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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Nearly 6% of people worldwide suffer from diabetes mellitus, one of the most prevalent endocrine disorders. By 2025, there will be 300 million diabetic individuals worldwide, with type II diabetes accounting for over 97% of these cases. Weight loss may result from undiagnosed or untreated type I diabetes. The main risk factors for type II diabetes include obesity and poor lifestyle choices. According to approved medical nutrition therapy for diabetic patients, maintaining a healthy body weight involves making healthy choices rather than just decreasing calories. The purpose of this study is to compare the nutritional health of diabetes patients who are insulin dependent and those who are not. 300 patients with Type I and Type II diabetes were recruited, and they completed a questionnaire that inquired about their sociodemographic status, degree of physical activity, and 3-day food records. Anthropometry and glycemic control variables were also measured. The average age range of patients is between 20 and 80. About 15% of patients have poor glycemic control (HbA1c >6.5%), while 85% of patients have adequate glycemic control (HbA1c 5.7-6.4%). Of the 300 individuals, 113 (35.9%) have a type I diagnosis and 187 (59.4%) have a type II diagnosis. Anthropometry has been used to determine their BMI. Of those with IDDM, 38.8% are obese, and 47.8% are in good health and NIDDM, 61.2% are obese, and 52.2% are in good health. There is also a significant relationship exist between nutritional profiles of NIDDM & IDDM diabetics.