Scientific African最新文献

{"title":"Digital addiction and emotional exhaustion as mediators between problematic internet use and mental well-being in university students","authors":"David Adedia ,&nbsp;Kennedy Diema Konlan ,&nbsp;Delight Tsogbe ,&nbsp;Nuworza Kugbey ,&nbsp;Elvis Reindolf Kale ,&nbsp;Vincent Uwumboriyhie Gmayinaam ,&nbsp;Judith Akworkor Anaman-Torgbor ,&nbsp;Martin Amogre Ayanore","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e03151","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e03151","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>The increasing reliance on digital technology has raised concerns about its impact on mental health and well-being, particularly among university students. Problematic internet use, digital addiction, and emotional exhaustion have emerged as key factors influencing students' psychological well-being. Despite established associations between excessive internet use and addictive behaviors, the mechanisms through which it influences mental health remain insufficiently elucidated. This study investigated the relationship between problematic internet use and mental well-being, with a focus on whether digital addiction and emotional exhaustion mediate this relationship.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A cross-sectional survey design was used, involving 815 students from three tertiary institutions in Ghana. Standardized and validated scales were used to measure mental well-being, emotional exhaustion, digital addiction, and problematic internet use. Statistical analyses, including correlation and confirmatory factor analyses were used to determine the correlations, reliability and validity of the scales. Structural equation modelling was employed to ascertain the direct and mediation effects on mental well-being.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>One out of every three students (35%) reported problematic internet use. Bivariate results showed that mental well-being was negatively correlated with emotional exhaustion (-0.25, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001), digital addiction (-0.21, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001), and problematic internet use (-0.36, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001). Mediation results showed emotional exhaustion as a significant mediator (β = -0.07, <em>p</em> &lt; 0.001), while digital addiction did not significantly mediate the relationship (β = -0.04, <em>p</em> = 0.094), suggesting that internet overuse primarily becomes harmful when it leads to stress and exhaustion rather than addiction itself.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>These findings reveal that problematic internet use harms mental well-being through emotional exhaustion, underscoring the need for joint action by university management and mental health/counselling units to enhance awareness campaigns focused on addressing problematic internet use among students.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article e03151"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924767","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":"Pedagogical integration of information communication and technologies in rural mathematics education: Enhancing motivation and equity in low-resource contexts","authors":"Hajar Zoubir ,&nbsp;Abderrahmane Ben Rherbal ,&nbsp;Youssef Sefri ,&nbsp;Abdelhak Chakli","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e03171","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e03171","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite national strategies to digitize education, the gap between administrative policy and classroom reality remains significant, particularly regarding the impact of digital tools on equity in underserved settings. This study addresses the urgent need to evaluate how technology integration affects student outcomes in resource-constrained environments. Guided by Viau’s motivational framework and Rabardel’s instrumental approach, we employed a mixed-methods design to investigate the integration of multimedia tools, specifically Scratch and GeoGebra, among fourth-grade students in rural Morocco. Data were collected through surveys with teachers (<em>n</em> = 132) and students (<em>n</em> = 148), followed by a comparative intervention involving control and experimental groups. The results demonstrate that utilizing technology as a pedagogical instrument, rather than a mere delivery mechanism, significantly enhances student engagement, cognitive autonomy, and perseverance compared to traditional instruction. Specifically, the intervention group showed statistically significant gains in perceived choice and performance. Distinct from prior studies that focus solely on infrastructure access, this research provides rare empirical evidence from North Africa demonstrating that well-designed interactive learning environments function as equity levers. Crucially, we show that digital tools reduce the performance gap between high- and low-achieving students in resource-constrained rural settings.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article e03171"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924883","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":"Sustainability-Performance Integration in Start-ups: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis from Algeria","authors":"Ismail Bengana ,&nbsp;Khaled Mili ,&nbsp;Mekimah Sabri ,&nbsp;Zighed Rahma","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e03173","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e03173","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examines sustainability-performance relationships in Algerian start-ups, addressing a critical gap in emerging market entrepreneurship literature where the mechanisms through which sustainability dimensions translate into organizational performance remain inadequately theorized and empirically underexplored. The research develops and tests an integrated structural model examining how economic, social, and environmental sustainability dimensions affect organizational performance through the mediating roles of governance, commitment, and innovation. The theoretical framework integrates Triple Bottom Line theory, Resource-Based View, and Institutional theory to explain these relationships in contexts characterized by institutional voids and resource constraints typical of emerging economies. Using covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) with data from 255 Algerian start-ups collected via structured questionnaire (23 items, five-point Likert scale), the study assessed measurement model validity through confirmatory factor analysis before testing hypothesized relationships. Results demonstrate moderate to moderately-high sustainability implementation levels (M=3.19-3.42 on five-point scales) and reveal innovation as the strongest performance predictor (β=0.484, p&lt;0.001), followed by governance (β=0.283, p&lt;0.001) and commitment (β=0.132, p=0.011), with significant interrelationships among mediators (r=0.591-0.860). These findings indicate that in resource-constrained emerging markets, internal innovation capabilities outweigh formal governance structures and organizational commitment in translating sustainability intentions into performance outcomes. The study contributes theoretically by demonstrating boundary conditions for Western-derived sustainability theories in institutional void contexts, and methodologically by providing validated measurement instruments for emerging market research. Practically, results suggest policymakers should prioritize innovation support mechanisms (technology access programs, R&amp;D incentives, research partnerships) over compliance-focused interventions, while entrepreneurs should invest in innovation capacity development as the primary lever for sustainability-driven performance enhancement.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article e03173"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924989","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":"Structure-guided identification of novel natural antidiabetic inhibitors: Targeting glucoamylase from saccharomycopsis fibuligera","authors":"Oussama Abchir ,&nbsp;Bouchra Rossafi ,&nbsp;Rodouan Touti ,&nbsp;Imane Yamari ,&nbsp;Kasim Sakran Abass ,&nbsp;Abdelouahid Samadi ,&nbsp;Samir Chtita","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e03145","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e03145","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Diabetes mellitus, a major metabolic disorder, affected approximately 537 million individuals worldwide in 2021, according to the International Diabetes Federation. The disease is associated with severe complications that impair various organs and significantly reduce patients' quality of life. Current pharmacological treatments for diabetes are often associated with adverse effects, including abdominal discomfort, bloating, and diarrhea. In previous studies, 52 medicinal plants from 22 plant families, including Apiaceae, Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Lamiaceae, were identified as potential treatments for diabetes and other diseases. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition of these plants, resulting in a collection of approximately 933 unique compounds after removing duplicates. Rigorous filtering based on Lipinski's Rule of Five yielded 844 compounds that met key drug-likeness criteria. To assess their therapeutic potential, molecular docking studies were performed to analyze the binding modes of these compounds with the Glucoamylase receptor, focusing on key interactions with the receptor’s active site. Acarbose, a well-established alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, was used as a reference drug to validate the docking protocol and benchmark the results. Subsequently, molecular dynamics simulations were conducted for the top four selected compounds and Acarbose to evaluate the stability and persistence of the receptor-ligand interactions over time. This in silico study offers valuable insights into the therapeutic potential of plant-derived compounds and supports the development of optimized glucoamylase inhibitors for diabetes management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article e03145"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925111","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":"Performance enhancement of a single-cylinder gasoline engine through hydraulic variable valve actuation (HVVA) system integration","authors":"Dimamu Biru,&nbsp;kumlachew Yeneneh,&nbsp;Bisrat Yoseph,&nbsp;Tatek Mamo","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03196","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03196","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study was conducted to investigate the integration of a Hydraulic Variable Valve Actuation (HVVA) system into a Lifan 177F single-cylinder gasoline engine to enhance performance, fuel efficiency, and emissions control. Unlike conventional valve mechanisms, HVVA systems are designed to dynamically adjust valve timing and lift through hydraulic actuation, allowing combustion to be optimized across a range of engine loads and speeds. MATLAB and GT-Suite simulations were used to model and evaluate the behavior of various valve spring configurations, including single-valve, dual-valve, and double-spring pendulum designs under dynamic operating conditions. It was found that engine power output was increased by 10%, fuel consumption was reduced by 5.64%, and torque delivery was significantly improved at mid to high RPM ranges. Among the configurations examined, the double-spring pendulum mechanism was shown to be the most effective in minimizing hydraulic oscillations, improving valve stability, and enabling smoother operation at higher speeds. These results highlight the practical potential of HVVA systems for use in compact and cost-sensitive engine platforms, where compliance with stringent emissions regulations and improved efficiency are increasingly demanded. Through precise and adaptive valve control, the proposed HVVA approach is shown to support cleaner combustion and align with broader sustainability objectives. In future work, efforts will be directed toward overcoming integration challenges and refining control strategies to further optimize HVVA system performance in practical automotive applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article e03196"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146077792","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":"Corrigendum to “Comparative secretome dynamics of Beauveria bassiana under solid-state and submerged fermentation” [Scientific African 20 (2025) e03080]","authors":"Ayodeji Amobonye ,&nbsp;Prashant Bhagwat ,&nbsp;Buka Magwaza ,&nbsp;Santhosh Pillai","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e03132","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e03132","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article e03132"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790457","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":"Computational insights into Croton species as sources of CDK4/6 inhibitors for cancer therapy","authors":"Samphelix O. Obende ,&nbsp;Charles O. Ochieng ,&nbsp;Emmanuel A. Shikanga ,&nbsp;Wilberforce Ndarawit ,&nbsp;Njogu M. Kimani","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e03174","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e03174","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The search for new anticancer agents has led to the exploration of various botanical resources, with the genus Croton emerging as a promising source of bioactive compounds. CDK4/6 are key cell cycle regulators linked to cancer pathogenesis, and their inhibition has been shown to be effective in treating various cancer cases. Although inhibitors like ribociclib and abemaciclib have demonstrated therapeutic effectiveness, resistance to these drugs invariably arises, requiring the investigation of alternative therapeutic options. In this study, computational screening techniques were used to identify potential dual inhibitors of CDK4/6, aiming to expedite the discovery of alternative anticancer therapeutics from Croton phytochemical data. Prior to structure-based virtual screening, phytochemicals from Croton Spp were identified by an in-depth review of the literature. The chemical space of these phytochemicals was analyzed in comparison with FDA cancer compounds. The resultant druglike molecules were docked into CDK4 (7SJ3) and 6 (5L2T) receptors. The high-ranking ligands were subjected to molecular simulations and HOMO-LUMO energy gap assessments. In chemical space analysis, 56 out of 900 Croton compounds were found to have similar properties to FDA anticancer agents. Molecular docking studies of these 56 compounds revealed that 26 compounds showed high docking scores with CDK6, similar to ribociclib, and six compounds with CDK4, similar to abemaciclib. Cracroson F (<strong>1</strong>), Crotocascarin K (<strong>2</strong>), Cajucarinolide (<strong>3</strong>), and Isocajucarinolide (<strong>4</strong>) were predicted as the dual inhibitors showing docking scores for CDK4 (-11, -11, -10.7, and -10.6 kcalmol^-1, respectively) and CDK6 (-9.1, -9.4, -8.4, and -9.6 kcalmol^-1, respectively). Compounds <strong>1</strong> and <strong>3</strong> showed stability in 200 ns MD simulations, generating hydrophobic, ionic, and hydrogen interactions with an ideal radius of gyration and root mean square deviations and fluctuations (RMSD and RMSF). DFT calculation revealed that <strong>3</strong> (ΔE = 3.522 eV) was more reactive than <strong>1</strong> (ΔE = 3.648 eV) due to its HOMO-LUMO gap, though both were inferior to the standards. These two compounds were predicted to have acceptable pharmacokinetics, off-target, and toxicity profiles, indicating their potential as drug candidates. The in silico study thus identified promising Croton-lead compounds with potential anticancer properties, requiring further experimental (in vitro and in vivo) evaluation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article e03174"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146037390","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":"Exploring the impact of silver nanoparticles on the structure, optical properties, and dielectric response of PVA–PVP blends","authors":"F.A. Al-Marhaby ,&nbsp;Ahmed Abdelkarim ,&nbsp;Roshdi Seoudi","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e03120","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e03120","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were chemically synthesized and incorporated into a polyvinyl alcohol–polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVA–PVP) polymer blend using a solution casting method to create PVA–PVP/AgNPs nanocomposite films. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed uniformly dispersed spherical AgNPs with diameters ranging from 10 to 30 nm, which strongly depend on precursor concentration. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed the semi-crystalline structure of the (PVA–PVP) blend, while Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) indicated specific interactions between the silver species and the (PVA–PVP) matrices. UV–Vis spectroscopy showed a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band between 380 and 400 nm, confirming the successful incorporation of nanoparticles. The position and width of this band correlated with particle size and dispersion. The optical band gap, estimated from Tauc plots, decreased from 5.28 eV for the pure PVA–PVP matrix to 5.18 eV upon AgNPs addition, suggesting improved electronic transition characteristics. Broadband dielectric spectroscopy (0.1 Hz–20 MHz) indicated enhanced dielectric constant and loss at low-frequency attributable to interfacial and space-charge polarization effects. PVA–PVP/AgNPs interfaces introduced varying properties, while the conductivity spectra revealed frequency-dependent hopping processes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article e03120"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145683068","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":"From linear to nonlinear models: Responsiveness of house prices to shocks from macroeconomic indicators in Kenya","authors":"Benjamin Kwakye ,&nbsp;Alexander Sasu ,&nbsp;Stephen Ameyaw ,&nbsp;Frank Gyamfi-Yeboah","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e03110","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e03110","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Previous studies have concluded that models that account for nonlinear relationships outperform their linear counterparts. However, while this is evident in advanced economies, the same cannot be inferred in Sub-Saharan Africa. This paper seeks to show how house prices are responsive to the nonlinear shocks of selected macroeconomic indicators, while controlling for the effects of interest rate and population in the Kenyan housing market. We employed the Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) model on a quarterly dataset from 2004Q1 to 2021Q4. In the long run, we showed that house prices respond to some nonlinear shocks of macroeconomic indicators, particularly shocks of the exchange rate and the shock of the market index, but not inflationary rate. Moreover, we established a significant negative effect of interest rate and population on house prices. In the short run, we also noted that a decrease in the exchange rate influences house prices negatively. Interest rate, including its lag terms, also impacts house prices negatively. These findings call for prudent macro-prudential policies, more importantly: (a) management of exchange rate and interest rate; (b) give property investment insight and (c) offer effective policy direction in the development and sustenance of the Kenyan property market.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article e03110"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145683115","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":"Two new unit-interval distributions with applications to COVID-19 and reservoir capacity data","authors":"M.E. Sobh ,&nbsp;Ammar M. Sarhan","doi":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e03140","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.sciaf.2025.e03140","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Accurate modeling of data restricted to the unit interval is essential across many applied disciplines. This paper proposes two new single-parameter probability distributions tailored for variables supported on <span><math><mrow><mo>(</mo><mn>0</mn><mo>,</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>)</mo></mrow></math></span>. The models are mathematically tractable and exhibit notable flexibility, with analytical expressions derived for their survival and hazard functions, moments, and parameter-driven behavior. Their single-parameter structure enables closed-form maximum likelihood and Bayesian estimators, avoiding the heavy numerical optimization typically required by existing unit-interval models. The maximum likelihood estimators are shown to be global solutions, and the Bayesian framework benefits from the conjugacy of the gamma prior, allowing for efficient posterior inference. The performance of the proposed distributions is assessed through extensive simulations and applications to four real datasets. These datasets were selected to encompass both positively and negatively skewed structures, allowing for an evaluation of model performance across diverse distributional shapes. The empirical results demonstrate that the proposed models provide an excellent fit for all skewness patterns and consistently outperform ten established benchmark models based on standard goodness-of-fit criteria.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":21690,"journal":{"name":"Scientific African","volume":"31 ","pages":"Article e03140"},"PeriodicalIF":3.3,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924884","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}