bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Cultural Factors on Financial Decision-Making in Ghana
Authors: Opoku-Okuampa Isaac
Published: December 2024

This study investigates the role of cultural factors in shaping financial behaviors in Ghana, focusing on elements such as family obligations, communal traditions, religious beliefs, and traditional practices. It examines how these cultural dynamics influence decisions related to savings, borrowing, investments, and the use of informal financial systems like "susu," a widely trusted savings method in Ghanaian society. Through a mixed-method approach combining qualitative and quantitative techniques, the research provides a holistic view of the cultural influences driving financial decision-making. The analysis reveals a strong cultural preference for financial practices rooted in community trust and collective responsibility, often favoring informal systems over formal financial institutions. Family structures and societal expectations strongly influence financial priorities, emphasizing the needs of the group over individual goals. Religious values also play a significant role, shaping attitudes toward financial ethics, debt management, and charitable contributions. This reliance on cultural norms reflects the high level of trust in traditional methods that align with familiar and accessible systems. The findings underscore the necessity of culturally tailored financial solutions to bridge the gap between informal practices and formal financial services. Policymakers and financial service providers must consider these cultural intricacies when designing products and strategies to improve financial inclusion. Culturally aligned financial education and services can foster trust and encourage broader participation in formal financial systems, supporting economic growth and stability. This research not only advances academic understanding of the intersection between culture and finance but also offers actionable insights for creating financial policies and services that resonate with the cultural realities of Ghanaian society. By aligning modern financial systems with traditional values and practices, financial inclusion can be enhanced, fostering a more inclusive and equitable financial environment.
Arabica Coffee: Genetic Diversity, Conservation Challenges, and Breeding Approaches
Authors: Nasiro Kalifa
Published: December 2024

Arabica coffee, native to Ethiopia, is esteemed for its exceptional quality and dominates the global specialty coffee market. As the primary cultivated coffee species, it accounts for approximately 60–65% of global coffee production. The genetic diversity of Arabica coffee, shaped through natural evolution and human domestication, is a cornerstone of its adaptability and resilience against biotic and abiotic stresses. Domestication syndrome traits such as reduced seed dispersal, compact growth, and increased uniformity have facilitated its cultivation, yet these traits have inadvertently narrowed its genetic base, making the crop more vulnerable to environmental and pathogenic threats. The genetic makeup of Arabica coffee is unique, with an allotetraploid genome that combines contributions from two diploid species, Coffea canephora and Coffea eugenioides. Despite its evolutionary significance, Arabica coffee exhibits relatively low genetic variation compared to other Coffea species. This limited diversity heightens its susceptibility to genetic erosion caused by deforestation, climate change, and unsustainable monoculture practices. Conservation efforts are crucial to preserving Arabica’s genetic resources, employing both ex-situ and in-situ strategies. Ex-situ methods include seed banks, cryopreservation, and field gene banks, while in-situ conservation protects wild populations in their natural habitats. Modern biotechnological tools such as molecular markers, genetic mapping, and somatic embryogenesis enhance the precision and efficiency of germplasm conservation and utilization. Breeding programs aim to address the challenges posed by climate change, pests, and diseases by developing varieties with enhanced drought tolerance, disease resistance, and higher yields. Hybrid vigor (heterosis) has shown promise in boosting adaptability and productivity. While vegetative propagation ensures uniformity and retention of elite traits, it limits genetic recombination, which is vital for long-term adaptability. In contrast, seed-based propagation facilitates genetic improvement but may compromise trait consistency. Notable achievements in breeding include improved cultivars like Geisha, SL28, and F1 hybrids, which balance productivity with stress resilience. Preserving Arabica coffee’s genetic base and advancing breeding efforts remain essential to securing the crop’s future and maintaining its contribution to global agriculture and livelihoods.
Sorghum Production in Ethiopia: An Overview of Advances, Successes, and Challenges
Authors: Anega Dinku
Published: December 2024

Sorghum is an essential crop, particularly significant in semiarid areas with minimal precipitation. It is the fifth most important grain crop globally and originated in Ethiopia, where it underwent diversification. In Ethiopia, sorghum serves multiple purposes, including as a food staple in forms such as popped grain, beer, malted beverages, cooked gruel or porridge, chips, and enjera. It also provides fuel, making it a vital resource for local communities. Sorghum is a critical crop for Ethiopia, contributing significantly to food security, agricultural livelihoods, and the economy. Advances in agronomic practices, breeding programs, and technology adoption have led to improved yields, disease resistance, and drought tolerance, enhancing the crop's resilience in the face of climate variability. Successes in government initiatives, research collaborations, and farmer engagement have facilitated increased sorghum production and diversification of its uses. However, sorghum production faces challenges, including biotic, socioeconomic, and abiotic factors such as diseases, pest insects, drought, and the parasitic weed striga. Soil degradation, limited access to improved seed varieties, inadequate infrastructure, and the ongoing impacts of climate change further hinder productivity. Coordination in Ethiopia is managed by the Melkassa Agricultural Research Center of the Ethiopian Agricultural Research Institute, which oversees the national sorghum breeding program. Through regional and national sorghum improvement initiatives, Ethiopia now has access to a wide variety of open-pollinated and hybrid sorghum varieties suited to diverse agro-ecological settings. This paper discusses these advancements, successes, and challenges in-depth, emphasizing the need for sustained investment in research, policy support, and capacity building to overcome barriers and ensure the long-term sustainability of sorghum production in Ethiopia.
Analysis of Optical Thin-films: Towards Lower Reflectivity for High Performance Solar Cells and Modern Photonic Devices Applications
Authors: Sultan Zamil , Tota Rony , Ali Ershad , Obayedulla Mohamad , Yadav BrijKishor
Published: December 2024

Recently, optical thin-films with lower reflectivity have attracted much interest for their suitability in high performance thin-film solar cells and various modern photonics devices, such as electronic display panels touchscreens, smart optical glass windows, spectacles frames, super-compact camera lenses, laser systems and optical fiber communications since lowering reflectivity coating improves the device performances. However, obtaining reduced reflectance from this arrangement remains challenging issue. As the film optical properties, such as the absorbance, reflection and transmission of particular wavelength of electromagnetic radiation can be carefully controlled by optimizing thin-film fabrication materials as well as structures, there is a lot of research scope in optimizing device reflectivity by assessing various film- and substrate materials as well as their thicknesses. Therefore, in this study, the reflectance performances of optical thin-films were characterized for obtaining lower reflectivity for various types of modern photonics applications. To obtain this, three novel optoelectronic materials InGaAs, CdTe and CsPbBr3 for film layer, three widely used substrate materials glass, Al2O3 and steel as well as various thicknesses of film layer were evaluated. Reflectance studied of the thin-films for the three film materials have been clarified that CsPbBr3 is the best among these three film materials to be used for reducing the light reflection of the thin-film. Lower reflectivity of thin-films on glass substrate suggested that glass is better than both Al2O3 and steel as substrate in high efficiency thin-film solar cells and various photonics devices. In addition, evaluation of reflectance for various film thicknesses showed that ultra-thin film layer is superior for reducing the reflection of solar energy by thin-film structure. We have therefore proposed that thin-film with the combination of CsPbBr3 based ultra-thin film layer on glass substrate would be one of the best possible solutions for reducing reflectivity of solar cells and various photonics devices, thereby for possibly increasing the performance efficiency. This research result would be very beneficial for the development of renewable energy and photonics based nanotechnology, thereby play a significant role for reducing global energy crisis and green-house gas emission concurrently and sustainably in the modern world.
Investigation of Avocado Pear (Persea americana) Seed Starch as Binder and Disintegrant in the Formulation of Paracetamol Tablet
Authors: Johnbull Obarisiagbon , Joy Aigbovo , Davy Enadeghe , Ovenseri Airemwen , Tunde Owolabi
Published: December 2024

Background: Avocado pear seeds are usually discarded as agricultural waste, the need arises therefore, to investigate their potentials as pharmaceutical excipients. Objective: The objective of this research was to extract, characterize, formulate and do in-vitro evaluation of the formulated paracetamol tablets. Methods: Ripe avocado (Persea americana) fruits were harvested in the month of April from a farm at Okada town. The seeds were authenticated by a taxonomist at the Department of Plant Biology, University of Benin, with Harbarium number UB/PB/24 0201. The seeds were prepared, dried and milled to fine powder and extracted using a standard procedure by Silva et al., 2013. The powder was subjected to phytochemical analysis and characterized for its micromeritic properties, and high-resolution analyses using differential scanning calorimetry, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and x-ray diffractometry. Batches of paracetamol granules were prepared with avocado starch powder as disintegrant (2.5 - 15%w/w) and starch mucilage as binder (5.0 – 15 %w/v) using the wet granulation method. Granule flow properties were investigated before compression into tablets. Tablets were evaluated for physicochemical properties and drug-excipient interaction was investigated using DSC and FTIR. Results: Phytochemistry shows presence of saponins, flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids and glycosides. The starch was light-brown, odorless, tasteless and smooth in texture. Slightly soluble in water at room temperature, melting point range 102 - 114°C, moisture content 22.7 ± 2.40%; hydration capacity 2.76 ± 1.20 (g/g), swelling and moisture sorption capacities of 46.43 ± 1.50% and 115.34 ± 1.55%, respectively. Thermogram exhibited a single sharp peak of the extracted starch, FTIR shows no interactions, SEM and XRD results confirmed semi-crystalline powder with fluffy discrete particles. Granules exhibited fair to good flow properties; the tablets were uniform in weight, mean hardness values ≥ 58.84 N, friability 0.14 -1.56 %, disintegration times 0.50 – 11.12 mins and variable drug release 72.78 - 90.67% in 1.0 h. sssConclusion: Tablets formulated with the extracted starch as disintegrant gave superior tablet properties, hence a viable local substitute that can be employed at higher concentrations as super-disintegrant and good mucilage binder at higher %w/v concentrations for oral solid dosage formulations.
The Effect of Students’ Interest and Parents/Guardians’ Support on the Choice of Technical and Vocational Career Studies in Transition Periods
Authors: Adegbite Obasanjo , Shenge Nyitor , Atunwa Sunday
Published: December 2024

Background: Career decision is important because it determines the future career work among transitional students. Enrolment for technical and vocational career studies in Nigeria Universities are still very discouraging despite efforts made by stakeholders. Factors responsible for choice of technical and Vocational studies most especially among transitional students have not been explored in literature. This study therefore tries to fill this gap by investigating the effects of students’ interest and parents/guardians’ support on the choice of technical and vocational career studies in transitional periods. Methods: Correlation design through quantitative method was used to achieve the objectives. Students’ interest, parents/guardians support and choice of course in technical and vocational careers were measured using standardized scales. Four hundred and fifty two transitional students were recruited through purposive sampling from twenty-seven Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination centers across Oyo state, ages ranging from 18 to 27 years old. Results: Significant relationship was observed between students’ interest and choice of technical and vocational career studies (r = .45**). (P = .000). Significant positive relationship between parents/guardians support and choice of technical and vocational career studies (r = .43**) was observed. Students’ interest and parents/guardians support jointly and independently accounted for significant variation in choice of technical and vocational career courses [R=0.80; R2=.40; F (3, 449)=7.52]. Students’ interest accounted for (β = 0.78**) variation, while, Guardian support accounted for (β = -0.73**) variation. Conclusion: Students’ interest sensitization on technical and vocational studies. Seminars, workshops and scholarship on vocational and technical studies. Government funding of vocational and technical education is also recommended.
The Prevalence of Aggression and Its Relationship with Exposure to Real-life Violence Among Students of Public Universities in Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Dagne Gizachew
Published: December 2024

Recent studies have been increasingly directed toward understanding the impacts of violence exposure, largely due to the growing prevalence of violent incidents in daily life. It is well-documented that exposure to violence can trigger aggressive behaviors, and repeated incidents may even reshape how individuals think, feel, and act. This exposure can stir up personal emotions and behaviors—ramping up physical arousal, intensifying negative feelings, and ultimately leading to aggressiveness. While a lot of research has looked into the effects of fictional violence from sources like video games and television, there has been less emphasis on real-life violence. Aggression, which refers to the intentional effort to inflict harm on others, can negatively affect various aspects of a person's life, including personal relationships, social interactions, and academic performance. This is particularly noticeable among students, who often face aggressive behavior throughout their educational experiences. The present study aims to evaluate how widespread aggression is among students in public universities in eastern Ethiopia, examining possible gender differences and the links between real-life violence exposure and aggressive behavior. Using a sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach and a standardized questionnaire, the research surveyed 395 participants from three public universities. The results showed significant positive correlations between real-life violence exposure and different kinds of aggression: physical aggression (r=0.40**), verbal aggression (r=0.60**), anger (r=0.58**), and hostility (r=0.76**), all statistically significant at p < 0.05. Some minor discrepancies were noted in physical aggression scores between genders (Male = 3.27 and Female = 3.16), but the overall data indicated a strong link between exposure to real-life violence and increased aggression in this population. This study underlines the crucial need for educating families about effective parenting techniques that can mitigate aggressive behavior. Additionally, it highlights the importance of involving psychologists in crafting strategies aimed at fostering positive behavior changes among university students.
Household Satisfaction with Community Health Insurance Scheme and Associated Factors in Adama Woreda, East Shewa Zone, Ethiopia
Authors: Nebi Jemal , Tadesse Belay
Published: December 2024

Understanding the level of satisfaction and factors associated with it is essential to ensure the sustainability of the community- based health insurance (CBHI) program. Therefore, this study aimed to assess household satisfaction with a community-based health insurance scheme and its associated factors in the Adama district. A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in households of Adama district from February 15-30, 2023. The Systematic random sampling technique under multi-stage sampling was used to select study participants. A face-to-face interview with a total of 620 households was conducted by using a pre-tested structured questionnaire. Descriptive analysis, bivariable, and multivariable logistic regression analysis were conducted. Variables with p-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant to determine independent predictors of household satisfaction with the CBHI scheme. The level of household satisfaction with the CBHI scheme was found to be 61.1%. Satisfaction was found significantly associated with male household heads (AOR=0.545; 95% C.I 0.358-0.831), households with the educational level of able to read and write, grade 1-4 and grade 5-8,(AOR=0.281; 95% C.I 0.131-0.603; AOR=0.533; 95% C.I 0.311-0.915 and, AOR=0.409; 95% C.I 0.191-0.877) respectively, followers of waqefeta religion (AOR=2.123; 95% C.I 0.858-5.262), occupation of government employment (AOR=3.493; 95% C.I 1.949-6.262), those who strongly agreed with immediate care (AOR=0.508; 95% C.I 0.270-0.957), those who strongly agree and disagree with CBHI scheme office opining time (AOR=0.157; 95% C.I 0.044-0.556; AOR=-0.049; 95% C.I 0.006-0.384) and those who disagree with payment of premium schedule (AOR=150.66; 95% C.I 6.171-3678.207). This study showed that the overall satisfaction of households in the Adama district with the CBHI scheme was very good. Male households, waqefeta region followers, occupation of government employees, educational level, immediate care, BBHI office opening time, and premium schedule paying were significant factors of satisfaction with CBHI. Consideration should be given to increasing the accessibility of immediate health care, improving the educational level of households, and improving enrollee’s knowledge of CBHI benefit packages.
Identification of Ethno-Veterinary Practices for Animal Diseases in Assosa Zone
Authors: Yirdaw Betelihem
Published: December 2024

Ethno-veterinary medicine is the application of traditional knowledge, theory, and practice to mitigate livestock diseases. The study conducted to document veterinary use of medicinal herbs of local users in Assosa Zone, Ethiopia from September 2022 to July 2023. Data collected between individual based field’s interviews using semi-structured questionnaire. Most of the respondents were males and with age group of 40 to 60 years old. Most of the respondents were illiterate by educational status and Muslims by religion. Around 68.6% of respondents acquire their traditional knowledge from family and most traditional healers prepared remedies from plants 73 (71.6%). In our investigation, 71 plant species from five districts identified. Those plants used against 68 types of livestock diseases and to increase livestock outputs. Those plants botanically distributed across 43 families. Data from our study suggested that the highest number of plant species was found in Solanaceae and Fabaceae family with (13.95%) followed by Combreataceae and Asteraceae (9.30%). Majority of the medicinal plants reported were found from forest (42.25%) followed by both possible to cultivated or found in forest (35.21%), and Backyard (21.13%). Majorities of medicinal plant preparations was from root parts (25.35%), followed by leaf, seed (22.54%), and bark (8.45%). The current study has revealed that the natives in the districts have been heavily dependent on traditional veterinary medicine for the treatment of variety of livestock diseases. Thus, it should recommend that conservational activities of medicinal plants and governmental encouragements of traditional healers should be addressed.
Green Human Resource Management Practices in Health Service Organizations: A Qualitative Study from Nekemte Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia
Authors: Ayana Isubalew
Published: December 2024

Organizations have been paying more attention to the environment in recent years, especially since the sustainable development target was established worldwide. The main purpose of this research is to explore green human resource management practices in Nekemte comprehensive specialized hospital (NCSH), one of the public hospitals in Nekemte city, east Wallaggaa zone of Oromia regional state. To achieve objectives of the study, data was collected through in-depth interview (IDI) and document analysis. Qualitative data analysis was conducted for the IDI data. The document analysis and the IDI result have revealed that there are currently three GRHM practices in Nekemte Comprehensive Specialized Hospital; green training and development, green reward and compensation and green performance management and appraisal. The conclusion from results of document analysis and IDI is that there are practices of GHRM in the hospital. The overall conclusion of the study is that there are limited GRHM practices in the health service organization. The policy implication is that better organizational performance of the hospital demands continuous effort of putting GRHM practices in the center of the organizational goals.
Gauss-Benford Rules and Their Harmonic Peers
Authors: Rives Julio
Published: December 2024

We research the relationship between the probability functions of the twofold hyperbolic universe, consisting of the logarithmic (real) and harmonic (rational) worlds. Within the logarithmic realm, we study the connection between the Gauss- Kuzmin distribution and Newcomb-Benford law and prove that they are fundamentally equivalent; the former corresponds to the probability decrements of the latter, i.e., log(2,1+1/(k(k+2))) is the difference between the function log(2,1+1/n) evaluated at n=k and n=k+1, where k is the index of a coefficient of a real number’s regular continued fraction expansion and n is a positive numeral written in positional notation. Thus, the binary Newcomb-Benford probability of n=1 is the sum of all the Gauss-Kuzmin masses, of n=2, is the sum of all the Gauss-Kuzmin masses minus the Gauss-Kuzmin mass at k=1, and of n=m, is the sum of all the Gauss-Kuzmin masses minus the sum of the first m-1 ones. Besides, the extrapolation of the Gauss-Kuzmin measure outside the unit interval subsumes Newcomb-Benford’s cumulative distribution function. These findings lead to the Gauss-Benford law, which specifies that the occurrence possibility of a positive real number represented in positional notation is log(2,1+x) (i.e., the Gauss-Kuzmin measure) if x is within the unit interval and log(2,1+1/x) if x is outside. Geometrically, these possibilities indicate proximity to 1. The map between both domain partitions is a sheer inversion, the unique conformal transformation that fixes one and respects the minimum information principle. Moreover, we introduce the Gauss-Benford measure, log(1+1/x,1+y), as the probability of a random variable accumulated between x-1 and x, with density 1/((1+y)ln(1+1/x)), where 0≤x-1<y≤x. We also explore the analogous harmonic rules; the canonical (normalized) harmonic probability of a positive natural q is 1/q, the qth harmonic gap has probability mass 1/(q(q+1)), and the harmonic occurrence possibility of a positive rational number is t if t is in the unit interval and 1/t if t is outside. We build the bridge between the logarithmic and harmonic realms by integrating and normalizing the latter.
On the Socle of Finite Primitive Permutation Groups Having Frobenious Structure
Authors: Adamu Danbaba , Sunday Momoh
Published: December 2024

The nilpotentcy class for the Frobenius was determined based on the structure theorem. The socle of the groups were observed to be regular normal and elementary abelian such features were the conditions for the nilpotency classes, as they were the basis on which the socle of these groups constructed were nilpotent of some classes or order. The socle of the nilpotent groups whose structures is in conformity with D were classified based on the classification scheme for the finite primitive groups in relation to socle type. The socle type described in the classification scheme was in condition (1) was in line with the structure of D, as such it pave way in determining the socle with nilpotency class having same or similar structure with D. Further investigations showed that Frobenious group's were 2-transitive and the structure of D gave the conditions it being regular elementary abelian and so is nilpotent. It was observed the stabiliser of the groups in a finite primitive groups were paramount in the determination of the socle of the groups, as such much attention was given to the stabilizer of each group under consideration in a quest to determine the socle and the nilpotency class. The other conditions for the classification of finite primitive groups based of the socle type were not given much attention as it could give the needed condition for the existence of nilpotency class of the groups, as groups of such types were either almost simple, diagonal, product or twisted wreath product type. Therefore finite primitive group's under those conditions which could not give the expected nilpotency class and order were not give much attention. The degree of homogeneity was not given much priority as the article intended to discuss only the socle type and it nilpotency class or order.
On a Certain Subclass of Multivalent Function Defined by Generalized Ruscheweyh Derivative
Authors: Indora Shivani , Bissu Sushil , Summerwar Manisha
Published: December 2024

Fractional calculus is the prominent branch of applied mathematics, it deals with a lot of diverse possibility of finding differentiation as well as integration of function f(z) when the order of differentiation operator ‘D’ and integration operator ‘J’ is a real number or a complex number. The combination of fractional calculus with geometric function theory is the dynamic field of the current research scenario. It has many applications not only in the field of mathematics but also in the different fields like modern mathematical physics, electrochemistry, viscoelasticity, fluid dynamics, electromagnetic, the theory of partial differential equations systems, Mathematical modeling. Various new subclasses of univalent and multivalent functions defined by using different operators. In this research paper, we work on the formation of new subclass of analytic and multivalent functions defined under the open unit disk. By using Generalized Ruscheweyh derivative operator we define a new subclass of analytic and multivalent functions. The main aim of this research article is to derive interesting characteristics of new subclass of multivalent functions, which mainly include coefficient bound, growth and distortion bounds for function and its first derivative, extreme point and obtain unidirectional results for the multivalent functions which are belonging to this new subclass.
Novel Engineered Fiber Based Wellbore Strengthening Material in Prevent and Control Real-Time Loss Circulation While Drilling in Bibi-Hakimeh Oil Field
Authors: Heris Majid
Published: December 2024

Loss circulation is one of the most time and cost consuming problems which occurs mostly in naturally fractured formation, induced fractures and also may happen through highly permeable formations and can causes many operational problems such as differential pipe sticking, drill string stuck in the wellbore, drilling fluid costs due to compensate of the lost fluid via the formation, well flow, blowout and etc. controlling severe to total lost circulation in naturally/induced fractured formations has always been challenging. While solving lost circulation after occurrence is critical, prevention is the best drilling practice for saving the operator time and money. One important component of the prevention plan is the design of wellbore strengthening treatments. The goal of these treatments is to increase the “hoop stress” in the near wellbore region, widen the mud weight window and enable wellbore pressure containment. To address this problem, novel fiber based wellbore strengthening material is designed as an engineered solution to improve wellbore wall tensile and compressive strength and reduce drilling non-productive time caused by lost circulation. By using newly fiber based wellbore strengthening material in drilling fluid composition during drilling operation, loss circulation would be prevented in more than 80% of loss zone layers and in case of encountering cavernous layers with large fracture widths it makes the operator easier to control the loss. In this paper a novel fiber based wellbore strengthening material named LIGNO-SEAL is introduced and successfully used to prevent and control loss in an onshore well with severe to complete loss situations in BIBI-HAKIMEH oil field in southern parts of Iran.
Echo Monitoring Technology - The 'Smart Guardian' of the Dynamic Liquid Level in Oil and Gas Wells
Authors: Yongqiang Ren , Dong Yang , Wei Zhang , Zhihong Wei , Jun Li , Gang Wu
Published: December 2024

The dynamic liquid level of oil and gas wells refers to the difference in liquid level between the wellhead and the pump barrel, which is related to the stable production and operational safety of oil and gas wells. The echo liquid level monitor is a professional tool for measuring the depth of dynamic liquid level in oil and gas wells. The principle of this instrument is to use sound to propagate longitudinally in gas, reflect when encountering a liquid surface, and then use electrical equipment and sensors to record the transmission time of sound waves to calculate the transmission distance and determine the depth of the liquid surface. So the page of the instrument displays a sound wave curve composed of one test point after another, but the sound wave will encounter various reflected waves such as downhole tools, perforation boreholes, couplings, irregular wellbore walls, and wellbore liquid levels in the well. The waveform of the curve will also have different manifestations according to different well conditions. This article summarizes the curve rules of shallow liquid level, middle liquid level, and deep liquid level extensively, establishes an oil and gas well wellbore liquid level curve model and analysis method, and successfully applies this method to guide the construction of Su 1-6 wells in Huabei Oilfield gas storage, achieving good results and providing a basis for accurate collection of oil and gas well liquid level data.
Efficiency of Two Laterites in Cyanide Removal from Aqueous Solutions: Equilibrium and Kinetic Studies
Authors: Sory Djakaridja , Sanou Yacouba , Kaboré Raymond , Paré Samuel
Published: December 2024

In the dynamic of drinking water supply in rural populations, water pollution by cyanide is one of challenges that impacts the process in the mining areas of Burkina Faso. The objective of this work was to assess the efficiency of laterite soils to remove cyanide from water. To do this, two laterites were prepared and characterized by spectroscopic and analytical techniques to serve as adsorbent. The cyanide removal was carried out using batch experiments with cyanide aqueous solutions. The characterization of laterites using analytical techniques showed a specific surface area of 42.39 and 24.55 m2.g-1. The crystalline phases were mainly kaolinite, goethite, hematite, quartz, and alumina. The optimization of the operating parameters indicated a strong influence of operating conditions on the adsorption process. Indeed, the optimum stirring speed was 150 rpm corresponding to an adsorption capacity of 0.14 and 0.34 mg/g using raw (LB) and treated (LT) laterites, respectively. By assessing the influence of the contact time, the adsorption capacities were 0.35 and 0.19 mg.g-1 at 40 and 75 min respectively using LT and LB corresponding to a treatment rate of 53% and 28%. The optimal doses were 28 and 45 g.L-1 at the optimal temperature of 30°C using LB and LT. Results concluded the efficiency of treated laterite comparatively to the raw laterite. The isotherm modelling concluded on Freundlich isotherm indicating a multilayer adsorption following a pseudo-second order kinetic. Therefore, these laterites would be good filters for the treatment of cyanide enriched waters and other heavy metals in dynamic experiments.
Pulmonary Alveolar Microlithiasis: An Incidental Case Report from Jordan with Literature Review
Authors: Alakhras Basheer , Habashneh Omar , Yaghi Ahmad , Daseh Abdallah , Alkilani Adham
Published: December 2024

Pulmonary alveolar microlithiasis (PAM) is one of the rare lung diseases, in which an otherwise healthy individual develops diffuse alveolar calcifications. It is reported to be caused by mutation of the SLC34A2 gene. Patients who are eventually diagnosed with PAM usually present late when progression to cor pulmonale has already developed, or for other reasons not related to the disease itself when their clinical work up results incidentally reveal much worse findings than the patient’s actual state. Unlike the familiar information that no effective treatment other than lung transplant, cardiokinetics, diuretics, oxygen, and repeated bronchoalveolar lavage were reported with relatively satisfactory results and chest X-ray changes. In this report, we focus on the relation between clinical, radiologic and histologic findings, in which clinical scenario was first mistaken for interstitial fibrosis or suspected metastasis, and on literature review. Chest radiography, bronchoalveolar lavage and lung wedge biopsy were the main steps to reach the diagnosis of PAM. Gradual improvement after conservative treatment was noted prior to discharge. Then clinic appointment for follow up and family members surveillance was scheduled. A rare disease incidentally diagnosed by high awareness of the attending physician and simple methods that points to a question of disease prevalence in Jordan.
Use of Geo-Information Technologies in Predicting Urban Growth Trends; An Integrated Simulation Approach: The Case Study of Limuru Central Ward
Authors: Gichuki Ivy , Imwati Andrew
Published: December 2024

Urban areas exhibit different growth patterns spanning from linear development, transit-oriented development, concentric zonal development to multi-nuclei development patterns. In the world we live in today, main urban areas present themselves as Central Business Districts (CBDs), that double up as mixed use commercial and residential areas, which serve most of the population who live in and around them. Ideally, the CBD sites – for most cities around the world, were identified in advance, making it easier for the local authorities to demarcate and plan for sustainable development. Most, if not all jobs, are in these urban areas, making these employment areas urban growth hotspots. Changes in economic processes and evolution of transport networks are the foundation of urban growth and expansion, in that, there is a shift from functional specialization of the CBD to economic specialization of the surrounding urban areas, as in the case of Rhine Main Region in Germany. In Kenya, most of the known urban areas, like Limuru Town, emerged as traditional markets in the 1900’s and grew to modern urban areas and municipalities. Urban growth in Limuru was propelled by the existence of modern infrastructure, reduced land rates, presence of government facilities, security, water and employment from the nearby tea farms and factories. However, urban growth has been accompanied by rapid land use changes and sporicidal growth of informal settlements. As a result, urban areas growing in Limuru Central Ward, are deprived of basic infrastructure, public purpose facilities, land use harmonization and spatial synergies. This study therefore attempts to explore the use of GIS and Remote sensing technologies in observing past and present urban growth trends, that pave the way for predicting sustainable urban planning. The findings from this study are expected to contribute to the knowledge of simulating how urban centers can be planned in the present to cater for the future needs of the growing population. Predicting urban growth trends introduces more practical ways of spatial planning and policy development in developing countries, through spatial analysis and modelling using GIS and Remote Sensing technologies.
Rare Case of Anterior Vaginal Cyst Presenting as Huge Cystocoele
Authors: Kumari Sweety
Published: December 2024

This article aims to report a rare case of a 38 years old Para 2 who was referred to the outpatient clinic of Vikash Multispecialty Hospital as a case of grade 3 uterovaginal prolapse with complaint of something coming out per vagina since 12 years. She also complained of heavy bleeding during menstruation, not responding to medical management since 2 years. Clinical and imaging studies lead to the diagnosis of anterior vaginal cyst, intramural fibroid and cervical polyp. After detailed counseling of the risks and benefits of surgical excision of the cyst with or without removal of uterus, she opted for removal of vaginal cyst and vaginal hysterectomy as she was tired of the medical management and had to undergo blood transfusion twice due to heavy menstrual bleeding. She had an uneventful postoperative period and was discharged in good condition on the third day. This case stresses on the importance of right diagnosis and proper management of the masses coming out of vagina as not everything which comes out of vagina is prolapse. Hesitancy in seeking medical care and lack of proper medical facilities, especially in rural areas in underdeveloped and developing countries, are among the major reasons these cases are unreported in medical literature.
Photocatalytic Ozonation-Electroflucculation Process for the Treatment of Pharmaceutical Wastewater Using Modified Bentonite /UV/TiO2/ZnO
Authors: Jamil Tayyaba
Published: December 2024

The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of photocatalyst (Clay/UV/TiO2/ZnO) for antibiotic removal from real pharmaceutical wastewater by Combined ultraviolet (UV), Catalytic Ozonation-Electroflucculation process. The experiments were performed in a modified hybrid batch reactor with UV-C lamp. The effect of four operational variables such as the applied voltage of (5-15 V), ozone dose of (0.2- 0.8 mg/min), pH (5-10), and catalyst dose (0.5- 1.5 g/L) on turbidity and Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was investigated. Removal efficiencies of antibiotics (carbamazepine and amoxicillin) were evaluated and compared with ozonation (O3), photocatalytic Ozonation (UV/O3), Electroflucculation (EF)/UV, catalytic ozonation/UV, and Hybrid O3/catalytic ozonation/UV/EF. The results showed that the modified hybrid process with UV irradiations provided the highest removal efficiency of 86.9% for COD, and turbidity of 81.66% under optimized conditions of (DC volts of 10 V; catalyst dose of 1 g/L, and ozone dose of 0.6 mg/min). The pharmaceuticals removal obtained for amoxicillin was 100% and 95% for carbamazepine. The detailed mechanism was also explored for better understanding of each process. The combined process was effective for treating pharmaceutical wastewater. Therefore, it was suggested that the novel photocatalyst and hybrid system can be used for treating real effluents in large scale and to meet (United nations) UN sustainability goals.
“Mapping Austrofascism” and Beyond : Report on the Digital Research Lab Campus Medius
Authors: Ganahl Simon
Published: December 2024

The Campus Medius project Mapping Austrofascism explores and expands the possibilities of digital cartography in cultural and media studies. In this article, I elaborate on the project’s development from a historical case study to a mapping platform. The first chapter presents the initial version, an interactive map with a timeline displaying 15 events within 24 hours in Vienna on the weekend of May 13 and 14, 1933. The second part discusses the current version of the project that additionally focuses on the main event of this exemplifying time-space or chronotope: an Austrofascist “Turks Deliverance Celebration” (Türkenbefreiungsfeier) in the gardens of Schönbrunn Palace, which is imparted from a bird’s-eye perspective, panoramically, and in street view by five mediators each. The next chapter deals with the technological infrastructure and the data model of Mapping Austrofascism, which operationalizes the theoretical concepts of the dispositif and the actor-network. In conclusion, I outline our plans to establish a digital platform for describing and visualizing media experiences in everyday life.
Literary-Cartographic Models in the Corpus of Czech Prose
Authors: Změlík Richard
Published: December 2024

The study focuses on problems of literary cartography. Part one deals with basic issues such as the definition of the discipline and attempts to define its basic taxonomy, and also presents selected literary-cartographic projects. Part two presents literary-cartographic models that are part of the literary corpora of Czech prose. Specifically, it deals with models of the fictional topography of Prague in the work of selected Czech writers. The aim is not only to demonstrate what such models look like, but, above all, to present a way of working with them in the process of literary interpretation.
What Do Digital Humanists Tell Us about Digital Humanities? The Digital Humanities Discourse in Polish Cultural Studies Projects
Authors: Kulmiński Robert
Published: December 2024

From an emic perspective, the article considers cultural projects in the digital humanities that are created or co-created by Polish institutions. The text attempts to capture how digital humanists define the digital humanities in order to recognize the identity that this sphere of knowledge ascribes to itself. To this end, I used Voyant Tools to analyze textual data while simultaneously testing its functionality in this type of analysis. These deliberations are metareflections because they concern the role and place that the digital humanities assign to themselves in the contemporary system of science.
Digitalized Everyday Past: History of Everyday Life Database
Authors: Kessler Vojtěch , Bouška Jan
Published: December 2024

The article presents the international digital humanities project called History of Everyday Life Database and its possibilities for use in humanities research. The foundations of this project, which is run by the Institute of History of the Czech Academy of Sciences, were laid in the 1990s. Its main goal is to form a digital collection of sources (mainly biographical documents) on the history of “everyday life”. The database includes hundreds of such sources in the Czech and German languages and makes them accessible to scholars, students and the public, helping them get a different perspective on the past, one that was not shaped only by “great history”. The project also aims to create an interdisciplinary platform for mutual discussion and a common research space for scholars dealing with the topics of the history of everyday life and memory studies.
Introductory Comments
Authors: Sujecka Jolanta
Published: December 2024

The thirteenth issue of Colloquia Humanistica (2024) contains a thematic block titled Mapping and Boosting Digital Humanities in the Visegrad Region (led by the NGO Centre of the Study of Popular Culture). In the Discussions. Presentations. Book Reviews section we publish two reviews: a presentation of a collective work by Czech authors titled Digitální obrat v českých humanitních a sociálních vědách, which outlines the impact that the digital revolution has had on the humanities and social sciences, and Emil Hilton Saggau’s monograph Nationalisation of the Sacred, which fits well into, which fits well into the profile of our annual.
Nanopeptides Stop the Binding Between the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) Spike Protein and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE 2) Receptor
Authors: Nahhas Alaa F. , Nahhas Alrayan F. , Webster Thomas J.
Published: December 2024

Due to the constant appearance of new Omicron variants escaping the efficacy of existing vaccinations, researchers still need to find additional strategies to passivate the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Here, we designed three tetrapeptides (FFFY, FFFY,
and FYYY) containing phenylalanine and tyrosine as a nanomaterial nasal spray that binds to and passivates the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. According to ToxTree computational software, the peptides do not show genotoxic or non-genotoxic carcinogenicity, or potential S. typhimurium TA100
mutagenacity based on QSAR. In this manner, this study introduces three new tetrapeptides that should be further explored for a wide range of respiratory anti-viral applications.
Enhancing Temperature Control in 3D Bioprinting: A Comprehensive Study on PID Control Strategies
Authors: Hakme da Silva Alessandro M. , Silva Euzivam Sousa , Magalhães Daniel Souza Ferreira , Fraga Mariana Amorim , Correa de Paula e Silva Sinouhe Gerbaudo , Ferreira Paulo Henrique Dias , Carvalho Jonas de , Webster Thomas J. , Stocco Thiago Domingues
Published: December 2024

Although sharing common processing stages, bioprinting diverges significantly from conventional 3D printing by utilizing biological products such as cells, demanding precise temperature control to preserve cell viability and function. This article underscores the critical need for meticulous
temperature regulation within a printer head to ensure optimal printability of biomaterials. The objective of this study was to implement and evaluate a Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) controller model to develop and refine temperature regulation within the thermal environment of a
3D printer. During temperature measurements, thermal sensor noise contributed to some variation in the response. However, the implemented PID controller effectively maintained the temperature within the required biological range, exhibiting rapid and consistent responses. The heated bed (or
build plate) and extruder nozzle demonstrated response times of approximately 200 seconds and 130 seconds, respectively. The findings from this study have significance for advancing bioprinting systems, contributing to the establishment of robust temperature control systems for precise and
reliable nanoscale fabrication processes for biomedical applications. These systems aim to mitigate temperature fluctuations that could compromise biocompatibility from and in 3D printing processes, especially in applications focused on constructing scaffolds from polymeric biomaterials embedded
with cells sensitive to unwanted thermal variations.