Introduction: Urinary tract infections are the most common healthcare-associated infections. Monitoring antibiotic consumption is essential for rationalizing the use of these drugs in order to limit the emergence of antibiotic resistance. Objectives: The primary objective of our study was to determine antibiotic consumption for urinary tract infections. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted at the Urology Department of the Ibn Rochd University Hospital in Casablanca over a 10-day period. Results: The study included 59 patients; men accounted for 77% of the cohort and women for 23%, with elderly patients predominating among those admitted to the department. Bladder tumors were the most common condition among the patients, and bladder tumor resection was the most frequently performed procedure. Ceftriaxone was prescribed for 50% of the patients, while patient expenditure on antibiotics was significantly higher than hospital expenditure. Nearly 52% of the patients admitted to the department resided in Casablanca. Conclusion: Given the increasing resistance of pathogens involved in urological infections, it is essential to manage the prescribing of all classes of antibiotics effectively.

This paper examined how emotion awareness and school climate relate to the academic achievement of higher secondary students and how the two factors interact in students' everyday school experience. Using an integrative literature review design, the study drew on peer-reviewed journal articles, books, reports, and dissertations on emotional competence, school environment, and academic outcomes among adolescent learners. The reviewed evidence indicates that emotion awareness supports students' emotional regulation, resilience, motivation, and classroom engagement, and that a school climate marked by positive teacher-student and peer relationships, safety, inclusiveness, and institutional support is associated with stronger emotional regulation and better academic outcomes. Taken together, the findings point to emotion awareness and school climate as interconnected influences on students' overall development, mental health, and long-term learning, with implications for teachers, school administrators, counsellors, and policymakers seeking to build supportive learning environments.

The Magnus expansion is attractive for periodically driven quantum systems because every finite truncation exponentiates an anti-Hermitian generator and therefore preserves unitarity. Its practical failure in interacting fermionic systems is nevertheless subtle: a low-order approximation may remain unitary while becoming progressively less accurate as additional terms are retained. We establish order-resolved breakdown signatures for a half-filled, periodically driven one-dimensional Fermi-Hubbard chain. The one-period propagator is computed numerically exactly in the fixed-particle sector and compared with Magnus approximants through fourth order. Failure is defined operationally by a successive-order error ratio (rₙ=εₙ/εₙ₋₁≥ 1), not by an unsupported claim of divergence of the infinite series. Across a raw (9×29) interaction-frequency grid ((U/J=0…,8), (ω/J=2…,16)), at least one added order loses improvement at 36.40% of the 261 sampled points. The smallest sampled frequency above which all retained orders improve throughout the remaining high-frequency tail rises from (ω/J=2.5) at (U=0) to (11.5) at (U/J=8). At (U/J=4), the highest (r₄=1) crossing occurs at (ω/J=7.719), followed by a monotone sampled tail from (ω/J=8). High-frequency error exponents approach the expected omitted-order scaling. A norm-based convergence certificate is consistently more conservative than the observed finite-order boundary. These results show that Magnus breakdown in the Hubbard model is order dependent, interaction shifted, and detectable before unitarity is lost.

This paper presents the findings of a research on an artificial intelligence-based hybrid Support Vector Machine–Bat Optimization Algorithm (SVM-BOA) model developed for spectrum sensing in the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) television band (470 – 694 MHz). The main objective is to enhance detection accuracy, probability of detection, probability of false alarm, and computational efficiency for efficient spectrum utilization. Experimental spectrum measurements were conducted across Kano, Kaduna, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria, to assess the level of spectrum occupancy and identify available Television White Space (TVWS) channels. Relevant signal features, including received signal power level, noise power level, and frequency, were extracted from the field data collected and used to train and test the proposed model. The model was developed and implemented in MATLAB computing environment. The new model was validated using test data for classification of channel status as either free or occupied. The developed model achieved a detection accuracy of 97.67% at a threshold of −99.5dB, based on metric from confusion matrix, outperforming baseline SVM (78.57%) and other benchmark optimization-based SVM models, including Grid Search SVM (92.86%), Random Search SVM (89.29%), Genetic Algorithm SVM (92.86%), and Particle Swarm Optimization SVM (92.78%). It also attained a probability of detection (Pd) of 1.00 (100%) and a probability of false alarm (Pfa) of 0.1053 (10.53%), which satisfies the sensing performance requirements of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics (IEEE 802.22) standards under low-signal conditions. These findings suggest that the hybrid SVM-BOA approach will offer superior classification accuracy and computational efficiency relative to conventional techniques and comparable hybrid models, signifying a strong potential for the improvement of spectrum utilization in next-generation cognitive radio networks.

The search for eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors for mild steel has driven interest in the valorization of expired pharmaceutical products as green alternatives to conventional toxic inhibitors. The present study investigated the synergistic inhibition behaviour of expired ciprofloxacin and iodide ions for mild steel in synthetic acid rain solution using gravimetric, surface morphology analysis and molecular dynamic simulation approaches. The results showed that the corrosion inhibition performance significantly improved in ciprofloxacin-iodide system and the inhibition performance reach approximately 97 % at low concentration. The surface morphology analysis showed that the inhibitor molecules are adsorbed on the mild steel surface, thereby decreasing the corrosion rate. The adsorption process follows the Frumkin adsorption isotherm. The experimental results correlated with the molecular dynamics simulation results. The findings in this research provide a practical strategy for the potential reuse of expired ciprofloxacin waste and the development of novel corrosion inhibitors.

The study investigated the Influence of Youth Restiveness on Students’ Academic Performance in Economics in Public Senior Secondary School in North East, Nigeria. The study was guided by two research questions and two null hypotheses. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The population comprised 6,398 teachers and 275,897 students in public senior secondary schools across four states in North East Nigeria (Adamawa, Borno, Gombe and Yobe). A sample size of 1,697 was selected from the population using Krejcie and Morgan’s formula. Proportionate sampling technique was used to select 317 teachers ana 1,380 students from four states in the North East, Nigeria. Three research instruments were used to collect data. Namely: Youth Restiveness Questionnaire for Teachers, Youth Restiveness Questionnaire for Students and a Cumulative WAEC Results in Economics from 2021 – 2025. The Instruments were validated by three experts. The instruments were also trial tested on some sample of teachers and students using test-retest reliability; and the reliability coefficient of 0.87 and 0.84 were obtained. The data collected were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, t-test and ANOVA all test at 0.05 level of significance. The results from the study indicates a high level of agreement among teachers and students on all dimensions of youth restiveness. Antecedents, forms, causes, effects, and counselling strategies, parent socio-status, and peer influence. The study concluded that youth restiveness is a common and multi-dimensional problem among public senior secondary school students in North East, Nigeria.

Laterite soils widely used in tropical road construction often exhibit high plasticity and inadequate engineering performance. This creates the need for locally available and environmentally sustainable stabilizing materials. This study evaluated the chemical, physicochemical and engineering characteristics of six agro-industrial waste pozzolans such as palm oil fuel ash (POFA), palm oil clinker powder (POCP), corn cob ash (CCA), coal bottom ash (CBA), rice husk ash (RHA) and fly ash (FA), for lateritic soil stabilization. Soil-pozzolan mixtures containing 0 to 10% additive was investigated using XRF, CEC, physicochemical and geotechnical tests. Atterberg limits, compaction, permeability, CBR, UCS and shear-strength analysis were carried out on the samples coupled with statistical analysis. The laterite soil contained 40.25% Fe₂O₃, 31.79% SiO₂ and 25.43% Al₂O₃, but only 0.26% CaO, indicating limited intrinsic cementitious potential. Combined SiO₂+Al₂O₃+Fe₂O₃ contents ranged from 36.69% in CCA to 91.08% in RHA. This confirms substantial chemical diversity. CCA and CBA produced the strongest statistical relationships, with R² of 99.69% and 99.49%, respectively, while their regression effects were significant at p<0.05. The study concludes that stabilization effectiveness depends on the interaction between pozzolan chemistry, physicochemical characteristics and dosage rather than oxide content alone. It is recommended that CCA and CBA receive further field-scale evaluation and that future studies employ larger datasets, longer curing periods and independent validation to establish reliable performance-based design criteria.

This study investigated the impact of teaching practice on teachers in training’ in tertiary institutions in Adamawa State, Nigeria. The study was guided by five research questions and two research hypotheses. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The population of the study consisted of 5,193 teachers in training in tertiary institutions in Adamawa State; while the sample size was 400 using stratified sampling technique. A structured questionnaire titled “Impact of Teaching Practice on Teachers in Training Tertiary Institutions (ITPTTTI)” was used for data collection. Two experts from the Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, Adamawa State University, Mubi validated the instrument, while a test-retest reliability conducted revealed a co-efficient of 0.81. The data gathered were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and t-test analysis. The study revealed that: the level of adequacy teachers in training before teaching practice was good; faculty supervision of teaching practice in tertiary institutions in Adamawa State was low compared to expectation; teachers in training experience during teaching practice was found to be influential in shaping student teachers’ attitude towards the profession; teachers in training’ experienced a lot of challenges during teaching practice exercise which hindered successful realization and achievement of teaching practice aims and objectives; Thus, the study concluded that teaching practice had a positive impact on teachers. In training. The study recommended that universities and colleges of education should organize seminars, micro-teaching, workshops, conferences and discussion before teachers in training’ are sent for teaching practice. Furthermore, finance should be provided for teachers in training’ so as to boost their upkeep and their attitudes towards

Background: Emergency department (ED) quality indicators monitor timeliness, safety, effectiveness, patient flow, and patient-centered care. Several indicators also signal the performance of patient-flow logistics, including queueing, throughput, handoffs, and coordination of time-critical resources. Nurses influence these processes, yet their familiarity with formal measurement frameworks may vary. Aim: To assess ED nurses' self-reported awareness of selected clinical quality indicators, examine its association with ED experience, and interpret the measured flow- and timeliness-related indicators from a healthcare-logistics perspective. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was completed by 45 ED nurses. Ten indicators were rated on a five-point self-reported awareness scale and grouped into four domains. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha. Descriptive statistics, exploratory contingency-table analyses, and Spearman correlation were reported. Healthcare logistics was an interpretive framework rather than a directly measured construct; the instrument did not assess procurement, inventory, replenishment, internal transport, or supply-chain performance. Sparse cells and multiple item-level tests required cautious inference. Results: The awareness scale showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .89). Longer ED experience was positively correlated with the overall awareness score (Spearman's rho = .374, p = .011; N = 45). The reported omnibus association between experience group and categorized overall awareness was significant (chi-square (6) = 23.104, p = .001), although sparse expected counts limit conventional chi-square inference. Of the flow- and timeliness-related item tests, only door-to-doctor/ECG time met a conservative Bonferroni benchmark of .005. Clinical experience was the most frequently reported information source. Conclusion: Longer ED experience was associated with greater self-reported awareness. The findings support integrating patient-flow logistics into nursing orientation and quality-improvement training, but they do not provide evidence about supply-chain performance. The small sample, self-report measure, sparse cells, and cross-sectional design restrict causal and generalizable conclusions.

Background: Gram-negative infections and multidrug resistance (MDR) constitute a substantial and escalating threat in critically ill patients, contributing to increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare burden. The emergence of resistant pathogens in intensive care units (ICUs) is driven by multiple factors, including excessive antimicrobial exposure, prolonged hospitalization, invasive procedures, and underlying comorbidities. Early identification of patients at risk for MDR infections is essential for optimizing empirical therapy and strengthening antimicrobial stewardship strategies. Objectives: To identify predictors of Gram-negative infections and determine independent risk factors associated with multidrug resistance among critically ill patients using a predictive modelling approach. Methods: A prospective observational predictive modelling study was conducted among 100 critically ill patients admitted to a tertiary care ICU. Demographic, clinical, and microbiological variables including age, sex, ICU stay, antibiotic burden, comorbidities, infection source, and organism type were analysed. Univariate associations were assessed using Chi-square testing, and independent predictors were identified through multivariable logistic regression analysis. Statistical significance was defined as p<0.05. Results: Gram-negative organisms predominated (79.1%), and the overall prevalence of multidrug resistance was 42%. Univariate analysis demonstrated significant associations between MDR and prolonged ICU stay (p=0.012), ≥5 antibiotic exposure (p=0.009), resistant isolate burden (p=0.004), and urinary source infections (p=0.031). Multivariable logistic regression identified ≥5 antibiotics (aOR 3.41; 95% CI 1.44–8.06; p=0.005), ICU stay >8 days (aOR 2.89; 95% CI 1.19–7.03; p=0.019), Gram-negative isolate (aOR 3.27; 95% CI 1.22–8.77; p=0.018), and diabetes mellitus (aOR 2.21; 95% CI 1.01–4.84; p=0.046) as independent predictors of MDR. Conclusion: Poly-antibiotic exposure, prolonged ICU stay, Gram-negative infections, and diabetes mellitus were identified as significant independent determinants of multidrug resistance. Predictive risk stratification models based on these variables may enhance empirical antimicrobial decision-making and support targeted stewardship interventions in critical care settings.

Transportation and logistics constitute critical components of regional economic development, facilitating the movement of people, agricultural products, industrial goods, and services across South-Eastern Nigeria. However, the region continues to experience significant transportation and logistics challenges, including deteriorating road infrastructure, traffic congestion, inadequate intermodal connectivity, high transportation costs, poor maintenance culture, insecurity, inefficient freight systems, and limited adoption of modern logistics technologies. These challenges constrain trade, reduce productivity, increase travel time, and weaken the competitiveness of businesses and communities within the region. Despite these limitations, South-Eastern Nigeria possesses considerable opportunities for improving transportation and logistics through infrastructure modernization, public-private partnerships, digital logistics platforms, multimodal transportation systems, improved road maintenance, investment in rail and inland water transportation, and strengthened regional cooperation. This paper examines the major challenges and opportunities associated with transportation, logistics, and management in South-Eastern Nigeria and proposes strategies for achieving sustainable regional development. The study adopts a qualitative approach based on the review of relevant literature, policy documents, and existing evidence on transportation and logistics development in the region. It emphasizes the need for integrated transportation planning, effective institutional management, sustainable infrastructure investment, technology-driven logistics systems, enhanced security, and environmentally responsible transportation practices. The paper argues that coordinated intervention by government, private-sector stakeholders, transport operators, and local communities can significantly improve mobility, strengthen supply chains, stimulate regional trade, create employment, and promote inclusive economic growth. Sustainable transportation and logistics management should therefore remain a priority for the long-term socioeconomic transformation of South-Eastern Nigeria.

Background: Tympanic membrane perforation can result in hearing impairment, recurrent ear discharge, and other otologic symptoms. Tympanic membrane repair aims to restore membrane integrity and improve auditory function. This study evaluated the clinical and audiological outcomes following tympanic membrane repair in adults. Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Narsingdi Sadar Hospital, Bangladesh, from January to December 2025. Thirty consecutive adults with tympanic membrane perforation undergoing repair were included. Clinical outcomes, graft uptake, postoperative complications, pure-tone average (PTA), and air-bone gap (ABG) were assessed at final follow-up. Results: Successful graft uptake was achieved in 27 (90.0%) patients, while 25 (83.3%) had complete resolution of ear discharge. Mean PTA improved from 39.1 ± 8.6 dB to 28.0 ± 7.1 dB, while mean ABG decreased from 26.2 ± 6.3 dB to 14.8 ± 5.2 dB (both p<0.001). PTA improvement of ≥10 dB occurred in 76.7% of patients, and 63.3% achieved a postoperative ABG of ≤10 dB. Overall, 66.7% had excellent and 23.3% had good outcomes; no poor outcomes were observed. Conclusion: Tympanic membrane repair provided favorable clinical and audiological outcomes with high graft uptake, significant hearing improvement, and low postoperative morbidity in adults.

Background: Effective infection control in operation theatres (OTs) depends heavily on nurses' knowledge of, and adherence to, aseptic techniques. At Hospital Queen Elizabeth II (QEH II), Sabah, internal audits documented a rise in OT nosocomial infection rates from 4.0% in 2020 to 5.1% in 2023, alongside a hand hygiene compliance rate of only 70%, raising concern about the adequacy of current infection control practice. Objective: This study evaluated the level of knowledge and practice of aseptic techniques among nurses working in the OTs of QEH II and examined the relationship between these two variables. Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed. Using Krejcie and Morgan's (1970) formula applied to a population of 180 OT nurses, a stratified random sample of 95 respondents was proportionally recruited across the morning, afternoon, and night shifts. Knowledge was measured with a 20-item multiple-choice instrument adapted from the Aseptic Techniques Knowledge Scale (Lee, 2017; Cronbach's α = 0.85), and practice was measured with a 20-item, 3-point Likert-scale instrument adapted from the Aseptic Technique Compliance scale (Smith, 2019; Cronbach's α = 0.82). Data were analysed descriptively (frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation) and inferentially using the chi-square test of independence, following confirmation of non-normal distribution via the Shapiro-Wilk test. Results: Nearly half of the participants (49.5%; mean = 14.25, SD = 1.75) demonstrated moderate knowledge, while 30.5% showed low knowledge and 20.0% showed high knowledge. For practice, 55.8% (mean = 20.75, SD = 3.15) demonstrated moderate adherence, 25.3% demonstrated poor adherence, and 18.9% demonstrated good adherence. A chi-square test of independence revealed a statistically significant association between knowledge and practice levels, χ² (4, N = 95) = 42.67, p < .001. Conclusion: Knowledge and practice of aseptic techniques among OT nurses at QEH II were predominantly moderate, and higher knowledge was significantly associated with better practice. However, systemic barriers, including workload pressure, staffing shortages, and inconsistent resource supply, appeared to constrain the translation of knowledge into consistent practice. Targeted competency-based education, simulation-based training, and organisational-level investment in staffing and supplies are recommended to close the knowledge-practice gap and reduce nosocomial infection risk in surgical settings.

Space maintenance is an integral part of preventive dentistry. Despite all possible measures of preserving the primary teeth, loss of space remains to be a frequent problem in pediatric dentistry, resulting in disturbance of arch integrity and unfavorably affecting the alignment of permanent successors. Space maintainers (SMs) are distinctive appliances used for space maintenance that occurred due to premature loss of primary teeth. This article presents an unique, modified removable nonfunctional SM that offers several benefits over the traditional appliance. This appliance is easy to fabricate, omits band adaptation and intra gingival distal extension in children and also helps to restore the functional harmony. There are various designs of distal shoe space maintainers for premature loss of deciduous second molar in a growing child. Further research needs to be done regarding clinical implications such as effectiveness, longevity etc., of removable distal shoe space maintainers.

This study examines the influence of social media on contemporary African playwriting, focusing on character development, dramatic dialogue and narrative structure. It responds to the limited scholarly attention given to the dramaturgical implications of social media, as existing studies have largely emphasised its roles in theatre promotion, performance dissemination and audience engagement. The study adopts a qualitative textual-analysis approach, using selected contemporary African dramatic texts as primary materials and relevant scholarly publications as secondary sources. Through close textual analysis, the study investigates how digital communication The study closely analyses how digital communication integrates into characterisation, dialogue, and narrative organisation into characterisation, dialogue and narrative organisation. The findings reveal that social media has become an emerging dramaturgical resource in contemporary African theatre. It enables characters to construct multiple identities across physical and virtual spaces, intensifies interpersonal relationships and generates new forms of conflict through digital interactions, public exposure and archived communication. The research further demonstrates that social media enhances dramatic dialogue via text messages, posts, comments, emojis, hashtags, abbreviations, slang, and code-switching, while promoting fragmented, diverse, and multimodal communication forms. In addition, the networked and discontinuous nature of digital communication promotes nonlinear narrative structures, multiple perspectives, digital interruptions and movement between physical and virtual spaces. The study concludes that social media does not replace traditional African theatrical forms but extends and transforms their dramaturgical possibilities. It recommends greater attention to digital dramaturgy in African theatre scholarship, playwriting practice and theatre training.