Electronic voting (e-voting) is increasingly recognized as a viable alternative to traditional paper-based elections, offering automation, transparency, and improved accessibility. However, blockchain-based e-voting frameworks still face critical challenges, notably excessive energy consumption, scalability bottlenecks, and trade-offs between performance and security. This paper proposes a sustainable hybrid cryptographic framework that integrates the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA), the Edwards-Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (EdDSA), and Boneh–Lynn–Shacham (BLS) signatures. The proposed design reduces computational and energy overhead through lightweight ballot signing and aggregated verification, while ensuring interoperability with widely deployed blockchain infrastructures. Moreover, the framework incorporates Layer-2 batching within a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism to minimize transaction costs and latency. Experimental results show that the proposed system reduces per-transaction energy consumption by nearly 50%, doubles transaction throughput from 120 to 250 TPS, and enhances scalability compared to conventional blockchain voting solutions. These findings confirm that hybrid cryptography represents a sustainable and practical pathway towards secure, transparent, and energy-efficient blockchain-based e-voting systems applicable to both institutional and national contexts.
{"title":"A sustainable hybrid cryptographic framework for energy optimization and scalability in blockchain-based e-voting","authors":"Adil Marouan , Morad Badrani , Abderrahim Zannou , Nabil Kannouf , Abdelaziz Chetouani","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03191","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03191","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Electronic voting (e-voting) is increasingly recognized as a viable alternative to traditional paper-based elections, offering automation, transparency, and improved accessibility. However, blockchain-based e-voting frameworks still face critical challenges, notably excessive energy consumption, scalability bottlenecks, and trade-offs between performance and security. This paper proposes a sustainable hybrid cryptographic framework that integrates the Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA), the Edwards-Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (EdDSA), and Boneh–Lynn–Shacham (BLS) signatures. The proposed design reduces computational and energy overhead through lightweight ballot signing and aggregated verification, while ensuring interoperability with widely deployed blockchain infrastructures. Moreover, the framework incorporates Layer-2 batching within a Proof-of-Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism to minimize transaction costs and latency. Experimental results show that the proposed system reduces per-transaction energy consumption by nearly 50%, doubles transaction throughput from 120 to 250 TPS, and enhances scalability compared to conventional blockchain voting solutions. These findings confirm that hybrid cryptography represents a sustainable and practical pathway towards secure, transparent, and energy-efficient blockchain-based e-voting systems applicable to both institutional and national contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article e03191"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077791","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-24DOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03190
Rachid Haloui , Amine Ballari , Khadija Khaddam Allah , Ayoub El-Mrabet , Abdelmoula El Abbouchi , Samir Chtita , Ahmed Mazzah , Amal Haoudi , Souad Elkhattabi
Human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is a therapeutic target for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The development of new DHODH inhibitors could facilitate the discovery of a drug for RA therapy and contribute to sustainable health by promoting the design of safer and more efficient treatments. Using 3D-QSAR modeling techniques, we established a quantitative relationship between the DHODH inhibitory activity of 35 acrylamide derivatives (M1-M35) and their molecular fields. This model guided the design of 22 new acrylamide-based molecules (P1-P22) predicted to exhibit higher activity than M35, the most active in the initial database. The designed molecules were then docked into the DHODH active site, and the resulting complexes were evaluated using MM-GBSA free binding energy calculations. These analyses identified P4, P11, and P18 as the most DHODH inhibitors with docking scores and binding free energies superior to those of M35. The ADMET properties of the P4, P11, and P18 molecules were also predicted. The results show that they have good pharmacokinetic properties and are non-toxic. The molecular dynamics simulations of both free DHODH and its complexes with the best candidates confirmed the stability and validity of the obtained results. Finally, molecules P4, P11, and P18 show excellent capacity to inhibit the DHODH protein for the treatment of RA.
{"title":"Structure-based design and computational evaluation of new acrylamide derivatives as potent inhibitors of human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis","authors":"Rachid Haloui , Amine Ballari , Khadija Khaddam Allah , Ayoub El-Mrabet , Abdelmoula El Abbouchi , Samir Chtita , Ahmed Mazzah , Amal Haoudi , Souad Elkhattabi","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03190","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03190","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH) is a therapeutic target for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The development of new DHODH inhibitors could facilitate the discovery of a drug for RA therapy and contribute to sustainable health by promoting the design of safer and more efficient treatments. Using 3D-QSAR modeling techniques, we established a quantitative relationship between the DHODH inhibitory activity of 35 acrylamide derivatives (M1-M35) and their molecular fields. This model guided the design of 22 new acrylamide-based molecules (P1-P22) predicted to exhibit higher activity than M35, the most active in the initial database. The designed molecules were then docked into the DHODH active site, and the resulting complexes were evaluated using MM-GBSA free binding energy calculations. These analyses identified P4, P11, and P18 as the most DHODH inhibitors with docking scores and binding free energies superior to those of M35. The ADMET properties of the P4, P11, and P18 molecules were also predicted. The results show that they have good pharmacokinetic properties and are non-toxic. The molecular dynamics simulations of both free DHODH and its complexes with the best candidates confirmed the stability and validity of the obtained results. Finally, molecules P4, P11, and P18 show excellent capacity to inhibit the DHODH protein for the treatment of RA.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article e03190"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077789","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-21DOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03189
Najat Gaidi , Abdelghafour EL Mekkaouy , Lamiae Talha , Mohammed Filali , Samir Chtita , Rodouan Touti
Lead-free halide double perovskites are promising alternatives to toxic Pb-based absorbers, yet the impact of alkali-metal substitution on lattice stability and optoelectronic response remains unclear. Here, first-principles calculations are employed to investigate the structural, lattice-dynamical, electronic, optical, and photovoltaic properties of cubic X2SbAgBr6 (X = Li, Na, K). All compounds satisfy the Born mechanical stability criteria, whereas phonon dispersions reveal that only Li2SbAgBr6 is dynamically stable at 0 K, while Na2SbAgBr6 and K2SbAgBr6 exhibit soft modes associated with octahedral tilting. Indirect band gaps in the range 0.75–0.81 eV and strong near-infrared absorption are obtained, with visible absorption arising from higher-energy interband transitions. These results identify Li2SbAgBr6 as the most robust cubic phase and demonstrate that A-site cation engineering provides an effective route to tune lattice stability and optoelectronic properties in lead-free double perovskites.
{"title":"First-principles insights into lead-free double perovskites X2SbAgBr6 (X = Li, Na, K) for sustainable optoelectronic applications","authors":"Najat Gaidi , Abdelghafour EL Mekkaouy , Lamiae Talha , Mohammed Filali , Samir Chtita , Rodouan Touti","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03189","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03189","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Lead-free halide double perovskites are promising alternatives to toxic Pb-based absorbers, yet the impact of alkali-metal substitution on lattice stability and optoelectronic response remains unclear. Here, first-principles calculations are employed to investigate the structural, lattice-dynamical, electronic, optical, and photovoltaic properties of cubic X<sub>2</sub>SbAgBr<sub>6</sub> (X = Li, Na, K). All compounds satisfy the Born mechanical stability criteria, whereas phonon dispersions reveal that only Li<sub>2</sub>SbAgBr<sub>6</sub> is dynamically stable at 0 K, while Na<sub>2</sub>SbAgBr<sub>6</sub> and K<sub>2</sub>SbAgBr<sub>6</sub> exhibit soft modes associated with octahedral tilting. Indirect band gaps in the range 0.75–0.81 eV and strong near-infrared absorption are obtained, with visible absorption arising from higher-energy interband transitions. These results identify Li<sub>2</sub>SbAgBr<sub>6</sub> as the most robust cubic phase and demonstrate that A-site cation engineering provides an effective route to tune lattice stability and optoelectronic properties in lead-free double perovskites.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article e03189"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037477","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-19DOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03187
Zaynab EL KRIMI , El Mehdi EL KHATTABI , Sofia CHERIFZAOUI , Mohamed AIT ALAMA , Mohammed BOUSSETTA , Mourad BOUTAHIR , Mohammed ZOUINI
This study investigates the influence of building orientation and glazing type on indoor thermal performance across six Moroccan cities representing different climatic zones; lies in the comparative quantification of thermal comfort duration and amplitude across orientations and climate zones, rather than simply confirming directional trends. A dynamic thermal simulation was carried out using a simplified multi-zone residential building model developed in Python to evaluate daily indoor temperature variations under winter and summer conditions. The results reveal a strong dependence of indoor thermal behavior on both orientation and glazing configuration, showing that indoor temperature can vary by up to 8–10 °C between orientations in extreme climates, emphasizing the crucial role of solar exposure. The south-facing apartment generally provides the best thermal comfort in both seasons, with average indoor temperatures closest to the comfort range (18–26 °C), while the east and north orientations show less favorable conditions, particularly in winter. The glazing analysis shows that triple glazing significantly reduces daily temperature fluctuations and mitigates summer overheating in hot climates such as Marrakesh and Errachidia, whereas double glazing performs more effectively in cold climates such as Ifrane, where heating demand dominates. Across all cities, single glazing exhibits the greatest thermal instability and the lowest comfort duration. The results highlight that the optimal configuration varies with climate, and that apartment selection should first consider orientation, followed by an adapted glazing choice based on the dominant seasonal load: cooling for coastal and hot-arid zones, heating for mountainous regions, and a slight cooling dominance in Fes. Overall, the study provides a practical decision framework to help occupants and designers identify the most comfortable apartment configuration and reduce reliance on active heating and cooling systems in Moroccan residential buildings.
{"title":"Impact of orientation and glazing type on indoor thermal performance: A case study of a multi-apartment building under Moroccan climatic zones","authors":"Zaynab EL KRIMI , El Mehdi EL KHATTABI , Sofia CHERIFZAOUI , Mohamed AIT ALAMA , Mohammed BOUSSETTA , Mourad BOUTAHIR , Mohammed ZOUINI","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03187","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03187","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the influence of building orientation and glazing type on indoor thermal performance across six Moroccan cities representing different climatic zones; lies in the comparative quantification of thermal comfort duration and amplitude across orientations and climate zones, rather than simply confirming directional trends. A dynamic thermal simulation was carried out using a simplified multi-zone residential building model developed in Python to evaluate daily indoor temperature variations under winter and summer conditions. The results reveal a strong dependence of indoor thermal behavior on both orientation and glazing configuration, showing that indoor temperature can vary by up to 8–10 °C between orientations in extreme climates, emphasizing the crucial role of solar exposure. The south-facing apartment generally provides the best thermal comfort in both seasons, with average indoor temperatures closest to the comfort range (18–26 °C), while the east and north orientations show less favorable conditions, particularly in winter. The glazing analysis shows that triple glazing significantly reduces daily temperature fluctuations and mitigates summer overheating in hot climates such as Marrakesh and Errachidia, whereas double glazing performs more effectively in cold climates such as Ifrane, where heating demand dominates. Across all cities, single glazing exhibits the greatest thermal instability and the lowest comfort duration. The results highlight that the optimal configuration varies with climate, and that apartment selection should first consider orientation, followed by an adapted glazing choice based on the dominant seasonal load: cooling for coastal and hot-arid zones, heating for mountainous regions, and a slight cooling dominance in Fes. Overall, the study provides a practical decision framework to help occupants and designers identify the most comfortable apartment configuration and reduce reliance on active heating and cooling systems in Moroccan residential buildings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article e03187"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037389","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03183
Chelea Matchawe , Célestin Godwe , Clarisse Engowei Mbah , Tata B. Ndakoh , Mélanie F.K. Gondam , Henriette A. Essomba , Fadimatou Ahmadou , Manuela A. Baomog , Mélissa Wangue , Séverin Loul , Marie-Chantal Ngondé , Bonglaisin J. Nsawir , Lucy M. Ndip , Marco Galeotti , Edi Piasentier
Salmonella contamination of beef carcasses remains a major public health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where abattoir hygiene and traceability systems are often inadequate. This study aimed to generate context-specific data on Salmonella contamination along the cattle slaughter chain at the Yaoundé abattoir using real-time PCR, and to evaluate the influence of zootechnical factors of slaughtered cattle within a One Health framework. A total of 705 swab samples were collected from live cattle (n = 145), carcasses (n = 310), butchers’ hands (n = 145), and meat contact surfaces (n = 105). Salmonella detection was performed using TaqMan probe-based real-time PCR. Overall, 14.9% (95% CI: 12.4%–17.6%) of samples were positive for Salmonella, with prevalence rates of 5.20% (95% CI: 2.4%–10.6%) in live cattle, 17.73% (95% CI: 13.89%–22.38%) in carcasses, 1.9% (95% CI: 0.52% – 6.68%) in contact surfaces, and 5.52% (95% CI: 2.8% – 10.5%) in butchers’ hand swabs. Salmonella occurrence differed significantly among sample categories (p < 0.05). However, multivariate logistic regression revealed that none of the assessed zootechnical factors (sex, age, breed, transport, origin, cleanliness, body condition, and production system) were independently associated with contamination (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that Salmonella contamination in slaughtered cattle is driven by systemic hygiene and biosecurity shortcomings rather than individual animal-related factors. Overall, the moderate prevalence observed reflects gaps in slaughter hygiene and biosecurity. Strengthening sanitation practices, enforcing Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) measures, and adopting molecular surveillance tools such as real-time PCR are essential to reduce contamination risks and protect public health.
{"title":"Impacts of zootechnical factors on Salmonella contamination in swab samples using real-time PCR at the Yaounde slaughterhouse","authors":"Chelea Matchawe , Célestin Godwe , Clarisse Engowei Mbah , Tata B. Ndakoh , Mélanie F.K. Gondam , Henriette A. Essomba , Fadimatou Ahmadou , Manuela A. Baomog , Mélissa Wangue , Séverin Loul , Marie-Chantal Ngondé , Bonglaisin J. Nsawir , Lucy M. Ndip , Marco Galeotti , Edi Piasentier","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03183","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03183","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Salmonella</em> contamination of beef carcasses remains a major public health concern, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where abattoir hygiene and traceability systems are often inadequate. This study aimed to generate context-specific data on Salmonella contamination along the cattle slaughter chain at the Yaoundé abattoir using real-time PCR, and to evaluate the influence of zootechnical factors of slaughtered cattle within a One Health framework. A total of 705 swab samples were collected from live cattle (<em>n</em> = 145), carcasses (<em>n</em> = 310), butchers’ hands (<em>n</em> = 145), and meat contact surfaces (<em>n</em> = 105). <em>Salmonella</em> detection was performed using TaqMan probe-based real-time PCR. Overall, 14.9% (95% CI: 12.4%–17.6%) of samples were positive for <em>Salmonella</em>, with prevalence rates of 5.20% (95% CI: 2.4%–10.6%) in live cattle, 17.73% (95% CI: 13.89%–22.38%) in carcasses, 1.9% (95% CI: 0.52% – 6.68%) in contact surfaces, and 5.52% (95% CI: 2.8% – 10.5%) in butchers’ hand swabs. <em>Salmonella</em> occurrence differed significantly among sample categories (<em>p</em> < 0.05). However, multivariate logistic regression revealed that none of the assessed zootechnical factors (sex, age, breed, transport, origin, cleanliness, body condition, and production system) were independently associated with contamination (<em>p</em> > 0.05). These findings suggest that <em>Salmonella</em> contamination in slaughtered cattle is driven by systemic hygiene and biosecurity shortcomings rather than individual animal-related factors. Overall, the moderate prevalence observed reflects gaps in slaughter hygiene and biosecurity. Strengthening sanitation practices, enforcing Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) measures, and adopting molecular surveillance tools such as real-time PCR are essential to reduce contamination risks and protect public health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article e03183"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077844","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03182
Attia M El-Tantawi , Fawzia I Moursy , Wael M Almetwaly , Mohamed El-Sayed El-Mahdy
This study assesses the influence of climate change on the projected water requirements (WR) for wheat cultivation in Egypt's New Delta region. Climate projections from five CMIP6 (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6) regional climate models under three socio-economic scenarios (SSP2.6, SSP4.5, SSP8.5) were employed to estimate WR utilizing a Deep Learning Artificial Intelligence (DLAI) model. Thirteen meteorological stations throughout the New Delta were examined to evaluate drought indicators, such as the Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI/eRDI) and the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI/aSPI). Results indicate a consistent rise in annual RDI and eRDI across most stations, with the most pronounced trends observed in AlFrafrah and Borg Elarab. Conversely, SPI and aSPI values demonstrated declining trends, indicating increasing dryness; approximately 16 % of SPI observations corresponded to moderately dry conditions, with certain stations such as Baharia and Siwa exhibiting severe dryness. WR exhibits a consistent upward trajectory across all scenarios, attaining its peak levels by 2100 under SSP8.5. WR increases by 9–12 % under SSP2.6, 15–18 % under SSP4.5, and 24–36 % under SSP8.5. These findings indicate that climate-induced increases in WR will significantly raise irrigation requirements, highlighting the necessity for ongoing evaluation of water resource development and allocation strategies.
{"title":"AI-based assessment of climate change impacts on water requirements in Egypt’s New Delta","authors":"Attia M El-Tantawi , Fawzia I Moursy , Wael M Almetwaly , Mohamed El-Sayed El-Mahdy","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03182","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03182","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study assesses the influence of climate change on the projected water requirements (WR) for wheat cultivation in Egypt's New Delta region. Climate projections from five CMIP6 (Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6) regional climate models under three socio-economic scenarios (SSP2.6, SSP4.5, SSP8.5) were employed to estimate WR utilizing a Deep Learning Artificial Intelligence (DLAI) model. Thirteen meteorological stations throughout the New Delta were examined to evaluate drought indicators, such as the Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI/eRDI) and the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI/aSPI). Results indicate a consistent rise in annual RDI and eRDI across most stations, with the most pronounced trends observed in AlFrafrah and Borg Elarab. Conversely, SPI and aSPI values demonstrated declining trends, indicating increasing dryness; approximately 16 % of SPI observations corresponded to moderately dry conditions, with certain stations such as Baharia and Siwa exhibiting severe dryness. WR exhibits a consistent upward trajectory across all scenarios, attaining its peak levels by 2100 under SSP8.5. WR increases by 9–12 % under SSP2.6, 15–18 % under SSP4.5, and 24–36 % under SSP8.5. These findings indicate that climate-induced increases in WR will significantly raise irrigation requirements, highlighting the necessity for ongoing evaluation of water resource development and allocation strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article e03182"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study provides a comprehensive investigation of the Toppe Leone Lomax Logarithmic Distribution (TLLomLD), a newly developed probabilistic model designed to capture various data patterns. The theoretical contribution begins with a rigorous mathematical formulation of the distribution, followed by a detailed examination of its key structural properties. To enable statistical inference, a maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) procedure is utilized for estimating the model parameters. The performance of the proposed framework is further assessed through extensive simulation experiments, demonstrating both the robustness and consistency of the estimators. Finally, the practical relevance of the TLLomLD is illustrated using a real-world dataset, where it exhibits superior adaptability compared to some existing distributions in literature. Collectively, these findings underscore the theoretical depth and applied utility of the TLLomLD, highlighting its potential as a powerful analytical tool for statisticians and applied researchers working with heterogeneous datasets.
{"title":"Advanced lifetime data modeling: Extension, structural properties and an application","authors":"Denylson Takunda Dondo , Regent Retrospect Musekwa , Precious Mdlongwa","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03185","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03185","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study provides a comprehensive investigation of the Toppe Leone Lomax Logarithmic Distribution (TLLomLD), a newly developed probabilistic model designed to capture various data patterns. The theoretical contribution begins with a rigorous mathematical formulation of the distribution, followed by a detailed examination of its key structural properties. To enable statistical inference, a maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) procedure is utilized for estimating the model parameters. The performance of the proposed framework is further assessed through extensive simulation experiments, demonstrating both the robustness and consistency of the estimators. Finally, the practical relevance of the TLLomLD is illustrated using a real-world dataset, where it exhibits superior adaptability compared to some existing distributions in literature. Collectively, these findings underscore the theoretical depth and applied utility of the TLLomLD, highlighting its potential as a powerful analytical tool for statisticians and applied researchers working with heterogeneous datasets.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article e03185"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-11DOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03184
Lahoucine Oumiguil, Ali Nejmi
Accurate short-term forecasting of photovoltaic (PV) power output is crucial for the efficient integration and operation of PV systems in smart grids. However, the intrinsic unpredictability and hierarchical discontinuity of PV data complicate the attainment of good predictive accuracy through conventional regression procedures. This research introduces a combined deep learning and gradient boosting model for short-term PV power forecasting. A convolutional neural network (CNN) is initially utilized to get important spatial features from input variables. Then, these features are coupled with historical PV power measurements in a gated recurrent unit (GRU) to capture temporal dependencies. The XGBoost technique is also used to represent complex nonlinear relationships in the data, which makes predictions even more accurate. The model is tested using actual PV plant data and gets a R² of 0.79, an RMSE of 23.30 MW, and a MAPE of 16.68%. These improvements show that the hybrid model works well to make predictions more accurate and reliable for real-world use.
{"title":"Short-term PV plant power forecasting model using CNN-GRU with XGBoost algorithm","authors":"Lahoucine Oumiguil, Ali Nejmi","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03184","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03184","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate short-term forecasting of photovoltaic (PV) power output is crucial for the efficient integration and operation of PV systems in smart grids. However, the intrinsic unpredictability and hierarchical discontinuity of PV data complicate the attainment of good predictive accuracy through conventional regression procedures. This research introduces a combined deep learning and gradient boosting model for short-term PV power forecasting. A convolutional neural network (CNN) is initially utilized to get important spatial features from input variables. Then, these features are coupled with historical PV power measurements in a gated recurrent unit (GRU) to capture temporal dependencies. The XGBoost technique is also used to represent complex nonlinear relationships in the data, which makes predictions even more accurate. The model is tested using actual PV plant data and gets a R² of 0.79, an RMSE of 23.30 MW, and a MAPE of 16.68%. These improvements show that the hybrid model works well to make predictions more accurate and reliable for real-world use.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article e03184"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976860","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-11DOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03186
Mohammed Tanko, Awal Fuseini
There are two systems according to the dual-system theory that influence human decision-making processes in psychology classified as system one and system two. These systems impact human cognition and behaviour and results in actions that are either unconsciously or consciously taken. In the first system, decisions are not the results of deliberate reasoning but default and often intuitive, offering quick but not rational and consistent results. Alternatively, the second system is controlled and deliberate and as such dominates the default system under time sufficiency. Despite the several initiatives to make credit available to farmers, commercial banks consider the agricultural sector risky and informal, with a high cost of holding capital. This result in farmers depending on costly loans from informal sectors that aggravate their debt situations, and restrict their ability to invest in productivity-enhancing inputs. Digitalized microcredit offers farmers alternatives and broad possibilities to access credit with improved efficiency and capable of reaching several underserved rural farming communities. This study therefore intends to examine the effects of digitalized credit on the welfare of farmers using ordinary least square approach and corroborated with Propensity Score Matching (PSM) as a robustness check. The findings indicate that digital financial services increased the income and welfare of rural households, as it provided an accessible and more formalized means of financial support. The research also confirmed the dual-system theory posits that deliberate and conscious decisions, the results of system two lead to reasonable and beneficial outcomes as shown by the welfare indicator in the treatment effects analysis.
{"title":"Conscious or unconscious digitalised credit decisions? An application of the dual-system theory to agricultural finance and welfare","authors":"Mohammed Tanko, Awal Fuseini","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03186","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03186","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There are two systems according to the dual-system theory that influence human decision-making processes in psychology classified as system one and system two. These systems impact human cognition and behaviour and results in actions that are either unconsciously or consciously taken. In the first system, decisions are not the results of deliberate reasoning but default and often intuitive, offering quick but not rational and consistent results. Alternatively, the second system is controlled and deliberate and as such dominates the default system under time sufficiency. Despite the several initiatives to make credit available to farmers, commercial banks consider the agricultural sector risky and informal, with a high cost of holding capital. This result in farmers depending on costly loans from informal sectors that aggravate their debt situations, and restrict their ability to invest in productivity-enhancing inputs. Digitalized microcredit offers farmers alternatives and broad possibilities to access credit with improved efficiency and capable of reaching several underserved rural farming communities. This study therefore intends to examine the effects of digitalized credit on the welfare of farmers using ordinary least square approach and corroborated with Propensity Score Matching (PSM) as a robustness check. The findings indicate that digital financial services increased the income and welfare of rural households, as it provided an accessible and more formalized means of financial support. The research also confirmed the dual-system theory posits that deliberate and conscious decisions, the results of system two lead to reasonable and beneficial outcomes as shown by the welfare indicator in the treatment effects analysis.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article e03186"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976905","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-10DOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03181
Dukuzimana Olivier, George Isanda Omwenga, Dennis Kipngenoh Cheruiyot, Mathew Piero Ngugi
The increasing demand for sustainable biofuel alternatives has intensified the search for new microbial sources of cellulolytic enzymes. This study aim to evaluate the cellulolytic potential of Nigrospora oryzae and to optimize its cellulase enzyme production using low-cost lignocellulosic substrates, specifically maize cobs and sugarcane bagasse, under solid-state fermentation. Additionally, the study assess the efficiency of crude cellulase enzymes in biomass saccharification and bioethanol production. Molecular identification confirmed the isolate as N. oryzae through ITS sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. N. oryzae exhibited significant cellulolytic activity on carboxymethylcellulose-Congo red agar. Maize cobs and sugarcane bagasse were used as primary substrates for enzyme production. The cultural parameters were optimized using a one-variable-at-a-time (OVAT) approach. The peak filter paperase (FPase) activity reached 11.3 ± 0.94 IU/ml for maize cobs and 8.9 ± 0.47 IU/ml for bagasse on day 9. Additionally, maximum endoglucanase activity was recorded at 19.7 ± 1.74 IU/ml and 15.5 ± 0.76 IU/ml on day 12, respectively. Exoglucanase activity peaked at 3.46 ± 0.25 IU/ml for maize cobs and 2.06 ± 0.11 IU/ml for bagasse. The optimal pH for enzyme secretion ranged from 5 to 6. Nitrogen supplementation with ammonium nitrate, urea, and peptone significantly enhanced enzyme yields. Among the carbon sources tested, fructose, mannitol, and sucrose markedly improved enzyme production compared to glucose, suggesting a partial relief from carbon catabolite repression. An enzyme loading of 5% optimized saccharification efficiency. Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) using Saccharomyces cerevisiae achieved maximum ethanol concentrations at substrate levels between 5% and 15%, demonstrating the bio-conversion potential of this system. These findings position Nigrospora oryzae as a promising non-conventional cellulase producer for lignocellulosic bioconversion, with significant implications for sustainable ethanol production.
{"title":"Optimization of cellulase production by Nigrospora oryzae (berk and br.) petch and its application in biomass saccharification and ethanol production","authors":"Dukuzimana Olivier, George Isanda Omwenga, Dennis Kipngenoh Cheruiyot, Mathew Piero Ngugi","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03181","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03181","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing demand for sustainable biofuel alternatives has intensified the search for new microbial sources of cellulolytic enzymes. This study aim to evaluate the cellulolytic potential of <em>Nigrospora oryzae</em> and to optimize its cellulase enzyme production using low-cost lignocellulosic substrates, specifically maize cobs and sugarcane bagasse, under solid-state fermentation. Additionally, the study assess the efficiency of crude cellulase enzymes in biomass saccharification and bioethanol production. Molecular identification confirmed the isolate as <em>N. oryzae</em> through ITS sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. <em>N. oryzae</em> exhibited significant cellulolytic activity on carboxymethylcellulose-Congo red agar. Maize cobs and sugarcane bagasse were used as primary substrates for enzyme production. The cultural parameters were optimized using a one-variable-at-a-time (OVAT) approach. The peak filter paperase (FPase) activity reached 11.3 ± 0.94 IU/ml for maize cobs and 8.9 ± 0.47 IU/ml for bagasse on day 9. Additionally, maximum endoglucanase activity was recorded at 19.7 ± 1.74 IU/ml and 15.5 ± 0.76 IU/ml on day 12, respectively. Exoglucanase activity peaked at 3.46 ± 0.25 IU/ml for maize cobs and 2.06 ± 0.11 IU/ml for bagasse. The optimal pH for enzyme secretion ranged from 5 to 6. Nitrogen supplementation with ammonium nitrate, urea, and peptone significantly enhanced enzyme yields. Among the carbon sources tested, fructose, mannitol, and sucrose markedly improved enzyme production compared to glucose, suggesting a partial relief from carbon catabolite repression. An enzyme loading of 5% optimized saccharification efficiency. Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) using <em>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em> achieved maximum ethanol concentrations at substrate levels between 5% and 15%, demonstrating the bio-conversion potential of this system. These findings position <em>Nigrospora oryzae</em> as a promising non-conventional cellulase producer for lignocellulosic bioconversion, with significant implications for sustainable ethanol production.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article e03181"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145976955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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