The Use of the Podomoro Technique in Improving the Results of Listening and Speaking Class Evaluation

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The suitability of using teaching tools or materials in teaching is essential to achieve what students want and the learning objectives. Not only are the right and appropriate teaching tools or materials needed, but teaching and learning methods that are appropriate to what students need are also needed. Students can use the Podomoro technique to focus more on studying the materials. Not only that, but efficiency in the use of time can also help students to be more focused on studying what is being studied. This research is quantitative. The design is a one-group pretest-posttest. The Pretest and Posttest scores were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test, which was implemented using a statistical application called SPSS. There are different results from the three different classes for the Listening and Speaking classes, which show that the Podomoro technique helps learning outcomes. Statistically significant improvement was observed in two classes (p = 0.005 and p = 0.016), but not in the third (p = 0.388).

Land Suitability Analysis of Coffee (Coffea arabica), Pineapple (Ananas comosus) and Mango (Mangifera indica) for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security in Burkina Faso, West Africa

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Land suitability assessment is critical for sustainable agricultural planning, especially in Burkina Faso’s Sudano-Sahelian zone, where soil deterioration and nutrient deficits limit perennial crop development. Pineapple, coffee, and mango are commercially attractive crops that have the potential to diversify rural livelihoods and increase food security. The objective of this study is to evaluate the land suitability for pineapple, coffee, and mango based on the soil physical and chemical properties in Saaba. A soil profile was conducted to determine the physical features, and soil samples were collected and examined to determine the chemical characteristics. Physical soil parameters, such as texture, rooting medium, and depth, showed high appropriateness (S1) for pineapple and mango. However, coffee was classified as not suitable (N) because to its shallow soil depth (<40 cm). Chemical characteristics indicated an appropriate pH (5.7-5.8). Exchangeable potassium (48.54-79.25 mg/kg) was consistently classed as highly suitable (S1) across all crops. However, available phosphorus levels were dangerously low (0.88-2.44 mg/kg), resulting in a “not suitable” (N) rating for all samples and crops. Organic matter differed significantly: Sample 1 (0.73% OM) was classed as non-suitable for all crops, whereas Samples 2 and 3 were moderately acceptable (S2) for pineapple and mango but only marginally appropriate (S3) for coffee. The primary limitations to land suitability for perennial crops in the study area are severe phosphorus deficiency and organic matter depletion. Although pH and potassium are favorable, sustainable production of pineapple, coffee, and mango requires interventions such as phosphorus fertilization and organic matter restoration. Pineapple and mango are more adaptable to current soil conditions, while coffee should be grown in areas with higher organic matter and robust soil management.

Comparison of Anxiety Levels Between Primigravida and Multigravida Pregnant Women in the Working Area of Bola Community Health Center, Sikka Regency

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Background: Anxiety during pregnancy is a common mental health concern arising from physiological and psychological changes that may adversely affect both maternal and fetal well-being. Primigravida women may experience heightened anxiety due to their first exposure to pregnancy, whereas anxiety among multigravida women may be shaped by previous pregnancy experiences. Anxiety that is not adequately managed during pregnancy may result in significant physical and psychological consequences, including prolonged labor, preeclampsia, postpartum depression, and developmental impairments in the infant.

Objective: This study aimed to compare anxiety levels between primigravida and multigravida pregnant women in the working area of Bola Community Health Center Sikka Regency.

Methods: This quantitative study employed an analytical observational design with a cross-sectional approach. Stratified random sampling was used to recruit 40 pregnant women, consisting of 18 primigravida and 22 multigravida participants. Data were analyzed using the Shapiro–Wilk test for normality and the Mann–Whitney test for group comparison.

Results: No significant difference in anxiety levels was observed between primigravida and multigravida participants, with p-value 0.095 (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Anxiety levels did not differ significantly between primigravida and multigravida pregnant women in the working area of Bola Community Health Center Sikka Regency.

The Guangdong–SDT Paradox: Learning Climate and the Cultural Internalization of Motivation in Elite Dance Education

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This study investigates the interplay between motivational orientations, learning climate, and student engagement within elite undergraduate dance programs in Guangdong, China. While Self-Determination Theory (SDT) typically frames controlled motivation as maladaptive, this research posits a “Guangdong–SDT Paradox,” where culturally embedded obligations support persistence. Using a cross-sectional design, data were collected from 509 dance students across six institutions and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results identify learning climate as the dominant predictor of multidimensional engagement, explaining over 70% of the variance. Consistent with SDT, autonomous motivation strongly predicted engagement and partially mediated the influence of the learning climate. However, contrary to Western-centric models, controlled motivation exhibited a significant positive effect on engagement, suggesting that collectivist values such as filial piety and institutional “face” function as adaptive mechanisms in high-performance contexts. These findings support a theory of “contextualized universality,” where basic psychological needs are universal but their expression is culturally modulated. The study concludes that instructor-led autonomy support is essential for internalizing both intrinsic and culturally sanctioned motivations, offering a framework for sustaining engagement in elite arts education.

Biopsychosocial Model Analysis of Risk Factors for Suicide in Mexico: Systematic Review (2019–2024)

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 Suicidal behavior in Mexico constitutes an urgent public health problem, that requires integrating biological, psychological, and social dimensions. The objective of this systematic review was to identify and organize risk factors associated with death by suicide in Mexican population between 2019 and 2024, using the biopsychosocial model as a theoretical framework. The protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251131626) and followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A structured search was conducted in PubMed, inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied; three independent authors performed a quality analysis; 110 full-text articles were evaluated, and 57 were included for the final analysis.

The findings were organized into 75 categories grouped by biopsychosocial domains. Psychological factors were the most frequent, highlighting depression, anxiety, emotional dysregulation, hopelessness, impulsivity, and self-harming behaviors. At the biological level, studies identified associations with sex, age, chronic diseases, substance use, and emerging findings in genetics, neuroendocrinology, and physiological markers. In the social dimension, interpersonal violence, adverse experiences in childhood, low social and family support, socioeconomic inequalities, and stigma predominated. Persistent methodological limitations were also observed in the studies reviewed, including the predominance of cross-sectional designs, convenience samples, heterogeneous instruments, and limited representation of structurally vulnerable populations.

The results show that Mexican research remains fragmented, focusing mainly on individual factors and providing little integrative analysis across biological, psychological, and social dimensions. So, it is required to evolve towards robust explanatory models incorporating longitudinal methodologies, a gender perspective, intersectional approaches, and multivariate frameworks that allow the understanding of individual vulnerability and structural conditions.

Changes in Prostate Specific Antigen and Acid Phosphatase of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Induced Male Albino Rats Fed with Cooked Phaseolus Vulgaris (Black Bean) Juice

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Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common non-malignant enlargement of the prostate gland in ageing males and is associated with hormonal imbalances, inflammation and biochemical alterations. It could be detected biochemically through prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) assay. Plant-based interventions have gained increasing attention due to their affordability, safety, and rich phytochemical composition. Phaseolus vulgaris (black bean) is a legume containing phenolics, flavonoids, and bioactive peptides with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but its effect on prostate biomarkers has not been clearly established. This study investigated the effect of cooked black bean juice on PSA and PAP levels in testosterone-propionate induced BPH male albino rats. Twenty-four adult rats (150–280 g) were divided into four groups after induction of BPH by subcutaneous testosterone propionate. Animals were treated with graded doses of cooked P. vulgaris juice (low, medium, and high), while the control group received no extract. Serum PSA (ng/mL) and PAP (IU/L) were analyzed before and after treatment. Results showed that induction of BPH significantly elevated PSA and PAP. Administration of cooked black bean juice produced significant reductions (p < 0.05) in both biomarkers across all treated groups. PAP decreased from 11.55 ± 0.76 to 7.62 ± 0.93 in the high-dose group, 11.42 ± 0.98 to 7.32 ± 0.66 in the medium-dose group, and 10.73 ± 1.49 to 7.15 ± 0.68 in the low-dose group. PSA declined correspondingly from 3.12 ± 0.46 to 1.79 ± 0.58, 3.04 ± 0.54 to 1.77 ± 0.69, and 2.94 ± 0.40 to 1.22 ± 0.48 respectively. A strong positive correlation existed between PSA and PAP (r = 0.97, p = 0.000), indicating that reductions in these markers were closely related. The study concludes that cooked P. vulgaris juice exerts beneficial effects on prostate biochemical indices in BPH and may serve as a natural therapeutic adjunct in prostate health management

Characterization to Estimate the Size of Gold Nanoparticles Deposited in Pregnancy Tests Using Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy

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When using a pregnancy test, a urine sample is deposited in one side of the nitrocellulose strip, which moves by capillary action to the other side of the test, where there are immobilized particles or biomarkers that indicate a positive or negative test result. Based on the manufacturer’s data sheet, these are usually colloidal gold nanoparticles. This paper describes the results of a characterization study using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy on qualitative pregnancy tests. The importance of this study resides in the possibility of finding invalid tests or false negatives in the results, at the same time, the approximate size of the nanoparticles can be determined indirectly by analysing the spectra obtained experimentally.

Building Business Resilience in Small Economies: Lessons from SMEs in the United Kingdom

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Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a central role in the United Kingdom’s economic structure, yet they remain particularly vulnerable to systemic shocks such as pandemics, economic restructuring, and supply chain disruptions. Recent crises, including COVID-19 and post-Brexit adjustments, have highlighted the uneven capacity of SMEs to absorb, adapt to, and recover from turbulence. This study examines how UK SMEs build business resilience by analysing the combined influence of internal organisational capabilities and external institutional support mechanisms. Drawing on Resource-Based View, Dynamic Capabilities Theory, and Institutional Theory, the research adopts a mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected through a structured survey of 400 UK SMEs and analysed using regression and structural equation modelling, while qualitative insights were generated from in-depth case studies with SME owners, financial institutions, and business support organisations. The findings reveal that leadership agility, digital readiness, and financial management capabilities are significant predictors of resilience outcomes. External factors, including government support schemes, access to finance, and business networks, were found to moderate and strengthen the effects of internal capabilities rather than substitute for them. The study contributes a multi-level model of SME resilience that integrates firm-level and institutional dimensions and offers evidence-based implications for policymakers and practitioners seeking to enhance SME sustainability in turbulent economic environments.

Islamic Communicative Ethics and the Moral Crisis of Social Media in Nigeria

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The rapid expansion of social media in Nigeria has transformed civic engagement and public communication but has also intensified ethical challenges, including misinformation, cyberbullying, hate speech, political manipulation, and declining public civility. This study examines these developments through the normative framework of Islamic communicative ethics, grounded in Qur’ānic and Prophetic principles of truthfulness, verification, responsible speech, restraint, and harm-avoidance. Employing a multidisciplinary qualitative approach that integrates Islamic ethical theory, media studies, and analysis of Nigeria’s socio-political context, the study interrogates the moral foundations of digital misconduct. The findings indicate that persistent abuses within Nigeria’s online sphere are not merely regulatory or technological failures but manifestations of weakened moral orientation and diminished communicative responsibility. The erosion of ethical speech norms has contributed to ethno-religious tensions, political polarisation, reputational harm, and declining social trust. The study demonstrates that Islamic communicative ethics offers a coherent and contextually resonant framework for reorienting digital behaviour toward accountability, civility, and communal welfare. It concludes that embedding value-driven ethical principles in digital literacy, public discourse, and policy development is essential for fostering a healthier and more socially cohesive online public sphere in Nigeria.​

Analysis And Contemporary Perspectives of Yágodin’s Agrochemistry and its Integration with Current Environmental Principles and Challenges

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Agrochemistry is an essential discipline that studies the chemical composition and biochemical processes of soils and plants in order to optimize agricultural production under sustainability criteria, ensure adequate plant nutrition, and preserve soil fertility. In this context, the work Agrochemistry I and II, edited by B. A. Yagodin and published by Mir Publishers, represents a classical reference in the education and dissemination of this science, particularly in the Spanish-speaking sphere, by integrating theoretical foundations and practical applications. The objective of this research was to analyze the validity, coherence, and relevance of the principles and recommendations contained in both volumes by contrasting them with recent scientific evidence and current environmental regulations, in order to identify areas for improvement and propose guidelines for modern agrochemistry. The methodology included a critical and systematic content analysis, complemented by a bibliometric study of the state of the art using RStudio. A Scopus database comprising 494 publications in the field of agricultural sciences (1980–2025) was used, applying “Agroquímica B. A.” as the search criterion. The results indicate that the foundations proposed by Yagodin remain relevant and are associated with current issues such as soil chemical processes, plant nutrition, fertilizer dynamics, soil acidification, and phosphorus availability. Furthermore, convergence was observed with sustainable nutrient management approaches and emerging technologies such as biochar, controlled-release fertilizers, and digital monitoring. The bibliometric analysis highlighted Italy, France, and Mexico in terms of citation counts, and Japan, the United States, and the United Kingdom in scientific output. It is concluded that integrating Yagodin’s contributions with recent evidence strengthens an updated agrochemical approach capable of addressing contemporary environmental and productive challenges.