Browse Articles

A comprehensive assessment of Ghana’s energy security dimensions and environmental sustainability in a multi-indices analysis

Abstract This study presents a comprehensive evaluation of Ghana’s energy security and environmental sustainability using a multi-indices approach. Focusing on five key indicators: the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (HHI), Shannon–Wiener Index (H), Simpson Index (D), Adjusted Shannon–Wiener Neumann Index (SWNI), and Carbon Intensity Index (CI) are employed to assess the concentration, diversification, and dependency of Ghana’s energy sources alongside carbon emissions. The results indicate a highly concentrated energy portfolio, with petroleum products and biomass dominating the energy mix. The HHI score of 0.23 reflects moderate market concentration, while the Shannon–Wiener Index of 1.5 and Simpson Index of 4.3 highlight a relatively diverse but still imbalanced energy mix. The SWNI1 score of 0.37, accounting for political risk, reveals a vulnerability due to reliance on imported energy. Furthermore, the Carbon Intensity Index of 5.50 kt CO 2 per ktoe of energy consumed (2022) underscores significant carbon emissions, necessitating a sustainable energy transition. These findings emphasize the need to enhance domestic energy production, diversify energy sources, and adopt low-carbon technologies to improve Ghana’s energy security and environmental resilience.

A new 37- level inverter with reduced switches for renewable energy applications

Abstract Multilevel inverters (MLIs) are now crucial in producing high-quality output waveforms due to their modularity and efficiency. This paper presents a novel 37- level MLI topology with a reduced number of switches and sources. The proposed design offers several advantages, including lower total harmonic distortion (THD) of 1.21% in hardware and 0.8% in simulation, high efficiency of 93.26%, reduced total standing voltage of 18 V DC ), and an improved component-per-level ratio compared to existing MLIs. The inverter performance is validated using MATLAB/Simulink and a laboratory prototype controlled by a dSPACE system under different load conditions. Results confirm that the proposed inverter maintains stable operation during dynamic load changes and provides a cost-effective, compact, and reliable solution for renewable energy and electric vehicle applications.

Pomegranate peel as a natural reducing agent in leaching of manganese concentrate

Influence of Bʹ-site vacancy on hydrogen storage, structural, elastic, thermodynamic and optoelectronic attributes of potassium based double perovskite K2LiAlH6hydride for green energy applications

Exploring gut microbiota alterations and their associations with clinical symptoms in fibromyalgia

Clinical–radiological profile and risk factors for early mortality in preterm neonates with respiratory distress syndrome in Hoima, Western Uganda

Abstract Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) is the leading cause of respiratory failure and neonatal mortality, particularly in preterm infants. Despite global advances in neonatal care, RDS remains a significant problem in low-resource settings such as Uganda, where limited evidence exists on clinical profiles, mortality, and associated risk factors. Although these advances have greatly reduced mortality in high-income settings, their limited availability in Uganda contributes to the continued high burden of RDS-related deaths. To determine the clinical–radiological profile, early mortality, and risk factors for mortality among preterm neonates admitted with RDS at Hoima Regional Referral Hospital. A prospective cohort study was conducted among 150 preterm neonates with clinically and radiologically confirmed RDS. Data on sociodemographic, clinical, and obstetric characteristics were collected using structured questionnaires and chest X-rays. Participants were followed for seven days to determine outcomes. Descriptive statistics summarized baseline characteristics, while Poisson regression identified independent predictors of mortality. Of the 150 neonates, 62.7% were male and 70.7% were born before 32 weeks of gestation. Tachypnea (84.7%) and intercostal/subcostal retractions (71.3%) were the most frequent clinical features, while ground-glass patterns were the predominant radiological finding. Twenty-nine neonates died within the first seven days, giving an early mortality rate of 19.3%. Independent predictors of mortality were delayed presentation beyond six hours of life (aRR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.43–2.07, p  < 0.001) and birth weight < 1.5 kg (aRR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.02–1.22, p  = 0.015). RDS contributes substantially to early neonatal mortality in Uganda. Prompt recognition, early referral, and improved neonatal care—particularly for very low birth weight infants—are critical to improving outcomes. Although not directly measured in this study, improving access to antenatal corticosteroids and respiratory support—well-established interventions—remains essential for broader improvement of RDS outcomes.

Synthesis and antidiabetic evaluation of novel Tetrahydroacridine derivatives with computational insights

Abstract A new series of thirty-two tetrahydroacridine (THA) derivatives were rationally designed and synthesized via efficient multistep reactions involving nucleophilic aromatic substitution and Mannich condensation. The structural integrity and purity of the obtained compounds were confirmed by their spectroscopic techniques including 1 H-NMR, 13 C-NMR, mass spectroscopy and elemental analyses. The synthesized tetrahydroacridine (THA) derivatives were initially screened for antidiabetic potential through a glucose diffusion assay, where compound 4b (100 mg/kg) exhibited the highest inhibition rate (34.00%) at the lowest concentration tested, outperforming the reference drug Gliclazide. To deepen biological understanding, molecular docking studies were conducted against key diabetic targets: DPP-IV, SGLT1, and GLUT2. The docking results demonstrated that several compounds, particularly compound 4a , compound 5a , and compound 4c , achieved excellent binding affinities and interactions with critical active-site residues, showing potential as dual or triple inhibitors. ADMET and drug-likeness evaluations based on Lipinski’s rule of five and computational pharmacokinetic modeling indicated acceptable oral bioavailability, metabolic stability, and low toxicity for selected lead candidates. In-vivo studies were conducted in streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats over a 4-week period. Compounds 5b , 7a , and 8b (100 mg/kg) significantly decreased blood glucose level during fasting, approaching or surpassing the efficacy of Gliclazide. Compound 5b showed the most pronounced effect, lowering glucose to 180.5 ± 12.3 mg/dL by week 4. These integrated findings highlight the potential of tetrahydroacridine derivatives as promising scaffolds for the development of new antidiabetic candidates with multitarget activity, favorable drug-like properties and minimal toxicity risk. Further in-depth SAR, enzyme inhibition, and pharmacodynamic studies are warranted to advance these candidates toward clinical relevance.

Synthesis of 2′-fucosyllactose using multi-enzyme cascade with cofactor regeneration

Utilization of psychotherapy, pharmacotherapy, and their combination by individuals with current or residual depression: results from five annual nationally representative German surveys

Abstract Depression is a common and burdensome mental disorder affecting more than 320 million people worldwide. Clinical practice guidelines recommend psychotherapy, antidepressant pharmacotherapy, or their combination as the cornerstones of evidence-based treatment. Despite these well-established therapeutic options, a substantial proportion of individuals with depression remain untreated. In Germany, available estimates of the current treatment gap are outdated. The present study therefore aims to examine report the utilization of psychotherapy, antidepressant pharmacotherapy, or their combination among adults in Germany who self-reported a diagnosis of depression. In addition, we explore potential differences in treatment utilization according to sociodemographic characteristics, specifically sex and age. Between 2018 and 2022, annual population-representative surveys were conducted in Germany. A total of N  = 3,416 individuals who self-reported having been professionally diagnosed with depression at least once in their lifetime and who indicated current acute or residual symptoms were included in the present analysis. Overall, 63.4% of participants reported using at least one guideline-based treatment for their current depressive episode or residual symptoms. Specifically, 13.5% reported receiving psychotherapy, 26.5% pharmacotherapy, and 23.4% a combination of both. The likelihood of utilizing psychotherapy decreased with age ( 18–29 years: OR = 1.22 , 95% CI = 0.91–1.64; 60–69 years: OR = 0.36 , 95% CI = 0.24–0.52) , whereas the likelihood of pharmacotherapy use increased with age ( 18–29 years: OR = 0 . 74 , 95% CI = 0.54–1.01; 60–69 years: OR = 2 . 46 , 95% CI = 1.89–3.23) . Although self-reported utilization of guideline-based treatment for depression was higher than previously reported, depression in adulthood likely remains undertreated. These findings highlight the need to strengthen access to evidence-based interventions and to promote long-term treatment adherence and self-management strategies.

Predictors of anemia among lactating women in ethiopia: Using 2016 EDHS; application of ordinal logistic regression model

Efferent control of hair cells mechanically coupled by artificial membranes

Abstract The efferent system has been proposed to play a vital function in auditory and vestibular systems, by protecting the sensory hair cells from injury and preserving signal detection sensitivity. We report that the activation of efferents has strong modulatory effects on systems of coupled hair cell bundles. In this study, we use direct electrical stimulation of efferent neurons to probe its effects on the hair cells’ internal dynamics, by means of optically tracking the hair bundle motility. In vivo , hair bundles of auditory and vestibular epithelia are connected via overlying membranes; to address this physiological characteristic, we investigate the impact of efferent activity on the collective response of coupled hair bundles. We use a preparation from the American bullfrog sacculus which preserves the active motility of hair bundles, and achieve inter-cell coupling by connecting the cells to artificial mica structures. We found that efferent stimulation impacts hair-bundle dynamics, affecting the amplitude, frequency, and temporal profile of spontaneous oscillations, and altering the dynamical state of the system. Furthermore, efferent activation decreased synchronization among coupled hair bundles, suggesting a mechanism by which neural modulation may reduce the overall sensitivity of the system.

Intraoperative 3D reconstruction from sparse arbitrarily posed real X-rays

Pharmacokinetic and bioequivalence of two formulations of Valsartan/Amlodipine Tablet(I) in healthy Chinese volunteers: A randomized, three-period, partially replicated crossover study

Abstract Valsartan/amlodipine combination tablets can exert synergistic antihypertensive effects through different mechanisms, significantly lowering blood pressure while also addressing multiple risk factors and comorbidities in patients. This study designed a single-center, randomized, open-label, two-formulations, single-dose, three-cycle, three-sequence, partially repeated crossover controlled trial design. A total of 72 healthy Chinese volunteers participated in the fasting and fed trials, of whom 69 completed the trial process. This study employed a methodologically validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method to determine the concentrations of valsartan and amlodipine in plasma. Phoenix WinNonlin software (version 7.0) was used to calculate pharmacokinetic parameters using a non-compartmental model. Equivalence analysis was performed using the average bioequivalence (ABE) method and the reference-scaled average bioequivalence (RSABE) method. The trial results showed that the test drug was bioequivalent to the reference drug, and no suspected serious adverse reactions or serious adverse events occurred throughout the trial. The results of this study support the launch of the new generic Valsartan/Amlodipine Tablet(I) in China. As a representative antihypertensive fixed-dose combination (FDC), these methodological insights can be directly applied to clinical trials of similar drug products, thereby enhancing success rates while mitigating development risks. Clinical trial registration : CTR20221889, ( http://www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn/clinicaltrials.searchlist.dhtml.28/07/2022 )

Infants’ empathic concern responses moderate the association between maternal and child depressive symptoms

Multi-task learning identifies shared genetic risk for late-onset epilepsy and alzheimer’s disease

Abstract Aging populations face increasing incidence of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and late-onset epilepsy (LOE), which demonstrate a bidirectional relationship where AD is a risk factor for LOE and LOE is a risk factor for AD. While the APOE gene is a known shared risk factor, comprehensive genetic studies for LOE remain limited. This study employed a multi-task learning framework using Elastic Net modeling to systematically identify shared genetic risk factors between AD and LOE. We analyzed electronic health records from UCLA Health System ( N  = 416,212; genetic subset N  = 16,500) and validated findings in the All of Us dataset ( N  = 52,493). Longitudinal analyses confirmed strong bidirectional associations between AD and LOE. The multi-task learning approach identified eight shared-risk single nucleotide polymorphisms mapping to key genes including the APOE-TOMM40-APOC1 cluster, BIN1 , CLU , PVRL2 , and TRAPPC6A . These shared-risk genes were enriched in pathways related to lipid metabolism, amyloid catabolic processes, and tau protein binding. A shared genetic risk score effectively stratified patients into distinct AD-LOE risk groups. This study represents an initial systematic identification of potential shared genetic factors between AD and LOE using multi-task learning. While our findings suggest possible shared genetic contributions, particularly in the APOE region, and highlight tau-mediated mechanisms as potential therapeutic targets, further validation is needed to establish the extent of genetic overlap between these conditions.

Phytochemical composition and biological activities of selected essential oils and their discrimination through principal component analysis

Metabolomic profiling, antioxidant activity, and skin cell viability of citrus peel flavonoids extracted via ultrasonic-assisted aqueous two-phase system

Citrus peels, often considered agricultural waste, are rich in flavonoids with potent antioxidant properties. This study utilized ultrasonic-assisted aqueous two-phase extraction (UA-ATPE) to obtain flavonoid-rich upper phase extracts (UPEs) from the peels of four citrus varieties sourced from different cultivars and regions. Targeted metabolomics was used to analyze the flavonoid compositions in the UPEs, revealing distinct metabolic profiles among the varieties. The antioxidant activities of the UPEs were evaluated through hydroxyl, superoxide, and ABTS radical scavenging assays, while their effects on skin cell viability were assessed using HaCaT and BJ cells. Multivariate statistical analyses, including principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA), identified six key differential metabolites (naringenin, p-coumaric acid, luteolin, butin, vitexin/isovitexin, and ferulic acid) that effectively distinguished the citrus varieties. Among the UPEs, Guangxi mandarin orange exhibited the highest total flavonoid content and the most potent superoxide anion and ABTS radical scavenging activities. However, Meizhou shatian pomelo demonstrated the strongest overall antioxidant capacity, as indicated by the lowest IC 50 values for the antioxidant potential composite (APC). Cell viability assays confirmed that none of the UPEs exhibited cytotoxicity at concentrations of 0.06--1.00% (v/v). These findings highlight significant varietal differences in flavonoid content and antioxidant activity, providing a scientific basis for the utilization of citrus peels in functional cosmetics and other industries.

An interrupted time series analysis of the effect of the quality improvement team on the rate of adverse events in the Botswana safe male circumcision program from 2015 to 2019

Background Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) has been shown to reduce heterosexual human immune deficiency virus (HIV) transmission. In 2009, Botswana rolled out its VMMC program to expand existing HIV preventive strategies. However, in 2017, a study recorded an adverse event rate (AER) of 6.7% in Botswana. A quality improvement team was introduced to help reduce AER through standardized training and mentorship by ensuring that the World Health Organization VMMC and the Botswana safe male circumcision program standards are met. We hypothesized that t he introduction of the quality improvement team reduced the trend and magnitude of the moderate and severe AER for the day 7 routine follow-up visit. Methods A quasi-experimental study was conducted using data from monthly district reporting tools. Interrupted time series analysis was used to compare the trend and magnitude of the moderate and severe AERs after circumcision for the day 7 routine follow-up visit in males aged 10 years and older. The comparison was done two years before (April 2015 to March 2017) and two years after (April 2017 to April 2019) the introduction of the quality improvement team. The most common adverse events (AEs) by age category, type, and severity between April 2015 and April 2019 were also reported. Frequencies and percentages were used to summarize the descriptive measures. Where indicated, all measures are reported with 95% confidence interval and statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Results There was an overall downward trajectory of the day 7 moderate and severe AER throughout the study period. Nonetheless, prior to the intervention, the moderate and severe day 7 AER decreased significantly monthly by 0.1% (p = 0.046, 95% CI = −0.195, 0.002). However, after the intervention, the AER insignificantly increased by 0.08% (p = 0.107, 95% CI = −0.018, 0.181). Majority (68.5%) of the AEs occurred in the 10–14 years age category. Most of these AEs were mild (73.8%). Infections were the most common AE (45.1%). Conclusion The effect of the quality improvement intervention on the rate of AEs was minimal. Regular audits and further research on why the quality improvement team was not able to significantly reduce the AER would be beneficial.

Machine learning-guided identification and simulation-based validation of potent JAK3 inhibitors for cancer therapy

Janus kinase 3 (JAK3) is a hematopoietic-specific kinase implicated in cytokine signaling and immune dysregulation and has recently been associated with cancer progression. However, selective and potent JAK3 inhibitors remain underdeveloped. In this study, we established a machine learning (ML)-based pipeline to identify novel JAK3 inhibitors with anti-cancer potential. A curated ChEMBL dataset of JAK3 inhibitors was used to train multiple ML classifiers, with the Random Forest model achieving the highest performance (AUC = 0.80, F1-score = 0.92). This model was applied to virtually screen 25,084 ChEMBL compounds, yielding 400 high-confidence candidates (prediction score > 0.9). Docking analysis identified ten top binders (binding affinity ≤ –8.5 kcal/mol), of which three CHEMBL49087, CHEMBL4117527, and CHEMBL50064 exhibited optimal ADMET profiles. These compounds underwent 200 ns molecular dynamics simulations, showing low RMSD (0.10–0.20 nm), stable binding conformations, and preserved protein compactness. MM/GBSA calculations revealed that CHEMBL4117527 displayed the strongest binding free energy (–29.5 kcal/mol), surpassing even the co-crystallized ligand (–17.7 kcal/mol). Our integrative approach combining machine learning, docking, pharmacokinetics, molecular dynamics, and free energy analysis presents a robust computational strategy for JAK3 inhibitor discovery. These findings support CHEMBL4117527 as promising candidates for further experimental evaluation in cancer therapeutics.

An efficient assignment of multiple agricultural machinery tasks based on Chaotic Cauchy Elite Variable Snake Optimization Algorithm

Task allocation for agricultural machinery constitutes a critical challenge in multi-machine coordination within unmanned smart farms. Enhancing the efficiency of task allocation remains an urgent research problem. Current machinery often suffers from inefficient allocation strategies and unprocessed field areas, which lead to reduced productivity and unnecessary resource consumption. This study develops a novel task allocation model incorporating machine speed, turning time, and fuel consumption to overcome these limitations. In addition, a Chaotic Cauchy Elite Variation Snake Optimisation Algorithm (CCEVSOA) is introduced. Specifically, the algorithm employs a chaotic operator tailored for multi-machine coordination scenarios, ensuring a more uniform distribution of initial solutions across the search space. Moreover, integrating an enhanced Cauchy operator with an elite evolution strategy enlarges the search domain and mitigates premature convergence, reducing overall operation time and improving coordination efficiency. Extensive experiments verify that CCEVSOA achieves superior performance with a markedly faster convergence rate. When compared with the Snake Optimization Algorithm (SO), Genetic Algorithm (GA), Clone Selection Algorithm (CSA), Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA), and the Improved Buzzard Evolution Algorithm based on Lévy Flight and Simulated Annealing (IBES), CCEVSOA reduces collaborative task allocation time by 103, 89, 106, 97, and 36 minutes, corresponding to efficiency improvements of 14.25%, 12.55%, 14.6%, 13.53%, and 5.5%, respectively. These findings demonstrate that optimising multi-machine task allocation through CCEVSOA yields more rational and economically efficient distribution schemes for agricultural machinery, effectively enhancing productivity while minimising resource wastage.