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Plasmodium Falciparum Parasite Density And Its Association With Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Test Positivity Among School-Aged Children Across Diverse Malaria Transmission Settings In Mainland Tanzania, Felista Mwingira

Tanzania Journal of Science

Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) are widely used for malaria diagnosis and surveillance; however, their performance is influenced by parasite density. This study assessed the relationship between parasite density and mRDT positivity among school-aged children (SAC) across diverse malaria transmission settings in mainland Tanzania. Data were obtained from 17,131 school-aged children participating in a nationwide malaria survey. Malaria infection was assessed using mRDT and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) targeting the Plasmodium falciparum lactate dehydrogenase (PfLDH) gene. Parasite density distributions were examined across demographic, environmental, and epidemiological characteristics. Malaria prevalence was 19.5% by malaria rapid diagnostic test (mRDT) and 19.2% …

Assessment Of Inter-Observer Variability In Delineating High-Risk Clinical Target Volumes And Organs At Risk In Cervical Cancer Brachytherapy, Atumaini A. Makoba, Julius S. Chiuyo, Innocent J. Lugendo

Tanzania Journal of Science

Achieving precise target volume delineation during cervical cancer treatment poses challenges due to several reasons, including difficulties in establishing the precise geometrical location of the gross target volume. Inter-observer variability in contouring anatomical structures poses a critical challenge to treatment consistency, delineation, and dosimetry accuracy. Volumetric and dosimetric records of 20 patients treated with gynecologic high-dose rate brachytherapy were analyzed to assess the interobserver variability between oncologists. Three radiation oncologists independently examined the organs at risk and high-risk critical organs on 20 computed tomography scans. The volumetric and dosimetric relationship between the contours delineated by radiation oncologists was described using …

Fast Sparse Image Reconstruction Models In Through-The-Wall Radars: A Review, Aude Kileo, Hashimu U. Iddi, Abdi Abdalla

Tanzania Journal of Science

Through-the-Wall Radar Imaging (TWRI) is a modern technology that uses electromagnetic waves to detect objects behind walls, with key applications in surveillance, rescue operations, and reconnaissance. Achieving high resolution in both down-range and cross-range requires ultra-wideband signals and long apertures, resulting in large data volumes, increased acquisition time, and high memory demands. TWRI employs Compressive Sensing (CS) to reduce computational time, which has proved its significance in many recent TWRI applications. However, in CS, image reconstruction approaches shift the computational burden from the sensing stage to the recovery stage, which prolongs the reconstruction times, making it unsuitable in time-sensitive applications. …

Feasibility Of Acetylated Icacina Trichantha Oliv. Tuber Starch As Viscosity And Fluid Loss Control Agents In Water-Based Drilling Mud. A Comparative Assessment With Commercial Starch, Kennedy I. Ogunwa, Theresa O. Uchechukwu, Ozioma Achugasim, Leo C. Osuji, Onyewuchi Akaranta

Tanzania Journal of Science

The need for sustainable, non-food drilling fluid additives has prompted the feasibility assessment of acetylated Icacina trichantha tuber starch as a viscosity modifier and fluid loss control agent in water-based muds. Native starch was acetylated to obtain two derivatives (Degree of Substitution DS = 0.38 and 0.68) and characterized using FTIR, swelling power, and physicochemical analyses. Drilling mud performance was assessed through rheology, gel strength, filtration loss, sorptivity, and model fitting. Acetylation improved swelling and reduced gelatinization temperature. The optimal formulation, Mud-ITO-ACS2 (DS = 0.68), exhibited the most favorable performance, combining low plastic viscosity (6 cP vs 9 cP for …

Editor’S Introduction, Michael D. Pante

Philippine Studies: Historical and Ethnographic Viewpoints

No abstract provided.

Exact Solution Structure And Dynamic Preservation In A Nonstandard Finite-Difference Formulation Of The Sir Model, Ramsha Shafqat, Wutiphol Sintunavarat

Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation with Applications

A new nonstandard finite difference method is developed for discretizing the classical Susceptible--Infected--Removed (SIR) epidemic model. In the proposed approach, the first derivatives in the continuous SIR system are replaced by two carefully constructed nonstandard denominator functions, yielding a dynamically consistent discrete model with improved numerical stability while preserving consistency with the original continuous system. It is proved that the proposed scheme preserves the fundamental dynamical properties and qualitative behavior of the continuous SIR model, including positivity and the long-term dynamics of the population classes. Moreover, the resulting discrete system admits explicit analytical solutions, providing further insight into the model …

Neural Network-Based Analysis Of Heroin Epidemic Models With Modified Fractional Operators, M. A. El-Shorbagy, Sedat Pak, Mati Ur Rahman, Hossam A. Nabwey

Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation with Applications

Heroin and synthetic narcotic abuse have become a major global concern, posing challenges to individuals, families, and communities. Their widespread availability and low cost have intensified the crisis. This study investigates a heroin transmission model using the modified Atangana--Baleanu--Caputo (mABC) fractional operator, with emphasis on non-zero solutions. Series solutions are derived by combining the Laplace transform with the Adomian decomposition method to address nonlinear components. Qualitative analysis is conducted through fixed-point theory, while stability is assessed using the T-Picard method. Numerical simulations explore the effects of different fractional orders and transmission parameters on the system. The study incorporates a deep …

Jpnet: A Multi-Layered Fusion Deep Learning Architecture For The Detection And Classification Of Pests In Jute Crops, Mejbah Ahammad, Md. Ashraful Babu, Muhammad Sajjad Hossain, Md. Fayz-Al-Asad, Nadim Ahmed, Md. Khaled Hossain, Md. Mortuza Ahmmed, M. Mostafizur Rahman, Mufti Mahmud

Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation with Applications

Detecting and classifying insect pests is a critical challenge in agricultural pest management, as infestations can reduce crop yield and quality. This study introduces JPNet, a convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture that uses multi-layer feature fusion to detect and classify insect pests affecting jute crops. The architecture integrates complementary feature representations extracted at different network depths, preserving fine-grained visual characteristics alongside high-level semantic information. JPNet is evaluated on the JutePest dataset, which comprises approximately 6,460 RGB images spanning 17 pest classes. Preprocessing and data augmentation—including resizing, normalization, rotation, shifting, zooming, and flipping—improve the consistency and diversity of the training data. …

Pattern Formation And Diffusion-Driven Instability Of A Modified Lengyel-Epstein Model, Müge Meyvacı, Hüseyin Merdan, Yafia Radouane

Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Simulation with Applications

We consider a modified Lengyel-Epstein model that is covered by a system of reaction-diffusion equations and investigate the sufficient conditions on parameters of the model at which the diffusion-driven instability occurs. We perform numerical simulations to support and extend the theoretical findings. Analytical results and numerical simulations show that the modified Lengyel-Epstein system with positive initial and non-flux boundary conditions presents Turing patterns under some conditions on its parameters.

Is Knowledge Of Policy Key To Its Implementation?The Legal Approach To Promoting The Rights Tohealth Of The Elderly In The Philippines, Roberto E. Javier Jr., Crisanto Regadio Jr., Antonio P. Contreras, Dennis S. Erasga

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

The general aim of the study is to seek evidence on the role of knowledge in implementing a health policy on aging. In specific terms, it sought evidence on the actual translation of the law on senior citizens’ access to health benefits and social services. To do so, a combination of policy analysis, archival research, and key informant interviews with local executives of selected respective government units were conducted. Overall findings strongly suggest low compliance with health policy implementation efforts attributable to limited knowledge among local government unit heads of the overarching legal framework relative to other agencies. Validation of …

Social And Physical Realities Of Aging In Northeast India: A Study Of Folk Societies, Kaushalendra Pratap Singh, Kanchan Devi

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

Population aging in Northeast India has emerged as a significant social concern in the context of rapid socioeconomic transformation and the gradual weakening of traditional family support systems. In the traditional folk societies of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim, older adults increasingly face challenges related to social isolation, inadequate care support, and limited access to healthcare services. The outmigration of younger generations for employment and education has further reduced family-based caregiving, whereas geographical remoteness and insufficient healthcare infrastructure continue to affect the physical well-being of elderly populations. This study examines the social and physical conditions of elderly people in Arunachal Pradesh …

Social Support Networks And Coping With Aging: A Mixed Methods Study Among Older Adults With Adverse Childhood Experiences (Aces) In Malaysia, Ummi Ainaa Selamat, Choo Wan Yuen, Noran Naqiah Hairi

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are known to have long-term impacts on mental health and social functioning, potentially hindering the development of supportive social networks later in life. Asia’s rapidly aging populations face complex social and healthcare challenges, highlighting the need to understand how early-life trauma influences older adults’ experiences and utilization of social support systems. Despite widespread recognition of the importance of social support as a significant protective factor, its complex dynamics in later life remain underexplored. This study aims to examine the association between ACEs and perceived social support among older adults in rural Malaysia, and to explore how …

Development Of An Integrated Elderly Service Program (Esp) Using Elderly-Friendly Design (Efd):Case Study Of An Urban Village In Yogyakarta,Indonesia, Danang Febriyantoko, Dewi Cahyani Puspitasari

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

The aging population significantly affects the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Consistent with the principle of “Leave No One Behind,” the agenda seeks to promote well-being for people of all ages. Population aging poses a challenge that Indonesia must address as it seeks to realize the projected demographic dividend in 2030. Yogyakarta, which has the country’s highest proportion of older adults, can serve as a model for effective senior management. Longer life expectancy and improved social conditions enable seniors to engage in cultural and religious activities, offering Yogyakarta an opportunity to develop an elderly-friendly urban village with a comprehensive elderly service …

Current Spatial Distribution Of Elderly Care Services Facilities In Ho Chi Minh City: A Cartographic Analysis Of Nursing Homes And Geriatric Hospitals, Huyen Thi Tran, Ngan Quang Viet Nguyen

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

This study analyzes the spatial distribution of nursing homes and geriatric hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), two fundamental infrastructures for adapting to population aging. The study uses a spatial descriptive design based on secondary data, including the elderly population by administrative unit and the locations of geriatric hospitals and nursing homes (both public and private) within the city. This study adopts a spatial approach using a base map system combined with population data and location data from 312 wards/communes to visually describe, analyze, and compare the distribution of both private and public care facilities (including hospitals with geriatric …

Resilience In Aging: A Grounded Theory Study On How Older Japanese Adults Navigate Chronic Illness, Dominic Bryan S. San Jose

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

Japan’s population is one of the world’s oldest. As of 2025, over 29% of its citizens are 65 years old or older. Chronic illnesses like hypertension and diabetes are prevalent among the older population, presenting significant problems for the already stretched healthcare system. However, little is known about how older Japanese citizens actively manage chronic illness. Examining their actual experiences can help us comprehend the resilience of Japan’s elderly population on a deeper level. Using the Glaserian grounded theory approach, this study aimed to develop a theoretical framework that explains how resilience emerges in aging individuals within a Japanese sociocultural …

Exploring The Lived Experiences Of Older Adults With Osteoarthritis: A Qualitative Study Of Healthcare And Caregiving Practices In Kishoreganj, Bangladesh, Samiur Rahman Anadi, Arnika Jannat Mou

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

Many older adults are affected by osteoarthritis (OA), a common condition that causes pain, stiffness, and a loss of mobility. Given the increasing number of older adults in Bangladesh, it is critical to comprehend the unique requirements and challenges faced by older adults with OA, especially in underdeveloped areas with limited access to healthcare. Informal caregivers, typically family members, play a critical role in providing care for older adults with OA. However, they frequently lack support, training, and resources. There is a substantial knowledge gap regarding the complete scope of the needs and difficulties faced by older adults and their …

Embodiment, Ableism, And Age: A Qualitative Study On Gynecological Health Among Elderly Women With Disabilities In Rural Bangladesh, Anamul Hoque, Adiba Rahman, Chowdhury Anika Farah, Pranto Paul, Md Shahgahan Miah

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

In countries with LMIC status, women with disabilities often experience limited access to healthcare, and the reality is even worse, particularly for older women with disabilities. Systematic social and institutional processes, especially in many rural and low-resource contexts, render their bodies invisible and unworthy of care within reproductive and gynecological health systems. These people’s embodied experiences of aging and disability are often overlooked in dominant understandings of women’s health, which leads to gaps in care, recognition, and support. This study explores how rural elderly women with disabilities make sense of their gynecological health, and how experiences of aging, disability, gender, …

“Coming Of Age”: Strategy For Care Of Musculoskeletal Diseases Of Farmers In Damb’Ri Commune, Bao Loc City, Lam Dong Province, Le Thi Ngoc Phuc

Asia-Pacific Social Science Review

Musculoskeletal diseases are one of the most prevalent chronic diseases globally, including in Vietnam, which can cause complications that adversely impact health, reduce the quality of life, and even result in serious long- term consequences, as well as significant health and economic burdens. In Lam Dong province, environmental factors, climate change, the agricultural production environment, and prolonged exposure to chemicals have affected farmers’ health. The article describes the musculoskeletal disease strategy among farmers who practice mulberry cultivation in Damb’ri commune, Bao Loc city, Lam Dong province. All data were extracted from a study titled “Health seeking behavior of farmers at …

Biosensor Development In East Africa: A Systematic Review Of Technologies, Applications, Challenges, And Future Directions, Ally Mahadhy

Tanzania Journal of Science

Biosensors integrate biological recognition elements with signal transduction systems to generate quantitative or semi-quantitative analytical information and have applications across healthcare, food safety, agriculture, environmental monitoring, and wildlife health. Despite substantial global advances, biosensor development in East Africa remains poorly characterized. This systematic review, conducted according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines, evaluated published evidence from 1995 to 2025 within a predefined East African Community geographical scope. Eligibility was based on IUPAC-aligned operational criteria requiring an integrated biological recognition element, transduction mechanism, and quantitative or semi-quantitative signal output. Three locally developed biosensors met the criteria: an electrochemical nano-biosensor for schistosomiasis diagnosis in …

A Review Of Trade Policies And Wild Meat Consumption Patterns In Tanzania, Steven Temu, Cuthbert Nahonyo, Venance Mutayoba, Flora Magige, Paulo Wilfred

Tanzania Journal of Science

Wild meat, commonly referred to as bushmeat or game meat, plays a significant role in Tanzania's socio-economic and cultural systems, particularly for communities adjacent to protected areas where it contributes to food security, household income, and cultural practices. Despite over 30% of Tanzania's land being under protection, the country faces persistent challenges of unsustainable and illegal wildlife offtake. This review synthesizes trade policies and patterns in bushmeat hunting, consumption, and trade in Tanzania, and evaluates the effectiveness of existing regulatory frameworks. We conducted a structured, keyword-driven literature search covering 2000-2025 using Scopus, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and official …

Effect Of Acid Pretreatment On The Adsorption Of Phenol Red By Cellulose Isolated From Sandbox (Hura Crepitans L.): Kinetics, Isotherms And Thermodynamics, Muibat O. Alabi-Abass, Najeem A. Adesola Babarinde, Adeola A. Ibikunle, Nurudeen O. Sanyaolu

Tanzania Journal of Science

The removal of synthetic dyes from wastewater remains an urgent environmental concern due to their persistence and toxicity. This study evaluates cellulose from Hura crepitans (HC) and its acid-modified form (AHC) for the adsorption of phenol red (PR) dye from aqueous solutions. The adsorbents were characterized using FTIR to identify functional groups responsible for dye binding, XRD to determine the crystalline structure, SEM to examine surface morphology, and BET/BJH analyses to measure surface area and pore distribution. Acid modification enhanced surface roughness, porosity, and the abundance of active functional sites, leading to improved adsorption efficiency. Optimal conditions were pH 9.0 …

Reframing Dissertation Committee Practice: A Student-Centered Conceptual Framework For Doctoral Education, Roberto Victor Rodríguez Rivera

Journal of Research Initiatives

Dissertation committees play a key role in shaping the direction, pace, and outcomes of doctoral study, but their function as a unified structure for guidance and judgment is not well understood. Although research covers supervision, examiner feedback, ethics, power, and dissertation examination, these topics are often studied separately. This article brings together both foundational and recent research to rethink dissertation committees as academic structures that adapt their support, oversight, ethical practices, and evaluation throughout the dissertation process. The article makes three main contributions: it clarifies how committee practice is conceptually fragmented, reviews research on supervision, feedback, ethics, and examination, and …

Awareness Of Digital Footprints And Its Implications For The Ethical Cyber Behavior Of Undergraduate Library And Information Science Students In Kwara State, Nigeria, Aderinola Ololade Dunmade, Akinade Adebowale Adewojo, Abdulwahab Olanrewaju Issa

Journal of Research Initiatives

This study examined the awareness of digital footprints and its implications for the ethical cyber behavior of undergraduate Library and Information Science (LIS) students in Kwara State, Nigeria. The study used a qualitative design and conducted semi-structured Zoom interviews with nine final-year LIS students from three universities representing federal, state, and private ownership in the state. Researchers purposively selected participants based on inclusion criteria, then transcribed and interpreted the interviews using reflexive thematic analysis, viewed through the lens of communication privacy management. The findings indicate that the students shared a broad familiarity with the idea of a digital footprint and …

Dari Penafsiran Ke Konstruksi Konstitusi: Evolusi Putusan Mahkamah Konstitusi Tentang Keserentakan Pemilihan Umum, Khairul Fahmi, Desip Trinanda

Jurnal Hukum & Pembangunan

Abstract

The Constitutional Court's decisions regarding election simultaneity demonstrate a highly progressive development in constitutional reasoning. The Constitutional Court has issued at least three decisions related to the election simultaneity model: Decision Number 14/PUU-XI/2013, Decision Number 55/PUU-XVII/2019, and Decision Number 135/PUU-XXII/2024. So far, studies of these decisions have tended to be placed within the framework of constitutional interpretation. However, the Constitutional Court's stance in Decision Number 135/PUU-XXII/2024 goes beyond merely interpreting the constitution to also construct a constitutional provision on election simultaneity by separating national and local elections. Therefore, the focus of this article is the shift in the Constitutional …

From Silos To Systems In Higher Education: Doctoral Students’ Conceptualizations Of Faculty And Staff Collaboration In Academic Planning, Linda Wilson-Jones, Simone Elias

Journal of Research Initiatives

Collaboration is increasingly recognized as central to student success and institutional effectiveness in higher education. This qualitative study investigates doctoral students’ conceptualizations of faculty and staff collaboration in academic planning. Data were collected from 22 written responses in a doctoral-level program course. Through reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006, 2021), five interrelated themes emerged: (1) holistic student support, (2) shared institutional vision and goal alignment, (3) complementary expertise and role interdependence, (4) communication as quality assurance, and (5) collaborative culture as an institutional asset. The findings indicate that collaboration functions as organizational infrastructure that aligns academic and administrative systems …

Confidence Intervals As A Quantcrit Method: Reframing Longitudinal Educational Data Through Estimation, Uncertainty, And Within-Group Analysis, Jamaal Young, Jemimah Young, Kristian Edosomwan

Journal of Research Initiatives

Quantitative Critical Race Theory (QuantCrit) calls researchers to reconsider not only what quantitative analyses report, but also how analytic choices reproduce or disrupt racialized ways of knowing. This methods-focused article develops confidence interval analysis as a practical statistical strategy within a QuantCrit methodological framework. Confidence intervals are not inherently critical or anti-racist. Their value for QuantCrit emerges from how researchers use estimation, uncertainty, comparison, visualization, and interpretation. We demonstrate this approach with National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Long-Term Trend mathematics data for Black students ages 9, 13, and 17 from 1978 to 2012. Rather than treating White performance as …

Removing Barringer: University Renaming Governance, Campus Racial Climate, And The Limits Of Symbolic Reform, Charletta H. Barringer-Brown, Daniel N. Brown

Journal of Research Initiatives

University renaming is often seen as either a necessary moral correction or a less significant symbolic reform. This article examines renaming as a matter of higher education governance. It analyzes the removal of Paul Brandon Barringer’s name from honorific spaces at the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech through a qualitative documentary comparative case study. A contextual policy scan of the University of Richmond, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Oregon State University situates the two primary cases within a wider field of naming-governance design. Guided by critical toponymy, institutional theory, policy-decoupling scholarship, organizational-routines theory, and campus-racial-climate …

Living Between Lines: A Conceptual Paper For An Empirical Study Exploring The Impact Of Gendered Racial Socialization On Black Women In Emerging Adulthood, Danielle C. Hickman

Journal of Research Initiatives

Abstract

Black women in emerging adulthood (ages 18–29) navigate the intersection of racial and gender socialization processes that are largely absent from mainstream developmental and psychological research. Existing scholarship often examines race and gender separately, thereby overlooking the compounded psychological effects experienced by Black emerging adult women (BEAW) as they negotiate cultural scripts such as the Strong Black Woman and Angry Black Woman. This conceptual paper outlines a research framework for an empirical study examining the relationship between gendered-racial socialization and psychological well-being among BEAW, and the extent to which cultural scripts moderate this relationship. Grounded in an integrated theoretical …

Agentic Ai For Clinical Outcomes Research, Population Health Management Analyses With Large Administrative Databases, And Generating Epidemiological Estimates Of Diseases: Feasibility And Validation Study, Daniel Frisch, Michael Fronstin, Carla Zema

Division of Cardiology Faculty Papers

BACKGROUND: There is tremendous enthusiasm for the use of AI in health care because of the ability to analyze existing data for preventative, diagnostic, and treatment support. Agentic AI can feasibly provide access to large real-world datasets for the generation of real-world evidence for health care and clinical applications to health care providers, researchers, and administrators without access to large analytic programming resources.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to understand the feasibility of using agentic AI for clinical outcome research and population health management. Specifically, this study used an agentic AI evidence-generation platform to obtain epidemiological estimates of …

Korelasi Indeks Massa Tubuh Dengan Kekuatan Otot Dan Performa Fisik Pada Lansia Sarkopenia Di Posyandu Lansia Palembang, A. Deza Farista, Nur Riviati, Ridzqie Dibyantari, Erial Bahar, Taufik Indrajaya, Melani Melani, Michael Jonathan Tan, Crisnah Indah, Indah Aprilia

Jurnal Penyakit Dalam Indonesia

Introduction. The number of older adults in Indonesia continues to increase, and so does the number of older adults with sarcopenia. The decline in muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance can reduce quality of life. Body Mass Index (BMI) is easy to measure at community health posts, but it is unclear whether BMI reflects muscle strength and physical performance in older adults who already have sarcopenia. This study aimed to analyze the correlation between BMI and muscle strength and physical performance in older adults with sarcopenia.

Methods. This analytical observational cross-sectional study was conducted from September to …