Asian Journal of Advanced Research and Reports

Solvent Dependent Variations in Bioactive Metabolite Extraction from Annona Senegalensis Via Cold Maceration: Qualitative and Quantitative Insights

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigated the extraction efficiency and phytochemical composition of Annona senegalensis extracts obtained using different solvents through qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses. The plant material was extracted using solvents of varying polarity, including n-hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol, methanol and water, and the extracts were screened for the presence and concentration of major phytochemicals. Percentage-yield analysis indicated that ethanol produced the highest extraction yield, followed by ethyl acetate and n-hexane, while methanol and water gave the lowest yields. Solvent polarity plays a crucial role in determining both extraction yield and the phytochemical composition of Annona senegalensis. Qualitative phytochemical screening revealed the presence of several bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, saponins, glycosides, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, terpenoids, anthraquinones and coumarins, although their distribution varied among the solvent extracts. Alkaloids, glycosides and cardiac glycosides were detected in most extracts, while flavonoids, phenols and tannins were absent from the n-hexane extract, indicating the influence of solvent polarity on phytochemical extraction. Phlobatannins were absent from all extracts, whereas terpenoids and anthraquinones occurred depending on the solvent used. Quantitative phytochemical analysis demonstrated significant variation in phytochemical concentrations among the extracts. The aqueous extract exhibited the highest saponin content (3.24 ± 0.13%), whereas the methanol extract contained the highest flavonoid (46.74 ± 0.04 mg QE/g) and tannin contents (35.50 ± 0.12 mg GAE/g). The ethanol extract recorded the highest alkaloid content (14.35 ± 0.20%) and total phenolic content (192.418 ± 0.51 mg GAE/g), suggesting superior extraction of these constituents by ethanol. The findings demonstrated that solvent polarity plays a crucial role in determining both extraction yield and phytochemical composition.

The Correlation between Parental Pressure and Academic Dishonesty

Jemrex Nabiong, Dona Mae Dioya, Gretchen Mundo, Marian Joy Batiancila — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Academic dishonesty is a persistent concern in higher education, and parental pressure may shape students’ likelihood of engaging in dishonest academic practices. Few Philippine studies have quantitatively examined this relationship in provincial higher education settings. This study examined the correlation between parental pressure and academic dishonesty among 311 Filipino undergraduate students at the University of Mindanao Digos College using a quantitative correlational design and purposive sampling. Descriptive statistics established both levels; Spearman’s rank correlation tested the relationship, and regression analysis assessed the predictive contribution of parental pressure. Results showed moderate parental pressure (M = 2.29, SD = 0.85), with Too High Expectations as the most prominent domain (M = 2.49, SD = 0.95), and low academic dishonesty (M = 1.85, SD = 0.71), with plagiarism most frequently reported (M = 1.85, SD = 0.71). Spearman’s rho revealed a statistically significant, moderate positive relationship (ρ = .341, p < .001). Regression analysis was significant (F(3, 307) = 23.31, p < .001, R² = .186), with restriction as the only significant domain predictor (t = 6.32, p < .001). These findings suggest that academic dishonesty is shaped by individual ethical judgement and external psychosocial factors, particularly parental restriction and expectations. The study highlights the value of parent-school collaboration in supportive academic environments that protect students’ well-being and academic integrity.

Preservation and Revitalization of Nahuatl and Tutunakú Languages as Expressions of Indigenous Worldview and Cultural Identity in the Northeastern Sierra of Puebla, Mexico

Sergio Díaz Carranza — Thu, 27 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Aims: This study aims to analyse the institutional strategies implemented by the Northeastern Regional Complex (CRN) of the Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla (BUAP) to preserve and revitalise the Nahuatl and Tutunakú languages and strengthen Indigenous cultural identity within the university community. The study design is a descriptive and evaluative study of an institutional intercultural intervention.

Place and Duration of Study: The Northeastern Regional Complex, BUAP, particularly the Cuetzalan and Ixtepec campuses in the Northeastern Sierra of Puebla, Mexico, between 2023 and 2025.

Methodology: Institutional actions included Nahuatl and Tutunakú language promotion, language courses, music workshops, literary activities, cultural gatherings, bilingual signage, gastronomy, Indigenous worldview activities, and community participation. The perceived impact of these initiatives on cultural identity and commitment to Indigenous language preservation was assessed through a survey administered to 500 members of the university community, who participated through a voluntary-response sampling procedure. The survey data were analysed descriptively using frequencies and percentages to characterise participants’ perceptions of the institutional initiatives.

Results: Of the 500 respondents, 88.8% agreed or totally agreed that preserving Indigenous languages and customs was important, while 87.0% recognised a decline in Indigenous language use. Regarding the institutional initiatives, 70.2% perceived a positive effect on commitment and cultural identity, and 89.2% reported favourable levels of cultural identification. In contrast, perceptions of folklorisation and language-related discrimination were more heterogeneous, revealing areas that require continued institutional attention.

Conclusion: Universities can contribute to Indigenous language revitalisation by recognising languages as living forms of thought, communication, identity, and belonging. Sustainable revitalisation requires continuous institutional commitment, participation of native speakers and communities, and intercultural strategies that avoid reducing Indigenous traditions to folkloric representations

Improving Regulatory Frameworks and Community Engagement for OHSE in Sierra Leone's Mining, Manufacturing, and Construction Sectors

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Sierra Leone's mining, manufacturing, and construction sectors are characterised by chronically weak regulatory enforcement, inadequate safety budgets, and superficial community engagement. These governance failures perpetuate severe occupational health, safety, and environmental (OHSE) risks for workers and communities. Strengthening regulatory frameworks and deepening community participation are widely recognised as essential for sustainable OHSE improvement, yet evidence on the specific barriers and enablers in Sierra Leone's context remains limited.

Objectives: This study aimed to (1) assess the effectiveness of existing regulatory frameworks and mitigation strategies; (2) identify statistical predictors of regulatory collaboration adequacy and effective safety implementation; (3) evaluate the nature and quality of community engagement in OHSE governance; (4) characterise stakeholder priorities for regulatory and community-based improvement; and (5) generate evidence-based policy recommendations for government, industry, and civil society actors.

Methods: A convergent parallel mixed-methods design collected data from 500 participants across seven districts in Sierra Leone via structured surveys, semi-structured key informant interviews (KIIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), and ISO 14001-based environmental checklists. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, logistic regression, Kendall's W concordance, and NVivo thematic coding.

Results: Weak regulatory enforcement was the most frequently identified gap across all sectors (construction: 40%; mining: 35%; manufacturing: 30%). Quarterly regulatory safety audits (Coef. = 2.015, p = 0.003) and industry safety association membership (Coef. = 1.578, p = 0.006) were the strongest predictors of adequate safety resources. Community engagement satisfaction was only moderate across all sectors, and key informants consistently described engagement as tokenistic rather than genuinely participatory. Stakeholders ranked increased safety budget allocation (Mean Rank = 1.48) and mandatory annual safety training (Mean Rank = 1.85) as top priorities.

Conclusion: Sustainable OHSE improvement in Sierra Leone requires a fundamental shift from compliance theatre to genuine participatory governance—combining strengthened regulatory enforcement with authentic, rights-based community engagement and industry accountability.

Evaluation of BMI and Serum Kisspeptin Levels in Female Young Adults Engaging in Regular Exercise

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: Kisspeptin integrates reproductive and metabolic signalling, but its relationship with body mass index (BMI) and regular exercise in apparently healthy young women remains unclear.

Aims: This study aimed to determine the relationship between body mass index (BMI), exercise patterns, and circulating serum kisspeptin concentrations among apparently healthy young female adults aged 18–25 years.

Study Design: This was a cross-sectional analytical study.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted between January and March 2026 among apparently healthy young female adults at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi, Anambra State.

Methodology: Ninety participants comprising 45 physically active females and 45 non-exercising controls were recruited. The physically active participants were female athletes involved in basketball, badminton, and football. They were categorized according to BMI as low, normal, or high and according to exercise frequency as <3 or >3 times per week. Approximately 5 mL of venous blood was collected during the early follicular phase (day 2 or 3) of the menstrual cycle. Serum kisspeptin was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were analyzed using independent-samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and Pearson correlation, with significance set at P < .05.

Results: The physically active group had significantly lower BMI than controls (21.60 ± 2.82 vs. 23.40 ± 4.65 kg/m²; P = .029), but serum kisspeptin did not differ significantly between groups (193.41 ± 14.46 vs. 196.04 ± 10.58 pg/mL; P = .328). Kisspeptin also did not differ across BMI categories (F = 0.436; P = .650) and showed no significant correlation with BMI (r = 0.065; P = .671) or age (r = 0.200; P = .188). However, participants exercising >3 times/week had significantly higher kisspeptin concentrations than those exercising <3 times/week (198.11 ± 12.14 vs. 174.63 ± 3.26 pg/mL; t = -10.225; df = 42.601; P < .001).

Conclusion: Exercise frequency was significantly associated with serum kisspeptin concentrations, whereas BMI and age were not. These findings suggest that exercise frequency may be more closely associated with circulating kisspeptin than BMI among apparently healthy young female adults among African population.

Digital Twin-enabled Simulation-optimization Framework for Autonomous Mobile Robot Logistics in Smart Manufacturing

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Digital twin technology is increasingly used to support the analysis and optimisation of smart manufacturing systems, particularly where flexible intra-plant logistics are required. This study develops a digital twin-enabled simulation-optimisation framework for improving material transportation between assembly and testing stations using Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). A Linear Mathematical Model was formulated to allocate transportation tasks among three AMR types while considering trip demand, payload capacity, travel time, and system constraints. The optimisation problem was solved using the Simplex method, and the resulting logistics configuration was evaluated in a virtual twin environment developed with the DELMIA 3DEXPERIENCE platform. For 30 required trips per shift, the model allocated 12 trips to AMR-1, 10 trips to AMR-2, and 8 trips to AMR-3. The analytical transportation time decreased from 450 minutes under the existing Automatic Electrified Monorail System to 296 minutes under the optimised AMR configuration, corresponding to a 34.2% reduction in cycle time. The model also indicated improvements in average travel time, throughput, path length, and system efficiency under the stated assumptions. The virtual twin was used to visualise routing, congestion, and logistics behaviour within the modelled factory environment. Overall, the framework demonstrates how mathematical optimisation and digital twin simulation can be combined to support comparative evaluation and decision-making for intra-plant logistics before physical implementation.

Effects of Chemical Contaminants in Domestic Water Sources in Buuri-East Sub-County, Meru County, Kenya

Joseph Kathurima Muite, Jane Jemeli Rutto, Ananias Njagi Nkonge — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Domestic water supplies can contain chemical contaminants and heavy metals that may have subtle and not readily apparent health implications. This study aimed to determine the levels of chemicals and heavy metals detected in domestic water sources in Buuri-East Sub-County, Meru County, Kenya, and household awareness of chemical water testing in the sub-county. A cross-sectional design was used. Concentrations of fluoride, chloride, alkalinity, nitrates, phosphates, and six heavy metals (lead, mercury, copper, arsenic, chromium, and cadmium) at 15 water sampling points in three wards (Ruiri/Rwarera, Kibirichia, and Kiirua/Naari) were compared with World Health Organization (WHO) and Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) limits. Household awareness and testing behaviour were assessed in a survey (n = 340). The concentrations of fluoride and nitrate at all tested sites were within WHO/KEBS limits. Chloride concentrations exceeded the limit of 250 mg/l at around 40% of sites; alkalinity concentrations exceeded the limit of 500 mg/l (as CaCO₃) at 40% of sites; and phosphate exceeded the limit of 0.5 mg/l, with the highest prevalence in Ruiri/Rwarera ward. Lead was the only metal found to exceed the WHO limit of 0.01 mg/l, with approximately 40% of sites recording concentrations above this limit; the highest concentration was recorded at Mugwuku-A (0.0402 mg/l), more than four times the WHO limit. Mercury, copper, arsenic, chromium, and cadmium were below the relevant limits in all samples. More than half of the households (63.8%) reported that their water had never been tested for chemicals, and 74.1% did not know whether any community water quality monitoring system existed. The results show a chemical contamination profile skewed towards lead that is not reflected in community awareness or in the ability of local institutions to test for chemical contamination; boiling, the most common household treatment practice, provides no protection against dissolved chemicals.

Role of Social Media Eco-Influencer Marketing on Green Brand Image in Fast Fashion in Sri Lanka: Generational Difference as Moderator

Ranjan Prabath Jayathunga, Vilani Sachitra — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Background: The swift growth of social media has transformed the sphere of sustainability communication, making the concept of eco-influencers (greenfluencers) the most important mediator between companies and their customers.

Aim: The study investigates how social media eco-influencer marketing (SMeIM) strategies, namely nature posts, virtual nature experiences, and nature connection, affect green brand image in Sri Lanka’s fast-fashion sector; determines the moderating impact of generational cohort; and identifies the influence of green brand image on green purchase behaviour.

Design: The study utilised the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM). The sample comprised 450 Sri Lankan social media users who responded to a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Respondents belonged to Generation Z, Millennials, Generation X, and Baby Boomers. The validity and reliability of the constructs were established. The hypotheses were tested using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis, and moderation analysis based on the Hayes PROCESS macro in SPSS.

Result: The findings indicate that the three SMeIM dimensions have a statistically significant positive influence on green brand image, with nature posts being the strongest predictor. The moderation analysis indicates that generational cohort plays a significant moderating role, with a stronger SMeIM-GBI relationship for Generation Z and Generation X. In addition, green brand image has a significant positive impact on green purchase behaviour and explains a relatively high proportion of variation in consumers’ environmentally responsible purchase intentions.

Conclusion: The results confirm the ELM postulate that influence occurs through two routes, namely the central and peripheral routes, in social media marketing. They further highlight the strategic significance of authentic, visual, and nature-inherent eco-influencer content in developing green brand image and encouraging sustainable consumption in the fast-fashion market. Managers should adopt segmented influencer tactics according to generational differences, emphasising authenticity and long-term value congruence rather than false green signals. Future research may use longitudinal designs, behavioural data, examinations of other influencer attributes, and extensions of the framework to other product types and cross-cultural settings.

AI-driven Digital Twin Framework for Predictive Maintenance, Asset Integrity Management, and Energy Optimization in Smart Oil and Gas Industrial Systems

Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Advances in AI, physics-informed modelling, and Digital Twin technologies offer the potential to enhance predictive maintenance, asset-integrity assessment, and energy management within oil and gas processing systems. However, these frameworks are most useful when they are based on a common data source, use a consistent model configuration, and are tested under a defined set of operating conditions. This study presents and evaluates an AI-assisted, physics-informed DT for an integrated crude distillation unit and hydrotreating system based on a 180-day synthetic operating dataset. The framework integrates a bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) network for equipment-anomaly detection and remaining useful life (RUL) estimation, a Physics-Informed Neural Network (PINN) to predict the wall thickness of process piping, and the Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) to optimise energy. During the independent test period, the precision and recall of the BiLSTM were 0.9654 and 0.9941, respectively, with a false-alarm rate of 3.85% and a RUL mean absolute error of 6.24 days. The RMSE and MAE for the independent evaluation period of the wall-thickness were 0.00585 mm and 0.00526 mm, respectively, for the PINN. It was found that a feasible operating condition could be obtained from NSGA-II using a load setpoint of 0.88 and a recycle fraction of 0.02. The Digital Twin strategy reduced simulated electricity consumption by 2.24% and fuel-energy consumption by 2.14%, equivalent to an estimated reduction of 452.67 t CO₂e over the 180-day simulation period when compared to the defined baseline. The results show that predictive maintenance, physics-informed asset-integrity prediction and energy optimisation can be integrated computationally within a single Digital Twin framework in a viable manner. The results do not constitute field validation, as the data are synthetic and the energy and environmental estimates are model-based. Further assessment using plant-specific sensor, maintenance, inspection, and energy-consumption data is needed before industrial implementation.

Phytochemical Screening and In vitro Antimicrobial Evaluation of Rhizome Extracts of Cochlospermum tinctorium perr. ex A. Rich

Aliyu Muhammed, I. Y Chindo, U. F Hassan — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study evaluated the qualitative phytochemical profile and in vitro antimicrobial activity of rhizome extracts of Cochlospermum tinctorium Perr. ex A. Rich. The rhizomes were collected from Bauchi State, Nigeria, authenticated, cleaned, dried, pulverised and extracted successively by cold maceration using solvents of increasing polarity: n-hexane, toluene, diethyl ether and distilled water. Extract recovery from 250 g of powdered rhizome was 3.34 g (1.34%) for n-hexane, 7.63 g (4.08%) for toluene, 3.46 g (1.90%) for diethyl ether and 12.05 g (7.01%) for distilled water. Qualitative phytochemical screening was conducted for alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phenols, glycosides and anthraquinones. Antimicrobial activity was assessed using the agar well diffusion method against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined by broth dilution and subculture methods, respectively. The extracts produced inhibition zones that ranged from 0.00 to 21.50 mm across the tested organisms and concentrations. The toluene extract showed the highest recorded activity, with a 21.50 mm inhibition zone against E. coli at 400 mg/mL, followed by the distilled water extract, which produced an 18.00 mm zone against the same organism at 400 mg/mL. Activity generally increased with concentration. MIC values ranged from 50 to 400 mg/mL, while recorded MBC values ranged from 100 to 400 mg/mL for susceptible organisms. No extract showed an MBC against A. niger. These findings indicate that C. tinctorium rhizome extracts contain phytochemical constituents and exhibit measurable in vitro antimicrobial activity under the conditions of this study.

Integrating Artificial Intelligence and Data Science for Financial Decision-making and Business Performance Optimization

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science are increasingly used to support corporate financial decision-making, yet uncertainty remains regarding how analytical maturity and AI adoption translate into measurable business performance. This study developed and evaluated an integrated decision-support framework using a synthetic dataset of 1,200 enterprise profiles representing six industrial sectors over the period 2019–2025. The analytical design combined Multiple Linear Regression, Support Vector Regression, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting Machine, Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Artificial Neural Networks, Structural Equation Modelling, and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). Model performance was assessed through train-test partitioning, hyperparameter optimisation, cross-validation, robustness testing, sector-specific validation, and sensitivity analysis. XGBoost achieved the strongest predictive performance, explaining 91.4% of the variance in the Business Performance Index (R² = 0.914), with an RMSE of 3.623 and an MAE of 2.541. Structural analysis indicated that the Financial Decision Score mediated the relationship between AI adoption and business performance, with an indirect pathway coefficient of β = 0.218. SHAP analysis identified a nonlinear threshold pattern, with stronger predicted performance effects when the AI Adoption Index exceeded approximately 60 points. The framework remained comparatively stable under noise injection and across industrial sectors. Overall, the findings indicate that business value is associated not simply with AI adoption, but with its systematic integration into financial decision-making processes.

Diagnostic and Prognostic Aspects of Breast Cancer in Young Women at the Thiès Regional Hospital Center, Senegal

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction: Breast cancer in young women represents an emerging public health concern. Its impact is often poorly understood and underestimated.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic and prognostic aspects of breast cancer in women aged 40 years or younger who were treated at the Regional Hospital Center of Thiès.

Patients and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted from January 5, 2017, to June 8, 2023. It included 101 women aged 40 years or younger with histologically confirmed breast cancer who received care at the Regional Hospital Center of Thiès.

Results: The mean age of the patients was 34 years, and the mean delay to consultation was 10.53 months. The disease was predominantly locally advanced: 56.4% of patients had T4 disease, 73.3% had lymph node involvement, and 24.75% had metastases at diagnosis. Invasive ductal carcinoma of no special type was the most frequent histological type, accounting for 96.04% of cases, and SBR grade II was observed in 62.4%. Immunohistochemistry identified luminal B disease in six patients (5.94%) and triple-negative disease in four (3.96%). All patients received chemotherapy; 89.11% received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 7.9% received adjuvant chemotherapy. Surgery was performed in 44 patients (43.56%). Radiotherapy was administered to 14 patients (13.86%), and hormone therapy was indicated for nine patients (8.9%). Thirty patients had died by the end of the study. Overall survival was 65.6% at 3 years and 60.1% at 5 years.

Conclusion: Breast cancer is increasingly prevalent among young women and presents with a more aggressive profile and a poorer prognosis than in older women. Management remains challenging and may be complicated by diagnostic delays, poor therapeutic adherence, and a persistently low survival rate.

From Spirituality to Wellbeing at Work: A Critical Appraisal of Workplace Happiness and Workplace Belongingness as Mediating Mechanisms

V. V. Ramya, M. B. Arun Balakrishnan — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Organisational interest in spirituality at work has grown alongside a parallel concern with employee wellbeing, and a substantial empirical literature now reports positive associations between the two. The mechanisms that connect them remain poorly specified. Two candidate mechanisms recur in recent modelling: workplace happiness, understood as the affective and evaluative quality of working life, and workplace belongingness, understood as the perceived quality of membership within a work community. This article provides a critical narrative review of the conceptual, theoretical and empirical basis for treating these two constructs as mediators of the relationship between workplace spirituality and employee wellbeing. Literature published between January 1995 and 15 June 2026 was identified through multidisciplinary and biomedical scholarly indexes, supplemented by backward and forward citation searching. The review examines definitional stability, competing theoretical accounts, the design quality of the mediation evidence, and the alignment between the claims made and the evidence available. Three findings dominate. Definitional overlap between workplace spirituality, workplace happiness and workplace belongingness is substantial enough that reported mediation may partly reflect shared item content rather than a causal sequence. Evidence for the happiness pathway rests on a small number of studies, most of which are cross-sectional, single-source and geographically concentrated, although two recent two-wave designs offer a modest improvement. Evidence for the belongingness pathway is weaker still, because the spirituality-to-belongingness link is frequently assumed rather than tested, and the single cross-lagged longitudinal study located did not support the prospective belongingness-to-wellbeing effect that mediation models presuppose. Confidence in the proposed mediating architecture is therefore limited, and the practical inference that cultivating spiritual climate will raise wellbeing through happiness or belonging is not yet warranted. Priorities for future work include discriminant validation of the four constructs, intensive longitudinal and experimental designs, multi-source measurement, and deliberate diversification of the empirical base beyond its current concentration.

Identification and Management of Myofascial Trigger Points in Shoulder Pain: A Critical Narrative Review with Particular Reference to the Indian Clinical Context

Himanshu Devki Nandan Sharma, Geetanjali Bhatnagar, Pallav Bhatnagar — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Shoulder pain is a persistent and costly musculoskeletal complaint, and myofascial trigger points have been proposed as one of its principal peripheral contributors. The construct nevertheless remains contested. Palpation-based identification is imperfectly reproducible, instrumented alternatives remain investigational, and treatment trials frequently report short-lived analgesia obtained under conditions of incomplete blinding. These uncertainties acquire additional significance in India, where the occupational profile, the structure of rehabilitation services, patterns of out-of-pocket expenditure and pluralistic care-seeking shape both the presentation and the treatment of shoulder complaints in ways that international evidence does not capture.

This critical narrative review evaluates the strength, coherence and transferability of evidence concerning the identification and management of myofascial trigger points in adults with shoulder pain, with explicit attention to the Indian setting. Literature was retrieved from six openly accessible scholarly sources, supplemented by citation and related-article searching, and appraised for design adequacy, measurement validity, risk of bias and contextual relevance rather than synthesised quantitatively.

Four principal findings emerge. Occurrence estimates for trigger points in shoulder-related disorders are high but rest on small, largely uncontrolled samples with unstandardised case definitions. Diagnostic reproducibility is acceptable for composite features such as symptom recognition and referred sensation, yet poor for the taut band and the local twitch response, which remain the features most often taught. Instrumented measures, including pressure algometry and shear-wave elastography, discriminate trigger points from adjacent tissue at group level but have not been validated as patient-level diagnostic tests. Treatment effects for needling, compression, instrument-assisted mobilisation and electrophysical agents are consistently modest, short in duration and vulnerable to expectation effects, while the few trials designed to isolate a trigger-point-specific contribution have not confirmed one.

Indian evidence is expanding but remains dominated by small single-centre trials in convenience samples, with limited representation of the occupational groups that carry most of the national burden. Priorities include diagnostic accuracy studies against defensible reference standards, adequately powered pragmatic trials embedded in Indian service settings, and economic evaluation reflecting household expenditure.

Global Asymmetries in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Research: A Critical Review of Epidemiological, Diagnostic and Translational Challenges

Himanshi Mahawar, Himanshu Rajeev Sharma, Pritesh Prajapat — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Spinocerebellar ataxias are a genetically heterogeneous group of dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorders in which progressive cerebellar dysfunction is accompanied by variable extracerebellar involvement. Three decades of molecular work have produced an unusually detailed map of causative loci, yet the global picture of the disease group remains distorted by the geography of research itself. This critical narrative review examines how the concentration of cohorts, biobanks, sequencing capacity and clinical trials in a small number of high-income settings shapes what is currently known about occurrence, phenotype, progression and treatment response, and how that concentration constrains the inferences that can defensibly be drawn. Evidence was identified through structured searching of scholarly databases and indexes, supplemented by citation tracking, with the final search conducted on 21 June 2026. The synthesis is organised around five problems: the fragility of prevalence estimation outside a handful of well-characterised populations; the reordering of the nosology after the recognition of intronic repeat expansions and the emergence of late-onset forms that were previously invisible; the persistent distance between mechanistic models derived from rodent and cellular systems and the clinical course observed in patients; the incomplete validation of clinical, fluid, imaging and digital outcome measures across genotypes and populations; and the mismatch between an expanding preclinical therapeutic pipeline and a small number of adequately powered human trials. Convergent findings support genotype-specific progression rates, the prognostic value of neurofilament light chain and regional brain volumes, and the value of rehabilitation, while evidence for symptomatic pharmacology and non-invasive neuromodulation remains inconsistent. Several widely repeated claims, including uniform subtype frequencies and the interchangeability of outcome measures across cohorts, are not supported by the primary data. Priorities include population-representative epidemiological work in underrepresented regions, harmonised and genotype-specific endpoint validation, prospective study of somatic repeat instability, and trial designs that accommodate slowly progressive phenotypes.

Geographical Dimensions of Rural Livelihood Diversification in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India: A Critical Review of Spatial Patterns, Determinants and Policy Implications

Shivendra Pratap Singh, Rishabh Bajpai — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Rural livelihood diversification has become the dominant adjustment mechanism through which agrarian households in the middle Ganga plain reconcile shrinking operational holdings with rising consumption requirements. Eastern Uttar Pradesh contains one of the largest concentrations of small and marginal cultivators anywhere in South Asia, yet the region occupies a marginal position in the scholarly literature that explains why, where and with what consequences rural households move beyond cultivation. This critical review examines the geographical dimensions of that process. It synthesises conceptual work on livelihood portfolios, empirical studies of the rural non-farm economy in Uttar Pradesh and adjoining states, spatial analyses of agricultural development and deprivation, and research on circular migration linking the region to distant labour markets. Evidence was identified through structured searching of open scholarly indexes, supplemented by backward and forward citation tracking, and appraised for design adequacy, spatial resolution and interpretive transparency. Three findings emerge with reasonable confidence. First, diversification in the region is predominantly distress-led and concentrated in casual non-agricultural wage work rather than in accumulative self-employment, a pattern consistent with stagnation in rural manufacturing and with wage differentials between agriculture and other activities. Second, the determinants identified in the literature operate through asset thresholds, educational attainment, caste position and credit access, but their estimated effects vary with the diversification index chosen, with the survey round used and with the agro-ecological setting sampled. Third, the spatial structure of diversification is asserted far more often than it is measured; almost no study models the geography of livelihood portfolios at the district or block level within eastern Uttar Pradesh. Confidence in causal claims about diversification outcomes remains limited by reliance on cross-sectional household surveys, by inconsistent treatment of migration income and by the absence of longitudinal panels in the region. Priorities for future work include construction of geo-referenced household panels, explicit spatial modelling of non-farm access surfaces, and evaluation of livelihood programmes against place-specific rather than state-average benchmarks.

Kinesio Taping and Instrument-assisted Soft Tissue Mobilisation for Patellofemoral Pain in Long-distance Cyclists: A Critical Narrative Review of Mechanism, Comparative Evidence and Transferability

Jyoti Vaishnav, Purnima Vaishnav — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Patellofemoral pain is the most frequently reported load-related knee complaint in endurance cycling, yet the adjunct therapies most often applied to it in cycling clinics have been evaluated almost entirely in other populations. Kinesio taping and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilisation are commonly presented as competing options, the first acting principally through cutaneous afferent input and the second through direct mechanical loading of muscle and fascia. This critical narrative review asks whether the accessible evidence supports a defensible comparative judgement for long-distance cyclists. Literature was identified through open scholarly databases, citation searching and targeted retrieval of methodological and consensus material, appraised for design adequacy, and synthesised thematically around mechanism, effect estimate, outcome domain and transferability. No randomised comparison of the two techniques was identified in cyclists of any competitive level, and no trial of either technique used cycling-specific loading, cadence or endurance outcomes. Pooled estimates for kinesio taping in patellofemoral pain converge on a small and short-lived reduction in reported pain, with inconsistent or null effects on knee function, muscle strength and proprioception, derived from trials of low methodological quality in which blinding remains unresolved. Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilisation shows moderate-certainty pooled reductions in pain across musculoskeletal conditions and more consistent gains in joint range of motion, but its patellofemoral evidence rests on a small number of short trials, and sham-controlled work indicates that a substantial share of the observed benefit is shared with the control condition. The two head-to-head trials located, in neck and low back pain, report no clear advantage of either technique. The apparent contest between these interventions is therefore better described as an unresolved question than as a settled ranking, and the choice between them cannot presently be grounded in cycling-relevant evidence. Research priorities are set out for trials that recruit cyclists, quantify patellofemoral loading during pedalling, standardise application dose, and report outcomes across training cycles rather than single sessions.

Instrument-assisted Soft Tissue Mobilisation and Myofascial Release Applied to the Hamstrings in Cerebral Palsy: A Critical Narrative Review of Mechanistic Claims, Comparative Evidence and the Untested Link to Sitting Balance

Leena Nagda, Ritika Golchha — Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Hamstring shortening and increased passive stiffness are among the most consistently reported musculoskeletal impairments in cerebral palsy, and both are commonly assumed to constrain seated postural alignment and sitting balance. Two soft tissue interventions, instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilisation and myofascial release, are increasingly applied to the hamstrings in paediatric neurorehabilitation on the basis of this assumption, and a comparative literature has begun to accumulate. This critical narrative review examines whether that literature supports comparative claims about sitting balance, and, if it does not, what specifically is missing. Searching of scholarly databases and indexes from January 1997 to 20 June 2026, supplemented by citation tracking and registry checking, identified no controlled study in cerebral palsy that used sitting balance or trunk control as an outcome of either intervention. Direct evidence in cerebral palsy is confined to a small number of short trials and case reports addressing hamstring extensibility, passive range and spasticity ratings, with pilot work reporting no between-group separation. Indirect evidence from non-neurological populations is internally inconsistent: instrument-based application improves stretch tolerance and joint angle more reliably than it alters measured tissue stiffness, and remote fascial-chain application has failed to change hamstring extensibility at all. Head-to-head comparisons in other body regions have repeatedly returned equivalence rather than superiority. The review argues that the field has inherited a three-link causal chain, in which tissue treatment alters extensibility, altered extensibility alters pelvic and trunk mechanics, and altered mechanics improve sitting balance, while testing only the first link. Terminological instability, particularly the use of one intervention label for both a manual technique and a surgical procedure, further obscures synthesis. Research priorities are specified for mechanism-appropriate outcome selection, dose reporting, control conditions and trial design in children classified across the full range of gross motor function.

Communal Conflict and Environmental Degradation in Rural Nigeria: A Critical Review of Institutional Rupture, Landscape Change and Pathways to Environmental Peacebuilding

Godwin Benjamin Favour, Iyenemi, Ibimina Kakulu — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Rural Nigeria has become one of the most intensively studied settings in the global debate on whether environmental change causes violence, yet the scholarship remains divided between accounts that treat degradation and climatic stress as proximate drivers of communal violence and accounts that treat violence as a symptom of collapsed institutional arrangements governing land, mobility and access. This review evaluates that literature critically, with three objectives: to assess the strength and consistency of evidence linking environmental change to communal conflict in rural Nigeria; to examine the reverse pathway through which sustained violence reshapes land use, vegetation and resource governance; and to appraise the empirical basis for environmental peacebuilding proposals now being advanced for the country. Peer-reviewed studies published between 1994 and mid-2026 were identified through general, biomedical and African scholarly indexes, supplemented by citation searching, and were appraised for design adequacy, measurement validity and consistency with independent evidence. Three findings emerge. First, evidence that climatic and ecological stress independently causes communal violence in Nigeria is weaker and more conditional than policy discourse implies; effects appear contingent on tenure arrangements, mobility rules and dispute-resolution capacity. Second, the reverse pathway is comparatively well supported: violence alters cropping decisions, displaces populations, concentrates resource extraction around settlements and produces landscape signals that are readily misread as ecological recovery. Third, environmental peacebuilding proposals rest largely on theoretical mechanisms and case narratives rather than on evaluated interventions, and carry documented risks of exclusion when applied without attention to distributional politics. The dominant weakness of the field is inferential rather than descriptive: conflict-event data, satellite-derived land-cover records and household surveys are rarely integrated at compatible scales, and almost no study establishes the temporal ordering required for causal claims. Progress requires longitudinal, spatially explicit designs that treat institutional arrangements as measured variables rather than background context, and prospective evaluation of governance interventions before further scaling.