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Climate change is a complex worldwide issue that is driving numerous changes in the composition and operation of the terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Energy balance models (EBMs) provide physically interpretable and computationally efficient frameworks for investigating climate variability and surface temperature responses to radiative forcing. This study presents a modified energy balance model for simulating seasonal sea surface temperature (SST) by explicitly incorporating oceanic thermal inertia and heat storage through a simplified perturbation approach. The new model framework is implemented on a two-dimensional spatial grid, enabling regional-scale climate analysis without the computational expense of full general circulation models. The model was validated for Banjul, The Gambia (13.45 ^∘ N, 16.58 ^∘ W), using historical and satellite-derived SST data spanning 1991–2025. Simulated monthly SSTs ranged from approximately 18.4 ℃ during the cool season to 31.2 ℃ during the warm season, closely matching observed climatological values of 20–31 ℃ . Model evaluation using statistical metrics yielded a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of 1.58 ℃ and a Nash–Sutcliffe Efficiency (NSE) of 0.779, indicating very good agreement with observed seasonal SST variability and capturing approximately 78 W m^-2 increased peak warm-season SST by 0.83 ℃ , while a 20 ℃ and lowering cool-season SST to 18.9 ℃ . Decreasing surface albedo from 0.20 to 0.15 produced a 0.45 ℃ SST increase, whereas a 5 ℃ . Overall, the proposed model balances physical realism with computational simplicity and is recommended as a valid tool for seasonal SST analysis, rapid sensitivity testing, and for regional climate change investigations.
BackgroundWe examined the effects of 'power-mediating factors, knowledge, and misconception of HIV transmission on married women's ability to negotiate protective sex with their husbands.MethodsThe study analyzed data from 1,760 married Gambian women (ages 14-49) who participated in the 2019- 2020 Gambia Demographic and Health Survey. It used descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression models.ResultsWomen who believed that "wife beating is justified if she neglects the children" were less likely to feel empowered to refuse sex with their husbands (OR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.61-0.94; p = 0.01) or to request condom use (OR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.61-0.95; p = 0.02) compared to those who did not share this belief. Furthermore, women who agreed with wife-beating in scenarios such as burning food (OR = 0.67; 95% CI: 0.48-0.94; p = 0.02), refusing sex (OR = 0.59; 95% CI: 0.47-0.77; p = 0.001), or going out without permission (OR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.56-0.88; p = 0.001) were significantly less likely to feel empowered to demand condom use from their husbands.ConclusionMarried women who accept wife beating and hold misconceptions about HIV/AIDS transmission are significantly less likely to feel empowered to negotiate safe sex with their partners.
Air pollution is a major contributor to global non-communicable disease (NCD) mortality, yet evidence from West Africa remains limited. We examined the association between ambient PM2.5 air pollution and NCD mortality across West African countries, and investigated whether health system capacity mediates or modifies this relationship. We conducted an ecological panel study using World Bank's World Development Indicators (WDI) data from 11 West African countries (2015–2020; n = 66 country-years). The outcome was the probability of premature NCD mortality (ages 30–70 years) among males. We employed pooled and fixed effects panel regression models, tested effect modification by health expenditure using interaction terms and stratified analyses and assessed mediation using the Baron-Kenny framework with bootstrap confidence intervals. Mean PM2.5 exposure was 60.3 µg/m³ (SD = 14.6), exceeding WHO guideline levels by more than 12-fold. NCD mortality averaged 23.4
Abstract Edonwhii Beach, located within a major oil- and gas-influenced coastal corridor, is increasingly vulnerable to atmospheric contamination from heavy metals and total hydrocarbon content (THC). This study assessed seasonal and spatial variations of Pb, As, Cr, Cd, Ni, V, and THC, and evaluated the influence of meteorological parameters on pollutant behaviour. Air samples were collected from ten stations using Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) samplers. Heavy metals were quantified using atomic absorption spectroscopy, while THC and field meteorological parameters (temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, and pressure) were concurrently measured. Dry-season concentrations were markedly higher, with mean values (µg/m3) of Pb (1.935 ± 0.41), As (0.036 ± 0.02), Ni (1.083 ± 0.50), and THC (1.788 ± 0.48), compared to wet-season levels of Pb (0.207 ± 0.10), As (0.007 ± 0.004), Ni (0.211 ± 0.09), and THC (0.585 ± 0.20). Correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships (r = 0.667–0.927, p < 0.01) among Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni, V, THC, temperature, and relative humidity, suggesting shared combustion-related and anthropogenic sources, whereas weaker correlations for As (r = 0.126–0.451) indicate partial geogenic contributions. Analysis of variance demonstrated pronounced seasonal variability, particularly for THC (F = 112.478) and Cr (F = 52.208). Health risk assessment showed hazard quotients (HQs) exceeding unity for all assessed pollutants in both seasons, with significantly elevated dry-season risks driven by Ni, As, Cd, and THC (HQ range: 4–9). Although wet-season rainfall reduced exposure levels substantially, risk thresholds remained above recommended safety limits. Meteorological conditions strongly governed pollutant dynamics: elevated temperatures, lower humidity, and minimal rainfall during the dry season enhanced atmospheric stability, dust resuspension, and hydrocarbon volatilization, while wet-season precipitation and stronger winds facilitated dispersion and removal. The findings underscore the need for meteorology-responsive emission control and targeted mitigation strategies in coastal fishing communities exposed to cumulative combustion-related pollution.
Proper management of agricultural waste is challenging due to diverse sources, high production volumes, seasonal fluctuations, limited technical knowledge, and insufficient funding. These challenges often lead to soil degradation, environmental pollution, and adverse effects on ecosystems and human health. This study aims to investigate biogas production from poultry droppings using Continuous Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR) Anaerobic Digestion (AD) technology to promote green energy use and as a sustainable solution for agricultural waste management. Dried poultry manure samples were collected from two poultry farms in Lafia city and from their manure disposal sources. The samples were thoroughly stirred to ensure homogeneity and digested at a mesophilic temperature of 28.0 °C. With an initial solid concentration of 20.0
