Current Journal of Applied Science and Technology

Methylglyoxal in Cancer: Metabolism, Glycation, Context-Dependent Signalling and Therapeutic Implications

2026-11-05T13:14:01+00:00

Methylglyoxal (MGO) is a reactive α-oxoaldehyde generated principally from glycolytic triose phosphates and controlled by glutathione-dependent glyoxalase activity. Its chemistry permits rapid modification of arginine, lysine and nucleic-acid residues, linking altered carbon metabolism with dicarbonyl stress and cellular signalling. Cancer-associated effects are not uniform. Experimental studies implicate MGO-derived adducts, selected stress-response proteins, epigenetic regulation and extracellular signalling in tumour adaptation; other studies find impaired energy metabolism, growth arrest or cell death following sufficiently intense exposure. This narrative review integrates the chemistry of MGO formation and detoxification with experimental evidence from tumour models, highlights the distinction between within-model biphasic responses and unrelated cross-study dose contrasts, and critically examines the emerging translational literature. Evidence for glyoxalase 1 dependency is compelling in particular molecular contexts but does not establish a universal therapeutic vulnerability. Preclinical findings concerning MGO administration, carbonyl scavenging and glyoxalase modulation also remain difficult to generalise because cell type, exposure kinetics and host toxicity vary. A historical human case series involving 24 patients and a separate 46-patient series are discussed as uncontrolled observations rather than evidence of efficacy. Recent analytical studies of human colorectal tumours support the biological relevance of MGO accumulation but do not establish diagnostic performance. Overall, MGO is best considered a context-sensitive metabolic stressor and source of bioactive molecular modifications; its clinical value depends on stronger quantitative measurements, tumour-selective mechanisms and controlled efficacy and safety evaluation.

Techno-economic Sizing of a Grid-connected Photovoltaic-battery System for a Slaughterhouse in Mbour, Senegal

2026-10-08T11:33:27+00:00

Background: Electricity costs and supply reliability are important constraints for refrigeration-dependent meat-processing facilities.

Aims: This study assessed a grid-connected photovoltaic (PV)-battery system for the Mbour slaughterhouse in Senegal using facility electricity records and a simulated operating profile.

Methods: Electricity bills, monthly energy consumption, maximum demand, and meat-production records for the available reference period were analysed. System sizing and techno-economic simulation were conducted in the System Advisor Model (version 2026.7.3). Technical evaluation considered annual generation, specific yield, capacity factor, performance ratio, grid interaction, and PV/BESS contribution. Economic evaluation considered capital cost, net present value (NPV), levelised cost of energy (LCOE), and payback.

Results: The proposed configuration comprised approximately 92 kWp of PV, about 70 kW of inverter capacity, and a battery system sized at 45 kW/180 kWh. Simulated PV generation was about 152 MWh/year, with a specific yield of 1,658 kWh/kWp, a capacity factor of 18.90%, and a performance ratio of 74%. The estimated CAPEX was $219,278. Under the stated tariff, replacement, and discount-rate assumptions over 25 years, the model yielded an NPV of −$14,948 and an LCOE of 15.90 ¢/kWh.

Conclusion: The configuration can reduce grid electricity expenditure, although economic performance remains sensitive to battery costs and replacement, electricity tariffs, export compensation, and financing conditions.

First-principles Investigation of Phonon, Elastic, and Thermodynamic Properties of Co₂MnSi, FeCo₂Si, and CrCo₂Si Heusler Compounds

2026-10-08T12:41:40+00:00

Co-based full-Heusler compounds provide a useful platform for examining how transition-metal substitution modifies lattice dynamics and mechanical response. In this work, a comparative analysis is presented for Co₂MnSi, Co₂FeSi, and Co₂CrSi using the crystallographic, phonon, elastic-tensor, and harmonic-thermodynamic datasets supplied for the three compounds. The structural files describe four-atom cells with nearly identical metrics (a = 3.94914 Å, b = 3.94914 Å, c = 3.94914 Å; α ≈ β ≈ γ = 60°), corresponding to an equivalent cubic parameter of approximately 5.585 Å. Each phonon dataset contains 12 branches sampled at 1,010 reciprocal-space points. No negative entries occur along the supplied phonon paths, with maximum phonon energies of 43.3971, 42.3177, and 43.8669 meV for Co₂MnSi, Co₂FeSi, and Co₂CrSi, respectively. In contrast, analysis of the complete displayed 6 × 6 stiffness matrices gives six positive eigenvalues for Co₂MnSi and Co₂CrSi, whereas Co₂FeSi has two negative eigenvalues (−4.330 and −3.571 GPa), indicating loss of positive definiteness with respect to homogeneous strain. The smallest positive stiffness eigenvalues are 25.85 GPa for Co₂MnSi and 3.44 GPa for Co₂CrSi, demonstrating markedly different soft-strain responses. The reported harmonic thermodynamic functions show increasing entropy and heat capacity and decreasing vibrational Helmholtz free energy with temperature. A systematic normalisation discrepancy is identified in the exported phonon density of states: direct integration gives approximately 49–50 modes, whereas a four-atom primitive cell must contain 12 modes. Division by 4.13567, the approximate THz-to-meV conversion factor, recovers 11.93–12.08 modes, strongly suggesting a frequency-axis/DOS-amplitude conversion inconsistency. The study therefore provides a rigorous comparative assessment of the supplied computational outputs while distinguishing path-specific dynamical behaviour from complete stability and identifying the additional calculations required for a fully reproducible first-principles study.

Carbon-Catalysed Carbon Deposition via Hydrocarbon Cracking

2026-10-12T07:22:18+00:00

Packed-bed reactors are commonly used to measure global kinetic parameters such as conversion, yield, and selectivity in hydrocarbon pyrolysis and catalytic decomposition studies. However, these reactors can suffer from several limitations, such as non-uniform gas residence time, concurrent gas-phase and surface reactions, and potential disruption of deposited carbon structures during post-reaction sampling. This study introduces an alternative approach using a seeded aerosol method, in which carbonaceous catalysts are suspended in a reactive gas stream and subjected to pyrolysis at high temperatures. The resulting carbon aerosols are collected and analysed using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results show that the structure of the collected carbon particles is strongly influenced by the initial nanostructure and chemical state of the seed catalyst. This technique offers new insights into the controlled growth of carbon nanomaterials and holds promise for the design of functional carbon blacks with novel morphologies. Combined with ReaxFF simulations, this approach lays the groundwork for the rational design of functional carbon materials with tailored properties. By avoiding the limitations of packed-bed reactors, the method enables direct correlation between catalyst nanostructure and the resulting carbon morphology. The findings suggest that seed-particle reactivity and surface features play crucial roles in carbon deposition.

Vegetation Recovery and Biodiversity Enhancement Following Ecological Restoration of a Degraded Rocky Hill in the Indian Thar Desert

2026-10-13T08:07:09+00:00

Aims: To assess early vegetation recovery and biodiversity enhancement following ecological restoration of a degraded rocky hill at Lunawas Bhakhar, Jodhpur, western Rajasthan.

Study Design: A comparative site-level assessment was conducted between a plantation/restoration field (PF) and an adjoining outside plantation field (OPF).

Place and Duration of Study: Lunawas Bhakhar, Jodhpur, western Rajasthan, India; restoration began in 2022 and vegetation was surveyed in 2024.

Methodology: Vegetation was sampled using nested 30 × 30 m plots for trees, 5 × 5 m plots for shrubs and 1 × 1 m quadrats for herbaceous vegetation. Thirty sampling units were examined, with 15 in each field. Species density, frequency and abundance were recorded, and species richness, Shannon diversity and evenness were compared descriptively because only species-level summary data were available.

Results: Thirty-four plant species were recorded in PF and six in OPF, giving PF approximately 5.7 times the recorded species richness. Shannon diversity was 2.088 in PF and approximately 1.635 in OPF, whereas evenness was 0.592 and approximately 0.913, respectively. The PF community included planted woody species together with spontaneously occurring grasses, herbs, legumes and shrubs, and the herbaceous layer was dominated by Aristida funiculata.

Conclusion: After two years, the protected restoration field supported a richer and more functionally varied plant community than the adjoining outside field. The findings represent an early site-level restoration response rather than natural recruitment alone.

A Framework for a Smart Construction Project: Machine Learning Approach

2026-10-14T11:44:44+00:00

Smart construction project management integrates advanced technologies, data analytics, and digital tools to support the planning, execution, and monitoring of construction projects. This study aimed to identify critical success factors (CSFs) influencing construction project success in Tanzania and to examine how machine learning can be integrated into project management to support a smart construction approach. A mixed-methods design was adopted. Quantitative data were collected through structured questionnaires from 100 construction experts and stakeholders, while qualitative data were obtained through interviews with 10 professionals. The study identified 41 CSFs, which were rated and used as input features for machine learning model development. Data pre-processing and feature selection were undertaken, and the dataset was expanded using generative adversarial networks. Logistic regression, random forest, support vector classifier, and decision tree models were evaluated using accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and receiver operating characteristic metrics. Results showed that the random forest and support vector classifier models had identical performance across the evaluation metrics, with approximately 0.97 for accuracy, 0.99 for precision, 0.97 for F1-score, and 1.00 for ROC; both outperformed the logistic regression and decision tree algorithms. The developed model was deployed in a Streamlit-based web application that allows users to rate CSFs and obtain project success predictions. The framework demonstrates how locally identified CSFs and machine learning can support pre-implementation assessment of construction project success in the Tanzanian context.

Serological Investigation of Orf Virus in Small Ruminants with Clinical Signs of Contagious Ecthyma

2026-10-15T11:15:43+00:00

Contagious ecthyma is a zoonotic disease of small ruminants caused by orf virus (ORFV). This study characterised ORFV antibody seropositivity in 200 clinically affected animals from Burdur, Türkiye: 50 sheep, 50 goats, 50 lambs, and 50 kids. ORFV-specific IgM was assessed in lambs and kids, whereas ORFV-specific IgG was assessed in sheep and goats using qualitative ELISA. Seropositivity was examined by age, sex, and breed using Fisher's exact test for 2 x 2 comparisons and Fisher-Freeman-Halton exact tests for larger contingency tables. Group-specific seropositivity was 28% (14/50) in lambs, 16% (8/50) in kids, 16% (8/50) in sheep, and 20% (10/50) in goats; the aggregate proportion across the clinically selected sample was 20% (40/200). In lambs, IgM seropositivity differed by age (p = 0.021), sex (p = 0.004), and breed (p = 0.011). In kids, breed differences were significant (p < 0.001), whereas age (p = 0.222) and sex (p = 0.247) were not. Among adults, age and sex were not significantly associated with IgG seropositivity in sheep or goats; sheep breed was also not significant (p = 0.222), while goat breed showed an exploratory association (p = 0.045). Overall lamb-kid and sheep-goat comparisons were not significant. These findings describe antibody patterns within a symptomatic clinical sample and should not be interpreted as population prevalence or aetiological confirmation of current lesions. ELISA can support serological assessment, while molecular detection is required for direct confirmation of ORFV.

An in silico Molecular Docking Study of Andaliman (Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC.) Phytochemicals against the HER2 Kinase Domain through Re-Docking Validation

2026-10-16T11:50:57+00:00

Aims: To evaluate the predicted interactions of six andaliman (Zanthoxylum acanthopodium DC.) phytochemicals, namely quercetin, 4-coumaric acid, isorhamnetin, berberine, ferulic acid, and kaempferol, with the HER2 kinase domain using a molecular docking protocol validated by re-docking.

Study Design: A computational in silico study using a structure-based molecular docking approach.

Place and Duration of Study: Computational analysis using molecular structures obtained from the RCSB Protein Data Bank and PubChem. No physical study site was involved.

Methodology: Chain A of the HER2 kinase structure (PDB ID 3PP0) was used as the receptor. The docking protocol was validated by re-docking the co-crystallised ligand 03Q using AutoDock Vina 1.1.2. The grid box was centred at 17.098971, 16.548676, and 26.600647 Å with a size of 20 × 20 × 20 Å³ and an exhaustiveness of 16. Heavy-atom RMSD was calculated using Open Babel obrms. The six phytochemicals, together with the reference ligands lapatinib and TAK-285, were then docked into the same binding site. Binding affinity and ligand–protein interactions were analysed using PyMOL.

Results: Re-docking of 03Q yielded a heavy-atom RMSD of 0.70355 Å, below the 2.0 Å threshold. The phytochemicals showed binding affinities ranging from −6.5 to −9.9 kcal/mol, compared with −10.6 and −12.1 kcal/mol for lapatinib and TAK-285, respectively. Berberine showed polar contacts with ASP863, MET801, and GLY804, while kaempferol formed one confirmed hydrogen bond with ASP863. Both reference ligands formed confirmed hydrogen bonds with SER728. No geometrically supported π–π interactions were identified.

Conclusion: The docking protocol satisfied the operational validation criterion. The findings provide initial structural insights into andaliman phytochemical interactions with HER2; however, the results remain predictive and require further computational and experimental validation.

Farmer Organizations and Local Development in Middle Guinea: A Comparative Analysis of FPFD and UGAS

2026-10-22T09:15:30+00:00

This descriptive comparative case study examines the documented structures, service provision, infrastructure, and governance of the Fouta-Djallon Farmers’ Federation (FPFD) and the Soumbalako Agricultural Groups Union (UGAS) in Middle Guinea. The source record combines a main-survey summary listing 2,554 records, consultations, and organisational documentation from eight prefectures; complete information on the survey unit, organisation-specific allocation, and reference periods is unavailable. Recorded FPFD membership comprises 35,075 producers in 1,244 groups and 48 unions, compared with 4,525 producers in 95 UGAS groups. Organisational summaries report income-change ranges of 28–35% and 10–25%, respectively, and reductions in postharvest losses of 20–30% and 10–20%. FPFD also reports greater absolute storage capacity and irrigated area. These figures lack common baselines, indicator definitions, or consistently documented dates and therefore cannot establish relative effectiveness or causal impact. Membership, leadership renewal, and meeting-frequency indicators describe governance activity rather than decision-making influence. Comparison with earlier studies of both organisations further clarifies the historical and documentary character of the evidence. The case study identifies candidate pathways linking collective marketing, infrastructure, and participatory governance to local development, while underscoring the need for dated administrative registers, facility-use data, and longitudinal farm-level monitoring before stronger conclusions can be drawn.

Effects of Flocculant Type, Dosage, and pH on Phosphate Tailings Dewatering and Water Recovery

2026-10-22T09:42:05+00:00

The growth of mining activities, together with recent tailings dam failures, has increased the need to evaluate alternative methods for the disposal of tailings and other by-products generated during mineral processing. In this context, dewatering represents an important strategy for enabling alternative disposal methods, such as filtered tailings stacking. This study investigated the filtration dewatering behaviour of phosphate tailings and the effects of flocculant type, pH, and dosage on cake moisture content and unit filtration rate (UFR). Preliminary vacuum filtration tests were conducted to establish the dewatering time and screen commercial reagents for the subsequent experiments. Magnafloc 351, a nonionic polyacrylamide, and Magnafloc 504, a cationic polyacrylamide, were selected and evaluated using a 2³ full factorial design with duplicate experiments. Laboratory-scale vacuum filtration tests were performed with phosphate tailings slurries containing 60 wt. % solids. The target cake moisture content for subsequent compaction and stacking was established at 11.59% on a wet basis based on the Proctor compaction test. Factorial analysis showed that flocculant dosage had the largest effect on cake moisture content, whereas pH had the strongest effect on UFR, with significant interactions among the experimental factors. The best overall compromise between residual cake moisture and filtration rate was obtained with Magnafloc 351 at pH 6 and a dosage of 30 g/t, resulting in a cake moisture content of approximately 17.25% and a UFR of 387 kg/m² h. Although the target moisture content was not achieved, the results demonstrate that flocculant characteristics and operating conditions strongly influence phosphate tailings filtration and that conditions favouring higher filtration rates do not necessarily minimise residual cake moisture.

Variation of Ionic Mass of Aerosols, PM2.5 and PM10 along the Transect of African Ecosystems: Dry Savanna-wet Savanna-Equatorial Forest

2026-10-22T13:51:14+00:00

As part of the INDAAF program, this study analyzes the variation in total aerosol (without size differentiation) ion masses, PM₂.₅, and PM₁₀ along a transect of African ecosystems ranging from dry savanna to equatorial forest. Weekly samples were collected between 1996 and 2009 at five sites: Banizoumbou (Niger), Katibougou (Mali), Lamto (Ivory Coast), Zoetele (Cameroon), and Djougou (Benin). Inorganic ions (Cl⁻, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, Na⁺, NH₄⁺, K⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺) and organic ions (HCOO⁻, CH₃COO⁻, C₂H₅COO⁻) were quantified by ion chromatography. The results reveal a negative gradient in the total ionic mass of aerosols during the dry season, ranging from 9.10 µg/m³ in Banizoumbou to 4.58 µg/m³ in Zoetele. These values are 1,78 to 3.47 times higher than those obtained during the wet season. This gradient is controlled by the temperature gradient and the gradient of the species concentrations established along the ecosystem transect. Significant correlations (p < 0.001) show a dominance of terrigenous sources in dry savannas (Ca²⁺: R = 0.97 in Banizoumbou; R = 0.95 in Katibougou), while biogenic emissions predominate in wet savannas (K⁺ in Lamto, R = 0.94) and equatorial forest (SO₄²⁻ in Zoetele, R = 0.81). CO₃²⁻ contributes significantly to the ionic mass of aerosols: up to 44% in the dry season at Banizoumbou, compared to 7.8% in Zoetele. In Djougou, PM₁₀ correlates with C₂O₄²⁻ (R = 0.98, p < 0.025), while PM₂.₅ correlates with K⁺ (R = 0.94, p < 0.001) and (Ca²⁺ + NH₄⁺). In Banizoumbou, PM₁₀ correlates with Ca²⁺ (R = 0.99, p < 0.001), and PM₂.₅ with (Ca²⁺ + NH₄⁺) (R = 0.97, p < 0.005). These observations confirm the predominance of terrigenous inputs in arid areas and biogenic emissions (biodegradation, biomass fires) in wet areas.

Investigation of the Potential of Carica papaya Seeds as a Biomass-based Catalyst for Biodiesel Production

2026-10-23T12:07:18+00:00

Biomass-derived catalysts offer a potential route for using agricultural residues in biodiesel production. A cost-effective catalyst synthesis route utilising biomass was explored, whereby Carica papaya seeds were investigated as a sustainable catalyst for biodiesel production. Carica papaya seed ash was produced by calcining dried papaya seed powder for three hours at 500 °C, 550 °C, 600 °C, 650 °C, and 700 °C. The calcination temperature, typically ranging between 500 °C and 700 °C, is strongly influenced by the nature of the precursor material; below this range oxide formation is incomplete, whereas higher temperatures lead to the destruction of active oxide sites. In this study, calcination was carefully controlled for three hours at each temperature. Subsequently, transesterification of methanol with Eucalyptus globulus oil was carried out using the calcined Carica papaya seed ash as a catalyst, and the effects of reaction time, catalyst calcination temperature, and catalyst loading were systematically investigated. Biodiesel properties were evaluated according to EN 14214. Carica papaya seed ash was characterised by SEM-EDX, FTIR, BET and XRD. SEM-EDX confirmed active oxides such as K₂O, MgO, and CaO, which act as catalytic sites in transesterification. Optimised conditions yielded 96.5% biodiesel at 60 °C, 2 h reaction time, 600 °C calcination, a 2 wt% catalyst loading, and a 12:1 methanol-to-oil ratio. Several measured biodiesel properties were within the stated EN 14214 limits, although the reported viscosity was slightly below the specified minimum. Carica papaya seed ash calcined at 600°C is a low-cost and efficient catalyst. Further investigation is required before industrial application can be assessed.

Fungicidal Potential of Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) G. Don Stem Bark Extracts against Candida albicans: Phytochemical Profile and Acute Toxicity Assessment

2026-10-27T09:20:42+00:00

Background: Candida albicans infections present a growing therapeutic challenge due to emerging antifungal resistance.

Aims: This study evaluated the phytochemical composition, in vitro antifungal potential against Candida albicans, and the acute oral toxicity of aqueous (NindA) and ethanolic (NindE) stem bark extracts of Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) G.Don.

Methods: Parkia biglobosa stem bark was extracted by maceration using distilled water (NindA) and 70% ethanol (NindE), and extraction yields were calculated. Qualitative phytochemical screening was performed to characterise secondary metabolites. Antifungal activity against Candida albicans was evaluated by broth/agar dilution methods to determine Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC), MFC/MIC ratio, and 50% inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀). Acute oral toxicity was assessed in vivo in female Wistar rats following OECD Guideline 423 using a single starting dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight (bw) administered in two sequential steps of 3 rats each. Mortality, clinical signs, and body weight changes were recorded over 14 days.

Results: Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, saponins, and polyphenols. Both extracts exhibited fungicidal activity (MFC/MIC ratio = 1). The ethanolic extract (NindE) yielded MIC = 6.25 ± 0.57 mg/mL, MFC = 6.25 ± 0.08 mg/mL, and IC₅₀ = 0.78 ± 0.53 mg/mL12. The aqueous extract (NindA) showed MIC = 6.25 ± 0.11 mg/mL, MFC = 6.25 ± 0.17 mg/mL, and IC₅₀= 1.17 ± 0.23 mg/mL1. NindE showed a trend towards greater potency based on its lower IC₅₀. In the acute toxicity test, no mortality or adverse clinical signs were observed at 2000 mg/kg, classifying the extracts in GHS Category 5 (unclassified/safe).

Conclusion: Parkia biglobosa stem bark extracts demonstrated fungicidal activity against Candida albicans with no observed acute oral toxicity at the tested dose, supporting their potential development as natural antifungal agents.

Waste Valorization of Polyethylene Terephthalate and Periwinkle Shells for Sustainable Adsorptive Removal of Trichloroacetic Acid from Domestic Water

2026-10-28T07:53:10+00:00

Trichloroacetic acid (TCA), a chlorination-derived disinfection by-product, can persist in treated water and requires effective removal approaches. This study evaluated the performance of polyethylene terephthalate-derived activated carbon (PAC), periwinkle shell powder (PSP), and PAC–PSP composites for TCA removal, with emphasis on process optimisation, characterisation, equilibrium behaviour, reusability, and application to field water. PAC was produced from waste PET using cocoa pod husk-derived alkaline activation and carbonisation, while composites were prepared at PAC:PSP ratios of 70:30 (STC) and 40:60 (FSC). Adsorbents were characterised by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Batch experiments examined pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time, and initial TCA concentration. PAC achieved 99.33% removal at pH 9, 0.06 g dosage, and 4 min contact time, while maximum removals for STC, PSP, and FSC were 95.52%, 89.81%, and 88.86%, respectively. Under optimised conditions, field water TCA removal ranged from 86.51% to 98.04%, with STC achieving 94.28% removal in raw water and 98.04% in conventionally treated water. All adsorbents retained more than 75% removal efficiency through five regeneration cycles, although performance declined with repeated use. The Freundlich model provided a better empirical fit than the Langmuir model based on comparative coefficients of determination (R²). Overall, PAC, PSP and PAC–PSP composites demonstrated promising potential for TCA removal while supporting waste valorisation and circular water treatment strategies. PAC showed a 16.43% carbon yield and 1.97% ash content, while characterisation indicated distinct carbonaceous and mineral-rich surface features. The findings support practical waste-to-resource applications for sustainable domestic water treatment under the investigated operating conditions.

Study of Phytochemical Screening and Thin-layer Chromatography Profile of Leaf Extract of Ocimum kilimandscharicum

2026-10-31T03:46:05+00:00

Secondary metabolites from medicinal and aromatic plants continue to play significant roles in pharmaceuticals, agriculture and industry. Ocimum kilimandscharicum (camphor basil), a member of the Lamiaceae family, is known for its essential oils and traditional applications; however, comparative phytochemical analyses of its leaf extracts remain relevant. This study aimed to screen and compare the phytochemical constituents of aqueous and ethanolic leaf extracts of O. kilimandscharicum using qualitative chemical tests and thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Leaf samples were prepared and extracted separately using distilled water and ethanol. Qualitative tests for alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, phenols, terpenoids and carbohydrates were performed on both extracts using colour-change and precipitation reactions. TLC profiling was performed on precoated silica gel 60 F254 plates using five mobile-phase systems of different polarities: (1) n-butanol:acetic acid:water (4:1:5); (2) chloroform:ethyl acetate:methanol:water (15:8:4:1); (3) hexane:ethyl acetate (8:2); (4) chloroform:methanol (15:1); and (5) hexane alone (100%). All seven phytochemical classes were detected in both aqueous and ethanolic extracts. TLC revealed multiple bands in three of the five systems for the aqueous extract and four systems for the ethanolic extract, whereas hexane alone showed no migration for either extract. The recorded Rf values and chromatographic profiles demonstrated variation in the separation of extract constituents across the solvent systems. These findings provide preliminary phytochemical information relevant to further investigation of the potential use of O. kilimandscharicum extracts in botanical management of the stored-grain pest Sitophilus oryzae; they do not, by themselves, establish insecticidal efficacy.

A Bibliometric Analysis of Research on Power System Modelling Based on Hybrid System Theory: Trends, Structures, and Research Opportunities

2026-10-31T08:11:26+00:00

Hybrid systems theory offers a modelling framework for power systems in which continuous dynamics interact with discrete events. This study examines the development, intellectual structure and research directions of publications applying hybrid systems theory to power system modelling. A bibliometric analysis was conducted using 797 English-language articles indexed in Scopus between 2000 and 2025. The dataset was examined through descriptive publication indicators and scientific mapping, including analyses of co-authorship, international collaboration, influential publications and keyword co-occurrence. The results indicate a generally increasing publication trend, with annual output reaching 54 articles in 2025. Publication activity was concentrated in journals specialising in automatic control and hybrid systems, reflecting the theoretical orientation of the literature. The United States and China each accounted for 24% of the geographical distribution reported in the study, while several European countries made additional contributions. Co-authorship mapping identified nine author clusters, and the country collaboration analysis identified ten clusters. Keyword co-occurrence mapping highlighted hybrid systems, hybrid automata and switched systems as prominent concepts, alongside terms associated with electrical power control, transmission and stability. Overall, the findings suggest that research in this area draws substantially on control theory while extending towards applications in electrical networks. The study provides a structured account of publication patterns and identifies opportunities to strengthen connections between theoretical modelling and power-system applications.

Hydroagricultural Scheme Adoption and Economic Performance of Rice Farms in Benin

2026-10-31T10:58:31+00:00

This study investigated factors associated with hydroagricultural scheme adoption and differences in productive and economic performance between rice farms using and not using schemes in Benin. Survey data covered 450 rice farms in Malanville (200), Glazoué (150) and Banikoara (100), of which 361 were users and 89 were non-users. A logistic regression model examined adoption correlates, while inverse probability weighting, nearest-neighbour propensity-score matching and adjusted outcome regression were used to compare yields and economic margins while accounting for measured covariates. Overall adoption was 80.2%, ranging from 60.0% in Banikoara to 70.7% in Glazoué and 97.5% in Malanville. Unadjusted mean rice yields were 4,927 kg ha−1 for users and 3,610 kg ha−1 for non-users. The adjusted yield differences were 1,551 kg ha−1 under inverse probability weighting, 2,317 kg ha−1 under matching and 1,077 kg ha−1 under outcome regression. Membership of a producer organisation was positively associated with adoption, and substantial municipal differences were observed. All three estimators indicated higher yields among users, although estimated magnitudes differed. Economic-margin estimates also favoured users but were highly sensitive to estimator choice and uncertainty in recorded monetary units, revenues and costs. The results suggest a positive association between reported scheme use and rice yield, but the near-universal adoption in Malanville, potential residual confounding and monetary-data concerns limit causal and profitability interpretations.

Performance Analysis of Spatial Modulation–OFDM (SM-OFDM) for 5G and Beyond Mobile Networks: A Simulation-Based Study of Bit Error Rate and Spectral Efficiency under Imperfect Channel Estimation

2026-11-02T10:08:08+00:00

The exponential growth of mobile data traffic requires higher spectral efficiency (SE) and lower hardware costs in 5G networks and beyond. Spatial Modulation (SM) activates a single transmit antenna per channel use, which removes inter-channel interference (ICI), requires a single RF chain and conveys log2(Mt) additional bits through the index of the active antenna. This paper evaluates SM combined with OFDM (SM-OFDM) over frequency-selective multipath channels using MATLAB Monte Carlo simulation (128-point FFT, zero-forcing/MRC receiver, no channel coding). The bit error rate (BER) and SE are assessed as functions of the M-QAM/M-PSK modulation order (up to M = 128), the numbers of transmit and receive antennas (Mt up to 128, Mr up to 64) and the channel-estimation error Δh (0 to 0.3). The principal findings are as follows: (i) 16-QAM reaches BER = 10⁻⁴ at about 30 dB, higher orders require a few additional dB, and QAM outperforms PSK by 1–2 dB; (ii) 16-PSK and 16-QAM differ by less than 1 dB; (iii) increasing Mt degrades the BER but raises the SE (for 4-PSK at 20 dB, from about 6 bit/s/Hz with Mt = 4 to about 9.5 bit/s/Hz with Mt = 64); (iv) adding receive antennas improves reliability; (v) channel-estimation errors produce an error floor, so accurate CSI is essential. Unlike earlier SM-OFDM studies limited to narrowband channels or to a single parameter, this work analyses modulation order, antenna numbers and CSI error jointly. The conclusions are simulation-based and should be validated with measured channels, coded transmission and a quantitative energy-efficiency assessment.

Predicting Cardiovascular Disease: Leveraging Demographic and Clinical Data with Machine Learning

2026-11-03T12:37:09+00:00

Aims: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of global morbidity and mortality and disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including the Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region. Traditional risk scores rely on a limited set of linear predictors and frequently fail to detect asymptomatic and subclinical disease. This study aimed to develop and validate an advanced machine learning (ML) model to predict CVD risk using routinely collected demographic and clinical data, integrated with Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) biomarkers derived from vital signs and laboratory reports.

Study Design: A retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of de-identified outpatient electronic medical records (EMR).

Methodology: A dataset of 3,840 de-identified outpatient records was extracted from the JKCI EMR database with 18 demographic and clinical features. Age, sex, blood pressure, lipid profiles, BMI, HbA1c, electrolytes, liver and renal markers were preprocessed through cleaning, expert labeling, encoding, and class balancing using the Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique (SMOTE). Five supervised algorithms (Logistic Regression, K-Nearest Neighbors, Support Vector Machine, Random Forest, and XGBoost) were trained and evaluated using accuracy, precision, recall, specificity, F1-score, ROC-AUC, and ten-fold cross-validation. Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanation (LIME) was applied for interpretability.

Results: Random Forest achieved the highest performance (accuracy = 92.5%, recall = 90.0%, specificity = 93.0%, ROC-AUC = 0.94), outperforming all other ML models. Ten-fold cross-validation accuracy consistently exceeded 94%. Feature importance analysis identified age, LDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, HbA1c, and BMI as the most influential predictors, consistent with the established clinical evidence. LIME visualization illustrated the trustworthiness and usefulness of the explainable AI outputs for clinical decision support.

Conclusion: Leveraging demographics, clinical data, and RAAS biomarkers with machine learning markedly enhances early CVD risk prediction in asymptomatic patients, supporting scalable, data-driven precision cardiology.

Socioeconomic and Environmental Benefits and Barriers to Community Adoption of Regreening Practices around Lake Ol'Bolossat, Kenya

2026-11-04T11:12:48+00:00

Land degradation, climate variability, declining ecosystem services, and livelihood vulnerability have increased the importance of community-based regreening initiatives in African landscapes. This study assessed regreening practices, perceived socioeconomic and environmental benefits, and barriers to adoption among communities surrounding Lake Ol'Bolossat, Kenya. A mixed-methods cross-sectional design was employed, involving 297 household respondents selected through proportional stratified sampling followed by systematic random sampling. Data were collected using structured household questionnaires, key-informant interviews, focus group discussions, field observations, and secondary information. Quantitative findings were based primarily on verified descriptive results, while qualitative information was analysed thematically. Overall, 190 respondents (64.0%) were classified as adopters of regreening practices, compared with 107 (36.0%) non-adopters. Rainwater harvesting was the most widely reported practice, involving 244 respondents (82.2%), followed by boundary planting at 187 (62.9%) and soil conservation at 117 (39.4%). Agroforestry was reported by 103 respondents (34.7%), while fruit production, mulching, and contour farming were reported by 25.3%, 13.1%, and 4.4%, respectively; no respondent reported using zai pits. Adoption patterns varied descriptively across socioeconomic categories. For example, adoption ranged from 37.5% among respondents with no formal education to 71.8% among university-educated respondents, while farmers reported an adoption level of 68.3%. Regarding environmental conditions, 176 respondents (59.3%) reported an increase in tree cover, 168 (56.6%) reported an increase in cultivated land, and 104 (35.0%) reported declining soil fertility. These reports indicated that perceived changes in tree cover and continued agricultural expansion may have occurred simultaneously within the landscape. Reported barriers included water scarcity, limited financial resources, inadequate access to quality seedlings, insufficient technical support, land constraints, climate variability, and delayed economic returns. The findings indicated that community-based regreening around Lake Ol'Bolossat had the potential to contribute to ecosystem restoration and rural livelihoods, but sustained adoption required improved water management, extension support, access to suitable restoration inputs, livelihood-oriented incentives, and participatory planning. Quantitative analysis was restricted to verified descriptive results; unverified inferential statistics were not reported as completed findings.

Pastoralism in Transition: Factors Associated with the Diversity of Pastoral Adaptation Strategies in Burkina Faso

2026-11-04T12:20:24+00:00

Background: Pastoral and agropastoral households in Burkina Faso face ecological and social pressures that may influence their adaptation strategies.

Aims: To identify the factors associated with the selection of pastoral adaptation strategies to understand the diversity of observed practices and guide policies that support herders.

Study Design: Cross-sectional household survey with a semi-structured questionnaire; stratified purposive sampling of households.

Place and Duration of Study: 38 villages in nine communes of the Sahelian and Sudanian zones of Burkina Faso, October 2023.

Methodology: Data were obtained through interviews with the heads of 125 pastoral and agropastoral households using a semi-structured questionnaire. Households could report several strategies. Associations with household status, herd composition and commune were tested with chi-square tests (Monte Carlo P values and Holm adjustment) in R 4.5.1.

Results: Reduced mobility (21.3% of mentions) and destocking (20.5%) were the most frequent strategies. Nine of the 14 associations tested remained significant after adjustment. Commune was associated with all five strategies tested (P ≤ .002), herd composition with reduced mobility and herd diversification (both P < .001), and household status with herd diversification (P < .001) and sedentarization (P = .002). Displaced households used a balanced mix of strategies, native households tended towards destocking and reduced mobility, and migrant households reported a relatively even distribution of strategies.

Conclusion: These associations are bivariate and were derived from a single survey, so they describe the surveyed areas at one point in time. They argue for support policies differentiated by commune, herd composition and household status rather than standardised approaches.

Performance Assessment and Prospective Scenario Analysis of the Drinking Water Supply System in the Urban Commune of Diffa, Niger

2026-11-04T12:30:00+00:00

This study assesses the performance of the drinking-water supply system in the Urban Commune of Diffa, Niger, and develops a prospective scenario analysis to 2040. It evaluates water demand, service coverage, production, distribution, billing, and selected network-performance indicators using documentary review, field observations, and interviews with water-service staff. The system comprises a mixed distribution network of 177.14 km, supplied by 12 boreholes and a 500 m³ storage reservoir, with 6,494 subscribers. Estimated water demand increased from 5,923.80 m³/day in 2019 to 6,983.52 m³/day in 2023, while population access was 54.5% in 2023. For January–June 2023, primary efficiency ranged from 76% to 96%, and the distribution-to-billing gap ranged from approximately 4% to 24%. The weighted production-to-billing gap over the six months was 22.39%. A prospective model using a 4.2% annual population-growth rate indicates that demand could reach approximately 14,055 m³/day by 2040. Three scenarios were evaluated: (i) a trend scenario maintaining the current overall efficiency of 77.61%; (ii) an improvement scenario progressively reaching 90% efficiency by 2040; and (iii) an optimal scenario combining 95% efficiency with production-capacity expansion and phased network extension. By 2040, the required production is estimated at approximately 18,110, 15,617, and 14,795 m³/day under the three scenarios, respectively. Diffa should pursue efficiency improvements and infrastructure investment together to improve the reliability and sustainability of drinking water services.

Bioconversion of Indian White Prawn (Fenneropenaeus indicus) Shell Waste into Chitosan: FTIR Structural Characterization and Antibacterial Activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus

2026-11-05T12:16:40+00:00

Crustacean shell waste from seafood processing is a major environmental concern, although it constitutes a rich source of chitin and its deacetylated derivative, chitosan. This study aimed to extract and characterise chitosan from the shell waste of Indian white prawn (Fenneropenaeus indicus) and evaluate its antibacterial activity. Prawn shell powder (10 g) was subjected to sequential demineralisation, deproteinisation, decolourisation, and deacetylation. Characterisation of the recovered chitosan was performed by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy (400–4000 cm⁻¹), and its antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was assessed at 0.5% and 1% (w/v) concentrations using both disc and agar well diffusion assays. The extraction yielded 2.3 g of chitosan from 10 g of shell powder (23% yield). The FTIR spectrum confirmed the characteristic chitosan profile, with absorption bands at 3435.7 cm⁻¹, 2921.5 cm⁻¹, 1653.0 cm⁻¹, and 1152.6/1076.1 cm⁻¹. Antibacterial activity was concentration- and method-dependent: zones of inhibition ranged from 10 mm (0.5%, disc diffusion) to 33 mm (1%, well diffusion) against E. coli and from 10 mm to 46 mm against S. aureus, with the largest zone (46 mm) recorded for S. aureus treated with 1% chitosan by the well diffusion method.

Business Environment and Demand for Metropolitan Coordination in Grand Nokoué an Analysis of Economic Stakeholders

2026-11-05T13:24:31+00:00

Grand Nokoué comprises five municipalities with interconnected economic activities, yet businesses operate across different local administrative settings. This study describes constraints reported by economic stakeholders and examines their preferences for metropolitan coordination. A questionnaire was administered to 58 stakeholders from Abomey-Calavi, Cotonou, Porto-Novo, Ouidah and Sèmè-Kpodji. The sample comprised 42 microenterprises, 12 small enterprises and four medium-sized enterprises. The questionnaire also covered commercial links, public investments and expectations concerning metropolitan services. Responses were summarised using descriptive proportions; Wilson 95% confidence intervals were reported for selected estimates. Access to finance was the most frequently cited obstacle (47/58; 81.0%), followed by the informal sector (36/58; 62.1%), administrative complexity (33/58; 56.9%), taxation (32/58; 55.2%) and logistical difficulties (28/58; 48.3%). Both the harmonisation of procedures and the establishment of a metropolitan authority were supported by 49 stakeholders (84.5%; 95% CI: 73.1–91.6). Thirty-six respondents (62.1%) reported a positive perception of Government Action Programme projects. Regarding financial contributions, 12 respondents expressed voluntary willingness to contribute, while 29 would contribute if benefits were clear. The findings suggest that respondents' support for metropolitan coordination is associated with practical expectations concerning finance, administrative procedures and logistics. Because the sample was non-probabilistic and relatively small, these findings describe the surveyed stakeholders and do not establish population-wide preferences or causal effects.

Study of the Influence of Mass Flow Rate on the Thermal Efficiency of a Pressurized Air Volumetric Receptor

2026-11-06T11:25:53+00:00

The pressurised air volumetric solar receiver, a component of a solar tower, is better suited for high-temperature operation than the surface solar receiver. To predict its behaviour, it is important to model the pressurised air volumetric solar receiver. Several parameters can influence the thermal performance of the volumetric receiver, including variations in the incident solar flux, the receiver's aperture area, and the mass flow rate. This study examines the influence of air mass flow rate on the thermal efficiency of the pressurised air volumetric receiver. The work defines the equations of the physical model and the principles of the numerical simulation. COMSOL Multiphysics 6.2 software was used to simulate performance. Increasing the incident solar flux improves the thermal performance of the receiver. However, increasing the mass flow rate regulates the receiver temperature. At low solar fluxes, the temperature difference ΔT is small, whereas at high solar fluxes, ΔT is significant, on the order of 200 K. Increasing the mass flow rate from 0.009 kg/s to 0.036 kg/s results in a change in the thermal efficiency of the volumetric receiver from 19% to 44%. The concentrated incident solar flux varies from 50 kW/m² to 175 kW/m².

Biostimulation of Crude Oil-contaminated Soil Using Plantain (Musa paradisiaca) Pseudo-stem Residues: Effects on Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon Degradation and Soil Physicochemical Properties

2026-11-06T11:34:00+00:00

The Niger Delta of Nigeria faces a major environmental problem: crude oil pollution. Agricultural soils have been adversely affected by many years of petroleum activities. The study examined the potential of plantain (Musa paradisiaca) pseudo-stem residues as a low-cost biostimulant for the restoration of crude-oil-contaminated loam soil. Ten treatments, including an unamended control, were incubated for 56 days in a Completely Randomized Design with dry pseudo-stem (DPS), fresh pseudo-stem (FPS), and the combination (DPS + FPS) added to soil spiked with 18,920 mg/kg total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH). Soil pH, electrical conductivity (EC), moisture, organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and residual TPH were analysed at 14-day intervals. Degradation kinetics, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation analysis were used to evaluate the treatment effects and relationships among variables. TPH removal was better in pseudo-stem amendments compared to natural attenuation (F(3,6) = 15.79, p = 0.003). The joint application of 500 g DPS + 500 g FPS (T10) achieved TPH removal of 83.4% (3,150 mg/kg) with a degradation constant of 0.025349 day-1 and a half-life of 27.34 days, whereas 21.0% removal and a half-life of 218.4 days were recorded for the control. Amendments also improved soil quality by increasing the pH from 3.92 to 6.03 and decreasing EC from 6,590 to 115 µS/cm in T10, while N, P, and K increased with amendment dosage. There was a positive correlation between the concentrations of nutrients and TPH removal (N: r=0.748; P: r=0.793; K: r=0.769; p<0.05). These results suggest that plantain pseudo-stem residues, in particular DPS and FPS combination, are an efficient and sustainable strategy for petroleum hydrocarbon remediation in tropical soils.

Effects of Hydroagricultural Development on Biometric Parameters of Rice Varieties Grown in the Yarafè Inland Valley, Faranah Urban Commune, Guinea

2026-11-09T09:38:26+00:00

Background: In the context of climate variability and the need to increase rice production sustainably, inland valley development is an important means of improving production conditions.

Objective: This study provides a descriptive assessment of the effect of hydroagricultural development on the biometric parameters of two rice varieties, Super and CK90, grown in the Yarafè inland valley in Faranah.

Methods: Developed and undeveloped plots were compared for plant height, total tiller number, productive tiller number, panicle length, thousand-grain weight and paddy yield. The reported results of the analysis of variance were interpreted at the 5% significance level. Relative gains and tiller fertility rates were calculated from the means.

Results: Development was associated with increased plant height: 118 versus 102 cm for Super and 95 versus 85 cm for CK90 (p = 0.013). Tiller number also increased from 9 to 12 for Super and from 8 to 10 for CK90 (p < 0.001). Differences in productive tillers (p = 0.110), thousand-grain weight (p = 0.902) and yield (p = 0.456) were not statistically significant. Nevertheless, the aggregated mean yield was 326.5 kg ha⁻¹ in the developed area versus 278.5 kg ha⁻¹ in the undeveloped area, a descriptive gain of 17.2%, accompanied by lower variability (CV: 12% versus 21%). These results therefore show a clearer association with vegetative growth than with reproductive performance.

Conclusion: Optimising fertilisation, planting density and water management during reproductive stages is recommended. In the absence of detailed sample sizes, dispersion measures for each area–variety combination and a complete randomisation protocol, the observed association should be interpreted as an agronomic association supported by the reported analysis rather than a definitively established causal relationship.