This article examines the phenomenon of religious authority fragmentation within the context of Muslim liquid society, a social condition in which the boundaries of tradition, institutions, and scholarly hierarchies dissolve under the waves of modernity, globalisation, and the digital revolution. Employing a sociology of religion framework and critical discourse analysis, this study traces how traditional ulama authority undergoes systemic delegitimisation. At the same time, new religious actors such as social media preachers, Muslim influencers, and online communities fill the emerging power vacuum. The researchers gathered data through an in-depth literature study of contemporary Islamic sociology, digital media studies, and cross-national religious phenomena. The findings indicate that authority fragmentation not only produces a legitimacy crisis but also gives rise to a complex epistemic pluralism in which actors with diverse social capital contest, negotiate, and continuously construct religious truth. This study argues that Muslim liquid society is not an outright threat to Islam, but rather a dynamic arena of theological and social negotiation that nonetheless requires institutional recalibration to prevent moral relativism and community polarisation.
This study examines the effect of financial constraints on investment efficiency among listed non-financial firms in Nigeria from 2015 to 2024. Employing an ex post facto panel design, the study analyses the annual reports of 60 non-financial companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group over 10 years, yielding 600 firm-year observations. This study assesses financial constraints using the Kaplan-Zingales (KZ) index. It estimates investment efficiency using a model that distinguishes between efficient investment and under- and over-investment. The analysis employs pooled OLS, fixed effects, random effects, and two-step system GMM estimators, with robustness checks using the SA index, WW index, and alternative investment-efficiency proxies. The findings show that financial constraints significantly impair investment efficiency, predominantly through under-investment rather than over-investment, as the over-investment sub-sample shows no significant impact. Investment efficiency is positively associated with firm size, firm age, profitability, and Tobin's Q, and negatively associated with leverage and sales growth. The KZ index explains substantial cross-firm variation in investment efficiency, and results remain robust to alternative constraint and efficiency measures and endogeneity correction using system GMM. These findings support agency and stakeholder theories of corporate investment behaviour and underscore the need to enhance access to external funding and strengthen corporate governance to mitigate under-investment among Nigerian listed firms.
Organisational change is a pervasive reality in the contemporary banking sector, driven by technological disruption, shifting regulatory landscapes, and intensifying competitive pressures. Sustaining high employee commitment is crucial for ensuring continuity of service quality, safeguarding institutional knowledge, and enabling successful change implementation. This study investigates the impact of employee motivation (intrinsic and extrinsic dimensions), leader-member exchange (LMX) processes, and the emotional intelligence (EI) competencies of organisational leaders on the affective, continuance, and normative dimensions of employee organisational commitment during organisational change in Georgia's private banking sector. The researchers adopt an integrative theoretical framework that draws on Self-Determination Theory, LMX Theory, and the ability-based model of emotional intelligence; employ a quantitative, cross-sectional survey design with internationally validated instruments; and analyse the data using hierarchical regression analysis, one-way ANOVA, and Pearson correlation in IBM SPSS Statistics. The study's novelty resides in its contextual focus on the Georgian banking industry, its integrative theoretical framework, and its applied contribution in generating evidence-based recommendations for banking executives navigating digital transformation and regulatory change. During such transitions, sustaining high levels of employee organisational commitment is not merely desirable but strategically imperative for ensuring continuity of service quality, safeguarding institutional knowledge, and enabling successful change implementation.
Libraries in schools have become widely recognised as key infrastructure in inclusive education; nevertheless, in Nigeria, their potential to serve diverse students remains underdeveloped. The majority of school libraries lack adaptive materials, trained staff, proper facilities, and policies to accommodate students with disabilities or learning needs. The paper explores current inclusive library practices in Nigerian schools and suggests evidence-based approaches to transform school libraries into 21st-century inclusive learning environments. The researchers adopted a mixed-method research design. They administered structured questionnaires to 240 teachers, school librarians, and administrators in 30 purposively selected schools across three geopolitical regions. They also used semi-structured interview guides to interview 24 key informants. More than 75% of schools lacked Braille materials, assistive technologies, or sensory-friendly spaces, and 80% of respondents cited the lack of an inclusive library policy as a significant obstacle. Qualitative results showed that institutional inertia, insufficient training, and long-term underfunding were significant challenges. Policy development, funding, infrastructure, professional training and technology integration are all coordinated activities that should be used to transform Nigerian school libraries into inclusive learning centres.
This research is motivated by the understanding that quality education is the foundation for producing excellent human resources, which ultimately contribute to a nation's progress. Therefore, the quality of education must always be maintained and improved, including through periodic Evaluation of teacher competence. The assessment focuses on four main domains: pedagogical, professional, personality, and social competence. The method used in this research is qualitative, employing a descriptive approach that enables researchers to systematically and in depth describe the factual conditions of teacher competence in the field. The subjects of this study were all Physical Education, Sports, and Health teachers at the senior high school level in Subulussalam City, totalling 14. The researchers designed the evaluation instrument to comprehensively measure these four competencies. The results showed that of 14 teachers, 10 (71.42%) were in the "Very Appropriate" category, indicating that their competence was very good and met or exceeded the expected standards.Furthermore, 3 teachers (21.42%) were included in the "Appropriate" category, indicating that their competence meets the standards but still has room for improvement. Meanwhile, 1 teacher (7.14%) fell into the "Less Appropriate" category, requiring special attention through further guidance or training programs to be carried out by the local government. No teachers were in the "Inappropriate" category. Based on these findings, this study concludes that, overall, the competence of Physical Education, Sports, and Health teachers throughout Subulussalam City is very appropriate with the established competency standards. This study recommends the need for continuous professional development programs to maintain and improve teacher competence evenly, especially for teachers who are still in the less appropriate category.
Technological and social developments in the law of film distribution, especially through Over-The-Top (OTT) services. The legal vacuum leaves the legal function suboptimal in controlling film distribution to maintain national values, and it harms state revenues. Film business actors profit by uploading films to OTT services without paying the censorship fees and taxes they are required to pay. The study uses a normative method with a statute approach, focusing on Challenges and Transformations: Film Distribution Legal Policy in the Digital Economy Era. The Film Censorship Institute faces technological challenges and legal vacuums in censoring content on OTT services. The need for a firm legal policy on OTT censorship arises from the crimes that occur and the state's obligation to uphold moral values. The National Independent Censorship Culture Movement (GNBSM) is an LSF initiative that invites the public to sort shows by age classification. The regulatory vacuum and cross-border differences make it difficult to achieve the goals of film law.
Viral diseases remain a major global public health problem and the need for rapid, sensitive and accurate diagnostic testing. Translational viral diagnostics is based on biomarkers (molecular markers of viral infection, host response, severity and treatment outcome). This review combines the principal types of biomarkers, including pathogen biomarkers (viral nucleic acids, proteins, mutations), host response biomarkers (cytokines and chemokines, immune cell populations, serological markers), and multi-omics biomarkers from transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, epigenetics, and microbiome analysis. The technologies for their detection will be discussed, including PCR, next-generation sequencing, CRISPR-based technologies, immunoassays, biosensors, and Artificial Intelligence (AI), as well as the clinical applications of biomarkers in early detection, severity assessment, therapeutic response, and vaccine response. Progress is still minimal, with biological variability, assay harmonisation, and cost and global access to diagnostics still to be addressed. Researchers and developers will direct the next generation of technologies toward multi-omics integration, point-of-care devices, next-generation CRISPR, amplification-free detection, and AI-driven predictive diagnostics and disease surveillance. The entire shift in biomarker-based diagnostics in clinical management, public health strategy, and preparedness for the emergence of viral diseases is a paradigm shift.
Physical activity and physical health are important components in maintaining and improving the quality of life of older adults, as the natural ageing process often leads to declines in physiological and motor functions, which can affect their ability to perform daily activities. Aerobic physical activity increases heart rate and influences lung vital capacity. Based on this description, it is necessary to conduct research to analyse the physical activity and vital capacity of older adults in a nursing home setting. The method used in this study was a quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional design, with data collected through direct spirometry and questionnaires to assess physical activity using the PASE score. The population in this study consisted of all older adults living in the nursing home. The researchers selected 60 older adults who met the inclusion criteria using a total sampling approach. They collected data using two main methods: spirometry to determine lung vital capacity and questionnaires to assess physical activity using the PASE score. Spirometry measurements included FVC and FEV1, while the PASE questionnaire covered daily activities performed by older adults. The researchers interpreted the results of this analysis to identify lung health conditions and subjects' activity levels. Based on the analysis, they concluded that physical activities performed by older adults in the nursing home—including prayer, Qur'an recitation, physical guidance, social guidance, and skills training—contribute to relatively good lung vital capacity. Spirometry values indicate that the older adults in this group have adequate vital capacity, with an FEV1/FVC ratio within the low-normal range. This study emphasises the importance of physical activity in supporting lung health and improving the quality of life of older adults.
Researchers have widely explored the finance–growth nexus, but they have paid limited attention to the role of corporate bond markets in bank-dominated emerging economies. To address this gap, this study examined the relationship between corporate bond market development and economic growth in Nigeria over the period 1981–2024. The study employed an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model to analyse both the short-run and long-run dynamics. Key indicators of corporate bond market development, including market capitalisation, traded value, bond yields, and the number of deals, were incorporated, with inflation as a control variable. The empirical findings revealed that, in the short run, most corporate bond market indicators exerted insignificant effects on economic growth, except bond yields, which showed a negative, statistically significant relationship with economic growth. In the long run, none of the corporate bond variables significantly influenced economic growth, although a stable long-run relationship existed among the variables. Inflation consistently exerted a negative and significant effect, underscoring the importance of macroeconomic stability for fostering economic performance. The results suggested that Nigeria's corporate bond market remains shallow, illiquid, and weakly integrated into the financial system. The dominance of government securities and structural inefficiencies further constrained its effectiveness as a financing channel. Consequently, the study recommended strengthening regulatory and institutional frameworks to enhance market depth, reducing excessive government borrowing to limit crowding-out effects, and promoting macroeconomic stability to lower borrowing costs.
The construction industry is going through a revolutionary change with the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) powered automation and robotics. This paper examines the current status and prospects of artificial intelligence in construction, with a focus on enhancing safety, operational efficiency, and real-time decision-making. Through a comprehensive study that reviews articles and analyses existing deployments, this study highlights some of the most important technologies, such as autonomous construction vehicles, artificial intelligence (AI)-powered safety tracking systems, predictive maintenance algorithms, and building robotic assistants. The research shows reductions in workplace accidents of up to 35%, efficiency gains of 20-40% in some tasks, and decision-making based on real-time data as real achievements. However, there are still challenges with initial investment costs, workforce adaptation, and regulatory frameworks. The paper then offers recommendations to industry stakeholders for successfully implementing AI-driven solutions amid the identified barriers.
The mental health problems in young adults are really severe in sub-Saharan Africa, but access to the service is extremely limited. One of the core obstacles is stigma towards mental illness, although there is limited empirical evidence to measure its effects in this regard. This is a study that involved examination of the relationships between three types of stigma (public, self, and structural), and access to mental health services among young adults (aged 18-30 years) in sub-Saharan Africa, with consideration to the moderating roles of mental health literacy, social support, socioeconomic status and cultural beliefs. A cross-sectional design, including 405 young adults who were selected using multi-stage cluster sampling among tertiary institutions and workplaces. Likert-scale questionnaires were used to collect data, which were analysed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 29.All instruments showed acceptable-excellent reliability (a = 0.73-0.93). The proportion of prior service use was only 16.5%. The overall types of stigma were significant predictors of decreased access to services (b = -0.28 to -0.58, p < 0.001), with self-stigma being the strongest predictor, accounting for up to 52 percent of the perceived barriers. The effects of stigma were moderated significantly by mental health literacy and social support (b = 0.14 to 0.22, p < 0.05). Socioeconomic status selectively moderated the effect of structural stigma (b = 0.16, p = 0.007). Mental health literacy and social support buffered the effects of stigma, whereas cultural beliefs showed complex, non-significant moderating effects.Sub-Saharan African young adults have low access to mental health services, and self-stigma is the most powerful obstacle. Both enhancing access and combating all types of stigma require the use of multi-level interventions that focus on mental health literacy and social support.
This research offers an extensive review of the security interplay of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Türkiye during the first decades of the 21st century. Although the first decade of the century showed some signs of "multi-dimensional cooperation," the following years have proven that there were fundamental structural tensions. This research examines the development of their relationships from an offensive realism perspective and through the security dilemma theory. The analysis will focus on the conflict-prone regions of the Black Sea, Syria, and the South Caucasus, where a "competitive coexistence" pattern emerges. The special emphasis will be on Russia's revisionism and Türkiye's strategic autonomy as factors that lead to overlapping security zones and resulting confrontations.To fulfil the purpose of this research, it is necessary to consider the theoretical basis for how the balance established at the end of the Cold War gives way to an age of increasing geopolitical tension, with emphasis on the disruptive role of hegemonic aspirations. Methodologically, the paper relies on qualitative analysis of the region's geopolitical dynamics, doctrines, and conflict outcomes, drawing on empirical evidence from naval deployments, treaties, and indicators of energy dependence. It becomes clear that instruments such as the Astana process can be seen as means of managing rivalry rather than of building peace. Moreover, the paper finds that Türkiye's hard power serves as a critical balancing force against Russian dominance after the Second Karabakh War of 2020. The article also argues that energy interdependence creates asymmetric vulnerability and can generate coercive geopolitical leverage.
This article examines the ethical aspects of using artificial intelligence (AI) in the creation and promotion of advertising content, drawing on the campaigns of Coca-Cola and Pepsi. This study aims to analyse the characteristics of the application of generative technologies in marketing communications and to determine their impact on audience perceptions of brands. Contemporary approaches to the ethics of digital technologies, the ethics of advertising personalisation, and the responsible use of data provide the theoretical basis of the study. The study employs content analysis of media materials, comparative analysis of advertising case studies, and synthesis of academic and practical sources. The empirical basis consists of media publications and analytical materials dedicated to the use of AI in the advertising campaigns of global brands.The research findings show that the use of generative AI significantly increases the speed and efficiency of creating advertising content, yet is accompanied by several ethical challenges. These include issues of personal data privacy, risks of manipulative influence through hyper-personalisation, lack of transparency in algorithms, intellectual property issues, and a potential reduction in the emotional expressiveness and creativity of content. A comparison of the Coca-Cola and Pepsi case studies demonstrates two distinct strategic approaches: a technology-driven approach using AI and a traditional storytelling approach emphasising the human factor.The conclusions emphasise that the effectiveness of AI in advertising depends not only on technological capabilities but also on how well ethical principles and audience expectations are taken into account. The practical significance of the study lies in the potential to apply its findings across digital marketing, brand management, and the development of communication strategies. Prospects for further research include assessing the long-term impact of AI on consumer behaviour and developing ethical criteria for AI advertising.
Oral health encompasses the condition of the mouth, teeth, and related facial structures, enabling vital activities such as eating, breathing, and speaking. It also includes psychological and social factors such as self-esteem, overall well-being, and the ability to interact and work without experiencing pain, discomfort, or embarrassment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial effects of an aqueous extract of Syzygium aromaticum (clove) on certain bacteria known to cause dental caries. Among the tested bacteria, Lactobacillus casei showed the greatest sensitivity to the ethanolic clove extract, with inhibition zones ranging from 10 to 20 mm. The aqueous extract, however, showed lower inhibition, ranging from 8 to 14 mm. For Streptococcus mutans, the aqueous extract showed higher antibacterial activity, with inhibition zones of 4-8 mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of both aqueous and ethanolic extracts against Lactobacillus casei was 125 mg/mL. In the case of Streptococcus mutans, the aqueous extract exhibited an MIC of 62.5 mg/mL, whereas the ethanolic extract exhibited an MIC of 250 mg/mL.Regarding minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), the aqueous and ethanolic extracts required concentrations of 250 mg/mL and 500 mg/mL, respectively, to kill Lactobacillus casei. The ethanolic extract also had an MBC of 500 mg/mL against Streptococcus mutans. These results suggest that extracts from Syzygium aromaticum possess significant antibacterial properties, particularly when extracted with water, emphasising their potential as alternative antibacterial agents for oral health.
Law enforcement, in essence, is not simply about how to formally apply legal norms. Based on this thesis, judges must possess sufficient competence to maintain harmony among the values of justice, legal certainty, and expediency. A judge must be adept at navigating these three dimensions of legal objectives. Because of their position, judges must, in effect, be willing and able to row between three coral islands in carrying out their vision and mission; this is certainly easy to say, but not easy to realise. The question now arises: on which island should a judge anchor their boat for a greater and more noble purpose in the context of upholding law and dignified justice? This prophetic-metaphorical expression can stir a judge's inner feelings in response to divine messages.
This research investigated the relationships among employee welfare facilities, employee performance, job satisfaction, and organisational commitment in the Nigerian manufacturing industry. The researchers based the paper on the Functional Theory of Labour Welfare, the Social Exchange Theory, and the Expectancy Theory. They used a survey research design and selected a sample of 195 employees from Cadbury Nigeria PLC in Lagos State. Using a formula, they determined a sample size of 131, and respondents returned 100 completed questionnaires, yielding an 88% response rate. The data were analysed using the Pearson correlation coefficient at the 0.05 significance level in SPSS version 20. Findings showed that there were significant positive relationships between employee welfare facilities and employee performance (r =.843, p <.05), employee welfare facilities and organisational commitment (r =.872, p <.05) and employee welfare facilities and employee job satisfaction (r =.891, p <.05). The research concludes that health insurance, housing, hygienic facilities, transport, rest and lunch rooms and recreational facilities are important in employee welfare measures which lead to a strong positive organisational outcomes. The study suggests that management should establish adequate welfare amenities that meet employees' expectations, ensure workplace safety and health, and maintain an open-door policy to address welfare concerns. Through these initiatives, performance, job satisfaction, and commitment are likely to improve, and organisational revenue is likely to increase.
The research involves Cafe Metamore's Instagram Marketing Communication as a method to improve service and increase customer satisfaction in Kotabumi. The researchers used a descriptive qualitative approach to collect data through observation, interviews, and documentation. This research uses Agenda Setting Theory to examine the extent of social media's influence on the public's perceptions and interest in the business. Based on Instagram observations, promotional tools include photos, videos, Stories, and Reels. Cafe Metamore also monitored Instagram comments and messages to engage with its customers. Google Maps, in addition to Instagram, allows customers to see where the business is located and when it is open, and to leave a review. Integrated Marketing Communication not only improves a company's brand but also enhances its relationships with customers and local markets.
Nigeria's Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) policies require a critical analysis of their evolution and implementation, with a focus on recurrent sticky issues and trajectory restructuring. Following the launch of the first National Science Technology and Innovation Policy (NSTIP) in 1986, subsequent reviews for 1997, 2003, 2012, and 2022 policies have aimed to improve national innovation potential, diversify the economy, and harmonise with global frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union's Agenda 2063. Were these policies well implemented? But what are the sticky issues militating against the adoption and implementation of the most needed NSTIP to the benefit of Nigeria? Can we prioritise the stick issues based on their merits? This policy insight draws the attention of role players in the STI ecosystem to the key issues, ranked in order of priority by key role players during the Sankore Project, Nigeria High-Level STI Ecosystem Validation Workshop. This policy insight embraced a qualitative methodology, drawing on documentary analysis of national policy instruments and comparative case studies, complemented by stakeholder perspectives generated through brainstorming sessions during the Sankore project consultations. This approach enabled the identification of five "sticky issues": weak industry-academia linkages, inadequate innovation funding, policy implementation gaps, fragmented Governance, and talent flight, which continue to constrain Nigeria's STI ecosystem. The paper argues that, at the top of the sticky issues, is the NSTIP policy implementation driven by industry-academia linkages. The policy insight submitted that Nigeria must leverage the Quadruple Helix model to navigate the "sticky issues".
This article examines the issue of determining the number of digital production tools in a teaching laboratory as a key component of its material and technical support. The relevance of this research stems from the widespread use of 3D printers, laser cutters, and CNC machines in educational institutions, and the lack of a well-founded approach to determining the optimal number of these machines for the organisation of a comprehensive educational process. It is emphasised that, in practice, laboratories are often equipped either in accordance with the institution’s budgetary capabilities or on the basis of formal lists of equipment, without proper pedagogical and organisational justification, which can lead to both shortages and surpluses of equipment.The article aims to justify a computational modelling approach for determining the need for digital production resources in a teaching laboratory, taking into account pedagogical and regulatory factors. To achieve this aim, regulatory documents were analysed, scientific publications were comparatively analysed, and theoretical modelling was employed. It has been established that digital production tools have two fundamental characteristics that determine their use in the educational process: autonomous operation after a task is launched and the indivisibility of the operation. In this regard, it is argued that a rotational model of work organisation is unsuitable for such tools, and the basic, pedagogically appropriate ratio should be 2 students per unit of equipment.A two-stage calculation and modelling approach is proposed that involves determining the basic quantity of equipment, accounting for a reserve, and subsequently adjusting it to reflect the actual conditions of the educational process. The approach aims to justify a set of digital production tools that ensure their full utilisation as practical training tools, rather than sporadic or demonstrative use. It is concluded that the proposed approach can serve as a starting point for planning the equipment of educational laboratories.
Infectious disease is becoming an increasingly important environmental issue, particularly in rapidly urbanising LMICs that lack the infrastructure needed to manage these challenges. It is important to map their spatial and temporal interactions for prevention and adaptation. We discuss novel advances in geostatistics and machine learning (ML) designed to map the spatial structure of these factors that influence the spatial pattern of infectious diseases; this includes core geostatistical methods such as kriging, variogram modelling, spatial regression, and autocorrelation analysis, as well as ML models such as random forests, convolutional neural networks (CNNs), and long short-term memory (LSTM) networks. The advantage of multimethod geostatistical-ML approaches over monolithic ones is that they achieve greater accuracy, interpretability, and uncertainty management. Case studies from 2020–2025 demonstrate that remote sensing, hydrologic and infrastructure data can be used to augment cholera, malaria and dengue models. Some of the challenges are data quality assurance, data interpretability, scalability, and privacy issues related to health data. Future priorities should focus on explainable AI, federated learning, and climate-health digital twins, which will help create resilient, secure, and future-proof models applicable globally. Finally, the integration of geostatistics and machine learning is a promising interdisciplinary approach to disease prediction and bolstering population resilience in a rapidly evolving world.
