Asian Journal of Advanced Research and Reports

Integrating Indigenous Knowledge with Climate Change Engineering for Disaster Risk Reduction in the Niger Delta

Sunny. O. Asomaku — 2026-09-24

The Niger Delta combines recurrent riverine and pluvial flooding, coastal erosion, sea-level rise, wetland degradation, rapid urbanisation and infrastructure deficits with long histories of community adaptation. Disaster risk reduction in this setting is often framed as a choice between formal engineering and Indigenous or local knowledge, yet that binary obscures the different evidential strengths and functions of each. This critical narrative review evaluates how Indigenous and local knowledge can be integrated with climate-adaptation and disaster-risk engineering in the Niger Delta without romanticising local practice or treating engineering models as socially neutral. Literature published principally from 2000 to 17 July 2026 was examined, with earlier foundational work retained where conceptually necessary. The synthesis focuses on flood and coastal risk, resilient settlements and infrastructure, nature-based and hybrid protection, monitoring and early warning, and the governance conditions required for knowledge co-production. Niger Delta studies show that place-based indicators, raised floors, flood-receptor pits, vegetation-based erosion control, livelihood adjustments and social networks can support preparedness and coping, but the evidence is dominated by qualitative and cross-sectional designs and includes examples of maladaptation. Engineering evidence is stronger for hydrological modelling, drainage logic and the physical risk-reduction functions of mangroves and wetlands, although local performance data for hybrid green-grey systems remain sparse. The most defensible integration model is therefore not the uncritical insertion of traditional practices into technical projects, but a co-produced engineering cycle in which community observations shape problem definition and performance criteria, engineering analysis tests safety and future-climate robustness, and joint monitoring supports iterative redesign. The review identifies major needs for field-validated hybrid infrastructure, interoperable community and sensor-based early warning, maintenance-focused evaluation, equitable knowledge governance and longitudinal assessment of distributional outcomes. Integration can improve contextual fit and legitimacy, but only when evidence standards, uncertainty, rights, representation and engineering safety are made explicit.

Survival-Based Modelling of Digital Credit Risk in Commercial Banks

Isaiah N. Barasa — 2026-09-15

The advent of digital credit has made much-needed funds available to a population traditionally regarded as “unbankable”. Both the use of, and demand for, these loans have increased over the past three years and continue to grow. Digital loans are characterised by distinctive features, including rapid disbursement upon request, proxy borrowing, the absence of collateral, inadequate customer identity verification in accordance with business requirements, and unclear purposes for the borrowed funds. These factors, together with the limitations of static conventional risk models, necessitate the adoption of dynamic approaches capable of capturing the temporal dimension of credit behaviour. This study aimed to model the credit risk of digital loans in commercial banks using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. The model permits the analysis of time to default while simultaneously accounting for the influence of multiple covariates. The study employed a simulated dataset comprising 6,000 digital borrowers to estimate the direction and magnitude of the effects of borrower characteristics and to develop a digital credit risk-scoring model. Synthetic data were used because access to real-world loan records was restricted. The Cox proportional hazards model identified two distinct borrower risk profiles. The high-risk profile comprised young, male, and unemployed borrowers with a low income-to-loan ratio and a high debt-to-income ratio, yielding a linear risk score of 3.0753 and a corresponding hazard ratio of 21.656 relative to the baseline profile. Conversely, the low-risk profile comprised older, female, and formally employed borrowers with a high income-to-loan ratio and a low debt-to-income ratio, yielding a linear risk score of -0.2402 and a hazard ratio of 0.7865. The model demonstrated excellent short-term discriminatory performance, with time-dependent AUC values of 0.867, 0.939, and 0.966 at 15, 30, and 45 days, respectively, whereas Harrell’s concordance index (C-index) of 0.665 indicated moderate overall discrimination between borrowers at high and low risk of default. These findings demonstrate the usefulness of survival analysis for dynamic digital credit-risk assessment and borrower-risk stratification. The findings are particularly useful because they enable banks to estimate the likelihood of default over time, including at the point of loan application, thereby strengthening credit-risk assessment. A limitation of the study was its reliance on simulated data, which may not fully capture the complexities of real-world digital-loan settings. Future research should validate the models using real-world borrower data from financial institutions to improve generalisability and assess operational performance under actual lending conditions.

Breathing Pattern Irregularities in Students with Mild Self-Reported Anxiety During Academic Stress: An Observational Study

Pushpendra K. Yaduvanshi — 2026-09-16

Background: Breathing is an essential physiological process influenced by the respiratory and autonomic nervous systems. Stress and anxiety may alter normal breathing through rapid, shallow, or irregular respiration. Academic pressure is a common stressor among college students and may contribute to mild anxiety and breathing pattern changes.

Objective: To observe breathing pattern irregularities in students with mild self-reported anxiety during periods of academic stress.

Methods: An observational, single-time-point study screened 30 college students. Participants were screened using an STAI-based self-reported anxiety questionnaire. Twenty-one students who screened positive for mild self-reported anxiety completed the BPI assessment and formed the analytic sample, which comprised participants aged 17–23 years. Descriptive statistics, Shapiro–Wilk testing, a one-sample t-test against the scale midpoint of 40, and age–BPI correlation analysis were used.

Results: Among the 21 students with positive screening results for mild anxiety, the mean BPI score was 52.24 ± 6.04/80 (median 49; IQR 48–58; range 46–67). BPI severity was classified as mild in 12 students (57.1%), moderate in 7 (33.3%), and severe in 2 (9.5%). Scores were non-normally distributed (Shapiro–Wilk W = 0.834, p = 0.002), while the mean BPI score was significantly higher than the theoretical midpoint of 40 (t(20) = 9.284, p < 0.001). Age was not significantly correlated with BPI score (r = 0.033, p = 0.887).

Conclusion: The study demonstrated measurable breathing pattern irregularities among students with mild self-reported anxiety during academic stress. The presence of moderate and severe BPI scores despite mild self-reported anxiety highlights the value of objective breathing assessment and supports preventive physiotherapy approaches such as breathing retraining and stress-management strategies.

Assessment of Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and Osibata (Nymphaea lotus) as Natural Coagulants and Pre-Treatment Materials for Water Quality Improvement

Abidat Olayemi Fasasi-Aleshinloye — 2026-09-19

Access to safe drinking water remains a major public-health challenge in developing communities where borehole, hand-dug well, and surface-water sources may require additional treatment before use. This study assessed Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) and Osibata (Nymphaea lotus) leaf powders and extracts as natural coagulation and pre-treatment materials, while also assessing the antibacterial activity of their extracts. Leaves were collected, washed, shade-dried for approximately two weeks, and milled. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts were prepared by 72-hour maceration and evaluated through qualitative phytochemical screening and agar-well diffusion against seven bacterial isolates. Powdered plant materials were evaluated at doses of 0.5 and 1.0 g per 500 mL of borehole, hand-dug well, and surface-water samples using coagulation–flocculation and settling, after which selected physicochemical and microbiological characteristics were assessed. Both plants contained steroids, saponins, carbohydrates, flavonoids, and alkaloids, while anthraquinones were detected only in Osibata. At 150 mg/mL, ethanolic extracts of both plants inhibited four of the seven bacterial isolates (57.1%). Osibata produced the greatest reported hardness reduction, decreasing well-water hardness from 350 to 7.8 mg/L (97.8%). Microbiological calculations based on the reported colony counts showed reductions of 96.3% and 98.2% in well water treated with Osibata and Water Hyacinth, respectively, and 89.7% and 96.7% in surface water, respectively. In contrast, the reported borehole treatments increased microbial counts. Plant addition also increased TDS and TSS and initially increased turbidity before settling, indicating the need for effective downstream solid–liquid separation. Overall, the findings indicate that Water Hyacinth and Osibata have potential as natural coagulation and pre-treatment materials, with Osibata showing particularly strong hardness-reduction performance; however, the materials should not be regarded as stand-alone drinking-water purification or disinfection agents and require validated downstream filtration and disinfection.

Effect of a Structured Physical Therapy Intervention on Perceived Stress among Medical Students: A Quasi-experimental Study

Tammana Narwal — 2026-09-19

Background: Perceived stress is highly prevalent among medical students due to demanding academic workloads, clinical duties, and frequent assessments. Physical therapy (exercise, stretching, breathing, and relaxation techniques) offers an accessible, non-pharmacological approach to stress management, but evidence in medical students remains limited.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-week structured physical therapy intervention on perceived stress among medical students.

Methods: A quasi-experimental, pre-test–post-test controlled study was conducted using convenience sampling. Forty-six students completed the study (Experimental, n=23; Control, n=23). The Experimental group received a supervised programme (3×45–60-min sessions/week for 8 weeks: warm-up, therapeutic exercise, breathing exercises, relaxation); the Control group received no intervention. Perceived stress was measured with the PSS-10 at baseline and post-intervention. Analyses used independent- and paired-samples t-tests and a 2×2 mixed ANOVA, with Cohen's d (α=0.05).

Results: Groups were equivalent at baseline (t(44)=0.51, p=.615). The Experimental group's PSS-10 fell from 25.78±3.46 to 13.39±2.81 (t(22)=12.11, p<.001); the Control group showed no significant change (25.22±4.08 to 24.52±4.50; t(22)=0.52, p=.609). The Group×Time interaction was significant, F(1,44)=48.12, p<.001 (Cohen's d≈−2.05). At post-test, no Experimental participant remained in the Severe category, while Control-group Severe-category membership rose (5→10).

Conclusion: An 8-week structured physical therapy programme was associated with a statistically significant and clinically meaningful reduction in perceived stress among medical students. Given the quasi-experimental design, modest sample, and unusually large effect size, findings warrant confirmation in an adequately powered randomised controlled trial.

Preliminary Study of the Physical and UV–Vis Spectral Characteristics of Aqueous Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC. Extracts at Different Maceration Times

Nya Daniaty Malau — 2026-09-21

Background: Andaliman (Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC.) is a characteristic spice of North Sumatra with diverse bioactive constituents and potential applications in natural-product and material-based research. The characteristics of plant extracts can be influenced by extraction conditions, including solvent type and extraction time. However, information on the physical properties and UV–Vis spectral characteristics of aqueous andaliman extracts obtained at different conventional maceration times remains limited, warranting preliminary systematic investigation.

Aims: To characterise the physical properties and ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectral profile of aqueous andaliman (Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC.) extracts at different maceration times.

Study Design: Experimental laboratory study.

Methodology: Fresh andaliman was dried for 48 hours, ground, and sieved (40–60 mesh). Extraction was performed using 10 g of powder in 100 mL of distilled water, with maceration times of 12, 24, and 48 hours. The evaluated parameters included yields, filtrate volume, organoleptic characteristics, and UV–Vis spectral profiles (200–400 nm).

Results: From 971.76 g of fresh material, 274.67 g of dried material was obtained (28.27% yield), producing 95.03 g of powder (34.59% yield). Filtrate volume increased with longer maceration: 30 mL (12 h), 35 mL (24 h), and 46 mL (48 h), accompanied by colour and aroma changes. Direct UV–Vis measurements showed similar high maximum absorbance values (4.391, 4.397, and 4.395). Because of the high absorbance, a 100-fold dilution was applied; the 12-h extract then exhibited local absorption maxima at 272.00 nm (A = 0.220) and 278.50 nm (A = 0.218). Overall, optical responses remained relatively similar across treatments despite distinct physical and organoleptic changes.

Conclusion: Maceration time affects the physical and organoleptic properties of aqueous andaliman extracts while maintaining similar optical responses. These preliminary findings serve as a baseline for extraction optimisation, green nanoparticle synthesis, and the development of biophysics educational materials.

The Relationship between Hamstring Flexibility, Lumbar Lordosis, and Daily Sitting Time among College Students: An Observational Cross-Sectional Study

Jasleen Kaur Sethi — 2026-09-22

Background: Prolonged daily sitting, characteristic of college life, is associated with adaptive shortening of the posterior musculature — particularly the hamstrings — and may alter lumbar spinal curvature. Understanding the interplay between hamstring flexibility and lumbar lordosis in sedentary young adults is essential for developing evidence-informed preventive physiotherapy strategies.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between hamstring flexibility, lumbar lordosis, and daily sitting time among college students aged 18–25 years.

Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among 50 college students using convenience sampling. Hamstring flexibility was assessed bilaterally using the Straight Leg Raise (SLR) test. SLR values were classified as Severe (<45°), Moderate (45–69°), or Normal (≥70°). Lumbar lordosis was assessed in the relaxed standing position using the flexicurve ruler method and categorised as present or absent. The association between hamstring flexibility category and lordosis status was examined using the Chi-square test; between-group comparisons of SLR scores by lordosis status were performed using the Mann–Whitney U test; and bilateral SLR correlation was assessed using Pearson's r. Statistical significance was set at α = 0.05.

Results: Mean bilateral SLR was 54.73° ± 17.37° (range: 30°–90°). The majority of students exhibited reduced hamstring flexibility: 42% Severe, 38% Moderate, and only 20% Normal. Lumbar lordosis was present in 24% of participants (n = 12). Students with lordosis had a marginally lower mean SLR (50.62°) than those without (56.03°), but the difference was not statistically significant (Mann–Whitney U, p = 0.329). Chi-square analysis revealed no significant association between hamstring flexibility category and lordosis status (χ² = 1.14, df = 2, p = 0.565). Bilateral SLR measurements were strongly correlated (Pearson r = 0.97, p < 0.0001), confirming measurement consistency.

Conclusion: Reduced hamstring flexibility is highly prevalent among college students, with 80% exhibiting below-normal SLR values. Although a trend towards lower SLR in students with lumbar lordosis was observed, the association was not statistically significant in this sample, likely reflecting the multifactorial nature of lumbar curvature changes. The high burden of hamstring tightness in this population underscores the need for campus-based physiotherapy screening and targeted flexibility training programmes. Larger studies with quantitative measurements of lordosis are recommended.

Motivation Level and Skills Preparedness of Non-priority Students under the Culinary Technology Program

Gerlie D. Miole — 2026-09-23

This study examined the motivation level and skills preparedness of non-priority students enrolled in the Culinary Technology program at a state university in the northern Philippines during the Academic Year 2025–2026. Specifically, it determined students’ intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, assessed their preparedness in terms of technical, cognitive, and work-related skills, examined the levels of motivation and skills preparedness, identified challenges encountered by the students, and proposed appropriate intervention strategies. A mixed-methods research design was employed, integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches. Quantitative data were gathered through a survey questionnaire, while qualitative data were obtained through semi-structured interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed that non-priority students demonstrated a high level of motivation, with an overall mean of 3.56, indicating strong intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors despite Culinary Technology not being their initial program preference. The respondents also exhibited an acceptable level of skills preparedness (M = 3.10), particularly in basic cooking competencies, food safety knowledge, and readiness to learn new culinary techniques. Qualitative findings confirmed a significant relationship between motivation and skills preparedness, showing that students who possessed strong personal aspirations, interest in the course, and a desire for self-improvement were more prepared to develop and apply culinary skills. The major challenges identified included limited prior cooking experience, insufficient hands-on practice, difficulties in time management and multitasking, and limited opportunities for practice outside the classroom. Based on the findings, the study proposed interventions such as culinary bridging programs, enhanced laboratory activities, peer mentoring, kitchen simulations, and confidence-building initiatives. The study concludes that motivation plays a crucial role in enhancing the skills preparedness of non-priority Culinary Technology students. Supportive learning environments and experiential learning opportunities are essential for developing competent, confident, and industry-ready graduates regardless of admission status.

Food Choices among Generation Z Industrial Technology Students: Perceptions, Awareness, and Preferences for Fast Food and Homemade Foods

Dan Jerome L. Malapira — 2026-09-29

This study aimed to examine the food choices of Generation Z Industrial Technology students, particularly their perceptions, nutritional health awareness, and preferences regarding fast food and home-prepared meals. A descriptive-quantitative research design was employed. The study was conducted among higher education institutions in Northern Philippines during the first semester of Academic Year 2025–2026, from August to December 2025. The study involved 185 Generation Z Industrial Technology students selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a researcher-made 35-item questionnaire measured on a four-point Likert scale. The instrument underwent expert content review and pilot testing with 25 students with similar characteristics. Data were analysed using frequencies, percentages, and mean scores. Respondents reported high perceptions of palatability (M = 2.93) and convenience (M = 2.84), while perceptions of the health benefits of home-prepared meals were very high (M = 3.49). Price and availability were highly influential in food choices (M = 2.93), with fast food perceived as readily available (M = 3.08) and home-prepared meals requiring greater cost and preparation effort (M = 3.15). Factors influencing fast-food preference were also high (M = 2.84), particularly busy schedules (M = 3.05) and peer influence (M = 2.98). Nutritional health awareness was very high (M = 3.41). Despite this awareness, respondents agreed that they still consumed fast food despite knowing its potential health risks (M = 3.01). Health concerns encouraged preference for home-prepared meals (M = 3.40). Generation Z Industrial Technology students demonstrated strong nutritional awareness and generally recognised home-prepared meals as healthier and more naturally satisfying. Nevertheless, food choices were also shaped by convenience, accessibility, time constraints, price, preparation demands, social influences, and taste. The findings suggest that improving students’ food choices requires not only strengthening nutritional awareness but also promoting food environments where healthier options are convenient, affordable, accessible, and appealing.

Bio-Risk Management Competence among Medical Laboratory Workers in Kakamega County, Kenya

C. A. Robin — 2026-09-30

Background: Medical laboratories handle biological materials that may expose personnel to infectious hazards. Effective bio-risk management (BRM), encompassing biosafety and biosecurity, is therefore important for protecting laboratory personnel, patients, and the wider community. Evidence describing staff-level BRM competence in Kenya remains limited.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 35 medical laboratory professionals working in different laboratory sections in Kakamega County, western Kenya. Participants were recruited purposively. A study-specific 20-item BRM assessment was scored from 0 to 3 per item, giving a maximum score of 60. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise overall performance and patterns by gender, educational qualification, and laboratory section.

Results: BRM assessment scores ranged from 9 to 57, with an overall mean of approximately 44 out of 60. Mean scores were similar for male (~44) and female (~43) participants. Qualification-specific data reported for 34 participants showed non-monotonic mean scores across diploma (~45), higher diploma (56; n=1), bachelor's degree (~43), and MSc (~35) categories. Departmental mean scores also varied, with higher values in microbiology (~49), parasitology (~48), and blood banking (50), and lower values in clinical chemistry (~36) and biotechnology (27). These subgroup estimates are descriptive and should be interpreted cautiously because of the small and uneven sample.

Conclusion: BRM competence was heterogeneous among the sampled laboratory personnel. The descriptive findings did not show a consistent gradient in BRM scores across academic qualifications, and subgroup differences cannot establish determinants of competence. Larger studies using representative sampling and validated assessment instruments are needed to confirm these patterns and guide training and policy decisions.