comprised of three Universities. They are Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University formally known as Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State University, Makurdi and University of Mkar, Mkar, Gboko. The target population was 34235 university students. This study selected the sample size of 380 using the Krejcie and Morgan formula. A multi stage sampling technique was used to obtain participants for the study. The instrument used for the study was questionnaire. The questionnaire was divided into section A to D. Section “A’’ contained the letter of consent and demographic information of the undergraduate students, Section ‘’B’’ measured Self-esteem, Section “C” measured Self-efficacy and Section “D” measured Perceived tramadol abuse respectively. The pilot study results therefore, showed that the 10-items Rosenberg Self-Esteem (RSE) Scale yielded a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of .95. This indicated that the scale was highly reliable for use on the population of undergraduate students. Therefore, 10- items were reliable and thus included in the main study. However, in the main study the 10-items Rosenberg Self-Esteem (RSE) Scale yielded a reliability Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of .70, which was also highly reliable and accordingly adopted for the study. The result also indicated that the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) consisting of 10-items yielded a Crombach’s Alpha coefficient of .94 with no item been deleted or modified for not being reliable. This indicated that the scale was highly reliable for use on the population of undergraduate students. Therefore all the 10- items were included in the main study. In the main study however, the result showed that the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE) yielded a reliability Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of .61 which was reliable. In the main study, the Perceived Tramadol Abuse Screening Test (PTAST) yielded a reliability Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of .76 which was highly reliable for use on the population of the university undergraduate students. The researcher employed descriptive statistics of frequencies, percentages and the inferential statistics such as correlation was used to test the research hypotheses. Correlation is a statistic that describes the relationship between two variables. Simple Linear Regression Analysis to examine the influence of self-esteem and self-efficacy on perceived tramadol abuse among undergraduates of the three selected Universities in Benue State. The result showed that self-esteem and self-efficacy has a significant influence on tramadol abuse among undergraduates of universities in Benue state. Therefore recommended that the regulators and management of universities in Benue state should put in place psychological intervention measures aimed at enhancing and boosting the self-esteem and efficacy among undergraduates. This can be practically achieved by adopting psychological techniques with the potency of reducing excesses in low self-esteem and improving upon them among the undergraduates.

The study aimed to investigate the impact of collaborative learning strategy on interest of senior secondary school students in biology in Guma local government area, Benue state, Nigeria. Two objectives, and two research questions were set and two hypotheses. The study adopted Quasi-experimental design of non-equivalent group. The study area was Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. The population of the study was 1142 Senior Secondary School (SS1) Biology students in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. The sample for this study was 225 students. The instrument for data collection was Biology Achievement Test (BAT). Three experts validated the instrument. The reliability coefficient of 0.85 was obtained. The research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation while the hypotheses formulated were tested using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) at 0.05 level of significance. The study found that the collaborative instructional strategy promotes higher interest of secondary school students in Biology as compared to the conventional teaching strategy. While using this strategy, there were no significant differences in the interest in Biology due to the gender of secondary school students and therefore the strategy is deemed effective, efficient, and appropriate for both male and female students. Therefore, recommended that Biology teachers should be encouraged to use collaborative instructional strategy in presenting some Biology concepts to students in order to enhance their interest and academic achievement in Biology and other science-related subjects.

The study investigated influence of kidnapping on psycho-social well-being of University students in North Central Nigeria: implications for counselling. Two research questions were answered and two hypotheses were formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance for the study. The study adopted survey research design. The population comprised one hundred and fifty thousand, forty-one (150041) undergraduates of eight Federal Universities in North Central Nigeria. Taro-Yamene’s formula was used to sample four hundred (400) undergraduates. A multi-stage sampling procedure which involved purposive, proportionate stratified sampling technique and ballot simple random sampling technique were used in the study. A questionnaire structured by the researchers titled “Influence of kidnapping on Psycho-Social Well-Being of University Students” (IKPSWBUS) was used for data collection. The reliability of the instrument was ascertained through a trial-test on thirty undergraduates. An instrument reliability coefficient of 0.81 was obtained using Cronbach’s Alpha reliability coefficient in determining the internal consistency of the items. Descriptive statistics involving mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while the inferential statistic of chi-square (x2) goodness of fit was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The study found that kidnapping has significant influence on psychological well-being of university students in North Central Nigeria; and kidnapping has significant influence on social well-being of university students in North Central Nigeria. The study concluded that kidnapping influence the psycho-social well-being of university students in North Central Nigeria. Based on findings, it was recommended among others that counsellors should adopt the use of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), establish peer group network or programme, and create awareness of campus resources for the students to improve psycho-social well-being of university students in North Central Nigeria.

Background of study- Nursing education is an interrelation between theoretical knowledge and practical skills and yields qualified and competent nurses. One of the basic competencies to acquire is medication administration, which is critical in terms of patient safety. Nursing students are faced with problems when making clinical placements. These difficulties do not help them acquire this skill. These factors will be comprehended to improve nursing education and competence. The study aimed at assessing factors influencing the acquisition of medication administration skills acquisition among fourth-year nursing students during clinical placements in Makueni Level five Hospital to ascertain what made them acquire medication administration skills. Methodology- A cross-sectional analytical research design was used. qualitative method was applied in data collection. Data was analyzed analyzed using descriptive, inferential and thematic methods. Results; pointed out that robust classroom and simulation-based training can promote psychomotor activity and confidence in clinical environments however fear of making mistakes during the administration of medication , anxiety and deficiency of confidence among the student nurses, Inadequate rest and heavy academic work were found to negatively influence acquisition of needed nursing skills. Conclusion: The study concluded that students needed study rest schedules to minimize fatigue and concentration during clinical placements. Clear Guidance by the clinical instructors to enhance confidence and accuracy administering medication was necessary.

This study evaluates the obstacles and growth opportunities surrounding entrepreneurial development across conflict-recovering areas in Borno State, focusing specifically on the Bama Local Government Area following the Boko Haram crisis. Employing a mixed-method descriptive and inferential research framework, primary data were gathered via structured questionnaires administered to a sample size of 300 participants, complemented by secondary reviews of empirical literature, non-governmental organization (NGO) evaluations, and government rehabilitation reports. The findings reveal that enterprise performance is severely constrained by structural, institutional, socio-economic, and psychosocial barriers. Conversely, key catalysts such as vocational capacity building, seed grants, community social capital, and state-led infrastructural reconstruction offer strong prospects for economic revival. The paper concludes with actionable policy recommendations aimed at strengthening local enterprise as a sustainable vehicle for economic stabilization and peacebuilding in the region.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has become the operating layer beneath most digital marketing in India, powering recommendation engines, dynamic pricing, chatbots, and hyper-targeted advertising. While AI-enabled personalization improves relevance and consumer experience, it simultaneously raises pressing ethical concerns around data privacy, algorithmic transparency, and consumer autonomy — concerns sharpened in India by the rollout of the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023. This study examines how perceived personalization benefit, privacy concern, transparency and control, and trust in AI-driven marketing jointly shape Indian consumers' willingness to share personal data with AI-powered marketing systems, and how ethical perception of AI mediates trust formation.
A structured questionnaire covering six constructs — Perceived Personalization Benefit (PPB), Privacy Concern (PC), Transparency & Control (TC), Trust in AI-driven Marketing (TAI), Ethical AI Perception (EAI), and Willingness to Share Data (WSD) — was administered to 312 respondents across Tier-1, Tier-2, and Tier-3 towns in India, with a concentration in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. All constructs demonstrated acceptable to good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha range: 0.79–0.87; overall α = 0.80). Multiple regression showed that PPB (β = 0.297, p < .001), PC (β = -0.182, p < .01), and TAI (β = 0.239, p < .001) together explained 19.7% of the variance in WSD. Transparency & Control significantly predicted trust (β = 0.363, p < .001) both directly and through Ethical AI Perception, and significantly moderated the privacy concern–willingness relationship (interaction β = 0.185, p < .05), such that high transparency buffered the negative effect of privacy concern on data-sharing willingness. Demographic comparisons (gender, age, city tier, online activity) showed no statistically significant differences, suggesting privacy and personalization trade-offs are experienced fairly uniformly across the sampled population.
The findings support a privacy-calculus view of AI-driven marketing in the Indian context: consumers do not reject personalization outright but weigh its benefits against privacy costs, and this calculus is substantially shaped by perceived transparency, control, and the ethicality of the underlying AI systems. The study offers practical guidance for marketers and policymakers seeking to operationalize 'ethical AI' — not as a compliance checkbox, but as a trust-building mechanism that can be measured and designed for.

Invasive and superficial fungal infections caused by Candida and related opportunistic yeasts remain a significant, and frequently under-recognised, cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, a burden that is disproportionately felt in resource-limited settings where reference-standard identification platforms such as MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and Sanger sequencing remain largely inaccessible. The thesis under review compiles sixteen linked studies — spanning novel multiplex and real-time PCR assay development, comparative diagnostic evaluation, and multicentre clinical-epidemiological profiling of Candida species and rare yeast pathogens in Iran — into a single body of work culminating in an integrative discussion. This review synthesises the thesis across two thematic strands, namely (i) the development and validation of low-cost molecular identification tools, and (ii) the clinical, epidemiological, and antifungal-susceptibility profiling of Candida species complexes and emerging yeasts, before offering a critical appraisal of the work’s methodological strengths, limitations, and implications for diagnostic microbiology in developing countries.

Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs) are a cornerstone of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), enabling safety-critical and infotainment applications through vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication. The IEEE 802.11p broadcast mode, however, provides no acknowledgment or retransmission mechanism, which makes Quality of Service (QoS) highly sensitive to channel contention, finite-buffer occupancy, and dynamic vehicular topology. This paper presents an enhanced analytical framework that integrates a two-dimensional (2-D) discrete-time Markov chain — jointly capturing backoff-stage and finite queue-length dynamics — with a Collapsed Transition onto Basis (CTB) technique that reduces the dimensionality of the resulting state space while preserving the essential queueing and contention behaviour. Unlike prior one-dimensional, backoff-only models, the proposed 2-D chain simultaneously tracks channel-access state and buffer occupancy, enabling closed-form derivation of throughput, mean access delay, packet-loss probability, and collision probability under finite load. The CTB step projects the full (m×K)-state chain onto a small set of representative basis states, substantially lowering the computational cost of solving the steady-state distribution without sacrificing model accuracy. The framework is validated through NS-2 simulation on a Linux platform using C++ and TCL scripting, evaluating throughput, delay, packet loss, and energy-related metrics across varying vehicle density and offered load. Results indicate that the CTB-assisted 2-D Markov model achieves higher throughput and lower access delay than the conventional IEEE 802.11p broadcast mechanism and one-dimensional Markov baselines, while requiring markedly less computation. The paper further surveys recent analytical, empirical, and machine-learning-based QoS modeling efforts for V2X networks and outlines directions for security- and learning-augmented extensions of the proposed model.

Language is the primary medium through which learners communicate, think, and acquire knowledge. Developing proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing is essential for academic success and personality development. The present study aimed to develop a Gujarati Language Skills Development Programme for students of Standard VIII and examine its effectiveness. An experimental method with a pre-test and post-test control group design was adopted. Sixty students from a government secondary school were selected through purposive sampling and divided equally into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received instruction through the specially designed language skills programme for eight weeks, whereas the control group received instruction through conventional classroom teaching. A standardized Gujarati Language Skills Achievement Test developed by the researcher was administered before and after the intervention. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and an independent samples t-test. The findings indicated that students exposed to the programme achieved significantly higher post-test scores than those taught through traditional methods. The programme enhanced vocabulary, reading comprehension, grammar, creative writing, oral communication, and overall language proficiency. The study concludes that a structured Gujarati Language Skills Development Programme can significantly improve the language competencies of Standard VIII students.

This study explored the lived experiences of senior high school working students at Cordon National High School, focusing on the challenges they encounter and the coping mechanisms they employ while balancing academic responsibilities with employment. Using a qualitative phenomenological design, seven purposively selected students aged 18–19 participated in semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis revealed recurring challenges such as missed classes, schedule conflicts, poor time management, and fatigue, particularly among students whose work was driven by urgent financial necessity. These conditions often compromised academic performance and well-being, underscoring how economic pressures force students to prioritize work over school.
At the same time, the study identified coping mechanisms that reflect resilience and adaptability. Students with flexible work arrangements—such as weekend or break-time employment—or those supported by family and institutional programs were better able to manage their responsibilities. Structured schedules, supportive teachers, and regulated work-study programs emerged as protective factors that reduce academic strain and promote balance. Overall, the findings highlight the tension between tinapay (bread) and libro (education), emphasizing the need for institutional support, flexible policies, and financial assistance to ensure equity, resilience, and student success.

This qualitative study explored the red flags in adolescent romantic relationships and their impact on emotional well-being, trust, and decision-making. Using a phenomenological design and Braun and Clarke’s Thematic Analysis, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with Senior High School students at Cordon National High School, selected via snowball sampling. The findings revealed five major themes: Ghost of Past Relationships, High Drama Addiction Cycle, Shifted Guarded Trust, Psychological and Emotional Well-being, and Personal Growth. Adolescents described experiences of trauma, emotional invalidation, pathological jealousy, avoidance of conflict, emotional withdrawal, and displacement of intimacy, which eroded trust, fostered possessiveness, and created relational instability.
The study also identified psychological mechanisms influencing adolescents’ decisions to stay or leave relationships, including Willful Ignorance, Cognitive Dissonance, Downplaying Behaviors, and Intentional Impermanence. These mechanisms demonstrate how adolescents rationalize or normalize harmful behaviors, sustaining unhealthy connections despite awareness of harm. While many reported stress affecting daily activities, social interactions, and academic performance, others reframed these experiences as opportunities for resilience and self-awareness.
Overall, the study underscores the importance of early recognition and intervention. It recommends that schools, parents, and communities provide education and guidance to help adolescents distinguish between genuine intimacy and destructive patterns, fostering healthier relationships and long-term psychological well-being.

In present investigation six different polluted sites of Renapur city were selected for collection of water and algal samples at monthly intervals from March 2024 to February 2025. The quantitative and qualitative study of four groups of algae viz. Chlorophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Bacillariophyceae and Euglenophyceae was made for a years. Palmer's pollution indices were calculated for assessing the organic pollution of six selected polluted sites of Renapur city. All indices of pollution with relation to algae hold good for assessing the water quality of these sites. At all the selected sites 38 pollution tolerant genera were recorded. By using Palmer's index for rating of water samples as high or low organically polluted sites were examined. The total score of each site was greater than 20, indicating the confirmed high organic pollution,thus, algal communities were used as indicators of organic pollution of selected sites in present study.

Kabaddi is an intermittent, high-intensity team sport that requires a well-developed combination of core stability, speed, agility, quickness and sport-specific movement efficiency to achieve optimal competitive performance. Although Core Strength Training (CST) and Speed, Agility and Quickness (SAQ) Training are independently recognized as effective conditioning strategies for improving athletic performance, evidence comparing their individual and combined effects among inter-collegiate kabaddi players remains limited. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the effectiveness of isolated Core Strength Training, isolated Speed, Agility and Quickness (SAQ) Training and an integrated Core Strength plus SAQ Training programme on the Illinois Agility Test among male inter-collegiate kabaddi players. The independent variables comprised Core Strength Training, SAQ Training and Integrated Core Strength with SAQ Training, whereas the dependent variable was agility, assessed using the Illinois Agility Test. Eighty male inter-collegiate kabaddi players, aged 18–25 years, were randomly selected and allocated equally into four groups of twenty participants each. Group I underwent Core Strength Training, Group II completed SAQ Training, Group III participated in the integrated Core Strength and SAQ Training programme, and Group IV served as the control group without any structured training intervention. The intervention was implemented over a period of twelve weeks, with training sessions conducted for 60 minutes on three alternate days each week. A randomized pre-test–post-test control group design was employed. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the dependent sample t-test, Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and Scheffe's post hoc test, with the level of statistical significance established at 0.05. The results demonstrated significant improvements in agility among all experimental groups when compared with the control group. Furthermore, the integrated Core Strength and SAQ Training programme produced the greatest enhancement in Illinois Agility Test performance, indicating that the combined training approach is more effective than either isolated Core Strength Training or SAQ Training for improving agility in male inter-collegiate kabaddi players.

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs) have drawn significant attention because of its diverse applications in medicine, environmental remediation, catalysis, and nanotechnology. Green synthesis provides an environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable alternative to conventional chemical methods. This study aimed to synthesize and characterize CuONPs using the leaf extract of Securidaca longipedunculata as a natural reducing and stabilizing agent. Copper oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by reacting aqueous leaf extract with copper (II) sulphate pentahydrate (CuSO₄·5H₂O) under controlled laboratory conditions without the use of hazardous chemical reducing agents. The synthesized nanoparticles and the crude leaf extract were characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) to evaluate their morphology, surface characteristics, and particle size. Microscopic analyses confirmed the successful formation of CuONPs with predominantly nanoscale dimensions and characteristic morphological features, indicating effective reduction and stabilization by the phytochemicals present in the plant extract. The findings demonstrates that Securidaca longipedunculata leaf extract was an efficient, eco-friendly bioreducing agent for the green synthesis of CuONPs. This environmentally sustainable approach offers a promising route for producing copper oxide nanoparticles with potential applications in biomedical, pharmaceutical, and environmental technologies.

Generative AI tools are increasingly embedded in product management workflows, yet their cognitive consequences remain poorly understood. This study investigates cognitive dependency on generative AI among product managers, examining effects on critical thinking, innovation behavior, and decision quality. Using a sequential mixed-methods design, we surveyed 214 practicing product managers and conducted semi-structured interviews with 28 participants. Quantitative analyses revealed a significant negative association between AI reliance frequency and critical thinking engagement (beta = -0.37, p < .001), alongside reduced originality in independent ideation tasks among high reliers. Three qualitative themes emerged: automation complacency, an efficiency paradox in which speed gains were offset by downstream rework, and suppression of divergent ideation through anchoring on AI-generated outputs. Critical reflection practice moderated all three associations; AI literacy did not. Findings extend cognitive offloading theory to professional AI use and carry implications for tool design, organizational practice, and responsible AI adoption in knowledge-intensive environments.

Background
Gastritis is an inflammatory condition of the gastric mucosa and ranks among the most frequently encountered disorders of the upper gastrointestinal tract [1, 2]. It may be acute or chronic, and is commonly precipitated by irregular dietary habits, spicy and acidic food, prolonged use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, alcohol, tobacco, psychological stress and Helicobacter pylori infection [3, 4, 5, 6]. Conventional management with antacids, proton pump inhibitors and eradication regimens provides symptomatic relief but is frequently followed by recurrence [7, 8]. Homoeopathy offers an individualized, constitution-based therapeutic model, yet systematic clinical evaluation of its role in gastritis remains limited.
Methods
A prospective, single-group, before–after interventional study was conducted over 12 months in the outpatient department and peripheral centres of Ananya College of Homoeopathic Medicine & Hospital, Kalol, Gujarat. Fifty patients with a clinical diagnosis of gastritis, fulfilling predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, were enrolled by purposive sampling. Detailed case taking was carried out according to the guidelines of the Organon of Medicine; symptoms were analysed, evaluated and repertorised, and an individualized homoeopathic medicine was prescribed in a suitable potency and repetition. Symptom severity was measured with the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) before and after treatment, and the paired sample t-test was applied.
Results
The mean GSRS score fell from 31.50 ± 4.92 before treatment to 9.52 ± 4.03 after treatment, a mean reduction of 21.98 points (95% CI 20.76–23.20). The paired sample t-test showed a highly significant difference (t = 36.13, df = 49, p < 0.00001), and pre- and post-treatment scores were moderately correlated (r = 0.553, p = 0.00003). The mean percentage improvement was 70.51%. Marked improvement was recorded in 12 patients (24%), moderate improvement in 27 (54%) and mild improvement in 11 (22%); no patient remained unimproved. Nux vomica (22%) and Lycopodium (18%) were the most frequently indicated remedies.
Conclusion
Individualized homoeopathic treatment was associated with a statistically highly significant and clinically meaningful reduction in gastritis symptom severity as measured by the GSRS, and all patients showed some degree of improvement. As the study used a single-group design without a parallel control arm, the findings should be regarded as preliminary; randomized controlled trials with larger samples and longer follow-up are recommended to confirm the observed effect.

Bixa orellana L. (annatto), a member of the Bixaceae family, is a natural source of carotenoids, particularly bixin, with promising medicinal properties. This study evaluated the morphology, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and antimicrobial potential of seeds from three annatto phenotypes (red, yellow, and green). Seed extracts were prepared using hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol, and hydroethanolic solvents. The methanolic extract of the green phenotype exhibited the highest total phenolic content and the strongest free radical scavenging activity. The highest total antioxidant activity was observed in the hexane extract of the green phenotype and the methanolic extract of the red phenotype. Hydroethanolic extracts from all three phenotypes showed potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. These findings indicate that Bixa orellana seeds are a valuable natural source of antioxidant and antimicrobial compounds, highlighting their potential use in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food applications.

Indriya is a fundamental concept in Ayurveda and occupies an important position in the study of Kriya Sharir. In Ayurveda, Indriya is not limited to the gross anatomical sense organs but represents a functional faculty responsible for perception and acquisition of knowledge. The process of perception involves coordination among Atma, Mana, Indriya and Indriyartha, followed by appropriate cognition. Ayurveda describes five Jnanendriya—Chakshurendriya, Shrotrendriya, Ghranendriya, Rasanendriya and Sparshanendriya—and explains their respective objects, sites, dominant Mahabhuta and functions.
Objective
The present literary review aims to explore the Ayurvedic concept of Indriya with special reference to Kriya Sharir, including its classification, Panchamahabhuta predominance, Indriya Panchapanchaka, Indriyartha Sannikarsha, perception, functional physiology and its possible correlation with contemporary sensory physiology.
Materials and Methods
A literary review was conducted using classical Ayurvedic texts including Charaka Samhita, Sushruta Samhita and Ashtanga Hridaya, along with contemporary Ayurvedic review articles and modern physiology literature. Relevant publications concerning Indriya, sensory perception, cognition and receptor physiology were identified and critically reviewed.
Results
The review indicates that Ayurveda conceptualizes Indriya as a functional and cognitive apparatus rather than merely a gross organ. The five Jnanendriya perceive their specific Vishaya through an integrated process involving Indriya, Indriyartha, Mana and Atma. The concept of Indriya Panchapanchaka provides a comprehensive framework consisting of five sense faculties, five sense-related substances, five Adhishthana, five sense objects and five forms of Buddhi. Contemporary sensory physiology explains perception through specialized receptors, sensory pathways and central processing. Although direct equivalence between Ayurvedic Indriya and modern anatomical structures cannot be established, functional parallels can be explored.
Conclusion
The Ayurvedic concept of Indriya represents an integrated model of sensation and perception that includes sensory apparatus, stimulus, cognition and consciousness. Understanding Indriya from the perspective of Kriya Sharir provides a conceptual foundation for studying normal sensory physiology and may contribute to interdisciplinary research integrating classical Ayurvedic physiology with contemporary neuroscience.

Plant-based dietary patterns encompassing strict vegan, lacto-ovo-vegetarian, Mediterranean, DASH, and healthy semi-vegetarian patterns have been extensively studied for their associations with cardiometabolic outcomes. We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis following PRISMA 2020 guidelines to synthesise evidence on plant-based dietary patterns and cardiometabolic outcomes. Following systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, and Web of Science through December 2024, 8,866 records were identified and 62 studies (54 included in meta-analysis) including approximately 1.84 million participants met inclusion criteria. The pooled effect for all-cause mortality across all plant-based patterns was RR 0.82 (95% CI 0.78-0.86) compared to standard dietary patterns. Disease-specific outcomes showed substantial benefit: cardiovascular mortality RR 0.78 (0.74-0.82), type 2 diabetes incidence RR 0.74 (0.68-0.80), major cardiovascular events RR 0.76 (0.70-0.82). Effect sizes were largest for Mediterranean and strict plant-based patterns, and largest in patients with established disease or high cardiovascular risk. Heterogeneity was moderate (I² ~ 60%) with no evidence of publication bias by funnel plot or Egger's test. The findings support continued investment in plant-based dietary pattern promotion as a public health priority.

There are few African American women writers for whom the past serves the foundation for weaving their stories. Lorene Cary is one among them, as she represents the history of slavery in her novel The Price of a Child(1995), which is confined with specific time frames. She interweaves individual life stories with African American history, making national, communal and individual histories compete one another and at times overlap. Linda Hutcheon(1989) argues that in order to represent history in fiction image, narrative, and ideology play a vital role. So, she handles the technique of mixing historical and fictive representation as a form of historiographic metafiction, where fact and fiction and play a vital role. As historical facts are explanatory, the postmodern narrative emplotments focus on how the past is known at present through factual and fictional form.
This paper intends to analyse Lorene Cary’s way of rewriting the history of African Americans through her,The Price of a Child (1995). Cary recreates the history of slavery through her fictional character Ginnie Pryor and fictionalizes the constitutional issues such as the Underground Railroad, Fugitive slave act, and Antislavery meeting through Ginnie’s life from bondage to freedom. She admits that the novel will encourage reflection about the past and present issues that both unite and divide the history of African American presence in America. Moreover, the history of slavery in Philadelphia is not written by any historians and it is only known through the traces and documents.
According to Baudrillard the real is totally replaced by justification and as a result of this, the possibility of “critical and speculative distance has been collapsed.”(Hutcheon 33) So, in the postmodern world with the creation of new science and technologies the models produced to understand the world have become more real, more sophisticated and more accurate than reality itself. This is one of the main concerns outlined in Cary’s novel and this paper aims to re/present and reconstruct the fragmented past in which she introduces history as a form of story and substantiates through her novel.

Dravyaguna (Ayurvedic pharmacology and materia medica) and Agadtantra evam Vidhi Vaidyaka (Ayurvedic toxicology, forensic medicine, and medical jurisprudence) are conventionally taught as separate subjects within the undergraduate and postgraduate Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) curriculum, yet both disciplines rest upon a shared classical substratum: the pharmacodynamic framework of Rasa (taste), Guna (physical properties), Virya (potency), Vipaka (post-digestive transformation), and Prabhava (unique action), collectively termed Rasapanchaka. This narrative review synthesises peer-reviewed literature, classical textual sources, and contemporary regulatory documentation published mainly between 2015 and 2025 to examine the conceptual, clinical, and educational convergence of these two branches. Key areas of overlap identified include the Vishaghna Dravya (anti-toxic drug) corpus described across the Brihattrayi, the Ojas–Visha polarity that underlies antidotal pharmacology, the safety evaluation and pharmacovigilance of Rasashastra (herbo-mineral) preparations, environmental and occupational toxicology as elaborated under Janpadodhvansa and Dushi Visha, food toxicology (Aahara Vishakta), and the curricular restructuring undertaken by the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) under Competency-Based Education (CBME). The review argues that a deliberately collaborative, cross-departmental approach to teaching, research, and quality-assured documentation strengthens both the scientific credibility and the clinical safety of Ayurvedic practice, and proposes specific avenues, including joint Dravya-Visha databases, shared OSCE/OSPE-based competency stations, and collaborative pharmacovigilance protocols, through which Dravyaguna and Agadtantra departments can generate reproducible, internationally publishable evidence.

Agrowaste, also referred to as agricultural or agro-industrial waste, is made up of non-edible residues produced during crop cultivation, harvesting, and food processing, such as fruit peels, vegetable peels, seeds, husks, pomace, stalks, leaves, and bran. Previously considered waste, these by-products are now recognized as significant sources of bioactive phytochemicals, such as dietary fiber, polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, carotenoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and essential oils. These compounds exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anticancer, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and wound-healing qualities. Recent advances in green extraction techniques and nanotechnology have made it easier to recover these bioactive components for use in medicines, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and functional foods. In addition to promoting the circular bioeconomy and lowering environmental pollution, the valorization of agrowaste offers affordable and sustainable sources of medicinal agents. This review highlights the potential contribution of agrowaste to sustainable healthcare and drug development by summarizing the main categories of agrowaste, their phytochemical composition, disease-specific medicinal applications, mechanisms of action, and future prospects for pharmaceutical utilization.

Contemporary conflicts increasingly demonstrate the limitations of peacebuilding approaches that focus primarily on military intervention, ceasefire agreements and political settlements. Although such approaches may reduce immediate violence, they often leave unresolved the inequalities, exclusion, mistrust, historical grievances and social divisions that allow conflict to re-emerge. This article examines the relevance of Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence to contemporary peacebuilding, with particular attention to African contexts. It focuses on three interconnected concepts: ahimsa, satyagraha and sarvodaya. The article argues that ahimsa provides the ethical foundation for peacebuilding, satyagraha provides a practical means of confronting injustice without reproducing violence, while sarvodaya provides the social objective of inclusive development and shared wellbeing.
The study adopts a qualitative approach based on a structured literature review and conceptual analysis. Foundational writings on Gandhian philosophy were examined alongside scholarship on positive peace, conflict transformation, civil resistance, reconciliation, development, climate-related insecurity and African peacebuilding. The analysis demonstrates that Gandhian nonviolence is more than the rejection of physical violence. It represents an integrated approach that connects personal ethics, civic action, social justice and institutional transformation.
The discussion applies this framework to Rwanda and Nigeria. Rwanda illustrates the complexity of reconciliation, justice and social healing following mass violence, while Nigeria demonstrates the relationship between governance, inequality, identity, resource competition and conflict. The article proposes a six-stage Gandhian peacebuilding framework based on restoring human dignity, seeking truth and identifying injustice, promoting disciplined nonviolent action, transforming relationships and structures, building inclusive wellbeing, and ultimately advancing positive peace. The study concludes that Gandhian nonviolence should not be treated as a substitute for legitimate security institutions, justice systems or development policy. Rather, it provides a complementary ethical and practical framework for transforming the relationships and structures that sustain conflict. Its continuing relevance lies in the connection it establishes between the methods used to pursue peace and the kind of peace that those methods ultimately produce.

Tellurite glasses occupy an important position among oxide glasses because their structural chemistry permits substantial compositional modification while retaining useful optical, thermal, spectroscopic and radiation-interaction characteristics. The classical development of tellurite-glass science began with the structural studies of TeO2 glass by Barady, followed by investigations of glass formation and network connectivity. These studies established that the local structure of tellurite glass can retain important features of the parent TeO2 crystal even though long-range crystalline order is lost [1–3]. Subsequent work demonstrated that modifiers and heavy-metal oxides can alter Te–O coordination, network connectivity and physical properties, thereby expanding the range of functional tellurite compositions [4–6]. More recent studies have investigated ZnO-, Er2O3-, Sm2O3-, PbO-, Nb2O5-, rare-earth- and Ag-containing systems for optical, thermal, radiation-shielding, nonlinear and laser applications [6–22]. In particular, rare-earth-doped tellurite glasses have attracted sustained interest because of their infrared emission and suitability as gain media. Nd3+-doped tellurite fibres and microspheres have demonstrated laser operation, while Ag-containing systems provide routes for modifying luminescence through local-field and energy-transfer effects [23–37]. This review summarizes the structural foundations of tellurite glasses, the role of composition and modifiers, recent developments in heavy-metal-oxide tellurite systems, and the progression toward photonic, laser, radiation-shielding, electronic and nanostructured applications.

Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng. is an important medicinal plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family.It is traditionally used for the treatment of cough, cold, sore throat, bronchitis, and other ailments.The plant possesses several pharmacological properties, particularly antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.This review focuses mainly on the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antibacterial potential of its leaves and stems.Different solvent extracts have been investigated for their biological activities.Antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH, reducing power, nitric oxide scavenging, and total antioxidant assays.
The extracts showed significant free-radical-scavenging and antioxidant activity.Phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, and terpenoids contribute considerably to this activity.Rosmarinic acid was identified as an important phenolic constituent in the stem extract.Leaf extracts also demonstrated antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity against bacterial pathogens.The antimicrobial activity varied with the developmental stage of the leaves.Antibacterial activity was reported against organisms including Staphylococcus aureus and MRSA.The activity may be associated with phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and essential oils.Overall, P. amboinicus represents a promising natural source of bioactive compounds.Further studies are required to identify active constituents and establish their therapeutic potential.

Nicotine and alcohol are widely consumed psychoactive substances with important and potentially interacting effects on cardiovascular health. This narrative review synthesizes recent evidence on nicotine delivered through combustible cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products, smokeless tobacco, nicotine pouches, and nicotine-replacement therapy, together with low, moderate, heavy, and binge patterns of alcohol consumption. Nicotine acutely activates sympathetic and catecholaminergic pathways, increasing heart rate, myocardial workload, vasoconstriction, and blood pressure; experimental studies also implicate endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, arterial stiffness, and thrombogenicity. Combustible tobacco produces substantially greater toxicant exposure because nicotine is accompanied by carbon monoxide, oxidants, particulates, aldehydes, and other combustion products. Alcohol shows a dose-related association with blood pressure and incident hypertension, while heavy and binge drinking are consistently linked with atrial fibrillation, cardiomyopathy, stroke, and heart failure. Observational reports of cardiovascular benefit from low-to-moderate alcohol intake remain uncertain because of residual confounding, exposure misclassification, and inconsistent causal evidence. Human epidemiological studies suggest statistical interaction between smoking and alcohol use for blood pressure, arterial stiffness, and selected cardiovascular outcomes, although direct evidence for modern combinations such as nicotine vaping plus alcohol remains limited. Therapeutic nicotine replacement should be distinguished from recreational nicotine use because randomized evidence has not demonstrated the major cardiovascular-event profile established for combustible smoking. Overall, reducing combustible tobacco exposure, preventing recreational nicotine initiation, supporting evidence-based cessation, and reducing heavy or binge alcohol consumption remain important cardiovascular prevention strategies. Long-term product-specific and co-exposure studies are still required.

This paper presents a position on the management of lifelong learning and skills development within the Nigerian education system as a strategic pathway for building a productive, innovative, and globally competitive workforce. It argues that effective management of lifelong learning initiatives in schools is critical for fostering critical thinking, creativity, digital literacy, problem-solving abilities, and entrepreneurial competencies among learners. It further contends that educational stakeholders have significant roles to play in creating learning environments that encourage continuous knowledge acquisition and skills enhancement beyond formal schooling. The paper highlights challenges such as inadequate funding, weak technological infrastructure, limited teacher capacity, policy inconsistencies, and poor access to quality learning resources, which hinder the realization of lifelong learning objectives in Nigeria. It advocates for curriculum reforms, investment in educational technology, continuous professional development for teachers, strengthened school-community partnerships, and supportive policy frameworks to enhance the management of lifelong learning and skills development programmes. The paper concludes that the sustainability of Nigeria's human capital development agenda depends largely on the ability of educational institutions to cultivate a culture of continuous learning and skills acquisition that prepares learners for lifelong personal, professional and societal contributions.

Stress is regarded as one of the greatest obstacles in the lives of college students studying in higher learning institutions across the globe. College students have to deal with tough academics, exams, assignments, monetary matters, and even personal issues simultaneously. The current report looks into the causes, effects, and coping mechanisms associated with academic stress among college students. The report is informed by evidence gathered from studies carried out in the field of education and psychology regarding the state of being of students and their performance academically. There are various major causes of academic stress, and they include tough academics, bad time management, high expectations of performance, poverty, and lack of social support. These causes result in emotional exhaustion and raise the levels of anxiety and frustrations of the students. In addition, the report outlines the effects of academic stress on both mental and physical health of individuals, performance in academics, and social life. Evidence shows that high levels of stress cause depression, insomnia, loss of motivation, concentration issues, and poor performance. Good time management skills, a balanced lifestyle, effective support systems, counseling and therapy options, and good coping mechanisms have all been noted to be effective means through which to promote better student wellbeing. Universities also have a role to play in this by providing a conducive learning environment for their students and helping them stay mentally healthy. It is clear from the results of this study that academic stress is a problem that needs to be addressed.

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a neurological emergency characterized by bleeding into the subarachnoid space, most commonly due to rupture of an intracranial aneurysm. Prompt and accurate imaging is central to diagnosis, risk stratification, and prognostication. Non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) remains the first-line investigation, but contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) — including CT angiography, CT venography, and perfusion CT — has assumed an increasingly important role in identifying the underlying vascular cause, evaluating the extent of hemorrhage, and predicting complications such as vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia. This review synthesizes current literature on the diagnostic and prognostic value of CECT in SAH and situates these findings alongside evidence from a clinical case series of 60 patients evaluated with CECT. Across the reviewed literature and the case data, aneurysmal rupture emerges as the leading etiology of SAH, diffuse hemorrhage and intraventricular extension are consistently associated with greater severity, and early CT imaging shows high diagnostic sensitivity, although clinical outcomes remain highly variable even with timely detection. The review concludes that CECT is a valuable tool for early detection and risk assessment in SAH, but that favorable outcomes depend on the integration of imaging findings with clinical grading, prompt intervention, and sustained multidisciplinary follow-up.

Transfusion-transmitted infections (TTIs) — chiefly hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and syphilis — remain a global blood-safety concern despite decades of improvement in donor screening. This review synthesises the epidemiological and screening-technology literature underlying a retrospective cross-sectional thesis study of 6,346 blood donors at a tertiary-care hospital blood bank in Sirsa, Haryana (October 2024 to June 2026), which recorded an overall TTI seroreactivity of 3.29%, with syphilis (VDRL, 2.68%) and HCV (2.26%) as the leading markers. The review traces the historical evolution of transfusion safety from the discovery of the ABO system and Rh factor through the adoption of ELISA and, more recently, Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT); summarises global and Indian epidemiological data showing marked regional heterogeneity in HBV, HCV, and HIV prevalence among donors; and compares findings across twelve published donor-screening studies from India and neighbouring countries. Across studies, male donors consistently predominate (>90%), and prevalence differences are attributable to donor-selection practices, the proportion of voluntary versus replacement donors, regional disease burden, and screening-assay sensitivity. The review concludes that while HIV and HBV transmission risk has fallen substantially with serological screening, HCV and syphilis remain comparatively persistent concerns, and that wider adoption of NAT, expansion of the Haemovigilance Programme of India, and promotion of 100% voluntary non-remunerated donation are the priority measures for further reducing residual transfusion risk.

Stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality and long-term disability worldwide, requiring rapid diagnosis and timely therapeutic intervention to improve patient outcomes. Computed tomography (CT) remains the first-line imaging modality in the emergency evaluation of suspected stroke because of its widespread availability, rapid acquisition time, and high diagnostic accuracy. Non-contrast computed tomography (NCCT) is the initial imaging technique used to differentiate ischemic stroke from intracerebral hemorrhage, while contrast-enhanced CT techniques, including CT angiography (CTA) and CT perfusion (CTP), provide additional information regarding vascular occlusion, collateral circulation, cerebral perfusion, and tissue viability. Recent advances in multidetector CT technology have significantly improved the early detection of acute ischemic stroke and facilitated evidence-based treatment decisions, particularly regarding thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy. This review summarizes current evidence regarding stroke epidemiology, major risk factors, principles of stroke imaging, advantages and limitations of non-contrast and contrast-enhanced CT, diagnostic accuracy, and recent technological developments. Evidence indicates that NCCT remains indispensable for rapid exclusion of hemorrhage, whereas CTA and CTP substantially improve identification of large vessel occlusion, ischemic penumbra, and salvageable brain tissue. Integration of contrast-enhanced imaging into acute stroke protocols has enhanced diagnostic confidence, optimized patient selection for reperfusion therapy, and improved clinical outcomes. Continued advances in artificial intelligence, automated image processing, and multimodal imaging are expected to further strengthen stroke diagnosis and management.

The National Service Scheme (NSS) plays a significant role in nurturing social responsibility, civic consciousness, and community engagement among students in higher education institutions. The present study examines the role of the National Service Scheme (NSS) in fostering social responsibility among students of Guru Kashi University, Punjab. The study is based on primary data collected from 200 NSS student volunteers through a structured questionnaire. A descriptive research design was adopted to assess students' perceptions regarding the influence of NSS activities on social responsibility, leadership, teamwork, environmental awareness, community service, and personal development. The findings indicate that participation in NSS has a positive impact on students' sense of social commitment and civic responsibility. Most respondents reported that regular involvement in community outreach programmes, cleanliness drives, health awareness campaigns, blood donation camps, and environmental initiatives enhanced their empathy, communication skills, leadership abilities, and willingness to contribute to society. The study further reveals that NSS activities encourage students to develop ethical values, volunteerism, and a greater understanding of social issues while strengthening their confidence and decision-making capabilities. The findings suggest that the National Service Scheme serves as an effective platform for experiential learning by integrating academic knowledge with meaningful community service. The study concludes that higher education institutions should strengthen NSS initiatives through enhanced institutional support, regular training, and community partnerships to further promote socially responsible citizenship and holistic student development.

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI), which includes text-to-image, text-to-video and synthetic 3D avatar technologies, has the potential to improve digital accessibility. However, the large datasets used to train these multimodal models carry serious geographic, linguistic and cultural biases, and they support mostly high-resource languages such as American Sign Language (ASL). This paper examines the lack of training data for Sri Lankan Sign Language (SSL), a unique visual-spatial language used by the Deaf community in Sri Lanka. The study is a structured literature review. It examines the published record on generative AI and sign language, the documented state of SSL datasets and recognition research, the literature on digital marginalization and algorithmic content distribution, and the literature on data sovereignty and community governance. The findings show that SSL is absent from the documented training data of generative models, that the country's existing resources are small, recognition oriented and unevenly documented, and that the technical gap is inseparable from a governance gap. In addition, the literature indicates that algorithm-based platforms reduce the reach of SSL content because it does not carry spoken audio in Sinhala, Tamil or English. The paper proposes a community-governed data sovereignty framework suited to the legal and technological context of Sri Lanka, in order to prevent the algorithmic erasure of SSL.

The legal status of children born outside marriage has undergone a profound transformation across jurisdictions over the past centuryfrom complete disinheritance and social ostracism to formal equality with children born within marriage. Yet despite significant legislative progress, the gap between formal legal equality and substantive rights realization persists. This paper examines the historical evolution of illegitimacy law, analyzes the international human rights framework governing non marital children, compares legislative approaches across major legal systems, and critically evaluates China’s current legal framework under the Civil Code. It argues that while China’s formal commitment to equal treatment dates back to 1950placing it ahead of many Western jurisdictions at the timethe persistence of the legitimate/illegitimate binary, the absence of robust paternity establishment mechanisms, and institutional barriers in implementation continue to undermine the rights of non marital children. The paper concludes by proposing a comprehensive reform agenda centred on abolishing the distinction, establishing a unified parenthood framework, strengthening and legitimation procedures, and implementing the best interests of the child principle as the foundational guiding norm of Chinese family law.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as one of the most transformative technologies of the twenty-first century, reshaping various sectors including healthcare, business, agriculture, and education. In the educational context, AI has significantly influenced teaching methodologies, learning experiences, assessment practices, research activities, and academic administration. AI-powered technologies such as intelligent tutoring systems, adaptive learning platforms, virtual assistants, automated grading systems, learning analytics, and predictive models have created new opportunities for personalized and student-centered education. These technologies enable educators to identify individual learning needs, provide timely feedback, improve instructional planning, and enhance institutional efficiency .This theoretical research paper examines the major applications of AI in education, discusses its benefits and limitations, and explores future possibilities for educational transformation. The paper concludes that AI should be viewed as a supportive technology that enhances human teaching and learning rather than replacing educators. When integrated responsibly, AI has the potential to improve educational quality, accessibility, efficiency, and innovation across all levels of education.

The marketing environment has changed significantly because consumers now spend much of their time online. They search for information, compare products, read reviews, and interact with brands through websites, social media, and search engines before making purchase decisions. As a result, businesses can no longer depend only on traditional marketing methods such as television advertisements, newspaper ads, billboards, cold calls, or direct mail.
To address these changes, businesses have adopted digital inbound marketing. Instead of interrupting consumers with advertisements, inbound marketing aims to attract potential customers by providing valuable, relevant, and engaging content. It focuses on creating trust and building long-term relationships with consumers. Customers voluntarily choose to interact with the company because it offers useful information, solutions to their problems, or content that matches their interests.

Technology has become an important tool for enhancing crime prevention and public security, yet its adoption within Malawi's security sector remains limited. This study examined the influence of technology integration on crime prevention at Lilongwe Police Station using a quantitative correlational research design. Data were collected from 39 police officers through structured questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS with descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, and simple linear regression.
The findings identified the 997 Rapid Response System as the primary technology supporting crime prevention. A strong positive relationship was found between technology integration and crime prevention effectiveness (r = .845, p < .001), with technology explaining 71.3% of the variation in crime prevention performance (R² = .713). However, inadequate infrastructure, limited funding, insufficient ICT training, weak technical support, and low public awareness hinder effective implementation.
The study concludes that technology integration is essential for improving crime prevention in Malawi. It recommends greater investment in digital infrastructure, continuous ICT capacity building, stronger technical support, and increased public awareness to enhance technology-enabled policing and inform security sector modernization.

The Uniform Premarital Agreement Act (UPAA), 1983, and its successor, the Uniform Premarital and Marital Agreements Act (UPMAA), 2012, represent two of the most consequential legislative interventions in American family law. This article examines the historical, social, and jurisprudential factors that precipitated the need for a uniform legislative framework governing premarital and marital agreements in the United States, tracing the evolution from common law hostility towards such agreements to their contemporary recognition as instruments of contractual autonomy and financial planning. The article further evaluates the positive outcomes realized in the several states that have adopted the UPAA and the UPMAA, assessing gains in legal certainty, fairness, interstate enforceability, and protection of economically vulnerable parties. Through a doctrinal analysis of the acts and supporting case law, the article argues that the uniform law approach, while imperfectly implemented, has fundamentally transformed the landscape of premarital and marital contracting in the United States and offers valuable lessons for jurisdictions yet to adopt a statutory framework.

The adoption of e-business at the microeconomic level of retail, wholesale, and labor market transactions has an enormous impact on the performance of firms and the eco- nomic welfare of consumers and workers. This article reviews, in broad outlines, the economics of e-business, focusing on empirical research. The fundamental notion that e- business and adoption of ICT lowers the cost of transferring, storing, and processing in- formation is used to organize the examination. E-business spheres of impact covered include B2C and B2B e-commerce, the labor market, and the productivity of firms. This article covers both the predicted impacts of e-business on the economy suggested by eco-nomic theory and evidence on their empirical magnitude, building a framework to under- stand why e-business has proliferated and what the economic benefits are. The article concludes with some of the new policy challenges accompanying the rewards from e- business in the economy, touching on issues of price discrimination, competition, and some disadvantages of new markets.

Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle) is one of the most important medicinal plants in modern cancer pharmacology because it gave rise to the vinca alkaloids, especially vinblastine and vincristine. At the same time, it occupies a distinct place in traditional medicine, where it is known as Sadabahar/Sadaphuli in Ayurveda-oriented Indian practice and Chang Chun Hua (長春花) in Chinese herbal use. This review critically synthesizes traditional medicine references, phytochemistry, anticancer mechanisms, preclinical studies on crude extracts, and clinical evidence derived from purified alkaloids and semisynthetic congeners. Contemporary ethnopharmacologic literature shows that C. roseus contains a chemically rich metabolome dominated by monoterpene indole alkaloids and bisindole alkaloids, while mechanistic studies establish that its principal anticancer agents disrupt tubulin dynamics, induce mitotic arrest, and trigger apoptotic cell death. Experimental studies demonstrate that aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts exert cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic activity in leukemia and breast cancer cell models, although standardization, active-principle attribution, and translational robustness remain limited. In contrast, the clinical anticancer contribution of C. roseus is definitive when considered through plant-derived vinca alkaloids: vincristine remains fundamental in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia, vinblastine is embedded in Hodgkin lymphoma regimens, and vinorelbine has demonstrated activity in non-small-cell lung cancer. Overall, the evidence indicates that the anticancer value of C. roseus is clinically validated primarily through purified alkaloids rather than crude botanical preparations. Future progress depends on biosynthetic engineering, extracts standardization, toxicity-aware development, and rigorously designed clinical trials of well-characterized plant preparations. [1-14]

This study assessed the effectiveness of a rainwater harvesting and filtration system at Zamfara State University (ZAMSUT) to enhance water availability and quality. Thirty rainwater samples were collected and analyzed before and after filtration using a gravel and activated carbon unit. Parameters such as pH, turbidity, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), and total coliform count were measured. The analysis revealed that an average rainfall of 28.73 mm yielded approximately 9,766.67 liters of harvested water. Filtration significantly improved water quality, increasing mean pH from 6.26 to 7.13 and reducing turbidity from 17.36 NTU to 2.84 NTU, TDS from 167.30 mg/L to 96.13 mg/L, and coliform count from 165.37 CFU/100 mL to 9.27 CFU/100 mL, with all changes showing statistical significance (p < 0.05). Moreover, a strong positive correlation (r = 0.998) between rainfall and harvested volume was found, with rainfall accounting for 99.6% of the variation in water volume (R² = 0.996). The Water Quality Index improved from 83.30 (Poor) to 29.13 (Good) post-filtration, demonstrating the system's effectiveness. The study concludes that combining rainwater harvesting with effective filtration offers a sustainable, eco-friendly, and cost-efficient solution for enhancing water supply and quality at ZAMSUT.

This study explored the influence of effective communication on organizational performance while considering the moderating role of organizational culture through a survey of 220 employees. Utilizing a structured questionnaire, data were analyzed using statistical methods, revealing strong positive perceptions of communication, culture, and performance. Findings indicated that effective communication significantly enhances organizational performance, with organizational culture also playing a positive role. Moderation analysis confirmed that organizational culture amplifies the impact of communication on performance, with the combined model explaining 64.1% of performance variation. The study emphasizes the importance of fostering effective communication and a supportive culture for achieving sustainable performance.

प्लास्टिक प्रदूषण वर्तमान समय की सबसे गंभीर पर्यावरणीय समस्याओं में से एक है, जिसने भूमि, जल, वायु तथा जैव विविधता पर व्यापक नकारात्मक प्रभाव डाला है। एकल-उपयोग प्लास्टिक (Single-use Plastic) के बढ़ते उपयोग ने अपशिष्ट प्रबंधन की चुनौती को और अधिक जटिल बना दिया है। इस संदर्भ में पर्यावरण शिक्षा विद्यार्थियों में पर्यावरण संरक्षण के प्रति जागरूकता, सकारात्मक दृष्टिकोण तथा उत्तरदायित्वपूर्ण व्यवहार विकसित करने का एक प्रभावी माध्यम है। प्रस्तुत अध्ययन एक समीक्षात्मक (Review) अध्ययन है, जिसका उद्देश्य पर्यावरण शिक्षा के माध्यम से प्लास्टिक प्रदूषण नियंत्रण से संबंधित उपलब्ध राष्ट्रीय एवं अंतरराष्ट्रीय शोधों, नीतियों तथा साहित्य का विश्लेषण करना है। अध्ययन में यह स्पष्ट किया गया है कि विद्यालयों एवं उच्च शिक्षा संस्थानों में पर्यावरण शिक्षा, प्रायोगिक गतिविधियों, प्लास्टिक-मुक्त परिसर अभियानों, पुनर्चक्रण (Recycling) कार्यक्रमों तथा सतत विकास आधारित शिक्षण पद्धतियों के माध्यम से विद्यार्थियों में पर्यावरणीय चेतना को प्रभावी रूप से विकसित किया जा सकता है। समीक्षा से यह भी ज्ञात होता है कि केवल सैद्धांतिक ज्ञान पर्याप्त नहीं है, बल्कि व्यवहारिक सहभागिता, सामुदायिक भागीदारी तथा संस्थागत सहयोग भी आवश्यक हैं। अध्ययन के निष्कर्ष संकेत देते हैं कि पर्यावरण शिक्षा विद्यार्थियों के ज्ञान, दृष्टिकोण एवं व्यवहार में सकारात्मक परिवर्तन लाने तथा प्लास्टिक प्रदूषण को कम करने में महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका निभाती है। यह अध्ययन शिक्षकों, नीति-निर्माताओं एवं शिक्षा संस्थानों के लिए उपयोगी सुझाव प्रस्तुत करता है तथा सतत विकास लक्ष्यों (SDGs) की प्राप्ति में पर्यावरण शिक्षा के महत्व को रेखांकित करता है।

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) remain one of the leading causes of preventable morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospitalization, and increased healthcare expenditure worldwide. Among all infection prevention measures, hand hygiene is universally recognized as the single most effective intervention for interrupting pathogen transmission within healthcare settings. Despite strong international recommendations, compliance with hand hygiene protocols among healthcare workers (HCWs) remains suboptimal because of inadequate knowledge, excessive workload, limited access to alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHRs), and organizational barriers. The analyzed thesis evaluated the effectiveness of a multimodal hand hygiene intervention among healthcare workers and demonstrated a significant increase in overall compliance from 48% before intervention to 66% after intervention. Simultaneously, the incidence of major hospital-acquired infections—including catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI), surgical site infections (SSI), and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP)—declined substantially following implementation of the intervention. This review summarizes current evidence regarding hospital-acquired infections, hand hygiene compliance, World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, multimodal intervention strategies, barriers to implementation, and future directions for sustainable infection prevention. The available evidence consistently supports multimodal hand hygiene programs as cost-effective strategies that improve healthcare worker compliance and significantly reduce healthcare-associated infections.

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most significant bacterial pathogens responsible for a wide spectrum of community-acquired and healthcare-associated infections. Its remarkable ability to form biofilms and develop resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents has become a major public health concern worldwide. Biofilms are highly organized microbial communities enclosed within a self-produced extracellular polymeric matrix that protects bacterial cells from antibiotics, host immune responses, and environmental stress. Consequently, biofilm-associated infections are often persistent, difficult to eradicate, and associated with recurrent infections and increased healthcare costs. The emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA), and multidrug-resistant strains has further complicated therapeutic management. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding the molecular mechanisms of biofilm formation, major virulence determinants, antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, laboratory diagnostic approaches, and recent advances in antibiofilm therapies. Particular emphasis is placed on the interaction between biofilm development and antibiotic resistance, which significantly contributes to treatment failure. Recent evidence suggests that effective management requires a combination of rapid laboratory diagnosis, antimicrobial stewardship, novel therapeutic agents, and biofilm-targeted treatment strategies. Continued research into quorum sensing inhibitors, bacteriophage therapy, antimicrobial peptides, nanotechnology, and biofilm-dispersing enzymes offers promising opportunities for improving clinical outcomes and combating antimicrobial resistance.

Candidiasis is one of the most common opportunistic fungal infections affecting both immunocompromised and immunocompetent individuals. The disease is caused by yeasts belonging to the genus Candida, with Candida albicans historically being the predominant pathogen. However, over the past two decades, there has been a remarkable increase in infections caused by non-albicans Candida (NAC) species, many of which exhibit reduced susceptibility or intrinsic resistance to commonly prescribed antifungal agents. The emergence of antifungal resistance has become a significant challenge in clinical practice, leading to prolonged hospitalization, increased healthcare costs, therapeutic failures, and higher mortality rates. This review summarizes the current epidemiology of candidiasis, distribution of Candida species, major virulence factors, laboratory diagnostic approaches, antifungal susceptibility patterns, mechanisms of drug resistance, and strategies for effective infection control. Particular emphasis is placed on the increasing prevalence of non-albicans Candida species and the importance of routine species-level identification and antifungal susceptibility testing for guiding appropriate therapy. Recent evidence demonstrates that Amphotericin B and Voriconazole continue to show excellent activity against most Candida isolates, whereas increasing resistance to Fluconazole among Candida glabrata and Candida krusei remains a growing concern. Continuous surveillance, implementation of antifungal stewardship programs, and adoption of advanced molecular diagnostic techniques are essential for improving patient outcomes and preventing the further emergence of antifungal resistance.

The rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae has become one of the most significant public health concerns worldwide. Colistin has traditionally served as the antibiotic of last resort for treating carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae infections. However, the increasing occurrence of colistin-resistant isolates has substantially reduced available therapeutic options, leading to increased morbidity, mortality, prolonged hospitalization, and healthcare costs. Molecular characterization has become indispensable for understanding resistance mechanisms, epidemiology, and transmission pathways of these resistant pathogens. The principal mechanisms of colistin resistance include chromosomal mutations affecting lipopolysaccharide modification pathways and plasmid-mediated mobilized colistin resistance (mcr) genes. Advanced molecular diagnostic techniques, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR), whole genome sequencing (WGS), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and next-generation sequencing (NGS), have significantly improved the detection and surveillance of resistant strains. This review summarizes recent advances in molecular mechanisms, epidemiology, diagnostic techniques, resistance genes, clinical implications, and infection control strategies for colistin-resistant K. pneumoniae. Furthermore, it highlights existing research gaps and future perspectives for effective surveillance and antimicrobial stewardship.

Sepsis remains one of the leading causes of mortality among critically ill patients worldwide, accounting for substantial healthcare burden and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. Early diagnosis and timely therapeutic intervention are crucial for improving patient outcomes; however, clinical manifestations are often nonspecific during the initial stages of the disease. Inflammatory biomarkers have emerged as valuable tools for facilitating the early diagnosis, assessment of disease severity, and prediction of prognosis in septic patients. Biomarkers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), interleukin-6 (IL-6), presepsin, lactate, and various cytokines have demonstrated varying degrees of diagnostic and prognostic utility. This review summarizes the current evidence regarding inflammatory biomarkers in sepsis, highlighting their biological roles, diagnostic performance, clinical applications, and limitations. Furthermore, recent advances in biomarker combinations and emerging molecular markers are discussed. Integrating multiple biomarkers with clinical scoring systems may enhance diagnostic accuracy and facilitate personalized management strategies in critically ill patients.

This paper offers a structured, critical review of a postgraduate thesis investigating the prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility of bacterial isolates — with particular reference to Gram-negative organisms — obtained from surgical site infections (SSIs) and from environmental surfaces in a hospital setting. The reviewed work used a cross-sectional descriptive design, culturing 78 isolates from 58 patients with post-operative wound infections and 59 isolates from 68 environmental swabs, followed by Kirby–Bauer disc-diffusion susceptibility testing. Gram-negative rods accounted for the majority (57.7%) of wound isolates and displayed markedly higher resistance rates than Gram-positive organisms, with Klebsiella pneumoniae (81.3%) and Escherichia coli (74%) showing the highest overall resistance, particularly to ampicillin and cephalosporin-class agents. This review summarises the thesis's rationale, methodology, principal findings and conclusions; situates these findings within the wider antimicrobial-resistance (AMR) literature; and offers a critical appraisal of the study's methodological strengths and limitations, concluding with recommendations for future antibiogram-based surveillance research.

Non-traumatic hemorrhage refers to bleeding that arises without any preceding external injury, typically driven by underlying medical conditions such as chronic hypertension, vascular malformations, coagulation disorders, or anticoagulant therapy. Within the central nervous system it most often presents as spontaneous intracerebral or subarachnoid bleeding, both major contributors to stroke-related disability, while extracranial forms affect the gastrointestinal tract and the postpartum uterus. This review synthesises current literature alongside a prospective clinical study of sixty patients with non-traumatic hemorrhage managed with interventional radiological (IR) techniques, with the aim of consolidating current understanding of its etiology, diagnostic pathway, and treatment outcomes. Across the reviewed evidence and the study cohort, hemorrhage occurred with near-equal frequency in men and women and was most common among middle-aged adults. A precipitating trigger could not be identified in a substantial share of cases, intracranial hemorrhage was the dominant imaging finding, and embolization emerged as the leading interventional technique, associated with favourable outcomes in most patients. These findings reinforce the growing role of image-guided, minimally invasive therapy in the contemporary management of non-traumatic bleeding disorders.

The rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) has transformed various sectors, including healthcare, smart homes, transportation, agriculture, and industrial automation, by enabling seamless communication between interconnected devices. Despite its numerous benefits, IoT technology introduces significant security challenges due to the limited computational resources, heterogeneous network architectures, and increasing number of connected devices. These limitations make IoT networks highly vulnerable to cyber threats such as Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), malware, botnet attacks, spoofing, data breaches, and unauthorized access. Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) play a crucial role in identifying and preventing such attacks by continuously monitoring network activities and detecting abnormal behavior. This review examines recent advancements in novel intrusion detection frameworks designed specifically for IoT environments. It discusses traditional signature-based and anomaly-based detection techniques alongside modern machine learning and deep learning approaches that improve detection accuracy and adaptability. The review also highlights the importance of data preprocessing, feature selection, intelligent classification algorithms, and real-time monitoring in enhancing the performance of IDS. Furthermore, it summarizes the strengths, limitations, and emerging trends of existing frameworks, including lightweight IDS, edge computing, federated learning, blockchain integration, and explainable artificial intelligence for IoT security. The findings indicate that hybrid and AI-driven intrusion detection frameworks offer improved accuracy, reduced false alarm rates, and better scalability compared to conventional methods. However, challenges related to computational complexity, privacy preservation, and evolving cyber threats remain. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of current research developments and identifies potential future directions for developing robust, scalable, and intelligent intrusion detection systems that can effectively secure next-generation IoT networks.

This paper investigates the discursive and structural contradictions in Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus. It primarily argues that the play destabilises traditional binary oppositions. Such as Heaven and Hell, good and evil, soul and body, and knowledge and ignorance. It doesn’t present a coherent moral allegory; rather, it dramatizes the failure of theological, epistemological, and rhetorical systems to produce stable meaning. Through a detailed analysis of its important elements like irony, structural doubling, repetition, and fragmented subjectivity, the paper demonstrates how Doctor Faustus anticipates the poststructuralist insight that meaning is always deferred and identity is constructed through unstable discourse. The tragedy of Faustus lies not in his moral fall alone; it is also enacted in the semantic and ontological crisis that renders repentance, redemption, and even damnation fundamentally ambiguous.

Kingu Msengi Daud is a Tanzanian academic and development practitioner specializing in gender and community development. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Gender and Community Development and a Master’s degree in Community Development, both obtained from the Tengeru Institute of Community Development (TICD)
He has served as an Assistant Lecturer at the Tengeru Institute of Community Development since 2020. In this roles, he has been actively involved in teaching courses in gender studies, research methods, and community development studies for more than five years. His teaching experience is complemented by his strong commitment to mentoring students in both academic and practical development work.
Kingu Msengi Daud has supervised numerous student research projects and dissertations at both diploma and bachelor’s degree levels, contributing to the academic growth of emerging professionals in the field of gender and community development. His supervision work reflects his dedication to building research capacity among students.
Beyond teaching, he has engaged extensively in research and consultancy services focusing on gender issues in various communities. His professional expertise covers gender equality, women’s empowerment, human rights, rural livelihoods, and broader development studies. He has participated in consultancy and training programs for different organizations, particularly in areas such as gender-based violence prevention, gender-responsive budgeting, and gender mainstreaming in public institutions.

The rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) has transformed various sectors, including healthcare, smart homes, transportation, agriculture, and industrial automation, by enabling seamless communication between connected devices. However, the increasing number of IoT devices has also expanded the attack surface, making IoT networks more vulnerable to cyber threats such as malware, denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, botnets, spoofing, and data breaches[4]. Traditional security mechanisms are often insufficient for IoT environments due to the limited processing power, memory, and energy constraints of IoT devices. Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) have emerged as a critical security solution for monitoring network activities, identifying malicious behaviour, and protecting IoT infrastructures from evolving cyberattacks. This survey provides a comprehensive review of Intrusion Detection Systems designed for IoT networks, discussing their architecture, classifications, detection techniques, and deployment approaches[11]. It examines signature-based, anomaly-based, specification-based, and hybrid IDS models while highlighting the role of machine learning and deep learning algorithms in improving detection accuracy and reducing false alarms. The survey also explores the challenges associated with IoT intrusion detection, including resource limitations, scalability, privacy concerns, real-time detection requirements, and the emergence of sophisticated attacks[5]. Furthermore, recent research trends and future directions, such as edge computing, fog computing, block chain integration, federated learning, and artificial intelligence-driven IDS, are presented to enhance IoT security. The findings emphasize that an efficient, lightweight, and intelligent IDS is essential for ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of IoT networks[12]. This survey aims to provide researchers and practitioners with a clear understanding of existing IDS techniques, their strengths and limitations, and potential research opportunities for developing secure and resilient IoT environments.

The increasing dependence on digital networks and internet-based services has resulted in a significant rise in cyber threats and malicious activities. Traditional Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) primarily rely on signature-based approaches, which are often ineffective against emerging and unknown attacks. This paper presents a Machine Learning-based Intrusion Detection System integrated with Forensic Data Logging for enhanced network security and post-incident analysis. The proposed system analyzes network traffic data using machine learning algorithms such as K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) and Random Forest (RF) to classify network activities as normal or malicious. In addition to intrusion detection, the system maintains detailed forensic logs containing attack information, timestamps, protocol details, and prediction confidence scores. The system also generates real-time alerts and email notifications to facilitate rapid incident response. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach effectively identifies suspicious activities while maintaining a comprehensive audit trail for forensic investigation. The integration of machine learning and forensic logging provides a scalable, intelligent, and legally supportive framework for modern cybersecurity environments.

High-dimensional survival analysis frequently faces severe parameter instability, mathematical singularity, and overfitting under the p > n paradigm. While convex regularization frameworks like Elastic Net (enet) offer computational tractability, they introduce substantial estimation bias by over-shrinking large regression coefficients. Conversely, non-convex penalties satisfy oracle selection properties but present multi-modal optimization surfaces prone to instability under collinearity. This study presents a comprehensive comparative evaluation of convex (enet) and non-convex (mnet, scad, snet) penalization methods across two distinct high-dimensional domains: transcriptomic profile data from a Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) cohort (N = 565; p = 99) and multidimensional clinical/epidemiological data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (N = 10,000). Evaluating the algorithms on mathematical sparsity, coefficient stability, and feature selection consensus, our results reveal a clear continuum of regularization aggressiveness. Non-convex methods, particularly mnet and snet, exhibited superior noise-filtering and sparsity control reducing feature spaces by up to 70.5% in HNSCC and 50.0% in NHANES compared to enet. Crucially, all frameworks converged on a robust core of primary prognostic signals: identifying AFF3 and ZMAT1 as primary protective markers alongside ADH1B, C1orf88, and KIF1A as primary risk factors in oncology, while isolating advanced age categories, lipid profiles, and metabolic metrics in epidemiological diabetes risk. These findings demonstrate that while non-convex surfaces enforce stricter parsimony, convex-non-convex consensus modeling bridges the gap between theoretical oracle properties and reproducible clinical biomarker discovery.

Early Childhood Development (ECD) provides an important foundation for children’s cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and educational development. In Malawi, Community-Based Childcare Centres (CBCCs) are important platforms for implementing ECD programmes and preparing children for formal schooling. However, challenges continue to affect effective curriculum implementation. This study assessed the implementation of the ECD curriculum in public CBCCs in Chinsapo under Traditional Authority Malili in Lilongwe District. The study focused on the extent of curriculum implementation, challenges experienced by caregivers, and the contribution of community participation. A descriptive case study design employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches was used. The study involved 30 participants comprising caregivers, supervisors, parents, and community leaders selected through purposive and simple random sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis and analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Findings showed that curriculum implementation was largely partial and inconsistent, with 60% of centres demonstrating partial implementation, 25% full implementation, and 15% low or irregular implementation. Key challenges included inadequate teaching materials, limited caregiver training, high learner-caregiver ratios, weak supervision, poor working conditions, and limited community participation. Nevertheless, community involvement supported resource mobilisation, infrastructure development, learner attendance, and incorporation of local cultural values.

Early Childhood Development (ECD) provides an important foundation for children’s cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and educational development. In Malawi, Community-Based Childcare Centres (CBCCs) are important platforms for implementing ECD programmes and preparing children for formal schooling. However, challenges continue to affect effective curriculum implementation. This study assessed the implementation of the ECD curriculum in public CBCCs in Chinsapo under Traditional Authority Malili in Lilongwe District. The study focused on the extent of curriculum implementation, challenges experienced by caregivers, and the contribution of community participation. A descriptive case study design employing both quantitative and qualitative approaches was used. The study involved 30 participants comprising caregivers, supervisors, parents, and community leaders selected through purposive and simple random sampling. Data were collected using questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis and analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Findings showed that curriculum implementation was largely partial and inconsistent, with 60% of centres demonstrating partial implementation, 25% full implementation, and 15% low or irregular implementation. Key challenges included inadequate teaching materials, limited caregiver training, high learner-caregiver ratios, weak supervision, poor working conditions, and limited community participation. Nevertheless, community involvement supported resource mobilisation, infrastructure development, learner attendance, and incorporation of local cultural values.

Savings and Credit Cooperative Organizations (SACCOs) are critical in promoting financial inclusion and economic empowerment, especially for groups excluded from formal banking. This study assessed the impact of Msilikali SACCO loans on the economic livelihood of Lilongwe Air Base (LAB) personnel in Malawi.
Using a mixed-methods design, data were collected from 35 out of 38 sampled SACCO members through semi-structured interviews. Findings indicate that Msilikali SACCO loans significantly improved income-generating capacity by enabling members to start and expand businesses such as retail shops, poultry farming, and transport ventures. The structured, payroll-deducted repayment system promoted financial discipline and budgeting, leading to improved financial well-being.
However, challenges including delays in loan processing, guarantor requirements, low loan ceilings, and diversion of funds to emergencies limited full benefits. The study recommends streamlining loan processes, aligning loan products with business needs, and enhancing financial education. Overall, Msilikali SACCO plays a vital role in fostering economic resilience and reducing financial vulnerability among military personnel.

Social isolation has emerged as a major public health concern affecting older adults worldwide. In many developing countries, including Malawi, elderly individuals are increasingly exposed to social isolation due to changing family structures, migration of younger family members, poverty, widowhood, chronic illness, and limited community support. This study assessed the impact of social isolation on mental health among elderly individuals in Chiudzira Community, Traditional Authority Tsabango, Lilongwe District, Malawi. The study employed a mixed-methods research design integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches. Data was collected from elderly individuals aged 60 years and above through structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The findings revealed a strong relationship between social isolation and poor mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, loneliness, emotional distress, and reduced life satisfaction. Elderly individuals who were widowed, living alone, economically disadvantaged, or experiencing chronic illness were more vulnerable to social isolation. Cultural factors such as witchcraft accusations, stigma, neglect, and weakening traditional family support systems further intensified isolation. The study also found that family support, religious participation, community engagement, and social networks served as protective factors that mitigated the negative effects of isolation on mental health. The study concludes that social isolation significantly undermines the psychological well-being of elderly individuals in Chiudzira Community. Strengthening family relationships, community support systems, social inclusion programmes, and mental health services is essential for promoting healthy ageing and improving the quality of life of older adults in Malawi.

Juvenile recidivism remains a major challenge within the criminal justice system because many young offenders continue to reoffend despite undergoing rehabilitation programs. This study examined the social factors contributing to recidivism among juvenile offenders in Traditional Authority Malengachanzi, Nkhotakota District, Malawi. A qualitative case study design was employed to obtain an in-depth understanding of the experiences of juvenile offenders and key stakeholders. Twenty participants comprising juvenile offenders, social workers, probation officers and community leaders were purposively selected. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed using thematic analysis.
The findings revealed that peer influence was the most significant contributor to juvenile recidivism, followed by family instability, poverty, lack of educational opportunities and weak community support systems. Although rehabilitation and reintegration programmes provide counselling, education and vocational training, their effectiveness is constrained by inadequate resources, limited staffing and weak post-release follow-up mechanisms. The study concludes that juvenile recidivism is influenced by interconnected social and economic conditions rather than individual behaviour alone. Sustainable reduction of recidivism therefore requires coordinated interventions involving families, schools, communities, rehabilitation institutions and government agencies.
The study recommends strengthening family support programmes, expanding educational and vocational opportunities, improving community-based reintegration services and increasing investment in rehabilitation institutions. These interventions would contribute significantly to reducing juvenile reoffending and promoting successful reintegration into society.

Mob justice refers to acts of violence meted out against an individual or individuals alleged to have committed a crime such as rape, theft of any kind, robbery. Through this study is has found that the inability of authorities to ensure equity, fairness, and impartiality within legal and other state agencies to facilitate the mitigation of mob justice. This study aims to explore assessing factors influencing mob justice. Data were collected using a survey questionnaire, interviews from 50 community residents. Quantitative results of this study show that both men and women perceive that bribery of leaders is a common cause of mob justice. In this study, the qualitative results obtained from focus group discussions and interviews show a high level of perceived corruption within the local leadership as well as state machinery to conclude cases may take long time, which erodes trust in the system. The respondents expressed frustration with the slow decision-making suspect are caught they reported that this process also contributes to the rise of mob justice. Delay in court trials and lack of judiciary support are recurring themes in these discussions. Despite the challenges, there is a shared aspiration for change among the respondents, indicating a community desire to seek alternatives to mob justice and to embrace legal solutions. Respondents believe that lack of trust leads some community members to take matters into their own hands and engage in mob justice. Mob justice undermines the authority and legitimacy of formal legal institutions, erodes trust in the state's ability to maintain law and order, and weakens the overall social networking. The research recommends that the government should prioritize the eradication of corruption at local level then at higher level as well. Efforts should be made to foster a stronger bond between citizens and security personnel, and to build confidence between citizens, law enforcement and the judiciary. Further, educating citizens about the due process of law and the consequences of mob justice, and incentivizing professionalism among public authorities are imperative. It is also essential to ensure that those involved in mob justice are swiftly brought to justice.

This study investigated the role of service and product innovation in achieving competitive advantage within the telecommunications industry in Malawi, focusing on Lilongwe City. The study aimed to determine the relationship between service and product innovations and market share, assess the influence of these innovations on customer loyalty, evaluate their effect on brand preference, and examine their impact on customer satisfaction within the telecommunications sector. Employing a quantitative descriptive correlational design, the study involved 60 telecommunications subscribers selected through convenience sampling in Lilongwe City. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using Microsoft Excel, employing descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analysis. The findings revealed that mobile money services emerged as the strongest product innovation with 97% awareness and 98% regular usage, while USSD self-service had 100% awareness and mobile applications had 93% satisfaction. However, data bundles were perceived as poor value by 57% of respondents, and data rollover awareness was only 13%. Customer care showed lower satisfaction at 67%, and complaint resolution at 72%, compared to other services. Overall customer satisfaction stood at 93%, with 90% of respondents willing to recommend their telecommunications provider. The study concluded that competitive advantage in Malawi's telecommunications industry is significantly driven by service innovations like USSD and mobile applications, alongside successful mobile money products. However, this advantage is vulnerable due to customer perceptions of expensive data bundles, poor awareness of product features, and weak customer care. The study recommends reviewing data pricing, creating segmented bundles, improving complaint resolution, promoting mobile applications with incentives, and launching targeted communication campaigns to strengthen market position within the telecommunications industry.

This study assesses factors hindering access to quality education by immigrants and refugees in dzaleka refugee camp. Access to quality education remains a significant concern for displaced populations, impacting their social integration and future prospects. A review of existing literature reveals common challenges such as language barriers, limited resources, administrative hurdles, socio-cultural factors, and infrastructural deficiencies that hinder educational access for refugees globally and in refugee camp contexts (Smith & Johnson, 2018; UNHCR, 2020; Akello, 2019). Despite these insights, there is limited contextual evidence specific to Dzaleka, underscoring the need for localized research. The study adopts a qualitative research approach, utilizing semi-structured interviews guide to collect in-depth data from refugees, camp administrators, and educators to gain nuanced perspectives on the multifaceted barriers encountered. A purposive sampling method was used to select the number of participants to take part in the study, this ensures the inclusion of diverse participants representing different age groups, nationalities, and educational experiences. The data are analyzed thematically to identify key challenges and inform policy recommendations aimed at improving educational access for refugee and immigrant populations in Dzaleka.

The Malawi Enterprise Development Fund (MEDF) plays a crucial role in promoting entrepreneurship and improving the livelihoods of citizens. The fund provides loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), aiming to boost economic development. However, the policies governing loan disbursement are significantly influenced by regime changes within the government. This study focusses assessing the impact of regime changes on MEDF loan disbursement policies at Madisi village in Dowa district, Malawi, so this study l will use qualitative as a method of collecting data like focus group discussion, interviews with target group of men, women, and youth age from 18-75 at Madisi village. Recommendation MEDF loan helps to contribute to the country’s economic development, and to entrench the entrepreneurial spirit in youth, women, persons with disabilities and other groups that have the potential to socio-economic growth.

The study examined the role of community involvement in promoting Early Childhood Development (ECD) programmes in Lumbadzi, Lilongwe District, Malawi. The study was conducted because community participation was recognized as a critical factor in the establishment, implementation, and sustainability of Community-Based Childcare Centres (CBCCs), yet several challenges continued to affect effective participation. The objectives of the study were to examine community contributions to ECD, assess the role of community leaders in supporting ECD programmes, evaluate partnerships between communities, government, and non-governmental organizations, identify challenges affecting community involvement, and determine the effectiveness of community participation in improving child development outcomes.
The study adopted a qualitative research approach using a descriptive research design. Purposive sampling was used to select community leaders and caregivers who possessed relevant knowledge and experience regarding ECD programmes. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and were analyzed using thematic analysis. Ethical principles, including informed consent, confidentiality, anonymity, and voluntary participation, were observed throughout the study.
The findings revealed that communities made significant contributions towards the establishment and operation of CBCCs through voluntary labour, provision of locally available construction materials, food contributions, and participation in maintenance activities. Community leaders mobilized parents, supervised CBCC management committees, and promoted children's enrolment in early learning programmes. The study also found that partnerships with government institutions and non-governmental organizations provided caregiver training and technical support, although such collaborations were often irregular. Major challenges included poverty, inadequate teaching and learning materials, limited infrastructure, cultural beliefs, and inconsistent parental participation.
The study concluded that community participation played a fundamental role in strengthening Early Childhood Development programmes and improving child outcomes. The study recommended strengthening partnerships, increasing government support, improving resource allocation, enhancing community awareness, and promoting continuous capacity building for caregivers and community leaders to ensure sustainable and effective ECD service delivery.

The study was aiming at assessing the impact Umhlangano wa Maseko Ngoni on rural livelihoods of surrounding communities at Nkolimbo Village in Ntcheu District.The research was qualitative in nature and used the explanatory research design, the research targeted Villagers both men, women and youths, Inkosi Nkolimbo, shop owners- selling different items.
The participants selected using purposive sampling technique. The total target population was 150 and sample size 30 participants selected using purposive sampling methods. The data were collected through interviews guide questions and analyzed using content analysis method. Cultural festivals can stimulate local economics via visitors spending, temporary jobs, and small scale businesses.
Despite visible business activity during Ushangano Maseko Ngoni in Ntcheu District lack of rigorous evidence on the festival’s not economic contribution(beyond anecdote or short narrative of an interesting, amusing)the distribution of benefits or costs and ways to enhance inclusive socio-economic growth. Estimate the festivals economic contribution and proposed strategies to maximize inclusive local development at Nkolimbo Village in particular. Its recommendation is that there is need for Ntcheu District Planners together with tourism Department to develop plans for benefiting local villagers at Nkolimbo Village, those failed to implement should be dealt with accordingly to the laws of the land in order to reduce the exploiting money and fraud cases and there is also a need for continuous improvement in monitoring and evaluation after looking into by-laws to improve Ntcheu District Council to measure progress and provide solutions to the problem immediately before out of hand the situation.

This study evaluated the impact of financial literacy on the profitability of Small-Scale Enterprises (SSEs) in Malomo Trading Centre, Ntchisi District, Malawi. Grounded in Human Capital Theory and Signalling Theory, the investigation examined how financial competencies, specifically budgeting, record keeping, and cash flow management, influenced enterprise sales growth while accounting for structural constraints. A quantitative cross sectional survey design was employed, gathering empirical data from 174 small scale enterprise owners through structured questionnaires. Statistical analyses, including descriptive metrics and multiple linear regression using SPSS, were executed to determine the relationships between variables.
The empirical findings demonstrated a statistically significant positive relationship between financial literacy factors and enterprise profitability (R² = 0.653, F = 2.44, p < 0.001), with financial management practices accounting for 65.3% of the variance in sales growth. Specific competencies, including structured budgeting (β₄ = 12.600, p < 0.001) and systematic cash flow management (β₅ = 9.810, p < 0.001), acted as primary drivers of commercial success. However, 33.3% of entrepreneurs lacked access to formal credit, and 28% operated within unstable market conditions, highlighting persistent operational challenges. The study concluded that financial literacy is a critical prerequisite for business growth in rural Malawi and recommended targeted practical financial training alongside eased credit requirements from microfinance institutions.

This research looked at how the attributes of entrepreneurs affect how Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Salima District, Malawi, follow tax rules. It looked closely at how tax knowledge, the feeling of fairness in taxes, and the belief about how complicated tax rules are affect people&#39;s behavior when it comes to following tax laws. A quantitative research approach was used, and information was gathered from 60 small and medium enterprise (SME) owners and managers through organized questionnaires. The data were examined with SPSS version 26, using basic statistics, Pearson correlation, and Ordinary Least Squares regression.

The results showed that understanding taxes helps people follow tax rules better (β = 0.466, p

Small and Medium Enterprises are crucial in promoting economic growth, employment creation and poverty reduction in Malawi. However, many SMEs face challenges such as limited access to finance, inadequate business skills, poor market linkages and weak managerial capacity which potentially hinder their growth. The Standard Bank Phuka Incubator Hub was established to address the challenges these SMEs are facing by providing business training, mentorship, networking opportunities, access to markets and business advisory services aimed at enhancing the growth potential of SMEs.
This study was aimed at assessing the effectiveness of the Standard Bank Phuka Incubator Hub in supporting SMEs in scaling their businesses in Area 25B, Lilongwe. This was a quantitative and cross-sectional study which employed a mixed research approach supported by descriptive survey design. A sample of 40 respondents was recruited using purposive sampling and the study collected data from SME owners through questionnaires. Using SPSS, data was analyzed quantitatively using descriptive analysis. The study found that there was a significant impact of the incubation towards the business growth as the SMEs revealed increases in sales, customer base and business expansion among others. Further, the study made recommendations of to the policy makers, the SMEs and the bank sustainability of the SMEs and maximum utilization of the incubation. Finally, the study made recommendations on areas of further study.

Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in supporting economic growth, creating employment opportunities and improving the lives of people in communities. However, a lot of small businesses face difficulties in accessing finance, which affects their ability to grow and expand their businesses. This study examines the financing challenges faced by Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Lilongwe, focusing on Area 23 Market.
The study aims to identify the main challenges that prevent SMEs from accessing financial support and to understand how these challenges affect business operations. The study focuses on issues such as high interest rates, lack of collateral, limited financial records, and strict requirements from financial institutions.
The research used questionnaires to collect information from SME owners at Area 23 Market. The findings are expected to show the major financial barriers affecting small businesses and provide suggestions on how access to finance can be improved.
The study recommends that financial institutions should provide suitable financial services for SMEs, while business owners should improve their financial management skills and record keeping. Improving access to finance can help SMEs grow, create more jobs, and contribute to economic development in Malawi.

Digital transformation has become an important component of modern healthcare management, influencing how healthcare organizations communicate, engage stakeholders, and deliver services. This study examined the role of digital and social media strategies in enhancing healthcare service delivery within Malawi’s private health sector, using Partners in Hope (PIH) Medical Center as a case study. The study specifically evaluated the digital platforms utilized by private healthcare institutions, assessed their contribution to stakeholder relationships, examined challenges affecting digital adoption, and identified strategies for improving digital communication practices.
A descriptive case study research design using a descriptive -methods approach was employed. Data were collected from 60 respondents comprising healthcare managers, ICT personnel, administrative staff, clinical staff, and patients. A total of 54 questionnaires were successfully completed, representing a response rate of 90%. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, while qualitative responses were analyzed thematically.
The findings revealed that private healthcare institutions in Malawi increasingly rely on digital communication platforms including email, WhatsApp, Facebook, institutional websites, Zoom, Skype, SMS, and Instagram. Email (90%) and WhatsApp (85%) were identified as the most frequently used platforms, followed by Facebook (70%), websites (65%), Zoom/Skype (60%), SMS (55%), and Instagram (30%). The study established that digital and social media platforms contribute significantly to improved communication efficiency, enhanced patient engagement, faster information sharing, increased stakeholder trust, improved record management, and better healthcare service coordination.
However, several challenges limit effective digital transformation within Malawi’s private healthcare sector. These include unreliable internet connectivity, high internet costs, inadequate digital skills, data privacy concerns, misinformation, negative online feedback, and lack of comprehensive digital communication policies.
The study concludes that digital and social media strategies are important drivers of improved healthcare communication and service delivery in Malawi’s private health sector. However, realizing their full potential requires investment in digital infrastructure, staff capacity building, cybersecurity measures, and strategic digital communication policies. The study contributes to understanding how private healthcare institutions in developing countries can leverage digital technologies to strengthen stakeholder relationships and improve healthcare management practices.

J. M. Synge’s Riders to the Sea and Manik Bandyopadhyay’s Padma Nadir Majhi emerge from two distinct literary, geographical and cultural traditions, yet both are deeply concerned with the precarious existence of fishing communities whose lives are inseparably connected with water. Synge’s one-act tragedy presents the inhabitants of the Aran Islands, particularly Maurya and her family, whose existence is shaped by the relentless Atlantic Sea. Bandyopadhyay’s Bengali novel, on the other hand, portrays the fishermen and boatmen of the Padma River through the life of Kuber and the wider community of the Malo people. In both works, water is simultaneously a source of livelihood and a destructive force. The sea and the river are therefore not merely settings; they function as active forces that shape human destiny, social relations, economic structures, religious beliefs and psychological experience. This paper undertakes a comparative study of Riders to the Sea and Padma Nadir Majhi through the interconnected themes of water and survival, poverty and economic dependence, fate and human agency, death and suffering, women and family, community consciousness, religion and superstition, and the symbolic function of the aquatic landscape. The paper also draws upon Ramen Goswami’s study of Synge’s play published in the International Journal of Advances in Engineering and Management (IJAEM), particularly his interpretation of the sea as the source of both life and death and his analysis of the “one way journey” of the riders toward the sea. The central argument of this study is that although Synge creates a compressed tragic drama and Bandyopadhyay constructs a socially expansive novel, both writers represent marginal communities whose relationship with water reveals a universal conflict between human aspiration and forces beyond human control. However, their conclusions differ significantly: Synge moves towards tragic acceptance, whereas Bandyopadhyay exposes the possibility of social escape while simultaneously questioning whether escape from poverty, exploitation and illusion is genuinely possible.