Scientific African最新文献

{"title":"Understanding malaria dynamics: Insights from interpretable machine learning in Kelem Wollega Zone, Ethiopia","authors":"Yohannes Dhuguma ,&nbsp;Solomon Tekalign ,&nbsp;Tegegne Sishaw ,&nbsp;Sitotaw Haile Erena ,&nbsp;Ashenafi Yimam ,&nbsp;Kidist Demessie","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02963","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02963","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Problem</h3><div>Malaria, a long-standing global health problem, thrives in tropical and subtropical climates. An in-depth investigation is needed, as this is Ethiopia's deadliest parasitic disease.</div></div><div><h3>Aim</h3><div>This study attempts to address this issue by creating a model for classifying malaria outbreaks in the Kelem Wollega region of Ethiopia using historical climate patterns. The following four machine learning algorithms are evaluated: extreme gradient boosting (XGB), random forest (RF), gradient bounds (GB), and support vector machines (SVM).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>During the training phase, models are evaluated by five-fold cross-validation and by strict initialization of the hyperparameters. SHAP (Shapley Additive explanation) and LIME (Local Interpretable Model-agnostic Explanation) have been interpreted using the best two locally and globally interpreted models. We use a surrogate decision tree model to find the balance between plausibility and precision. Performance evaluation is performed by an average of the area under the curve (mean AUC), mean F1 score, sensitivity, and specificity.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>In terms of Mean AUC, Mean F1, Sensitivity, and Specificity, Dale Wabera performs the best, with XGB values of 0.99, 0.95, 1.00, and 0.99, respectively. According to SHAP, the model's ability to forecast XGB and GB was significantly influenced by the DATE, Minimum Temperature, Maximum Temperature, and Soil moisture in the top layer. This result is consistent with real-time malaria epidemic scenarios. Local interpretability of individual cases is produced through the use of LIME, and the outcomes are well-suited to the detailed relationship between environmental variables and the malaria pandemic. The tradeoff also shows that high accuracy is typically attained with XGB models, although occasionally, fidelity is sacrificed.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This outcome demonstrates the significance of doing an in-depth interpretation of each model result both locally and globally, which clarifies the nature of feature contribution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article e02963"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145097486","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of silicon (silicic acid)-enriched biochar amendments on emissions of methane and nitrous oxide from paddy soils","authors":"Deogratius Luyima ,&nbsp;Michael Egyir ,&nbsp;Cosmas Wacal","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02968","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02968","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Although both biochar and silicon amendments have been shown to reduce greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions from soil, their effectiveness in doing so has yielded varying results. Negative, positive and neutral responses have been reported. Combining both amendments into a silicon-enriched biochar may lead to optimum abatement of GHGs emissions from the soil. The current study was hence, conducted to evaluate the methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) attenuation potentials of the silicon-enriched biochar amendments. The study was conducted via a pot experiment and the treatments included, the control (NPK only), post-pyrolysis silicon-enriched biochar (SiBC 1), pre-pyrolysis silicon-enriched biochar (SiBC 2), non-modified biochar (PrBC) and silicon (Si). All treatments received NPK at recommended rates. The biochars were characterised with the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscope (FT-IR). In comparison to the control, PrBC, SiBC 1 and SiBC 2 reduced CH₄ emissions by 9.32 %, 41.06 % and 40.35 %, respectively while Si increased the emissions by 20.45 %. PrBC, SiBC 1, SiBC 2 and Si amendments reduced N₂O emissions by 20.55 %, 54.79 %, 57.53 % and 39.73 %, respectively as compared to the control. The instrumental analysis revealed that silicon enrichment enhanced biochar's surface properties e.g. porosity and surface reactive functional groups which might have contributed to the enhanced potential of the biochar to lower CH₄ and N₂O emissions through increased aeration and adsorption of nitrogen. Therefore, enriching biochar with orthosilicic acid is a novel method of optimising the attenuation of CH₄ and N₂O emissions from paddy soils.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article e02968"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145057438","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Tectonic lineament mapping and identification of copper alteration minerals using PRISMA and Sentinel-2A satellite imagery in Alma inlier and Fouanou syncline (western Anti-Atlas, Morocco)","authors":"Ilham M’hamdi Alaoui ,&nbsp;Ahmed Akhssas ,&nbsp;Anas Bahi ,&nbsp;Hassan Ibouh ,&nbsp;Saloua Mnissar Himyari ,&nbsp;Hicham Khebbi ,&nbsp;Fatima Zahra Sbabou","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02961","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02961","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The western Anti-Atlas of Morocco hosts complex copper deposits with debated origins and multiple proposed geodynamic models. This study, applied for the first time to the Alma inlier and the Fouanou syncline, integrates PRecursore IperSpettrale della Missione Applicativa (PRISMA) imagery with Sentinel-2A multispectral data to accurately identify copper-related alteration minerals and map structural lineaments with high spatial and spectral precision. A series of image processing techniques were applied to the PRISMA dataset, including Minimum Noise Fraction (MNF), Pixel Purity Index (PPI), n-Dimensional Visualizer, and Spectral Angle Mapper (SAM), to isolate and identify minerals associated with alteration. In parallel, structural lineaments were extracted from Sentinel-2A imagery using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and directional filters, enabling the precise mapping of tectonic features. Field validation was carried out through three geological cross-sections within the study area, where alteration zones were verified using a handheld spectrometer. The spectral signatures obtained from PRISMA were then compared and validated against field measurements and the USGS spectral library to ensure mineralogical accuracy. The main alteration minerals identified include malachite, azurite, hematite, and goethite, indicative of oxidation and supergene enrichment. Structural analyses revealed NE-SW to ENE-WSW oriented lineaments, consistent with Pan-African tectonic structures. The spatial correlation between alteration halos and major fault zones suggests that hydrothermal fluid circulation played a significant role in ore deposition, especially along the contact between the Precambrian basement and the overlying Paleozoic cover. These observations demonstrate PRISMA's value for cost-effective copper exploration in remote and geologically complex areas. This integrative methodology provides not only a viable exploration strategy but also offers new insights into the metallogenic evolution of the western Anti-Atlas and contributes to the ongoing debate on its tectono-magmatic history, with implications for similar metallogenic provinces across the world.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article e02961"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145097525","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimization approach of LLC resonant converter parameters for electric vehicles based on interior-point algorithm","authors":"Jawhara El Hmidi ,&nbsp;Anass Mansouri ,&nbsp;Ali Ahaitouf","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02939","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02939","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper presents an optimization strategy for the design of an isolated bidirectional LLC resonant DC–DC converter used in electric vehicle chargers. By employing the interior-point algorithm, we optimize the resonant tank parameters (<span><math><msub><mrow><mi>C</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>r</mi></mrow></msub></math></span>, <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>L</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>r</mi></mrow></msub></math></span> and <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>L</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>m</mi></mrow></msub></math></span>), expand the soft-switching region and reduce switching losses across wide battery voltage (240 V to 430 V) and power (1 kW to 11 kW). This approach expands the soft-switching region to improve efficiency in both charging and discharging modes, while simultaneously modeling and optimizing both Grid-to-Vehicle (G2V) and Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) operation using analytically derived frequency equations. Additionally, it reduces the saturation zone by more than 50% and finds optimum values of resonant parameters <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>C</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>r</mi></mrow></msub></math></span>, <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>L</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>r</mi></mrow></msub></math></span>, and <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>L</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>m</mi></mrow></msub></math></span>. Unlike prior works that use heuristic optimization or treat G2V and V2G separately, this method combines both modes into a single constrained nonlinear optimization problem, offering a unified and generalized design approach. These enhancements lead to a more compact design, greater stability, and an optimal balance between efficiency and component size. Simulation results confirm the effectiveness of the method, with improved frequency controllability and converter efficiency across a wide range of operating points compared to existing reference designs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article e02939"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145047615","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Health centers network analysis with Gephi and ForceAtlas2 approach: Case of Burkina Faso","authors":"Saan-nonnan Olivier Dabiré ,&nbsp;Désiré Guel ,&nbsp;Boureima Zerbo","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02940","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02940","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Burkina Faso, like many developing countries, faces significant challenges in public health, particularly regarding healthcare access and infrastructure distribution. Healthcare centers are unevenly distributed across regions, resulting in disparities in access to care. This study aims to analyze the structure and efficiency of the healthcare network in Burkina Faso using graph theory, leveraging Gephi and the ForceAtlas2 algorithm for visualization. We constructed a graph representing 80 healthcare centers as nodes and the distances between them as weighted edges. By applying network theory metrics such as degree, modularity, centrality, and density, we identified the strengths and weaknesses of the healthcare network.</div><div>The analysis reveals that the healthcare network has an average degree of 0.985, indicating that most healthcare centers are connected to fewer than one other center on average. The network’s density is 0.015, showing that it is highly sparse. Modularity analysis identified eight distinct communities, with a modularity score of 0.556, reflecting a moderately well-defined community structure. The average path length is 1.45, indicating that most centers are relatively close to each other, but regional disparities remain, especially in isolated areas.</div><div>These findings suggest that improving connectivity in underserved regions could significantly enhance access to healthcare. Concrete policy actions such as deploying mobile clinics in peripheral zones, establishing intermediate logistics hubs in strategic locations, or enhancing routes toward high centrality but low degree centers can be derived from the network structure. Although this study uses standard graph theoretical tools, its contribution lies in the pragmatic application to a low-resource health system. The proposed framework is easily adaptable and reproducible for other low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Furthermore, this work provides a basis for future integration with dynamic or health outcome data, enabling more comprehensive simulations for infrastructure planning and emergency response.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article e02940"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145020585","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-Decadal shoreline dynamics of Ras El-Bar, Nile Delta: Unraveling human interventions and coastal resilience","authors":"Hesham M. El-Asmar ,&nbsp;Mahmoud Sh. Felfla ,&nbsp;May R. ElKotby ,&nbsp;Sameh B. El-Kafrawy ,&nbsp;Doaa M. Naguib","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02937","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02937","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study provided an updated assessment of temporal changes in shoreline of Ras El-Bar on the Nile Delta coast using multi-decadal data (1984–2024) of field observations, surveys, and measurements, supported by advanced remote sensing techniques. This temporally extended dataset allowed for a reliable assessment of human interventions on shoreline changes. Based on high-resolution imagery, from Landsat 1 (MSS), Landsat 5 (TM), Landsat 8 (OLI), and Landsat 9 (OLI-2), two methods were used for shoreline measurements between 1984 and 2024: the Modified Normalized Difference Water Index (MNDWI) and the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI)-based Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS). The results suggest good consistency, with high confidence, between the two methods, with an average r value of 0.86, R² value of 0.92, and RMSE value of 23.11 m. The findings highlight the impact of Damietta Harbour (DH) on coastal morphodynamics, with continuous erosion observed over the Eastern Jetty (EJ) of the DH (sectors 1 to 4) from 1984 to 2020. From 2020 to 2024, the extension of DH’s jetties created a shadow zone with appreciable accretion east of EJ at sector 1. Moreover, the construction of the Aswan High Dam (AHD) induced sediment entrapment that nourished the coast. Several protection structures have been implemented to mitigate inundation and damage to infrastructure and to secure coastal stability along the Ras El-Bar resort. These structures include three groins, a revetment, eight detached breakwaters (DBWs), and four Y-shaped groins. Among these, the detached breakwaters have proven to be the most effective structures for ensuring coastal stability and maintaining a beach suitable for resort activities. These findings inform adaptive coastal management strategies to optimize tourism, protect critical infrastructure, and sustain natural coastal processes, providing policymakers with actionable insights to enhance the resilience of Ras El-Bar against erosion, sea-level rise, and climate change, while supporting sustainable development in this socioeconomically vital region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article e02937"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145047614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Design and modeling of ann based automatic generation control and automatic voltage regulator for two integrated hydro power plants in Ethiopia","authors":"Yosef Birara Wubet,&nbsp;Temesgen Teshager Gela,&nbsp;Hawaz Mekuriaw Getahun","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02958","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02958","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Automatic Generation Control (AGC) and Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) systems are crucial components in the operation and control of electric power to offer adequate and reliable electric power of high quality. An electric power system is constantly subjected to numerous forms of disruption, resulting in a loss of stability. Variations in active power and reactive power can lead to unpredictable operation, data loss, system crashes, computer equipment damage, lamp flashing, etc. To lessen frequency and voltage variations as well as the system's oscillation characteristics, the design and modeling of AGC and AVR systems are discussed in this paper. It has been done by designing and modeling each component of AGC and AVR systems, including Propertional-Integral-Derivative (PID) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) controllers by using a mathematical modelling system on Tanabeless and Tis Abay II integrated hydropower plants. For instance, Tanabe's data analysis reveals that there was an outage on October 16, 2013 EC, between 4:00 and 9:00 local time. This was brought on by the system's high-frequency variation. According to Ethiopian standards, the generation system's electric power frequency must be maintained within the range of [49.5 - 50.5] Hz, or 1 % fluctuation, during normal steady-state operation and 48 to 52 Hz during any disruption scenario. MATLAB software was used to simulate the designed model. By applying a PID controller on the designed model of Tanabeless system, 0.12 sec rise time, 21 % overshoot, and 2.2 sec settling time have been obtained on the change in voltage response, while these values have been improved to 0.05 sec rise time, 9 % overshoot, and 0.5 sec settling time, respectively, using an ANN controller. On the other hand, 2.13 sec rise time, 3.1 % overshoot, and 21 sec settling time have been obtained on the frequency response of Tanabeless system using PID. However, the ANN controller has improved these characteristics to 1.02 sec rise time, 2.2 % overshoot, and 13 sec settling time. Similarly, the change in voltage response and the change in frequency response oscillation characteristics of Tis Abay II generation plant have been improved by using an ANN controller rather than PID. The change in tie-line power flow from Tanabeless to Tis Abay II has also been improved by 1.3 sec rise time, 1.5 % overshoot, and 17 sec settling time. It has been observed that the designed model of the system using an intelligent controller (ANN) has better technical characteristics (overshoot, rise time, and settling time) than a classical controller (PID).</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article e02958"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145047616","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Toxicity evaluation, phytochemical characterization and pharmacological effects of aqueous extracts of Combretum collinum leaves: analgesic, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory activities in animal models","authors":"Bunei Kipngetich Kefa,&nbsp;Careen Ihazano Chumba,&nbsp;Daniel Kingori Gathuka,&nbsp;Dennis Kipngenoh Cheruiyot,&nbsp;John Kingori Mwonjoria,&nbsp;Eliud Nyaga Mwaniki Njagi","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02957","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02957","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The leaves of <em>Combretum collinum</em> are traditionally used to treat inflammation and promote wound healing. This study aims to assess the toxicity, phytochemical characterization and evaluate the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties of the aqueous extract of <em>Combretum collinum</em> (AECC) leaves in an animal model. The phytochemical analysis was performed using LC-MS and safety assessment (acute and subacute toxicity) of AECC were conducted according to standard scientific procedures (OECD guidelines). Analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects was determined via formalin-induced assay, while the antipyretic activity used turpentine-induced fever model. Diclofenac (15mg/kg) served as a reference drug. No acute toxicity symptoms were observed after the oral administration of AECC at a dose of 2000mg/kg. In the sub-acute study, AECC extract showed no mortality or treatment-related adverse effects on general behavior, body weight, relative organ weights, and hematological and biochemical parameters. The analgesic activity of the AECC extract at 50, 100, and 150mg/kg resulted in a pain response reduction of 40.37 %, 39.89 %, and 40.38 %, respectively, in the acute phase, while the chronic phase demonstrated dose-dependent pain inhibition (<em>p</em> ≤ 0.05). The AECC extract also lowered rectal temperature in the antipyretic activity to 3.14 %, 3.61 %, and 3.86 %, respectively, for the same doses. AECC exhibited anti-inflammatory activity with reductions in formalin-induced paw edema of 0.68 %, 0.69 %, and 0.68 % at 50, 100, and 150mg/kg, respectively. This study concludes that there are no acute or sub-acute toxicity symptoms associated with AECC and demonstrates its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic effects, indicating its potential application as a viable therapeutic agent.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article e02957"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145047618","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Income, food inflation, and human capital development in Nigeria: A mixed method approach","authors":"Adetutu O. Habib ,&nbsp;Oladapo G. Awolaja ,&nbsp;Olalekan B. Aworinde ,&nbsp;Gift Dafuleya ,&nbsp;Lucia Omobolanle Ogunsumi","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02954","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02954","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human Capital Development (HCD) encompassing the improvement of individuals’ skills, knowledge, and health is critical for economic growth. In Nigeria, however, HCD indicators remain weak, and rising food inflation poses additional risks, especially in the context of unstable income levels. While many studies explore the link between income and HCD, the moderating role of food inflation in this relationship remains underexplored, particularly from the perspective of real-life experiences. This study investigated the interaction between income (measured by Gross National Income per capita), food inflation, and HCD (proxied by school enrollment and life expectancy at birth) in Nigeria. Adopting an explanatory sequential design, the study used annual data from 1994 to 2023 sourced from the World Development Indicators and Nigeria’s National Bureau of Statistics. The auto-regressive distributed lag (ARDL) model estimated both short- and long-run dynamics. In the qualitative phase, 163 participants, selected through multi-stage sampling, shared their lived experiences through in-depth interviews. Findings showed that while income positively influenced life expectancy, its effect on school enrollment was insignificant. Food inflation had a significant positive effect on school enrollment but not on life expectancy. However, the interaction of income and food inflation negatively and significantly impacted both HCD indicators. Thematic analysis identified four core themes: financial constraints, perceived importance of education, compromise in education and health, and adaptive strategies. While household faced significant financial constraints, school attendance was prioritized with compromise in educational resources, nutritional quality and health spending. The study concludes that while rising income and food inflation each contribute positively to human capital development (HCD), their interaction particularly with persistent rising food prices can hinder overall progress. It recommends government intervention to stabilize food prices to enhance the positive impact of income on HCD in Nigeria.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article e02954"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145047612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Historical and ethnopharmacological perspectives on African medicinal plants: From traditional remedies to computational drug discovery","authors":"Peter Chinedu Agu ,&nbsp;Nnamdi Christopher Nduneseokwu ,&nbsp;Francisca Chidimma Nwiziogo ,&nbsp;Miracle Uzochukwu Okafor ,&nbsp;Esther Ugo Alum ,&nbsp;Chinedu Ogbonnia Egwu ,&nbsp;Innocent Chibuzor Anidu ,&nbsp;Chidiebere Anthony Ezinwa ,&nbsp;Ama Udu Ibiam ,&nbsp;Patrick Maduabuchi Aja PhD","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02941","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e02941","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>African medicinal plants have played a significant role in traditional healthcare systems for centuries. Specifically, they served as primary therapeutic agents for a wide range of ailments. Ethnopharmacological knowledge, passed down through generations, has provided invaluable insights into the bioactive properties of African indigenous flora. However, the transition of these traditional medicines into scientifically validated therapeutics has been slow. This could be due to historical marginalization, inadequate documentation, and limited research funding. Recent advancements in computer-aided drug design (CADD) and computational drug discovery have opened new frontiers for validating and optimizing bioactive compounds derived from African medicinal plants. This narrative review discussed the historical evolution of African ethnomedicine, its potential contributions to global pharmacology, and the emerging role of computational techniques, such as molecular docking, network pharmacology, and artificial intelligence (AI), in accelerating drug discovery. By integrating historical and ethnopharmacological perspectives with modern computational strategies, this review highlighted examplary studies where African medicinal plants have shown promise for treating infectious diseases, metabolic disorders, and cancer. Furthermore, it highlights potential solutions to challenges such as biopiracy, intellectual property rights, and the necessity of collaborative frameworks between traditional healers and scientists. Therefore, this review piqued the potential of African medicinal plants in pharmaceutical applications and advocates for interdisciplinary approaches to harnessing their full therapeutic potential in the modern era.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"30 ","pages":"Article e02941"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2025-09-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145047617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}