Background: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is crucial for providing infants with optimal nutrition for their health, growth, and cognitive development. Maternal self-efficacy plays a significant role in determining the duration of breastfeeding. To promote breastfeeding initiation, duration, and exclusivity, it is important to understand breastfeeding self-efficacy and implement interventions to enhance it. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of educational interventions on improving breastfeeding self-efficacy in postpartum women. Method: One-group pretest–posttest was used for this study. The sample consist of 115 postpartum mothers in the postnatal ward recruited from a private hospital Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The questionnaire composes of two parts: the socio-demographic section and the Breastfeeding Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (BSES-SF). Data collection technique was conducted through an interview using a questionnaire. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Results: The study revealed a significant improvement in breastfeeding self-efficacy following the educational intervention (p value<0.001). Participants exhibited increased confidence in breastfeeding techniques and intrapersonal thoughts. All items on the BSES-SF showed statistically significant differences in mean scores between the pre- and post-intervention phases, highlighting the effectiveness of the intervention in enhancing breastfeeding self-efficacy. Conclusion: Postnatal interventional breastfeeding education was significantly associated with an improvement in maternal breastfeeding self-efficacy. Further, it is recommended to provide postpartum women with breastfeeding health education on regular basis to enhance their knowledge and practices regarding complying with breastfeeding.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and the leading cause of dementia worldwide, characterized by progressive cognitive decline, memory impairment, and behavioral dysfunction. Despite extensive research, effective disease-modifying therapies remain limited, largely due to incomplete understanding of its complex and multifactorial pathogenesis. Increasing evidence now highlights chronic neuroinflammation as a central contributor to AD progression, shifting focus from a purely proteinopathy-based model toward an integrated neuroimmune perspective. Among key inflammatory pathways, the NLRP3 inflammasome has emerged as a critical innate immune signaling platform that links pathological protein aggregation to sustained neuroinflammatory responses in the central nervous system. Activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is triggered by multiple Alzheimer’s disease–associated pathological stimuli, including amyloid-β accumulation, tau pathology, autophagy dysfunction, mitochondrial impairment, oxidative stress, and endoplasmic reticulum stress. These cellular disturbances converge to promote assembly of the inflammasome complex and activation of caspase-1. Activated caspase-1 mediates the proteolytic maturation and release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-18 (IL-18), both of which play central roles in amplifying neuroinflammatory signaling, promoting synaptic dysfunction, and contributing to neuronal injury. Consequently, IL-1β and IL-18 have gained increasing attention as potential biomarkers for disease severity, progression, and inflammatory burden in Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, inflammasome-specific markers such as apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing CARD (ASC) specks provide further mechanistic and diagnostic evidence of active inflammasome signaling in neurodegeneration. Preclinical studies using cellular and animal models have demonstrated that pharmacological inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome can reduce neuroinflammation, attenuate neuropathological changes, and improve cognitive performance. However, despite these promising findings, clinical translation remains limited due to challenges including inadequate blood–brain barrier penetration, systemic immune modulation risks, and the absence of reliable biomarker-guided patient stratification strategies. This review critically examines the molecular mechanisms underlying NLRP3 inflammasome activation in Alzheimer’s disease, its interaction with pro-inflammatory cytokine networks, and the emerging role of inflammasome-related biomarkers in disease characterization. Furthermore, current therapeutic strategies targeting the NLRP3 pathway are discussed, along with key translational barriers and future directions for developing biomarker-driven immunomodulatory therapies in Alzheimer’s disease.

Introduction: Miliary dissemination of adenocarcinoma is a rare, aggressive, and often terminal form of metastasis characterized by countless tiny (millimetric) nodules spreading throughout the lungs, mimicking miliary tuberculosis. It affects less than 5% of all lung adenocarcinomas. The aim of this study is to present a case of miliary disseminated adenocarcinoma originating from the lung with all diagnostic requirements. Materials and Methods: A 57year old male patient with 80-pack year smoking status admitted for invasive diagnostics in our clinic between (22.10.2026-29.10.2026) due to x-ray showing miliary disseminated lung infiltrates and pleural effusion. Results: The light criteria of the pleural effusion showed exudate with high LDH values highly suspected of malignancy. Contrast enhanced CT was scheduled and it showed multiple miliary disseminated infiltrates, mediastinal and hilar lymphadenopathy. Liver and adrenal gland metastases were also noted. Bronchoscopy with TBB from the branch of the right upper lobe, together with TBNA from position 7 and 11R, both came positive for adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemistry was positive in 50% of ROS1; TTF1; CK7; CEA; and negative on CK20; EGFR, ALK, PDL1 confirming primary adenocarcinoma of the lung. Additionally, the patient was presented on tumor bord for treatment options and staging being T4N3M1c2. Conclusion: Miliary disseminated adenocarcinoma is aggressive and usually diagnosed late. Immunohistochemistry can provide an exact origin of the malignant disease.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a single-stranded, blood-borne, RNA virus, which infects hepatocytes and can cause chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The task of this hospital-based study was to identify the level of HCV infection in patients in some of the districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. There were 250 patients attending Royal Imperial Hospital, Mingora, to have pre-surgery assessment. Data analyses were performed based on gender, age group and district of residence. Blood samples were taken, serum/plasma was separated and HCV screening was done by the use of rapid diagnostic device. Among 250 patients, 7 were positive of HCV which constitutes a total of 2.8 prevalence. The positive rate of males was 4 out of 104 with a prevalence of 3.84, and the positive rate of females was 3 out of 146 with a prevalence of 2.05. Analysis by district indicated that most positive cases were in Swat with Shangla having the least prevalence. The distribution in terms of age showed that HCV positivity was more common among the adult age groups than among the young people. The results indicate that HCV is a health issue to the community of the study area especially adults and males. To decrease transmission, better screening, awareness, safe blood transfusion practices, sterilization of surgical and dental instruments, and avoidance of sharing needles are advised.

This study examines the impact of government expenditure on economic development in Ondo State, Nigeria, using internally generated revenue (IGR) as a proxy. It focuses on three sectors: education, health, and agriculture, to assess their relative contributions to state revenue performance. The study employs an ex post facto design using secondary data from 2020 to 2024. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression techniques were applied to evaluate the relationship between sectoral expenditures and IGR, and to determine the statistical significance of each sector’s effect. Results show considerable variability in IGR, with education and health receiving consistently higher allocations than agriculture. Correlation analysis reveals positive associations between IGR and all three sectors. Regression analysis indicates that 89.3 percent of IGR variation is jointly explained by the three expenditures, with education showing a statistically significant positive effect, while health and agriculture show positive but borderline effects. Strategic allocation of public funds, particularly prioritising education, can enhance internally generated revenue and support economic development. Policymakers should adopt integrated budgeting to balance sectoral investments, maximise fiscal outcomes, and strengthen human capital development. The study provides state-level empirical evidence on the effectiveness of government spending in Nigeria, highlighting education as the most influential sector in driving revenue performance. It offers actionable recommendations for improving fiscal planning and resource allocation in sub-national governance contexts.

Plants remain one of the most valuable sources of therapeutic agents for managing diseases and maintaining health. Ageratum conyzoides (AC) belongs to the family Asteraceae and has been known since antiquity for its medicinal properties and effectiveness in the treatment of various ailments ranging from skin disease, fever, to relief colic, flatulence, dysentery, and diarrhea. Despite its extensive ethnomedicinal use, limited scientific evidence exists to substantiate its pharmacological properties. This study was therefore designed to determine its nutrition and phytochemical component as herbal remedy for hypertension. Proximate analysis (%) shows that the plant has a low moisture content (6.57 ± 0.053), a low crude protein content (8.15 ± 0.041), low concentration of fat (3.10 ± 0.000), a moderate amount of fibre (16.58 ± 0.088), low Ash content (4. 29 ± 0.010) and high amount of carbohydrate (61.21 ± 0.010). This confirms AC as a good source of energy and fibre that aids digestion and improve the intestinal tract. The phytochemical constituents (Tannins, Phenols, Alkaloids, Flavonoids and Saponins) were found to be 2.79%, 49.03mg/g, 0.94%, 38.22mg/g and 3.80% respectively. This confirms the plant’s richness in phytochemicals and antioxidant compounds. The concentration of essential amino acids (mg/g protein) (Leucine, Lysine, Phenylalanine, Isoleucine, Threonine, and Methionine) were found to be 66.00, 38.05, 48.00, 36.00, 38.00 and 16.05 showing the nutritional quality of AC. Mineral compositions (mg/100g) (magnesium, calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, sulphur, manganese, cobalt, selenium and zinc) were found to be 27.45, 65.00, 8.16, 720.07, 100.42, 25.00, 5.15, 0.05, 0.72 and 2.24 confirming the nutritional and medicinal richness of Ageratum conyzoides as a herbal remedy. This study demonstrated that dietary supplementation of Ageratum conyzoides in local delicacy (black soup) has the potential to improve the nutritional status vis a vis the overall health benefit with regards to hypertension and other traditional use.

When soil material is subjected to external loading (pressure), its particles tend to undergo rearrangement because of the gradual expulsion of air/water from the soil mass which gives rise to reduction in volume. The loading pattern has a significant effect on the behavior of soil as it responds to the loading. In this research, two categories of consolidation tests; namely Rapid Loading Tests and Standard loading tests were carried out on different soil samples extracted from four different locations within Port Harcourt, Nigeria to investigate the effect of rate of loading on the consolidation properties of cohesive soils. In the Rapid loading Tests, the incremental loading was done at every one-hour (1hr.) interval to simulate the rapid loading whereas in the Standard Loading Tests, the load increment was done at every 24 hours or until there was no significant change in the dial gauge reading. The results of the investigation showed that the values for the coefficient of volume compressibility (mv), and compression index (Cc) were higher by an average of 34.8% and 77.2% respectively whereas the values of Coefficient of consolidation (cv), Swelling Index (Cs), the time factor for 90% consolidation (t90) and Preconsolidation pressure (Pc) were found to be reduced by an average of 37.8%, 33.8% ,32.6% and 15.4%respectively. More so, the settlements were found to be higher by an average of 23.5% in the rapidly loaded soil samples as compared to those of the standard loading tests. Lastly, the results of the investigation, when compared to the recommended values, were found to be within the acceptable range of values. Hence, it could be concluded that soils respond differently depending on the loading pattern, and that the compressibility properties of soil materials can be affected by the rate of loading.

The last few decades have witnessed considerable competition between developed countries to implement innovative digital advancements. This step is actually important for utility-scale highway construction enterprises, which are characterised by significant uncertainties, complex tasks, budget forecasting fluctuations, delays, cost overruns, and litigation. Nonetheless, the construction sector across all lands faces various hurdles to adopting 5G technologies. Thereby, it is substantial to highlight their instrumental benefits. Additionally, it is essential to illuminate the major risks of these projects. Actually, the global literature has few discussions of breakthrough approaches to mitigate the significant risks posed by these massive projects. Accordingly, this paper conducts a PRISMA-based data collection and analysis to bridge these knowledge gaps. This systematic review is noteworthy because it provides practical evidence and practices on the feasibility of digital tools for smart highway construction procedures and intelligent traffic management. It contributes to the available literature through valuable risk evaluation tools, contributions, and the imperative applications of the latest cutting-edge sensors.

Tuberculosis can cause many types of alteration on normal marrow. Patients with tubeculosis were commonly observed to suffer hematological abnormalities. This study was conducted to investigate the influnce of pulmonary tuberculosis on some hematological parameters among kosti teaching hospital visiters. Blood samples were collected from fourty (40) pulmonary tuberculosis patients and thirty healthy individuals as control. The collected blood samples were transferred to EDTA containers and CBC test was immediately carried. The measured parameters included, HIV, RBCs, ESR, HTC, MCV, MCHC, TWBCs and platlet count. The hematological analyzer (sysmexKX21N) was used. The obtained results were statistically analyzed using (SPSS) programs compared with control samples. The ESR was elevated in (99%) of the patients, 45% of ESR values exceed (100mmHg) and thrombocytosis as (17%). The mean values of patients samples were, Hb (12.1 g/dl), MCV (77.2%), RBCs (4.4), HCT (33.8), MPV (8.9) and RDW (14.5). The control samples showed mean values as, Hb (13.2g/dl), MCV (81.21%), RBCs (4.5), HCT (36.5), MCH (29.4), MCHC (36.2), WBCs (5.9), MPV(10) and RDW (13.8). The TB patients samples showed significant increase in platelets count and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in addition to clear decrease in MCV.

Organizations frequently face challenges in balancing financial planning, operational resource utilization, and performance monitoring under changing market conditions. This study proposes an integrated analytical framework that combines time-series forecasting techniques with optimization-based resource allocation models to support organizational decision-making. The framework incorporates historical operational and financial data to estimate future demand patterns, revenue fluctuations, and resource requirements. Forecasting models are developed using statistical methods to identify trends and seasonal variations, while optimization procedures are applied to allocate resources under budgetary and operational constraints. Enterprise information systems are utilized to structure and process organizational data for analysis and reporting. The proposed approach is evaluated through simulation-based scenarios and comparative performance analysis using forecasting accuracy and resource utilization indicators. Results demonstrate improvements in planning accuracy, operational efficiency, and decision consistency. The framework provides a practical methodology for organizations seeking to improve financial and operational performance through data-driven planning and structured decision-support mechanisms.

The growing frequency and intensity of both natural and human-induced disasters have underscored the need for stronger community preparedness and more effective emergency response systems. In this context, Civil Defence Volunteers (CDVs) have become an essential link between government agencies and local communities, contributing significantly to disaster resilience through awareness programmes, preparedness initiatives, and timely emergency assistance. Their active involvement helps reduce disaster impacts by ensuring that support reaches affected populations quickly and efficiently. This study examines the role of Civil Defence Volunteers in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and emergency response, with particular emphasis on the Indian context. It explores their contributions across various stages of disaster management, including preparedness, public awareness, search and rescue, first aid, evacuation, relief distribution, and post-disaster rehabilitation. In addition, the study evaluates the effectiveness of the existing institutional framework, training systems, and coordination mechanisms that guide volunteer participation. Particular attention is given to the collaborative efforts of key disaster management institutions, including the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Forces (SDRFs), and local administrative authorities. By examining these dimensions, the research seeks to provide a comprehensive understanding of how Civil Defence Volunteers strengthen disaster management and contribute to building safer and more resilient communities.

The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding at the 2023 G20 New Delhi Summit, represents a transformative geo-economic initiative linking India to Europe via the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Greece. Integrating multimodal rail, road, and sea connectivity alongside energy and digital infrastructure, IMEC promises to reduce transit times by 40% and costs by 30% compared to the Suez Canal route. This paper analyses IMEC through the lens of geo-economics and geopolitics, examining its strategic opportunities for India including maritime ascendency, indigenous manufacturing, and regional security partnerships alongside significant challenges such as geopolitical instability, missing infrastructure links, and the protracted Israel-Hamas conflict. The paper further contextualises IMEC against China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Turkey’s opposition, and historical precedents like INSTC. It concludes that IMEC’s success hinges on swift implementation, diplomatic management, and India’s ability to leverage its strategic centrality in an era of intensifying great-power competition.

Background and Objectives: Accurately estimating fetal weight is critical for optimal obstetric management. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of using fetal liver length, measured via ultrasonography, to predict estimated fetal weight (EFWG). The specific objectives were to assess fetal weight using fetal liver length, establish predictive mathematical formulas, correlate liver length with EFWG, and quantify the strength of the association between fetal liver parameters and fetal weight. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 173 pregnant women with confirmed normal pregnancies at Ultrasound Department of Al-Auda Medical Center in Hafr Al-Batin, KSA; Pregnancies with suspected congenital abnormalities were excluded. Sonographic evaluations were performed using a real-time grayscale scanner (Mindray and Fujifilm) equipped with a 3.5 MHz curvilinear array transducer. Data collection involved measuring fetal liver length, and the data were analyzed using bivariate correlation and multiple linear regression methods. Results: The proposed simple linear regression analysis revealed that fetal liver length demonstrated a strong positive linear correlation with estimated fetal weight (R = 0.766). The coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.587) confirms that approximately 58.7 % of the total variance in fetal weight can be directly explained by liver length alone. The adjusted R2 (0.585) further substantiates the stability and reliability of the model. The analysis of variance yielded an F-statistic of 243.082 (p < 0.001), verifying that the regression model is highly significant and that the relationship is robust rather than a result of random chance. The derived unstandardized model provides a direct mathematical formula for clinical application: EFW G = -1637.782 + 492.151 X (Liver Length). The unstandardized coefficient for liver length (B = 492.151, t = 15.591, p < 0.001) confirms its critical role in assessing fetal growth parameters. Overall, these findings validate fetal liver length as a dependable, highly accurate metric for clinical estimation of fetal weight in routine obstetrical evaluations. This equation specifies that for every 1 cm increase in fetal liver length, the estimated fetal weight increases by approximately 492.15 g. Conclusion: The findings demonstrate that fetal liver length is a robust and statistically significant predictor of estimated fetal weight, offering a reliable, alternative parameter for comprehensive fetal growth assessment in clinical practice.

Background: Cricket has gradually drifted away from intuition led coaching toward a discipline governed by measurement and computation, propelled largely by artificial intelligence and wearable sensing. Yet the scholarship charting this shift stays scattered across engineering, biomechanics, and sports science, leaving little clarity on how these strands connect. Methods: This study mapped that terrain through a bibliometric and science mapping exercise. A total of 688 documents indexed in Scopus between 1981 and March 2025 were retrieved using a Boolean title–abstract–keyword strategy, screened under PRISMA guidance, and examined with the R-based Bibliometrix package. Results: The field showed a modest annual growth of 4.35%, drew contributions from 2,199 authors, and saw roughly a fifth of its output emerge through cross border partnerships. Three phases surfaced long dormancy, gradual momentum after 2005, and a steep climb from 2022. India dominated in volume while the United States commanded citation influence, and the University of Twente anchored institutional productivity. A dual thematic character blended acoustic sensor biology with performance-oriented wearable and machine learning research. Conclusion: The evidence sketches a maturing yet fragmented field, offering scientists, engineers, and sporting bodies a grounded reference point for where smart cricket inquiry has travelled and where it seems headed.

Pupils’ lack of interest in mathematics at tender ages in primary school has been observed to be one of the major causes of low performance in the subject as learners progress in the academic pursuit. Among other factors, Teacher-Pupil relationship remains one of the grey areas that require an in-depth examination to understand its influence on the pupils’ interest in mathematics in Osun State primary schools. This study, therefore, investigated the influence of teacher-pupil relationship on pupils' interest in learning Mathematics, so as to enhance teachers’ knowledge on strategies to adopt for improving pupils’ academic achievement in mathematics. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. A total of 100 pupils were randomly selected from both public and private primary schools in Ife Central Local Government Area. Data was collected using a validated questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.82 determined through Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient and analyzed using frequency count and regression analysis. The results showed that teacher–pupil relationship in Mathematics classroom is positive, that the interest of pupils in learning Mathematics is high and that there is a significant relationship between teacher-pupil relationship and pupils’ interest in learning Mathematics in the study area. The study then concluded that positive teacher–pupil relationship is crucial to pupils’ interest in learning Mathematics and recommended that teachers should continuously strengthen teacher-pupils relationship skills through trainings, pupil-centered pedagogies, regular mentorship and feedback systems.