Environmental monitoring requires rapid and stable methods for detecting chemical contaminants in water and air systems. Optical biosensor platforms offer a practical sensing approach because they convert molecular interactions into measurable optical signal changes, including absorbance, fluorescence, luminescence, and refractive index variation. This paper evaluates the performance of optical biosensor platforms for environmental contaminant detection under controlled laboratory conditions. The study focuses on two performance measures: detection sensitivity and measurement stability. Laboratory experiments used blank, low concentration, and higher-concentration exposure conditions, and the resulting optical signals were examined through baseline comparison, normalized response analysis, and repeatability assessment. The results showed stable baseline signals and clear response shifts after contaminant exposure. Low-concentration samples remained distinguishable from blank conditions, while higher concentrations produced stronger optical variation. Repeated measurements also showed acceptable consistency across exposure levels. These findings indicate that optical biosensor platforms can support low-level environmental contaminant detection when signal response and stability are evaluated together. The study presents a structured framework for assessing optical biosensor suitability in environmental monitoring applications.

The rapid growth of packaging consumption has increased waste generation and placed pressure on existing waste management systems. Current research often treats packaging design, material selection, and recycling processes as separate domains, which limits effectiveness in practical settings. This study aims to develop a system level framework that connects sustainable packaging design with waste management processes across the full lifecycle. The proposed framework integrates material selection, production, logistics, consumption, and recovery stages within a unified structure. It incorporates a feedback mechanism in which waste system performance informs design decisions, supporting continuous adjustment based on observed conditions. Lifecycle mapping and performance evaluation are used to examine interactions among system components and to assess the impact of design choices on recovery efficiency and environmental outcomes. The results show that packaging systems achieve higher recovery rates, lower contamination levels, and improved material compatibility when design parameters reflect waste processing capabilities and user behavior patterns. The study also identifies the role of stakeholder coordination in improving system performance. The framework provides a structured method for evaluating and improving packaging systems within practical constraints and offers a basis for decision-making in sustainable packaging design and waste management integration.

Large scale urban infrastructure projects such as metro systems, tunnels, highways, and bridges require strict quality management during construction. These projects often involve complex subsurface conditions, dense urban surroundings, and multiple construction activities occurring simultaneously. Quality assurance (QA), quality control (QC), and geotechnical monitoring therefore remain central components of construction supervision. Conventional monitoring practices rely on inspection reports, laboratory testing records, and field instrumentation systems that often operate within separate information platforms. This separation restricts coordinated evaluation of construction quality and ground behavior during project execution. This study presents a Digital Twin enabled Geo-BIM framework for integrated QA, QC, and geotechnical compliance monitoring in urban infrastructure construction. The proposed framework links geotechnical investigation data, monitoring sensors, QA inspection documentation, and QC testing results within a unified digital environment. A Geotechnical Compliance Index (GCI) model is introduced to evaluate construction conditions and identify zones requiring inspection attention. The framework was examined through a simulation scenario representing common urban infrastructure construction activities. Results indicate that the integrated system supports continuous monitoring, automated compliance evaluation, and inspection prioritization based on geotechnical performance. The proposed framework provides a structured digital approach for managing construction quality and subsurface monitoring in complex infrastructure projects.

This study examined how well monetary policy tools worked in helping Nigeria to achieving its inflation targets from 1981-2023. To achieve this, the study collected data on inflation rate, monetary policy rate, broad money supply, exchange rate, lending interest rate and real gross domestic product from reports by Nigeria's central bank and the World Bank. An Autoregressive Distributed Lag - ARDL technique was used as the main tool of analysis. The findings from this method showed that there is a long-term relationship between the different factors studied. In the long run, the monetary policy rate, money supply, and lending interest rate had a negative but not strong connection with inflation rate. On the other hand, exchange rate and real gross domestic product showed a positive but not strong relationship with inflation rate. In the short term, the monetary policy rate, money supply, and exchange rates had a positive and strong link with inflation. Meanwhile, lending interest rate and real gross domestic product had a negative and strong link with inflation rate. Based on the findings, this study concluded that in Nigeria, inflation is highly sensitive to monetary expansion, interest rate adjustments, and exchange rate movements, but the effects are inflation-enhancing rather than stabilizing highlighting the need for a more coordinated and structurally grounded monetary policy framework rather than relying on MPR adjustments alone. From a policy standpoint, the study recommended amongst others that broad money supply growth must be carefully controlled to avoid liquidity-driven inflation. The central bank should continue to use lending rate adjustments as an effective short-run inflation control tool, but with caution to avoid credit starvation in the economy. Inflation targeting should be complemented with policies that expand real output (RGDP), since growth itself helps reduce inflationary pressures.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities including central obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and impaired glucose metabolism that significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The prevalence of MetS has risen worldwide due to sedentary lifestyles, urbanization, and dietary changes. Early identification of its clinical characteristics and predictors in hospital-based populations is important for effective prevention, timely diagnosis, and appropriate management of associated health complications. Objectives: To determine the prevalence, clinical characteristics, and predictors of metabolic syndrome among adults attending a hospital-based healthcare facility. Methods: This hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Ibn Sina Diagnostic & Consultation Center, Uttara, from June 2018 to May 2019. A total of 226 adult participants were included. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, clinical measurements, and laboratory records. Variables included age, gender, BMI, blood pressure, and biochemical parameters. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) with descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests; p<0.05 was considered significant. Results: Among 226 participants, the mean age was 42.6 ± 11.8 years, with 56.6% males. Metabolic syndrome was present in 86 (38.1%) individuals. The highest prevalence occurred in the 41–50 years group (30.2%). Overweight and obesity were observed in 40.7% and 24.8% respectively. Hypertension affected 51.3% participants. Abdominal obesity (46.0%) and low HDL (41.6%) were common components. Smoking (30.1%) and physical inactivity (68.1%) were notable lifestyle risk factors.

Introduction: Miliary tuberculosis represents one of the most severe and life-threatening forms of tuberculosis. It is characterized by widespread hematogenous dissemination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The present study aimed to describe the clinical, epidemiological, therapeutic, and outcome characteristics of miliary tuberculosis. Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive and analytical study over a two-year period, from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023. Medical records of patients hospitalized for miliary tuberculosis in the Department of Pneumology and Phthisiology at Moulay Youssef University Hospital, Rabat, Morocco, were reviewed and analyzed. Results: The mean age of patients was 43 years, with a male predominance (64%). A history of tuberculosis was found in 2 patients, and recent close contact with a tuberculosis case was identified in 5 patients. Four cases of miliary tuberculosis occurred following immunosuppressive therapy, including 3 patients who had previously received preventive anti-tuberculosis treatment. The clinical presentation was dominated by fever, night sweats, general condition deterioration, dyspnea, and cough. Extra-respiratory manifestations were observed in 17% of cases. Typical radiological findings were present in 91% of patients, while sputum smear microscopy was positive in 15%. Anti-tuberculosis treatment based on a four-drug regimen (ERIPK4) was initiated urgently in most cases. Complications occurred in 11 patients, including disease-related and treatment-related complications. The in-hospital case fatality rate was 17.7%. Conclusion: Miliary tuberculosis remains a severe and potentially life-threatening condition. Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of appropriate anti-tuberculosis therapy are essential to improve patient outcomes.

Clear cell variants of bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) are extremely uncommon. Identification, accurate diagnosis and deciding appropriate therapy for such variants are of clinical significance as they have aggressive clinical course and poor prognosis. A 54 years old male patient presented to emergency room (ER) on March, 2023 with history of gross painless hematuria and urine frequency for the past two weeks. Pre and postcontrast CT scan images from the patient’s initial assessment were performed and showed mass-like wall thickening of the urinary bladder wall at the trigone. Cystoscopy revealed a bulging bladder lesion on the trigone of the bladder, followed by complete transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT) accordingly, complete resection was done. Histopathologically, the morphology and submitted immunostain slides showed strong positivity for CK7 and P63 which favor the diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma, clear cell subtype, the carcinoma extensively invades lamina propria and the carcinoma extensively invades muscularis propria.