Scientific African最新文献

{"title":"Allometric models for estimating aboveground biomass and carbon stocks of the semi-arid savanna woody species, Detarium microcarpum Guill. et Perr.","authors":"Adama Taonda ,&nbsp;Issouf Zerbo ,&nbsp;Innocent Charles Emmanuel Traore ,&nbsp;Fousseni Folega ,&nbsp;Anny Estelle N'Guessan ,&nbsp;Justin N'Dja Kassi ,&nbsp;Adjima Thiombiano","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02573","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02573","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Quantification of plant biomass and carbon is critical for the savanna species. The lack of accurate biomass tools is a challenge for the savanna species. Information on allometric equations is limited for <em>Detarium microcarpum</em> species. This study aimed to develop an allometric equation for the aboveground biomass of <em>D. microcarpum</em> across the two climatic zones. A total of 60 trees were considered using the destructive method. Three equations were tested with a diameter at the breast (dbh) alone, height (ht) as additional (dbh*ht), and diameter in combination with height (dbh²*ht) as predictors using log-transformed data with a power function. Their performance was assessed with the adjusted R-square (Adj.R²), Akaike Information Criteria (AIC), correction factors (CF), and the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). The performance of the validated allometric models was compared with the generalized pantropical equation (Chave et al., 2014). The results revealed that the diameter is a good predictor in the Sudano-Sahelian zone and for branches and leaves biomass estimates in the Sudanian zone. The stem requires ht with the dbh (dbh²*ht) in the Sudano-Sahelian zone.</div><div>The allometric models established to predict <em>D. microcarpum</em> biomass were</div><div>TAGB = ^{e4.4002 (dbh*dbh*h) 0.9456} + <em>e</em>^{-3.5219 (dbh)2.4007} + <em>e</em>^{-2.8845(dbh)1.3465} in the Sudanian zone and TAGB = <em>e</em>^{-4.1053 (dbh)2.4222} + <em>e</em>^{-5.2567(dbh)2.9539} + <em>e</em>^{-2.9894(dbh)1.5285} for the Sudano-Sahelian climatic zone. The equations developed in this study are useful tools for assessing the aboveground biomass and the carbon of the savanna multipurpose species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e02573"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143148806","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatial epidemiology based on the analysis of COVID-19 in Africa","authors":"Joyce Akhalakwa Mukolwe ,&nbsp;John Kamwele Mutinda ,&nbsp;Amos Kipkorir Langat","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02557","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02557","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges to global public health, with varying impacts across different regions. In Africa, the disease’s spread and vaccination efforts have been influenced by multiple factors, including geography, socioeconomic status, demographic characteristics, and healthcare infrastructure. This study aims to investigate the spatial epidemiology of COVID-19 across African countries, with a specific focus on understanding the relationship between the geographic distribution of cases, vaccination coverage, and underlying socioeconomic, demographic, and health-related factors. The study utilizes secondary data from the World Health Organization (WHO) and Our World in Data, covering the period from 2020 to 2022. The study employs advanced spatial econometric models — spatial lag model (SLM), spatial lagged X (SLX), and spatial error model (SEM) — to analyze the role of spatial dependence and the influence of neighboring countries on the transmission and vaccination trends across Africa.</div><div>The results reveal significant spatial clustering of COVID-19 cases, with hotspots identified in the Northern and Southern regions of Africa. Specifically, the highest case rates were observed in South Africa, Egypt, and Morocco, while vaccination coverage varied widely, with countries like Seychelles achieving over 70% vaccination coverage, while others like South Sudan showed much lower rates (below 10%) in 2022. The analysis indicates that demographic factors such as the proportion of the population aged 65 and older, and health-related factors such as diabetes prevalence, have a substantial impact on the distribution of cases. Socioeconomic factors, including the human development index (HDI), GDP, and population density, also significantly affect both case rates and vaccination coverage. Furthermore, vaccination uptake in 2021 and 2022 was influenced by varying socioeconomic conditions across countries, with some regions exhibiting lower coverage despite higher availability of vaccines.</div><div>This study highlights the importance of considering spatial factors in understanding disease transmission and vaccination efforts in Africa. It provides key insights for policymakers to develop targeted interventions that account for the unique geographic and socioeconomic contexts of African countries. Understanding these spatial dynamics is crucial for strengthening public health strategies and ensuring equitable vaccine distribution across the continent. The findings underscore the need for tailored interventions based on geographic and socio-economic conditions, which could lead to more efficient responses to future health crises.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e02557"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143098060","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Time-periodic dynamics in COVID-19 transmission considering the impact of population disbelief and fear","authors":"Mahmoud A. Ibrahim ,&nbsp;Attila Dénes","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02565","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02565","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has spurred an urgent need for advanced modeling approaches to understand the complex dynamics of disease transmission. Our model utilizes a system of differential equations that incorporates the impact of both contagious fear and contagious disbelief surrounding the disease on its transmission dynamics. This study presents a time-periodic compartmental model, integrating insights from recent research on time-varying transmission rates. We define the basic reproduction number (<span><math><msub><mrow><mi>R</mi></mrow><mrow><mn>0</mn></mrow></msub></math></span>), emphasizing its utility as a threshold parameter for global dynamics and periodic solutions. Numerical simulations validate the theoretical findings and provide a nuanced understanding of disease persistence and extinction. The impact of population disbelief and fear on the risk of COVID-19 is investigated, revealing critical insights for public health interventions. The sensitivity analysis of the basic reproduction number underscores the significance of key parameters in shaping disease dynamics. Our results provide insight into the intricate dynamics of COVID-19 transmission, offering valuable considerations to control the spread of the virus.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e02565"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143098008","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Natural pozzolan as a sustainable cement replacement in high-performance concrete: Effects on mechanical properties, durability, and microstructural development","authors":"Yakoub Derrouiche ,&nbsp;Djamel Achoura ,&nbsp;Jacqueline Saliba ,&nbsp;Franck Cassagnabère","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02574","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02574","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>High-Performance Concretes (HPC) play a crucial role in contemporary construction due to their exceptional strength and durability. However, the necessity for high cement content leads to considerable environmental and economic concerns. Consequently, there is an urgent need to explore more eco-friendly alternatives that can sustain the performance of HPC while meeting technical, economic, ecological, and sustainability requirements. One viable option is natural pozzolan (NP), which is abundantly available in many regions and can serve as a partial replacement for cement. . Algeria, for instance, has abundant and low-cost NP, which can significantly decrease clinker demand and enhance eco-concretes' performance. Our objective is to assess how partially substituting cement with NP with a replacement rate ranging from 0 % to 50 % affects the physical, mechanical behavior, and durability of Eco-HPC made with ternary binders. Experimental results indicate that eco-HPC, which includes up to 20 % NP, shows good performance. After 28 days, it achieves a compressive strength of 63.8 MPa, slightly lower than the control HPC's 68.5 MPa. In addition, its long-term strength development reached 84.4 MPa at 180 days compared to 78.2 MPa for the control HPC. Furthermore, the 20 % pozzolan mix demonstrates 15 % less total shrinkage at 180 days and a 25 % decrease in capillary water absorption when compared to the control mix, while retaining adequate workability. These results support the potential of using ternary binder systems with NP in creating eco-friendly HPC, achieving a good balance between environmental advantages and improved durability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e02574"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143098079","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Design and simulation of a 5 KW solar-powered hybrid electric vehicle charging station with a ANN–Kalman filter MPPT and MPC-based inverter control for reduced THD","authors":"Youness Hakam ,&nbsp;Hajar Ahessab ,&nbsp;Ahmed Gaga ,&nbsp;Mohamed Tabaa ,&nbsp;Benachir El Hadadi","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02563","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02563","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study focuses on the control of an OFF-board electric vehicle (EV) charging station, providing a cost-efficient solution for managing high grid demand periods. By integrating a Kalman filter with Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) for Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT), the system optimizes energy capture from photovoltaic (PV) panels, even in severe weather conditions and partial shading. Unlike traditional MPPT methods, which face challenges with multiple peaks in the Power–Voltage (P–V) curve, the hybrid algorithm enhances tracking accuracy, reduces errors, and cuts tracking time by up to 99.93%. This ensures a reliable and sustainable power source for EV charging, reducing grid dependency during peak demand. On the inverter side, an innovative Model Predictive Control (MPC) strategy, using a K+2 step approach, is implemented to efficiently regulate the inverter. The system achieves a Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) of just 0.56%, boosting charging speed while minimizing harmonic distortion costs. Controlled by Texas Instruments’ TMS320F28379D digital signal processor, this system offers stable, low-cost EV charging by prioritizing solar energy use, even under harsh weather conditions, over reliance on grid power.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e02563"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143098080","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Characterization of Ghanaian clays as raw materials for the synthesis of ZSM-5 zeolite","authors":"Benjamin K. Kokloku ,&nbsp;Johannes A.M. Awudza ,&nbsp;Michael B. Mensah ,&nbsp;Mizpah A.D. Rockson ,&nbsp;Francis Kemausuor","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02570","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02570","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Clay minerals are inexpensive and widely available starting materials for the synthesis of zeolites, such as ZSM-5. In this work, clay samples were collected from Anfoega, Mfensi, Teleku-Bokazo, and Tetebu clay reserves in Ghana and used as sources of silica and alumina for the synthesis of ZSM-5 zeolite. The raw clay samples were cleaned, pulverized, and calcined, followed by acid leaching to increase the Si/Al molar ratio, and finally passed through a hydrothermal zeolitization process. Powder-X-ray Diffraction (p-XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and Thermogravimetric Analysis/Differential Scanning Calorimetry (TGA-DSC) were used to characterize the clay samples. All four clay samples contained kaolinite and quartz in addition to other clay minerals. Notably, the pre-treatment processes were key in acquiring the ZSM-5 product. Our results suggest that the controlling factor in making the clay samples viable for the synthesis of ZSM-5 zeolite is the final SiO₂/Al₂O₃ molar ratio obtained after acid leaching. ZSM-5 zeolite was synthesized from all four clay sources at a crystallization temperature and time of 190 °C and 24 h, respectively, demonstrating the potential of the Ghanaian clays as raw materials for zeolite synthesis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e02570"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143097860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mechanisms of L-citrulline on phosphodiesterase 5 in erectile dysfunction intervention","authors":"Abdulhakeem Olarewaju Sulyman ,&nbsp;Olawale Moshood Aliyu ,&nbsp;Emmanuel Oladipo Ajani ,&nbsp;Yusuf Folohunsho Abdulkareem ,&nbsp;Isaac Ade Afe ,&nbsp;Fathia Oluwakemi Abdulyakeen ,&nbsp;Halimat Yusuf Lukman ,&nbsp;Saheed Sabiu ,&nbsp;Karishma Singh ,&nbsp;Kuben Naidoo","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02572","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02572","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a prevalent condition linked to diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, with conventional treatments often associated with adverse effects. Plant-derived products, though less explored, offer potential alternatives. This study evaluated the inhibitory effect of citrulline from <em>Citrullus lanatus</em> on PDE5 activity using experimental and computational methods to explore its therapeutic potential. Citrulline is a precursor to arginine, a substrate for nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, which enhances vasodilation and blood flow. Its therapeutic potential in erectile dysfunction lies in its ability to boost NO production, improving penile blood flow and erection quality. Citrulline was extracted from <em>Citrullus lanatus</em> using an adsorbent-based method, and its inhibitory effect on PDE5 was assessed through enzymatic and kinetic analyses. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations were used to evaluate citrulline's binding interaction and stability with PDE5, validated by the RMSD value obtained following superimposition of citrulline with the native ligand of PDE5 and post-dynamic analyses. Citrulline exhibited a concentration-dependent inhibition of PDE5, with an IC₅₀ value of 366.7 µM. Kinetic analyses further elucidated citrulline's non-competitive inhibition pattern while molecular dynamics analysis afforded assessment of the binding stability of citrulline with PDE5, both providing insights into its mechanism of action. Citrulline-PDE5 complex had a higher negative binding free energy (-45.06 ± 4.69 kcal/mol) relative to the conventional drug (sildenafil) (-13.86±10.23 kcal/mol). The citrulline-PDE5 also had lower root mean square fluctuations (1.11 ± 0.65) than sildenafil-PDE5 (1.25 ± 1.77). The findings suggest that citrulline effectively inhibits PDE5 in a non-competitive manner, with higher binding affinity and greater structural stability than sildenafil, highlighting its potential as a more stable and efficient PDE5 inhibitor. However, limitations include its relatively high IC₅₀ and the need for <em>in vivo</em> validation, necessitating further studies to confirm its clinical viability in the development of potential drugs for the management of ED.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e02572"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143093563","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Voacanga africana-artesunate and Voacanga africana-amodiaquine combinations as effective anti-plasmodial agents in mice","authors":"Daniel Ampomah Frimpong ,&nbsp;Aliu Moomin ,&nbsp;Samuel Asare Nkansah ,&nbsp;Aaron Opoku Antwi ,&nbsp;Abubakar Ibn Sidik ,&nbsp;Paa Kofi Tawiah Adu-Gyamfi ,&nbsp;Kwesi Boadu Mensah","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02569","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02569","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Malaria is a global health problem due to its high incidence of morbidity and mortality, especially in children and pregnant women. However, the <em>Plasmodium</em> parasite frequently develops resistance to chemotherapy, triggering continuous research for effective treatment options for malaria. Therefore, this study investigated the potential anti-plasmodial effect of <em>Voacanga africana</em> (VA)-artesunate and VA<em>-</em>amodiaquine combinations in mice.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We collected VA seeds from Kumasi, Ghana, and macerated them with petroleum ether to obtain a yield of 4.2%. Acute toxicity testing of VA was carried out with doses of 0 – 3000 mg/kg. The anti-plasmodial effects of VA at doses 0 – 300 mg/kg were assessed in <em>Plasmodium berghei</em> (strain ANKA)-infected mice using 4-day suppressive and Rane's curative tests. A combination of various fractions (1, 1/2, 1/4 and 1/16) of VA-artesunate or VA-amodiaquine was used to determine their experimental ED₅₀ s (Z_exp). We used an isobologram to determine the combination index (CI) and the nature of the interaction between VA-artesunate or VA-amodiaquine combinations by comparing the CI with Z_exp. The anti-plasmodial effects of VA alone or in combination with artesunate or amodiaquine were compared by ANOVA, and <em>p</em> &lt; 0.05 was considered statistically significant.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>VA at doses 0 – 300 mg/kg showed no toxicity in the mice, whereas VA at a dose of 3000 mg/kg resulted in the death of mice after 24 h. The LD₅₀ was estimated to be 1763 mg/kg. Treatment of mice with VA alone at doses (30, 100 and 300 mg/kg) significantly (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.05) reduced parasitaemia levels in mice when compared to the normal saline control group. Similarly, artesunate and VA (30, 100 and 300 mg/kg) showed a significant (<em>p</em> &lt; 0.01) reduction in body temperature as compared to the control. ED₅₀ s for VA, artesunate, and amodiaquine were 202 ± 0.22 mg/kg, 5.4 ± 0.24 mg/kg, and 16.83 ± 0.28 mg/kg, respectively. CI for VA-artesunate and VA-amodiaquine were 0.002 and 37,094.1 respectively. The CI for VA-artesunate was significantly (<em>p</em> = 0.0001) below the additive isobole (CI&lt;1) showing a synergistic effect of this combination in reducing parasite levels and increasing the mean survival of mice.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>VA showed a moderate antimalarial activity when used in monotherapy, while a combination of VA and AT showed synergism against <em>P. beighei</em> infection by reducing parasitemia levels, preventing hemolysis, decreasing PCV, increasing body temperature and increasing body weights. However, a combination of voacanga seed oil and amodiaquine demonstrated an antagonistic effect.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e02569"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143093564","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sorption behavior of pomegranate polyphenols on surfactant-modified clays in aqueous solution","authors":"Houda Saad,&nbsp;Thouraya Turki,&nbsp;Mondher Srasra,&nbsp;Ezzeddine Srasra","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02568","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02568","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>Phenols are defined as primary pollutants. They can be present at high concentrations in the bulk effluents generated by the agro-food industries which can be toxic and have an impact on microbial processing in wastewater treatment plants. To address this challenge, a pretreatment process is needed. We investigate here, for the first time, the adsorption of pomegranate peels polyphenols on organophilic clays.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>Organoclays were prepared by the intercalation of a cationic surfactant, hexadecylpyridinium bromide (HDPy), into purified Tunisian smectite clay at different Cation Exchange Capacities (CEC) degrees (0.5CEC, 1CEC and 2CEC). Surfactant-modified clays were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The adsorption study was conducted at different pHs and polyphenols concentrations. Adsorption isotherms were also established using the Langmuir and Freundlich models.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The results showed that the modification of clay by the cationic surfactant can increase polyphenols adsorption from 5.77 mg/g to 196.88 mg/g. This increase depends on the clay surfactant contents and the pH values. The retention process of polyphenols has been also studied. Depending on the surfactant content, it was revealed that both Freundlich and Langmuir models can describe the adsorption isotherms of pomegranate polyphenols.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The 1CEC and 2CEC organo-clays are the interesting adsorbents for the removal of pomegranate polyphenols from aqueous media and wastewater. The best removal efficiency is of 98%. Fluorescence results suggested that the recovery of pomegranate polyphenols generated from beverage industries wastewater using HDPy-modified clays could be valorized as potential fluorescent pigments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e02568"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143098406","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advanced genetic algorithm (GA)-independent component analysis (ICA) ensemble model for predicting trapped humans through hybrid dimensionality reduction","authors":"Enoch Adama Jiya ,&nbsp;Ilesanmi B. Oluwafemi","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02564","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02564","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The collapse of man-made structures, which frequently bury people beneath rubble, is one of the main causes of death worldwide. Natural disasters and human inefficiency, degradation, and decay are the main causes of this. So, in these urgent situations, a quick and effective deployment is crucial. No-line-of-sight (NLOS) signal analysis, which is the fundamental of seeing through the wall of critical information that is not visible, is disclosed through analysis, and developmental systems can be seen for identifying imprisoned human victims and detecting differences in disaster scenarios. This technology is essential for locating stranded people and evaluating different crises. Ultra-wideband (UWB) signal data, augmented by machine learning techniques, provides a large and quantified output that is useful for applications including engineering, scientific research, and Search and Rescue (SAR) operations. However, this method's primary drawbacks are its large dimensionality, infrequency, and noise, which makes catastrophic scenario prediction difficult. The curse of dimensionality has been addressed in a variety of ways, but issues with accuracy, dependability, and scalability still exist. To choose relevant subset features from the data and for better generalization in various contexts, this work uses an adaptive human presence detector algorithm that hybridizes dimensionality reduction techniques genetic algorithm (GA), which maximizes feature selection, and independent component analysis (ICA), which lowers the dimensionality of the chosen features. The features are sent into the classifiers for technique analysis based on their class variants. A bagged ensemble machine learning classifier was used to assess the reduced dataset, and among other performance measures, The findings with accuracy are 85.69 %, sensitivity of 79.30, and specificity of 91.67 %. These outcomes show how the suggested hybrid strategy can be used to efficiently pick and classify features in NLOS signal data processing. According to the results, this approach may improve catastrophe scenario prediction and support faster and more precise search and rescue efforts by supplementing and enhancing current machine-learning techniques. The findings suggest that this method could complement and enhance existing machine learning techniques, improving disaster scenario prediction and aiding in more accurate and timely search and rescue operations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"27 ","pages":"Article e02564"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143098078","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}