Weaving tales: the impact of storytelling in tourism guides on cultural immersion

This study investigates the role of storytelling in tourism guides in enhancing tourists’ cultural immersion. The main aim is to examine how narrative elements in these guides contribute to a deeper understanding and engagement with culture. Through qualitative methods, in-depth interviews with tourists who used guides featuring storytelling during their visits to culturally rich destinations are conducted. Additionally, the content of popular tourism guides was analyzed to identify common storytelling techniques. The findings show that storytelling significantly boosts tourists’ cultural immersion by providing context, fostering emotional connections, and deepening appreciation for local heritage. Tourists reported that stories including local legends, personal anecdotes, and historical events made their experiences more memorable and engaging. They felt a stronger connection to the culture and people of the places they visited. In conclusion, storytelling in tourism guides serves as a powerful tool for cultural immersion. By incorporating well-crafted narratives, these guides can transform tourist experiences, making them more meaningful and enriching. This research underscores the importance of guide developers integrating storytelling elements to foster a deeper connection between tourists and their destinations. Future research should further investigate the specific types of stories that most effectively enhance cultural immersion.

Exposing social work students to environmental justice: A study in the United Arab Emirates

This empirical study attempted to design and test an innovative curriculum integrating social, economic, and environmental issues into the curriculum of a Social Work Practice with Communities and Organizations course at United Arab Emirates University. A quasi-experimental study involving a sample of 56 students concluded that the designed curriculum and its contents effectively give students an in-depth understanding of the inherent complexities in shaping effective responses to social, economic, and environmental crises. The students recognize the professional roles of social work in addressing environmental justice issues.

From the streets to the world: youth resistance and the reimagining of global futures in Madagascar

This study examines the socioeconomic factors shaping youth resistance; the influence of urban spaces and cultural expression on the development of youth political identity; the state’s response to youth movements; and the implications for achieving political stability in Madagascar. Furthermore, the study interrogates the possibility of reimagining Madagascar’s future on a global scale in the wake of youth-led mobilisation and protests. This research connects immediate material grievances to the formation of political identity and state authority, as well as the broader issue of how youth contestation alters national legitimacy and international standing. To enhance Madagascar’s international prospects, young people must be recognised as important political actors, and governance frameworks that translate unrest into sustainable inclusion must be established. Moreover, the ongoing youth mobilisation in Madagascar suggests unresolved struggles affect the nation’s internal political trajectory and, through digital media, its evolving global standing.

Sustained Attention as a Cognitive Bridge Between Memory and Reading Comprehension in Primary School Students

Short-term memory (STM) and verbal working memory (VWM) are well-established contributors to reading comprehension (RC), yet evidence suggests they are distinct cognitive constructs, differing primarily in their reliance on attentional control. This study explored the mediating role of sustained attention (SA) in the STM–VWM–RC relationship. Participants were 106 fourth-grade Turkish students (ages 8–9) from similar socioeconomic backgrounds. RC was measured using curriculum-based assessments, STM via a number sequence task, VWM via a nonword repetition list, and SA via the Bourdon Attention Test. Structural equation modeling revealed that both STM and VWM directly predicted RC, while SA was a strong predictor of RC and mediated the effects of both memory variables—partially for STM and fully for VWM. The model accounted for 36% of SA variance and 35% of RC variance. These findings reinforce the conceptual distinction between STM and VWM and highlight attention’s pivotal role in comprehension processes. Implications point to classroom interventions that actively strengthen STM, VWM, and SA to enhance reading comprehension, offering educators practical pathways to address cognitive underpinnings of literacy development.

Growth optimization and biochemical adaptation of Paramecium jenningsi in the bioremediation of Dianix Yellow Brown azo dye

The freshwater ciliate Paramecium jenningsi , widely recognised as a toxicological model, has been scarcely studied for its interactions with synthetic pollutants, particularly azo dyes. This study evaluates the physiological, morphological, and biochemical responses of an industrial wastewater-derived isolate of P. jenningsi exposed to the polyester fabric azo dye Dianix Yellow Brown (DYB). Growth optimisation revealed maximum proliferation at pH 7 and 25 °C over 30 days, with a 26-fold population increase observed at 20 ppm DYB by day 14. Mild toxicity was indicated by slight impairments in mitosis, motility, contractile vacuole colouration, and cell morphology. The culture achieved 85.43% dye decolorization within 144 h, as confirmed by UV–Vis spectroscopy, suggesting active metabolic involvement. FTIR analysis indicated cleavage of azo (–N=N–) and amine (C–N) bonds, along with the formation of hydroxyl (–OH) and carbonyl (C=O) groups, evidencing dye biotransformation. GC–MS profiling revealed a two-step degradation pathway: formation of aromatic intermediates (4-tert-butylaniline and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid), followed by breakdown into low-molecular-weight hydrocarbons. These findings highlight the adaptive metabolic potential of P. jenningsi and its applicability in azo dye bioremediation of contaminated aquatic environments.

Biosurfactants and bioemulsifiers from marine bacteria: current advances and perspectives

The marine biosphere is one of the Earth's richest habitats for discovering unique bioactive metabolites and their producers. This review presents a comprehensive foundation on novel classes of biosurfactants (BSs) and/or bioemulsifiers (BEs) derived from marine microbes and identifies gaps in the existing literature to guide future research. A systematic literature search was carried out, and data were collected, analysed and presented. Certain genera, namely Bacillus , Pseudomonas , Planococcus, Serratia, Rhodococcus and Halomonas, were predominantly reported as BSs/BEs producers. Some newer terms, namely didemnin, esperin, furanomycin, pumilacidin, plipastatin, rhodofactin, massetolides, mojavensin, pontifactin and pseudofactin, have been introduced. The limited research on the molecular aspects of BSs/BEs production provides significant opportunities for Bio-scientists to discover novel compounds. Expanding research into deep-sea sampling, biosynthetic pathways and metagenomic approaches may offer insights into viable but non-culturable cells. In February 2010, we published a review on BSs/BEs from marine microbes, and this review serves as a sequel, providing updated insights into this fascinating topic. This article includes recent advancements in the field of BSs/BEs from marine bacteria and their forthcoming potential industrial applications.

Assessment of the relationship between asthma severity and cardiac functions using speckle tracking in pediatric patients

The long-term effects of childhood asthma on cardiac functions remain unclear. This study evaluates the relationship between asthma severity and cardiac function in pediatric asthma patients. Children aged 10–18 years with at least five years of asthma follow-up and no known cardiac disease were included. A control group of healthy children with no chronic diseases participated. Both groups underwent electrocardiography, conventional echocardiography, tissue Doppler examination (TDI), and 2D speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE). A total of 113 asthma patients (59 mild, 54 moderate-severe) and 59 controls were assessed. Compared to controls, the asthma group had increased right ventricular area (RVA) ( p  = 0.04), while interventricular septal and left ventricular S’ velocity (IVSS’, LVS’) and right ventricular late diastolic velocity (RVA’) were lower ( p  = 0.04, p  = 0.04, p  = 0.02, respectively). Conventional and TDI parameters showed no other significant differences. In 2D-STE measurements, left ventricular global longitudinal and circumferential strain (LVGLS, LVGCS), right ventricular global longitudinal strain (RVGLS), and right atrial reservoir strain (RARS) were lower ( p  = 0.01, p  = 0.03, p  = 0.01, p  = 0.01, respectively), while left ventricular global longitudinal and circumferential strain rate (LVGLSR, LVGCSR), right ventricular global longitudinal strain rate (RVGLSR), and right atrial reservoir strain rate (RARSR) were higher ( p  = 0.04, p  = 0.04, p  = 0.03, p  = 0.04, respectively) in the asthma group, with more pronounced differences in the moderate-severe asthma group. Our study shows a decrease in both systolic and diastolic functions in both ventricles and right atrium in relation to the severity of childhood asthma, and 2D-STE can be useful in identifying early changes.

Enhancing self-efficacy in asthma management: the role of motivational interviewing in primary care

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of motivational interviewing (MI) in enhancing asthma self-efficacy among adults in a primary care setting in Northern Jordan. A quality improvement project employing a quasi-experimental pre–post design was conducted using a convenience sample of adults diagnosed with asthma. The Asthma Self-Efficacy Scale (ASES) was administered at baseline and again eight weeks after implementation of the MI intervention. The sessions were guided by Bandura’s self-efficacy framework, focusing on mastery experiences, social persuasion, and emotional regulation. Data were analyzed using paired t -tests at a significance level of 0.05. Participants demonstrated a significant improvement in asthma self-efficacy scores and symptom control following the intervention. The paired t -test indicated a statistically significant increase in self-efficacy ( p  < 0.001), confirming the intervention’s effectiveness. Additionally, participants reported lower perceived stress and a 56% reduction in asthma symptom flare-ups. Motivational interviewing proved effective in strengthening asthma self-management by enhancing patients’ confidence and promoting behavioral change. The integration of MI into routine primary care is recommended to foster patient empowerment and improve clinical outcomes.

Double-triangular-type channel design in elevator–staircase coordinated evacuation in high-rise buildings

Rapid urbanization and the development of high-rise buildings have introduced challenges in ensuring efficient and safe evacuation during emergencies such as fires. This study addresses the critical issue of evacuation in high-rise buildings by proposing a double-triangular-type channel design for coordinated use of elevators (lifts) and staircases. The proposed design aims to enhance evacuation efficiency and minimize economic losses associated with the use of space for evacuation routes. A bi-objective optimization model is developed to balance these conflicting objectives, and the ε -constraint method is used to solve the model, generating a set of non-dominated solutions. The effectiveness of the proposed design is validated through a case study of the CITIC Tower in China, demonstrating significant improvements in evacuation efficiency. The findings provide valuable insights for the architectural design and emergency management of high-rise buildings, emphasizing the importance of integrating elevators and staircases in evacuation planning.

Rethinking Ourselves: Justice, Reform and Ignorance in Postnormal Times Anwar Ibrahim. Hurst Company, London, 2025. pp. 292. Notes and Index. £15.99. Hb. ISBN 9781805264194