Purpose: This research aims to study the extent of customers’ acceptance of mobile payment services in Sudan during the political instability period, and critically analysis the impact of the war and lack of liquidity (cash shortage) on the intention and actual use of service. The study also adapts and extend the UTAUT model by taking into account factors such as system speed, political instability and illiquidity influence. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study takes a quantitative research technique to evaluate the relationship between many independent and dependent variables. The data have been collected using an online survey, statistical analysis is conducted using the SPSS software and SPSS AMOS 24. Findings: The empirical findings validate that the intention to use mobile payment systems and their actual usage during the Sudan war crisis is significantly and positively influenced by performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, political instability influence, and illiquidity influence, while social influence and system speed found to have no significant effect of Sudanese intention to use the mobile payment system during the crisis time. Originality/Value: The importance of this study stems from the fact that it is one of the first studies to investigate the impact of political instability, and severe cash shortages on consumers' intention to adopt and use mobile payment services, coinciding with the ongoing war in Sudan.

Background: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a prevalent endocrine disorder in which insulin resistance (IR) drives reproductive and metabolic abnormalities. Baseline characterization of clinical, hormonal, and IR profiles is critical for personalized management. Objective: To establish baseline clinical, hormonal, and IR profiles in women with PCOS and examine correlations between IR severity and phenotypic features. Methods: This randomized controlled trial enrolled 90 women with PCOS (Rotterdam 2003 criteria) and IR (HOMA-IR >2.0) aged 18–40 years at BSMMU, Dhaka, Bangladesh (July 2023–June 2024). Clinical, hormonal, and metabolic parameters were assessed. Correlations with HOMA-IR and comparisons between mild-moderate (HOMA-IR 2.1–3.5) and severe IR (>3.5) groups were performed. Results: Mean age was 25.3±3.7 years; mean BMI 26.1±2.5 kg/m². Oligomenorrhea (96.7%), hirsutism (90.0%), acanthosis nigricans (73.3%), and primary infertility (81.1%) were common. Hormonal profile showed elevated LH/FSH ratio (1.72±0.59), elevated total testosterone (2.8±0.9 nmol/L), elevated free androgen index (10.5±4.2), and low SHBG (28.4±8.6 nmol/L). Mean HOMA-IR was 3.46±0.96 despite normal fasting glucose. HOMA-IR correlated positively with BMI (r=0.52), waist circumference (r=0.48), testosterone (r=0.41), and FAI (r=0.46), and negatively with SHBG (r=-0.38), but not with LH or LH/FSH ratio. Severe IR group had significantly higher adiposity and androgens and lower SHBG than mild-moderate IR group, with no difference in gonadotropins. Conclusion: In Bangladeshi women with PCOS, IR severity is associated with greater adiposity and hyperandrogenemia but not with gonadotropin abnormalities. Routine IR assessment is essential for phenotype-guided therapy.

The high environmental impact and cost of cement-based construction materials have intensified the search for sustainable alternatives. This study investigates the mechanical, durability, and microstructural performance of compressed stabilized earth blocks (CSEBs) incorporating Parkia biglobosa (Makuba) as a bio-based stabilizer. Lateritic soil was characterized using particle size distribution, Atterberg limits, and compaction tests, while Makuba extract was chemically analyzed. Blocks were produced with varying Makuba contents and cured for 7–28 days. Compressive strength, water absorption, and microstructural properties (SEM, EDX, XRD) were evaluated. Results show strength improvements of 25–60%, with peak values exceeding 3.0 N/mm², satisfying Nigerian Industrial Standard requirements. Water absorption decreased by 15–35%, remaining below 12%, while microstructural analysis revealed pore refinement, enhanced particle bonding, and matrix densification. The findings confirm Makuba as a viable low-cost, eco-friendly stabilizer capable of producing durable structural earth blocks suitable for sustainable housing applications.

This study presents an applied research approach aimed at implementing a continuous improvement framework for the development of commercial strategies within an emerging company. The proposed framework integrates information gathering, data analysis, and strategic design within an iterative cycle supported by project management tools. Its primary objective is to structure commercial decision-making processes and enhance sales performance through measurable and replicable mechanisms. The methodology combines qualitative data collection, analytical processing, and project planning techniques, incorporating the Earned Value Method (EVM) as a control tool to monitor execution in terms of scope, time, and cost. The results demonstrate that EVM enables objective performance tracking, identifying schedule deviations (SPI = 0.67) while maintaining cost efficiency (CPI = 1.02). This facilitated the implementation of timely corrective actions and the consolidation of commercial strategies aligned with key performance indicators.

Functional nutrition plays a pivotal role in aquaculture by promoting fish growth, enhancing immune responses, and mitigating the impact of environmental and pathogenic stressors. With the intensification of fish farming and growing concerns over antibiotic resistance, the use of functional feeds including nutraceuticals, prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, and immunostimulants has emerged as a sustainable alternative to conventional practices. This review critically examines the nutritional requirements of fish, explores the bio efficacy of various feed additives, and evaluates their roles in gut health modulation, disease resistance, and stress mitigation. We also discuss proactive health management strategies and the integration of vaccination and feed-based interventions. The review highlights current advancements, identifies research gaps, and emphasizes the need for precision in formulating functional feeds tailored to species-specific requirements. This integrated nutritional approach supports healthier fish stocks, improves aquaculture productivity, and reduces the industry's ecological footprint.

Power electronic converters have been at the center of industrial systems and various energy systems such as renewable energy systems, industrial motor drives, and grid-connected power systems. The systems face harsh conditions, making reliability an essential factor for the design. The traditional procedure for the design of converters considers the reliability of the system after the parameters have been selected for the design, making it difficult to consider the parameters of the system during the design stage. This paper proposes a reliability-oriented design optimization framework for power electronic systems operating in industrial and utility-scale applications. The proposed methodology integrates electro-thermal modeling, physics-of-failure lifetime estimation, and mission-profile-based stress evaluation within a unified multi-objective optimization framework. Junction temperature profiles and thermal cycling patterns are obtained through electro-thermal simulation under realistic operating conditions. Device lifetime is then estimated using fatigue-based models, and the resulting reliability metrics are incorporated into a multi-objective optimization algorithm that considers lifetime, efficiency, and system cost. A case study involving a 500-kW grid-connected converter demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Simulation results show that the optimized design reduces thermal stress and increases predicted semiconductor lifetime from 6.8 years to 13.6 years while maintaining high efficiency with a moderate increase in system cost. The proposed framework provides a systematic approach for reliability-oriented design of industrial power electronic systems.

Electromagnetic Bandgap Structures (EBGS) have emerged as an effective technique for suppressing undesired harmonic components in microwave and RF systems. Harmonic distortion degrades signal integrity, reduces power efficiency, and increases electromagnetic interference in communication and power electronic circuits. This research presents the design and simulation of an EBGS based microstrip bandpass filter aimed at achieving compact size, sharp selectivity, and effective harmonic suppression. The proposed structure integrates periodic defected ground plane patterns beneath a microstrip transmission line to create frequency selective stopbands while preserving passband characteristics. MATLAB based modeling and full wave electromagnetic simulations were performed to analyze S parameters, insertion loss, return loss, and harmonic rejection performance. The results demonstrate that the EBGS based bandpass filter significantly attenuates second and third harmonics while maintaining low insertion loss within the desired passband. The proposed design provides improved selectivity and compactness compared to conventional microstrip bandpass filters. The study contributes to the advancement of high-performance filtering solutions for wireless communication systems, radar applications, and RF front end modules.