Prevalence and Factors Associated with Birth Asyphyxia among Neonates Admitted at Amana Regional Referral Hospital in Dar ES Salaam, Tanzania – October 2025

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Birth asphyxia is the failure to establish and sustain spontaneous breathing at birth, hence leading to decreased oxygen perfusion to various organs. Birth asphyxia is among the leading causes to neonatal mortality and morbidity in Tanzania, our study aimed to determine prevalence and associated factors of birth asphyxia among neonates at Amana Regional Referral Hospital. A cross-sectional study was conducted, enrolling neonates admitted at neonatal ward in ARRH. Data was collected through structured questionnaires given to mothers of neonates admitted, also antenatal cards and case files were used to obtain Apgar scores and additional information. Of all neonates admitted during study period, 303 neonates were included in the study where by, 10 newborns (3.3%) had birth asphyxia, and prolonged labor, hospital delivered neonates and age of the mother 20-34 were significant factors associated with birth asphyxia.

Birth asphyxia is still a public health concern in Tanzania and its aftereffects are irreversible so early and regular antenatal booking, proper management of labor and improvement of maternal and child health services can reduce the burden also, awareness of pregnancy demands can help mothers handle pregnancy with care hence avoiding risk factors and complicated labor and delivery.

The Use of Digital Storytelling to Improve Speaking Skills for Students at Ba Ria – Vung Tau College of Technology

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The article aims to investigate how digital storytelling can motivate students to learn English speaking with greater interest and active participation. It also explores the influence of digitised learning environments on traditional teaching practices, highlighting changes in the way of language teaching and learning. Quantitative data was collected through self-assessment surveys and structured questionnaires, and qualitative data was collected through semi-structured interviews. The selected students of 60 were then evenly assigned into two groups of the control group (n = 30) and the experimental group (n = 30). The findings from quantitative data indicate that students exposed to digital storytelling achieved significantly better speaking skills than those taught with traditional methods. Students also had greater motivation when learning speaking skills with digital storytelling. Besides, digital storytelling made teachers change their traditional teaching method. In addition, the findings from qualitative data revealed that both teachers and students have positive attitude with the use of digital storytelling. These results suggest that digital storytelling can play a vital role in enhancing speaking proficiency by integrating technology into English language teaching and learning.

Request-Aware Fuzzy Load Balancing for Human Action Recognition and Monitoring in Video Streams

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real-time human action recognition and behavior monitoring within video streams impose significant computational strains on backend server infrastructures. Traditional distributed system load balancers assign dynamic incoming media tasks based exclusively on infrastructure-side metrics like CPU utilization or memory bandwidth, completely omitting request-specific computational requirements. This mismatch results in suboptimal task allocation, frame drops, and execution latencies when multi-scale convolutional operations or dense optical flow models are triggered unpredictably. To resolve this bottleneck, this paper introduces a novel Request-Aware Fuzzy Load Balancing (RAFLB) framework. The proposed paradigm establishes an adaptive, two-phase scheduling ecosystem. First, high-throughput video streams are frame-decomposed and pre-processed using spatial-temporal filtering kernels and Lucas-Kanade optical flow equations to extract intrinsic stream metadata (resolution, frame rate, structural intensity). Second, a multi-input Mamdani Fuzzy Inference Engine computes real-time routing priorities by simultaneously processing the localized Request Weight (RQ) alongside Server Busy (SB) telemetry. Experimental simulations show that RAFLB drastically reduces structural frames latency by up to 34% and prevents cluster choke points compared to conventional round-robin and resource-only load balancers.

Agribusiness Challenges and the Impact of Contract Farming on Market Access among Small-scale Bean Farmers in Pabna District, Bangladesh

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This study explores agribusiness challenges and examines the impact of contract farming on market access among small-scale bean farmers in Pabna District, Bangladesh. The study aimed to understand farmers’ experiences regarding production constraints, institutional relationships, market participation, and livelihood conditions within contract farming arrangements. A qualitative case study approach was employed to obtain in-depth insights from farmers and relevant stakeholders. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, observation, and documentation involving contract farmers, non-contract farmers, agricultural extension officers, and agribusiness representatives. The collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis supported by NVivo software. The findings reveal that small-scale bean farmers face several agribusiness challenges, including price instability, high input costs, weak bargaining power, limited access to formal markets, and dependence on intermediaries. Participation in contract farming was found to improve market access through stable buyer linkages, technical assistance, input support, and greater price certainty. However, farmers also experienced challenges such as delayed payments, unequal bargaining relationships, limited transparency in contractual agreements, and dependence on contracting firms. The study concludes that contract farming has the potential to strengthen market integration and improve farmers’ livelihoods when supported by transparent agreements, institutional coordination, and fair governance mechanisms. The findings provide practical implications for policymakers, agribusiness firms, and rural development practitioners in promoting inclusive and sustainable agribusiness systems in Bangladesh.

Financial Insecurity and Psychological Stress among Medical Students at Saint James School of Medicine: A Cross-Sectional Study

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Background: Financial insecurity is a growing concern among medical students and has been increasingly linked to adverse psychological outcomes. Students enrolled in international medical schools may be particularly vulnerable due to limited access to federal financial aid and increased reliance on private funding sources.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the relationship between financial insecurity and perceived psychological stress among medical students at Saint James School of Medicine (SJSM).

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 84 SJSM medical students using an online questionnaire. Financial insecurity was measured using a custom financial insecurity scale, and psychological stress was assessed using the validated Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and subgroup comparisons were performed.

Results: The mean PSS-10 score was 22.0 (SD = 7.98), indicating moderate to high stress levels. Overall, 82% of participants reported moderate or high perceived stress. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between financial insecurity scores and PSS-10 scores (r = 0.600, p < 0.001), demonstrating that greater financial insecurity was associated with higher psychological stress. Most students reported substantial financial strain, with 72.6% expressing concern about tuition affordability and 66.7% reporting that their educational debt felt overwhelming. Female students reported higher mean stress scores (23.8) compared to male students (18.2). Stress negatively affected academic functioning, with 65.5% reporting difficulty concentrating while studying, and more than one-third indicating that financial worries negatively impacted class attendance.

Conclusion: Financial insecurity was strongly associated with elevated perceived stress among SJSM medical students. These findings highlight the need for targeted institutional interventions, including expanded financial support systems, improved loan access, and integrated mental health resources to mitigate the academic and psychological impact of financial stress in international medical education settings.

Nyepi Day and Tri Hita Karana: Local Wisdom as a Culturally Embedded Framework for Global Environmental Awareness

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This study examines Nyepi Day in Bali as an expression of local wisdom rooted in the philosophy of Tri Hita Karana and explores its relevance as a framework for global environmental awareness. In the context of escalating environmental challenges, mainstream sustainability approaches often prioritize policy and technological solutions while overlooking the role of cultural and ethical practices. Employing a qualitative case study design, this research draws on participant observation, in-depth interviews, and document analysis with 30 respondents to investigate the interrelated dimensions of ritual practice, cultural expression, and ecological impact. The findings indicate that Nyepi represents a form of collective ecological restraint, marked by a complete cessation of human activities for 24 hours that leads to reduced energy consumption, lower emissions, and minimal environmental disturbance. This practice reflects the integration of parahyangan (human–divine), pawongan (human–human), and palemahan (human–nature) relationships within Tri Hita Karana, demonstrating a holistic model of sustainability grounded in cultural values. Furthermore, the Ogoh-ogoh festival preceding Nyepi reinforces social cohesion and cultural continuity while symbolically preparing the community for environmental and spiritual purification. This study argues that Nyepi offers an alternative model of sustainability that goes beyond awareness-based initiatives such as Earth Day by emphasizing collective behavioral transformation. The research contributes to sustainability scholarship by highlighting the potential of local wisdom as a practical and culturally embedded framework for advancing global environmental consciousness.

The Effect of Audit Quality, Audit Committee, and Corporate Social Responsibility on Firm Value with Firm Size as a Moderating Variable

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This study aims to examine the effect of audit quality, audit committee, and corporate social responsibility (CSR) on firm value, with firm size as a moderating variable. This research employs a quantitative approach using secondary data obtained from the annual financial reports of energy sector companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. The sample was selected using purposive sampling, resulting in 75 observations. The data were analyzed using multiple linear regression and Moderated Regression Analysis (MRA). The results indicate that audit quality, audit committee, and CSR have a positive and significant effect on firm value. Firm size also has a positive effect and is proven to moderate the relationship between audit quality, audit committee, and CSR on firm value. Additionally, control variables, namely profitability and leverage, are found to have a positive and significant effect on firm value. Simultaneously, all variables in this study significantly influence firm value.

Understanding the Link Between Emotional Intelligence and Substance Use Disorder

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Emotional Intelligence (EI) is an important psychological construct that influences emotional regulation, interpersonal relationships, stress management, and decision-making. Substance Use Disorder (SUD), on the other hand, is a chronic psychological and behavioural condition characterized by compulsive substance use despite harmful consequences. In recent years, researchers have increasingly focused on understanding the relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Substance Use Disorder. Individuals with low emotional intelligence often struggle to identify, understand, and regulate emotions effectively, making them more vulnerable to substance use as a maladaptive coping strategy.

This theoretical article explores the relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Substance Use Disorder from psychological, social, emotional, and neurobiological perspectives. The article discusses major theories such as Self-Medication Theory, Emotional Regulation Theory, Stress and Coping Theory, and Social Learning Theory to explain how emotional deficits contribute to addiction. It also highlights the role of family environment, trauma, peer pressure, mental health conditions, and social factors in shaping emotional functioning and substance use behaviours.

The article further explains how higher Emotional Intelligence acts as a protective factor by improving emotional awareness, resilience, impulse control, empathy, and coping skills. Emotional Intelligence-based interventions such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, mindfulness training, emotional skills training, and family therapy can significantly improve addiction prevention and recovery outcomes.

The study concludes that Emotional Intelligence plays a significant role in understanding addiction vulnerability, relapse prevention, and psychological well-being. Strengthening emotional competencies may reduce substance dependence and promote healthier coping mechanisms and social adjustment.

Estimation of carbon sequestration in vineyards in the island of Crete, Greece

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Climate change consists of a serious global environmental problem and many efforts are focused on its mitigation either by reducing the anthropogenic carbon emissions or by absorbing atmospheric carbon. Agricultural crops usually absorb carbon via photosynthesis acting as carbon sinks. Viticulture is well developed in Crete, Greece since ancient times and the island nowadays produces several well-known grapes and wines. The carbon uptake in Cretan vineyards in Crete has been evaluated. The carbon sequestration rate in vineyards from existing studies in several countries has been used for the evaluation. These studies indicate that carbon uptake in vineyards varies in a wide range of values at 69 – 900 g C m-2 yr-1.  The total surface area of vineyards in Crete is 22,184 ha while their annual carbon sequestration has been estimated at 55,460 t C corresponding at an annual carbon sequestration per capita 0.36 t CO2. Although our results should be considered as indicative, they show that carbon sequestration in Cretan vineyards is not negligible and it should be considered in policy development regarding decarbonization in the island. Our results could be useful to policy makers and to stakeholders of the viticulture industry in the island.