Advances in Research

Carrot Productivity and Economic Benefits as Influenced by Different Rates of Chicken Manure and NPK Fertilizer

2026-07-31T12:51:47+00:00

This study assessed the productivity and economic returns of chicken manure (CM) and NPK fertiliser, applied alone and in combination, in carrot (Daucus carota L.) production at Mampong-Ashanti during September–December 2021 and April–July 2022. The experiment used a randomised complete block design with six treatments and four replications: 300 kg ha⁻¹ NPK (full NPK), 20 t ha⁻¹ CM (full CM), ¾ NPK + ¼ CM, ½ NPK + ½ CM, ¼ NPK + ¾ CM, and an unfertilised control. Full CM in 2021 and ¼ NPK + ¾ CM in 2022 produced significantly higher root yields than the control. Economic analysis showed that full CM generated the highest net benefit in 2021 (USD 4,911.68 ha⁻¹), whereas ¼ NPK + ¾ CM generated the highest net benefit in 2022 (USD 5,503.31 ha⁻¹). Although full CM incurred the highest total variable cost (USD 469.64 ha⁻¹), its yield performance maintained its economic attractiveness. In 2021, ½ NPK + ½ CM produced a marginal rate of return (MRR) of 55.48% over the control, while full CM produced an MRR of 638.15% over ½ NPK + ½ CM. In 2022, ¼ NPK + ¾ CM had higher MRR (708.44%) than ½ NPK + ½ CM. The results indicate that 20 t ha⁻¹ CM may be suitable in the minor season, whereas ¼ NPK + ¾ CM may be suitable in the major season for improving carrot yield and profitability.

First-principles Electronic and Optical Response of a Tetragonal Co₂MnSi Model

2026-08-01T09:12:24+00:00

The paper presents a first-principles analysis of the structural relaxation, spin-resolved electronic structure, and frequency-dependent optical response of a tetragonal Co₂MnSi model. Geometry optimisation and spin-polarised electronic calculations were carried out within density functional theory using the PBE generalised-gradient approximation, a plane-wave scheme employing ultrasoft pseudopotentials, a 60 Ry kinetic-energy cutoff, and an 8 × 8 × 8 k-point mesh. Optical functions were subsequently evaluated with a 500 eV cutoff and a 9 × 9 × 9 mesh for light polarised along [100]. The optimised P4/mmm cell has a = b = 2.85 Å, c = 5.58 Å, and a volume of 45.27 Å³. The total energy stabilises near −365.90944 Ry, and the self-consistent-field cycle becomes essentially stationary after the first few iterations. The supplied spin-resolved density of states and band dispersion are consistent with a candidate half-metallic solution: one spin channel retains finite states at the Fermi level, whereas the other displays an apparent gap of roughly 0.5–1.0 eV. Within this idealised calculation, that electronic topology corresponds to complete spin polarisation at the Fermi level. The optical response is strongest outside the visible range. The static real dielectric component is approximately 59.24, the absorption coefficient reaches about 2.93 × 10⁵ cm⁻¹ at 8.55 eV, the reflectivity maximum occurs near 21.86 eV, the main optical-conductivity feature appears near 7.5 eV, and the dominant loss-function peak lies near 22.6 eV. These results point to a strong far-ultraviolet and extreme-ultraviolet response. Because the modelled P4/mmm phase is not the conventional cubic L2₁ structure of Co₂MnSi, and because phase-stability, magnetic-order, magnetic-moment, phonon, spin-orbit, and convergence-comparison data were not available, the findings should be interpreted as predictions for the supplied tetragonal model rather than as proof of the equilibrium bulk phase.

Evaluation of Basmati Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Genotypes at Morphological, Biochemical and Molecular Levels

2026-08-03T13:03:24+00:00

This study evaluated genetic diversity among 21 Basmati rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes using morphological, biochemical and molecular attributes. The field experiment was conducted in a randomised block design with three replications. Morphological and quality observations included plant height, effective tillers, flowering and maturity, grain yield, panicle length, grain dimensions, grain length-to-breadth ratio and aroma, while biochemical assessment covered starch, protein, iron, zinc and amylose content. Analysis of variance indicated significant differences among genotypes for most morphological and quality traits, except grain breadth, whereas biochemical traits showed relatively limited variation. The highest phenotypic and genotypic variances were recorded for plant height. The number of effective tillers showed the highest heritability, while panicle length showed the lowest. Molecular characterisation used 25 simple sequence repeat markers, which generated 59 amplified bands, of which 57 were polymorphic. The mean polymorphism information content was 0.45, ranging from 0 for RM145 and RM583 to 0.79 for RM26. UPGMA analysis separated the genotypes into two major clusters, with similarity coefficients ranging from 0.54 to 0.98. The combined evidence demonstrated variation among the evaluated genotypes at morphological, biochemical and molecular levels. These differences provide a basis for identifying genetically distinct material for parental selection, although broader multi-environment and genome-wide validation is required before breeding applications are confirmed.

Utilization Pattern of Electronic Resources among Postgraduate Students of Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India

2026-08-05T06:53:29+00:00

This study examined the utilisation of electronic resources among postgraduate and doctoral students at Jawaharlal Nehru Krishi Vishwa Vidyalaya, Jabalpur. The study population comprised 272 M.Sc. and Ph.D. students, from whom 108 respondents were selected through random sampling. Data were collected using a questionnaire and interview schedule and analysed using frequencies, percentages, weighted mean scores, ranks, and correlation coefficients. Most respondents (73.15%) had a medium level of e-resource utilisation, while 15.74% had low utilisation and 11.11% had high utilisation. The purpose of using e-resources ranked first among the assessed dimensions, followed by the mode used for knowledge gathering, the reading format, the preferred information source, the preference for specific e-resources, and the form used for reading. Online access was preferred to offline access, and PDF was the most preferred reading format. Krishikosh, the IARI e-Library, e-magazines, agMOOC, and Krishiworld were among the most preferred resources. Family annual income, academic performance, availability of ICT tools, and accessibility of e-resources were positively and significantly associated with utilisation at the 0.01 level. Family background, awareness of e-resources, and training were positively and significantly associated at the 0.05 level. The findings indicate that access to ICT facilities, awareness initiatives, and practical training may strengthen the effective use of e-resources among postgraduate students.

Assessing the Accuracy of Artificial Intelligence Chatbots in Medical Information Retrieval: A Structured Query-based Evaluation

2026-08-05T10:17:21+00:00

Background: Artificial intelligence chatbots are increasingly used to obtain medical and drug-related information, but their accuracy for clinical use remains uncertain. Objective: To evaluate and compare the performance of three large language models—ChatGPT, Gemini, and Grok—in responding to standardised drug-related queries concerning three commonly prescribed drugs.

Methods: Three commonly prescribed drugs—metformin, hydrochlorothiazide, and azithromycin—were selected for assessment. Each model was asked ten standardised questions per drug (two questions in each of five categories: indications, off-label indications, drug–drug interactions, adverse drug events, and drug availability). Responses were manually assessed against standard clinical references, principally UpToDate, and scored on a four-point scale from 0 to 3, where 3 represented a completely accurate and clinically sound response. A non-perfect score (0–2) was considered an error. Each model answered 30 questions in total.

Results: ChatGPT and Gemini each produced 18 perfect responses, corresponding to an empirical probability of 0.60 for a completely correct answer. Grok produced 14 perfect responses, corresponding to an empirical probability of 0.47. Error rates varied across drugs and models, ranging from 30% to 60%. A two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) of mean error rates showed that drug type had a statistically significant effect (F = 7.75, p = 0.0421), whereas the effect of the AI model was not statistically significant at the conventional threshold (F = 4.00, p = 0.1111). Grok's numerically higher mean error rate (53.33%, compared with 40.00% for ChatGPT and Gemini) was consistent with its lower empirical success probability.

Conclusion: These findings indicate that freely available AI chatbots may provide rapid drug information but show variable accuracy. As a practical implication for current use, rather than a proposed future research direction, their responses should be verified against authoritative clinical references before use in healthcare education or practice.

An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of the Psychotherapists’ Lived Experience of Dream Analysis in Clinical Practice

2026-08-06T11:04:58+00:00

This study explores psychotherapists’ lived experiences of engaging with dream analysis in clinical practice using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Drawing on in-depth, semi-structured interviews with five experienced clinicians trained in psychodynamic, Lacanian, and Daseinsanalytic approaches, the study examines how differing theoretical orientations shape the understanding, use, and meaning of dreams in psychotherapy. The analysis generated five overarching themes: (1) conceptualisations of the dream as either a lived experience or a theoretical construct; (2) the “tail” of the dream as either bound to significant others and unconscious desire or free from predetermined associations; (3) the role of the analyst as either a facilitator of hidden meaning or an indicator of openness; (4) interpretation as a calling that sustains the analytic process; and (5) the status of the uninterpretable dream as either temporarily deferred or enduringly open. The findings reveal a fundamental divergence between interpretative, theory-driven approaches that prioritise the decoding of latent content and phenomenological–existential perspectives that emphasise openness, non-interpretation, and the irreducibility of the dream experience. The study highlights how these orientations influence not only clinical technique but also the therapeutic relationship and the ontological positioning of both analyst and analysand. It suggests that dream analysis may be understood not solely as a method of uncovering unconscious meaning, but also as an experiential and relational process that invites engagement with ambiguity, alterity, and the limits of interpretation. These findings contribute to qualitative psychotherapy research by foregrounding the experiential and philosophical dimensions of clinical dream work.

Community Water Use and Storage Practices Around a River Impacted by Hospital Effluent in Ido Ekiti, Southwest Nigeria

2026-08-11T05:51:11+00:00

Background: Communities living near rivers receiving hospital effluent may experience repeated exposure to contaminated water through domestic activities, particularly where household water treatment, storage and sanitation practices are suboptimal. Understanding these practices is important for identifying potential exposure pathways and informing appropriate water, sanitation and hygiene interventions.

Aims: The study aims to investigate the water use, storage and sanitation practices of households residing within the vicinity of a river that receives hospital effluent in Ido Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

Study Design: A descriptive cross-sectional survey.

Place and Duration of Study: Households within the vicinity of the river locally known as the Baba Jibulu River, Ido Ekiti, Ido/Osi Local Government Area, Ekiti State, Nigeria, adjacent to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti; the survey was administered within the first two months of a twelve-month study that also included longitudinal river water sampling across the rainy and dry seasons.

Methodology: A structured questionnaire adapted from the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme core questions on household drinking-water and sanitation was administered to 150 households selected by systematic sampling. Data covered sociodemographic characteristics, water use, treatment, storage, handling and sanitation practices, and were summarised as frequencies and percentages.

Results: Slightly more than half of the respondents were female (50.7%), and most (77.3%) did not rely on the river as their primary water source; nevertheless, 95.3% used it for washing and 61.3% for bathing, with 27.3% bathing in it three times daily. Only 6.0% treated river water before use, mostly by boiling (44.4%), and 61.0% considered treatment unnecessary. Water was mainly stored in tanks (34.9%) or plastic containers (30.2%), usually for about one week (67.8%), and half of respondents (50.0%) withdrew stored water using a cup. Open defecation was practised by 9.3% of households, a behaviour with the potential to worsen faecal contamination of the river.

Conclusion: Households around the Ido Ekiti River continue to use it extensively for washing and bathing despite the availability of alternative water sources, while low rates of household water treatment, prolonged storage and unsafe withdrawal practices heighten the potential for exposure to waterborne and antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. Targeted water, sanitation and hygiene education is recommended for this and comparable riverine communities.

Geospatial and Numerical Modeling Framework for Spatio-Temporal Assessment of Groundwater Contamination in Ranchi Urban Agglomeration, Jharkhand, India

2026-08-11T11:22:27+00:00

Groundwater quality and contamination have become major concerns in several parts of Jharkhand, India. The principal contributors to groundwater contamination are rapid urbanisation, industrial effluents, the increased use of chemicals in agricultural practices, and uncontrolled groundwater extraction. In this context, the present study proposes an integrated framework combining a Geographical Information System (GIS), MODFLOW (Modular Finite-Difference Groundwater Flow Model), and MT3DS (Modular Three-Dimensional Multi-Species Transport Model) to evaluate the spatio-temporal dynamics of groundwater flow and contaminant transport in the Ranchi Urban Agglomeration. Hydrogeological, geological, geomorphological, land-use/land-cover, drainage, rainfall, borehole, and groundwater-level data were used as inputs to simulate groundwater flow and contaminant-plume migration under steady-state and transient conditions. The groundwater-flow model was calibrated under steady-state conditions by comparing simulated hydraulic heads with observed groundwater-level data. A model error of less than 2% indicated close agreement between the simulated and observed heads. The numerical simulations were based on a hydrogeologically representative conceptual model incorporating spatially distributed recharge, river–aquifer interaction, evapotranspiration, groundwater abstraction, and regional groundwater exchange through appropriate MODFLOW packages. The results indicate that groundwater flows predominantly towards the south-eastern and eastern parts of the study area. These areas were also characterised by declining groundwater levels and contaminant-plume migration and were therefore more susceptible to groundwater contamination. Although natural recharge contributes to the localised dilution of contaminants, it is insufficient to compensate for groundwater depletion in areas experiencing substantial discharge. The integration of GIS with MODFLOW and MT3DS provides a process-based framework for simulating groundwater flow, predicting contaminant transport, and generating spatial groundwater-contamination risk maps. The modelling framework may serve as a practical decision-support tool for groundwater monitoring, contamination-risk assessment, and sustainable groundwater-resource management. It may also assist in identifying priority areas for future field validation and water-quality monitoring.

Open-Source Sentinel-1 SBAS InSAR Monitoring of Ground Deformation in Pantnagar (Indian Terai) Using HyP3 and MintPy

2026-08-11T13:02:18+00:00

Aims: The study aims to measure ground-surface displacement and assess land subsidence along the under-monitored Terai belt of the Himalayan foothills using an open-source remote-sensing workflow.

Study Design: Observational time-series analysis utilising satellite radar interferometry to monitor surface deformation.

Place and Duration of Study: Pantnagar region, Udham Singh Nagar district, Uttarakhand, with acquisitions covering 8 January 2023 to 21 June 2026.

Methodology: Sentinel-1 interferograms were generated via the Alaska Satellite Facility’s HyP3 service and analysed using MintPy with the Small Baseline Subset (SBAS) method across 88 acquisitions. Following network inversion and digital elevation model error correction, pixels were masked at a temporal coherence threshold of 0.7, retaining 80.8% of the ~40 m grid. Results were evaluated against Dynamic World land-cover data, rainfall, and modelled groundwater storage.

Results: Most of the scene remained stable, showing a median line-of-sight velocity of −0.4 cm yr−1 (interquartile range: −1.2 to 0.0 cm yr−1; 1σ uncertainty: 0.06 cm yr−1). A distinct, linear subsiding zone in the south-west reached ~−6.1 cm yr−1, representing roughly 21 cm of cumulative line-of-sight displacement over 3.45 years. This deformation persisted over cropped farmland and showed no seasonal rebound during monsoons.

Conclusion: The persistent, non-rebounding subsidence points to inelastic aquifer-system compaction driven by sustained irrigation pumping. Although the rates remain provisional because nearby ground-station verification is unavailable, this methodology provides a reproducible template for regional Terai subsidence monitoring.

Association between Work Breaks and Work-life Balance among Female Employees in Cameroonian Commercial Banks

2026-08-13T11:52:18+00:00

Work–life balance remains a challenge for female employees in the Cameroonian banking sector, where demanding schedules and limited opportunities for recovery may affect employees’ capacity to manage work and personal responsibilities. This study examined the association between work breaks and work–life balance among female employees in commercial banks in Bamenda, Cameroon. Guided by the Effort-Recovery Model, the study used a quantitative cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected from 125 female employees using a structured questionnaire and analysed through descriptive statistics, pairwise correlations, and ordinary least squares regression with HC3 heteroskedasticity-consistent standard errors. Work breaks were positively associated with work–life balance (β = 0.207, p = 0.067), indicating a marginally significant relationship at the 10% level. The model explained 14.6% of the variation in work–life balance (R² = 0.146), and the overall model was statistically significant (F(6, 118) = 3.371, p = 0.004). None of the demographic control variables showed a significant association with work–life balance. The findings suggest that opportunities for within-day recovery, including psychological detachment and relaxation, may support female employees in managing work and non-work demands. Commercial banks should consider policies that encourage regular work breaks, provide suitable break facilities, allow flexible break scheduling, and promote managerial support for break-taking. The cross-sectional, self-report design limits causal interpretation and broader generalisation.

Challenges of Integrating 21st Century Technology on the Development of Fashion and Fabrics in Secondary Schools: A Case of Selected Secondary Schools in Kitwe District of Copperbelt Province

2026-08-14T12:46:11+00:00

This study examined the challenges associated with integrating 21st-century technology into Fashion and Fabrics education in selected secondary schools in Kitwe District, Copperbelt Province. A descriptive survey design combining quantitative and qualitative approaches was used. Data were obtained from 60 participants comprising learners, teachers, head teachers, and Parent-Teacher Association chairpersons. The findings indicate that technology was generally perceived as beneficial to textile-design learning. A majority of participants reported that it greatly enhanced creativity, while 75% considered it important for increasing efficiency. Technology was also associated with improved design accuracy and stronger collaboration through the sharing of ideas and feedback. Nevertheless, integration was constrained by high equipment costs, inadequate teacher training, limited access to technological resources, and resistance to change. Half of the participants identified insufficient training as a major challenge, and 58.33% cited the high cost of technology. Most respondents believed that technology would remain essential to the future of textile design. The study concludes that effective integration requires coordinated investment in infrastructure, reliable access to digital tools and design software, continuing professional development for teachers, and institutional support for classroom innovation. Addressing these constraints may strengthen practical learning, improve learners’ preparedness for contemporary fashion and textile practice, and support more effective curriculum implementation in secondary schools.

Socio-Economic and Environmental Risk Factors Associated with Tuberculosis in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review

2026-08-10T09:20:29+00:00

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a public health concern because of its high morbidity and mortality. Despite major advances in diagnosis and treatment, evidence on how socioeconomic and environmental factors are linked to tuberculosis remains insufficient.

Aim: This review seeks to provide evidence on the contributory role of prevalent socioeconomic and environmental factors in tuberculosis incidence in low- and middle-income countries.

Methodology: This systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach. A scientific literature search was conducted using the African Journal Online (AJOL), Elsevier, Scopus and PubMed databases. In addition, grey literature was systematically searched using ResearchGate and Google Scholar. Three searches were conducted between 9 and 11 March 2023, 21 March and 10 May 2024, and 20 September and 19 October 2025. The search focused on studies published within the last 20 years that reported data on socioeconomic and environmental risk factors associated with TB in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Of the 861 articles retrieved for review, 29 met the eligibility criteria and were systematically reviewed.

Results: The socioeconomic risk factors identified in the study included poor housing types, high household population density, low education level, low monthly income and malnutrition. Other factors included age, transport difficulties caused by limited transport options, long travel distances and lack of access to financial support to meet basic needs while sick. Environmental risk factors associated with TB incidence included temperature, humidity and lighting. High humidity, biofuel use, kitchen gas use and indoor cigarette smoke were also identified as environmental risks.

Conclusion: Tuberculosis prevalence is associated with socioeconomic deprivation. Environmental factors were also associated with a potentially higher risk of tuberculosis. Public health efforts to combat tuberculosis should address these issues by promoting health education, improving housing quality and mitigating air pollution.

Progressive Resistance Exercise for Quadriceps Strength in Male and Female Athletes: A Critical Narrative Review of Loading Models, Modalities, and Sex-Specific Responses

2026-07-30T08:22:48+00:00

Quadriceps strength is a central determinant of force production, deceleration, jumping, sprinting, change of direction, and knee-joint control in many sports. Progressive resistance exercise is therefore widely prescribed to athletes, yet the phrase encompasses markedly different loading models, contraction modes, equipment, progression rules, and monitoring systems. This critical narrative review evaluates the efficacy of conventional high-load isotonic training, periodised and autoregulated progression, isokinetic loading, eccentric and flywheel methods, variable and elastic resistance, and low-load blood-flow-restriction exercise for improving quadriceps or closely related lower-body strength in male and female athletes. A transparent search of accessible scholarly indexes and citation networks was undertaken for literature published from 1945 to 25 May 2026, with foundational earlier work considered where necessary. Evidence was appraised for design quality, training specificity, participant training status, sex representation, measurement validity, and transfer to athletic performance. The most defensible conclusion is that progressive overload, adequate exposure to high force, and alignment between the trained movement and the strength test are more important than the brand name of a technique. Heavy dynamic training generally provides the clearest advantage for one-repetition-maximum strength, while volume, frequency, and proximity to failure mainly influence whether sufficient high-quality work can be accumulated and recovered from. Isokinetic, eccentric, flywheel, variable-resistance, autoregulatory, and blood-flow-restriction methods can all increase strength, but superiority over well-designed conventional training is inconsistent and usually outcome-specific. Relative lower-body strength gains appear broadly similar in women and men when programmes and baseline training status are comparable, although female athletes remain underrepresented and sex-specific inferences are constrained by small samples and weak control of reproductive-status variables. Advanced methods are best viewed as tools for solving specific programming problems rather than universal replacements for conventional progressive loading. Future trials require adequately powered sex-stratified designs, athlete-specific samples, standardised quadriceps outcomes, transparent progression algorithms, and longer follow-up to establish durability and sport transfer.

Prebiotic and Cardiovascular Disease Risk: A Critical Narrative Review of Mechanistic, Observational, and Clinical Evidence

2026-07-31T07:59:54+00:00

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of death and disability worldwide, and dietary modulation of the gut microbiota has emerged as a candidate strategy for risk reduction. Prebiotics—substrates selectively utilised by host microorganisms to confer a health benefit—have been proposed to influence cardiovascular risk through short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, modulation of trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) generation, lipid-lowering effects and attenuation of low-grade inflammation. This critical narrative review synthesises mechanistic, observational and randomised controlled trial (RCT) evidence published up to 6 April 2026 concerning inulin-type fructans, β-glucans, galacto-oligosaccharides and related fermentable fibres in relation to lipid profile, blood pressure, glycaemic control, inflammatory biomarkers and clinical cardiovascular outcomes. Evidence for cholesterol-lowering effects, particularly from viscous fibres such as oat β-glucan, is comparatively consistent, with meta-analyses reporting modest but reproducible reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Evidence for blood pressure reduction is more heterogeneous, with meaningful effects observed predominantly in hypertensive populations and largely derived from animal models rather than adequately powered human trials. Mechanistic work implicates SCFA-receptor signalling (GPR41, GPR43, GPR109A) in vascular and renal blood pressure regulation, while the relationship between prebiotic fibre intake and TMAO remains inconsistent, with a small pilot trial suggesting attenuation only in subgroups with lower habitual meat intake. Anti-inflammatory effects are plausible but are confounded across the literature by co-administration with probiotics and by short trial durations. Methodological limitations pervade this evidence base, including small sample sizes, heterogeneous prebiotic formulations and doses, short follow-up, reliance on surrogate rather than hard cardiovascular endpoints, and frequent conflation of prebiotic, probiotic and synbiotic interventions. No adequately powered trial has examined prebiotic supplementation against incident myocardial infarction, stroke or cardiovascular mortality. This review concludes that prebiotic fibres represent a biologically plausible but incompletely validated adjunctive strategy for cardiovascular risk modification, with the strongest evidence supporting lipid-related benefits and the weakest evidence supporting hard clinical outcomes. Priorities for future research include adequately powered, long-duration trials with cardiovascular endpoints, standardisation of prebiotic dosing and characterisation, and mechanistic studies disentangling prebiotic-specific from probiotic-associated effects.

Image Processing from Handcrafted Operators to Foundation Models: A Critical Review of Methods, Applications and Recent Advances

2026-08-01T09:18:26+00:00

Digital image processing has evolved from deterministic operators designed around explicit assumptions to data-driven systems that learn representations, priors and decision rules from large image collections. This transition has improved performance in restoration, segmentation, compression and visual interpretation, but it has also complicated evaluation, reproducibility and deployment. This critical narrative review examines the field as a connected pipeline rather than as a catalogue of algorithms. It considers image formation and degradation, classical spatial and variational methods, non-local and sparse modelling, convolutional neural networks, vision transformers, diffusion models and emerging foundation models. It also analyses how these approaches are translated into medical imaging, Earth observation, industrial inspection, agriculture and multimedia systems. The evidence indicates that classical methods remain valuable when physical assumptions are credible, data are scarce or interpretability and predictable failure behaviour are important. Learned models are strongest when training and deployment distributions are aligned and task-specific data are sufficiently representative, while hybrid physical and learned approaches can reduce sample requirements and constrain implausible outputs. Transformers and diffusion models broaden context modelling and generative capability, although their computational cost, dependence on pretraining and uncertain behaviour under distribution shift limit universal claims of superiority. Across applications, benchmark gains frequently exceed improvements demonstrated in prospective or operational settings. Image quality metrics, dataset design and reporting practices often fail to capture clinically, environmentally or industrially consequential errors. The review therefore argues for evaluation that is task-aware, distribution-aware and resource-aware, with uncertainty, fairness, calibration and reproducibility treated as core properties rather than optional add-ons. Future progress is likely to depend less on isolated architectural novelty than on credible image-formation models, representative data, robust adaptation, efficient computation and validation against domain outcomes.

Comparing Core Strengthening Techniques in Badminton: A Critical Narrative Review of Mechanisms, Evidence Quality and Transfer to On-Court Performance

2026-08-03T06:43:23+00:00

Core strengthening occupies a settled place in badminton conditioning practice, yet the training methods gathered under that label differ widely in external loading, surface stability, movement velocity and coordinative complexity. Whether those differences matter for badminton performance remains unresolved, and prescription is frequently justified by appeal to the construct rather than by comparative evidence. This critical narrative review evaluates the strength, consistency and methodological adequacy of the literature bearing on that question, and asks whether the available data support differentiating among core strengthening techniques for badminton players. Peer-reviewed evidence was identified through open scholarly indexes and metadata registries, supplemented by backward and forward citation searching, institutional and journal sources, and checks for corrections and retractions, with the final search conducted on 25 May 2026. Three findings dominate the synthesis. First, general syntheses of trunk and core training in trained athletes report reliable gains in trunk endurance and balance but small, inconsistent transfer to sport-specific outcomes, whereas badminton-specific and racket-sport-specific syntheses report substantially larger effects; the divergence is attributable in large part to differences in control-group design, outcome selection and study quality rather than to genuine sport specificity. Second, direct comparisons among modality families are scarce, and where they exist the contrasts typically confound modality with external load, session duration or coaching attention, so that claims of superiority for unstable-surface, Pilates-based or integrated approaches are not supported by adequately controlled data. Third, the badminton evidence base is small, dominated by short interventions in youth and collegiate players, weakly powered, and marked by at least one retraction, which constrains confidence in pooled estimates. Core strengthening can be recommended as an adjunct that improves trunk endurance, dynamic balance and, in less-trained players, change-of-direction performance, but assertions that any particular technique is superior for badminton exceed the evidence. Priorities include adequately powered comparative trials with load-matched control conditions and badminton-valid outcomes.

Assessment of Sensory Impairments in Cerebral Palsy Following Perinatal Hypoxic-Ischaemic Brain Injury: A Critical Narrative Review

2026-08-05T11:02:06+00:00

Sensory impairment is clinically consequential in cerebral palsy (CP), yet it is often assessed less systematically than motor function. The problem is particularly complex when CP follows neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE), because a single hypoxic-ischaemic insult can affect ocular, auditory, somatosensory and associative networks, while motor, cognitive and communication impairments can obscure the child's true sensory capacity. This critical narrative review evaluates how visual, auditory and somatosensory impairments should be assessed in children and adolescents with CP after documented or strongly supported perinatal HIE. It also examines the evidential limits of attributing CP and later sensory findings to hypoxia-ischaemia. The literature was identified through live searches of biomedical and scholarly sources for publications from 1 January 1990 to 31 May 2026, supplemented by citation searching and targeted inclusion of foundational sources. The synthesis shows that evidence is strongest for visual and hearing outcomes but remains methodologically heterogeneous. Visual assessment requires separation of ocular health, refraction, acuity, contrast, fields and eye movements from cerebral visual processing and real-world functional vision. Hearing assessment requires a cross-check approach that combines cochlear and neural measures, because otoacoustic emissions alone may not detect auditory neuropathy or brainstem dysfunction and early auditory brainstem abnormalities may be transient. Somatosensory assessment is the least standardised domain; tactile registration, localisation, discrimination, stereognosis, joint-position sense and kinesthesia must be tested separately while minimising motor, visual, language and attention demands. Neuroimaging and neurophysiology can clarify mechanisms and resolve discordant findings, but neither substitutes for direct, developmentally appropriate functional assessment. An integrated stepped pathway is proposed, linking perinatal records and lesion pattern to repeated domain-specific testing, response adaptations, activity-level observation and participation consequences. The central conclusion is that no single test or lesion pattern can characterise sensory function after HIE-related CP. Reliable assessment depends on triangulation across modalities, methods, developmental stages and everyday contexts.

Successful Management of Complete Uterine Prolapse Following Abortion in a Non-descript Cow: A Case Report

2026-08-03T10:37:18+00:00

Uterine prolapse is a life-threatening obstetrical emergency in cattle that requires immediate clinical intervention. A non-descript cow with an unknown reproductive history was presented to the IVRI Polyclinic with complete uterine prolapse accompanied by retained fetal membranes, severe uterine oedema, contamination, and localised necrosis. The relatively small caruncles suggested that the prolapse had followed abortion rather than full-term parturition. Clinical examination revealed reduced feed and water intake, mild dehydration, and mild hypocalcaemia, with a serum calcium concentration of 7.9 mg/dL. Following caudal epidural anaesthesia, the retained fetal membranes were removed, the prolapsed uterus was thoroughly cleansed, devitalised tissue was debrided, and uterine lacerations were repaired using No. 1 Vicryl in a cross-mattress pattern. Topical application of 50% dextrose solution reduced uterine oedema and facilitated manual replacement. The cow was maintained in sternal recumbency on two stacked mattresses, with the hindquarters elevated and both hind limbs extended caudally. After complete repositioning, a Buhner’s vulval retention suture was applied. Systemic ceftiofur, meloxicam, chlorpheniramine maleate, dextrose saline, calcium borogluconate, and supportive therapy were administered. The retention suture was removed on day seven, and the cow recovered without recurrence. This case demonstrates that timely replacement, correction of hypocalcaemia, careful tissue management, and appropriate postoperative monitoring can support a favourable clinical outcome.