The increasing global demand for sustainable energy has intensified the need for next-generation materials capable of efficient solar energy harvesting and storage. Here, we present a novel class of polymer-based functional materials designed for simultaneous high-efficiency solar energy conversion and integrated energy storage. By engineering the molecular architecture and incorporating multi-functional dopants, these materials exhibit enhanced light absorption, charge carrier mobility, and electrochemical stability under real-world operating conditions. The unique design allows photogenerated charges to be directly stored within the material matrix, effectively combining photovoltaic and supercapacitor functionalities into a single device. Experimental studies demonstrate a record-breaking energy conversion efficiency of 22.7% and stable energy retention over 1000 charge–discharge cycles. Advanced characterization techniques, including ultrafast spectroscopy and in situ electron microscopy, reveal the synergistic interactions between polymer chains and functional additives, which are crucial for maximizing performance. This work introduces a paradigm shift in the design of multifunctional polymeric materials, enabling scalable, lightweight, and flexible devices suitable for next-generation wearable electronics, autonomous sensors, and off-grid energy solutions. The proposed strategy not only addresses the critical challenges in conventional solar and storage systems but also opens new avenues for the rational design of integrated energy devices with unprecedented performance metrics. The presented research underscores the transformative potential of functional polymers in achieving sustainable and compact energy solutions, providing a roadmap for future innovation in solar-driven energy technologies.

Introduction: COVID-19 has spread around the world. The objective of this study was to explore clinical features among young patients with COVID-19. Material and methods: Ninety patients with severe cases of COVID-19 infection in Western Chongqing were collected between January 21 and March 14, 2020. Patients were then further stratified into four groups by age: youth (< 39 years); middle-aged (39–48 years), middle-elderly aged (49–60 years), and elderly (> 60 years). Comparison of clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, imaging findings, and treatment effects between groups. Results: 22, 27, 19, and 22 cases were in the youth, middle-aged, middle-elderly, and elderly groups respectively. No significant difference existed between gender or by smoking status among the four groups. The clinical indicators of severe disease in the youth group differed significantly from the other three groups and included the lymphocyte count (p < 0.001), C-reactive protein level (p = 0.03), interleukin-6 level (p = 0.01), chest computed tomography (CT) findings (p < 0.001), number of mild cases (p = 0.02), education level (p < 0.001), and CD4 + T lymphocyte level (p = 0.02) at the time of admission, and the pneumonia severity index (PSI) at the time of discharge (p < 0.001). The complications (p < 0.001) among the youth group were also significantly different from the other groups. Conclusions: The clinical manifestations of young patients are relatively mild. This may be related to higher education levels, prevention awareness, and willingness to accept prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic among the population in addition to good immune function.

Leather industry is a significant source of industrial wastewater pollution with effluent that is high in toxic metals like chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and iron (Fe). The contaminants are very dangerous to the environment and human health because of their toxicity, persistence and their potential to accumulate bio-accumulate. The research problem under study involves the creation of a magnesium oxide/zinc oxide (MgO/ZnO) nanocomposite that has a high selectivity in the removal of specific toxic metals in the tannery wastewater. A co-precipitation technique was used to produce the nanocomposite, which was then heated at 450oC to produce a crystalline material with improved surface properties. The successful formation of the nanocomposite and high surface reactivity of the nanocomposite were confirmed using characterization methods such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Brunauer Bfer Emmett Teller surface area analysis. The experiments of batch adsorption were performed to determine the influence of the pH, contact time, dosage of adsorbent, and the initial concentration of metal on the efficiency of removal. Findings indicated that the MgO/ZnO nanocomposite had a high adsorption capacity, which reached high levels of toxic metals reduction under the conditions of optimal parameters. The data of adsorption were well-fitted with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models of adsorption, which showed monolayer and heterogeneous adsorption. These results indicate that MgO/ZnO nanocomposites could be used as an economical and sustainable substitute of the treatment of tannery wastewater, and has a possibility of large scale uses in industrial wastewater treatment.

This thesis examines the theme of isolation in contemporary world by using the literary analysis of the book the Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. The paper explores how the transformation of Gregor Samsa and his alienation by Kafka are indicative of the overall human state of the post-modern era of modernity, industrialization, and the loss of human bonding. The study uses both existentialist as well as psychoanalytic theories in order to interpret how the social structures, expectations of the family, and financial pressures of capitalism lead to the decay in identity and belonging. The paper also relates the symbolic confinement of Gregor with the modern-day forms of isolation; psychological and social forms experienced in an ever-mechanized and individualistic world. The study, based on a close analysis of the text, demonstrates that the story by Kafka is a timeless reflection of the contemporary human conflict of seeking meaning, communicating, and acceptance in the world that is divided. Still, in the end, the thesis presents the idea that it is not just The Metamorphosis that sums up the isolation of its main character, but also criticizes the alienating nature of the modern world.

In practical engineering systems, accounting for various uncertainties during the design process is paramount. However, reliability analysis in structural engineering often entails substantial computational costs, particularly when dealing with implicit performance functions and scenarios involving very low failure probabilities. This inherent complexity underscores the challenges faced in real-world applications, where efficient and accurate reliability assessments are crucial for ensuring structural integrity and safety. In recent years, the concept of utilizing surrogate models for reliability analysis has garnered significant attention. The approach outlined in this study employs an innovative surrogate framework that concurrently integrates Cascade-forward Neural Networks (CFNN) and Self-Organizing Map (SOM) networks, alongside an optimized kriging model. The final reliability assessment is then determined as a weighted average of the outputs from these integrated models. To comprehensively illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, a diverse range of examples are included: five mathematical examples and five engineering examples. Furthermore, a detailed discussion highlights the benefits of this proposed method in comparison to alternative approaches. The results demonstrate the effective performance of the developed methodology. For instance, in the mathematical examples, the minimum improvement observed over other methods is an 81%, coupled with an approximate 0% error in reliability calculation. Similarly, for the engineering examples, a minimum improvement of 47% is achieved over existing methods, with the reliability calculation error remaining low at approximately 1%.

Competency Based Education (CBE) is a system of education that has increasingly become popular as the preferred mode of delivering education and training locally and globally. However, in spite of the fact that CBE implementation has been initiated in both developing and developed countries, there are social concerns in its implementation that have been alluded to in research. Therefore, the study objective was to investigate social concerns on administrative support that ECDE teachers encounter in the Competency Based Education in Bungoma County. The study was carried out in ECDE centres in Bungoma County. The study was anchored on Symbolic Interactionism and Social Exchange Theory. Descriptive survey research design was used. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were employed. The sample size was 201 ECDE teachers who were identified through simple random sampling and County director of education was purposively sampled. Data was collected through questionnaires for ECDE teachers, interview schedule for the County director of education and focus group discussions for preprimary one (PP1) and Preprimary two (PP2) parents. An observation schedule was used to triangulate the findings. Pilot study was conducted to enhance validity and reliability of the findings. Qualitative data was scored manually then organized and analyzed systematically as per thematic areas in a narrative form. Quantitative data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS Version 26). Among the major findings 159 (83%), revealed that there were inadequate teaching and learning facilities. The teacher pupil ratio for preprimary education was 1:43 far above the recommended ratio of 1:25 learners, 17 (9%) did not have any training on CBE while 164 (86%) lacked adequate training on CBE. Based on findings of the study, the study recommended provision of adequate teaching and learning facilities, training of ECDE teachers and improving the teacher pupil ratio in pre-primary education.

Potash, an impure form of potassium salts such as potassium carbonate (K2CO3), has significant applications in agriculture and food preparation. Derived from sources like wood ashes, maize cobs, and Acha hay, potash is used in Nigeria for various local purposes, as food tenderizer and supplement in traditional medicine. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical and nutritional constituents of potash from some Local Government areas in the Northern zone of Plateau State, Nigeria. The study employed a Laboratory-based analytical approach to determine the chemical and nutritional components of four potash varieties: maize cob, Acha hay, white, and red potash. Samples were randomly collected from Vom Market in Jos South LGA, Fan Market in Barkin Ladi LGA, and Terminus Market in Jos North LGA of Plateau State. The chemical analytes, including sodium, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, copper, zinc, phosphorus, manganese, chloride, and cobalt, were measured in ppm using Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) machine (Buck Scientific 205), ultra-violet visible photometer machine and muffle furnace. Additionally, proximate analysis for moisture, crude protein, crude fiber, lipids, ash, Nitrogen-Free Extract (NFE) and Metabolizable Energy (ME) was conducted. The analysis revealed significant variations in the chemical and nutritional components among the different potash varieties. Maize cob potash exhibited high potassium (600,000 ppm) and sodium (6,666.7 ppm) levels, while white potash showed substantial amounts of potassium (500,000 ppm) and chloride (115 ppm). Acha hay potash had high potassium (600,000 ppm) and calcium (250 ppm) contents, and red potash contained notable levels of potassium (500,000 ppm) and chloride (110 ppm). Nutritional analysis indicated varying levels of moisture, crude protein, crude fiber, lipids, ash, NFE & ME, highlighting the distinct profiles of each potash variety. The study underscores the diverse biochemical and nutritional profiles of different potash varieties, highlighting their potential health benefits and risks. These findings lay the Background work for further research into the health implications of potash consumption and its role in dietary supplementation.

Competency Based Education (CBE) is a system of education that has increasingly become popular as the preferred mode of delivering education and training locally and globally. However, in spite of the fact that CBE implementation has been initiated in both developing and developed countries, there are social concerns in its implementation that have been alluded to in research. Therefore, the study objective was to determine ECDE teachers’ social concerns on parental involvement in the Competency Based Education in Bungoma County. The study was carried out in ECDE centres in Bungoma County. Descriptive survey research design was used. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were employed. The sample size was 201 ECDE teachers who were identified through simple random sampling and County director of education was purposively sampled. Data was collected through questionnaires for ECDE teachers, interview schedule for the County director of education and focus group discussions for preprimary one (PP1) and Preprimary two (PP2) parents. An observation schedule was used to triangulate the findings. Pilot study was conducted to enhance validity and reliability of the findings. Qualitative data was scored manually then organized and analyzed systematically as per thematic areas in a narrative form. Quantitative data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS Version 26). Among the major findings 142 (74.34%) of the sampled teachers revealed that the parents are not supportive in CBE implementation. Further research on enhancing access, equity and inclusion of CBE in pre-primary education is desirable.

This study investigated financial contagion between emerging and developed stock markets using the DCC-GARCH model over the period January 2010 to December 2024. Daily logarithmic return data from eight markets, namely, four emerging (India, Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia) and four developed (USA, UK, Germany, Japan) were analyzed across pre-crisis, COVID-19 crisis, and post-crisis periods. Descriptive statistics revealed non-normality and volatility clustering, justifying GARCH modeling. The ADF test confirmed stationarity at first differences. Univariate GARCH (1,1) estimates showed high volatility persistence. DCC-GARCH results revealed significant time-varying correlations, with crisis-period surges indicating contagion. Correlations remained elevated post-crisis, suggesting structural interdependence. Time-varying correlations peaked during the COVID-19 crisis, with Brazil–Germany and India–USA exhibiting the highest increases. Wavelet coherence analysis further confirmed contagion with high short- and medium-term co-movement, particularly between Indonesia–Japan and Brazil–Germany. Findings underscored that contagion was dynamic and scale-dependent, driven by trade ties, market openness, and global shocks. The study concluded that during crises, diversification benefits across these markets diminished significantly due to synchronized volatility and persistent financial linkages.

Background: Proper fluid and electrolyte balance is vital for preventing morbidity in neonates and children; thus, this study aimed to assess and compare electrolyte imbalances and renal marker profiles between newborns and children. Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to assess and compare electrolyte imbalances and renal marker profiles between newborns and children. Methods: This cross-sectional study at the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Bangladesh Shishu Hospital & Institute, Dhaka (Jan–Mar 2024), included 100 participants (50 newborns, 50 children). Serum creatinine, blood urea, and electrolytes (Na⁺, K⁺, Cl⁻, Ca²⁺) were measured, and data analyzed with SPSS 26 using t-tests, chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests, and Pearson’s correlation (p < 0.05). Results: Newborns had higher creatinine (0.85 vs. 0.47 mg/dL, p = 0.0009) and urea (78.3 vs. 29.5 mg/dL, p = 0.012) than children. Electrolyte imbalance occurred in 58% (64% newborns, 52% children), mainly hypernatremia (24%), hypokalemia (18%), and hyperkalemia (15%). Newborns showed lower sodium (139.8 vs. 146.1 mmol/L, p = 0.037) and chloride (100.8 vs. 106.5 mmol/L, p = 0.016), but higher potassium (5.1 vs. 4.3 mmol/L, p = 0.030). Creatinine and urea correlated negatively with sodium (r = –0.32, –0.24) and positively with potassium (r = 0.68, 0.41; all p < 0.05). Conclusion: Electrolyte imbalances are common in newborns and children, with renal dysfunction closely associated with sodium and potassium disturbances, highlighting the need for age-specific monitoring.

A defining and perilous characteristic of chronic HCV infection is its insidious, often asymptomatic nature. Many infected individuals, including a significant proportion of those who progress to advanced liver scarring, remain unaware of their condition for decades.[1] Symptoms, when they do appear, are frequently nonspecific and mild, such as fatigue, malaise, or intermittent joint pain, further masking the underlying pathology.[2] This prolonged asymptomatic period creates a vast, underdiagnosed reservoir of patients who are not only capable of transmitting the virus but are also silently progressing toward severe, life-altering complications. The combination of a high rate of chronicity with a decades-long silent phase constitutes a public health crisis in disguise. By the time a diagnosis is made, often incidentally or upon the onset of severe symptoms, many patients have already developed advanced liver disease or established extrahepatic complications, rendering their management more complex and significantly increasing the burden on healthcare systems.[1] This clinical reality underscores the critical importance of routine screening for individuals in high-risk groups to facilitate early diagnosis.

Purpose: This study investigates the differences in perception of orthodontic treatment need among pedodontists, orthodontists, general dentists and laypeople evaluated in 9–12-years-old children using standardized intraoral photographs and Dental Aesthetic Index (DAI). Methods: A survey was conducted among four groups: pedodontists, orthodontists, general dentists and laypeople. A total of 255 participants completed the survey, consisting of 63 pedodontists, 57 orthodontists, 57 general dentists and 78 laypeople. The survey included intraoral frontal photographs of 12 different cases presenting various types of malocclusions before any orthodontic intervention. All participants were asked to evaluate the orthodontic treatment need of each case by assigning a score on a 100-mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS) placed below each photograph. Group comparisons were conducted using the Independent Samples t-test and One-Way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), as appropriate. Result: Significant differences (p<0.05) were found between the groups, as orthodontists perceived higher treatment need scores, while general dentists showed a tendency to underestimate the necessity for treatment. Laypeople predominantly focused on aesthetic aspects, often overlooking functional aspects of malocclusions. Additionally, age and gender influenced perception, with older participants and females perceiving treatment need higher (p<0.05). Conclusion: Significant differences are observed in the perception of orthodontic treatment need in accordance with the evaluator’s age, gender and profession. Hence, orthodontic treatment decision should be made intently considering these differences to fulfill the divergent expectations of each patient.

This paper examines resistance in exile through the lens of diasporic consciousness in the works of Palestinian novelist Sahar Khalifeh. Drawing upon feminist and postcolonial frameworks, it explores how Khalifeh’s novels portray the struggles of Palestinians living under occupation and in diaspora, highlighting the complexities of identity, belonging, and cultural survival. Her narratives, particularly Wild Thorns (1976) and The Inheritance (2005), illustrate how Palestinians experience exile not only as physical displacement but also as an internal fragmentation of the self, marked by alienation and hybridity. Khalifeh’s female characters are shown to face dual oppressions of colonialism and patriarchy, yet they also embody resilience and agency through cultural, linguistic, and everyday forms of resistance. By situating Khalifeh’s writing within wider postcolonial discourse, this study argues that her work itself constitutes a form of cultural resistance that preserves memory and resists erasure. The analysis contributes to ongoing debates in diaspora and feminist postcolonial studies by identifying the intersections of gender, identity, and exile in Palestinian literature.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is fundamentally a neurovascular complication initiated and propelled by chronic hyperglycemia. DR represents a significant and escalating public health crisis, inextricably linked to the global diabetes pandemic. Traditional, fragmented healthcare delivery models poorly manage it. In response, integrated care has emerged as a person-centered, holistic framework designed to address these complex, interconnected needs. This narrative review synthesizes the evidence on integrated care for the diabetic patients. It explores the core components and theoretical underpinnings of integrated care, provides a typology of prominent models across primary care, hospital, community, and transitional care settings, and evaluates their evidence-based impact. The analysis covers rising global prevalence of diabetes and its complications creates a problem that standard care methods cannot be met by traditional models of care. Structured, tech-enabled teamwork is the cornerstone of a sustainable, egalitarian, and successful strategy to prevent vision loss from diabetic retinopathy. A comprehensive toolkit for system redesign is provided by the care paradigms examined here, ranging from the proactive coordination of the Patient-Centered Medical Home to the co-located expertise of Integrated Practice Units and the broad reach of teleretinal screening. With the help of data analytics and artificial intelligence, these models will be intelligently integrated to provide more proactive, individualized, and patient-centered care, which will define the future of DR management. The healthcare community may strive to guarantee that no one loses their valuable sight due to a complication that is nearly completely preventable with the correct system in place by adopting this multidisciplinary viewpoint.

Reports on precipitation and rainfall data show that Congo has a tropical climate characterized by heavy rainfall for eight (08) months out of twelve (12), with volumes reaching up to 225 mm in November and April. Land use and the construction of various structures by the population do not take into account the runoff caused by heavy rainfall. This situation poses serious problems for the architectural quality of buildings and the environment. As a result, human settlements are extremely precarious and unsanitary. Each rainfall causes damage to roads, flooding of plots, silting and soil pollution. Field observations and data from recent newspapers and publications have identified demographic and rainfall characteristics as well as phenomena that cause damage to the urban environment. This study highlights the need to develop a national building standard that takes into account heavy and intense rainfall in the Congo. The main conclusions show that rainfall is one of the key factors influencing the quality of the built environment, that is to say buildings and infrastructure. The anti-erosion development model proposed in this study uses eco-parceling to strengthen the resilience of buildings in the face of natural events. The implementation of such development plans could help engineers and public authorities in the urban crisis linked to natural disasters.