Background: Preterm birth (PTB), defined as delivery before 37 completed weeks of gestation, remains a major cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality globally, with Bangladesh reporting one of the highest prevalence rates worldwide. Zinc, an essential trace element involved in immune regulation, oxidative stress modulation and hormonal balance, has been hypothesized to influence gestational duration. This study aimed to evaluate the association between maternal serum zinc level and preterm birth. Methods: This case-control study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), (former BSMMU), Dhaka, from September 2022 to August 2023. Sixty pregnant women aged 18–40 years, at 28 to <42 weeks of gestation, presenting in spontaneous labour with intact membranes and delivering a live singleton baby, were enrolled. Thirty women who delivered before 37 completed weeks constituted the cases, while 30 women with term deliveries served as controls. Serum zinc levels were measured using a colourimetric method on a Thermo Scientific™ Indiko™ Plus Clinical Chemistry Analyzer. Results: Maternal serum zinc was significantly lower in the case group (68.13 ±32.73 mcg/dL) compared to controls (102.41 ±60.97 mcg/dL) (p=0.009). Women with zinc levels below 68 mcg/dL had 4.7 times higher odds of preterm birth than those with levels ≥68 mcg/dL (OR=4.667; 95% CI=1.571–13.866; p=0.001). Socio-demographic, obstetric and anthropometric variables did not differ significantly between groups. Conclusion: Low maternal serum zinc level was significantly associated with preterm birth. Serum zinc estimation may serve as a potential predictor for preterm birth risk and supports consideration of routine zinc supplementation during antenatal care.

Background: Prolonged labour remains a significant contributor to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality in Bangladesh. Delayed recognition and referral often lead to adverse outcomes. This study was undertaken to analyze the etiological factors of prolonged labour and evaluate its maternal and fetal outcomes. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sir Salimullah Medical College & Mitford Hospital, Dhaka, from June to December 2009. A total of 110 purposively selected pregnant women with prolonged labour (labour pain >18 hours) were enrolled. Data were collected through interviews, clinical examination, and record review. Results: The majority of patients were primigravida (62.7%) and aged 21–30 years (57.27%). Most had no ANC (60%) and belonged to low socioeconomic backgrounds (69.09%). Uterine hypotonicity was the leading cause (45%), followed by malposition (22.72%). Caesarean section was required in 60.50% of cases. Maternal complications occurred in 65%, with PPH (20%) and puerperal sepsis (14.54%) being most common. Perinatal complications included asphyxia (13.63%), umbilical sepsis (10%), and stillbirth (6.36%). Barriers to early hospital admission included reliance on midwives (31%), TBAs (18.18%), and poor economic conditions (20%). Conclusion: Prolonged labour is associated with substantial maternal and perinatal morbidity. Strengthening ANC, improving referral systems, training birth attendants, and ensuring timely access to emergency obstetric care are essential to improve outcomes.

This study investigated the nutritional, energetic, and mineralogical implications of replacing conventional maize with underutilized agro-industrial by-products in livestock rations. A 100% maize control diet (MFF) was evaluated against three experimental diets where maize was replaced at a 50% inclusion level with Irish potato peel meal (MPF), yam peel meal (MYF), or cassava peel meal (MCF). The partial substitution preserved total organic matter density across all formulations (>90%). However, the higher concentration of structural non-starch polysaccharides inherent to root and tuber epicarps significantly reduced carbohydrate and caloric delivery (p < 0.05). Nitrogen-free extract (NFE) decreased from 47.42% (control) to 38.92% (MYF), 38.05% (MCF), and 35.47% (MPF). The reduction in digestible carbohydrates led to a decrease in calculated metabolizable energy (ME) profiles, which fell from 10.43 MJ/kg (MFF) to 9.62 MJ/kg (MYF), 9.50 MJ/kg (MPF), and 8.72 MJ/kg (MCF) due to the dilution of physical fiber. Conversely, the incorporation of tuber wastes resulted in a substantial natural increase in the concentration of essential minerals. Potassium accumulated significantly in MPF (0.97%) and MYF (0.53%), while calcium surged from 28.47% (control) to peaks of 68.67% (MPF) and 65.63% (MYF). Magnesium uniformly exceeded 81% across all test groups, alongside prominent accumulations of iron and zinc. However, phosphorus was significantly depressed in the cassava peel group (MCF: 9.37%), altering optimal dietary Ca/P ratios. Ultimately, replacing 50% of maize with root crop by-products offers a viable strategy for maintaining organic matter stability and enhancing mineral content, as long as targeted micronutrient balancing is applied for sustainable feed production.

Background: The oral approach to medication administration remains highly preferred due to its convenience and improved patient compliance compared to parenteral methods. Oral controlled-delivery systems maintain consistent therapeutic drug levels, thereby maximizing safety and reducing side effects. Among these, matrix sustained-release tablets are highly favored for their manufacturing simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and resistance to dose dumping. Objective: This research aimed to develop and optimize sustained-release matrix tablets of Diltiazem Hydrochloride—a calcium channel blocker for hypertension and angina characterized by a short elimination half-life (3.5 hours) and low bioavailability (30–40%) due to extensive first-pass metabolism—using the natural biopolymers Tamarind gum and Cassia roxburghii gum as release modifiers. Methods: Preformulation Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was performed to evaluate drug-polymer compatibility. Powder blends were characterized for flow properties prior to compression. The formulated tablets were evaluated for physical parameters per official Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP) standards, alongside in-vitro dissolution testing. Results: FTIR spectra revealed no chemical interactions between the drug and the natural gums. The powder blends exhibited favorable flow properties, with an angle of repose between 25° and 33° and a Carr's Index ranging from 9.0 to 19.0. All compressed tablets met IP specifications for hardness, thickness, friability, weight variation, and content uniformity. In-vitro drug release studies demonstrated that the optimized formulation, DH13, successfully prolonged drug release, achieving a maximum dissolution of 99.94% at 12 hours. Kinetic modeling indicated that the release mechanism strictly adhered to the Higuchi model, exhibiting a high correlation coefficient (R2 = 0.980). Furthermore, accelerated stability testing (40 °C±2°C 75 ± 5%) of the optimized DH13 batch over 30 days showed no significant changes in physical appearance, chemical content, or dissolution profiles. Conclusion: The study demonstrates that the optimized natural polymer-based matrix tablet (DH13) provides a robust, stable, and highly reproducible 12-hour sustained-release profile suitable for the effective oral administration of Diltiazem Hydrochloride.

Meningitis remains a public health problem associated with high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Meningococcal meningitis is a contagious disease causing more number of deaths particularly in Sub-Saharan African region. Climate change remains the major threat to public health worldwide. This study aims at evaluating the association between the incidence of meningococcal meningitis and the diurnal temperature and humidity variability in Kaduna State, Nigeria. A longitudinal spatiotemporal epidemiological design was adopted in this study. The population of this study includes households located within the ecological zones and residents of the study area. A total of 213 participants were selected using multistage sampling technique. The data were collected using structured questionnaires and observation checklists. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics using SPSS. The association between the incidence of meningococcal meningitis and the diurnal temperature variability and humidity was examined by correlation analysis. The results showed that most of the respondents (24.88 %) were aged between 30 and 34. The percentage of male and female respondents was 33.80 % and 66.20 %, respectively. It was observed that almost all the respondents (96.24 %) attended tertiary education. Most of the participants (63.85 %) in this study were living in urban areas. During dry season, more than half (53.05 %) of the respondents experienced high temperatures in their areas. Majority of the respondents (88.73 %) indicated that heat increased during certain months in their areas. According to more than half of the respondents (53.99 %) the humidity level in their areas is low. The occurrence and incidence of meningococcal meningitis was significantly associated with increase diurnal temperature and low humidity in the study area.

Background: Effective communication is an essential element of effective healthcare team and patient safety. Global research emphasises the need of effective communication for patient safety and nurse satisfaction, however language obstacles and hierarchical structures continue to impair Saudi Arabian healthcare environments. Previous studies have examined communication and safety culture independently, with limited evidence of studies that explore the relationship between nurses’ communication satisfaction and their perceptions of patient safety culture within Saudi operating theaters. Objectives: This study aimed at evaluating the relationship between nurses’ communication satisfaction and culture of safety among operating theatre nurses in a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia. Research Design & Setting: A cross-sectional correlational design was used to conduct this study in a military tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A convenience sampling method was used to sample a total of 116 participants operating theatres in the hospital. Methods & Materials: Data collected using two validated instruments: the Communication Satisfaction Questionnaire (CSQ) and the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture (HSOPS) to examine how communication satisfaction affects patient safety culture. Analysis: analysis conducted through SPSS using descriptive statistics, repeated-measures ANOVA, t-tests, and Pearson correlation. While One Way ANOVA used for data scoring, Cronbach’s Alpha used to assess the reliability coefficient. Results: Showed a Pearson correlation of r = 0.206 with p < 0.05, showing a weak but statistically significant relationship. In organizational and healthcare research, these findings suggest a significant association, even when the strength is ordinary. This positive correlation means that as communication satisfaction increases, nurses’ perceptions of patient safety culture also improve. Conclusion: A significant positive correlation is found between overall satisfaction and overall patient safety perception. The findings consistently highlight communication as a central component of a strong and healthy safety culture.

Organizations are recognizing the potential of workforce diversity as a source of innovation more and more but empirical evidence on this connection is torn. This paper is an analysis of the role of demographic, cognitive, and experiential diversity in determining the outcome of innovations, and the role of the climate of inclusion in affecting the same. The study is a quantitative study that relies on a complete use of secondary data to draw the conclusions as a result of the theories of management of performance within a team and the sociological approach to identity and group interaction. They have collected data based on the publicly available annual reports, sustainability reports, and human-resources disclosures of ten medium and large companies operating in the technology, manufacturing, and service sectors. Diversity ratios, education diversity index, experiential diversity, inclusion rating, patents, research and development expenditures, number of new products were obtained. The relationships were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlations and simple regression equations. Findings show that there are positive relationships between cognitive and experiential diversity and innovation indicators but demographic diversity has a positive relationship with innovation only when accompanied with high inclusion scores. These results support the claim that diversity is not enough and should be followed by an inclusive climate that allows sharing the knowledge and participating in the activities equally. The research adds a fairly easy yet significant piece of evidence to the workforce diversity research, as it allows managers and researchers to gain insights into the use of diversity at work in order to be innovative.

This study evaluated the youth football development program at Seyegan United Football School in Sleman, Indonesia, using the Context, Input, Process, and Product (CIPP) evaluation model. It addresses the limited evaluation of youth football development programs at the local football school level, particularly within the Indonesian context. An evaluative qualitative design with a descriptive-inductive approach was employed, involving 15 participants: three administrators, three coaches, and nine athletes. Data collection methods included observation, semi-structured interviews, and documentation, with analysis conducted using the interactive model of Miles and Huberman. The findings indicate that the context and input components were sufficient, the process component was good, and the product component was very good. These results demonstrate that the program has established a clear organizational foundation, sufficient human resources and facilities, structured training implementation, and positive competitive outcomes. Nevertheless, the program continues to face challenges related to funding limitations, administrative capacity, stakeholder support, athlete discipline, and achieving long-term performance targets. In conclusion, the program has shown positive progress; however, its sustainability will require stronger institutional support, broader collaboration, and more systematic monitoring and evaluation.

The incorporation of empirical data from 2021 to 2025 underscores climate change as a primary determinant of urban health in West Africa, with Nigeria bearing the greatest impact. The study found that increased disease severity was the major factor. The data in the review illustrate an unhealthy climate that drives up illness rates. The numbers presented indicate that the annual heat-wave exposure per person increased from 28 days in 2021 to 33.2 days in 2024, with a concurrent 8.6% increase in heat-related mortality. Lagos is the city that experiences the most rapid urban heat, with the earth’s surface temperature rising by 4.5°C from 2000 to 2022. Major flood events typically trigger outbreaks; the 2024 disaster displaced 1.3 million people and resulted in 7,485 cholera cases (Case Fatality Rate 4.3%), with a 63% increase in acute watery diarrhea. Social vulnerabilities largely shape health outcomes, so those effects hit harder in poor and informal areas with little or no infrastructure to mitigate risks. Among other risk factors in these locations, indoor temperatures can reach 35–40°C during heat waves, which is followed by a hospitalization spike of 15–25% at the time, and post-flood malaria cases can increase by 125%. The convergence of climate hazards with poverty, fragile health systems, and spontaneous urbanization exacerbates health crises in a compounded manner. Heat-health action plans, resilient urban planning enforcement, and the WASH infrastructure investment to safeguard the fast-growing urban population are among the core measures that need to be taken.

This article examines the dialectical tension between medical clinical autonomy and hospital corporate governance in Indonesia. By analyzing the paradigm shift brought by Health Law No. 17 of 2023 and Government Regulation No. 28 of 2024, this study redefines clinical autonomy not as a private privilege, but as a public legal mandate designed to protect patient safety. The research employs a normative legal method to dissect the implementation of Corporate Clinical Governance (CCG) and its collision with corporate efficiency models (managed care). The findings reveal that CCG inherently requires organizational subordination, fundamentally invalidating the “pure partnership” illusion often utilized by hospitals to externalize liability. The study proposes the concept of “Bifurcation of Authority,” which functionally separates a doctor’s clinical-professional sovereignty from the hospital’s administrative-managerial authority. This bifurcation necessitates a shift from personal liability to enterprise liability, ensuring that legal protection and clinical immunity align with fair labor practices under a permanent employment contract (PKWTT).

Digital Smile Design [DSD] has transformed esthetic dentistry by integrating digital technology, facial analysis, and restorative planning to improve treatment predictability and patient satisfaction. Conventional smile design techniques often lacked precision, reproducibility, and effective communication. The development of DSD has addressed these limitations through the use of digital photography, intraoral scanning, CAD-CAM systems, virtual simulations, and artificial intelligence. This review discusses the evolution, principles, technological foundations, clinical workflow, applications, advantages, limitations, and future perspectives of DSD. The technology has enhanced interdisciplinary treatment planning in esthetic rehabilitation, orthodontics, implant dentistry, and full-mouth reconstruction while improving patient communication and diagnostic accuracy. Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and cloud-based workflows are expected to further expand its role in personalized dentistry. Despite its advantages, challenges including high costs, technical complexity, and the need for long-term clinical validation remain. Overall, DSD represents a significant advancement toward a more precise, patient-centered, and digitally driven approach in modern esthetic dentistry.

This study examined the physicochemical characteristics of water from the Tshopo River before it entered the REGIDESO SA/Kisangani treatment plant in the Democratic Republic of Congo during the year 2024. Sixty samples were collected and analyzed, with five samples taken each month at five- to seven-day intervals. Temperature (in situ), pH, turbidity, color, conductivity, oxidizable matter content, total alkalimetric titration, total hardness, free chlorine, nitrite ion content, and chloride ion content were evaluated. The following annual average values were obtained from these physicochemical analyses: temperature 26.97 ± 0.78°C; pH 6.5 ± 0.34; total alkalimetric titration 0,0± 0,0; turbidity 2.42 ± 0.30 NTU. colour 8.4±0.30PtCo; conductivity 32.65±3.96µS/Cm; oxidizable matter content 1.75, ±0.26mg/L, alkalimetric titer 0.33±0.12°F, total hardness 0.07±2.03°F, free chlorine 1.13±0.38 mg/L, nitrite ion content 0.02±0.01mg/L and chloride ion content 3.78±0.43mg/L. These water quality parameters showed highly significant differences between the four rainfall seasons of 2024, except for pH, simple alkali-sensitivity, oxidizable solids content, total hardness, nitrite ion content, and chloride ion content (respective p-values of 0.216, 0.441, 0.925, 0.598, and 0.483). This work contributed to highlighting the impact of treatment by REGIDESO SA/Kisangani on the physicochemical quality of the Tshopo River water at the REGIDESO SA/Kisangani plant. It would be important to replicate this study over three years to assess the plant's performance.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and sports analytics are game-changers in the world of sports, offering the potential to make data-driven decisions and optimize performance, prevent injuries, and tailor training strategies to individual athletes. In this study, we will explore how AI and sports analytics can be used to improve the performance and training effectiveness of athletes. The research design used was quantitative, descriptive and explanatory with the primary data obtained from 220 athletes of Telangana with different sports disciplines and competitive level by using a structured questionnaire. The instrument consisted of eight statements on a 5-point Likert scale which assesses athletes' perceptions of AI and sports analytics as well as demographic variables. Analysis of data collected was carried out using descriptive statistics, One-Sample t-test and Simple Linear Regression Analysis using SPSS Version 29.0. The results showed that most respondents had positive attitudes towards the use of AI and sports analytics to optimize sports performance, identify strengths and weaknesses, aid in decision making, minimize injury risk, and promote overall athlete development. The results from the One-Sample t-test showed that overall, athletes' perception of the role of AI and sports analytics compared to the neutral point was significantly higher with a t value of 23.62 and a p value of <0.001, indicating the positive impact of these technologies in enhancing sports performance. Moreover, regression analysis showed that, the use of AI was significantly associated with training effectiveness (β = 0.782, R² = 0.611, p < 0.001), accounting for 61.1% of the variance in training effectiveness. Overall, the study demonstrates that Artificial Intelligence and sports analytics are powerful tools in modern sports that can be used to great effect to benefit athletes, coaches, and sports organizations. Results give some real-world considerations for the promotion of AI-powered training systems and data-informed coaching practices to boost athlete performance and sports development outcomes.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) has emerged as a vital component of modern justice delivery systems worldwide. Dissatisfaction with the adversarial nature, cost, and delay of litigation has led to increased reliance on ADR mechanisms that emphasize party autonomy, confidentiality, and preservation of relationships. This paper examines the major forms of ADR, including negotiation, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, and hybrid processes such as med-arb and early neutral evaluation. It outlines the defining features, procedural frameworks, advantages, and limitations of each form. The paper argues that no single form of ADR is universally superior. Rather, the choice depends on the nature of the dispute, the relationship between parties, and the desired outcome. It concludes that a clear understanding of the forms of ADR is essential for disputants, lawyers, and policymakers to promote access to justice and decongest formal courts. The paper recommends continuous legal education, institutional support, and harmonization of ADR processes with cultural realities to maximize their effectiveness.

One of the most important parasitic diseases in freshwater fish farming due to its clinical and economic importance, ichthyophthiriasis results from I. multifiliis (a ciliate obligate parasite) infection, also known as "white spot disease" or simply "Ich." This literature review is aimed at compiling the existing knowledge about the taxonomical position, biological features, and three-stage life cycle (consisting of the theront, trophont, and tomont) of the parasite under the influence of various environmental parameters such as temperature, salinity, and pH. In addition, the epidemiological features of the infection (host specificity, susceptibility factors, transmission methods, and seasonal prevalence) as well as host-parasite relationships (mechanisms of parasite entry, i-antigen-induced immune evasion, and host response) will be considered. Clinical features and histopathological changes for various cultured species are reviewed along with the diagnosis, which includes both traditional methods as well as molecular diagnostics like qPCR and ddPCR. It is emphasized that the disease creates significant financial loss, costing more than USD 1 billion annually on a worldwide basis. The effect of the disease is significant in aquacultures from Europe, China, and North America. Prevention and management of this disease include chemical treatment, salt treatment, biological control, immunostimulants, vaccine, and biosecurity. There is no method available which gives total protection. Latest innovations in the fields of genomics, transcriptomics, novel treatment methods and DNA vaccines are also mentioned. The conclusion made by the authors is that sustainable management of I. multifiliis calls for an integration of various measures such as decreased use of chemicals, increased biosecurity, biological control, genetic resistance and precision aquaculture, with vaccine efficacy, drug resistance and climate change adaptation highlighted as key research areas.