The environmental concerns about microplastics are growing among scientists, policymakers, and the public. Plastic particles smaller than 5 mm are known as microplastics, and they come from a variety of primary sources, including personal care products and industrial abrasives. Additionally, they come from secondary sources like the degradation of larger plastics. A growing number of these particles have been found in soil, aquatic systems, and even atmospheric samples, highlighting the urgent n...

Environmental Chemistry 

This paper focuses on the role of classifiers in numeral phrases. Based on a generative syntactic framework, the study examines the functional projections involved in nominal structure. It classifies Mandarin classifiers into count-classifiers and massifiers, analyzing their distribution and interpretive roles. Through comparison of different structural analyses, including left-branching NP, classifier projections, number projections, and the DP hypothesis, the paper argues that classifiers are ...

Linguistics 

Access to clean and safe drinking water remains a major challenge in informal settlements such as Kibera in Nairobi, due to inadequate infrastructure, poor sanitation and reliance on unregulated water sources. This study assessed the prevalence of Escherichia coli (E. coli) contamination in water sources across 12 villages in Kibera and identified associated risk factors. A total of 72 water samples were collected and analyzed using the membrane filtration method. Overall, 29.2% of the samples w...

Microbiology 

Training and competition in hot environments impose significant physiological and psychological burdens on athletes, thereby adversely affecting sports performance and increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses (e.g., heatstroke, exertional heatstroke, and sudden death). To mitigate physiological and psychological stress for university students during summer physical activities, ensure optimal performance, and prevent heat-related pathologies, effective physical cooling measures must be imple...

Sports Science 

The convergence of artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics, and ubiquitous connectivity defines the Digital Intelligence Era, fundamentally restructuring English as a Foreign Language (EFL) pedagogy. This paradigm shift necessitates a corresponding evolution in learners’ metacognitive strategies. This paper investigates the dynamic interplay between digital affordances and metacognitive development in EFL contexts. Synthesizing metacognitive theory with contemporary computer-assisted la...

Linguistics 

Oral cavity lesions range from benign reactive growths to aggressive malignancies. As a result of trauma or irritation, benign tumors like fibrous hyperplasias, mucoceles, and hemangiomas frequently require straightforward treatment. Oral squamous cell carcinoma, on the other hand, is the most prevalent and serious cancer and must be detected early due to its invasive nature. Clinical and histological evaluation is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment planning.

Dentistry 

Background: The prevalence of comorbid pain and anxiety in clinical observations is high, and the number of publications on the elderly has increased in recent years. Nevertheless, few studies have evaluated comorbid pain and anxiety in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The aim of this study was to evaluate pain and anxiety and their behavioural consequences in elderly patients followed at Saint Joseph Hospital (SJH) of Limete. Methods: This is a descripti...

Epidemiology  Geriatrics  Clinical Medicine  Diagnostics 

Meteorological drought poses significant challenges to pastoral households in Kenyan Arid and Semi-Arid Lands, yet remains understudied. This study examined pastoral household coping strategies and their demographic associations in response to meteorological drought in Kirisia watershed, Samburu County. Using purposive sampling, 70 pastoral households were surveyed to identify drought coping strategies and analyze associations with demographic characteristics. Results revealed that relief assist...

Environmental Sciences 

This article interprets and analyzes the extensive use of echo techniques and their artistic implications in Yu Hua’s The Seventh Day. The author draws inspiration from readings of Alex Shearer’s The Great Blue Yonder and Yu Hua’s own work. In their respective novels, Alex Shearer and Yu Hua use thematic correspondences to construct afterlife realms. Shearer creates the Document Desk and The Great Blue Yonder, while Yu Hua introduces the Place Without a Burial Ground a...

Literature 

Ideological and political education (IPE) serves as a crucial pathway for implementing the fundamental mission of moral cultivation and talent development in the new era of education. As a core course for English majors, the Comprehensive English course provides abundant textual resources for IPE integration. This study examines the Unit “Your College Years” through the Production-Oriented Approach (POA) framework, developing an instructional design that encompasses four dimensions: instructiona...

Pedagogy