Middle Level Research Articles

Exploring Gender Equity in Tanzania- A Comprehensive Study on the Need for Inclusive Practices in Selected Major Media Houses in Tanzania

This study investigates gender equity in Tanzanian print media, particularly focusing on women's leadership. Utilizing a qualitative approach with an interpretivist paradigm, the explanatory case study design includes 12 in-depth interviews. The research unveils the impact of Stereotype Theory on employment promotion policies, emphasizing challenges related to family life and child-rearing in career advancement. Challenges in adhering to maternity leave regulations are identified, hindering the balance between family planning and career progression for female journalists. The study highlights subjective performance evaluations, favoritism concerns, and a lack of transparency in promotion policies, contributing to gender inequity. A glass ceiling is noted at middle and senior management levels. Recommendations include implementing supportive structures for working mothers, revising promotion policies for transparency, and fostering a workplace culture that actively promotes inclusivity. The aim is to create a more equitable and inclusive media industry in Tanzania.

Quantitative Research on Gifted/Talented Students’ Critical Thinking Skills

This study aims to determine the level of critical thinking skills among gifted students and investigate whether there is a relationship between their levels of critical thinking and their gender, age, grade level, pre-kindergarten education and parents' educational backgrounds. The study sample of the research consists of 203 students who are enrolled in the Science and Art Center in the central district of Kütahya province, Turkey during the 2021-2022 academic year. As per the findings, gifted female students have higher mean scores in the Critical Thinking Dispositions Scale compared to gifted male students. Also, this study examined the differences in critical thinking levels between gifted students who received pre-kindergarten education and those who did not receive pre-kindergarten education. The results indicate that these differences are statistically insignificant. As another remarkable finding, gifted students whose mothers have a high school or Master’s and above education level have significantly higher levels of critical thinking compared to gifted students whose mothers have a primary school or middle school education level.

Middle Pleistocene teeth from Arbreda Cave (Serinyà, northeastern Iberian Peninsula)

AbstractObjectivesWe report the discovery and description of three human teeth from the Middle Paleolithic archaeological levels of Arbreda Cave (Serinyà, Catalonia, NE Iberian Peninsula).Materials and MethodsThe teeth, two molars (one right dm2 and one right M2) from Level N (older than 120 kyr) and one P3 from Level J (dated between 71 and 44 kyr), were morphologically described based on microCT images and compared with Neanderthal and Homo sapiens specimens.ResultsThe teeth belong to a minimum of three individuals: one adult and one infant from Level N and one juvenile from Level J. The premolar from Mousterian Level J, the best preserved of the three teeth, exhibits characteristics to those from our comparative sample of Homo neanderthalensis, such as the crown measurements, EDJ traits, enamel thickness and volume of the pulp cavity.DiscussionIn contrast to the clear Neanderthal characteristics observed in the P3 from Level J, the high degree of dental wear and poor state of preservation precludes definitive taxonomic designations of the two teeth from Level N. However, the crown dimensions and some tissue proportions are consistent with a probable assignation to Homo neanderthalensis. The teeth from Level N come from a context of long and recurrent occupations of the cave, whereas the archaeological context of the tooth from Level J is indicative of short and seasonal occupations of the cave, which may indicate a change in the lifestyle strategies of the last Neanderthals of the Iberian Peninsula.

Challenges of preanalytical variables in erythrocyte sedimentation rate: a CUBE 30 touch evaluation

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is a widely used diagnostic test, influenced by all physiological and pathological conditions that can bias blood rheology by interfering factors. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of the CUBE 30 touch ESR analyzer in samples with preanalytical variables, as lipemia, hemolysis, and icterus or in presence of fibrinogen., Moreover we focused to define the maximum time limits to ensure a reliable ESR measure. Accuracy, intra-run and inter-run precision, and stability studies were performed. Moreover, hemolytic, jaundiced, lipemic samples and fibrinogen sensitivity were analyzed for interference study. Statistical analyses were performed. CUBE 30 touch and Westergren method comparison showed no statistical differences (Spearman Coefficient, R2=0,95). In the intra-run precision, the CV% mean obtained on samples with normal ESR level was 8,9%; with middle ESR level was 5,9% and with high ESR level the CV% was 4,3%. Inter-run precision test showed CV% of for single samples and overall samples in the range (12,3% for normal level and 4,8% for abnormal level). The samples stored at 4 °C showed good stability up to 3 h from collecting time. ESR samples showing lipemia, hemolysis or jaundice showed good correlations with the gold standard method (R2 0,901, 0,940, 0,911; p < 0,0001), however, Westergren tests were more sensitive than CUBE 30 touch to fibrinogen additions. The high comparability with the Westergren method, both in normal and interfering samples, and the good precision, support the usefulness of CUBE 30 touch in the clinical routine laboratory.

AI MyData: Fostering Middle School Students’ Engagement with Machine Learning through an Ethics-Infused AI Curriculum

As initiatives on artificial intelligence (AI) education in K-12 learning contexts continues to evolve, researchers have developed curricula among other resources to promote AI across grade levels. Yet, there is a need for more effort regarding curriculum, tools, and pedagogy, as well as assessment techniques to popularize AI at the middle school level. Drawing on prior work, we created original curriculum activities with innovative use of existing technology, a new computational teaching tool, and a series of approaches and assessments to evaluate students’ engagement with the learning resources. Our curriculum called AI MyData comprises elements of ML and data science infused with ethical orientation. In this paper, we describe the novel AI curriculum and further discuss how we engaged students in learning and critiquing AI ethical dilemmas. We gathered data from two pilot studies conducted in the Northeast United States, one Artificial Intelligence Afterschool (AIA) program, and one virtual AI summer camp. The AIA program was carried out in a local public school with four middle school students aged 12 to 13; the program consisted of eleven two-hour sessions. The summer camp consisted of two-hour sessions over four consecutive days, with eighteen students aged 12 to 15. We facilitated both pilot programs with hands-on plugged and unplugged activities. The method of capturing data included artifact collection, structured interviews, written assessments, and a pre- to post-questionnaire tapping participants’ dispositions about AI and its societal implication. Participant artifacts, written assessments, survey, observation, and analysis of tasks completed revealed that the children improved in their knowledge of AI. In addition, the AI curriculum units and accompanying approaches developed for this study successfully engaged the participants, even without prior knowledge of related concepts. We also found an indication that introducing ethics of AI to adolescents will help their development as ethically responsive citizens. Our study results also indicate that lessons establishing links with students’ personal lives (e.g., letting students choose personally meaningful datasets) and societal implications using unplugged activities and interactive tools were particularly valuable for promoting AI and the integration of AI in middle school education across the subject domains and settings. Based on these results, we discuss our findings, identify their limitations, and propose future work.

The association between the knowledge, perception, and practice of dietary supplement among Chinese adults

IntroductionRapid growth has been found in the market of dietary supplements (DSs) in China. However, studies about the knowledge level, intentions, and behavior related to DS remained limited in the Chinese population. This study aimed to explore the knowledge level, perception, and practice toward DS among Chinese adults.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional design among 1,714 participants aged between 18 and 65 years. A total of 54.1% of participants reported purchasing supplements in the past 6 months. Knowledge levels were assessed with a score from 1 to 10 based on correct answers to 10 binary questions about supplements.ResultsOnly 29.1% of participants answered seven or more questions correctly, while 7.9% answered three or fewer questions correctly. Participants with high and middle knowledge levels were more likely to seek medical advice when experiencing discomfort symptoms and were less likely to choose DS, with corresponding odd ratios (ORs) of 1.58 (95% CI: 1.16, 2.13) and 0.69 (95% CI: 0.52, 0.91) in high knowledge group and ORs of 1.36 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.80) and 0.96 (95% CI: 0.72, 1.30) in middle knowledge group (Pfor trend = 0.003 and 0.028, respectively). No significant differences were found in the motivation of DS use between knowledge levels. Although higher knowledge levels were associated with less spending on DS (OR high = 0.69; 95% CI: 0.49, 0.99; OR middle = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.64, 1.20; Pfor trend = 0.038), it did not guarantee better and more accurate awareness toward DS use.DiscussionIn conclusion, there is a growing demand for supplements among Chinese adults, but a significant gap between knowledge and behavior exists, affecting decision-making behaviors regarding DS.

Defining vulnerabilities and enabling community engagement in epidemics preparedness: the CAVE model from Austria.

During the COVID-19 outbreak the transdisciplinary research project CAVE (Community Engagement and Vulnerability Assessment in Epidemics) investigated perceptions and practicability of public health communication among stakeholders of care and social facilities in Austria. It aimed at finding accurate definitions of vulnerability in the context of epidemics and at developing operational models for engagement of vulnerable groups in co-creating epidemic response mechanisms. Transdisciplinary methods included semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and desk reviews as well as spatial analysis and composite indicator-based mapping methods. Informants and participants in the community engagement phase represented clients as well as middle and lower management levels of Austrian care and social facilities for older persons and persons with cognitive impairments, persons depending on mobile healthcare services, homeless people, and socially deprived communities. A narrow definition of vulnerability as well as missing strategies for participation and community engagement limited communication with stakeholders and the implementation of protective measures. An inclusive definition of vulnerability beyond medical and physical indicators should be employed to account for social, psychological, and emotional aspects contributing to a higher risk of being affected by epidemics. The CAVE model provides a multi-level definition of vulnerability that allows for participatory engagement in co-creating adapted crisis response measures. We suggest policymakers and health authorities to consider a broader definition of vulnerability and to commit to pro-active engagement with stakeholders representing these sectors. This requires the establishment and maintenance of communication structures as well as political recognition of civic participation in the creation and implementation of epidemic response measures.

Prognostic significance of fibrinogen levels in sepsis-associated acute kidney injury: unveiling a nonlinear relationship and clinical implications

BackgroundFibrinogen plays a pivotal role in the inflammatory cascade and is intricately linked to the pathogenesis of sepsis. Nevertheless, its significance as a prognostic marker for sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI) remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the association between fibrinogen levels and 28-day mortality with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury.MethodThe fibrinogen levels of patients admitted to the intensive care unit of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center between 2008 and 2019 were retrospectively assessed, and those diagnosed with SA-AKI were divided into low, middle and high fibrinogen level groups according to tertiles. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the 28-day mortality risk of the SA-AKI patients.ResultsA total of 3,479 patients with SA-AKI were included in the study. Fibrinogen demonstrated an independent association with 28-day mortality, yielding a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.961 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.923-0.999, P = 0.0471). Notably, a non-linear relationship between fibrinogen levels and 28-day mortality was observed, with the threshold observed at approximately 1.6 g/l. The effect sizes and corresponding CIs below and above this threshold were 0.509 (0.367, 0.707) and 1.011 (0.961, 1.064), respectively. Specifically, the risk of mortality among SA-AKI patients decreased by 49.1% for every 1 g/l increment in fibrinogen, provided that fibrinogen levels were less than 1.6 g/l.ConclusionIn patients with SA-AKI, a non-linear relationship was identified between fibrinogen levels and 28-day mortality. Particularly, when their fibrinogen levels were less than 1.6 g/l, a concomitant decrease in 28-day mortality was observed as fibrinogen levels increased.

The Effect of Forgiveness and Resilience on Anxiety, Depression and Stress in Nursing Students.

Purpose: To examine the effects of forgiveness and resilience on anxiety, depression, and stress in nursing students. Design: Cross-sectional correlational study. Methods: The convinient sample of the study consisted of 383 nursing students. Results: Significant predictors of nursing students' anxiety levels were experiencing an event where they could not forgive themselves or others and resilience. Significant predictors of nursing students' depression levels were gender, income level, experiencing an event where they could not forgive themselves or others, resilience, and self-forgiveness. Significant predictors of nursing students' stress levels were experiencing an event where they could not forgive themselves or others, resilience, and forgiveness of others. Conclusion: An increase in the level of self-forgiveness in nursing students reduced depression symptoms, and an increase in the level of forgiveness of others decreased stress symptoms. An increase in the level of resilience reduced symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. Female gender and a middle level of income reduced symptoms of depression. Interventions that increase forgiveness and resilience should be integrated into the curriculum to reduce nursing students' psychological symptoms in the context of holistic nursing.

Examples of topologically unknotted tori

We show that certain smooth tori with group Z \mathbb {Z} in S 4 S^4 have exteriors with standard equivariant intersection forms, and so are topologically unknotted. These include the turned 1-twist-spun tori in the 4-sphere constructed by Boyle, the union of the genus one Seifert surface of Cochran and Davis that has no slice derivative with a ribbon disc, and tori with precisely four critical points whose middle level set is a 2-component link with vanishing Alexander polynomial. This gives evidence towards the conjecture that all Z \mathbb {Z} -surfaces in S 4 S^4 are topologically unknotted, which is open for genus one and two. It is unclear whether these tori are smoothly unknotted, except for tori with four critical points whose middle level set is a split link. The double cover of S 4 S^4 branched along any of these surfaces is a potentially exotic copy of S 2 × S 2 S^2 \times S^2 , and, in the case of turned twisted tori, we show they cannot be distinguished from S 2 × S 2 S^2 \times S^2 using Seiberg–Witten invariants.

The impact of preceding convection on the development of Medicane Ianos and the sensitivity to sea surface temperature

Abstract. Medicane Ianos in September 2020 was one of the strongest medicanes observed in the last 25 years. It was, like other medicanes, a very intense cyclone evolving from a baroclinic mid-latitude low into a tropical-like cyclone with an axisymmetric warm core. The dynamical elements necessary to improve the predictability of Ianos are explored with the use of simulations with the Met Office Unified Model (MetUM) at 2.2 km grid spacing for five different initialisation times, from 4 to 2 d before Ianos's landfall. Simulations are also performed with the sea surface temperature (SST) uniformly increased and decreased by 2 K from analysis to explore the impact of enhanced and reduced sea surface fluxes on Ianos's evolution. All the simulations with +2 K SST are able to simulate Medicane Ianos, albeit too intensely. The simulations with control SST initialised at the two earliest times fail to capture intense preceding precipitation events at the right locations and the subsequent development of Ianos. Amongst the simulations with −2 K SST, only the one initialised at the latest time develops the medicane. Links between sea surface fluxes and upper-level baroclinic processes are investigated. We find three elements that are important for Ianos's development. First, an area of low-valued potential vorticity (PV), termed a “low-PV bubble”, formed within a trough above where Ianos developed; diabatic heating associated with a preceding precipitation event triggered a balanced divergent flow in the upper levels, which contributed to the creation and maintenance of this low-PV bubble as shown by results from a semi-geostrophic inversion tool. Second, a quasi-geostrophic ascent was forced by middle and upper levels during Ianos's cyclogenesis. It is partially associated with the geostrophic vorticity advection, which is enhanced by the growth and advection of the low-PV bubble. Third, diabatic heating dominated by deep convection formed a vertical PV tower during Ianos's intensification and continued to produce diabatically induced divergent outflow aloft, thus sustaining Ianos’s development. Simulations missing any of these three elements do not develop Medicane Ianos. Our results imply the novel finding that preceding convection was essential for the subsequent development of Ianos, highlighting the importance of the interactions between near-surface small-scale diabatic processes and the upper-level quasi-geostrophic flow. A warmer SST strengthens the processes and thus enables Ianos to be predicted in simulations initiated at the earlier times.

Academic language use in middle school informational writing.

Learning to write the complex academic language (AL) associated with a discipline (like science) is a critical task in education, with middle school being a key developmental period. However, we need more research to guide how we assess students' learning to write AL, especially if we want to create assessment that guides more effective instruction. We evaluated middle school students' informational writing for six different measures of AL to determine which ones were most strongly related to writing quality and were most indicative of the unique features of informational writing. We also examined which metrics were sensitive to growth across middle school. Our sample consists of informational compositions from 285 students in Grade 5 (n = 175) and Grade 8 (n = 110) in a Midwestern state in the United States. Path modelling was used to determine the degree to which the AL metrics are associated with writing quality and narrativity in each grade. Overall, the six measures of AL explained 70% of the variance in students' writing quality. We found that a new measure, number of long words, outperformed other more established measures at the word level and should be used in assessment of informational writing quality. We also found that automated scores at the sentence level better detected development across middle school grade levels than typical rubrics of writing quality. Results provide promising avenues for the assessment of malleable aspects of AL in middle school informational writing.

Middle-Level Teacher Development and Identity: A Review of the Literature

Historically, the field of middle-level education has taken it as a given that teachers of young adolescents should be specially prepared to teach in the middle grades, developing a teacher identity that centers around responding to and advocating for the age group above an identity as a subject area teacher. Defined broadly as teachers’ dynamic conceptualizations of themselves as educators and their related roles, decisions, and actions, teacher professional identity has garnered considerable attention in the research literature as a potential source of leverage in multiple dimensions of schooling, preservice teacher education and in-service teachers’ professional learning, and teachers’ professional lives. Teacher identity at the middle level is ideally grounded in a deep commitment to helping young adolescents realize their power and possibilities. While the literature on teacher identity development is well-established in some educational contexts, studies specifically examining the potentially unique developmental trajectory of teacher identity among middle-level educators remain limited. To address this gap, we conducted a review of the literature to address the question: what does the research say about middle-level teacher development and identity? Our review identified 26 relevant sources on middle-level teacher development and identity, published from 2015 through the first half of 2024, and yielded key ideas within three themes: (a) the development of teacher identity, (b) the intersectionality of teacher identity, and (c) critical consciousness, agency, and teacher identity. This review identifies both progress and gaps in the current literature, recognizes potential future directions for research on middle-level teacher identity, and offers possible implications for preservice and in-service middle-level teacher education.

Students’physical fitness test in the the Faculty of Sport Science and Physical Education, National University of Laos

The purpose of this research was to select the physical fitness test and evaluatestudents’ physical fitness in the Faculty of Sport Science and Physical Education, National University of Laos. The sample group used in this research was 157 students of in the Faculty of Sport Science and Physical Education, 42 of whom were females, by purposive sampling method in total students in the academic year 2022-2023. The approval letter was granted by the Executive Committee of Faculty of Sport Science and Physical Education, National University of Laos The research tools used in the data collection process included questionnaires and statistical tests. The statistics used in the data analysis include: Mean, Standard Deviation. Findings of the study showed as follows 1). The selection results for students’ physical fitness test of students in the Faculty of Sport Science and Physical Education reported a total of 10 male-female test items that were closely related with a value of R = 0.91 to 1. Therefore, all 10 test items were reliable and applicable. 2). From this study, it can be seen that the physical fitness of the male students of the Faculty of Sport Science and Physical Education compared to the total score of the test of 10 items with a total score of 100 points, which could be applied with a very good score of 3.6, equivalent to 26.6 percent at the good level, 55.06 percent at the middle level, 11.38 percent at the weak level and 3.4 percent at the very weak level. The physical fitness of female students in the Faculty of Sport Science and Physical Education compared to the total score of the test of 10 items with a total score of 100 points, which could be applied with a very good score of 1.9, 6.33 percent at the good level, 26.8 percent at the middle level, 63.81 percent at the weak level and 1.13 percent at the very weak level.

The mediating effect of advanced health assessment on the relationship between self-directed learning and clinical thinking among master of nursing specialist postgraduate students: A structural equation model

BackgroundClinical thinking is an important competency among master of nursing specialist (MNS) postgraduate students. Previous studies have demonstrated that self-directed learning (SDL) positively affects clinical thinking among MNS postgraduates. However, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the relationship between SDL and clinical thinking. AimThis study aimed to investigate the status of MNS postgraduates' SDL, advanced health assessment (AHA), and clinical thinking and to explore the mediating effect of AHA on the relationship between SDL and clinical thinking through a structural equation model. DesignCross-sectional study. SettingsParticipants were recruited from 7 universities in Anhui, Hubei, Hebei, and Heilongjiang provinces, China. ParticipantsA convenience sample of 300 MNS postgraduates was recruited from May 2023 to July 2024. MethodsA general information questionnaire, SDL instrument, AHA scale, and clinical thinking scale were used for data collection. Data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS software. ResultsThe levels of SDL, AHA, and clinical thinking among the participants were above the middle level. AHA played a partial mediated role in the relationship between SDL and clinical thinking. ConclusionsThis study provides new insights into the relationship between SDL, AHA, and clinical thinking. The results of this study indicate the effectiveness of developing AHA when conducting SDL to enhance the clinical thinking of MNS postgraduates.

국내 초·중등 인공지능 교육 연구동향 분석:학교급별 비교를 중심으로

Objectives This study analyzes trends in domestic elementary and secondary AI education research, suggesting directions for future studies and providing insights to support further research activities. Methods To investigate research trends in AI education for elementary and secondary schools in South Korea, The literature was searched using RISS by combining nine keywords: ‘AI,’ ‘artificial intelligence,’ ‘chatbot,’ ‘machine learning,’, ‘deep learning’, ‘education,’ ‘class,’ ‘learning,’ and ‘teaching’. After a second screening, we selected 140 documents published from 2019 to March 2023 and analyzed them based on basic, research purposes, meth-ods, and content trends. Results First, the number of publications in domestic AI education research for elementary and secondary schools increased from 2019 to 2021 but decreased by one in 2022, with 21 papers published by March 2023. Second, the study subjects were ranked in order of elementary, middle, and high school levels. Third, the primary research fo-cus for elementary and middle schools was on ‘Development and Application of AI Education Programs,’ while high school research also included ‘Analysis of AI Education Curriculum.’ Fourth, developmental research was the most common method, focusing on AI education programs and teaching models across all levels. Fifth, ‘Other’ and ‘Mathematics’ were the most frequently applied subjects. Sixth, the most common teaching methods in-cluded ‘Other,’ emphasizing experiential learning and practical training. Lastly, the most common dependent vari-ables were ‘Attitudes towards artificial intelligence’ at the elementary level, ‘Academic achievement’ at the middle level, and ‘Other’ at the high school level. Conclusions This study is significant in analyzing trends in AI education research within domestic elementary and secondary schools, thereby shedding light on future research directions.

Packaging optimization model using cost-based behavioral perspective approach in food and beverage industry

The high competition in the food and beverage industry in Indonesia, where packaging has a very important function, with the main function to protect the product, as well as being a factor in attracting consumers' interest in making purchases. Packaging production is dominated by several companies, which when categorized are divided into middle-up manufacturing and middle-low manufacturing. The research is necessary to create an optimal packaging design model by considering the culture and habits of consumer. Capturing customer behavior and costs has a control function. Ethnographic studies are used to explore packaging elements that are important to consumer and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used for data processing. The result provides a conceptual model as well as recommendations for food and beverage manufacturers in terms of the packaging used. Seven elements of packaging that deserve primary attention: design, image, typography, color, size, material and quality. Using habit and cost factors has the control variables, with maximum profit as the objective function. Recommendations for middle-up manufacturing are focused on four packaging elements: design, image, color and quality. It is recommended to maximize strategies for customer retention and improving customer loyalty. Middle-low manufacturing is focused on four packaging elements: color, size, material and quality. It is recommended to maximize strategies to encourage repeat business and boost productivity. The features identified in this research are very possible to be implemented by food and beverage manufacturer, along with recommended strategies. For example, at the middle and low manufacturing level, it is very important to pay attention to product availability in several sizes

Exploring determinants of early marriage among women in Bangladesh: A multilevel analysis.

Early marriage, defined as marriage under the age of 18, is widely recognized as a human rights violation with deleterious consequences on women's health and well-being. It persists as a significant global public health issue, predominantly being practiced in South Asian countries. In Countries like Bangladesh, this practice contributes to an increase in early pregnancies among women of reproductive age, further exacerbating adverse maternal and child health outcomes. While certain predictors of early marriage are recognized, additional investigation is warranted due to diverse socio-economic and demographic circumstances. This study, therefore, aimed to identify the prevalence and determinants of early marriage among women in Bangladesh. This study included a total weighted sample of 18,228 married women aged 18 to 49 years, extracted from the most recent nationally representative Bangladesh Demography and Health Survey (2017-18). We estimated the survey weighted pooled prevalence of early marriage among women and stratified by their different characteristics. We used multilevel mixed-effect binary logistic regression model and estimated the odds ratios (ORs) with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to identify the individual-, household-, and community-level factors associated with early marriage practice. All analyses were performed by Stata software version 18. Overall, 74.27% [95% CI: 73.15, 75.35] women got married before reaching the age of 18 years. Early marriage was more prevalent in Rajshahi (82.69%), Rangpur (81.35%), and Khulna division (79.32%). Women with higher education (OR = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.12), husband's higher education (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.48, 0.67), and non-Muslim women (OR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.40, 0.52) were associated with a lower likelihood of experiencing early marriage. Compared to those household heads aged ≤35 years, the likelihood of early marriage among women was lower for those household heads aged 36-55 years (OR = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.76, 0.93) and >55 years (OR = 0.78, 95% CI: 0.69-0.88). Women aged 18-24 years (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.40), husbands with agricultural occupation (OR = 1.22, 95% CI:1.06, 1.41), middle wealth index level (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.28), family size five or more (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.31), and rural residence (OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.30) were more likely to experience early marriage. This study underscores the alarming prevalence of early marriage among women in Bangladesh, with three-fourths experiencing early marriage, particularly in specific regions. Notably, women education and older household heads were significantly associated with a reduced likelihood of early marriage. Our findings suggest that culturally sensitive interventions should focus on empowering older household heads, alongside initiatives to increase awareness among younger household heads, and enhance education, particularly in rural and impoverished households. These efforts could potentially alter socio-cultural practices and reduce early marriage in Bangladesh.

Analysis of Spatiotemporal Disparities and Spatial Spillover Effect of a Low-Carbon Economy in Chinese Provinces Under Green Technology Innovation

This research, set against the backdrop of rapid global advancements in green technology innovation and aligned with China’s sustainable development strategy, conducts an in-depth analysis of the spatiotemporal disparities and spatial spillover effect of a low-carbon economy in Chinese provinces. Following empirical analysis and data testing, the study draws the following conclusions: (1) China’s low-carbon economy is subject to significant regional differences. Over time, the development level has improved annually, with the number of provinces above the middle level of low-carbon economy rising from 11 in 2010 to 22 in 2022. However, regional differences persist. The eastern region has shown the most significant progress, while the central area encountered its initial challenges first, and the development of the western area has unfolded in a more segmented manner. (2) In this paper, the low-carbon economy in China shows notable characteristics of spatiotemporal agglomeration, with the number of high–high agglomeration provinces rising from four in 2010 to seven in 2022, an increase of 78% year-on-year. The number of provinces and provinces in the low–low agglomeration mode increased from two in 2010 to six in 2022, a year-on-year increase of 200%. (3) China’s low-carbon economy demonstrates notable spatiotemporal evolution. The development process tends to remain stable during transitions, with a high likelihood of sustaining the current state while gradually advancing, avoiding abrupt changes across levels. (4) Innovations in green technology exert a positive influence on the advancement of the low-carbon economy, with a clear spatial spillover effect. In light of these findings, the research offers targeted recommendations for society, enterprises, and government stakeholders.

Knowledge Organization Capability and Competitiveness of Chartered Public Universities in Kenya

Purpose: Knowledge has increasingly become one of the most critical determining factors for organizational competitiveness. In order to acquire and sustain a competitive advantage, it is vital for an organization to develop effective strategies that foster knowledge creation, transfer and integration in the performance of the organization. Knowledge organization refers to activities such as document description, indexing, and classification that provide systems of representation and order for information and knowledge materials. The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between knowledge organization capability and competitiveness of chartered public universities in Kenya. Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive design. The population of the research consisted of 31 chartered public universities authorized to operate in Kenya as at December 2020. The study adopted a census methodology while purposeful and convenient sampling was adopted to select respondents amongst the middle level management staff. The study used both secondary and primary data. A self-administered questionnaire was used as the primary data collection instrument. Out of 155 questionnaires that were sent out, 123 were filled and returned. Statistical Package for Social Studies (SPSS) was used for data analysis. The study used regression model to estimate the level of significance which yielded a positive and significant influence of knowledge organization capability on competitiveness of chartered public universities in Kenya. Findings: The findings indicate that organizational initiatives such as effective knowledge collaboration and utilization, deployment of information technology systems that support knowledge organisation and easy access to information and data contribute to a healthy environment conducive for knowledge management. Owing to the foregoing, the study concluded that knowledge organization capability had a significant positive impact on competitiveness of chartered public universities. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommended that public universities needed to embrace knowledge organization capability in order to obtain sustainable competitive advantage.