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The Impact of Swimming on Cognitive and Mental Health Among Pre-Service Physical Education Teachers
No full textThis study investigates the effects of a semester-long swimming intervention on the cognitive and mental well-being of pre-service physical education teachers. Recognising the growing concern over mental health issues, particularly among young adults, this research examines whether structured swimming lessons contribute to improved mental well-being and cognitive performance. A single-group experimental design was implemented, involving 30 undergraduate students enrolled in a 14-week swimming course. Participants' mental health was assessed using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), while cognitive performance was measured through the Stroop Color-Word Test, administered before and after the intervention. The findings indicated an overall improvement in participants' understanding of the relationship between swimming and mental health, particularly in areas such as concentration, sleep quality, and group belonging. However, statistical analysis using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test revealed no significant differences in mental well-being or cognitive performance post-intervention. While basic cognitive processing showed slight improvements, more complex cognitive tasks exhibited mixed results, possibly due to cognitive fatigue or a speed-accuracy trade-off. Despite the lack of statistically significant changes, regular swimming may offer psychological and cognitive benefits through structured physical activity and social engagement. The findings emphasise the potential of swimming as a complementary approach to mental health promotion, highlighting the need for further research with larger sample sizes and controlled study designs to establish its long-term effects
Environmental Sustainability in Post-Harvest Handling Systems in Nigeria: A Review of Challenges and Innovative Solutions
No full textPost-harvest losses in Nigeria, estimated at 30–50%, threaten food security, agricultural productivity, and smallholder farmers' incomes. These losses lead to resource waste, greenhouse gas emissions, pollution, and environmental degradation, exacerbating climate change impacts. This review examines the environmental challenges in Nigeria’s post-harvest handling systems and identifies innovative, sustainable solutions. Factors such as inadequate infrastructure, lack of modern preservation technologies, inefficient logistics, weak policy enforcement, and limited awareness among farmers contribute to unsustainable practices. These challenges exacerbate environmental degradation and reduce agricultural efficiency. To address these issues, the review presents solutions such as solar-powered cold rooms and dryers, biodegradable packaging, improved transportation networks, cold chain logistics, and organic waste recycling. Digital tools and mobile platforms are also emerging to optimize supply chains, reduce market inefficiencies, and minimize waste. The review emphasizes the critical role of policy and institutional frameworks in supporting green technologies, building stakeholder capacity, and fostering public-private partnerships. Strengthening policy implementation, investing in research and infrastructure, and promoting farmer education are key steps toward a sustainable post-harvest handling system. In conclusion, tackling environmental impacts requires a holistic approach combining technological innovation, supportive policies, and behavioral change. This review highlights the importance of integrating sustainability into all aspects of post-harvest handling to protect the environment, enhance food security, and improve farmers' livelihoods in Nigeria
Portrait in European and Polish Painting: History of the Genre
No full textPortrait is one of the oldest and the most common genre of art and painting. It was created as a personal souvenir to remind about a person or an event related to him/her, and as an official presentation to commemorate the dignity of the portrayed person. The portrait had and still has many variations, both artistic and related to its social function. The synthesis of this genre of painting allows us to conclude how rich and diverse this field of art is. A portrait has served many functions, that is why over the centuries there have been so many types and possibilities of classification according to various keys
Challenges of Implementing Corporate Social Responsibility in Indonesia
No full textCorporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a form of corporate responsibility towards the social and natural environment as part of a sustainable development strategy. Although it has been regulated under Law No. 40 of 2007 concerning Limited Liability Companies and Law No. 25 of 2007 concerning Investment, the implementation of CSR in Indonesia still faces several fundamental obstacles. This research is motivated by the low effectiveness of CSR implementation, which is often symbolic in nature and fails to address the community's actual needs. The research question posed is: What are the main challenges faced by Indonesia in implementing corporate social responsibility effectively? This study employs a normative juridical method with a qualitative descriptive approach, utilizing a literature review to inform its analysis. The findings reveal four main challenges in the implementation of CSR in Indonesia: (1) the lack of corporate commitment in implementing CSR strategically; (2) suboptimal regulatory frameworks; (3) lack of synergy among stakeholders; and (4) socio-cultural challenges. Therefore, regulatory reforms, increased awareness among business actors, and participatory approaches that are sensitive to local contexts are essential to ensure that CSR contributes meaningfully to sustainable national development
The Application of Building Information Modeling Tools in Decreasing Energy Consumption in Sustainable Architecture (A Case Study of University Buildings)
No full textOver the past few years, more and more people have been showing an interest in nonrenewable natural resources. Among such resources, the ones used to generate electricity are at the top of the list. The reason for this is pretty simple: the electricity production system as a whole is very detrimental to the environment. Studies have shown that non-eco-friendly buildings (i.e., those that aren't designed with passive solar heating and cooling in mind) account for a big chunk of that electricity. The technological advancements and the surging need for them in many areas have made engineering and construction change. They are needed in a range of industries and skills. Now more than ever before, a lot of construction specialties have to use, or at least have to be very familiar with a lot of computer-based software to carry out their jobs well. In particular, building design specialties especially in the area of structural engineering have to use a lot of computer-based engineering and drafting software now. Revit, Autodesk's software, was employed to build a three-dimensional, true-to-life model. This research project explores using Building Information Modeling (BIM) for energy analysis in a housing context, to examine the design of a house that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also energy-efficient
Hepatitis BScreening and Immunization Status among Gambian Healthcare Workers - A Pilot Study
No full textThis pilot study, conducted at Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital in The Gambia, assessed Hepatitis B immunity and vaccination coverage among 70 healthcare workers, revealing significant gaps in protection despite occupational exposure risks. Although 60% of individuals reported receiving at least one HBV vaccine dose, only 40% demonstrated immunity, and 65.5% of vaccinated individuals lacked protective antibodies. Older workers (42+ years) were disproportionately unvaccinated (60%), and overall HBV prevalence was 4.29%, rising to 7.1% among the unvaccinated. The study underscores the urgent need for systematic HBV screening, targeted vaccination, and post-vaccination monitoring to improve healthcare worker safety and reduce transmission
Manifestation of Einstein’s Mass-Energy Equivalence
No full textThis brief review mainly highlights the new manifestations of Einstein’s mass-energy equivalence in the differential form based on the author’s research. The older established demonstrations are also mentioned briefly to give a wholesome picture of all the manifestations of the mass-energy equivalence principle
Shifting Substance Use Patterns: Insights from the National Rehabilitation Center, Abu Dhabi
No full textBackground: Monitoring trends in substance use is critical for informing public health policy and clinical practice. This study analyzes the temporal patterns of drug positivity in urine samples at the National Rehabilitation Center in Abu Dhabi from 2021 to 2024. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on de-identified urine toxicology data. Screening was performed primarily via immunoassay (DOA), with confirmation and quantitative analysis by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) and Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The total number of tests processed increased significantly over the study period, from 17,257 in 2021 to 29,672 in 2024, with LC-MS/MS becoming the dominant confirmatory method (from 2,877 tests in 2021 to 13,607 in 2024). Results: Amphetamine-type stimulants remained dominant: total positives rose from 1,771 to 2,991 (2024), driven largely by methamphetamine (1,535 cases in 2024). Concurrently, pregabalin detections more than doubled (650 to 1,575)[3]. Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) emerged sharply: synthetic cannabinoids (e.g. MDMB-4en-PINACA) were first detected in 2023 (223 cases) and reached 440 positives in 2024. In contrast, “classic” drugs declined – for example, morphine and codeine positives fell compared to earlier years. The patient cohort (n≈3,700) was 94.2% male, largely under 40 years, mostly single (60.1%), with secondary-level education common. Primary drugs of abuse were amphetamine-type stimulants (35.9%) and heroin (16.3%). These findings document a rapid transition in Abu Dhabi’s drug landscape: a shift away from traditional opioids and sedatives toward potent stimulants, prescription drugs, and synthetic compounds, underscoring the importance of LC-MS/MS in modern toxicology and the need for dynamic intervention strategies. Conclusion: The data reveals a rapid transition in the substance use landscape in Abu Dhabi, characterized by a decline in some classic drugs and a surge in prescription medications (e.g., Pregabalin, Carisoprodol) and potent synthetic compounds (e.g., Methamphetamine, synthetic cannabinoids). These findings underscore the need for dynamic, evidence-based prevention and treatment strategies that address the evolving nature of substance use disorders. The increased reliance on advanced LC-MS/MS technology highlights its essential role in detecting these emerging substances
Health Systems Governance in Somalia: An Examination of Validity, Digital Accountability, and Community Health Workforce through Mixed Methods Research
No full textBackground: The health system in Somalia functions within a delicate environment, marked by persistent governance limitations that hinder efficient service delivery and erode public confidence. To address these long-standing issues, two recent innovations have been introduced: the Marwo Caafimaad community health workers program and District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS2)-based digital accountability mechanisms. These interventions are tailored to improve maternal and child health services and bolster the credibility of health governance frameworks in a fragile, conflict-affected context. Methods: This study utilized an explanatory sequential mixed-methods case study design. The quantitative component entailed analysis of routine DHIS2 health service data from 2018 to 2024, focusing on key maternal and child health indicators. This was complemented by qualitative data from key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted in 2024. A realist evaluation approach was applied to identify mechanism–context–outcome (MCO) configurations. Quantitative trends were assessed with descriptive statistics and quasi-experimental techniques (including difference-in-differences where applicable), while qualitative data were analyzed through thematic coding with NVivo software. The integrated analysis triangulated findings to explain how and why observed outcomes occurred. Results: Quantitative trends from DHIS2 indicate measurable improvements in key MCH indicators. For instance, antenatal care (ANC1) coverage increased from 30% in 2018 to 60% in 2023, representing a 30 percentage point improvement (95% CI: 25–35; P < 0.001). Districts with active Marwo Caafimaad deployment recorded a higher increase in ANC coverage (by 15 percentage points) compared to non-intervention districts (95% CI: 5–25; P = 0.02). Similarly, skilled birth attendance (SBA) rates rose from 20% to 35% over the study period (95% CI: 10–20; P = 0.002), with the steepest gains in rural districts where digital feedback mechanisms were concurrently implemented. Immunization completion for DPT3 improved from 25% to 40% (95% CI: 5–25; P = 0.01) despite intermittent insecurity and logistical disruptions. Conclusion: Governance innovations in fragile settings – particularly the integration of community-based health workers with transparent, technology-enabled accountability systems – can deliver significant health service gains while strengthening perceived legitimacy of health authorities. This dual approach, leveraging human connections and digital transparency, merits scale-up within Somalia and adaptation in other fragile and conflict-affected states. The findings underscore that sustainable health system improvements in such contexts require not only technical interventions but also efforts to build trust, accountability, and responsiveness in the eyes of the community
Social Capital and Sustainable Graduate Employment in Vietnam’s Digital Economy: Evidence from Trade Union University
No full textThe rapid expansion of the digital economy is reshaping labour markets in Vietnam, creating new employment opportunities while intensifying competition and deepening inequalities in school-to-work transitions. Although employment rates among graduates of the Trade Union University exceed 96% in both 2022 and 2023, substantial challenges persist regarding job-major mismatch, modest early-career income, and uneven labour-market outcomes across academic disciplines. Drawing on classical and contemporary social-capital theory, this study investigates how four forms of social capital-bonding, bridging, linking, and digital-shape sustainable employment outcomes, defined as employment attainment, job-major fit, and career stability. Using a mixed-methods design, qualitative interviews were conducted to refine constructs and contextual mechanisms, followed by quantitative analysis based on a large-scale graduate survey. Descriptive results from institutional datasets reveal high employment attainment but low alignment between academic training and job roles, as well as income clustering in low-to-middle wage bands. These patterns suggest that immediate employment may be driven by bonding networks, while sustainable, high-quality employment may depend on bridging and linking capital. Digital social capital emerges as an increasingly relevant resource, though its impact appears contingent on broader offline networks. The study contributes a multidimensional conceptual framework and proposes testable pathways through which social capital influences employment quality in a digitalising labour market. Implications for theory, higher education institutions, employers, and policymakers are discussed, highlighting the need to strengthen diverse social networks to promote equitable and sustainable graduate employment in Vietnam