Asian Journal of Advanced Research and Reports

Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia in a Patient with Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome: A Case Report

2026-10-26T09:16:57+00:00

Background: Inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST) is characterised by persistent sinus tachycardia without an identifiable secondary cause, whereas Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS) is a neurodevelopmental tic disorder. Although autonomic disturbances have been discussed in relation to both conditions, their clinical coexistence remains poorly characterised.

Case presentation: A 31-year-old woman diagnosed with GTS at the age of 13 years and with well-controlled asthma presented with dyspnoea during an asthma exacerbation and a heart rate of 140–150 beats/min. Persistent tachycardia of 100–140 beats/min had been present for more than six months before this episode. Tachycardia continued after respiratory symptoms improved and salbutamol was stopped. Laboratory investigations did not identify anaemia, thyroid dysfunction, electrolyte disturbance or evidence of myocardial injury. Pulmonary embolism was considered unlikely following clinical assessment and D-dimer testing. Orthostatic assessment did not support postural tachycardia syndrome, and telemetry confirmed persistent sinus tachycardia. Echocardiography showed a left ventricular ejection fraction of 68.3%. Ivabradine at 7.5 mg twice daily was ineffective. Bisoprolol, increased from 2.5 to 5 mg daily, was tolerated despite asthma and produced clinical improvement. At one month, Holter monitoring showed a mean heart rate of 94 beats/min.

Conclusion: This case documents the coexistence of GTS and IST without establishing causation. The maternal history of tachycardia raises an unconfirmed possibility of familial susceptibility. Careful assessment of secondary causes and individualised treatment remain important.

Computed Axial Tomographic Features of Craniofacial Fibrous Dysplasia in a Child: A Case Report

2026-11-04T08:03:11+00:00

Background: Craniofacial fibrous dysplasia is a benign fibro-osseous disorder characterized by the replacement of normal bone with abnormal fibrous and osseous tissue. In children, involvement of the craniofacial skeleton may produce progressive facial deformity and functional impairment. Computed tomography (CT) enables assessment of the extent and anatomical consequences of the disease.

Objective: To describe the clinical presentation and CT findings of craniofacial fibrous dysplasia in a five-year-old boy.

Case Presentation: A five-year-old boy was referred from the paediatric outpatient department of a tertiary hospital for craniofacial CT examination following progressive facial prominence, excessive tearing, persistent nasal discharge and difficulty breathing through the nose. The symptoms had developed over approximately six months. CT demonstrated diffuse thickening and increased density of the cranial and facial bones, producing craniofacial disproportion. The imaging appearance was predominantly sclerotic, with areas of ground-glass attenuation. Marked narrowing of the nasal and nasolacrimal passages was observed. The left-sided paranasal sinuses were not demonstrated, while the right maxillary and sphenoid sinuses were hypoplastic, with mucoperiosteal thickening. The mastoid air cells were not visualized. The demonstrated brain parenchyma appeared normal. The child attended subsequent neurosurgical consultations but had not undergone surgery because of financial constraints.

Conclusion: CT provided detailed anatomical information regarding craniofacial involvement and associated narrowing of adjacent passages. These findings may support clinical assessment and subsequent management planning.

AI-Driven Digital Twin Framework for Sustainable Fisheries Management and Intelligent Aquatic Water Resource Monitoring

2026-10-22T11:18:52+00:00

Digital twins are increasingly proposed as a means of linking aquatic observations, predictive models and management decisions. Their relevance to sustainability nevertheless depends on more than the speed or accuracy of an artificial intelligence model. This critical narrative review examines the evidence connecting digital-twin architectures with capture fisheries, aquaculture and freshwater and coastal water-quality monitoring. Literature published through 30 July 2026 was selected through targeted scholarly searches, citation tracing and bibliographic verification, with particular attention to observation quality, independent validation, operational feedback and management outcomes. The synthesis distinguishes a digital model, a continuously updated digital representation and a decision-linked twin, and separates component performance from demonstrated ecological benefit. Evidence supports advances in image-based monitoring, satellite retrievals, hybrid environmental prediction and selected field deployments. It is substantially less conclusive regarding sustained stock recovery, equitable allocation or ecosystem-scale benefits attributable to a complete digital-twin system. Important limitations include imperfect observability, inappropriate spatial and temporal validation, uncertain transfer between environments, simulator-dependent policy optimisation and incomplete treatment of human behaviour. Apparent disagreement between promising technical demonstrations and limited management evidence largely reflects different endpoints and system boundaries rather than a simple conflict over technological feasibility. A federated, decision-centred framework is proposed in which traceable observations support uncertainty-aware state estimation, explicit management objectives, constrained decision support and independently audited outcomes. The framework includes staged deployment, human authorisation, local data governance and lifecycle assessment; it is an unvalidated synthesis rather than an implemented system. Near-term priorities are prospective forecasting benchmarks, comparative management trials, failure-tolerant monitoring and participatory evaluation in data-limited fisheries. Digital twins are most defensible as accountable extensions of existing environmental observation and adaptive management, not as substitutes for ecological understanding, enforceable institutions or legitimate collective decisions.

Development-Guided Management of Paediatric Maxillofacial Fractures: A Narrative Review and Proposal of a Novel Classification and Treatment Algorithm

2026-10-23T10:01:33+00:00

Background: Paediatric maxillofacial fractures present distinct management challenges because of ongoing craniofacial growth, developing dentition and age-related differences in remodelling potential.

Aims: To synthesise current evidence on paediatric maxillofacial fracture management and to propose a development-guided classification and treatment algorithm integrating craniofacial maturity, injury severity, and clinically relevant modifiers.

Study Design: Structured narrative review with development of an evidence-informed conceptual classification and treatment framework.

Methodology: PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched for English-language studies addressing paediatric maxillofacial fractures, with emphasis on publications from 2000 to 2026. Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, cohort studies, retrospective series, and selected clinically informative case reports were included. Evidence was synthesised according to developmental stage, dentition, fracture displacement and stability, occlusal and functional disturbance, growth-sensitive structure involvement, soft-tissue injury, and fracture complexity.

Results: The available evidence indicates that treatment selection is influenced by the interaction between developmental maturity and injury severity rather than fracture location or chronological age alone. Younger patients demonstrate greater remodelling potential but also increased vulnerability of developing dentition and growth-sensitive structures. Higher fracture severity, instability, mandibular involvement, fracture multiplicity, malocclusion, and functional impairment were associated with greater likelihood of operative treatment. Based on these findings, a four-stage developmental classification (D1–D4), four injury grades (G1–G4), clinical modifiers, and four corresponding treatment tiers (T1–T4) were proposed. The resulting algorithm supports escalation from observation and functional management to closed reduction, limited fixation, or definitive reconstruction according to biological maturity and injury characteristics.

Conclusion: Paediatric maxillofacial fracture management should incorporate developmental maturity, dentition, growth potential, injury severity, and functional consequences into treatment planning. The proposed development-guided framework provides a structured approach to individualised management while prioritising preservation of craniofacial growth, occlusion, and function. However, expert consensus, reliability testing, and prospective multicenter validation are required before routine clinical implementation.

Diagnostic Validity, External Validation, and Clinical Utility of Multimodal Artificial Intelligence for Depression and Anxiety Detection in Adults: A Critical Review

2026-10-29T10:52:46+00:00

Multimodal artificial intelligence (AI) combines behavioural, linguistic, physiological, questionnaire and contextual signals to identify depression or anxiety. Although reported discrimination is frequently promising, diagnostic accuracy, transportability and clinical benefit represent different evidential questions. This critical narrative review examines adult-focused multimodal systems, the validity of their reference standards, the strength of internal and external evaluation, and the evidence required before clinical deployment. Literature published from January 2014 to 23 August 2026 was examined alongside earlier methodological and measurement studies. Sources were selected for relevance to diagnostic constructs, study design, model assessment, external validation and clinical implementation. The synthesis distinguishes clinician-assessed disorders from questionnaire thresholds, symptom trajectories, induced anxiety states and benchmark-derived labels. Recent multimodal depression studies include a geographically independent validation with strong case–control discrimination, whereas a naturalistic speech study using structured diagnostic interviews showed substantially more modest performance and little incremental benefit beyond conventional rating scales. Syntheses of model performance remain vulnerable to heterogeneous reference standards, retrospective study designs, selective cohorts and dependence on repeatedly reused datasets. Evidence for anxiety is particularly fragmented: physiological and smartphone models often predict momentary arousal or elevated questionnaire scores rather than independently diagnosed anxiety disorders. Apparent gains from fusion must therefore be evaluated against simple clinical comparators, missing-modality patterns, calibration, subgroup reliability, data burden and downstream consequences. A staged translational framework is proposed, separating analytical validity, diagnostic validity, external reproducibility and patient-centred utility. Priority studies should prospectively recruit consecutive or representative clinical populations, employ blinded structured assessments, prespecify thresholds, report calibration and decision consequences, and compare multimodal models with feasible care pathways. Multimodal AI has credible research value as an adjunct to assessment and symptom monitoring; evidence for autonomous diagnosis or improved adult clinical outcomes remains insufficient.

Molecular Design and Sustainable Recycling of Advanced Materials for Circular Economy and Environmental Sustainability

2026-11-09T07:36:18+00:00

Background: Plastics, fibre-reinforced thermoset composites and lithium-ion battery cathodes underpin decarbonisation and modern manufacturing, yet most were designed for performance rather than recovery. Plastic recycling rates remain low, composite waste is accumulating and battery-metal demand is outpacing secondary supply. Molecular design for recyclability has become a central research agenda, but its evidence base is fragmented across chemistry, catalysis, biotechnology, electrochemistry and sustainability assessment.

Purpose and Scope: This critical narrative review examines whether molecular design and emerging recycling technologies can deliver measurable circularity and environmental benefit across three material classes: thermoplastics, crosslinked thermosets and their composites, and lithium-ion battery cathode materials. It also evaluates how system-level assessment, chemical safety and regulation condition those benefits.

Approach: Literature was identified through multidisciplinary and topic-specific scholarly indexes, institutional sources and citation searching, and was appraised qualitatively for waste-stream realism, closure of the material loop, scale, transparency of assessment assumptions and independent replication.

Principal Findings: Molecular strategies such as low-ceiling-temperature monomers, embedded cleavable linkages, dynamic covalent networks and defect-targeted relithiation of cathodes are mechanistically well supported and can restore material properties after recovery. Evidence for their performance in contaminated, mixed and ageing waste streams is much weaker, and multi-cycle durability data are scarce. Life-cycle and techno-economic studies often disagree because they differ in system boundaries, displaced products, energy mixes and assumed scale. Mechanical recycling remains economically and environmentally competitive where material quality can be maintained, whereas pyrolysis-based routes and enzymatic recycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate) have not yet shown consistent environmental advantages over virgin production, and most catalytic upcycling routes lack comparable assessment. Direct cathode recycling appears environmentally promising but depends on chemistry-specific collection, sorting and design for disassembly.

Implications: Recyclability is a system property that molecular design can enable but cannot guarantee. Progress requires standardised benchmarking on real waste, prospective assessment coupled to design decisions, integration of chemical-safety criteria and infrastructure-aware deployment. The available evidence supports cautious optimism about specific design–recycling pairings rather than general claims of circularity.

Improving English Oral Reading Fluency in Class II through Phonemic Awareness Instruction: An Action Research Study in a Bhutanese School

2026-10-15T06:10:47+00:00

This classroom-based action research investigated changes in English oral reading fluency, word-decoding accuracy and reading confidence following phonemic awareness instruction among Class II learners in a Bhutanese primary school. An intact class of 16 students, comprising five boys and eleven girls, participated in a five-week intervention. Daily instructional activities combined Systematic Synthetic Phonics, with an emphasis on phoneme blending and segmentation, with Echo Reading, Paired Reading and Choral Reading. A mixed-methods approach was used. Quantitative data were obtained from pre- and post-intervention assessments using the DIBELS 8th Edition Oral Reading Fluency measures of words correct per minute and reading accuracy. Qualitative data were drawn from weekly teacher observation checklists and field notes. The proportion of students meeting the reading-accuracy benchmark of at least 92% increased from 43.8% to 50.0%, while the proportion classified as At Risk for accuracy decreased from 43.8% to 25.0%. The proportion meeting the reading-rate benchmark of at least 49 words correct per minute increased from 37.5% to 43.8%. Classroom observations indicated greater willingness to participate, reduced reliance on guessing unfamiliar words and increasing independence in applying blending strategies. More proficient readers also supported their peers during group activities. These findings suggest modest improvements in measured reading outcomes alongside positive changes in classroom reading behaviours, although further practice may be needed to develop reading automaticity.

Comparative Effectiveness of Muscle Energy Technique and Myofascial Release in Students of Career Point University Kota with Scapulocostal Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial

2026-10-15T07:10:57+00:00

Background: Scapulocostal syndrome (SCS) is a common musculoskeletal disorder characterised by pain and discomfort around the scapular region, often associated with postural dysfunction, prolonged sitting, and imbalance involving the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, rhomboids, and serratus anterior muscles. Although Muscle Energy Technique (MET) and Myofascial Release (MFR) are both widely used, comparative evidence regarding their relative effectiveness remains limited.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of MET and MFR in reducing pain intensity and functional disability among collegiate adults with scapulocostal syndrome.

Methods: A randomised controlled trial enrolled 38 collegiate adults (18-30 years) diagnosed with SCS, who were randomly allocated to Group A (MFR, n = 19) or Group B (MET, n = 19). Both interventions targeted the upper trapezius, levator scapulae, rhomboids, and serratus anterior four days per week for four weeks. Pain intensity and functional disability were assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and Neck Disability Index (NDI), respectively, at baseline and after the intervention. Within- and between-group differences were analysed using paired- and independent-samples t-tests, with Cohen's d used to quantify effect size.

Results: Both groups showed significant within-group reductions in NDI and VAS scores (all p < 0.01). NDI improved by 45.7% in the MFR group and 46.0% in the MET group, with no significant between-group difference (p = 0.359). VAS improved by 52.3% in the MFR group and 54.8% in the MET group, with a significant between-group difference favouring MET (p = 0.003, Cohen's d = 1.04); however, the MET group had significantly higher baseline pain scores, a factor that may have contributed to this difference.

Conclusion: Both MET and MFR are effective in improving functional disability in collegiate adults with scapulocostal syndrome, with comparable benefits. MET demonstrated significantly greater pain reduction and may be preferred when analgesia is the primary clinical objective, although this finding should be interpreted cautiously given the baseline imbalance in pain scores between groups.

Ecological Studies of Ped Lake (Tal. Tasgaon, Dist. Sangli. Maharashtra. India - 416 312) with Respect to Hydrobiology, Livelyhood and Carbon Footprints

2026-10-16T09:39:23+00:00

This study examined the hydrobiological characteristics of Ped Lake in Tasgaon tehsil, Sangli district, Maharashtra, alongside surrounding soil properties, vegetation patterns and standing-tree carbon estimates. The field investigation was conducted during 2024–2025. Water samples were collected from six sites, while soil properties were assessed at five sites. Multispectral Landsat 8 OLI imagery was processed using ArcGIS 10.5 to investigate spatial vegetation patterns through the normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI). Water pH ranged from 8.14 to 8.80, electrical conductivity from 0.39 to 0.42 dS/m, total dissolved solids from 255 to 266 mg/l, dissolved oxygen from 5.3 to 5.9 mg/l and biochemical oxygen demand from 3.8 to 4.9 mg/l. Carbonates were absent from the water samples, whereas bicarbonate concentrations ranged from 201.6 to 220.8 mg/l. Soil pH varied from 7.15 to 7.58, with differences among sites in organic matter and nutrient-related measurements. NDVI values of approximately −0.05 characterised the lake surface, while values of 0.40–0.52 occurred in vegetated areas to the south and south-east. Measurements of standing trees were used to estimate biomass-derived carbon for the recorded species. These findings establish a descriptive, site-specific baseline for assessing water and soil conditions, surrounding vegetation and standing-tree carbon in the Ped Lake area, and for subsequent monitoring and management assessments.

Hydrogeochemical Controls on Groundwater Quality in Agricultural Communities of Benue State, Nigeria

2026-10-22T04:51:33+00:00

Groundwater is an important source of domestic water supply in agricultural communities, but its chemistry may reflect both natural geochemical processes and land-use inputs. This study evaluated hydrogeochemical characteristics and controls on groundwater quality in four agricultural communities of Benue State, Nigeria. Thirty-two groundwater samples were analysed for physicochemical parameters, major ions and selected potentially toxic metals using standard analytical procedures. Community-level summaries, Piper and Gibbs graphical analysis, Pearson correlation and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to identify dominant hydrochemical patterns. Community mean pH ranged from 6.23 to 6.91, electrical conductivity from 241 to 527 µS/cm and total dissolved solids from 154 to 336 mg/L. Calcium and bicarbonate were the dominant major ions, while community-mean nitrate concentrations ranged from 9.6 to 29.8 mg/L and were highest in Community C. The community-mean major-ion compositions plotted within a Ca–Mg–HCO₃-dominated field. Strong correlations among EC, TDS, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and HCO₃⁻ supported a substantial mineralisation component, whereas associations of NO₃⁻ with K⁺ and Cl⁻ were consistent with an additional land-use influence. PCA identified four components accounting for 78.46% of total variance. The evidence supports water–rock interaction as the principal hydrochemical background, with superimposed anthropogenic signals. Community C showed the greatest chemical enrichment and warrants priority in future monitoring.

Assessment of the Early Childhood Learning Environment in Anganwadi Centres of Majuli District, India

2026-10-28T11:56:52+00:00

Background: Physical and material conditions can support early childhood learning, but the availability of individual resources does not necessarily indicate a complete learning environment.

Aim: This study assessed selected learning-environment conditions in Anganwadi Centres in Majuli district, Assam, and their associations with enabling infrastructure.

Methods: A cross-sectional facility questionnaire recorded 63 submissions between 2 and 7 September 2026. After excluding two test entries and nine earlier duplicate submissions, 52 unique centres remained. Seven binary indicators were combined into an Early Childhood Learning Environment Index (ECLEI). Descriptive statistics, bootstrap confidence intervals, Cochran’s Q test, exact McNemar comparisons, and adjusted permutation analyses were used.

Results: The mean ECLEI was 87.09% (SD 17.73; 95% bootstrap confidence interval 82.14–91.76), while 29 centres (55.77%) reported all seven conditions. Learning and play resources averaged 91.83%, compared with 80.77% for physical space and comfort. Teaching-learning materials were available in 94.23% of centres, whereas adequate classroom space was reported in 75.00%. Availability differed across the seven indicators (Q = 14.83, p = 0.022). Centres with functional toilets and those with buildings in good condition had higher mean ECLEI scores by 19.39 and 18.94 percentage points, respectively, after adjustment.

Conclusion: Despite high overall resource availability, important gaps remain in classroom space and environmental conditions. The findings support targeted facility-level improvements and direct observation of learning practices.

Instructor Support in Graduating Students’ Exit Survey Accounts across Philippine Universities

2026-10-29T10:45:38+00:00

Background: Brief exit-survey appraisals may indicate whether graduates perceived instructors as accommodating or helpful without specifying the assistance described.

Objective: This study characterised the forms, encounter characteristics, and explanatory specificity of instructor support in graduating students’ accounts from nine Philippine universities.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive secondary analysis examined 2,136 records from a voluntary-response survey conducted in 2024. Challenge explanations provided context, while assistance explanations and binary appraisals were examined through hybrid deductive–inductive content analysis informed by social support theory.

Results: Among 2,135 valid binary appraisals, 1,962 (91.9%) were affirmative. Frequently coded challenge topics included stress or emotional distress (481), financial issues (407), and online learning (372). Assistance categories included instruction or guidance (418), socioemotional support (321), responsiveness (315), flexibility (218), and procedural help (161); 237 records mentioned non-specific assistance. Among affirmative appraisals, 1,164 (59.3%) identified no concern, while 427 (21.8%) lacked sufficient detail, mentioned context without an assistance action, or contained non-experiential information. Student initiation was mentioned in 268 records, instructor initiation in 100, and 27 affirmative appraisals also contained negative-encounter content.

Conclusions: Binary appraisals and narrative explanations capture different aspects of reported instructor support. The findings identify opportunities to test separate questions about concerns, assistance actions, and encounter initiation, but they do not establish whether support was received or effective.

Enhancing the Properties of Laterite Bricks with Coconut Coir Fibre and Kaolin Powder for Building Application

2026-10-31T10:37:43+00:00

Portland cement is widely used, but its cost and environmental impact have prompted interest in alternative materials for producing low-cost masonry units, including laterite bricks. The aim of this study is to investigate engineering properties of laterite bricks incorporating coconut coir fibre (CCF) and kaolin powder (KP). Four modified formulations containing 0.5% CCF and 5%, 10%, 15% or 20% KP by mass of laterite were compared with an unmodified control. Specimens were assessed after 7, 28, 56 and 90 days of curing, as applicable to each property. At 90 days, the control recorded a compressive strength of 1.017 N/mm², whereas the modified mixtures ranged from 1.100 to 1.198 N/mm²; the 5% KP–0.5% CCF formulation performed best among the modified mixtures. Splitting tensile strength at 90 days was 0.135 N/mm² for the control and 0.095–0.130 N/mm² for the modified mixtures. At 28 days, water absorption was lower in all modified formulations (2.41–2.50%) than in the control (2.57%). At 90 days, the modified mixtures recorded higher absorption (1.20–1.79%) than the control (0.44%). The 90-day density of the modified mixtures ranged from 1,482.62 to 1,575.00 kg/m³, compared with 1,586.19 kg/m³ for the control. Abrasion measurements varied across mixtures and curing ages, but their interpretation requires clarification of the reporting unit and the direction of the coefficient. These results suggest that the 5% KP–0.5% CCF formulation offers the highest compressive strength among the modified mixtures, exceeded the control. The measured strengths do not establish suitability for load-bearing walls. Non-load-bearing applications may be considered only after verification against the relevant construction requirements. Further investigation of longer-term durability, microstructure, thermal behaviour and life-cycle performance is warranted.

Overweight and Obesity among Women with Pregnancy-induced Hypertension in Sierra Leone: Age Patterns and Comparison with the National Population of Women of Reproductive Age

2026-10-31T10:43:58+00:00

Background: Overweight and obesity may contribute to hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, but age-specific patterns among affected women outside Sierra Leone’s capital remain insufficiently described. This study examined body mass index (BMI) among women with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and compared overweight or obesity prevalence with national estimates.

Methods: A retrospective review included 553 women with recorded PIH at Bo Government Hospital from January 2018 to June 2023. BMI categories were examined by age using permutation χ² and Cochran–Armitage tests. Comparisons used age-specific estimates for 7,514 non-pregnant women in the 2019 Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Survey. Prevalence ratios, indirect standardisation and a tipping-point bias analysis were used to examine differences and possible misclassification arising from gestational weight gain.

Results: Among women with PIH, 37.1% were overweight, 20.4% were obese and 1.8% were underweight. The combined prevalence of overweight or obesity was 57.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 53.3–61.6), without a significant age trend (p = 0.49). Prevalence was 60.8% among those aged 16–20 years. Age-specific prevalence ratios relative to the national reference were 3.50, 1.77 and 1.62 from youngest to oldest. The age-standardised prevalence ratio was 2.43 (95% CI 2.17–2.71). The modelled excess disappeared when 58.8% of women classified as overweight or obese were assumed to have been misclassified.

Conclusions: Overweight and obesity were more prevalent among women with PIH than among non-pregnant women nationally, particularly at younger ages. The comparison should be interpreted cautiously because BMI was recorded during pregnancy.

The Epoxidation of Walnut Oil (WNO) and the Analysis on the Epoxidized Oil with the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

2026-11-02T09:12:59+00:00

Growing interest in renewable feedstocks has encouraged the chemical modification of vegetable oils for potential use in polymeric materials. Walnut oil contains unsaturated fatty acids that provide reactive carbon–carbon double bonds suitable for epoxidation. This report describes the epoxidation of walnut oil (WNO) and the analysis of the oil using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Walnut oil, containing 61–70% lipid, 13–19% protein, 18.2% linoleic acid, and small amounts of carbohydrate, fibre, and moisture, was epoxidised using hydrogen peroxide as the oxygen donor. The oil was extracted from walnut using a Soxhlet apparatus with hexane as the solvent. The formation and presence of the epoxy or oxirane group in the epoxidised oil were confirmed by the characteristic C–O absorption of the epoxy group at 1244 cm⁻¹. This absorption was absent from the spectrum of the unepoxidised oil. Moreover, the reduced intensity of the C–H absorption bands between 2920 cm⁻¹ and 2850 cm⁻¹ in the spectrum of the epoxidised oil, compared with that of the unepoxidised oil, can be attributed to a reduction in the concentration of these bonds as epoxides formed. The reaction conducted under ambient laboratory conditions showed a broad O–H band between 3423 cm⁻¹ and 3352 cm⁻¹, indicating hydroxylation of some oxirane rings. The highest reported value for the walnut oil (WNO) product was 32.4% (wt). Factories producing basic chemicals such as hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid should be established in Nigeria to make these chemicals available at affordable prices.

Dielectric–magnetic Multilayer Shielding: A Theoretical Framework and Retrospective Assessment of Microwave Attenuation

2026-11-02T11:23:39+00:00

Electromagnetic interference shielding in compact wireless systems requires the quantitative separation of material attenuation, fixture response and device-level effects. This methodological study combines a classical transfer-matrix model for idealised stratified media with a retrospective assessment of independently documented microwave shielding measurements. The investigation examines the technological evolution of TechnoPilot electromagnetic shielding into the developed and commercially marketed TOL SHIELD, incorporating Phase-Disruptive Material (PDM), Spin-Aligned Nano-Lattice (SANL) and Biofield Resonance Coupling Element (BRCE) as functional elements of its materials-engineering architecture. Independent laboratory testing conducted by the California Institute of Electronics and Materials Science (CIEMS), USA, in 2019, documented in Test Report No. 1891940120 (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.23665155), reported plane-wave and magnetic shielding-effectiveness values of 14.8 and 13.3 dB, respectively, at 9.375 GHz for two TechnoPilot specimens. These correspond to nominal attenuation ratios of 96.69% and 95.32%, subject to the distinct definitions of the measurements. The study integrates these experimental findings with Maxwell-based multilayer modelling encompassing complex permittivity, magnetic permeability, interfacial interactions and frequency-dependent electromagnetic responses. An independently specified dielectric-slab benchmark yields 1.9382 dB at quarter-wave thickness, confirming analytical consistency without representing the historical specimens. A model-residual shielding parameter, ΔSEᵣ(ω), supported by covariance-aware uncertainty analysis, provides a quantitative basis for assessing constituent responses and multilayer interactions. The investigation connects documented experimental attenuation with established electromagnetic principles and existing technological development, thereby establishing a systematic framework for continued mechanism-specific characterisation, performance optimisation and application-oriented evaluation of TOL SHIELD.

Fly Ash Replacement in Conventional Concrete: ABAQUS-Based Assessment of Compressive Strength and Damage Evolution

2026-11-05T06:23:40+00:00

Partial replacement of Portland cement with Class C fly ash can alter concrete compressive behaviour, but the response may differ by concrete grade and replacement level. This study assessed compressive strength and damage evolution in a defined set of numerical concrete-cube models. Fifteen 150 × 150 × 150 mm cube models representing M20, M30 and M50 concrete were analysed in ABAQUS at fly ash replacement levels of 0%, 10%, 20%, 30% and 40%. The models employed the Concrete Damaged Plasticity formulation, displacement-controlled compression and surface-to-surface contact with cylindrical loading components. A global mesh size of approximately 8 mm was selected after a mesh-sensitivity assessment of the M30 models. Peak load, calculated compressive strength, stress distributions and tensile and compressive damage variables were examined. The highest predicted compressive strengths within the investigated range occurred at 20% replacement: 32.9191 MPa for M20, 48.1627 MPa for M30 and 92.9013 MPa for M50. Relative to their respective control models, these values represented increases of 27.52%, 27.62% and 17.57%. At 40% replacement, predicted strengths were lower than the control values for all grades. The five M30 numerical predictions differed from published 28-day experimental strengths by a mean absolute percentage error of 3.27%, although specimen geometries differed. Within the adopted numerical framework, strength responses varied by grade and replacement level. The findings support comparative interpretation of these models but do not establish a universal optimum or independently validate local damage fields.

When Maintenance Stops Paying: Custody, Incentive Collapse, and the Household Cost of Derelict Water Harvesting Structures in Eastern Rajasthan, India

2026-11-05T06:28:28+00:00

Semi-arid India holds a large stock of water harvesting structures that no longer work. The usual explanations for their condition, namely rainfall, structure age, and the supposed superiority of modern over traditional designs, account for that condition poorly. This paper asks a narrower and more tractable question. Who holds custody of a structure, what does maintaining it return to those who hold it, and what does its dereliction cost the households around it? Evidence comes from the Tonk and Sawai Madhopur districts of eastern Rajasthan, an area of 11,692 km² covering fourteen tehsil units and eighteen sample gram panchayats. In this area, 240 structures were inspected on a twelve-field schedule, 360 households were surveyed, and 26 stakeholders were interviewed, eleven of them elderly residents who described management arrangements as these operated before 1980. Functionality rises steadily with the specificity and proximity of custody. Fully functional structures account for 61.5% of individually held structures and 58.8% of those under an active water committee, compared with 51.7% under a line department, 36.4% under the gram panchayat, which holds 46% of the stock, and 16.7% where custody is unclear or disputed (χ² = 13.77, df = 4, P = .008; Cramér’s V = 0.24; Cochran–Armitage trend z = 3.52, P < .001). Against the gram panchayat as reference, the odds of full functionality are 2.80 times higher for individually held structures (95% CI 1.16–6.75) and 2.50 times higher for committee-held ones (95% CI 1.14–5.49). Across custody classes the proportion regularly maintained predicts functionality almost exactly (r = 0.975, P = .005), which locates the effect in maintenance rather than in design or investment. Oral histories explain why maintenance stopped. Collective desilting was not abandoned out of civic decline. It ended because three technological substitutions, tube wells, chemical fertiliser and piped supply, successively withdrew the irrigation, agronomic and drinking-water returns that had made it worth doing. Respondents now divide almost evenly over whether the structures belong to the community (46.4%) or to the government (46.1%). Dereliction is expensive. Households in low-capacity villages spend Rs. 32,300 a year on water against Rs. 15,000 elsewhere, representing 21.4% compared with 9.8% of income, and women there spend 58 minutes a day collecting water against 26 minutes, roughly 195 additional hours a year, while holding 26.6% of committee places. In a village of 200 households, the excess expenditure exceeds the one-time cost of restoring its structures within a single year. We argue that these structures suffered institutional obsolescence rather than a tragedy of the commons or a simple state enclosure. Restoration therefore requires rebuilding a return to maintenance: free silt for cultivators, custody vested in purpose-specific committees with guaranteed representation for women, and programme metrics that count structures which function rather than structures which were built.

Nephro-hepatic Safety of Aqueous Justicia carnea Leaf Extract in Wistar Rats: A 14-Day Repeated-dose Oral Study

2026-11-09T07:28:43+00:00

Background: Justicia carnea Lindl. (Acanthaceae) is widely consumed in Nigeria as a blood tonic, usually as a water-based preparation of the fresh leaves. Toxicological data on this preparation are scarce, and studies of alcoholic extracts have reported renal and hepatic changes at high doses.

Aim: To determine whether repeated oral administration of the aqueous leaf extract alters serum markers of renal and hepatic function in healthy rats.

Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats received distilled water (control, n = 4) or aqueous J. carnea leaf extract at 200, 400, 600 or 800 mg/kg body weight (n = 5 per group) by oral gavage once daily for 14 days. Serum from 14 rats (two or three per group) was analysed for urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total and conjugated bilirubin. Groups were compared by one-way ANOVA with Dunnett’s test and by the Kruskal–Wallis test; effect sizes (Hedges’ g) and rank correlations with dose were calculated.

Results: No deaths occurred. None of the markers differed significantly between groups (ANOVA p = 0.088–0.857). Creatinine was not elevated at any dose and showed a weak negative correlation with dose (Spearman’s ρ = −0.55, p = 0.043). AST and ALT were unchanged, and AST was lowest at 800 mg/kg. ALP was higher than control at 200–600 mg/kg (g = 0.70–1.41) but not at 800 mg/kg, without a dose trend or a rise in bilirubin. Bilirubin was unchanged.

Conclusion: At 200–800 mg/kg for 14 days, the aqueous leaf extract produced no biochemical evidence of renal or hepatic injury in healthy rats. The aqueous preparation therefore appears to be safe for the kidney and liver at doses relevant to traditional use.

Prevalence and Associated Factors Influencing Road Traffic Accidents among Commercial Motorcyclists in Paynesville, Monrovia, Liberia

2026-11-10T07:52:41+00:00

Background: Commercial motorcycling provides important transport and employment opportunities in Liberia, but road traffic crashes among riders present a substantial public health concern. Local evidence on crash involvement and associated factors in Paynesville remains limited.

Aim: To assess the prevalence of self-reported road traffic crashes and associated factors among commercial motorcyclists in Paynesville, Liberia.

Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study surveyed 406 male commercial motorcyclists in 2026 using a structured, pre-tested questionnaire. Participants were recruited through a three-stage sampling procedure involving seven selected motorcycle terminals. Data were summarised using descriptive statistics, and bivariate and multivariable logistic regression were used to examine factors associated with crash involvement.

Results: Of the 406 respondents, 314 (77.3%) reported a crash during the preceding 12 months; 172 of these riders (54.8%) reported multiple crashes. Among riders with crash histories, 243 (77.4%) reported sustaining an injury, most commonly lacerations or bruises (52.2%). Lower-limb injuries accounted for 53.5% of reported injury sites. The leading self-reported immediate crash factors were lane splitting (32.8%), overspeeding (32.2%) and alcohol or drug use (28.0%). Formal riding training was reported by 32.5%, while 18.2% held a valid driving licence. In adjusted analyses, selected categories of age, educational attainment, income and riding experience, together with alcohol or drug use and mobile phone use, were statistically significantly associated with crash involvement.

Conclusion: High reported crash involvement highlights the need for locally relevant road-safety measures. The cross-sectional findings indicate associations but do not establish causation.

Fiscal and Monetary Policy Coordination, Public Debt Management, and Institutional Governance: Implications for Sustainable Economic Growth, Public Sector Performance, and International Trade in Emerging Economies

2026-11-10T11:35:17+00:00

This research investigates the connections between fiscal–monetary policy coordination in emerging economies, public debt management, institutional governance, and economic outcomes. It examines the associations of policy coordination and debt conditions with real economic growth, public-sector performance, and trade openness, as well as the potential moderating role of institutional governance. The study is based on a quantitative, balanced, longitudinal panel design covering 15 emerging economies over 2010–2024, with 225 country-year observations. The empirical analysis includes two-way fixed-effects regression models with country and year effects, one-year lags of key explanatory variables and interaction terms, and country-clustered standard errors. Robustness checks include direct-effects and contemporaneous specifications. Results suggest that fiscal–monetary coordination is not significantly related to real GDP growth or public-sector outcomes in the key models. The lagged specification of the model shows a statistically significant negative association between coordination and trade openness, whereas the contemporaneous specification of the model does not show any significant association. Public debt and debt-service pressure are not significantly associated with growth, public-sector performance, or trade openness in the principal models. In addition, institutional governance is statistically insignificant in the two principal growth and trade models and has a positive and statistically significant association with public-sector performance in the direct-effects robustness specification. The interaction terms provide no statistically significant evidence that governance moderates the associations of coordination or public debt with economic outcomes. The results indicate that policy coordination is not sufficient to achieve better economic outcomes in emerging economies. The capacity of institutions, effective public-sector management, sustainable debt policies, and other structural conditions may be important to the effective implementation of macroeconomic policies. The study makes a contribution to the literature by examining macroeconomic coordination, debt pressure, institutional governance, and several dimensions of economic performance within an emerging-economy panel.