This study examines the comparative the financial performance of Bank Mega Syariah prior to and following partnering with Sharia Fintech in financing distribution. Utilizing a quantitative and descriptive approach, it analyzes key financial ratios including NPF, ROA, ROE, NOM, and BOPO. Data from Bank Mega Syariah's financial reports over a 10-year period (2014-2023) are analyzed. Statistical analysis is performed using SPSS, applying the Paired Sample T-Test is utilized for normally distributed data, while the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test is used for non-normally distributed data. The outcomes indicate noteworthy distinctions in NPF, ROA, ROE, and BOPO after the collaboration, while NOM shows no significant variance. The findings suggest a positive impact of collaboration with Sharia Fintech on Bank Mega Syariah's financial performance, particularly in reducing NPF and enhancing ROA, ROE, and BOPO. However, it is noted that regulatory concerns highlighted in the AMS 2022/2023 survey remain a barrier to financial literacy and inclusion via Fintech. This study adds to the comprehension of the dynamic environment of Islamic banking within the framework of Fintech integration, offering insights for policymakers and industry practitioners.

Despite the large land area and substantial population, the volume and impact of biomedical research from Afghanistan is limited compared to other countries due to factors such as ongoing conflict, limited resources, and brain drain. We studied the research output in Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine from Afghanistan from 1996 to 2022, using the Scopus data from the SCImago website. Afghanistan has published 17 papers, out of a total of 9872 papers from eight South Asian countries, with a share of only 0.17%, from 1996 to 2022. Afghanistan is only ranked higher than Bhutan and Maldives among South Asian countries, and its ranking among all the Asian countries is 21. There has not been a significant volume of orthopaedic research arising from Afghanistan. However, orthopaedic issues such as trauma-related injuries, congenital disorders, and musculoskeletal conditions are widely prevalent in Afghanistan. Biomedical research in Afghanistan faces various challenges, including limited funding, inadequate infrastructure, lack of trained personnel, political instability, and security concerns. However, opportunities for improvement exist through investment in infrastructure, training of healthcare workers, and expansion of healthcare coverage. Furthermore, enhanced research funding and collaboration are crucial to boost the research output. Addressing these challenges and seizing these opportunities is essential to ensuring access to quality healthcare for all Afghan citizens. Efforts to strengthen the healthcare system must be sustained and coordinated to achieve lasting improvements in health outcomes across the country.

This study was conducted at Al-Qasim Green University/College of Veterinary Medicine, Anatomy and Histology Branch. The experiment was designed to study the cecum of Awassi sheep fetuses: prenatal periods. Samples (30 male and female samples) were collected from healthy females uterine and divided according to age groups into four groups by crown rump length formula (CRL) for the prenatal stage. In the first age group (50-55), the cecum was in the process of development, as it was not distinguished visually. In the second age group (70-75 days), it was a small protrusion located between the ileum and the beginning of the ascending colon. With advancing age, the third group, which includes two ages in the third trimester of pregnancy, we found that the cecum was completely formed in (100-105) days and at (130-140) days of gestation. Also, upon histological study, we found that the wall of the cecum consists of four layers, as in the rest of the parts of the digestive system, and is lined with an epithelial layer surrounded by a layer of connective tissue. It is supportive of the epithelial tissue. We also found tunica submucosa constantly devolving with age, as it is mesenchymal cells in the first stage of intrauterine life and begin to transform into connective tissue with the presence of fibers and collagen (tunica submucosa) as a result of these cells transforming into spindle cells to form the inner muscle layer, as well as tunica muscularis externa. The latter is surrounded by loose connective tissue that contains a few collagen and elastic fibers surrounded by mesothelial cells (tunica serosa) that contain blood vessels to support development in the inner layers.

The research was held in Kailali District of Nepal to assess the effect of different packaging materials on shelf life and quality of banana fruit. The experimental set up was done in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with five treatments of different packaging, each replicated four times. There were five different treatments used for the study and they were allotted as follows: T1: No packaging/open (control) T2: Banana leaf, T3: Straw, T4: Polythene bag, T5: Cardboard box. A digital hygrometer for measuring relative humidity and thermometer for measuring temperature were used. RH was recorded every 3rd day. Similarly, temperature was also recorded during those days. R-Studio 4.2.2 version was used for data analysis. TSS was found highest in polythene bag followed by cardboard box and lowest was control followed by straw. TSS (16.020 Brix) was found in polythene bag at 13th day and lowest TSS (5.250 Brix) in at 1st day. At 16th day, maximum TSS was found in polythene bag (15.320 Brix) and minimum in control (12.720 Brix). Titrable Acidity (TA) tends to increase at initial stage but later decreases with increase in storage time. The highest TA (0.32%) was found in polythene bag and lowest (0.24%) was found in control at day 16th. Physiological Loss in Weigh t(PLW) tends to increases with increase in storage time. The highest PLW (27.68 gm) was found in Control and lowest loss (21.61 gm) was found in polythene bag at day 16th. The firmness was decreased with the advancement in storage time in all treatments. The highest firmness (9.385kgcm-2) was found in polythene bag at 1st day and lowest (9.12 kgcm-2) was found in control at 1st day. At the end of the day i.e., at day 16th, maximum firmness was observed in Polythene bag (3.34 kgcm-2), and minimum was observed in control (2.07 kgcm-2) and pulp thickness tends to increase with increase in storage time. At day 16th, the highest pulp thickness (3.34 cm) was found on banana leaf and lowest (2.07 cm) on straw. Based on these findings, it is evident that packaging bananas in polythene bags resulted in significant improvements in weight loss, TA, firmness, TSS, pulp thickness, and peel thickness. This suggests that using polythene bags as packaging material provides better quality and extends the shelf life of bananas compared to the other materials tested in the study.

The main objective of this paper is to investigate the relationship between per capita GDP and covid-related deaths across countries. Two measures of covid-related deaths are considered: official deaths related to COVID-19 per one hundred thousand people and excess mortality per one hundred thousand people. The regression analyses reveal that covid-related deaths and per capita GDP show a non-linear pattern (an “inverted U-shaped pattern). The findings suggest that the incidence of covid-related deaths was relatively lower in lower and higher-income countries, compared to middle-income countries.