Applied Sciences Research Periodicals

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

Jonathan Johnny — 2025-03-15

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

Ravi Kumar Chanana — 2025-03-05

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

Barbaro Q Leyva — 2025-03-15

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

Hector Riquelme-Heras — 2025-03-15

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.