Well Testing is an international published peer reviewed journal, indexed in Scopus Database. It is a unique interdisciplinary journal. It offers a broad exploration of various fields including literature, commerce, humanities, history, arts, law, and politics, among others. This journal stands out for its diverse scope, encompassing different subjects. It serves as a platform for integrating the technical aspects of energy engineering with a wide array of academic disciplines, fostering a holistic understanding of the energy sector's impact across different facets of society and culture. Aim and Scope The topics related to this journal include but are not limited to: •Energy Engineering and Power Technology •Business Studies •Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering •Communication Studies •Construction •Corporate Governance •Criminology, Cross-cultural studies •Culture and Ethics Studies •Demography, Development studies •Economics, Ethics, Geography, History •Gender and Sexuality Studies •Humanities and Social Science •Industrial relations, Information Science, International relations •Law, Linguistics, Library science, Linguistics Literature •Media studies, Methodology •Paralegal, Performing arts (music, theatre & dance) •Performing Art •Political science, Philosophy •Psychology, Population Studies •Public administration •Religious studies •Social welfare, Sociology •Sustainability Studies •Visual Arts •Women studies
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Impact of Demographic Characteristics of Primary School Teachers on their Psychosocial Work Hazards
The majority of workers—teachers in particular—face one or more psychological risks at work. Psychosocial workplace dangers are common in Nigeria, but no studies have looked at how instructor demographics can impact these risks. As a result, we examined demographic factors (age and education) that could affect the psychological risks that preschool instructors face at work. The study, which employed an ex-post facto research design and a quantitative research approach, involved a sample of 203 primary school teachers in southeast Nigeria. A modified version of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. The survey items had a reliability index of 0.79. To examine the data, we employed the statistical technique known as analysis of variance. Teachers' ages were shown to have a significant impact on the psychological occupational risks they faced, although there was no clear correlation between their educational backgrounds. This demonstrates that the psychological hazards teachers face at work are significantly influenced by their age. Employees of the Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) should take candidates' ages into account while making employment decisions to prevent selecting instructors who are more susceptible to psychological risks.
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Emotional Intelligence: A Catalyst for Leaders in Digital Era
Emotional intelligence appears to be a critical competency for effective leadership in the fast-growing digitalised world, where remote work environments, technological advancements and AI are playing an important role in transforming organisational practices organizational practices. This review paper pay emphasis on examining the role of EI as a catalyst for leadership effectiveness by combining existing literature on EI, leadership competencies , AI and digitisation. The study also reviews contemporary and classical perspectives of EI by Salovey and Mayer, Bar-On and Goleman and other scholars, while exploring it’s influence on social competence, personal competence, self-management, self- awareness, decision making and communication. The review also discusses the relation of EI with age, gender and digital intelligence l, which highlights the mixed findings which have been reported in the studies done earlier. Moreover it also analyses how EI leaders can successfully channelise digital transformation, overcome hurdles like inertia, cynicism and self-doubt, and also maintain employee engagement in the places which are technology-driven. The findings also indicate that although digital technologies and AI significantly enhance organisational efficiency, they cannot entirely replace human attributes like empathy, relationship management, ethical judgment and emotional understanding that are provided by emotionally intelligent leaders. The review also concludes that EI remains a necessary leadership competency in the digital age and supports technological capabilities rather than contending with them. Organisations should therefore incorporate EI development into leadership training and HR practices to encourage resilient, people-centric , adaptive leadership in wok environments which is digitally enhanced.
Demonstrating Trauma with Visual Narratives
An important area of study in contemporary art, media, and cultural discourse is the representation of trauma in visual storytelling. Visual storytelling has the power to evoke and express intangible feelings and experiences like loss, sadness, violence, displacement, memory, and mental illness. the role of visual storytelling in relation to trauma in the practices of modern art and the media, and the ways in which these stories impact collective memory, emotional comprehension, and cultural identity. many forms of visual art that portray traumatic events, whether they be personal or shared, such as paintings, photography, graphic novels, films, digital artworks, installation pieces, etc. War, genocide, migration, abuse, social injustice, environmental destruction, psychological suffering, and visual metaphor are common subjects depicted by visual storytellers and artists. Using these imaginative approaches, trauma can be expressed in ways that have a profound emotional and cultural impact. Visual narratives serve as memorials for previous tragedies and a means of bringing awareness to the suffering of others; by studying these practices, we can gain insight into trauma, memory, and visual culture. Visual representation often acts as a kind of resistance and testimony, giving a louder voice to the marginalized and shattering the social taboo around trauma. Modern visual storytelling help with healing, empathy, and emotional engagement by allowing viewers to creatively express themselves while making sense of awful occurrences.
The Relationship Between Dividend Policy and Financial Performance of JSE Listed Companies
Dividend policy (DP) is vital in corporate finance and influences firm performance (FP) and investor perceptions. Although, extensively studied in developed markets, limited evidence exists in emerging markets, like Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) listed firms. The study investigates the relationship between DP and FP in 45 JSE-listed companies from 2013 to 2022, unravelling the effects of dividend yield (DY) and dividend payout ratio (DPR) on accounting-based measures, return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE), as well as a market-based measure, Tobin's Q (QR). Pearson correlation, and ordinary least squares analyses were performed, controlling for firm size, leverage, and liquidity. Results show insignificant associations between DY, DPR, and ROE. DPR is positively associated with ROA, showing that firms with higher payout ratios utilize assets more efficiently. QR and DPR are positively correlated, and DY is negatively correlated, suggesting investors favour consistent dividends over higher yields due to perceived limited growth. Liquidity positively contributes to QR, highlighting the importance of cash availability for dividends and investments. Findings assist managers and investors in understanding the effects of DP on profitability and value, while assisting regulators overseeing emerging markets. The study adds evidence from developing economies, using accounting and market-based performance measures.
The Importance of Microfinance in the Fight Against Poverty
In developing economies, where access to conventional financial institutions is limited, microfinance has emerged as an efficient instrument for alleviating poverty. This is especially true during times of economic instability. It refers to the provision of small loans, savings accounts, insurance, and other financial services to those with low incomes who do not have collateral and are frequently excluded from regular banking institutions. It has been proved that microfinance has the capacity to empower underserved populations through the establishment of institutions such as Grameen Bank, which was established by Muhammad Yunus. the contribution of microfinance to the alleviation of poverty through the boost of activities that generate revenue, the encouragement of entrepreneurial endeavors, and the enhancement of financial inclusion. Individuals, and notably women, are able to create small companies, boost household income, and attain more economic independence when they have access to microcredit. In addition, microfinance services like savings and insurance contribute to the stability of the financial system and ensure that it is resilient against the effects of economic shocks. Nevertheless, there is a matter of contention regarding the efficacy of microfinance in terms of alleviating poverty. Several obstacles, like high interest rates, excessive debt, and limited outreach in rural places, have the potential to lessen the influence of this phenomenon. In addition, the effectiveness of microfinance programs is contingent upon a number of factors, including financial literacy, institutional backing, and legal frameworks.
EVALUATION OF THE EXTENT OF ATTAINMENT OF THE OBJECTIVES OF GOVERNMENT CURRICULUM IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN ANAMBRA STATE
The study was an evaluation of the extent of attainment of the objectives of Government curriculum in senior secondary schools in Anambra State. It adopted evaluative research design. The population of the study comprised 352 Government teachers (120 rural & 232 urban). The sample of the study comprised the entire 352 Government teachers. The instrument for data collection in this study was QEEIGC. In establishing the validity of the instrument (QEEIGC) for this study, the initial draft of the questionnaire, was given to five experts for face validation, two experts from Science Education Department (Measurement and Evaluation unit) and three experts from Social Science Education Department all in Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. The reliability of the instrument (QEEIGC) was determined using Cronbach Alpha Statistics which yielded overall reliability index of 0.82 for the QEEIGC. The researchers employed the services of six (6) research assistants for the purpose of data collection. The collected data were analysed using mean and standard deviation with respect to research questions. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Results indicated among other things that the objectives of Government curriculum have been attained in senior secondary schools in Anambra State to a low extent. There was a significant difference in the mean ratings of teachers on the extent the objectives of Government curriculum have been attained in senior secondary schools based on teaching experience. The findings of the study were well discussed with some far reaching implications. The study recommended among other things that Governments through the relevant ministry of education should provide all the needed instructional materials/facilities to guarantee optimum utilization towards effective implementation of the Government curriculum in senior secondary schools. It concludes that when Government curriculum is effectively implemented with adequate and appropriate utilization of requisite instructional materials its objectives would be attained towards guaranteeing Nigeria national development.
The Use of Self-Acupressure for the Alleviation of Migraine Headaches
Symptoms including nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and phonophobia are frequently present with recurring bouts of moderate to severe headache in migraine, a common neurological condition. Everyday functioning, productivity, and quality of life can all take a hit when migraines strike. There has been an upsurge in interest in complementary self-care methods like self-acupressure for migraines, despite the prevalence of pharmaceutical therapies. This is due to worries about prescription usage, side effects, and treatment expenses. Results showed that both the frequency and intensity of migraine attacks were significantly reduced in those who regularly engaged in self-acupressure. There were also improvements in the duration of headaches, the symptoms that go along with them, and the need for drugs to alleviate pain. A higher quality of life, more effective coping mechanisms, and more relaxation were among the benefits mentioned by participants. Results show that self-acupressure is safe and well-tolerated with no major side effects. Reducing the frequency and intensity of migraines using self-acupressure seems to be a safe, effective, and economical supplementary therapy. It is a great non-pharmacological alternative for anyone looking for extra ways to control migraines because of how easy it is to use and the possibility of self-management. We urge the conduct of more large-scale randomized controlled trials to validate these results and to develop standardized methods for self-acupressure in the treatment of migraines.
Prevalence and Determinants of Burnout among Nigerian Primary School Teachers
According to studies, teachers who carry out their duties daily report significant levels of psychosocial job hazards and burnout. The nature of the association between psychosocial job hazards and teachers' burnout levels in the Nigerian context, however, are poorly supported by empirical data. Based on this fact and using age and marital status as moderating variables, this research investigated the prevalence and determinants of burnout among primary school teachers. Using a cross-sectional survey research design, a sample of 254 primary school teachers in Enugu State, Nigeria were surveyed. A 28-item psychosocial work hazards questionnaire (α =.74) and a 25-item burnout inventory (α = 0.81) that were fully validated and trial-tested were used to collect the data. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling methods and hierarchical linear regression. The findings of the study revealed a high prevalence of burnout (58.3%) among rural community primary school teachers. It was also found that burnout and primary school teachers' s work hazards were positively and significantly correlated. In addition, burnout among primary school teachers significantly correlated with age and marital status. Thus, workplace psychosocial risks are effective predictors of burnout. These findings have practical and policy implications because the goals of primary education cannot be achieved unless the burnout rate among teachers is drastically reduced through the efforts of the education psychologist.
Modern Populism: What Led to Its Ascent, What Its Effects Have Been, and Where It May Go From Here
A global upswing in populism, a political phenomenon that is characterized by anti-elitist rhetoric, nationalistic fervour, and an appeal to "the people" against alleged corrupt or disengaged elites, has occurred in the twenty-first century. the beginnings, effects, and possible future directions of populism, with examples drawn from both developed and developing nations. According to the findings of the study, the primary factors that have contributed to the rise of populism include cultural reaction, economic disparity, and a decrease in faith in historically established political institutions. It examines the impacts of populism, including how it affects democratic standards, international governance, and social cohesion, among other things. Through the examination of case studies from the United States of America, Europe, Latin America, and Asia, the study provides an illustration of the numerous forms of populism and its capacity to adapt to the political circumstances of local communities. The conclusion of the study analyzes the dangers that populism poses to liberal democracy and offers suggestions for potential countermeasures that may be taken to mitigate the effects of populism's destabilizing consequences. the acknowledgment of populism as a dynamic and ever-evolving force in contemporary politics, which lays the groundwork for additional research into the ways in which populism influences society and governance.
Professional Certification and Audit Quality in the South African Public Sector
South Africa continues to experience persistent governance challenges within public sector institutions despite the existence of internal audit units mandated by legislation and governance frameworks. This study investigates the perceived influence of the Certified Internal Auditor (CIA) designation on auditor competence, audit quality, governance effectiveness, and audit outcomes. Guided by Human Capital Theory and Agency Theory, the study adopts a qualitative research approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with internal auditors, chief audit executives, audit committee members, and representatives of professional bodies. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings indicate that CIA certification enhances technical competence, professional scepticism, risk assessment capabilities, and adherence to international auditing standards. Participants further perceived that higher levels of professional competence contribute positively to audit quality and governance effectiveness. However, certification alone was found to be insufficient to address systemic governance failures without organisational support, ethical leadership, accountability mechanisms, and management responsiveness to audit recommendations. The study contributes to the internal auditing literature by proposing and empirically exploring a conceptual pathway linking CIA certification, auditor competence, audit quality, governance effectiveness, and improved audit outcomes. The findings have implications for policymakers, public sector institutions, universities, and professional bodies seeking to strengthen governance and accountability.
A Lifecycle Analysis Approach to Electric Vehicle Carbon Footprint Assessment
Since more and more people are buying electric cars (EVs) as a means to combat global warming, it is critical to assess their true impact on the environment. approach to determine the cumulative carbon dioxide emissions from electric vehicles (EVs) during their whole lifecycle, beginning with production and ending with disposal. This research delves into the emissions from electric vehicles, covering all aspect of their lifecycle, from raw material extraction to end-of-life treatment. factors to think about, such as the lifetime of the vehicle, the power supply for charging, and the manufacturing process of the batteries. Despite electric vehicles' frequently substantial reductions in carbon emissions compared to conventional internal combustion engine vehicles, the environmental effect of these vehicles is still impacted by regional electricity grids and the production and disposal methods of batteries. with recommendations for improving recycling practices, increasing the usage of renewable energy sources, and developing more efficient battery technology to lessen the negative effects of electric vehicles on the environment.
IMPACT OF BODY MASS INDEX AND GENDER ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AMONG YOUNG CHILDREN IN NSUKKA LOCAL GOVERNMENT EDUCATION AUTHOURITY
This study investigated the impact of Body Mass Index (BMI) on academic performance among young children in Nsukka Local Government Education Area, Enugu State, Nigeria. The study is guided by two research questions and two hypotheses. An ex-post facto design was adopted, with a population of school children aged 9 to 12 years. Through multi-stage random sampling, 160 primary five pupils were selected from two Development Centres (DCs) in Nsukka Local Government Area. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, validated for accuracy and reliability, which captured weight (in kg) and height (in metre) for BMI calculation and categorization, and three-term academic scores in Mathematics, English and Sciences from school records. The reliability of the instruments was confirmed through pilot testing, achieving a satisfactory Cronbach’s alpha score of 0.80. Data analysis utilized descriptive and inferential statistics, including one-way analysis of variance to examine BMI’s impact across academic domains. The results highlighted that obese pupils demonstrated distinct academic patterns, particularly in Mathematics, where obese pupils scored lower. However, no significant impact of BMI on academic performance was observed in English and Sciences. Gender did not significantly influence the academic outcomes of pupils. The findings suggest that extreme BMI values may impact specific academic outcomes. Based on the findings, it was recommended that health-focused interventions should be implemented to support optimal BMI ranges without overemphasizing BMI as a determinant of academic success.
Evaluation of Homeopathic Treatments for Chronic Conditions: A Systematic Review
Homeopathic treatments for chronic disorders are gaining popularity in complementary and alternative medicine. This systematic review evaluates this assertion. Chronic disorders like arthritis, asthma, and diabetes impact patients' quality of life and require continual treatment. Homeopathy, based on the notion that "like cures like," has been used to treat many chronic diseases, although its scientific validity and efficacy are still debated. This study reviews RCTs, observational studies, and meta-analyses to assess homeopathic treatments' efficacy. Homeopathy's efficacy in treating symptoms, decreasing disease development, and improving general health in chronic disease patients has largely been studied in the last 20 years. Some studies indicated symptom management benefits, while others found no difference from placebo. We address methodological concerns such small sample sizes, non-blinding, and treatment protocol heterogeneity. However, some data suggests homeopathy may improve subjective health outcomes. the importance of larger, more thorough studies to derive clear conclusions and the use of homeopathy in integrative long-term health care.
MANAGEMENT OF TECHNOLOGY-BASED INSTRUCTION AS A PREDICTOR OF ATTITUDE TO WORK AMONG NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY TEACHERS
The present study focuses on management of technology-based instruction as a predictor of attitude to work among university teachers. Three research hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study used a correlation design with a sample size of 450 university teachers in the Faculty of Education of selected two public Nigerian Universities using simple random sampling technique. Technology- Based Instruction Scale (TBIS) and University Teachers’ Attitude to Work Scale (UTAWS) were used for data collection. Three experts validate the instruments. Internal consistency reliability coefficients of 0.88, and 0.78 were obtained for (TBIS) and (UTAWS) respectively using Cronbach alpha method. To test the hypotheses, t-test associated with linear regression was used. The results indicated that management of technology-based instruction can significantly predict university teachers’ attitude to work to a high extent. Based on the findings, some recommendations was highlighted to include that Nigeria government should collaborate with the non-governmental bodies which United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is one and other international organizations in helping financially to provide viable technology tools for instructions towards promoting positive attitude to work of university teachers in Nigeria.
Sustainability Accounting and ESG Reporting: Emerging Practices, Challenges and Future Directions
Sustainability accounting and environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting have become increasingly important components of contemporary corporate reporting. Traditional accounting primarily focuses on financial performance, whereas sustainability accounting expands the information framework to include environmental, social, ethical, and governance impacts that can influence an organization's long-term value creation and stakeholder relationships. The growing significance of climate change, resource scarcity, social inequality, human-rights concerns, responsible investment, and corporate governance has increased demand for reliable and comparable ESG information. This research paper examines the conceptual foundations, emerging practices, challenges, and future directions of sustainability accounting and ESG reporting. It analyses the evolution of sustainability reporting, the relationship between financial and non-financial information, ESG performance measurement, stakeholder accountability, materiality, sustainability disclosure, assurance, and the integration of sustainability considerations into organizational decision-making. The paper identifies major challenges including inconsistent reporting frameworks, data-quality problems, limited comparability, greenwashing, measurement difficulties, supply-chain data gaps, regulatory fragmentation, and the high cost of collecting and verifying sustainability information. It further examines emerging developments such as integrated reporting, climate-related disclosure, digital reporting, artificial intelligence, sustainability assurance, double materiality, and the increasing connection between ESG information and financial decision-making. The paper argues that sustainability accounting should not be treated merely as a communication exercise. Rather, it should function as an internal and external management system capable of identifying sustainability-related risks, measuring organizational impacts, supporting strategic decisions, and strengthening accountability. The future effectiveness of ESG reporting will depend on standardized reporting requirements, credible assurance, transparent methodologies, reliable data systems, stakeholder engagement, and integration with mainstream corporate governance. The paper concludes that high-quality sustainability accounting can contribute to greater transparency, responsible corporate behaviour, long-term value creation, and more sustainable economic development.
Global Marketing Strategies for Biotech-Based Consumer Products: Opportunities and Challenges
Consumer products through Biotechnology are creating a revolution in markets with innovative solutions in the Healthcare, Agriculture, Food Production, Personal Care and Environmental Sustainability categories. The pace at which technological innovations drive product development is increasing and organizations need to be able to develop sound marketing strategies for global operations that respond to the differing expectations, regulatory requirements, cultural differences and competitive markets of consumers worldwide. A combination of scientific innovation and being able to ‘talk' about value, build confidence with consumers, and tailor marketing strategies to regional market needs is essential for successful commercialization. This study sheds light on the opportunities and challenges offered by marketing biotech based consumer products into international markets. Addresses how consumer perceptions, market segmentations, branding, pricing, distribution channels, digital marketing and strategic partnerships affect global market performance. The study also assesses the challenges encountered in the form of regulatory set-up, IP rights, ethical issues, misinformation and differing levels of public acceptance which can impact product adoption in various parts of the world. Moreover, it points to the increasing relevance of sustainability, technological innovation and multi-sectoral cooperation to build the competitiveness of biotechnology companies. The results show that companies with market-driven flexible processes, well-established communication, targeted marketing campaigns and robust control processes are more likely to be successful commercially in the long term. The holistic approach of consumer education, culture (digital engagement), and collaborative innovation increases market acceptance and minimizes commercialization risks. The study finds that scientific progress and good global marketing strategies are both necessary for gaining access to international markets, building customer trust and maintaining growth in the dynamic biotechnology sector.
The Role of Internal Audit in Strengthening Financial Control Systems
Internal audit is an important component of organizational governance and financial control because it provides independent and systematic assessment of internal processes, risks, controls, and compliance. Effective internal audit can help organizations identify control weaknesses, prevent financial irregularities, improve risk management, and strengthen the reliability of financial information. This paper examines the role of internal audit in strengthening financial control systems, with particular attention to internal control evaluation, risk assessment, fraud prevention, compliance, and recommendations for corrective action. The paper also considers how internal auditors can contribute to governance by communicating significant findings to senior management and audit committees. Internal audit does not replace management responsibility for establishing and maintaining controls; rather, it provides independent assurance and advisory support regarding the adequacy and effectiveness of those controls. The paper concludes that an effective internal audit function can strengthen financial control systems when it is sufficiently independent, adequately resourced, professionally competent, and supported by management and the board.
The Economics of Cyber-Attacks on the Energy Sector: Evidence from Major Incidents and Risk Quantification Models
Over the years, the rapid pace of digitalization in the energy sector has improved the connection between the economic stability and the cyber security, however, the broader financial consequences of cyber-attacks remain inadequately understood. This study aims to analyze the economic impact of cyber threats in energy sector through major incidents since 2010, focusing on direct losses, operational disruption, cascading impact and the wider societal cost. The case studies of Colonial Pipeline, Norsk Hydro, and Halliburton are explored which showcase that economic severity relies less on the company size or the ransom demands, instead depends more on the fact whether operational technology (OT) is disrupted. The study further covers well known economic methods such as Gordon-Loeb model, Value-at-Risk, Extreme Value Theory, and game-theoretic optimization, by integrating the systematic and cross sector effect. The findings indicate that socially optimal cyber investment can exceed firm-level investment decision based merely on private costs and expected loss. Additionally, the study explores emerging risks from AI-based attacks, distributed energy resource and quantum computing, which may alter the cyber losses from rare catastrophic events towards more frequent combined incidents. Overall, this study combines the evidence from real world incidents with economic modeling to offer a practical way to recognize cyber economic risk in energy sector. It additionally provide a way for policy makers, regulators and energy operations to move beyond immediate financial cost of attack and consider wider operational, societal and cross sector consequences.
The Role of Management Accounting in Strategic Business Decision-Making
Management accounting plays an important role in strategic business decision-making by providing managers with financial and non-financial information for planning, control, performance evaluation, and resource allocation. Unlike financial accounting, which is primarily directed toward external reporting, management accounting is designed to support internal decision-makers and can be adapted to the specific information needs of an organization. This paper examines the role of management accounting in strategic decision-making, focusing on strategic planning, cost management, budgeting and forecasting, performance evaluation, and competitive decision-making. Modern management accounting techniques can help managers evaluate alternatives, understand cost structures, assess profitability, manage resources, and respond to changes in competitive and economic conditions. The paper also considers the influence of digital technologies and business analytics on management accounting practices. It concludes that management accounting can strengthen strategic decision-making when accounting information is timely, relevant, reliable, and integrated with broader organizational and market information.
TEACHERS’ PEDAGOGICAL KNOWLEDGE AND YEARS OF TEACHING EXPERIENCE AS PREDICTORS OF CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT SKILLS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION IN NSUKKA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ENUGU STATE
This study explored teachers’ pedagogical knowledge and years of teaching experiences as predictors of classroom management skills in Early Childhood Care and Education in Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria. Two research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. The study adopted correlation research design. The population of the study consisted of 258 ECCE teachers in Nsukka Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria. There was no sampling for the study because the entire population is in few hundreds and manageable. Two researcher-made instrument titled Teachers’ Pedagogical Knowledge Questionnaire (TPKQ) and Teachers Classroom Management Skills Questionnaire (TCMSQ) were used for data collection. Three experts validated the instruments; one from Department of Science Education (Measurement and Evaluation Unit) and two from Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education, Faculty of Education, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Internal consistency of 0.87 and 0.86 were obtained for TPKQ and TCMSQ through Cronbach Alpha. Linear regression ANOVA was used to answer the research questions while t-test associated with linear regression was used to test the null hypotheses at 0.05 probability level. It was found that teachers’ pedagogical knowledge and years of teaching experiences has significant predictive power on ECCE teachers’ classroom management skills in Nsukka, L.G.A.
The Role of Epigenetics in Gene Expression and Disease
Epigenetics refers to molecular mechanisms that influence gene activity without changing the underlying DNA sequence. Major epigenetic mechanisms include DNA methylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodeling, and regulation by non-coding RNAs. These processes help establish cell-specific patterns of gene expression and allow cells to respond to developmental and environmental signals. Epigenetic dysregulation has been associated with cancer, developmental disorders, metabolic disease, neurological conditions, and other complex diseases. This paper examines nine major aspects of epigenetics, including DNA methylation, histone modification, chromatin structure, non-coding RNA, developmental regulation, environmental influences, epigenetic disease mechanisms, therapeutic opportunities, and emerging research technologies. Understanding epigenetic regulation is important because it provides a molecular link between genetic information, cellular environment, gene expression, and disease phenotype.
Serverless Security in Hybrid Cloud Environments: Threat Modeling, Identity Controls, and Input Validation for Azure Functions and AWS Lambda
Serverless computing shifts infrastructure management responsibility from the application team to the cloud provider, but this operational simplification introduces a distinct security landscape that conventional container and virtual-machine security frameworks do not adequately address. Serverless functions execute in ephemeral, provider-managed runtimes where traditional security controls — host-based intrusion detection, file integrity monitoring, long-running agent processes — cannot be installed. The attack surface shifts from infrastructure compromise to application-layer threats: injection attacks through event triggers, excessive function permissions, insecure secret handling, and denial-of-wallet attacks that exploit the pay-per-invocation pricing model to inflict financial damage. This paper presents a comprehensive serverless security framework for hybrid cloud environments that combine Azure Functions, AWS Lambda, and on-premises Kubernetes workloads. The framework addresses: threat modeling specific to serverless architectures using the OWASP Serverless Top 10; function-level identity and least-privilege IAM policies; input validation and injection prevention at event source boundaries; secrets management using Azure Key Vault and AWS Secrets Manager with automatic rotation; network isolation using VNet/VPC integration and private endpoints; cold start security implications; and denial-of-wallet mitigation through concurrency limits, budget alerts, and anomaly detection. The framework is validated across a production hybrid cloud platform processing 2.8 million function invocations per day. Implementation reduced the serverless-specific vulnerability count from 34 to 3 (91 percent reduction), eliminated all critical-severity findings identified in the initial OWASP Serverless Top 10 assessment, and detected two denial-of-wallet attempts within the first six months — both automatically mitigated within 4 minutes of detection. The paper contributes practical, implementation-ready guidance for organizations operating serverless workloads alongside containerized services in hybrid cloud environments.
The Role of Forest Ecosystems in Global Environmental Sustainability
Forest ecosystems are essential components of the global environment and provide a wide range of ecological, climatic, economic, and social functions. Forests store carbon, regulate water cycles, protect soils, support biodiversity, influence regional climates, and provide resources and livelihoods for millions of people. Their role in environmental sustainability is particularly important because forests connect climate regulation, ecosystem functioning, biodiversity conservation, and human well-being. At the same time, deforestation, degradation, wildfire, climate change, pollution, and unsustainable resource use threaten forest integrity. This paper examines nine major dimensions of the role of forests in global environmental sustainability, including carbon storage, biodiversity conservation, water regulation, soil protection, climate regulation, ecosystem services, sustainable livelihoods, forest threats, and conservation and restoration strategies.
AI-Powered Public Administration: Enhancing Policy Implementation and Service Delivery through Intelligent Decision Support Systems
States derive economic development, service delivery, and public trust from effective governance systems, processes, and practices, but many countries persistently struggle with institutional and governance failures. This paper presents an AI-enabled decision-making approach for evaluating and enhancing public administration quality based on country policy and institutional assessment (CPIA) indicators produced by the World Bank. With the CPIA Quality of Public Administration (PADM) score being the dependent variable, the paper uses an econometric approach combined with machine learning methodologies to reveal main governance determinants and model-based predictive trends. This analysis employs unbalanced panel of 1,152 country–years data for low-and lower-middle income countries. Methodology-wise, the analysis combines OLS, Ridge, and Lasso regression with supervised machine learning techniques, among which are Logistic Regression (with SMOTE), Random Forest, and Gradient Boosting, as well as Support Vector Machines and unsupervised clustering. Model performance metrics include R², RMSE, accuracy, precision, recall F1-score and ROC–AUC. Results are robust to specify the model and show that public sector management and institutional quality are the decisive determinants of PADM across models. Transparency, property rights, fiscal policy, and tax revenue all have positive contributions to support the main one. That is, Logistic Regression with SMOTE and Gradient Boosting has the best classification performance (AUC up to 0.94), while clustering can help identify unique governance profiles to make differential policy strategies. Intel's AI-enriched analytics can enrich traditional governance assessments by advancing prediction, prioritization, and benchmarking. In general, the research demonstrates the potential of AI-based decision-support to inform more focused data-driven public-sector reforms and better policies implementations and service delivery. DOI: 10.66669/WT.v35iS3.337
The Chemistry of Carbohydrates and Their Biological Functions
Carbohydrates are a diverse group of biomolecules composed primarily of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. They perform essential functions in living organisms, including energy production, energy storage, structural support, cell recognition, and molecular signaling. Their chemical behavior is determined by features such as carbonyl groups, hydroxyl groups, stereochemistry, ring formation, and glycosidic linkages. Carbohydrates range from simple monosaccharides such as glucose and fructose to disaccharides and complex polysaccharides such as starch, glycogen, cellulose, and chitin. This paper examines nine major dimensions of carbohydrate chemistry and biological function, including molecular structure, classification, stereochemistry, digestion and metabolism, energy storage, structural roles, cell recognition, dietary significance, and emerging biochemical applications.
AI-Driven Clinical Decision Support Systems Transforming Healthcare Delivery and Efficiency
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to be one of the leading causes of global mortality, responsible for an estimated 17.9 million deaths each year while exerting significant pressures on health systems. The key to reducing the burden of disease and improving patient outcomes is early accurate risk prediction. Conventional clinical assessment approaches often find it difficult to analyze multi-layered interplays of multiple biological, demographic, and lifestyle-related factors. This study introduces an AI-based Clinical Decision Support System (AI-CDSS) for cardiovascular disease risk prediction through the integration of machine learning (ML) models and explainable artificial intelligence (XAI). Patients and methods: The framework was generated using a clinical dataset of 70,000 patients with 18 predictive features. The dataset was preprocessed with missing value treatment, categorical encoding, feature selection, and normalization using standard scaling. Five ML algorithms (Logistic Regression (LR), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random Forest (RF), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XG Boost), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN)) were assessed using an 80:20 train-test split with 5-fold cross-validation. Model performance accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and ROC-AUC. The experimental section showed that the highest values of predictive performance, with an accuracy of 94.2%, precision of 93.8%, recall of 94.5%, F1-score (F-Measure) of 94.1% and CRM or area under ROC curve (AUC) were obtained by the XG Boost model for cardiovascular prediction SHAP analysis identified age, systolic blood pressure, cholesterol level (total Chol<154mg/dL), BMI and smoking status as the top 5 most important predictive features. We present an AI-CDSS framework that uses a combination of machine learning and explainable AI methods to offer better prediction performance while maintaining clinical interpretability. The results pointed out that AI-based decision support systems improve early identification of cardiovascular risk, assist in personalized therapy planning, and facilitate healthcare delivery. DOI: 10.66669/WT.v35iS3.339
The Chemical Basis of DNA Structure and Function
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is the primary hereditary molecule in most living organisms and provides the molecular basis for storing, transmitting, and expressing genetic information. Its biological functions arise directly from its chemical structure, including the arrangement of nucleotides, phosphodiester bonds, complementary base pairing, hydrogen bonding, and the three-dimensional double helix. DNA chemistry also determines how the molecule can be replicated, repaired, modified, and recognized by proteins. This paper examines nine major dimensions of the chemical basis of DNA structure and function, including nucleotide composition, the double helix, base pairing, chemical stability, replication, repair, genetic information, epigenetic modification, and applications in modern molecular biology.
Machine Learning for Personalized Physiotherapy: Predicting Patient Recovery and Treatment Efficacy
Personalized physiotherapy depends on objectively knowing what a patient is doing during exercise, yet clinicians still rely largely on intermittent observation and self-report. This study examines whether wearable inertial sensor data can support that sensing layer using machine learning. We used a public inertial measurement unit (IMU) dataset of 200 sessions across eight standardized physiotherapy exercises, from which fifteen statistical features (mean, standard deviation, minimum, maximum, median of accelerometer, gyroscope, and magnetometer magnitude) were engineered and used to train tuned Random Forest and XGBoost classifiers. XGBoost achieved 55.0% accuracy and a macro-F1 of 0.54 across the eight classes (range: 0.22-0.89), with magnetometer-derived features consistently the strongest predictors. t-SNE and UMAP projections corroborated the supervised confusion patterns, showing partial but incomplete class separability. These results show that low-cost wearable sensors combined with interpretable ensembles can meaningfully, if imperfectly, discriminate physiotherapy exercises without laboratory motion capture. We frame this exercise-recognition capability as a necessary precursor to, not a substitute for, models that directly predict patient recovery and treatment efficacy, and outline the research gap and roadmap for connecting objectively measured movement quality to validated clinical outcomes. DOI: 10.66669/WT.v35iS3.341
The Chemical Principles of Fuel Cells and Their Applications
Fuel cells are electrochemical energy-conversion devices that generate electricity from chemical reactions without requiring direct combustion of the fuel. Their operation depends on oxidation at the anode, reduction at the cathode, ion transport through an electrolyte, and electron flow through an external circuit. Hydrogen fuel cells are particularly important in discussions of low-carbon energy systems, while other fuel-cell types can use methanol, natural gas-derived hydrogen, or other fuels. Advances in catalysts, membranes, electrodes, electrolytes, and cell architectures have improved efficiency and durability. This paper examines nine major dimensions of fuel-cell chemistry, including electrochemical principles, electrode reactions, electrolyte function, catalysts, major fuel-cell types, hydrogen fuel, efficiency, applications, and future sustainable developments.
The Architecture of Trust: A Framework for Verifiable Identity in Global Health AI Ecosystems
With the digitalization of health care came an unprecedented volume of health data that could revolutionize the field of artificial intelligence (AI) for diagnostics, treatment and population health management. Nevertheless, vulnerabilities in health data have emerged as those very properties that make it valuable, its sensitivity, its identifiability, and its mobility across borders, make it vulnerable to misuse, breaches, and loss of public trust. The idea of verifiable identity is not just a technical or engineering problem, it is an architectural problem about how to design an architectural system that is verifiable, useful and beneficial for privacy, across jurisdictions, and most importantly, built into the system, not an add-on. Inspired by the development of self-sovereign identity (SSI), decentralized identifiers (DIDs), verifiable credentials (VCs), and the latest momentum in world health organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), OECD and the European Health Data Space (EHDS), this paper presents a multi-layered identity architecture for global health AI ecosystems. The framework addresses three major challenges: privacy-utility paradox, interoperability-sovereignty dilemma, and equity-access gap. I think there's a way to make health AI about trust, and that has to be intentional – with deliberate efforts to include cryptographic verification, participatory governance and human-centred design.
The Role of Mathematical Modelling in Solving Real-World Problems
Mathematical modelling is one of the most important approaches through which mathematics is connected with the physical, biological, economic, technological, and social worlds. A mathematical model translates a real-world situation into mathematical language by identifying relevant variables, establishing relationships among them, and expressing those relationships through equations, functions, graphs, probability distributions, or computational algorithms. The resulting model can then be analyzed, solved, simulated, and compared with observations. Mathematical modelling is therefore not simply a technique for solving equations; it is a systematic process of abstraction, interpretation, validation, and refinement. Modern modelling incorporates differential equations, linear algebra, probability, statistics, optimization, numerical analysis, and computational mathematics. It is used in population dynamics, epidemiology, climate science, engineering, finance, transportation, industrial production, and many other fields. Mathematical modelling texts emphasize the formulation of equations from real-world assumptions and the use of analytical and numerical methods to investigate their consequences. This paper examines the conceptual foundations of mathematical modelling, its principal stages, major mathematical techniques, interdisciplinary applications, advantages, limitations, and future significance. It argues that effective mathematical modelling requires not only mathematical competence but also careful interpretation of the underlying real-world system. The growing availability of computational resources and data is further expanding the possibilities for mathematical modelling, allowing increasingly complex systems to be represented and analyzed.
Precision Medicine and the Future of Personalized Healthcare: Integrating Genomics, Artificial Intelligence and Individualized Treatment
Precision medicine has emerged as a major direction in contemporary medical research, shifting healthcare from predominantly population-based treatment models toward approaches that consider individual biological, environmental, behavioural, and clinical characteristics. Traditional medicine often relies on therapies that are effective for broad groups of patients, yet substantial differences in treatment response, disease progression, adverse reactions, and susceptibility exist between individuals. Precision medicine seeks to address these differences through the integration of genomic information, molecular biomarkers, medical imaging, electronic health records, lifestyle characteristics, environmental exposures, and advanced computational methods. Recent advances in next-generation sequencing, pharmacogenomics, artificial intelligence, multi-omics analysis, and digital health have significantly expanded the possibilities of individualized healthcare. Precision medicine is particularly influential in oncology, where molecular profiling can identify genetic alterations associated with tumour development and therapeutic response. Similar approaches are being explored in cardiovascular disease, rare genetic disorders, infectious diseases, neurology, pharmacology, and preventive medicine. Artificial intelligence can assist in integrating complex datasets and identifying patterns that may be difficult to recognize through conventional analysis. However, the development of precision medicine also creates important challenges related to cost, data privacy, genetic discrimination, unequal access, population representation, clinical validation, and interpretation of genomic information. Precision medicine must therefore be developed within appropriate ethical, regulatory, and healthcare-system frameworks. This paper examines the conceptual foundations of precision medicine, the role of genomics and pharmacogenomics, artificial intelligence and multi-omics, applications across major medical fields, advantages and limitations, ethical considerations, and future perspectives. It argues that the long-term success of personalized healthcare will depend on combining technological innovation with rigorous clinical evidence, equitable access, responsible data governance, and patient-centered care.
Learning by Doing: A Review of Internships as Catalysts for Academic and Career Success
Internships are an integral part of students' academic and professional development, serving as a bridge between theoretical learning and practical application, aligning with SDG 4 covering Quality Education. This review examines the effectiveness of internships in higher education by synthesising findings from 40 peer-reviewed studies published between 2012 and 2024, focusing on recent articles to understand the latest findings, methodologies, and best practices. A thematic content analysis was conducted, primarily focusing on three core themes: the impact of internships on students' learning and skill development, employment outcomes, and academic performance. Thematic analysis was selected as the appropriate method for this review due to the conceptual diversity and qualitative richness of the existing literature on internship effectiveness. Given the broad scope of topics, including skill development, employability, and academic performance, this approach enabled a flexible yet systematic synthesis of insights across diverse contexts and methodologies. Unlike systematic review or meta-analysis, which require uniform data types or narrowly defined interventions, thematic analysis is particularly suited to identifying recurring patterns, gaps, and recommendations within heterogeneous studies. This method aligns with the exploratory nature of the research objective and supports the development of a nuanced understanding of how internship programs function across higher education environments. It also discusses various best practices for designing and implementing effective internship programs. Studies across different regions are included in the review, highlighting the homogeneity of benefits and challenges of internships for students, faculty and industries. The review highlights that internships enhance job readiness, experiential learning, and professional networking opportunities. However, challenges such as inadequate mentorship, unequal access, and weak alignment with academic curricula persist. The paper concludes with recommendations for optimising internship programs to enhance effectiveness and create experiences for students and employers, ultimately strengthening the alignment between educational outcomes and workforce requirements.
The Role of Geometry in Everyday Life: Concepts, Applications, and Educational Importance
Geometry is one of the oldest and most practical branches of mathematics. It deals with shapes, sizes, positions, dimensions, distances, angles, areas, and spatial relationships. Although geometry is often introduced in school through definitions, diagrams, and formulas, its applications extend throughout everyday life. Architecture, construction, engineering, interior design, agriculture, transportation, art, computer graphics, navigation, manufacturing, and household activities all involve geometric principles. The ability to understand shapes and spatial relationships also contributes to practical problem solving and mathematical reasoning. This paper examines the role of geometry in everyday life and discusses its major concepts, including points, lines, angles, triangles, quadrilaterals, circles, area, perimeter, volume, symmetry, coordinates, and three-dimensional shapes. It explores how these concepts are applied in building construction, home design, road systems, land measurement, packaging, art, technology, and other practical fields. The paper also considers the educational importance of geometry and explains how geometric learning can strengthen visualization, logical reasoning, measurement skills, and problem-solving abilities. Geometry is particularly valuable because it connects abstract mathematical ideas with physical objects and spaces that individuals encounter every day. The paper argues that geometry should not be treated merely as a collection of formulas but as a method for understanding and describing the spatial world. Meaningful activities involving measurement, construction, drawing, design, and real-life problems can make geometric learning more understandable and relevant. The study concludes that geometry remains an essential component of mathematical literacy and continues to play an important role in both traditional occupations and modern technological applications.