Implementing Point-of-Care Newborn Screening for Sickle Cell Disease in Sudan: Cross-sectional Evidence from Khartoum State

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is responsible for 50–90% of under-five mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Delayed SCD detection beyond infancy prevents early comprehensive treatment and leads to the tragic progression of the disease. This research aims to determine the prevalence of sickle cell anemia (SCA) in neonates in Khartoum State using a point-of-care (POC) test. Methods: This was a descriptive, hospital-based, cross-sectional study conducted in Khartoum state from August 2021 to January 2022. In total, 111 neonates from each selected hospital were tested with a POC test to determine their hemoglobin phenotype, and a simple questionnaire was used to collect demographic characteristics. Results: Of the 333 neonates included in the study, 156 (46.8%) were male, and 177 (53.2%) were female. A total of 179 neonates belonged to the Afro-Asiatic ethnicity (53.8%), 130 (39%) to the Nilo-Saharan, and 24 (7.2%) to the Niger-Congo. While SCA was detected in 1 (0.3%) neonate, 23 (6.9%) neonates were heterozygous for Hb AS; of these, 17 (73.9%) had no family history of the disease. Hb AC was also detected in one neonate, representing 0.3% of the study population. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the feasibility and efficiency of POC testing for detecting abnormal hemoglobin phenotypes in neonates. However, limited confirmatory testing and low public awareness highlight the urgent need for comprehensive neonatal screening programs. Both early detection and public education are crucial for timely intervention and reducing SCD-related morbidity and mortality in Sudan

Potential Links Between Coagulation Disorders and Mycetoma in Sudan: An Expert Commentary

Mycetoma is one of the neglected diseases with a high burden in Sudan. Its clinical characteristics, chronic, progressive, tumefaction with discharge from sinuses, have been documented for decades. Nevertheless, despite its widely reported cutaneous and musculoskeletal effects, it has not historically received significant consideration for its systemic effects or potential actions related to the coagulation system until now. Drawing from personal clinical observations and relevant experience with similar chronic infections, the hypothesis of mycetoma association with derangement of hemostasis is discussed for Sudanese patients. Knowledge of this relationship could greatly influence surgical decision-making and associated patient safety in endemic areas where both material and financial resources are scarce. The expert commentary aimed to describe the possible connection between mycetoma and blood clotting problems, look at indirect evidence from similar illnesses, and provide practical clinical and research suggestions for areas where mycetoma is common but resources are limited. It’s based on the authors' clinical findings and a targeted, non-systematic literature review conducted on PubMed and Google Scholar, and has the potential to significantly impact future research. While the Mycetoma Research Center (MRC) has managed more than 12,000 patients, direct hemostatic profiling data from this group are not yet accessible, which is a gap this study aims to emphasize

Sustainability Approaches to Enhancing Safety Culture in Elderly Care in Nursing Homes: Literature Review

Background: Safety of the elderly in nursing home retirement and facilities’ health is an important issue related to quality of life and risk incidents like falls and injuries. Culture, strong safety, staff training, systems for reporting incidents, and family involvement become the main factors in reducing risk. Objectives: This article aims to study the improvement of culture about the safety of the elderly, identify the main risk factors for incidents, and evaluate the instruments and methods used in the measurement and management of the safety of older people in nursing homes, retirement facilities, and health facilities. Methods: This synthesis of 10 articles covers qualitative methods, systematic review, meta-analysis, scoping review, and observational studies. The databases used in the data search were PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The keywords used were “patient safety culture,” “falls in nursing homes,” “pressure ulcer prevention,” “safety incident reporting,” and “elderly care quality.” Results: Continuous training, improvement facilities, and systems reporting effective incidents can increase culture safety. Incident falls are often high (around 43%) due to risks such as disturbance activity, daily use of drugs, and cognitive disorders. Pressure ulcers extend the length of stay and reduce the quality of life of the elderly. Involving their families contributes positively to the quality of life and the safety of the elderly. Safety program evaluation uses survey culture, safety, and regular audits which are essential for sustainable repair. Conclusion: Culture safety of the elderly in nursing homes must be built through a multidimensional approach involving staff training, systems-integrated reporting, improved facilities, and support for families. Strong leadership and evaluation of sustainability become keys to success in creating a safe and dignified care environment for the elderly

Impact of Yang Style Tai Chi Exercise on Static Balance Among the Elderly

The demographic bonus is a global phenomenon characterized by a significant increase in the proportion of the working-age population (15–64 years) compared to the non-productive age group. As individuals age, physiological changes occur across multiple body systems including the respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous, gastrointestinal, and endocrine systems, leading to a gradual decline in homeostatic capacity. One major consequence of these changes is a reduction in balance abilities, both static and dynamic. Tai chi has emerged as an effective physical activity to enhance balance in the elderly. This study employed a pre-experimental design using a one-group pre-test and post-test approach to evaluate the effectiveness of Yang style tai chi in improving static and dynamic balance among older adults. The intervention consisted of 12 training sessions, conducted with a schedule of two consecutive sessions followed by 1 rest day. Each session lasted 45 minutes and was delivered through a video projection. The mean difference for the right leg increased by 0.41 seconds, whereas the left leg showed a greater improvement of 1.15 seconds. This suggests that the left leg experienced a more substantial enhancement than the right. Such differences may be attributed to weight-shifting mechanisms during the intervention. Yang style tai chi did not show a significant effect on static balance, which may be attributed to several factors including the need for a longer duration to elicit measurable effects, the complexity of the movements, variations in individual physical activity levels, and age differences among participants

National Resource Governance System in a Universal Context: Analysis of PKBN Implementation of Supporting Components and Formation of Reserve Components

This study aims to analyze the implementation of the National Defense Awareness Education (PKBN), the organization of National Defense Supporting Components (Komduk), and the formation of National Defense Reserve Components (Komcad) as part of Indonesia’s universal defense system. Using a qualitative exploratory approach, data were collected through observations and in-depth interviews with stakeholders from relevant ministries, the education sector, civil society, and the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) and Police (POLRI). Data analysis employed triangulation supported by civic duty theory, national defense theory, and the collaborative public governance model. The results indicate that the implementation of PKBN is still uneven and lacks standardization across institutions. The Komduk arrangements have not yet been supported by comprehensive regulations regarding standards, procedures, and management mechanisms. This is while the Komcad formation faces challenges in integration with regular forces and the absence of a clear operational system. Despite these constraints, the universal defense system concept linking PKBN, Komduk, and Komcad has the potential to strengthen both national defense and socio-economic resilience through participatory civil involvement. The study concludes that cross-sectoral coordination, regulatory reform, and continuous public education are essential to achieving an effective and democratic total defense system. The findings contribute to enhancing understanding and policy formulation in managing national resources for defense in Indonesia

Transforming Teacher Professionalism in the Era of Big Data: A Deep Learning Approach for Future Education

The era of big data presents both significant challenges and strategic opportunities for transforming teacher professionalism. This study aims to examine how deep learning approaches can enhance teachers’ roles within the digital education ecosystem. A systematic literature review was conducted by analyzing 116 articles retrieved from major academic databases, including Scopus, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and ERIC. Based on relevance criteria related to big data, deep learning, and teacher professionalism, five core studies were selected for in-depth analysis. The findings revealed four key dimensions of transformation: the types of data utilized in educational practices, the stakeholders involved in the transformation process, the urgency of adapting to data-driven environments, and the strategies for implementing deep learning in professional development. The study emphasizes the importance of strengthening teachers’ data literacy, providing contextual and practice-oriented training, and establishing supportive policies that position teachers as reflective and proactive agents in digitally mediated learning environments. These results contribute to the development of an adaptive, ethical, and sustainable model of AI-driven teacher professionalism and offer valuable insights for future education policy in the era of big data

Governance Approach: Gender Equality in Community Empowerment at Maju Lestari Waste Bank

Governance values serve as an important foundation in the community empowerment process within the Maju Lestari Waste Bank. These values include participation, responsiveness, and gender equality. The empowerment process is carried out by increasing women’s participation on the household, group, and institutional levels. There has been a significant increase in women’s participation at the household, group, and institutional levels of the waste bank. Women’s participation at the household level involves collecting, cleaning, and sorting inorganic waste by type. Women’s participation at the group level includes informal socialization, promotion, and motivation. Socialization, promotion, and motivation activities are carried out spontaneously but intensively, thereby effectively influencing neighbors, relatives, and friends in the surrounding area. Meanwhile, participation at the institutional level involves administrative management and moral and material support, especially during waste weighing. The second value, responsiveness, refers to the quick attitude and response of women in receiving information. When given information about waste management, they show a high level of curiosity and interest. This is manifested in responses in the form of questions, both conceptual and technical in nature, about waste management

Building the Economic Resilience of the Silver Generation Through the Adoption of Technological Innovation: A Management Perspective

The silver generation (elderly) faces economic vulnerability amidst increasing life expectancy and high living costs. This study proposes the adoption of digital technology as a strategic solution to build the economic resilience of this group. This study aims to analyze the mechanism by which technology adoption influences economic resilience, examining the mediating roles of digital literacy, social support, and self-management. The Research method employs a quantitative approach, utilizing Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) techniques on data collected through questionnaires from 100 elderly smartphone users in the Greater Jakarta area. The results indicate that technology adoption has a significant impact on enhancing digital literacy and self-management, which in turn positively contributes to economic resilience. However, technology adoption has not been shown to increase social support, and social support itself has no significant impact on economic resilience. These findings underscore the importance of an approach that directly strengthens individual competencies in economic empowerment policies for older people

Corrigendum to “The Influence of Compensation and Old Age Security on Employee Work Motivation at PT. XYZ” [KnE Social Sciences, Volume 11, Issue 3, pp. 439–465]

The publisher has been informed of a typographical error on page 439, where the first author's name is currently written as “Mohammad Ridho”; however, the correct spelling is “Mohammad Ridha.”   On behalf of the authors, the publisher wishes to apologize for this error. The online version of the article has been updated on 2 April 2026 and is available at https://doi.org/10.18502/kss.v11i3.20890

Efficacy of licorice extract in combination with a low-calorie diet on sex hormones, sleep quality, depression, and appetite in overweight/obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome: An RCT

Background: Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are more likely to suffer from anovulatory infertility. Studies showed the effectiveness of licorice on the regulation of sex hormones and quality of life, with inconsistent findings. Objective: This study aimed to determine the effect of licorice extract on sex hormones, sleep quality, depression, and appetite in women with PCOS. Materials and Methods: This randomized double-blind controlled trial included 66 overweight or obese women with PCOS. Participants were randomly divided into 2 groups: one receiving 1.5 gr/day of licorice extract alongside a low-calorie diet (n = 33) and the other receiving a placebo plus a low-calorie diet (n = 33) for 8 wk. Anthropometric measurements and general participant data were collected following standard protocols. Serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), sex hormone-binding globulin, and total testosterone were analyzed using enzymatic kits. The LH/FSH ratio was also calculated as a marker for PCOS diagnosis. Results: Mean age and body mass index of participants were 40.76 yr and 32.26 kg/m2, respectively. When baseline values were accounted for, the licorice extract plus low-calorie diet group showed significantly greater improvements in terms of FSH (p < 0.001), LH/FSH ratio (p < 0.001), total testosterone (p = 0.03), depression score (p < 0.001), sleep quality (p < 0.001), and appetite (p < 0.001) compared to the control group. Conclusion: The findings showed that licorice extract supplementation led to improvements in sex hormones, sleep quality, depression, and appetite. Further studies are needed to confirm these results, considering the possible limitations of the current research