| Title | Blockchain-Based Traceability Systems for Smallholder Coffee Cooperatives in Honduras |
| Paper ID | vD6gA |
| Keywords | blockchain; traceability; coffee cooperatives; smallholder farmers; supply chain management |
| Abstract |
Read more…Smallholder coffee farmers in Honduras face persistent challenges in demonstrating product provenance and capturing fair market value. This study designed and pilot-tested a permissioned blockchain traceability system across four coffee cooperatives in the Copan and Lempira departments involving 186 producers. The system recorded transactions from harvest through export using mobile-based data entry compatible with low-bandwidth environments. After twelve months of operation, participating cooperatives achieved an average price premium of 18 percent on traceable lots compared to conventional sales channels. Transaction verification times averaged 3.2 seconds with system uptime exceeding 99.1 percent. Farmer surveys indicated high usability satisfaction despite initial digital literacy barriers, suggesting that simplified blockchain interfaces can effectively serve resource-limited agricultural communities. |
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| Title | Temporal Variations in Aerosol Optical Depth Over the Central Asian Steppe |
| Paper ID | jE4rQ |
| Keywords | aerosol optical depth; Central Asia; steppe; atmospheric science; remote sensing |
| Abstract |
Read more…Aerosol loading over Central Asia significantly influences regional climate patterns and glacial melt rates, yet observational studies in the steppe zones remain limited. This research analyzes a decade of satellite-derived aerosol optical depth measurements from MODIS and VIIRS instruments over the Kazakh-Kyrgyz steppe corridor from 2014 to 2024. Seasonal decomposition revealed pronounced spring dust peaks associated with agricultural tilling and autumn biomass burning events. Annual mean aerosol optical depth increased by 0.018 per year over the study period, correlating with expanding cropland area. Ground-truth validation using three AERONET stations showed root mean square errors below 0.06. The results provide baseline data essential for regional climate modeling and air quality forecasting. |
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| Title | Evaluating the Effectiveness of Gamification Strategies in Secondary Education Mathematics |
| Paper ID | fP8nZ |
| Keywords | gamification; mathematics education; secondary school; student engagement; learning outcomes |
| Abstract |
Read more…Student disengagement in secondary mathematics classrooms remains a persistent challenge worldwide. This quasi-experimental study evaluated the impact of gamification strategies on mathematical achievement and motivation among 480 students across eight secondary schools in Tomsk Oblast, Russia, and Mbabane, Eswatini. The intervention group used a points-based reward system integrated with collaborative problem-solving challenges over one academic semester. Pre and post assessments showed that gamified instruction produced a statistically significant improvement in test scores with a mean effect size of 0.67. Intrinsic motivation surveys indicated a 41 percent increase in positive attitudes toward mathematics. Cross-cultural comparison revealed comparable effectiveness across both educational contexts despite different baseline performance levels. |
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| Title | Supply Chain Resilience in Post-Conflict Economies: Lessons from East Africa |
| Paper ID | sL5cW |
| Keywords | supply chain resilience; post-conflict economies; East Africa; logistics; economic recovery |
| Abstract |
Read more…Post-conflict economies face unique challenges in rebuilding supply chain infrastructure while managing ongoing instability and resource constraints. This mixed-methods study examines supply chain recovery patterns across Rwanda, Burundi, and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo over the period 2015 to 2024. Survey data from 312 firms were combined with logistics performance indices and trade flow records. Results show that enterprises adopting diversified sourcing strategies and regional cooperative agreements recovered operational capacity 2.4 times faster than those relying on single-source procurement. The study identifies five critical resilience factors including digital inventory management, cross-border collaboration, workforce flexibility, infrastructure redundancy, and institutional trust rebuilding. |
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| Title | Photocatalytic Degradation of Textile Dyes Using Green-Synthesized Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles |
| Paper ID | hY2mV |
| Keywords | photocatalysis; textile dyes; zinc oxide nanoparticles; green synthesis; environmental remediation |
| Abstract |
Read more…Textile wastewater containing synthetic dyes poses significant environmental and health risks in developing countries. This study reports the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Azadirachta indica leaf extract and evaluates their photocatalytic activity against methylene blue and Congo red dyes under solar irradiation. Characterization by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy confirmed wurtzite crystal structure with average particle size of 28 nanometers. Degradation efficiencies of 96.3 and 89.7 percent were achieved for methylene blue and Congo red respectively within 120 minutes of solar exposure. Kinetic analysis followed pseudo-first-order models. The synthesized nanoparticles demonstrated stable reusability over five cycles with less than 8 percent loss in efficiency. |
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| Title | Cultural Identity and Language Preservation Among Indigenous Communities in Papua New Guinea |
| Paper ID | bT9xJ |
| Keywords | cultural identity; language preservation; indigenous communities; sociolinguistics |
| Abstract |
Read more…Papua New Guinea is home to over 800 languages, many of which face extinction due to urbanization and the dominance of Tok Pisin as a lingua franca. This qualitative study examines language attitudes and preservation practices among three indigenous communities in the Eastern Highlands Province. Semi-structured interviews with 96 participants revealed a strong correlation between language use and cultural identity maintenance. Communities with active intergenerational storytelling traditions showed significantly higher rates of child language fluency. The study proposes a community-driven documentation framework that integrates digital recording tools with traditional oral practices, offering a scalable model for endangered language revitalization in multilingual societies. |
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| Title | Machine Learning Approaches for Predicting Maternal Health Outcomes in Rural Healthcare Settings |
| Paper ID | qN3dF |
| Keywords | machine learning; maternal health; rural healthcare; predictive models; public health |
| Abstract |
Read more…Maternal mortality remains disproportionately high in rural areas of low-income countries due to limited diagnostic resources. This research develops and evaluates three machine learning models for early prediction of pregnancy-related complications using routinely collected clinical data. A dataset comprising 4,280 patient records from rural clinics in southern Sri Lanka was used for training and validation. The gradient boosting classifier achieved the highest performance with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.91. Feature importance analysis revealed that hemoglobin levels, prior pregnancy history, and gestational age at first visit were the strongest predictors. These models can be deployed on low-cost devices to support clinical decision-making where specialist care is unavailable. |
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| Title | Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems and Their Impact on Groundwater Recharge in Semi-Arid Regions |
| Paper ID | wR7pK |
| Keywords | urban drainage; groundwater recharge; semi-arid climate; sustainable infrastructure; hydrology |
| Abstract |
Read more…This study investigates the performance of sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) in enhancing groundwater recharge across semi-arid environments. Field measurements were conducted at twelve sites in the Sahel region over a three-year period. Results indicate that permeable pavement installations and bioretention cells increased local infiltration rates by 34 to 58 percent compared to conventional drainage. Groundwater monitoring wells showed statistically significant rises in water table levels at treated sites. The findings suggest that decentralized SuDS designs offer viable alternatives to centralized stormwater management in water-scarce urban areas, with implications for climate adaptation planning in developing nations. |
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