Incidence, Risk Factors And Short-Term Outcomes Of ICU Delirium At MOI Teaching And Referral Hospital: A Prospective Cohort Study
Nanjala Chrisbine Milly, Kennedy Imbaya, Josephat Kerema, Doris Kinya
Abstract: Delirium, a common manifestation of acute brain dysfunction in critically ill patients (incidence ranging from 20-80%), is frequently induced by modifiable risk factors that emerge following ICU admission. Its presence correlates with extended ICU length of stay, elevated morbidity and mortality rates, unplanned device removal, and persistent cognitive deficits.
The Role of KYC Compliance As A Situational Crime Prevention Strategy: A Case Study Of HFC Limited.
Caroline Margaret Wanja Festus, Dr. Peter Mungai
Abstract: Traditionally, crime prevention was the sole domain of the state and the police. However, the rise of transnational organized crime and terrorism in the 21st century necessitated a shift toward responsibility. Criminal entities are increasingly utilizing sophisticated techniques including identity theft, the use of straw borrowers (proxies), and the exploitation of digital banking vulnerabilities to bypass situational barriers.
Social Media Language Practices and Their Influence on Academic Writing Among Undergraduate Students in Cameroon
Achuo Gisela Nsen
Abstract: This study examines the influence of social media language on the formal academic writing of undergraduate students in Cameroon. Students have made digital platforms an important part of their everyday lives (Crystal, 2006; Barton & Lee, 2013). They are used for learning, chatting with friends, watching the news, entertainment, business, etc. Platforms like WhatsApp, Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram are the main ones, giving rise to a new form of computer-mediated communication defined by neologisms, abbreviations, and frequent code-switching. (Herring, 2013; Crystal, 2008).
An Investigation into the Factors Affecting Reading Skills of Grade 5 Students: A Case Study of Mikaelo Primary School, Meskan Woreda, Eastern Guraghe Zone, Ethiopia
Aberash Kedir Redahegne, Chrenet Zerga
Abstract: This case study investigated factors affecting English reading skills of Grade 5 students at Mika’elo Primary School in Meskan Woreda, Ethiopia. A mixed‑methods design was employed with 45 students (census for reading test), 2 English teachers, and 30 parents. Data included an adapted EGRA reading test (fluency and comprehension), student and parent questionnaires, semi‑structured teacher interviews, and classroom observations.
Coinfection Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus With Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C At Tertiary Care Hospital, Karachi
Mahnoor Ishfaque, Kausar Abbas Saldera, Jehan Zaib Arshad, Ufaque Batool, Shumaila Sameen, Sadia Afzal
Abstract: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a major global health problem, with an estimated 39.9 million people living with HIV and around 1.3 million new infections reported worldwide in 2023. Co-infection with Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and with Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is prevalent among individuals living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection (PLWH) due to shared routes of transmission and is the primary cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality in HIV-positive patients.
Assessment and Reported cases of Breast Cancer amongst Women in Bayelsa State Nigeria
Emamezi Orieno, Rotifa Stella Ufuoma, Wisdom Ebiye Sawyer
Abstract: Breast cancer is the most common life- threatening cancer among women of reproductive age with a rising prevalence noticed among young women over the years in some parts of the globe. This study is aimed at Assessing reported cases of Breast Cancer, to determine the trend in age of onset of Breast cancer amongst women in Bayelsa state.
Knowledge Of Diabetic Retinopathy And Its Infuence On Screening Uptake Among People Living With Diabetes At A Tertiary Health Institution In Southwest, Nigeria
OLAOKUN, ALICE TITILAYO, DR. ABARIBE, C.E.; DR. ADEBIYI , J.A; AFOLABI, F.O; ONASANYA, O. S
Abstract: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains one of the most common non-communicable diseases globally and poses a major public health challenge due to its increasing prevalence, associated complications, and economic burden. Despite advances in diagnostic technology and management, disparities in screening uptake persist, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where awareness, knowledge and healthcare accessibility are limited.
Investigating Vocabulary Teaching and Learning Practice of EFL High School Teachers and Students: The Case of Yaberus Secondary and Preparatory School Grade Eleven in Focus
CHERNET ZERGA
Abstract: In this study, an attempt was made to investigate vocabulary teaching and learning practices of EFL high school teachers and students at Yaberus Secondary and Preparatory school grade eleven in focus. Therefore, the study mainly tried to find out how vocabulary teaching and learning practice looks like in the classroom. To this end, the study employed a descriptive survey method, which engages qualitative and quantitative research (mixed research approach) design. The required data for the study were collected using classroom observation, semi-structured interviews, and questionnaires.
Systematic Investigation of pH Influence on Methylene Blue Adsorption Kinetics by Rice Husk: A Comparative Statistical Analysis of Kinetic Models
Yu-Ting Huang, Ming-Cheng Shih
Abstract: Addressing the persistent contamination of aquatic ecosystems by synthetic organic dyes, this research investigates the remediation potential of rice husk, a regionally abundant agricultural byproduct, for the sequestration of Methylene Blue (MB). A systematic evaluation was conducted to determine the influence of solution pH, ranging from strongly acidic (pH 2) to highly alkaline (pH 12) on adsorption performance and kinetic behavior. Experimental datasets were subjected to rigorous comparative analysis using linearized pseudo-first-order (PFO) and pseudo-second-order (PSO) models, with statistical validity further scrutinized through Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).
Combating Falsified Medicines at the Gate: A Reflexive Auto-Ethnography of Administrative Resilience at the Medical Supplies Division in Sri Lanka (2023–2025)
B A O Wijewickrama, W D C U Dias, H T U N Premarathne, T V K Y Malaka
Abstract: Introduction: The economic crisis of 2022–2023 significantly impacted Sri Lanka’s medical supply chain, creating vulnerabilities that allowed substandard and falsified (SF) medicines to infiltrate the public health system. With the National Medicines Quality Assurance Laboratory (NMQAL) facing severe resource constraints, the Medical Supplies Division (MSD) was compelled to strengthen its gatekeeping mechanisms.
Numerical Investigation of Different Aerospike Nozzle Geometries with a Conventional Nozzle
Md. Zawadul Karim, Jagobandhu Some, Muhammad Sharif, Mohammad Mahdi Hasan
Abstract: This research shows a comparative numerical investigation of various aerospike nozzle configurations, including a traditional conical nozzle, under ideal flow conditions. The geometric contours of the full-spike, 40%-truncated, central-bleed truncated, hybrid aerospike nozzles, and the conical nozzle were numerically designed with a uniform expansion ratio.
Indian Engineering on the World Stage: A Global Perspective
Dr. NEETA PANDEY
Abstract: Globalization has definitely boosted global market for Indian Engineers. This can particularly be observed in IT and Software where Indians have proved their mettle. Bill Gates in 2024 podcast acclaimed ‘India as a Laboratory’ praising India for finding solutions to global challenges. Again on October in 2025, he titled India as a ‘Global Leader for Innovation’. Many Indian Engineers, particularly software engineers, work for major global tech companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon, often enabled byH-1B visas.
Viksit Bharat@ 2047 : A Vision or an Illusion
DR NEETA PANDEY
Abstract: If India continues to grow at 13.8%, India will be a developed country @2047.If economy’s infrastructure grows, if Agriculture gets a boom, if there is good Governance, if IITians don’t go abroad, if Indian Youth is encouraged, if AI boosts the development, then India will be a Viksit Bharat@2047. It is rightly said by Japanese Naval Officer Yamamoto “ Nothing is Impossible in this world”, so if India, we the people decide, we can make India a Viksit Bharat@2047.
Microclimate Interactions and Mapping the Diversity and Distribution of Monocotyledonous Plants and Ferns: Ecological Insights and Conservation Implications
Aneeta Aslam, Syed Farhan Haider Bukhari, Mohammad Ashfaq
Abstract: Plant biodiversity in terms of monocotyledonous species and ferns remains underexplored in many regions, despite its critical role in ecosystem stability and conservation efforts. This study addresses the gap by exploring the biodiversity and ecological distribution of these plant groups. This study aims to document the diversity, distribution, and ecological characteristics of monocotyledonous plants and ferns to inform conservation planning and sustainable resource utilization. Two distinct experiments were conducted. The first focused on monocotyledonous flora, identifying 156 species from 95 genera and 20 families, with Poaceae being the most dominant.
Biological proper time and entropy-cost invariance in cardiac and respiratory lifespan scaling
Mesfin Asfaw Taye
Abstract: Warm-blooded vertebrates accumulate approximately conserved numbers of physiological cycles over a natural lifetime: of order 109 heartbeats and 108–3 × 108 breaths. These regularities are not exact constants, but their persistence across orders-of-magnitude variation in body mass, metabolic power, physiological frequency, and lifespan suggests that biological time is not measured by chronological duration alone. We develop the Principle of Biological Time Equivalence
Patient Education and Awareness of Sexual Dysfunction as a Cardiovascular Warning Sign in Diabetes: A Scoping Review of the Sub-Saharan African Evidence
Oluwatosin Gabriel Afolabi, Damilola Timothy Ishola, Mayowa Emmanuel Oluwajuyigbe, Adedamola Benjamin Adegbamigbe
Abstract: Background: Sexual dysfunction, and erectile dysfunction in particular, is a common complication of diabetes and a recognised early marker of endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease. In sub-Saharan Africa, where the diabetes burden is rising rapidly and cardiovascular awareness is low, the extent to which patients and clinicians recognise sexual dysfunction as a cardiovascular warning sign, and the role of patient education in that recognition, has not been systematically mapped.
Decoy-Assisted Detection Metrics for Manufacturing Operational Technology Networks
Daniel Ward
Abstract: Manufacturing operational technology (OT) networks require detection methods that improve adversary visibility without disrupting physical processes. Deception technologies can generate high-confidence alerts because legitimate users should not interact with decoy workstations, historian tags, honeytokens, or simulated industrial services. However, organizations often struggle to determine whether deception deployments are effective after pilot installation.
Electronic Money in Electronic Banking
Wesam Mahmoud Bin Zahia
Abstract: The Internet has definitely changed the world. For worse or better, the period ahead will show. It created great opportunities for the advancement of man, but also created a suitable ground for various criminal activities. We can freely say that today we have a virtual market, virtual banks, virtual stores, virtual stock exchanges, and even virtual money. Everything that we can call "real" has its parallel, "virtual" side. Although the world has already stepped into the virtual environment of the most up-to-date advanced techniques and technologies of electronic banking, our country and most of the surrounding countries will be satisfied for many years to come with a real and medium-developed environment of electronic banking. Electronic business (e-business) is the exchange of standardized electronic messages between natural and legal persons in negotiation, contracting, purchasing, selling, paying, communicating with administration and courts and in all other business transactions, for which its application is permitted by law.
Towards Sustainable Governance: An Ecological Ethics Perspective
Smt. Imlinungla, Dr. E. Benrithung Patton
Abstract: The current ecological crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution and depletion of resources has shown that anthropocentric and growth-oriented systems of governance are insufficient. The article discusses the role of ecological ethics in changing public policy by rethinking human-nature relationships. The paper criticizes exploitative developmental paradigms and highlights the ethical foundation of sustainable governance through perspectives such as biocentrism, ecocentrism, deep ecology, ecofeminism, indigenous ecological worldviews. It continues to investigate the relevance of ecological ethics in climate policy, environmental justice, resource management, agriculture and biodiversity conservation. The paper contends that successful governance requires that public policy structures contain ecological responsibility, participation, justice and sustainability. Finally, it proposes a model of ecologically ethical governance based on interdependence, coexistence and long-term environmental sustainability.
Physiognomies of the Temporal Patterns of Small-Scale Farmer-Managed Soil Moisture Conservation Interventions in the Semi-Arid Lands of Kenya
Kasuki M. M., Dr. Mwangi M., Dr. Mutia G.
Abstract: The smallholder farmers indigenous soil moisture conservation practices in the semi-arid lands of Kenya go through different experiences in dry and wet seasons. Temporal weather variations that characterize in the name of erratic rainfall, prolonged dry spells, and fluctuating temperatures dictate the effectiveness of the soil moisture conservation practices. Researches on farmer-managed systems have not established clear time-based patterns that show when farmers build their soil moisture conservation systems and use and repair them and make changes to their systems. Therefore, this paper shares findings from a study on the seasonal practices and challenges in establishing, using and managing soil moisture conservation methods in semi-arid regions. A total of 60 small scale agropastoralist farmers in the Ikanga-Kyatune Ward in Kitui County, Kenya were involved in the research. The study used structured questionnaires in data collection and descriptive statistics in analysis. The study results show that the majority (80%) of the farmers create soil conservation structures during the dry seasons as the most convenient period in readiness to collect and store moisture during the wet seasons. 76% of the farmers of the use the local agricultural calendar for the structures maintenance activities to pave way for crops planting. The main challenge resulting from the seasonal weather variations emanates from moisture evaporation losses as experienced by 78 percent of farmers. Damages by pests is associated by 45% of the farmers to weather changes with moisture presence attracting the problem. Farmers show adaptive abilities with 28 percent of them embracing new techniques, characterized by system redesign that appropriately retains moisture retention in the soil. 72% of the study participants were found not to make any changes in the designs despite the challenges faced which are associated to low knowledge skills and economic positions. The study concludes that temporal
Seasonal and Long-Term Trends in Land Cover Transformation and Urban Microclimate in Dhaka and Chittagong
Md. Farid Uddin, Mohammad Shohidul Islam, Fatema Afnan Chowdhury, Md. Mahadi Hasan Seyam, Adib Mahmud, Ishpiya Mahreen Chowdhury
Abstract: Urbanization and changes in land use significantly impact vegetation patterns, land surface temperature (LST), and urban heat island (UHI) effects. This study uses multi-temporal satellite images from 2000 to 2025 to examine seasonal and long-term land use and land cover (LULC) changes in Dhaka and Chittagong, Bangladesh. It also looks at derived indices such as NDVI, LST, UHI, and UTFVI profiles. The findings show considerable urban growth over the 25-year period. In Chittagong, built-up areas grew by 47.82% to 53.88% across different seasons, leading to a marked reduction in agricultural land and barren fields. Dhaka showed an even more aggressive trend, with built-up areas nearly doubling by taking over croplands and wetlands. NDVI metrics reveal increased spatial fragmentation and serious vegetation loss within urban centers, even though there was some localized recovery during the monsoon. Thermal assessments indicate a steady rise in LST. From 2000 to 2025, peak monsoon LST increased from 36.06°C to 39.81°C in Chittagong and from 32.61°C to 39.56°C in Dhaka. At the same time, maximum UHI intensities grew, reaching 3.51°C in Chittagong and about 3.0°C in Dhaka, mainly during the monsoon. Overall, these results establish a strong link between rapid urban expansion and increased thermal stress on microclimates, providing important insights for climate-resilient urban planning in Bangladesh.
A Nonequilibrium Internal-Time Model of Aging: Entropy-Normalized Biological Proper Time and Repair Bifurcations
Mesfin Asfaw Taye
Abstract: Chronological age is an incomplete coordinate for aging. Individuals and species sharing the same calendar time can differ substantially in physiological reserve, molecular damage, mortality hazard, and remaining lifespan. The Principle of Biological Time Equivalence (PBTE) offers a thermodynamic reformulation: biological aging is governed by the accu-mulation of internal physiological time rather than chronological time alone. Building on prior PBTE work, this paper defines the internal-time coordinate θ(t) = t f (s) ds, where t is chronological time and f (s) is an instantaneous physiological frequency (for example heart rate or respiratory rate), so that θ is the accumulated count of physiological cycles.
Its entropy-normalized extension is Θ (t) = ∫ t[σ (s)/σ ]f (s) ds, where σ (s) = dΣ/ dθ
is the entropy produced per physiological cycle (the entropy cost per biological tick), Σ is cumulative entropy production, and σ0,ref is a fixed reference entropy cost per cycle used as a normalizing unit. The normalized PBTE age APBTE(t) = Θσ(t)/N⋆,ref measures the fraction of a reference entropy–cycle budget consumed, where N⋆,ref is the reference number of entropy-weighted cycles available over a lifetime. The manuscript is explicitly theoretical: no empirical cohort is analyzed, and the numerical demonstrations are synthetic stress tests rather than validation. The revised model has three components. First, a linear nonequi-librium damage law, dD/ dA = µ + (λ r)D, is retained as the analytically transparent baseline; here D is an aggregate damage burden, A APBTE is PBTE biological age, µ > 0 is the baseline damage-production rate per unit PBTE age, λ > 0 is the damage-feedback coefficient, and r > 0 is the repair rate. Second, saturating repair, R(D) = rD/(K + D), in which K > 0 is the damage scale at which repair begins to saturate, produces a genuine saddle-node bifurcation: the healthy low-damage fixed point disappears when r falls below
r
GEOSPATIAL ASSESSMENT OF URBANIZATION, ARABLE LAND LOSS AND FOOD SECURITY IN JOS SOUTH PLATEAU STATE, NIGERIA
Dr. Sunday Nannim, Gwamzhi Ponsah Emmanuel, Kumdet Asabar, Kuberi John Rotdima, Moses Tangkat Dikwal, Ramnap Nansel Venyir, Roland Rimven Ibrahim
Abstract: Urbanization is increasingly transforming agricultural landscapes in many developing countries, resulting in significant loss of arable land and raising concerns about food security. This study assessed urban expansion, arable land loss, and food security implications in Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria, using geospatial techniques. Sentinel-2 satellite imagery for 2016 and 2026 was processed and analyzed using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing techniques. Supervised classification and post-classification change detection methods were employed to quantify land use/land cover (LULC) changes, while projection analysis was used to estimate future land use patterns for 2036. The classification achieved high accuracy levels, with overall accuracies of 94.67% and 93.33% and Kappa coefficients of 0.936 and 0.920 for 2016 and 2026, respectively. Results revealed significant land use transformations during the study period. Built-up areas increased from 30.74 km² (5.36%) in 2016 to 50.18 km² (8.75%) in 2026, representing an increase of 19.44 km². Conversely, arable land declined from 205.49 km² (35.85%) to 179.05 km² (31.23%), resulting in a loss of 26.44 km². Vegetation cover decreased by 17.09 km², while bare land expanded by 49.76 km². These changes indicate rapid urbanization, environmental degradation, and increasing pressure on agricultural resources. The 2036 projection suggests continued urban growth and further reduction of agricultural land if current trends persist. The study concludes that unchecked urban expansion poses a significant threat to agricultural productivity and food security in Jos South. It recommends sustainable land-use planning, farmland protection policies, and environmental conservation measures to promote balanced urban development and long-term food security.
From Approval to Access: Lessons from HIV Antiretrovirals for Accelerating Casgevy Equity in Sub-Saharan Africa
Oluwatosin Gabriel Afolabi, Mayowa Emmanuel Oluwajuyigbe, Damilola Timothy Ishola, Adedamola Benjamin Adegbamigbe
Abstract: Casgevy (exagamglogene autotemcel; exa-cel), the inaugural CRISPR-Cas9 gene therapy for sickle cell disease (SCD), received authorization from the United States Food and Drug Administration in December 2023, with a list price of US$2.2 million per patient. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), which accounts for approximately 75–80% of the global annual SCD births, lacks a regulatory approval pathway, procurement plan, and cost-effectiveness evidence to support the adoption of the Casgevy. A similar disparity was observed in 1996 when combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) was approved in high-income countries at US$10,000–15,000 per patient-year, with no access to SSA. By 2004, however, generic ART became available in the region for US$140 per patient-year.
Application of DMAIC, Root Cause Analysis, and Community Interventions to Improve Engineering Awareness Among K-12 Students
Aryahi Jogi, Ira Jogi
Abstract: Engineering remains one of the most impactful and economically valuable professions, however student interest in engineering careers remains disproportionately low compared to other fields such as medicine, business and science. This study applies industrial engineering and Six Sigma methodologies to identify and address factors contributing to low engineering awareness among K-12 students. A structured DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) framework was utilized to evaluate the problem, identify root causes, implement corrective actions and measure outcomes.
The study involved surveying 559 adults to evaluate career satisfaction by major, analyzing intended college majors of 526 college-bound students and collecting responses from 236 parents and professionals regarding barriers to engineering participation. Root cause analysis, Fishbone diagrams, Pareto Analysis and survey-based statistical evaluation were used to identify primary factors influencing low engineering participation. Results revealed that engineering careers demonstrated the highest life satisfaction scores, yet only approximately 12% of college-bound students surveyed intended to pursue engineering
To address the identified gap, a community outreach initiative was developed consisting of a children’s engineering book titled "Maya and Jasper’s Engineering Adventure” and poster sessions, school presentations, and interactive discussions were completed. Outreach activities reached 222 students through eight community events post-intervention measurements demonstrated approximately a 30% increase in engineering interest and 19% increase in clarity regarding engineering careers.
The findings demonstrate that industrial engineering methodologies can be successfully applied to educational and societal challenges. The study provides evidence that targeted outreach focused on increasing exposure and relatability can improve student awareness and interest in engineering careers.
