The integration of technology in education, specifically through the use of language learning applications, is transforming conventional approaches to language instruction. This study examines the readiness of prospective English teachers to incorporate language learning apps into their teaching practices. The present study is descriptive in nature, a purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample of 55 B.Ed. students from Central and State Universities. Using a mixed-methods approach, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected. The quantitative phase involved a questionnaire-based survey assessing readiness, attitudes, and perceived challenges, while the qualitative phase included semi-structured interview questions to explore deeper insights into beliefs and barriers. After the response was collected, descriptive, inferential statistical techniques were used for analysing the data. The responses expressed by the subjects were graphically represented. Findings indicate that while prospective teachers recognize the potential benefits of language learning apps for enhancing student engagement and individualized learning, they also express concerns related to usability, instructional support, and self-efficacy. Variations in readiness were observed based on prior experience with technology and self-reported confidence levels. This research underscores the need for teacher training programmes to address these challenges and support the effective integration of technology in language teaching. The study contributes to understanding how to prepare future teachers better to leverage digital tools in English language teaching.

Background: Dexamethasone is crucial in palliative care for advanced cancer, improving symptoms like appetite loss and fatigue. However, guidelines are lacking, and side effects require close monitoring. The indications for corticosteroid use in this patient group are diverse, including the treatment of specific conditions such as spinal cord compression, elevated intracranial pressure, and loss of appetite. Due to the challenges in prescribing these medications for palliative care patients, there is evidence of suboptimal practices in the literature. This study aimed to examine the current patterns of corticosteroid prescribing in healthcare settings across Saudi Arabia and determine whether these practices align with international guidelines. Aim(s) of the Study: The objective of this study was to analyse current dexamethasone prescribing patterns in palliative care settings in Saudi Arabia and assess their alignment with international standards. Method: A retrospective chart review was conducted on inpatient palliative care patients who received dexamethasone at KFSHRC, Saudi Arabia, between January 1, 2022, and January 1, 2024. All available charts of patients under the care of the Palliative Care team who had a cancer diagnosis and received dexamethasone during that timeframe were included. Data collection focused on the number of patients prescribed dexamethasone, indications for use, choice of agent, dosages and adjustments, duration of treatment, occurrence of adverse effects, method of discontinuation, adherence to guidelines, and monitoring and review processes. Exclusion criteria: patients prescribed dexamethasone by other primary services will be excluded. Results: A total of 78 patients were included (median age 55.6 years), with the majority being female (56.4%) and having metastatic disease (89.7%). Gastrointestinal cancers were the most common diagnosis (33.3%), and 70.5% of patients were not receiving disease-modifying therapy at the time of dexamethasone initiation. The most frequent indications for dexamethasone were raised intracranial pressure/cerebral oedema (16.7%) and nausea/vomiting (15.4%), with a median daily dose of 4 mg; the IV route was most used (78.2%). Overall, 29.5% of patients demonstrated a documented clinical response, most commonly improvement in dyspnoea. Response was more frequent in patients treated for dyspnoea/airway obstruction (70.0%, p = 0.006) and in those receiving higher doses (p = 0.029). Adverse effects were rare (2.6%), limited to hyperglycemia. Median time to response was 2 days (IQR 2–3), with most responses occurring within 72 hours. Conclusion: This study showed that corticosteroids are widely prescribed in palliative care settings, both for specific and non-specific indications. These findings are generally consistent with international literature in this field, supporting the role of dexamethasone in targeted symptom palliation, especially in patients with respiratory compromise, while also highlighting the need for ongoing discussion about the role of corticosteroids in palliative care, as well as the need for clear documentation of indication and response in routine practice.

A fish may be defined as a poikilothermic, aquatic chordate whose appendages, when present, are developed as fins, whose chief respiratory organs are gills and whose body is usually covered with scales. The present study was undertaken to document the fish diversity of River Panjkora in District Dir Lower, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Samples were collected from March to August 2024 using gill nets, cast nets, hooks and automatic rods at five sites along the river, namely Talash, Shagokas, Balambat, Rani and Khall. A total of 81 specimens were captured and identified, representing six species distributed across two orders (Cypriniformes and Perciformes) and two families (Cyprinidae and Channidae). Cyprinidae was the richest family, comprising five species Schizothorax esocinus, Puntius ticto, Tor macrolepis, Carassius auratus and Crossocheilus diplocheilus whereas Channidae was represented by a single species, Channa gachua. Crossocheilus diplocheilus was the most abundant taxon (35 individuals; 43.20%), while Carassius auratus was the least abundant (3 individuals; 3.70%). Morphometric measurements and fin formulae were recorded for every species; the smallest species was Puntius ticto (total length 8.2 cm) and the largest was Tor macrolepis (total length 19.5 cm). Simpson's index of dominance was 0.255 and the reciprocal Simpson's index was 3.92, indicating a moderately diverse assemblage dominated by cyprinids. Fishes were identified using standard taxonomic keys, including Fishes of the Punjab (Mirza and Sandhu, 2007) and the Urdu key of Mirza (1990). The findings indicate that the river can potentially harbour additional species and could serve as a resource for conserving threatened taxa. Regular monitoring of the fish fauna, periodic assessment of water quality, stocking of native fish and control of illegal fishing are recommended to safeguard the ichthyofauna.

This paper critically examines differences in nomenclature within Theatre for Development (TfD), arguing that naming functions not merely as description but as praxis. Drawing on liberation pedagogy, applied theatre theory, and critical development discourse, the study analyzes how TfD terminologies emerge from specific historical, ideological, and institutional contexts. The findings demonstrate that early labels such as Popular Theatre and People’s Theatre reflect anti-colonial struggle and collective resistance, while later terms such as Theatre for Development and Applied Theatre align with processes of institutionalization and professional accountability. The analysis further reveals that nomenclature structures ideological orientation, participatory methodology, ethical responsibility, and epistemic authority. The paper contends that terminological multiplicity should not be viewed as a conceptual deficiency; instead, it posits that productive tension is essential to the vitality of TfD, contingent upon reflexive engagement. By reframing nomenclature as praxis, the study advances theoretical coherence in TfD scholarship and points out the moral value of naming in participatory performance practice.

Background: Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a progressive disorder that causes mucosal stiffness, pain, burning sensation, and restricted mouth opening. Intralesional corticosteroids are commonly used, while platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has emerged as a regenerative treatment. Aim: To compare intralesional triamcinolone acetonide and PRP in improving mouth opening and relieving symptoms in patients with OSMF. Materials and Methods: This prospective comparative study included 20 patients with Grade II or III OSMF. Patients were equally allocated to receive weekly intralesional injections of triamcinolone acetonide or autologous PRP for two months. Mouth opening, pain, and burning sensation were assessed at baseline, one week, three weeks, and two months. Data were analysed using the independent-samples t-test and repeated-measures ANOVA. Results: Both treatments significantly improved mouth opening, pain, and burning sensation over time (p < 0.001). At two months, mouth opening was greater in the triamcinolone group than in the PRP group (29.50 ± 1.08 versus 27.50 ± 1.08 mm; p = 0.001). PRP produced greater reductions in pain (1.20 ± 0.42 versus 4.20 ± 0.63) and burning sensation (1.50 ± 0.53 versus 4.30 ± 0.48) at two months (both p < 0.001). Conclusion: Triamcinolone was more effective in improving mouth opening, whereas PRP provided greater relief from pain and burning sensation.

This article examines Leila Aboulela's The Translator through the analytical lens of Serge Moscovici's Social Representation Theory, exploring how the novel portrays the experiences of a Sudanese Muslim woman negotiating the hostland politics of contemporary Scotland. Drawing on close textual analysis, the article argues that racial discrimination, Islamophobia, identity crisis, destitution, frustration, and social alienation experienced by the protagonist, Sammar, are not merely individual psychological conditions but manifestations of hegemonic social representations through which the Scottish host society denies the African Muslim migrant full humanity, dignity, and equal rights. The study further demonstrates how Sammar develops emancipated and polemical counter-representations of herself through her Islamic faith, spiritual self-realisation, and a gradual re-evaluation of homeland, thereby affirming her inherent human dignity in the face of dehumanising social constructions. By relating the novel's literary representations to the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the article argues that The Translator functions as a sustained literary critique of the hegemonic representations underpinning contemporary Western host societies while asserting the humanity, agency, and rights of the African Muslim migrant.

The convergence of the Internet of Things (IoT) and Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) has strengthened smart greenhouse management by enabling continuous environmental monitoring, automated control, and more informed use of agricultural resources. This review examines and synthesises research on IoT- and WSN-enabled greenhouse systems published between 2015 and 2026. Peer-reviewed studies retrieved mainly from IEEE Xplore and Google Scholar were analysed across sensing technologies, system architecture, communication methods, network topology, control approaches, cloud–edge computing, energy management, and performance assessment. The reviewed studies show that achieving strong performance in one area often requires compromises elsewhere, particularly among communication range, energy demand, reliability, scalability, latency, computational capacity, and cost. ZigBee is particularly suitable for low-power, short-range mesh networks, whereas LoRa better supports wider-area deployments. Clustered and hybrid network structures offer favourable scalability and reliability, while cloud–edge architectures combine scalable analytics with rapid local processing. Intelligent control improves prediction, adaptability, and resource use, whereas renewable energy and intelligent energy management can reduce reliance on conventional power sources. Practical deployment, however, remains constrained by sensor reliability, energy limitations, communication instability, interoperability, cybersecurity risks, and limited long-term validation. Future studies should place greater emphasis on energy-autonomous systems, edge intelligence, secure and interoperable architectures, digital twins, adaptive autonomous control, and realistic evaluation of emerging communication technologies for greenhouse applications. Overall, future smart greenhouses are likely to depend increasingly on integrated architectures that combine energy efficiency, adaptive control, reliable connectivity, and security to support sustainable operation.

Istradefylline, a selective adenosine A2A receptor antagonist used as an add-on therapy to levodopa therapy for Parkinson’s disease, requires reliable impurity profiling to ensure pharmaceutical quality and safety. In this study, a novel, stability-indicating, Quality by Design (QbD)-based and eco-friendly RP-HPLC method was developed and validated for the determination of Istradefylline and its related impurities in tablet dosage forms. Method robustness was systematically evaluated using a three-level, two-factor factorial design. Chromatographic separation was achieved on an XBridge C18 column (250 × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) using 0.01M ammonium formate buffer (pH 4.0) and acetonitrile at a flow rate of 0.8mL min⁻¹, with detection at 280 and 360nm. The method demonstrated excellent specificity, effectively separating Istradefylline from its impurities (IST-4, IST-5, IST-CIS, IST-10, and IST-40) without interference from excipients and degradation products. Linearity was established over the concentration range of 0.200–4.000µgmL⁻¹ (R² > 0.999), while accuracy, precision, and sensitivity met ICH acceptance criteria. Forced degradation studies confirmed the stability-indicating capability of the method. The method also complies with Green Analytical Chemistry principles through reduced solvent consumption and efficient chromatographic performance. Validation results demonstrated that the method is robust, reliable, and suitable for routine quality control, impurity profiling, and stability assessment of Istradefylline tablet formulations.

Service quality has become an essential aspect for customer satisfaction and loyalty in the hospitality and tourism sector. This study primarily aimed to evaluate the service quality and level of satisfaction of Bryztoff Camp Resort in Dulag, Leyte. The study was carried out using the SERVQUAL framework to determine the profile of the respondents, measure the guests’ perception of service quality provided by the resort, and assess the relationship between the aspect of service quality and customer satisfaction. The researchers utilized a descriptive-correlational research design involving 80 randomly selected guests of the resort. Data were gathered using a SERVQUAL instrument and analyzed using descriptive and correlation analysis. The study revealed that customers who availed services at Bryztoff Camp Resort were generally satisfied with the services provided by the establishment (3.94). Results of the descriptive analysis indicate that guests gave the highest mean score on tangibility (4.00) and the lowest score on reliability (3.15). Findings further show that among the five dimensions of service quality, responsiveness was significantly related to customer satisfaction (r = 0.2721, p = 0.0146). Overall, the study suggests that the resort should prioritize improving guest satisfaction with its responsiveness to guests’ needs and requests. In doing so, the resort could provide superior service quality, satisfy customers, promote positive word of mouth, and gain competitive advantage over other resorts.

The objective of present study was study of preliminary pharmacological screening of Citrullus colocynthis fruits extracts for ulcerative colitis using Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in experimental animal. Different extracts i.e. petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol and aqueous extracts of Citrullus colocynthis Linn. fruits were screened for protective effect in Dextran Sodium Sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis through assessment of disease activity index (DAI), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and antioxidants assay in colonic tissues. Results of study were showed that Citrullus colocynthis Linn. give positive test of steroids in petroleum ether and alkaloids in chloroform extract. The ethyl acetate and ethanol extract contains flavonoids, tannins, glycosides and amino acids. Aqueous extract was found presence of carbohydrates, saponins and amino acids. The disease activity index and colon weight were observed significantly decreased after treatment with ethanol extract of Citrullus colocynthis (EECC). Other extracts of Citrullus colocynthis fruits e.g. CECC, EACC and AECC at the dose of 200 mg/kg were does not showed significant Disease activity Index as well as % protection. Treatment with EECC significantly reduced MPO to 12.54 ± 0.12 and MDA to 44.20 ± 1.64 (P<0.05), bringing the values close to normal and comparable to sulfasalazine (MPO: 15.34 ± 0.54; MDA: 45.02 ± 1.73). EECC produced significant improvement in all measured parameters, demonstrating strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities comparable to the standard drug sulfasalazine. This pharmacological screening of different extracts of Citrullus colocynthis fruits suggests that ethanol extract mitigates colonic damage through antioxidant replenishment, reduction of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and mitigating oxidative stress. Among the tested doses, 200 mg/kg of different extracts, the ethanol extract of Citrullus colocynthis Linn. fruits produced the most pronounced effects and demonstrated efficacy comparable to the standard drug sulfasalazine.

Introduction: Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a rare long-term systemic disorder that involves the formation of granulomas and inflammation of blood vessels. Aim: of this study was to present a case of (WG) that was diagnosed with kidney biopsy while the lung infiltrates were not reachable. Materials and methods: 57-year-old male patient admitted for invasive diagnostics due to lung infiltrates. Results: The patient had positive C-ANCA on bloodwork, CT scan showing multiple bilateral lung infiltrates and an inconclusive result from a nasal mucosa biopsy. The lung infiltrates being difficult to reach for biopsy and having confirmed kidney involvement with high creatinine and albuminuria enabled us to do kidney biopsy. The biopsy showed a vasculitis with positive C-ANCA confirming (WG). A high dose of Methylprednisolone (500mg for 3day, then 250 for 3 day and finally 125mg for 3 days) A cyclophosphamide and maintenance dose steroids therapy was initiated by a consulting rheumatologist after discharge. A complete remission of the lung involvement was seen on a CT 2 months after. Discussion: The least invasive site for biopsy being the nasal mucosa is always the best site for biopsy. Having received an inconclusive result leaves the kidney and the lung as secondary options. In our case the kidney was considered due to a better possible yield of viable material Conclusion: Present kidney involvement is always a site for biopsy with a high yield for confirming (WG) despite the risk of bleeding complications who were absent in our case.

Background: One of the most significant plants in the Indian medical systems of Unani, Ayurveda, and Sidha is Achyranthes aspera (Amaranthaceae). It is found in many tropical nations, especially India, where this therapeutic herb is a common weed. Many medicinal plants serve as antibiotic substitutes and are regarded as novel resources for the production of medicines in the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Aim: This study aimed to assess the antibacterial and antioxidant activity of several A. aspera leaf and stem extracts. Methodology: In present investigation the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the stem and leaf extracts of Achyranthes aspera had been studied by the DPPH radical-scavenging assay and the disc-diffusion method, respectively. Result: The percentage inhibition of aqueous leaf and stem extract demonstrated a significant effect when compared to the standard, according to the investigation's findings. The findings show that leaf aqueous extracts have the highest antioxidant activity, followed by stem aqueous extracts, while ethanolic extracts have the lowest. The results of the antimicrobial investigation show that ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the leaves and stem of Achyranthens aspera Linn have antibacterial activity against particular microorganisms. It has been discovered that ASL aqueous extract is more active than ethanolic extracts. Conclusion: While the antimicrobial study demonstrated strong inhibitory effects against particular pathogenic bacteria, the antioxidant activity evaluated by the DPPH test demonstrated significant free radical scavenging capabilities of the selected extracts. the presence of flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, and alkaloids, which are known to be effective at scavenging radicals and preventing microbial growth.

Solid electrolytes are commonly designed using static descriptors such as crystallographic bottlenecks, vacancy concentrations, and migration barriers, yet emerging evidence shows that anion translation, rotation, vibration, and disorder can actively reorganize ionic energy landscapes. This review establishes a unified materials framework linking dynamic anion sublattices, cooperative ion migration, and metastable pathway engineering across lithium-, sodium-, proton-, and multivalent-ion conductors. A literature synthesis will compare sulfides, halides, oxyhalides, complex hydrides, solid acids, antiperovskites, and amorphous or partially crystalline electrolytes. Particular emphasis is placed on distinguishing independent hopping from correlated, concerted, paddle-wheel, and phonon-assisted transport; identifying when anion motion is causal rather than merely coincident; and determining how mixed-anion chemistry, defects, strain, mechanochemistry, quenching, and controlled amorphization stabilize transport-active configurations. Mode-resolved spectroscopy, neutron methods, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance, total scattering, ab initio molecular dynamics, enhanced sampling, and machine-learned interatomic potentials are critically evaluated for resolving coupled sublattice dynamics across time and length scales. Quantitative structure–dynamics–transport relationships are proposed using conductivity, activation energy, correlation factors, rotational timescales, phonon characteristics, disorder metrics, and electrochemical stability. The review concludes with experimentally testable design rules and standardized reporting priorities for discovering room-temperature solid electrolytes that combine rapid ion conduction, metastable retention, interfacial compatibility, and device-level durability.

Background: Niger remains one of the countries with the highest maternal mortality burden worldwide. Approximately one in 23 women is at risk of dying from complications related to pregnancy, childbirth, or the postpartum period. Despite the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and substantial investments in maternal health over the past 15 years, progress has remained modest. The maternal mortality ratio declined from 700 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2005 to 553 in 2015 and 509 in 2017. Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive and analytical study at Issaka Gazoby Maternity Hospital, a tertiary referral maternity hospital in Niamey, Niger. The study covered a 12-month period from 1 January to 31 December 2025 and included all maternal deaths that met the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of maternal death. Results: During the study period, 8,002 live births and 175 maternal deaths were recorded, corresponding to a maternal mortality ratio of 2,186.9 per 100,000 live births. Maternal mortality was significantly associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, grand multiparity, and lack of formal education. Direct obstetric complications accounted for most maternal deaths, with eclampsia/severe pre-eclampsia being the leading cause. Conclusion: Maternal mortality in this tertiary referral hospital remains unacceptably high and is driven by the combined effects of socioeconomic, health system, cultural, and biological factors. Strengthening antenatal care, improving timely referral systems, and ensuring rapid management of obstetric emergencies are essential to reduce preventable maternal deaths in Niger and other low-resource settings.

This article examines the essence of categorising energy forms and legislative instruments at the international level in an explicit manner in order to identify the causes, challenges and possible ways forward in the energy sector in general and Cameroon in particular. This article focuses on energy forms precisely on renewable energies that are environmentally friendly when compared to fossil fuels. In consequence to this, it should immediately be pointed out that, with the advent of climate change and its diverse negative consequences on man and the environment, it becomes vital to categorise the various forms of energies and spotlight amongst others their merits and pitfalls. This is because the energy sector in any country is vital at every ramification for any significant growth. A fundamental recommendation to this effect is that all states should take on board the utility of energy especially renewable energy in by integrating them in their various national laws.