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Study’s Novelty/Excerpt • This study is novel as it provides the first detailed examination of the antifungal and phytochemical properties of methanolic extracts from Vachellia seyal leaves against Phytophthora infestans, a significant agricultural pathogen. • By employing both GC-MS analysis and qualitative phytochemical screening, this research identifies a wide array of bioactive compounds, including terpenoids and flavonoids, which are linked to the extract's antifungal efficacy. • Furthermore, the study highlights the superior inhibitory effect of the methanolic extract compared to ethyl acetate extracts, underscoring V. seyal's potential as a source of novel antifungal agents for managing fungal infections. Full Abstract Studies looking at the presence of potent antimicrobial compounds in plants have been sparked by the use of plants and their extracts as treatments for various illnesses. The study aimed to analyze the antifungal and phytochemical properties of a methanolic extract of Vachellia seyal leaves on P. infestant isolated from rotten potato tubers. Following drying, the leaves were extracted using methanol as the solvent using cold maceration and percolation. To check for the existence of bioactive components, the extract underwent GC-MS analysis and qualitative phytochemical screening. The antifungal inhibitory activity of the leaf extract was assessed using agar well diffusion techniques. The results of the phytochemical screening indicated the presence of secondary metabolites, including terpenoids, tannins, phenols, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins, and steroids, in the leaves. Thirty-five (35) compounds were detected from the GC-MS study; based on their peak, six (6) were determined to be the most prevalent. These compounds include 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methyl ester (23.35%), Squalene (11.84%), 9,15-Octadecadienoic acid, methyl ester, (Z,Z)- (10.63%), Pentadecanoic acid, 14-methyl-, methyl ester (7.95%), (E)-9-Octadecenoic acid ethyl ester (7.19%) and Butylated Hydroxytoluene (1.85%). With a growth inhibition zone of 37mm, the results showed that the leaf extract of V. seyal was effective against P. infestant. The response of V. seyal may have been caused by the presence of phenolic compounds and acetic acid from the leaf extract. Additionally, methanolic crude extract was more effective than ethyl acetate extracts in controlling the activities of certain fungal pathogens. According to the study, V. seyal has antifungal activity and needs to be considered as a possible antifungal agent while looking for novel treatments for fungal infections.

This study examines the relation between K-12 teachers' trust in artificial intelligence (TAI), their knowledge of AI (KAI), and their digital competence (DC). It further examines the relation between TAI and age, sex, teaching experience and International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) levels. The study employed a comprehensive and validated instrument and used a sample of 211 primary and secondary school teachers. The results show that there is a significant positive relation between all three variables and that KAI is a robust and substantial predictor of TAI. In the absence of KAI, the significant relation between DC and TAI ceases to exist. In addition, teachers with different levels of DC do not show significant differences in their attitudes towards AI. Results further show that TAI is independent of age, sex, teaching experience and ISCED level in this sample of teachers. The study contributes valuable insights into the complex interplay between teachers' TAI, their KAI, and their DC, providing practical implications for policy, teacher preparation and professional development in the rapidly evolving landscape of AI integration in education.

Relationships between students and external partners in work-integrated learning can vary and power dynamics, hierarchies and student agency have been under explored in research to date. Integrated research involving work-integrated learning, students as partners and transdisciplinarity presents an opportunity to enrich each of these fields. This paper presents the results of a case study of transdisciplinary project-based work-integrated learning in Australia. Our results highlight that reciprocity and the valuing of student knowledge are key elements in breaking down traditional power dynamics and enabling student agency, in line with the transdisciplinary principle of mutual learning. Participants who valued these elements in their relationship were less likely to frame the relationship in hierarchical terms and were more open to learning from one another. By empowering students to draw on their expertise and reframe challenges while also preparing partners for this kind of relationship, all parties can be positioned as learners within work-integrated learning.

In recent years, short videos have proliferated on various social media platforms, serving as a visual resource with a long history of use for various educational purposes, including foreign language learning (FLL). Despite the growing interest in the use of such platforms for short video learning, little is currently known about the use of these platforms for FLL, highlighting the need to validate these learning resources within a theoretical framework. In this context, this article analyses 34 short videos for Portuguese language learning on TikTok using an adaptation of the principles of multimedia learning proposed by Mayer. It then analyses the relation between the number of principles and each cognitive processing dimension, and the number of views and likes. Results show the adapted principles are suitable for the analysis of short videos for FLL and reveal the most prevalent one is the principle of signalling. Furthermore, the article demonstrates that the more principles a video addresses, the more likes it receives, and that the fostering generative processing dimension plays an important role in this mediation. Overall, the article illustrates the practical application of online short videos as a targeted resource for facilitating FLL and streamlines the development of instructional design strategies for short videos in the context of online FLL.

The behavior of ozone gas (O3) in the atmosphere varies according to the region of the globe. Its formation occurs mainly in the tropical stratosphere through the photodissociation of molecular oxygen with the aid of the incidence of ultraviolet solar radiation. Still, the highest concentrations of O3 content are found in high-latitude regions (poles) due to the Brewer–Dobson circulation, a large-scale circulation that takes place from the tropics to the pole in the winter hemisphere. This work presents a multi-instrumental analysis at two Brazilian sites, a subtropical one (Santa Maria – 29.72° S, 53.41° W) and an equatorial one (Natal – 5.4° S, 35.4° W), to investigate ozone distributions in terms of vertical profiles (2002–2020) and total abundance in terms of total columns of ozone (1979–2020). The study is based on the use of ground-based and satellite observations. Ozone profiles over Natal, from the ground up to the mesosphere, are obtained by radiosonde experiments (0–30 km) in the framework of the SHADOZ program and by satellite measurements from the SABER instrument (15–60 km). This enabled the construction of a continuous time series for ozone, including monthly values and climatological trends. There is a good agreement between the two measurements in the common observation layer, mainly for altitudes above 20 km. Below 20 km, SABER ozone profiles showed high variability and overestimated ozone mixing ratios by over 50 %. Dynamic and photochemical effects can interfere with O3 formation and distribution along higher latitudes through the Brewer–Dobson circulation. The measurements of the total ozone columns used are in good agreement with each other (TOMS/OMI × Dobson for Natal and TOMS/OMI × Brewer for Santa Maria) in time and space, in line with previous studies for these latitudes. Wavelet analysis was used over 42 years. The investigation revealed a significant annual cycle in both data series for both sites. The study highlighted that the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) plays a significant role in the variability of stratospheric ozone at the two study sites – Natal and Santa Maria. The QBO's contribution was found to be stronger at the Equator (Natal) than at the subtropics (Santa Maria). Additionally, the study showed that the 11-year solar cycle also has a significant impact on ozone variability at both locations. Given the study latitudes, the ozone variations observed at the two sites showed different patterns and amounts. Only a limited number of studies have been conducted on stratospheric ozone in South America, particularly in the region between the Equator and the subtropics. The primary aim of this work is to investigate the behavior of stratospheric ozone at various altitudes and latitudes using ground-based and satellite measurements in terms of vertical profiles and total columns of ozone.

Work-integrated learning (WIL) is widely used to connect students with the world of work and authentic industry practices. WIL research and practice is primarily focused on the benefits to students and universities, whilst the value of WIL to partner organisations remains relatively underexplored. This study takes an industry, government and community partner-centric perspective to examine learning in partner organisations stimulated through engagement with transdisciplinary WIL. A case study of a transdisciplinary, innovation-focused project-based WIL subject at one Australian university is interrogated through the theoretical lenses of practice theory and mutual learning. Fifteen interviews with stakeholders in partner organisations are analysed against the three dimensions of practice articulated by Kemmis et al. (2014): sayings, doings and relatings. The analysis shows that through engagement with university-led transdisciplinary WIL partners were able to advance their learning projects, disrupt and reconfigure organisational practices, and legitimise experimentation within their organisations. The study builds the case for conceptualising WIL engagement as a professional learning opportunity for partner organisations, in addition to the well-documented benefits to students and universities.

The experience of "interbeing" -- or a deep, authentic feeling of the continuum between our inner-selves, each other and the natural world -- gives a profound sense of interconnectedness. Teachings of "interbeing" have roots in ancient knowledges yet offer insight into how we might respond collectively and purposefully to the challenges of today. It is also proposed as a core meta-competency contributing to resilience and wellbeing for young people, creating a sense of unity in response to fragmented and technologically mediated environments. This article explores what learning activities and environments support experiences of "interbeing" and how these might be integrated into secondary school education, focusing on transformative, place-based learning. We present findings from participatory action research in an Australian secondary school undertaken as a pilot program focused on building resilience and wellbeing for students -- and contribute ideas for transformative learning practices that support resilience in the face of uncertain futures.

Tubulin and microtubules (MTs) are potential protein targets to treat parasitic infections and our previous studies have shown that the triazolopyrimidine (TPD) class of MT-active compounds hold promise as antitrypanosomal agents. MT-targeting TPDs include structurally related but functionally diverse congeners that interact with mammalian tubulin at either one or two distinct interfacial binding sites; namely, the seventh and vinca sites, which are found within or between α,β-tubulin heterodimers, respectively. Evaluation of the activity of 123 TPD congeners against cultured Trypanosoma brucei enabled a robust quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model and the prioritization of two congeners for in vivo pharmacokinetics (PK), tolerability and efficacy studies. Treatment of T. brucei-infected mice with tolerable doses of TPDs significantly decreased blood parasitemia within 24 h. Further, two once-weekly doses at 10 mg/kg of a candidate TPD significantly extended the survival of infected mice relative to infected animals treated with vehicle. Further optimization of dosing and/or the dosing schedule of these CNS-active TPDs may provide alternative treatments for human African trypanosomiasis.

The characterization of raffia palm fibre (RPF) for reinforcement in polymer composite for specialized applications was studied. The fibres were treated with NaOH solution and subjected to a tensile strength test. The fibres were also subjected to spectroscopy using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), energy dispersive x-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), and x-ray diffraction (XRD). The study found that the alkaline-treated RPF presented a tensile strength of 195 MPa and Young’s modulus of 91.76 MPa. The strain at maximum stress in the fibre was found to be 2.125%. FTIR spectra of treated raffia palm fibres revealed that the fibres are characterized by O-H and C-H stretching. There is the presence of carboxylic acids, functional groups of methyl (CH3), methylene (CH2), and aliphatic saturated (CH) compounds. There was no observed peak at around 1000 cm-1 to 650 cm-1 bands characterized as the C-H “oop” bond structure of a functional group of aromatics. The absence of a peak in the range indicates that the alkaline treatment of RPF has been effective, as evidenced by the absence of smell. EDXRF showed significant Ca, Fe, and K concentrations in raffia palm fibres. The XRD results show that RPF is semi-crystalline, with the crystalline index estimated at 57.3%. Therefore, RPF can be used as potential reinforcement in polymer composite applications where moderate strength and stiffness are required. From the spectroscopy, RPF is safe for deployment as an alternative source of reinforcement in polymer composites, especially for developing biomedical applications such as prosthetics and wheelchairs.