Morphological Characterization of Grape Genotypes Grown Under Kandahar Province of Afghanistan for Quality Traits

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This study was conducted in 2023 at Kohkaran Research Farm, established by the Perennial Horticulture Development Center, Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock, in Kandahar, Afghanistan, to characterize the morphological traits of 22 grape genotypes. The evaluated genotypes comprised six seedless and 16 seeded genotypes: T1: Kandahari Sorkh, T2: Exotic, T3: Sahibi Sra 488, T4: Fantasy, T5: Perlette, T6: Keshmeshi Sia, T7: Tashkandi, T8: Black Emerald, T9: Aqa Ali 876, T10: Manaqa 801, T11: Lokh Shetor, T12: Shirahmadi Heart, T13: Husaini, T14: Awi, T15: Lal Sia, T16: Typi, T17: Loghi, T18: Shaker, T19: Lal Katadana, T20: Mahmodi, T21: Lal Maida Dana, and T22: Flame Seedless. Considerable variation was observed in bunch length, width, weight, volume and density, as well as berry length, width, length-to-width ratio, weight, volume, shape, seed presence, skin colour, and pulp colour. T16 (Typi) recorded the maximum bunch length (26.00 cm) and bunch volume (620.00 mL), while T4 (Fantasy) had the greatest bunch width (16.50 cm). The highest bunch weight (522.60 g) was recorded in T11 (Lokh Shetor). Dense bunches were observed in T14 (Awi), T15 (Lal Sia), T17 (Loghi), and T18 (Shaker), whereas loose bunches were recorded in T2 (Exotic), T4 (Fantasy), T5 (Perlette), T6 (Keshmeshi Sia), T9 (Aqa Ali 876), T11 (Lokh Shetor), T13 (Husaini), T16 (Typi), T20 (Mahmodi), T21 (Lal Maida Dana), and T22 (Flame Seedless). For berry characteristics, T11 (Lokh Shetor) had the maximum berry length (23.50 mm), T10 (Manaqa 801) had the maximum berry width (17.40 mm), and T13 (Husaini) recorded the highest length-to-width ratio (1.70). These findings demonstrate substantial morphological diversity among the evaluated grape genotypes and provide a basis for their characterization and selection in future grape improvement programmes in Afghanistan.

Factors Affecting the Decision to Adopt Stray Dogs Instead of Purchasing in Bangkok, Thailand

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The decision to adopt stray dogs rather than purchase them has become a growing concern in Bangkok, where 100,000 stray dogs live on the streets despite a thriving pet ownership culture. As pet humanization trends expand, purchasing pets from breeders has become increasingly normalized among residents. This study aims to investigate the factors affecting the decision to adopt stray dogs instead of purchasing among Bangkok residents, to understand what prevents positive attitudes from becoming actual adoption behavior. Using a structured questionnaire, we collected responses from 279 participants using a 5-point Likert scale, assessing their perceptions toward stray animal adoption and the key factors influencing their decision to adopt or purchase. Our findings revealed that Bangkok residents showed generally positive attitudes toward stray animal adoption; however, their responses also indicated concerns and preferences that may affect stated willingness to adopt. One potential explanation is that while Thailand’s Buddhist cultural values create a broadly compassionate outlook toward animals across all demographic groups, social barriers such as preference for specific breeds and negative perceptions of stray animal health prevent these sentiments from translating into adoption behavior. These findings provide direction for policymakers and animal welfare organizations seeking to design more targeted and effective adoption promotion strategies in Bangkok.

Implementation and Performance Evaluation of an IoT-Based Multi-Sensor Water Quality Monitoring System for Nile Tilapia Ponds Using an ESP32 Microcontroller

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Water quality strongly governs the growth, health, and survival of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), yet many small- and medium-scale ponds are still monitored manually through periodic sampling, which is labor-intensive, infrequent, and prone to error. This study designed, implemented, and evaluated an Internet of Things (IoT)-based monitoring system that integrates seven sensors with a single ESP32 microcontroller: five water quality sensors (pH, total dissolved solids [TDS], dissolved oxygen [DO], turbidity, and temperature) and two environmental sensors (rainfall and light intensity). Following a research and development (R&D) approach with a waterfall model, the prototype transmitted data to a web-based IoT platform and displayed readings on a local OLED screen. The system was evaluated through component voltage measurements, a 7-day monitoring trial with pond water (May 4–10, 2026), a functionality test by two expert validators, and a usability test with 10 respondents. All sensors and the microcontroller operated as intended, with measured component voltages of 3.7–4.9 V. Over the trial, mean values were 26.48 °C for temperature, 7.31 for pH, 1,060.67 ppm for TDS, 3.41 mg/L for DO, and 39.68 NTU for turbidity; the persistently low DO indicated a need for supplementary aeration. The overall usability score was 83.08%, classified as “very feasible.” The results show that a low-cost, single-board multi-sensor system can provide continuous, remotely accessible records of pond conditions to support decision-making in sustainable tilapia aquaculture. Validation against calibrated reference instruments under field conditions is the recommended next step.

Role of Some Immunological Cytokines in H. pylori-infected Patients in Relation to Iron Indices Levels

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Background:  The human stomach is colonized by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a Gram-negative bacterium. A chronic H. pylori infection can lead to a number of gastrointestinal disorders, including gastric cancer.

Objective: The study aimed to investigate serum level IL6, IL1β, and TNF-a with iron status to assess the severity of infection.

Methods: Case control study design involved 100 participants (50 patients and 50 control), for each groups, rapid H. pylori stool antigen test, IgG, serum IL6, IL1β, and serum TNF-α were estimated along with iron parameters.

Results:  Immunological marker concentrations in the patient and control groups. All tested indices, comprising IgG, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, showed statistically notable increase in comparison with control (p< 0.001). Parameters related to iron were highly skewed such as serum iron, ferritin, total iron binding capacity (TIBC), serum iron, and transferrin value (p < 0.001).

Conclusion:  These indicators can be used to diagnose and/or monitor the course of an infection since H. pylori infection can drastically affect the diagnostic indicators and the markers typically used to measure the degree of inflammation during infection.

Morphological Variability of Jackfruit (Artocarpus Heterophyllus Lamk) in Taba Penanjung District, Central Bengkulu Regency

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Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lamk) is widely cultivated in Indonesia and has potential source as food, fruit, vegetable, and industrial raw material. However, scientific information on morphological variation in local jackfruit remains limited, including in Central Bengkulu Regency. This study aimed to describe the morphological characteristics of local jackfruit originated from Taba Penanjung District, Central Bengkulu. Ten jackfruit trees representing five accessions were evaluated. Thirty-eight characters, consisting of 14 qualitative and 24 quantitative characters, were observed based on the descriptor of the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI). Data were analyzed using the Gower dissimilarity coefficient and the Average Linkage method ith PBSTAT-CL version 2.2.1. The five accessions were grouped into to clusters at a cophenetic distance of 0.6. Cluster I consisted of Penum, Lubuk Sini, Tanjung Heran, and Bajak accessions, with variations in crown shape (oblong, spherical, elliptical, and broadly pyramidal), leaf blade shape (elliptic, oblong, and narrowly elliptic), and fruit shape (clavate, ellipsoid, spheroid, and oblong). Fruit length in this cluster ranged from 29,75 to 37,10 cm, flesh weight from 425,81 to 460,92 g per 1 kg of fruit, and total soluble solids from 15 to 16,5 °Brix. Cluster II consisted of the Taba Penanjung accession, characterized by a semicircular crown, obovate leaves, and oblong fruit, with a fruit length of 40,6 cm, flesh weight of 300,25 g per 1 kg fruit, and total soluble solids of 11 ºBrix. Tanjung Heran, Bajak, and Taba Penanjung showed a superior potential as germplasm sources for total soluble solids, flesh weight, and fruit size, respectively, for jackfruit breeding program.

Growth of Seedlings of two Oil Palm Varieties (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) in the Nursery Using two Container Types

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Background: The production of high-quality planting material during the nursery stage is essential for establishing productive, competitive, and sustainable oil palm plantations. Genetic material and container type may influence seedling development.

Objective: To evaluate the growth of seedlings of two oil palm varieties, Deli × Compacta and Compacta × Ghana (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), produced using two container types.

Methods: The experiment was conducted in Macuspana, Tabasco, Mexico. Seedling growth was evaluated in two varieties, Deli × Compacta and Compacta × Ghana, using tube containers and plastic bags. A randomized complete block design was established with four treatments and four replications, with 100 seedlings per replication (400 seedlings per treatment; 1,600 seedlings in total). Plant height, number of leaves, and stipe diameter were measured every 15 days over 180 days. The same agronomic management was applied to all treatments. Descriptive statistics, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Tukey’s multiple comparison test.

Results: Significant differences among treatments were detected for the evaluated growth variables. For plant height, T3 (Compacta × Ghana in tube containers; CxGt) showed the greatest value at 180 days, reaching 68.37 ± 0.61 cm. For number of leaves, T1 (Deli × Compacta in tube containers; DxCt) and T3 (Compacta × Ghana in tube containers; CxGt) recorded 12.95 ± 0.11 and 12.38 ± 0.10 leaves, respectively, at 180 days. For stipe diameter, T1 and T2 showed the highest values at 180 days, with 2.21 ± 0.03 and 2.19 ± 0.03 cm, respectively, whereas T4 recorded 1.95 ± 0.02 cm.

Conclusions: Under the conditions evaluated, seedlings produced in tube containers showed greater plant height and number of leaves at the end of the nursery period. Stipe diameter was higher in the Deli × Compacta material than in the Compacta × Ghana material at 180 days. These results support the potential use of tube containers for nursery production.

The Effect of Servant Leadership Behaviors on Performance Outcomes and Job Satisfaction in Public Schools

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Servant leadership is one of the modern leadership theories, and its significance lies in the positive and tangible results it achieves at the individual and institutional levels. This study investigates the effect of servant leadership behaviors on performance outcomes and job satisfaction in public schools in Palestine from the teachers’ point of view, during the first semester of the academic year 2021/2022. A quantitative research methodology was used, specifically the descriptive survey method. The study sample was selected by simple random sampling and consisted of 300 teachers currently working in public schools in Hebron, West Bank. The questionnaire results show that principals of public schools in Hebron practice servant leadership to a high degree. They also indicate a relationship between the application of the servant leadership style and both performance outcomes and job satisfaction. In addition, the statistical analysis showed significant differences in teachers’ estimates of servant leadership attributable to the demographic variables (gender, years of experience, and educational qualification).

Cross-Border Cybercrime and Criminal Jurisdiction: Rethinking Indonesia’s Extraterritorial Enforcement Framework

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The decentralized architecture of cross-border cybercrime, where perpetrators, victims, data infrastructure, and digital evidence concurrently span multiple territories, routinely undermines traditional territoriality principles in criminal law. While Indonesia has expanded its domestic statutory reach through the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law, the New Penal Code (KUHP), the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), the Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) Law, and the Personal Data Protection (PDP) Law, asserting prescriptive jurisdiction does not automatically confer enforcement authority abroad. Unauthorized extraterritorial investigative actions directly violate foreign state sovereignty. This article evaluates the systemic friction between Indonesia’s expansive prescriptive frameworks and the strict territorial limitations governing cross-border evidence gathering and coercive maneuvers. Utilizing a normative-doctrinal method paired with a comparative statutory analysis, this study evaluates contemporary domestic laws against international legal instruments and foreign legal developments. To resolve jurisdictional conflicts, this article constructs a novel Digital Jurisdictional Nexus Test based on five distinct connecting factors: the locus of conduct, victimhood and localized harm, operational data infrastructure, national economic interest, and proximity to the data custodian or service provider. This framework clearly demarcates the legislative capacity to criminalize conduct from the procedural authority to seize electronic evidence globally. Consequently, the study introduces an operational Five-Stage Cross-Border Digital Investigation Protocol navigating nexus verification, sovereignty and comity assessments, evidentiary taxonomy, international cooperation channel selection, and judicial oversight. Finally, this paper evaluates the strategic implications of Indonesia’s September 2026 signature of the United Nations Convention against Cybercrime, mapping out its potential to modernize mutual legal assistance frameworks ahead of its formal ratification and entry into force.

Effect of Environmental Temperature on the Lower Bound of the Entropic Uncertainty Relation in the Presence of Quantum Memory

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Because realistic quantum systems inevitably interact with their surroundings, understanding how environmental factors affect the entropic uncertainty relation remains a major challenge. In this work, we analyze how ambient temperature impacts the lower bound of the memory-assisted entropic uncertainty relation. We model the coupling between the system and its thermal environment using a generalized amplitude damping channel, featuring temperature-dependent parameters. Notably, we find that the uncertainty lower bound drops when the damping parameter (r) decreases, and rises when it increases. By contrast, shifting the parameter) p (yields much smaller variations. This stark difference highlights our main novel finding: in a finite-temperature environment, the lower bound of the entropic uncertainty relation is significantly more sensitive to the damping parameter (r) than to (p). Ultimately, these results offer a clearer look at how thermal reservoirs influence open quantum systems and affect practical quantum information processing.

Achievement Orientation, Personalized Experience, and Social Interaction as Drivers of Purchase Intention: The Mediating Roles of Personal Fulfillment and Social Connectedness in Digital Commerce

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The rapid expansion of digital commerce necessitates engaging consumer experiences beyond functional transactions, highlighting gamification as a critical digital marketing mechanism. This study investigates the impact of gamified experiences on consumers’ Purchase Intention, specifically examining the mediating roles of Personal Fulfillment and Social Connectedness. Drawing upon Self-Determination Theory (SDT) and the Uses and Gratifications (U&G) perspective, the conceptual framework evaluates three gamification design dimensions: Achievement Orientation, Personalized Experience, and Social Interaction. Employing a quantitative approach, data were collected from 215 digital commerce users via purposive sampling. The structural relationships were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) via SmartPLS 4. The empirical results reveal that Achievement Orientation, Personalized Experience, and Social Interaction significantly enhance both Personal Fulfillment and Social Connectedness. Furthermore, these psychological and social benefits positively drive Purchase Intention, with the social pathway demonstrating the strongest substantive contribution. The findings suggest that digital marketers should design gamified environments that not only facilitate individual accomplishments but also foster meaningful community connections to maximize purchase-related outcomes.