Peer-reviewed international research papers published open-access with EOI assignment and global indexing across engineering, computer science, environmental science, social sciences, and more.
Effects of Metacognitive Instructional Approaches on Academic Achievement
Among Grade 9 Chemistry Learners in Public Junior Schools, Imenti South
Sub-County, Kenya
Wilfred Gitonga Njue
ABSTRACT
Academic achievement remains a central goal of education, yet many Public Junior schools in Kenya
continue to rely on conventional, teacher-centered approaches that limit learners' higher-order thinking and
performance, particularly in abstract chemistry concepts such as atomic structure. This study examined the
effects of Metacognitive Instructional Approaches (MIAs) — self-monitoring, self-reflection, and self
evaluation — on the academic achievement of Grade 9 learners within Imenti South Sub-County, Meru
County, Kenya.
This study adopted Solomon Four-Group experimental research design. The raw data were collected from
186 Grade 9 learners drawn from the four selected Public Junior schools. The experimental groups were
taught using Metacognitive Instructional Approaches over a period of five weeks, while the control groups
were taught using the conventional instructional approach. The impact of the Metacognitive Instructional
Approaches on academic achievement was evaluated using the Students’ Achievement Test (SAT)
(Cronbach’s alpha = 0.846), which was administered as a pretest and posttest. The collected data were
analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and one-way ANOVA in SPSS version 30.0.
The pretest scores for both the experimental (average = 21.38) and the control (average = 29.25) groups
were low compared to the posttest scores following the implementation of MIAs. There was a marginal
increase in the experimental group's posttest average score, with a maximum gain of 30.45 points, whereas
the control group's posttest average score showed no significant change. The independent t-tests confirmed
statistically significant differences (p<0.05), and one-way ANOVA revealed a significant difference among
the four groups, F(3,182)=29.74, p<0.05, leading to rejection of the null hypothesis.
The study concludes that MIAs significantly enhance learners’ academic achievement by strengthening
conceptual understanding, retention, and application of knowledge, and recommends their integration into
Competency-Based chemistry instruction in Public Junior schools.
Keywords: Metacognitive Instructional Approaches, Academic Achievement, Competency-Based
Education, Chemistry Education, Grade 9 Learners
RESUME
Cette étude se penche sur la façon dont la REGIDESO comptabilise ses charges de personnel, et sur leur conformité aux normes comptables, qu’elles soient nationales ou internationales. Ces charges, salaires, indemnités et cotisations sociales, pèsent lourd dans les dépenses de l’entreprise. L'article met en lumière ce qui sépare le SYSCOHADA des normes IAS 19 et IPSAS 39, en particulier sur la reconnaissance des engagements sociaux à long terme. Les auteurs constatent que les pratiques comptables des entreprises publiques africaines restent souvent loin des standards internationaux.
L’approche retenue est mixte : analyse documentaire, données financières et enquêtes menées auprès du personnel. Les résultats font apparaître une prédominance masculine dans les effectifs, ainsi qu’une forte concentration des travailleurs dans les catégories d’exécution. La masse salariale de la REGIDESO a beaucoup augmenté, dépassant 222 milliards de CDF en 2024. Les réajustements salariaux et les départs à la retraite expliquent en partie cette hausse. L’analyse montre aussi le poids considérable des charges du personnel sur la performance financière de l’entreprise.
Plusieurs obstacles freinent l’application des normes internationales ; le manque d’expertise actuarielle, des systèmes d’information insuffisants, de faibles capacités institutionnelles. À cela s’ajoutent des facteurs culturels et politiques qui limitent la transparence financière. La comptabilisation des charges du personnel est un enjeu stratégique, tant pour la gouvernance que pour la performance.
Mots clés : charges, personnelles et comptabilité
Le présent article propose une analyse ethnolittéraire des chants des jumeaux chez les Likile du Territoire de Basoko, en République Démocratique du Congo. A travers une double approche : rituelle et stylistique, il met en évidence la richesse symbolique et poétique de ce patrimoine oral. Sur le plan rituel, les chants des jumeaux apparaissent comme des instruments de sacralisation et de protection, inscrits dans une cosmologie où la gémellité est perçue comme une force ambivalente : à la fois bénédiction et puissance à canaliser. Ils jouent un rôle essentiel dans la cohésion communautaire et la transmission des valeurs ancestrales. Du point de vue stylistique, l’analyse de 23 chansons de notre corpus révèle une poétique fondée sur neuf (9) figures de style. Il s’agit de : la personnification, la métaphore, la répétition, l’anaphore, l’épiphore, le refrain, l’onomatopée, l’ironie, le sous-entendu. Ces figures de style sont renforcées par la performance orale et musicale. Les chants ne sont pas seulement des paroles rituelles : ils constituent de véritables œuvres esthétiques, où l’oralité et la participation collective donnent vie à une vision du monde. En somme, l’analyse comparative de ces deux axes montre que les chants des jumeaux chez les Likile articulent sacré et esthétique, rituel et oralité, pour constituer un patrimoine immatériel spécifique. Cet article contribue à la reconnaissance de la littérature orale africaine, en générale, et congolaise, en particulier, comme une discipline scientifique et souligne l’importance de sa sauvegarde face aux mutations sociales contemporaines.
Cet article analyse les chants des jumeaux chez les Likile du Territoire de Basoko, en République Démocratique du Congo (RDC), en mettant en exergue leur dimension ethnologique et cosmologique. A travers une approche ethnographique appuyée par les techniques d’observation participative, d’entretien semi-directif, dans la collecte des données (chants des jumeaux), et de l’analyse du contenu, dans le traitement des données, il analyse les différentes fonctions que jouent les chants des jumeaux chez les Likile. Il s’agit de la fonction récréative (principale), la fonction idéologique ou éducative qui assure la transmission des valeurs culturelles et coutumières, des valeurs éducatives et des valeurs spirituelles ou métaphysiques. A partir de ces différentes fonctions, la présente réflexion révèle que le phénomène de gémellité est perçu comme un principe organisateur de l’univers Likile et que les chants exécutés à leur honneur jouent un rôle majeur dans la préservation et la transmission du patrimoine immatériel de ce peuple au fil de temps.
Good corporate governance is key to enhancing organizational performance, competitiveness, accountability and sustainability. Ownership structure is important corporate governance mechanisms that shapes patterns of control, monitoring and direction of corporations to meet strategic goals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of ownership structure on the growth of zero-mile automobile companies in Kenya. The study was based on Agency Theory because it helps understand the relationship between the ownership structure and accountability of managers and performance of the organization. For this purpose, descriptive survey research design was used. The study selected 178 respondents from zero mileage automobile companies in Kenya, the sample of which were 64 respondents using stratified random sampling technique. The self-administered structured questionnaire was used for primary data collection and Cronbach's alpha was used to test the reliability of the research instrument. Descriptive and Inferential Statistics were used to analyze data. The results revealed that ownership structure significantly and positively influenced the growth of the organization (β = 0.271, p < 0.001). The findings indicate that the right ownership ensures good oversight, effective decision making and promotes organizational growth goals. The study concludes that ownership structure is an important component of the corporate governance system in encouraging the development of zero mileage automobile companies in Kenya. The study suggests that the role of ownership is strengthened through the implementation of effective mechanisms of ownership governance, that is promotion of transparent, equitable and well-defined ownership structure, which would improve accountability, effective governance and strategic decision-making.
Cette étude analyse l’influence de la communication financière sur l’image des banques commerciales en République démocratique du Congo, à travers une analyse comparative de Rawbank, Trust Merchant Bank (TMB) et EquityBCDC. Elle part du constat que, dans un environnement bancaire marqué par une concurrence accrue et une importance croissante de la transparence, la communication financière peut contribuer à renforcer la crédibilité et l’image des établissements bancaires. L’étude s’appuie sur la théorie du signal de Spence (1973) et la théorie des parties prenantes de Freeman (1984). Une enquête quantitative a été menée auprès de 300 clients des trois banques. Les données ont été analysées à l’aide de statistiques descriptives, de corrélations de Pearson et d’une régression par les moindres carrés ordinaires (MCO). Les résultats montrent une perception globalement favorable des dimensions étudiées. L’analyse bivariée révèle une corrélation positive et significative entre la communication financière et l’image de la banque (r = 0,3136 ; p < 0,05). Toutefois, après contrôle des variables sociodémographiques et comportementales, le coefficient de la communication financière devient négatif et non significatif (β = −0,0666 ; p = 0,384). L’hypothèse d’un effet positif direct de la communication financière sur l’image bancaire n’est donc pas confirmée. Le modèle est globalement significatif (F = 15,19 ; p < 0,001) et explique 29,46 % de la variation de l’image bancaire. Les tests de validation indiquent l’absence de multicolinéarité préoccupante et d’hétéroscédasticité. L’étude recommande ainsi aux banques d’intégrer la communication financière dans une stratégie globale fondée sur la confiance, la transparence
Management accounting practices (MAPs) are instrumental in strengthening organizational decision-making, improving operational processes, and enhancing financial outcomes. Despite their acknowledged benefits, manufacturing companies in Rwanda, including BRALIRWA Plc, continue to face challenges in the effective adoption and utilization of these practices. This study investigated the effect of management accounting practices—costing, budgeting, and performance evaluation—on the financial performance of BRALIRWA Plc. The study was guided by Agency Theory and Shareholder Wealth Maximization Theory, and adopted a descriptive and correlational research design. A census of 109 permanent professional employees across BRALIRWA Plc's accounting and finance, human resources, procurement, production, sales and marketing, and executive management departments was undertaken. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and documentary review of financial statements. A pilot study confirmed instrument validity (overall Content Validity Index = 0.83) and reliability (overall Cronbach's Alpha = 0.827, with construct-level alphas ranging from 0.709 to 0.919). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression in SPSS at a 0.05 significance level, with financial performance measured through profitability, liquidity, leverage, and capital adequacy ratios (ROA averaging 14.7% and ROE averaging 40.9% over 2022–2024). Costing practices showed a moderate positive correlation with financial performance (r = 0.533, p = 0.000), but their regression effect was not statistically significant in the combined model (B = 0.040, β = 0.066, p = 0.210). Budgeting practices showed a strong positive correlation (r = 0.809, p = 0.000) and a marginally significant regression effect (B = 0.192, β = 0.169, p = 0.052). Performance evaluation practices exhibited the strongest correlation with financial performance (r = 0.889, p = 0.000) and a highly significant regression effect (B = 0.768, β = 0.707, p = 0.000), confirming them as the most influential predictor. The combined model (R = 0.894, R² = 0.800, Adjusted R² = 0.794, F = 140.102, p = 0.000) demonstrated that the three management accounting practices jointly explain 80.0% of the variance in financial performance. The study concludes that strengthening management accounting practices, particularly performance evaluation and budgeting, would enhance profitability and support BRALIRWA Plc's sustainable growth, and recommends expanding the use of modern costing and budgeting techniques, integrating non-financial performance measures, and benchmarking against industry best practices.
Keywords: Management Accounting, Costing Practices, Budgeting Practices, Performance Evaluation, Financial Performance, BRALIRWA Plc, Rwanda.
Dans notre étude, nous analysons l’influence du taux de change sur les investissements directs étrangers en République démocratique du Congo sur la période 1990-2024. Notre objectif est de déterminer dans quelle mesure les variations du taux de change affectent l’attractivité de la RDC auprès des investisseurs étrangers et d’identifier les politiques économiques susceptibles de renforcer cette attractivité.
Pour atteindre cet objectif, nous avons mobilisé le paradigme OLI de Dunning ainsi que plusieurs contributions théoriques et empiriques relatives à la relation entre taux de change et IDE. Nous avons utilisé des données annuelles provenant principalement de la Banque mondiale, complétées par celles du Fonds monétaire international et de la Banque centrale du Congo. Notre analyse économétrique repose sur un modèle ARDL permettant d’identifier les relations de court et de long terme entre les IDE; le taux de change; le PIB et l’inflation.
Nos résultats montrent que le taux de change exerce une influence négative et significative sur les IDE, tandis que le PIB exerce un effet positif. L’inflation influence également négativement les entrées d’IDE. Le test aux bornes confirme l’existence d’une relation de long terme entre les variables, tandis que le coefficient ECM de -0,55 indique une vitesse d’ajustement de 55 % vers l’équilibre.
Nous concluons que la stabilité du taux de change, la maîtrise de l’inflation et la diversification économique constituent des conditions essentielles pour renforcer durablement l’attractivité de notre pays vis-à-vis des investisseurs étrangers.
Hypertension remains a major contributor to the burden of non-communicable diseases globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where awareness, treatment adherence, and healthcare accessibility remain significant challenges. This study assessed the health-seeking behaviour of middle-aged primary hypertensive individuals in Menhyia-South Constituency. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed among 110 respondents diagnosed with primary hypertension. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. The findings revealed that the majority of respondents were females (61.8%) and within the age range of 40–49 years (61.8%). Most respondents (80.9%) were aware that hypertension has different forms or types. Medication adherence among respondents was relatively high; however, adherence to lifestyle modifications such as exercise, dietary changes, smoking cessation, and regular medical check-ups was inconsistent. Factors such as poverty, poor healthcare accessibility, inadequate information, and lack of support systems significantly influenced health-seeking behaviour among respondents. The study concluded that although awareness of hypertension was relatively high among respondents, adherence to healthy lifestyle practices remained inadequate. Strengthening public health education, improving healthcare accessibility, and promoting community-based hypertension interventions may improve hypertension management and reduce complications associated with the disease.
Large language models (LLMs) now solve a majority of university-level mathematics problems, as demonstrated by benchmarks such as U-MATH. Yet solving mathematics and teaching it are not the same capability, and the gap between them remains underexamined. This paper synthesizes recent evidence on LLM mathematical reasoning and on AI-supported mathematics instruction to argue that current evaluation standards centered on answer accuracy are insufficient for judging an AI system's educational value. Three specific gaps are identified: a persistent multimodal reasoning deficit, a tendency of AI tutors toward answer-giving rather than guided reasoning, and evidence that adaptive systems can erode learners' self-regulation over time. We argue that elevating AI standards in mathematics education requires evaluation frameworks that measure pedagogical effect, not only problem-solving accuracy, and we outline a research agenda toward that end.
Digital communication mode has become more popular than traditional one now-a days. Generation Z considers fast-paced communication as widespread way of sharing thoughts and emotions throughout the world. Significant difference between the conventional and the contemporary form of English language is extensively observed on various social media platforms. These differences among lexis, linguistically known as lexical deviations are frequently found in the interactions of Gen Z and Alpha. This study has observed these modern social interactions of the young generations to identify deviations and diversities of language usage. Multiple lexical irregularities: neologism, pictogram, blending, clipping, orthographic alteration, abbreviation, cultural inclusions etc. are found after analyzing the status, posts and comments of these generations in social platforms. The fresher generations prefer to communicate as fast and feasible as possible through immersive and interactive emoji, images, videos, memes, GIFs etc. Their expeditious communication style widely hampers the standard way of communication with senior generations which exposes the linguistic distance between them and carries a new identity in the language of these young generations. As language change is inevitable this study recommends to cope up with these shifts and embrace the deviations as an inclusion in the language.
The prequalification process is essential to select qualified contractors for construction projects. However, construction projects in Oman and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) often encounter problems when using traditional prequalification procedures such as subjective evaluation of contractors; insufficient assessment of contractor capabilities; inadequate documentation; lack of transparency; and ineffective decision-making (Hatush and Skitmore 1997a). El-Sawalhi et al. (2007) found that all of these issues may lead to delays, increased costs, lower-quality work, and/or dispute resolution.
The real estate sector is a significant driver of economic growth. Accurately predicting real estate prices and segmenting the market is crucial for various stakeholders, including buyers, sellers, and policymakers. In this study, we assessed different machine learning predictive models for real estate prices and utilized clustering techniques to segment the market. We employed the Ames Housing dataset from Kaggle, which contains 81 variables describing residential homes in Ames, Iowa. We applied machine linear regression, decision trees, random forests, gradient boosting, and ridge regression. Our findings demonstrated that the gradient boosting and linear regression models performed well, achieving R-squared values of 0.84 and 0.83, respectively. We also applied the same algorithms to a dataset of 241 properties from Kigali and the surrounding areas. Our results revealed that gradient boosting and linear regression models performed best, with R-squared values of 0.83 and 0.85, respectively. This highlights the performance of these two machine-learning techniques for real estate price prediction. Additionally, clustering methods, K-means and agglomerative were used for market segmentation. The clustering analysis identified two market segments: a high-end segment with extensive amenities in desirable neighborhoods and a basic segment with fewer amenities in less desirable locations.
Keywords: Prediction, Housing Price, Machine Learning, Clustering.
Employees performance in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) depots often suffers due to poor interpersonal relations, stress mismanagement, and weak adaptability, raising concerns about the role of emotional intelligence in sustaining productivity. This study therefore, anchored on the Ability Model of Emotional Intelligence, investigated the effect of self-emotion appraisal, others' emotion appraisal, and emotion regulation on employees' performance in selected FMCG depots. The study adopted a survey research design with a population of 278 employees drawn from Nigerian Breweries Plc Depot and Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc Depot, Ilorin. Using Krejcie and Morgan's sampling table, a sample of 159 respondents was determined, which was increased to 175 to account for non-response. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analysed using standard multiple regression. Findings revealed that self-emotion appraisal, others' emotion appraisal, and emotion regulation each had a significant positive effect on employees' performance. These results imply that employees' ability to understand, manage, and regulate emotions is a critical driver of improved workplace productivity in FMCG depots. The study concludes that enhancing employees' emotional intelligence is essential for sustaining competitive advantage in the FMCG sector. It recommends that companies integrate emotional intelligence training, empathy-driven leadership initiatives, and employee assistance programmes into their human resource management practices.
There has been an increase in the association between the adoption of green human resource management practices and firm performance. There are still issues relating to firm performance in food and beverage manufacturing firms in Kenya because of poor implementation of green human resource management practices. This study explored the effects of green performance appraisal on firm performance. The study was anchored on the Ecocentrism Theory that served as the theoretical base of the study. The study was premised on positivist philosophy and a descriptive correlational research design. It targeted human resource managers of 223 firms that were listed on the Kenya Association of Manufacturers website. A sample size of 143 was calculated using the Yamane formula. Random and purposive sampling techniques were utilized in selecting the firms and human resource managers for the study. Data was collected using structured questionnaires. A pilot study involving 14 human resource managers was carried out to check the reliability of the instruments. The study employed SPSS in the analysis of the data. Analysis involved descriptive statistics, diagnostic tests and inferential analysis. The study used the ordinary least squares method in assessing the relationships among variables. On research findings, it was found that green performance appraisal has a positive influence on firm performance for food and beverages manufacturing firms in Kenya. It concludes that green human resource management practices have an influential role on firm performance in the Kenyan food and beverages manufacturing industry.
Keywords Firm Performance Ecocentrism Green Performance Appraisal GHR Management Practices.
There has been an increase in the association between the adoption of green human resource management practices and firm performance. Despite this, difficulties continue to affect the business performance of food and beverage production companies in Kenya, mainly stemming from an insufficient carrying out of green human resource management methods. This study explored the effects of green compensation on firm performance. The study was anchored on the Ecocentrism Theory. It was premised on positivist philosophy and a descriptive correlational research design. It targeted human resource managers of 223 firms that were listed on the Kenya Association of Manufacturers website. A sample size of 143 was calculated using the Yamane formula. Random and purposive sampling techniques were utilized in selecting the firms and human resource managers for the study. Data was collected using structured questionnaires. A pilot study involving 14 human resource managers was carried out to check the reliability of the instruments. The study employed SPSS in the analysis of the data. Analysis involved descriptive statistics, diagnostic tests and inferential analysis.It used the ordinary least squares method in assessing the relationships among variables. On research findings, it was found that green compensation has a positive influence on firm performance for food and beverages manufacturing firms in Kenya. This study, therefore, concludes that green human resource management practices have an influential role on firm performance in the Kenyan food and beverages manufacturing industry.
Keywords: Firm Performance, Ecocentrism Theory, Green Compensation, Green Human Resource Management Practices.
ABSTRACT
This study examined the influence of leadership skills on organizational performance, with specific focus on the Rwanda Governance Board. The study was guided by four specific objectives: to assess the influence of communication skills, problem-solving skills, adaptability skills, and decision-making skills on organizational performance. The study was conducted among staff of the Rwanda Governance Board located in Kigali City, Gasabo District, covering the period from 2023 to 2025. The study was anchored on Transformational Leadership Theory, Situational Leadership Theory, and Path-Goal Leadership Theory, which explain how leadership competencies influence employee behavior and institutional outcomes. A descriptive quantitative research design was adopted, and data were collected using questionnaires, interviews, and documentary review. Since the target population consisted of 153 staff members, a census approach was used. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) through descriptive and inferential statistics, including multiple regression analysis. Regarding the first objective, the study established that communication skills had a positive and statistically significant influence on organizational performance (β = 0.157, t = 4.460, p < 0.001). For the second objective, the findings revealed that problem-solving skills significantly influenced organizational performance (β = 0.210, t = 5.292, p < 0.001). Concerning the third objective, adaptability skills were found to have a positive and significant effect on performance (β = 0.164, t = 9.785, p < 0.001). For the fourth objective, decision-making skills had the strongest positive influence on organizational performance (β = 0.489, t = 16.962, p < 0.001). The study concluded that communication, problem-solving, adaptability, and decision-making skills are important drivers on the performance of Rwanda Governance Board. The study recommends that the Rwanda Governance Board should strengthen internal communication systems and participatory problem-solving approaches.
Physics and mathematics seem like two separate fields, but a deeper look can show that, in fact, they're really just one field and the same.
This is the subject of the present article.
In previous articles titled How to Generate New Mathematics Parts I, II, III, IV and What Do You Know About Quantum Mechanics Parts I, II, III, IV and What Do You Know About Electromagnetic Theory Parts I, II, III, the author showed that physics and mathematics are two sides of the same coin [2-5, 6-9, 10-12].
The current article is a continuation of the previous articles, as it applies the same traditional approach that has proven successful in integrating physics with mathematics, which is the following universal law in physics:
Energy density curvature U (x,y,z,t) x Space time curvature C (x,y,z,t) = I n,n . . .. . (1*)
Note that equation 1* is the most important equation in physics and applied mathematics in the sense that any rule or theorem that does not agree with it must be incomplete or even wrong and should be refuted.
At the limit we would say that equation 1* is the only equation describing nature.
In fact equation 1* is introduced innovation by the author in 2020 [13,2-12]to describe physics and mathematics in closed control volume bounded with closed surface area which is subject to Dirichlet boundary conditions.
The authors describe equation 1* as the golden equation because it solves all physical and mathematical situations. We can describe the current article as verifying the above statement, leading to the conclusion that equation 1* deserves its name.
In this article, we follow a similar simple and clear technique, where we use Equation 1* to generate the known laws and theories in mathematics, classical physics, and quantum mechanics, as well as in electromagnetic theory, and then we agree that this is a solid answer to the question posed in the title of this article:
It is time to unify physics and mathematics.
The construction industry faces numerous risk management and quality management issues on every type of project. Many of these issues lead to negative impacts on project cost, schedule, safety, and the overall success of the project (Flyvbjerg et al., 2003; Zou et al., 2007). To reduce the potential for negative impacts on project cost, schedule, safety, and overall success, it is important to integrate risk management and quality management practices throughout the life cycle of a project. Integrating risk management and quality management practices into the project life cycle will assist in achieving successful project delivery, reducing construction defects, minimizing rework, and ensuring compliance with regulatory and industry standards (International Organization for Standardization [ISO], 2015, 2018).
Ata ul Munim Shahid is a retired member of Pakistan's civil and foreign service with over three decades of experience in government and international organisations. He served as Ambassador of Pakistan to Algeria, Mali and Mauritania (2019–2021), as Direct
Lahore is described as a city without an air-quality policy. The documentary record differs. Between 2017 and 2025, the Government of Punjab issued a dozen distinct air-quality instruments; the federal cabinet approved a National Clean Air Policy in March 2023; and provincial environmental legislation was amended to permit immediate closure of non-compliant enterprises. Yet pollution remained among the highest recorded globally. This review synthesises peer-reviewed research, inventories, and monitoring records published between 2015 and 2026 to examine why the policy framework produced little improvement and what changed when improvement appeared in late 2025.
Three findings emerge. First, PM2.5 mass measurements understate the hazard. Lahore studies report organic carbon dominating the carbonaceous fraction, environmentally persistent free radicals in fine particles, and redox-active trace metals at concentrations relevant to lifetime cancer risk—hazards not captured by a PM2.5 mass standard. Second, source attribution remains contradictory. The provincial sectoral inventory attributes approximately 83% of city emissions to road transport, whereas modelling informing federal policy assigns transport about 5% of national PM2.5. This discrepancy has been resolved administratively rather than empirically, resulting in enforcement concentrated on politically weak and low-contribution targets. Third, the decline in Lahore’s November 2025 particulate peaks, coinciding with a strong enforcement campaign, provides a partial test of whether implementation, rather than policy design, was the binding constraint. Meteorological confounding prevents causal attribution, but the episode is significant. The review concludes that Lahore’s problem is not policy absence but weak attribution credibility and institutional capacity, requiring an airshed-based governance approach.
ABSTRACT
Background: Wetland-based nature-based solutions support water regulation, biodiversity, climate resilience, and livelihoods, but their performance depends on surrounding social and institutional systems. This study examined degradation drivers in the Akagera Wetland in Kirehe and Ngoma districts of Rwanda.
Methods: A mixed-methods case study combined a survey of 400 respondents, interviews, focus groups, field observation, and satellite-derived vegetation analysis for 2010 and 2020. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, principal component analysis, regression, moderation analysis, one-way analysis of variance, exploratory canonical correspondence analysis, and thematic analysis.
Results: Three components explained 85.05% of variance in 13 driver indicators: socioeconomic (33.06%), biophysical (28.17%), and institutional (23.82%). The regression model explained 90.8% of the variation in perceived degradation. Socioeconomic factors had the largest positive standardized association (beta = .579), followed by biophysical (beta = .410) and institutional factors (beta = .354); governance was negatively associated with degradation (beta = -.499; all p < .001). Governance weakened the institutional-deficiency relationship (interaction beta = -.036, p = .019). Mean degradation did not differ by solution type (p = .447). Spatial and qualitative evidence indicated declining vegetation, grazing pressure, erosion, livelihood dependence, weak enforcement, and limited participation.
Conclusion: Sustaining nature-based solutions requires linked livelihood support, adaptive ecosystem management, enforcement, participatory land-use planning, and community co-management. Because the design was observational, the associations should guide management and longitudinal testing rather than be interpreted as causal effects.
Keywords: Akagera Wetland, governance, nature-based solutions, Rwanda, socioeconomic drivers, wetland degradation
Rapid urbanization is increasingly transforming land systems in developing countries, particularly in secondary cities where demographic growth, infrastructure development, economic activities, and land market pressures interact to accelerate spatial expansion. This study examined the effect of rapid urbanization on land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics in Rusizi City, Rwanda, between 2000 and 2024. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, integrating multi-temporal satellite imagery, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), supervised image classification, change detection, Pearson correlation analysis, simple linear regression, key informant interviews, field observation, and documentary analysis. LULC patterns were assessed for six major classes: built-up area, cropland, forestland, grassland, water bodies, and wetlands. The results demonstrated substantial urban expansion over the study period. Built-up area increased from 13.50 ha in 2000 to 3,847.97 ha in 2024, representing a net increase of 3,834.47 ha or approximately 28,408%. Grassland decreased from 2,976.51 ha to 581.31 ha, representing an 80.5% reduction, while forestland declined from 3,284.24 ha to 1,719.33 ha, representing a 47.6% net loss. Cropland increased substantially between 2000 and 2008 before declining sharply to 1,695.02 ha in 2024. Water bodies showed comparatively limited change, whereas wetland area declined by 55.6%. Built-up expansion was strongly and negatively correlated with cropland (r = −0.78), forestland (r = −0.72), and grassland (r = −0.81). Regression analysis indicated that built-up expansion explained 61% of cropland change, 52% of forestland change, and 66% of grassland change. Key informants identified population growth and migration, cross-border trade, infrastructure development, land market pressures, and weaknesses in enforcement of land-use regulations as important drivers of urban expansion. The findings demonstrate that rapid urbanization has been a major force reshaping the land system of Rusizi City and highlight the need for integrated spatial planning, protection of environmentally sensitive areas, compact urban development, and stronger land-use governance.
Keywords: rapid urbanization; land use and land cover; urban expansion; remote sensing; GIS; secondary cities; Rusizi City; Rwanda
Malignant bone neoplasms, particularly high-grade osteosarcoma, exhibit aggressive, angiogenesis-dependent proliferation. In human clinical oncology, rapid, chaotic osteoid expansion routinely outpaces localized microvascular supply, precipitating severe intratumoral hypoxia. This physiological stress upregulates Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1-alpha (HIF-1α), driving downstream transcription factors responsible for cellular migration, extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, and systemic metastasis. To resolve this therapeutic bottleneck, we leverage Peto’s Paradox by executing a rigorous comparative histomorphometric and molecular-spatial analysis between human osteosarcoma biopsies and the ultra-rapidly expanding fibro-lamellar bone matrix of Late Jurassic Sauropodomorphs (Diplodocus carnegii).
We present a novel structural-mechanical model demonstrating that sauropod skeletal development operated under an evolutionary “angiogenic ceiling” governed by a rigid spatial geometry of primary vascular canals. This structural constraint permitted massive daily biomass deposition while structurally prohibiting the mechanical conditions required for chaotic, leaky microvascular sprouting (ΔPcap minimization). Here, we introduce the Sauropod-Inspired Biomimetic Matrix (SIBM)—a synthetic, electro-responsive hydrogel scaffold that enforces a strict structural layout mimicking ancestral vascular configurations. By imposing these geometric boundaries, the SIBM normalizes microvascular fluid dynamics, optimizes oxygen perfusion (JO2), and chemically halts the hypoxic-metastatic cascade. This platform represents a paradigm-shifting biophysical strategy for localized orthopedic tumor containment.
This study examined the effect of resource mobilization effectiveness on expenditure efficiency among devolved governments in Kenya and assessed the moderating role of the internal audit control environment. The study was anchored on Fiscal Sustainability Theory and supported by Agency, Contingency, and Public Sector Efficiency theories. A positivist philosophy, quantitative approach, and explanatory longitudinal correlational design were adopted. A census of all 47 county governments was conducted using balanced panel data covering six financial years (2019/20-2024/25), yielding 282 county-year observations. Resource mobilization effectiveness was measured through revenue diversification, revenue collection efficiency, revenue sustainability, and revenue adequacy. Expenditure efficiency was estimated using an input-oriented DEA-BCC model and subsequently analysed using a fractional-response Generalized Estimating Equations model. The findings revealed that none of the resource mobilization effectiveness dimensions exerted a statistically significant direct effect on expenditure efficiency. However, the internal audit control environment significantly moderated the relationship. Specifically, the interaction between revenue diversification and the internal audit control environment was negative and significant, while the interaction between revenue adequacy and the internal audit control environment was positive and significant. The four interaction terms were jointly significant, confirming an overall moderating effect. The study concludes that resource mobilization effectiveness alone is insufficient to explain expenditure efficiency in county governments, but its effectiveness depends on the strength of the internal audit control environment. The study recommends strengthening internal audit systems, enhancing accountability mechanisms, diversifying sustainable revenue sources, and aligning revenue mobilization strategies with efficient public expenditure management and service delivery outcomes.
Keywords: Resource Mobilization Effectiveness, Expenditure Efficiency, Internal Audit Control Environment, County Governments, DEA-BCC, Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE), Kenya.
Cette étude analyse la problématique de l’accès aux soins de santé en République démocratique du Congo, avec un intérêt particulier pour le quartier Kingasani, dans la commune de Kimbanseke à Kinshasa. Elle part du constat que, malgré l’importance fondamentale de la santé pour le développement humain et économique, le système sanitaire congolais demeure confronté à de nombreuses difficultés : insuffisance du financement public, faiblesse des infrastructures, manque de personnel qualifié, difficultés d’approvisionnement en médicaments et forte pauvreté des ménages.
L’étude montre que la pauvreté constitue l’un des principaux obstacles à l’accès aux soins. La faiblesse des revenus, le chômage, l’inflation et le coût élevé des prestations médicales contraignent une grande partie de la population à retarder les consultations, à s’endetter, voire à recourir à l’automédication. À Kingasani, le manque de moyens financiers est identifié comme la principale cause de l’inaccessibilité aux soins, cité par 45 % des prestataires interrogés.
Les conséquences sont importantes : complications des maladies (42 %), décès (34 %) et dégradation de l’état de santé (25 %). L’étude recommande notamment de réduire le coût des soins, renforcer le financement et les infrastructures sanitaires, développer les mutuelles de santé et améliorer la gestion publique. Elle souligne enfin que l’amélioration de l’accès aux soins constitue une condition essentielle de la réduction de la pauvreté et du développement économique durable.
Organic amendments are increasingly recognized as sustainable nutrient management strategies for improving soil fertility and reducing dependence on mineral fertilizers, particularly in nutrient-depleted acidic Ferralsols where potato production is constrained.
This study compared the agronomic performance of a locally produced ternary compost prepared from cattle manure, rice straw, and Tithonia diversifolia with conventional cattle manure for potato production under acidic Ferralsol conditions in Burundi. A field experiment was conducted at the Karusi Regional Research Station of the Burundi Institute of Agricultural Sciences (ISABU) using a randomized complete block design with four treatments and three replications (12 experimental plots). Treatments comprised an unfertilized control, cattle manure alone, cattle manure combined with mineral fertilizers, and ternary compost combined with mineral fertilizers. The potato cultivar 'Rutambiro' (Kenya Mpya) was used. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance, and treatment means were separated using Tukey's HSD test at P < 0.05.
Potato yield increased significantly from 1.28 t ha⁻¹ in the control to 6.29 t ha⁻¹ with cattle manure plus mineral fertilizers and 5.52 t ha⁻¹ with ternary compost plus mineral fertilizers. Although cattle manure plus mineral fertilizers produced the highest yield, it was statistically comparable to ternary compost plus mineral fertilizers.
The findings demonstrate that 5 t ha⁻¹ of ternary compost can achieve potato yields comparable to 10 t ha⁻¹ of cattle manure when integrated with mineral fertilizers, highlighting ternary compost as a promising resource-efficient amendment for sustainable potato production in acidic Ferralsols.
Family planning is a vital component of reproductive health that enables individuals and couples to determine the number and spacing of their children. Despite the availability of family planning services across Nigeria, utilisation remains inconsistent due certain factors. The study assessed the awareness and factors influencing utilization of family planning services among women of reproductive age in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, Edo State.
A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted for the study consisting of women of reproductive age between 15-49 years old. Cochran’s formula was used for sample size calculation to arrive at 221 with 211 questionnaires retrieved. A multistage sampling technique was used for selection of the respondents. A structured instrument was used for data collection, and this was analyzed using statistical package of social sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. Hypotheses were tested using Chi square statistics at significant level of 0.05.
Findings revealed a mean age of 30±1. Awareness of availability of family planning services in the health facilities through media exposure and health worker interaction was 99 (46.9%) and 83 (39.3%) are currently using various family planning methods. Factors influencing the se of family planning methods include religion 110 (52.1%, partners’ opposition 115 (54.5%) and cultural beliefs 114 (54.0%). There was no significant association between age and awareness (p=0.799), while a significant association existed between level of education and factors influencing utilization of family planning services (p=0.002).
In conclusion, strengthening health education, partner engagement, and health service quality are essential for improved uptake of family planning services.
ABSTRACT
This article analyzes the renegotiation of the Sicomines partnership between the Democratic Republic of Congo and China, from 2008 to 2024. It examines the extent to which the 2024 amendment corrected the imbalances of the initial agreement and strengthened the DRC’s exercise of permanent sovereignty over its natural resources. The research uses a strategic method complemented by a qualitative, legal-documentary and comparative case study. The results show that the renegotiation achieved a partial rebalancing: increase in the infrastructure envelope to 7 billion USD, revaluation of profit shares and reduction of tax exemptions. However, the maintenance of extraterritorial arbitration, technological dependence and the absence of local processing limit the scope of these gains. The article concludes that the DRC’s permanent sovereignty remains fragile and unfinished, and calls for diversification of partners and strengthening of institutional and legal capacities.
Keywords: Sicomines, permanent sovereignty, renegotiation, DRC, China, mining partnership, public international law.
Abstract
The Sino-Congolese Mines (SICOMINES) partnership is one of the most significant mining cooperation arrangements between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the People's Republic of China. Initially designed around the “infrastructure-for-minerals” model, the 2008 agreement generated increasing concerns regarding contractual balance, transparency, infrastructure implementation and the Congolese State's effective control over its natural resources. The renegotiation resulting in Amendment No. 5, signed in March 2024, notably increased the announced infrastructure investment envelope from USD 3.2 billion to USD 7 billion, modified certain ownership arrangements and strengthened Gécamines' role in marketing part of SICOMINES' production.
This article examines the implications of this renegotiation in light of the principle of permanent sovereignty over natural resources. The study adopts a qualitative methodology combining legal and documentary analysis, examination of contractual instruments and institutional reports, and a review of scholarly literature on Sino-Congolese relations, foreign investment and natural-resource sovereignty.
The findings indicate that the renegotiation constitutes an attempt to rebalance the partnership, but that contractual reform does not automatically translate legal sovereignty into effective economic sovereignty. Such sovereignty depends on contractual transparency, public control over financial flows, institutional capacity, the ability of Gécamines and Congolese public authorities to exercise their prerogatives, and the local processing of mineral resources. The article concludes that the new governance of SICOMINES should promote substantive sovereignty based not only on ownership of natural resources, but also on the DRC's capacity to control their valorization, marketing and distribution of the benefits derived from their exploitation.
Keywords: DRC, SICOMINES, China, permanent sovereignty, natural resources, contractual renegotiation, mining governance, Gécamines.
Abstract
This qualitative phenomenological study examines the psychosocial representations and dynamics of adolescent sexual activity (aged 14 to 19) residing in Block Kalomo, Plateau Boyoma neighborhood (Makiso Commune, Kisangani, Democratic Republic of the Congo). Grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, Deci and Ryan’s Self-Determination Theory, and Moscovici’s Social Representations Theory, our research analyzes the interplay between curiosity, peer normative pressure, and socioeconomic precarity. Based on a sample of 12 adolescents interviewed through semi-structured sessions until theoretical saturation, findings highlight early sexual initiation (average age 14.5 years) largely driven by extrinsic factors: the pursuit of virility and conformity among boys, and transactional sex among girls responding to daily material needs. Furthermore, the family microsystem is characterized by a severe communication deficit, marked by taboos and threats, driving youth toward informal and often erroneous sources of information. Finally, condom barriers combine local stigmatization, unfounded beliefs, and relational tensions. The study outlines multi-level recommendations centered on strengthening family intimate dialogue, establishing "Youth-Friendly" sexual health services, and involving peer educators.
Keywords: Psychosocial representations, Sexual activity, Adolescence, Ecosystemism, Self-Determination Theory.
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