Applied Sciences Research Periodicals

Assessment of Wetlands Dynamics in Bo City, Southern Region of Sierra Leone

2025-02-14T08:58:02+00:00

Background and Goal of the Research: Wetlands are vital ecosystems that serve as critical links between aquatic and terrestrial environments, offering a wide range of ecosystem services such as biodiversity conservation, water purification, and flood control. However, rapid urbanization, pollution, and climate change have placed immense pressure on these ecosystems, leading to their degradation. In Bo City, Southern Sierra Leone, urban expansion and socio-economic activities are significantly impacting wetland dynamics. This study aims to assess the distribution, diversity, and resource composition of wetlands in the city, providing insights to guide sustainable management and conservation strategies. Methodology: The research adopted a descriptive and exploratory design, utilizing field surveys, Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, and biodiversity indices to analyze wetland dynamics. Quadrat and transect sampling methods were employed to document plant species and assess their abundance and distribution. Data on wetland size and ownership were collected, and statistical tools, including one-way ANOVA and diversity indices such as Shannon-Weiner and Simpson indices, were applied to evaluate ecological and ownership patterns. Results & Findings: The study identified 138 wetlands distributed across seven zones in Bo City, each with varying ecological and socio-economic characteristics. Larger wetlands (>6 hectares) were predominantly managed by caretakers, while government and community ownership were minimal. A total of 46 plant species were recorded, with species like Ipomoea aquatica and Commelina diffusa being the most abundant. Zone 5 exhibited the highest biodiversity, as evidenced by its Shannon diversity index (3.746), while Zone 7 showed the lowest diversity and evenness, reflecting the impacts of urban pressures. Ownership type significantly influenced wetland size stability (p = 0.007), while active biomonitoring demonstrated potential benefits for conservation. Conclusion: The findings highlight the ecological richness of Bo City’s wetlands and the threats posed by urban expansion and fragmented management. Effective conservation policies, enhanced stakeholder collaboration, and robust monitoring programs are essential to ensure the sustainability of these ecosystems. The study underscores the importance of balancing urban development with ecological preservation to protect the vital services provided by wetlands in Bo City.

Band Offsets at the Interface of 4H-SiC/SiO2

2025-02-25T08:01:15+00:00

The author through this brief communication wishes to publicize the findings of the band offsets at the Si-faced 4H-SiC/SiO₂ interface through an intense and focused research in the area of Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor (MIS) characterization in an academic environment, since the starting of his Ph.D. in 1989 to eight years work from home from March 2017 to February 2025, a total of over 35 years.

A Massive Photon Scattering Model

2025-03-03T16:04:07+00:00

A massive photon scattering model was derived that compared well with the Compton scattering experimental data concerning X-rays and gamma-ray sources. It reduces the overall quadratic deviations when compared to the Compton model. A photon mass of about 8E-32 kg/45 keV was obtained for x-rays. For the gamma-ray case, the values obtained were about 3.8E-31 kg (214 keV), 1.8E-33 (1.01), and 1.96E-31 (109.74) for 45, 90 and 135 deg., respectively. It is noted that the obtained photon mass values are extremely larger than current upper bounds based on gravitational and electromagnetic experimental (theoretical) estimates, but they are close to or above the lower bound of some dark photon models addressing the missing mass (dark matter) problem, which estimates a lower bound photon mass of about 3 keV.

Health-related Quality of Life in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Primary Care Multicenter Study

2025-03-04T05:52:08+00:00

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) represents a significant challenge for health-related quality of life (HRQoL), which is influenced by sociodemographic and clinical factors. Objective: To evaluate HRQoL in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and analyze its relationship with sociodemographic and clinical variables, providing data for more comprehensive disease management. Methods: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted with 230 patients over 18 years of age in the primary care clinic of three hospitals in Mexico in 2024. HRQoL was measured with the Diabetes-39 (D-39) instrument, adjusted to 36 items after psychometric validation. Differences were analyzed according to age, sex, marital status, socioeconomic level, time of evolution, insulin use, and hospital using nonparametric tests (Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H). Results: The overall median HRQoL was 24.54 (0-100 scale; a higher score indicates worse HRQoL), with a mean of 29.14 (SD 18.91). Young adults (25-44 years) reported better HRQoL (median 80.56) than older adults (>60 years, 69.68; p=0.006). High socioeconomic status (91.20) exceeded low socioeconomic status (71.30; p=0.002). Patients with insulin showed worse HRQoL (69.91) than those without insulin (78.47; p<0.001). La Carlota Hospital had better HRQoL (77.78) than other centers (p=0.034). Conclusion: HRQoL varies significantly by age, socioeconomic status, insulin use, and hospital setting, highlighting the need for personalized interventions that consider clinical parameters such as glycemic control, assess the impact of T2DM on quality of life, and comprehensively address its determinants.

AC Conductance Curves on a Silicon MOS Device

2025-03-10T04:16:58+00:00

The author presents elegant AC conductance curves on a p-Si (100) Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (MOS) device through this brief communication. The curves were obtained on an automated AC conductance and I-V measurement system built by the author during the first Research Associate term from April 1997 to December 1999, with Professor of Physics, Dr. Mary Ellen Zvanut. She is with the Department of Physics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, Alabama, USA.

Electromagnetic Metasurfaces: A Review

2025-03-11T06:59:59+00:00

Metasurfaces, engineered materials that can manipulate electromagnetic waves, have garnered significant attention due to their versatile applications, particularly in wireless communications and energy harvesting. This review examines recent advancements in metasurfaces, with a specific focus on their application in Intelligent Reflecting Surfaces (IRS) and energy harvesting systems. Split Ring Resonators (SRRs) have been widely used as meta-atoms due to their ability to exhibit negative permeability and permittivity at specific resonance frequencies. This paper discusses the design, performance, and challenges associated with these metasurfaces and how they contribute to the development of advanced wireless systems and sustainable energy solutions. We also explore the potential of metasurfaces in addressing the challenges posed by energy-hungry wireless devices and the need for efficient energy harvesting techniques.

Open-Air Quantum Microwave Communications: Generation, Propagation and Detection

2025-03-11T07:03:14+00:00

Quantum communications has emerged as an important paradigm for achieving secure fast communications. Significant technological breakthroughs have been achieved in this area over the years using quantum optics. In contrast, quantum microwaves are recently beginning to receive increased attention, due in part to the potential for an easier integration with current microwave communications infrastructure. This paper explores the generation, propagation and detection of quantum microwaves as processes required for open-air communication. It presents a brief description of the theory and provides a summary of recent progress in these operations. The paper ends by highlighting challenges regarding the practical realization of this technology.

The Study on the Structure and Physical Properties of Indigo Carmine

2025-03-12T14:23:45+00:00

This study explores the structure-activity relationship of Indigo Carmine (IC) at the molecular level, aiming to enhance the understanding of its physical and chemical properties. The molecular structure of IC was analyzed using Density Functional Theory (DFT), specifically the GGA-BLYP method at the DZ basis set level. Geometric structural parameters, including bond lengths, bond angles, and dihedral angles, were obtained through theoretical calculations. For example, the calculated C-S bond length is 1.81 Å, and the C=O bond length is 1.220 Å, both of which align closely with experimental values. Infrared (IR) spectrum analysis revealed the presence of pyrrole and benzene ring structures in IC. The high vibrational frequencies indicate strong chemical bonds within the molecule, making them resistant to breakage and demonstrating relatively low reactivity. However, redox reactions can occur under specific conditions due to the π bonds formed by the p orbitals of carbon atoms at positions C(7) and C(8). Additionally, the calculated LogP value for Indigo Carmine is 3.06060. The study examined the molecular configuration, dipole moment, hydrophobic parameter, infrared spectroscopy, and frontier orbital structure in detail. The findings highlight IC's unique physical and chemical properties, identifying the primary sites of redox reactions as the C and D rings.

A Rapid Spectrophotometric Method for the Determination of Lead (Pb) in Calcium Saccharin

2025-03-13T07:00:25+00:00

The determination of lead (Pb) content in calcium saccharin is critical due to the potential health risks posed by lead exposure, even at low concentrations. This study explores the application of various analytical techniques for the quantification of lead in calcium saccharin, a widely used artificial sweetener. Methods such as atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), a simpler direct spectrophotometric method for the trace lead concentration in calcium saccharin samples. The method was successfully used; and average sample results have been found 0.32 mg/Kg. The results were within the specification of not more than 2.0 mg/Kg maximum. The results highlight the sensitivity, accuracy, and precision of these methods in detecting trace amounts of lead, with particular emphasis on optimizing sample preparation and minimizing interference. The findings provide valuable insight into the effectiveness of analytical techniques in ensuring the purity and safety of calcium saccharin in food and pharmaceutical applications.