Counseling services are integral to holistic healthcare delivery, particularly in addressing the psychosocial needs of patients and healthcare professionals. Despite their recognized importance, evidence suggests inconsistent engagement with these services, even among counseling professionals. This study assessed the knowledge, perception, and utilization of counseling services among counselors at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Edo State. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed, using total sampling to include all eligible counselors. Data were collected through a structured, self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 26, with descriptive and inferential statistics applied at a 5% significance level. Results indicated universal awareness (100%) of counseling services among respondents; however, only half had received formal training, and 70% were knowledgeable about referral protocols. Perceptions of counseling services were generally positive, although concerns regarding staffing adequacy and service structure were noted. Utilization was high for patient referrals (90%) but comparatively low for personal use (40%). Major barriers identified included workload constraints, stigma, lack of institutional support, cultural and religious beliefs, and inadequate personnel. The study concludes that while counselors at ISTH demonstrate high awareness and favorable perceptions of counseling services, significant gaps remain in training, personal utilization, and organizational support. Strengthening institutional policies, expanding training opportunities, and addressing systemic and sociocultural barriers are essential to improving counseling service utilization and promoting mental well-being within tertiary healthcare settings.

The purpose of study was to find out the individual and combined effects of suryanamskar and pranayama practices on flexibility of school boys. To achieve this purpose of the study, forty school boy’s students from Alagappa Physical Fitness Academy, Karaikudi, were randomly selected as subjects. The age of the subjects ranged between 11 and 13 years. The study was formulated as pre and post-test random group design, in which forty subjects were divided into four equal groups. The experimental group-1 (n=10, SNP) underwent suryanamaskar practices, the experimental group-2 (n=10, PP) underwent pranayama practices, the experimental group-3 (n=10, SNP+PP) underwent combined practice of suryanamaskar and pranayama and group 4 served as control group (n=10, CG) did not undergo any specific training. In this study, three training programme were adopted as independent variable, i.e., suryanamaskar practices, pranayama practices and combined practice of suryanamaskar and pranayama. The flexibility was selected as dependent variables and the measurement was recorded in Centimetres. The selected three treatments were performed five days in a week for the period of six weeks, as per the stipulated training program. The selected flexibility was collected before and after the training period. The collected pre and post data was critically analysed with apt statistical tool of one-way analysis of co-variance, for observed the significant adjusted post-test mean difference of three groups. The Scheffe’s post hoc test was used to find out pair-wise comparisons between groups. To test the hypothesis 0.05 level of significant was fixed in this study.

1099 Provider Tax Application, providing healthcare organizations with an automated 1099 Provider Tax Reporting solution for the full end-to-end process of provider income reporting by enabling automatic electronic reporting to IRS via an approved format, enables healthcare organizations to automate their income reporting processes from the initial provider billing through to IRS electronic filing. 1099 Provider Tax Application utilizes a unique combination of statistical data analysis techniques to identify provider income that is based on the claims payment data and the electronic systems that provide the claims data. Data regarding provider income from all these electronic sources is effectively collated and stored in an S3 data engine environment for future retrieval and aggregation. In addition, because of AWS's Serverless architecture, the 1099 Provider Tax Application can create, and securely deliver to providers, IRS-compliant 1099s on an annual basis. The cloud-native architecture of the platform enhances both the speed and accuracy of tax document filing and ensures compliance with HIPAA and IRS regulations, which greatly reduces the likelihood of human error in the reconciliation and filing of tax documents. Moreover, the flexible nature of the platform would allow for the addition of other types of tax forms and multi-state/country reporting, along with the capability for integration with organizational data lakes and self-service portals for providers. As such, the cloud-native 1099 Provider Tax Application represents an opportunity to develop a reusable template for reporting systems in the regulated financial and healthcare sectors.

This paper presents a critical strategic analysis of international carbon pricing and its environmental, economic, and social impacts. It examines and reviews the impact of carbon taxes and emissions trading systems (ETS) on the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, technological innovation, and structural change over the long term through systematic literature review and content analysis. This study also considers distributional equity, competitiveness, administrative capacity, and carbon leakage risk and concludes that a carbon price is not a pillar to be used to attain the level of decarburization that would be needed to meet international climate targets but a complementary pillar that should be combined with stronger regulatory, fiscal, and industrial policies. Global cooperation, better policy formulation, strategic revenue application, and emphasis on social equity are thus important in the effectiveness and legitimacy of carbon pricing at the international level.

Transactional sex is a sexual activity that occurs in exchange for material benefits rather than being formally defined as prostitution. Transactional sex is not inherently violent or forced in every case, but it exists on a spectrum between fully consensual relationships and exploitation, depending on circumstances and power balance. Transactional sex occurs in settings of poverty or economic inequality, among students, where sex may be exchanged for fees, grades, or living support, in humanitarian or conflict settings and in relationships involving “sugar daddies/mommies. Female students involved in transactional sex often face heightened sexual and reproductive health risks. This study is aim to evaluate the Impact of Transactional Sex Among Female Students in Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional study involving 250 women (Teenagers) with age between 18 to 47 years. A well-structured questionnaire was administered to participants. The study lasted for a period of 2 months. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 25.0 and p < 0.05 was significant. The results revealed that 60% of the participants were from university, 28% from polytechnics and12% from colleges of education, 80% were single, 80% are aware of transactional sex. Transactional sex was described by the participants as sexual favors in exchange for money 40%, sexual favors in exchange for gift 28%, sexual favors in exchange for grades 28%, and I did not know 4%, 60% agreed transactional sex is common, 80% have engaged in transactional sex (TS), several factors motivated them to engage in transactional sex, 40% of the partner initiate the TS, 76% were academically affected, 60% affects mental health, and 68% agreed that TS has a long term effects on students.

A company's success hinges significantly on its board's effectiveness in providing strategic leadership and promoting independence in its stakeholder relationship. To achieve this, the board must have independent non-executive directors with the necessary qualifications, responsibilities, and appointment processes. However, determining who qualifies as an independent non-executive director and establishing their true independence remain critical in corporate governance. This article aims to provide comprehensive answers to these questions and to offer a deeper understanding of independent non-executive directors under the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 and the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance 2018. The article proposes that to ensure the true independence of independent non-executive directors, their appointment and removal should involve a more rigorous process that includes a special resolution. Dissenting members should have the right to question appointments or removals to ensure that the appointed person protects the rights of the minority and other stakeholders. By emphasising the importance of independent non-executive directors and advocating for a more robust appointment and removal process, this article contributes to the scholarship on corporate governance and promotes best practices for board independence.

In this article, I discuss the ways in which technology has been used to build, implement, and maintain an automated report for the purpose of reporting swap transactions that are covered by the European Market Infrastructure Regulation (EMIR) and Dodd-Frank Act (DFA) Rule 12b-2. The automated report will use advances in technology, including but not limited to Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Natural Language Processing (NLP), to enhance the regulatory reporting process, exception management, and compliance with EMIR, DFA and across all regions of the globe. All automated reports will be designed so that companies can minimize their need to perform manual processing and maximize the quality, accuracy, and transparency of their reports by converting them to a single format and standardizing the way they collect and submit data to regulators. By utilizing the advanced analytics capabilities in combination with a real-time monitoring, companies will benefit from more timely swap reporting and will ultimately enhance the efficiency of markets for all types of securities. The automated reporting of swaps improves the environment for regulatory reporting in regard to the marketplace, provides a new baseline for the financial services industry's compliance with regulation, eliminates or reduces the possibility of violating regulatory requirements within the financial services sector, decreases the cost of regulatory penalties associated with non-compliance, and improves the reputation of the organization overall.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common globally prevalent sleep disordered breathing. It is associated with various orofacial malformations and systemic morbidities. The limited level of awareness has left most cases undiagnosed. This study assessed the level of awareness of OSA and its orofacial and systemic complications among dental patients at the Lagos State University teaching hospital (LASUTH), Lagos, Nigeria. It was cross-sectional, involving 120 consenting subjects. Sample selection was by convenient sampling. Data collection was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire to obtain the biodata and the participants' awareness of OSA using the Likert scale. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 24 to assess the descriptive variables and OSA awareness of the subjects. Ordinal logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between the covariates and the participants' awareness of OSA. Statistical significance was determined at p≤ 0.05. The mean age of the participants was 45.7±16.2 years. A few, 23(19.2%), were fully aware of what OSA is. Twenty-six (21.7%) were fully aware that OSA can predispose to dental problems. Seventy-one (59.2%) were aware to a limited extent that some orofacial symptoms could identify people with OSA. Only 27(22.5%), 24 (20%), and 23 (19.2%) were fully aware that OSA is related to high blood pressure, obesity, and sudden death, respectively. In an ordinal regression, the age groups and occupational groups were the determinants of the participants' awareness about OSA (p≤0.05). Intensive education of the population is needed through several forums to increase their awareness of OSA and its complications.

Areca nut, commonly known as betel nut, holds significant cultural importance in Asian societies. However, its aflatoxin associated losses are more common in Pakistan, Nepal, India and Bangladesh. This study aimed to optimize total aflatoxin determination in areca nut using cost effective, accurate and valid techniques. Various strategic modifications were applied during the method optimization. Blending an 80:20 methanol: water mixture with areca nut sample at high speed, followed by dilution with 15% Tween 20, was found to yield reliable and repeatable results. Validation results aligned with the EU Directive 2002/657/EC and AOAC standard validation guidelines, with % RSD ˂ 20-21% and recovery rates between 60 – 110 %. Detection and quantification limits were low, indicating method sensitivity. Methods were found rugged but showed cross reactivity against tannin and phenolic compounds. Measurement uncertainty was ± 5.8µg/kg for fluorometry and ± 1.9 µg/kg for ELISA. Statistical comparison using ANOVA against the HPLC-FLD reference method revealed no significant differences (p = 0.991), confirming result consistency and homogeneity of variance (Levene’s statistic = 0.009). In conclusion, optimized fluorometry and ELISA methods for aflatoxin analyses in areca nut are cost-effective, reproducible, sensitive, and statistically comparable to the reference method, making them ideal for routine analysis.

Evictions in rural Assam, driven by river erosion, floods, and development projects, exacerbate economic vulnerability among displaced communities. This study examines post-displacement impacts on livelihoods, focusing on Dhubri and Majuli districts where over 1.4 million acres of land have been lost since 1950, rendering thousands landless. Affected families, often Mishing and other riverine groups, face income loss from agriculture, unemployment, and reliance on precarious char lands or embankments, with only 9% rehabilitated from 2014-2024 despite policies like the 2020 Rehabilitation Policy. Children suffer educational disruptions, while women encounter heightened gender-based violence risks. Employing a mixed-methods approach with surveys of 200 households and secondary data analysis, findings reveal a 40-60% income drop post-eviction, underscoring policy gaps in Assam's State Action Plan on Climate Change (SAPCC). Urgent reforms in land allocation, skill training, and inclusive adaptation are recommended to mitigate vulnerability.

Background: Women education is an important determinant of social development, economic growth and public health status. At the policy level, India has been trying to address it but regional inequalities continue to remain, especially in semi-urban and rural districts of the North East. Objective: This study aimed to examine the situation of women’s education status in Hojai District, Assam and determine the major socio-demographic, economic and institutional determinants that influences educational attainment. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2021 to November 2021 among 350 women using an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Results were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: Secondary and higher secondary education was predominant in terms of achievement. Parents' education, family, marriage at an early age and accessibility to schools were significantly related to the educational status. Conclusion: Women’s education in Hojai District is improving slowly but social & economic limitation is blocking the higher educational achievement. Bespoke interventions that respond to poverty at the household, gendered norms and institutional access are necessary.

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a significant global public health issue, often exacerbated by microvascular and macrovascular damage, resulting in heightened morbidity and mortality. Recognizing modifiable and non-modifiable characteristics linked to diabetic complications is crucial for enhancing preventative efforts and directing personalized medication. Objectives: This study aimed to identify demographic, clinical, lifestyle, and treatment-related factors associated with microvascular and macrovascular complications among adults with diabetes mellitus. Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was performed at the National Diabetes Center, Al-Mustansiriya University, from September to December 2025, involving 100 persons with diabetes mellitus. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, smoking status, clinical parameters, glycaemic control (HbA1c), treatment modalities, and diabetic complications were collected. Microvascular and macrovascular complications were defined as composite binary outcomes. Bivariate analyses were performed using appropriate parametric and non-parametric tests. Multivariable logistic regression models were constructed to identify independent predictors of microvascular and macrovascular complications, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: The prevalence of microvascular and macrovascular complications increased with advancing age and longer diabetes duration. Poor glycaemic control was associated with a higher burden of complications. In multivariable analysis, age was independently associated with microvascular complications, while diabetes duration showed a significant association with macrovascular complications. Smoking status and insulin-based therapy demonstrated trends toward higher complication risk after adjustment for demographic and clinical variables. Conclusions: Age, duration of diabetes, and glycaemic control are key determinants of diabetic complications. Biomarker-based clinical parameters combined with lifestyle and treatment factors provide valuable insight into disease staging and risk stratification. These findings support the importance of early intervention and individualized pharmacotherapeutic strategies to reduce long-term complications in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a major cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, most often arising in the setting of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. Although tyrosine kinase inhibitors have long represented the cornerstone of systemic therapy in advanced stages, therapeutic resistance and disease progression are frequent. Recent advances in immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, have reshaped the therapeutic landscape of HCC. Pembrolizumab has demonstrated clinically meaningful antitumor activity and an acceptable safety profile in patients previously treated with sorafenib, as reported in pivotal clinical trials. This article highlights the therapeutic role of pembrolizumab as a second-line option in advanced HCC and discusses its place within current evidence-based treatment strategies, emphasizing the growing importance of immunotherapy in the multidisciplinary management of this disease.

HIV infections are difficult to treat disease till date. Not many drugs are there for treating it. In this work effort has been made to identify probable drugs with anti-HIV effects using a technique developed and presented in previous work.

Concrete durability is a critical factor influencing the longevity, safety, and sustainability of infrastructure, particularly under aggressive environmental conditions. Conventional ordinary Portland cement (OPC) concrete is susceptible to deterioration mechanisms such as chloride-induced reinforcement corrosion, sulphate attack, carbonation, and acid degradation, which compromise structural integrity and service life. The partial replacement of OPC with supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) has emerged as an effective strategy to enhance durability while reducing the environmental footprint of concrete. This review critically examines the performance of major SCMs, including fly ash, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS), silica fume, metakaolin, rice husk ash (RHA), and limestone calcined clay cement (LC3), in aggressive environments. The review highlights how SCMs influence microstructural properties, such as pore refinement, chloride binding, and formation of secondary hydration products, thereby improving resistance to chloride ingress, sulphate attack, carbonation, and acid exposure. While SCMs generally enhance durability, certain limitations, such as increased carbonation depth in high-volume fly ash and slag systems, are discussed. Furthermore, factors influencing performance such as SCM type, replacement level, curing conditions, and exposure environment are analysed.