Search Results (178)

Improving the performance and lifespan of lithium-ion batteries is a key challenge for the development of electric vehicles. However, accurately estimating the state of charge (SoC), state of health (SoH), and life cycle remains complex due to the electrical, thermal, and aging phenomena associated with these energy storage systems. Against this backdrop, this study proposes a hybrid approach combining an electro-thermal model with a feedforward neural network (FNN) to improve the estimation of key lithium-ion battery performance indicators within a temperature range of 0 °C to 40 °C. The developed methodology was implemented in MATLAB/Simulink and applied to the analysis of the vehicle’s power profile, as well as the evolution of SoC, SoH, and battery life cycle. The results demonstrate an accuracy of 95.3% for state of charge (SoC) estimation, with a mean absolute error of 4.7%. For state of health (SoH) estimation, the accuracy is 95.8% accompanied by a mean absolute error of 4.2%. Lastly, for life cycle prediction, the accuracy is 92.5% with a mean absolute error of 7.5%. The performance results demonstrate the robustness of the proposed approach and its ability to replicate battery dynamic behavior under climatic conditions representative of the African context. This contribution opens up promising avenues for optimizing battery management systems and advancing the sustainable development of electric mobility. Full article

The consequences of changing climate conditions and associated extreme weather are increasingly discussed in the global railway transport sector, as infrastructure damage and service disruptions are more widely reported. The Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) is a critical component of the national passenger rail service that provides safe, reliable and affordable rail services to millions of passengers annually. However, the increasing recorded frequencies of extreme weather events in the country means that PRASA’s operations and infrastructure are not exempt from these emerging hazards. This provided an opportunity for the study to assess the spatio-temporal exposure and climate risk of climate-related extreme weather events to PRASA infrastructure and operations. The study drew on the strengths of a mixed-methods approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative techniques. It combined recorded historical extreme-weather event data from the South African Weather Service (SAWS) with expert-based focus group discussions to address the research questions. Findings show an increase in the recorded frequency of extreme weather events over a period of 103 years (1920–2022) in both areas. These hazards indicate exposure that can lead to damage to physical rail infrastructure and to train service disruptions. In both areas, Kendall’s tau indicated significant positive monotonic trends in the frequency of several weather-related hazards over time. Focus group findings identified coastal flooding, flash floods and sea-level rise as the top priority climate-related risks for PRASA along other key infrastructure vulnerabilities. On this basis, the study recommends both rail infrastructure and operational adaptations. Full article

Insect herbivory plays a critical role in shaping plant growth, fitness, and population dynamics, yet its effects across African ecosystems remain poorly understood due to fragmented, methodologically diverse, and geographically biassed research. To address this gap, we conducted an integrated bibliometric and systematic review of peer-reviewed studies on insect herbivory and plant performance in Africa. Searches of Web of Science and Scopus identified 1642 records, of which 312 met relevance criteria and 157 satisfied quality thresholds, including clear herbivory metrics and robust experimental or observational designs. Bibliometric analyses revealed modest but increasing publication rates, with research concentrated in Southern and Eastern Africa and primarily focused on savannas and agroecosystems. Montane forests, wetlands, and arid ecosystems remain underrepresented. Most studies examined Lepidopteran leaf herbivory, while fewer than 15% addressed root, stem, or seed damage, and research collaborations were largely regional. Systematic synthesis showed that insect herbivory generally reduces seedling survival, height, and biomass, particularly at early life stages, although some species display tolerance or compensatory growth depending on environmental conditions and plant traits. Reported effect sizes were highly variable (Hedges’ g = 2.1–3.4), reflecting differences in ecological context, herbivore guilds, and study design. Few studies incorporated multiple life stages, trophic interactions, or climate gradients, limiting inference on long-term population and ecosystem responses. We emphasise the need for harmonised methodologies, trait-based and guild-specific approaches, long-term manipulative studies, and expanded research across underrepresented ecosystems to better inform conservation and restoration under environmental change. Full article

Pyracantha koidzumii (Hayata) Rehder is native to Taiwan, where it has an endangered IUCN conservation status, although it is invasive in other parts of the world. It was introduced to South Africa as an ornamental species. In South Africa, P. koidzumii is classified as having density-based negative impacts, although its distribution is sparse and no impact assessments have been conducted to date, compared with its established congener, Pyracantha angustifolia. We asked the following questions: (1) does the current distribution of P. koidzumii and P. angustifolia indicate any relationship with anthropogenic activities as the main driver of plant invasions; (2) what are the seed viability and germination capacity of P. koidzumii?; and (3) what is the current distribution and habitat suitability of P. koidzumii relative to P. angustifolia, and does P. koidzumii show any potential to be invasive in different climate change scenarios (i.e., SSP1 and SSP5). We found a significant relationship between land use and cover and species occurrence records, with disturbed areas having the highest occurrence records (43.5%; N = 4297), followed by grassland (23.4%). The seed viability and germination capacity were high (78.6–87.2%; n = 50), confirming that P. koidzumii can successfully recruit in southern Africa. Climate suitability projections across scenarios for both species yielded a strong data fit (i.e., training AUCs above 0.9), with precipitation as the most important climate predictor. The climate-based habitat suitability projections showed greater net expansion for both species in SSP1, with P. angustifolia projected to invade 254,974 km², while P. koidzumii could invade 49,829 km². Alternatively, there was contraction (i.e., positive net habitat loss) of suitable habitat in SSP5, characterised by significant area loss for P. angustifolia (12,0139 km²), while P. koidzumii displayed a moderate loss (13,174 km²). For the first time, this study showed that P. koidzumii has high potential to invade the southern African grassland biome, driven by high germination combined with biophysical disturbance, and that its future habitat occupancy will be moderately affected by extreme environmental temperature conditions. Full article

Lagos, Nigeria (population c.18.3–25 million), occupies a position of compound exposure at the intersection of accelerating climate hazards, recurring displacement and urban fragility, and governance constraints that have amplified rather than mitigated disaster risk. Conventional single-hazard planning paradigms have been demonstrably insufficient to address the structural drivers of this vulnerability, which emerge from the interaction among biophysical exposure, colonial spatial legacies, post-independence governance deficits, and inequities within the global climate finance architecture. This article employs a structured, systematic literature review of 74 peer-reviewed, institutional and policy sources, conducted through a transparent three-stage protocol involving keyword-based Boolean searches of Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and the African Journals OnLine (AJOL) database, title–abstract screening, full-text eligibility assessment against pre-specified criteria, and thematic synthesis using a combined deductive–inductive coding framework, reported in accordance with the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Thematic analysis yields four principal findings: Lagos’s flood and displacement cycles are products of structurally produced vulnerability; compound climate–displacement dynamics are systematically underestimated by single-hazard frameworks; nature-based solutions, community-led upgrading, and participatory governance show measurable effectiveness under enabling governance conditions; and transformative resilience approaches are constrained by political economy and land tenure dynamics. An original Integrated Urban Resilience Framework (IURF) incorporating five pillars is proposed and conceptually benchmarked against twelve comparable Global South frameworks. Post-disaster urban futures in rapidly urbanising megacities require technically rigorous, politically grounded, and ecologically integrated planning frameworks. The IURF offers a replicable conceptual scaffold for cities facing compound climate–displacement risk, subject to future empirical testing. Potential applications of the framework for state planning agencies, multilateral and bilateral funders, community organisations, and comparable West African coastal cities are specified, and the limitations of the review are set out in full. Full article

Livestock production in Africa occurs across highly heterogeneous agroecological and management environments, ranging from extensive pastoral and mixed crop–livestock systems to intensive enterprises. These systems are characterized by seasonal and spatial variation in feed resources, reliance on locally available forage and agricultural by-products, climatic stress, endemic diseases, and the use of indigenous and locally adapted breeds. Such conditions create distinctive microbiome–host interactions that remain poorly represented in global livestock omics research. Although the gut microbiome is central to nutrient utilization, immune function, metabolic homeostasis, and resilience, the functional mechanisms linking microbial communities, diet, host physiology, and productivity in African livestock remain insufficiently characterized. African systems are particularly underrepresented in integrated microbiome–metabolomics datasets, longitudinal studies, and artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled predictive models, limiting the development of context-specific precision nutrition strategies. This review examines the integration of metabolomics and AI with microbiome and host data to advance precision livestock nutrition within an African and One Health context. It identifies both substantial constraints and strategic opportunities. Limited research infrastructure, high-quality regional datasets, computational capacity, and specialized expertise remain major barriers. Conversely, Africa’s diversity of livestock breeds, feed resources, agroecological conditions, and naturally occurring resilience phenotypes provides an important opportunity to identify microbiome–metabolite signatures associated with feed efficiency, disease resilience, climate adaptation, and product quality. Emerging metabolomics and computational capacity, particularly in South Africa, could support regional research networks and continental data infrastructures. Furthermore, the review proposes an Africa-specific approach that develops locally grounded, scalable, and resource-sensitive precision nutrition strategies, strengthening antimicrobial stewardship, animal health, food safety, climate resilience, sustainable livestock production, and broader One Health objectives. Full article

Climate warming can alter lake zooplankton through changes in thermal structure, oxygen availability, nutrient cycling, and phytoplankton dynamics, but decadal evidence from African lakes remains scarce. We compared zooplankton size structure and biomass in Lake Bosumtwi, Ghana, between 2005–2006 and 2018–2020, using harmonised historical data and recent observations of zooplankton, temperature, dissolved oxygen, nutrients, chlorophyll a, and water transparency. Water temperatures increased across all depth strata, with the largest increase in the epilimnion (+0.30 °C), while dissolved oxygen declined by approximately 27%. Epilimnetic total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll a increased, and water transparency decreased. Chlorophyll a rose by 142% between periods, while mean total zooplankton biomass increased 2.33-fold, mainly because of higher copepod biomass. Mean body length decreased in nauplii but increased in copepodites and adult copepods, indicating contrasting stage-specific shifts in size structure. The median zooplankton biomass-to-chlorophyll a ratio increased from 59.46 to 79.24 (Mann–Whitney U = 210, p = 0.032). Biomass differed significantly among years for copepods, rotifers, and total zooplankton, but not for cladocerans. These findings show that warmer and less oxygenated conditions with higher chlorophyll a concentrations were accompanied by a substantial increase in copepod-dominated biomass and stage-specific changes in zooplankton size structure. Full article

The study examined the relationship among climate finance (CF), Environmental Risk Accounting (ERA), and firm value for publicly listed non-financial firms in Nigeria and South Africa between 2010 and 2022. Using a carefully balanced panel sample consisting of 520 observations, we construct our independent variables as follows: Climate Finance (CF); Climate Financial Exposure (CFEI), using an AI-powered textual analysis approach; and Greenwashing Gap (GWG). Through fixed-effects panel regression, our results indicate that while climate finance does not directly influence firm value, CF and the quality of ERA practices interact positively, showing that CF only creates value conditional on high-quality ERA. Greenwashing risk is negatively associated with firm value, while environmental-risk-accounting quality is separately associated with higher firm value. Institutional differences across countries have consequences for the role of ERA. These results are examined using a double-theoretic approach that integrates institutional theory to justify how the regulation pressure leads to differences in accounting disclosures in different countries, and the resource-based theory, to justify how these differences influence firm value. The application of difference-in-difference analysis through the adoption of the King IV code by South African firms provides evidence consistent with an appreciable valuation premium by firms in South Africa after the intervention. The findings are broadly consistent across methods such as IV-2SLS, System GMM, Propensity Score Matching, and the Heckman Selection Model. There are important ramifications of the findings for accounting practice and environmental policy within sub-Saharan Africa. Full article

Background: Broiler production systems in Africa and the European Union (EU) differ substantially in terms of housing design, environmental control, welfare outcomes, and regulatory oversight. Understanding these differences is essential for identifying region-appropriate strategies for sustainable poultry production. Objectives: This review aimed to compare broiler housing systems, welfare outcomes, environmental management, and regulatory frameworks in Africa and the EU. Methods: This review followed some aspects of the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Searches were conducted in Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, and CAB Abstracts from January 2023 to January 2025. The grey literature from the FAO, EU institutions, and NGOs was also screened. Eligible studies examined broiler housing systems, welfare indicators, environmental control, or regulatory frameworks in African or EU contexts. Two reviewers independently screened records, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias using the SYRCLE tool. No meta-analysis was performed due to heterogeneity; results were synthesized narratively. Results: The search identified 86 records; 83 remained after duplicate removal. After screening, 45 studies met the inclusion criteria. EU systems were characterized by climate-controlled indoor housing, strict welfare regulations, and integrated supply chains. African systems ranged from intensive open-sided houses to semi-intensive and backyard systems, with major constraints including heat stress, limited access to veterinary care, and high feed costs. These systems also differ markedly across African regions, reflecting variation in infrastructure, market integration, and climatic conditions. Risk of bias was moderate across most studies. The certainty of the evidence was low to moderate due to heterogeneity in study designs and reporting. Limitations: Heterogeneous study designs prevented quantitative synthesis. Reporting quality varied, and few African studies provided detailed welfare metrics. Conclusions: Broiler production systems in Africa and the EU reflect distinct climatic, economic, and institutional contexts. Sustainable improvements require region-specific strategies rather than universal housing models. In this review, region-specific strategies refer to climate-adaptive housing designs, modular environmental control technologies, and management approaches aligned with local infrastructure, market structures, and resource availability. Full article

Lobostemon fruticosus (L.) H. Buek is an indigenous South African medicinal plant valued for its traditional therapeutic uses; however, information on its phytochemical variation and pyrrolizidine alkaloid (PA) content across geographical populations remains limited. This study investigated the secondary metabolite composition and PA accumulation in nine biological samples (three geographical locations × three biological replicates) of L. fruticosus collected from Rhodes Memorial, Doringrivier, and Grootnek Fontein in the Western Cape Province between January and March 2025 using untargeted UPLC-QTOF-MS and targeted LC-MS/MS, with values presented as mean ± standard deviation (SD). A total of 15 secondary metabolites of different classes were putatively annotated. Seven compounds, including kaempferol, jaceidin 7-rhamnoside, schizotenuin F, senburiside III, cosmosporaside B, lirioresinol A, and (−)-steganacin, are reported for the first time in L. fruticosus. Significant geographical variation (p < 0.05) was observed, with Doringrivier containing the highest relative abundances of rutin (4815.60 ± 18.96 mg CE g⁻¹ DW), rosmarinic acid (3846.89 ± 285.78 mg CE g⁻¹ DW), and rabdosiin (5142.10 ± 651.00 mg CE g⁻¹ DW). Six of the ten targeted PAs were detected, with lycopsamine N-oxide being the predominant alkaloid (3.89 mg kg⁻¹ in Grootnek Fontein). Principal component analysis explained 97.2% of the total metabolomic variation (PC1 = 72.6%; PC2 = 24.6%) and clearly separated the three geographical populations. The OPLS-DA model showed strong discrimination among populations (R²X = 0.725, R²Y = 0.998, and Q² = 0.994), supporting the presence of location-specific chemotypic differences. The observed chemotypic differences may be associated with variation in soil properties, climatic conditions, water availability, altitude, and nutrient status among the study sites. Collectively, the results provide a foundation for chemotype selection, quality control, conservation, and the safe medicinal utilization of this species. Full article

Renewable energy technologies are increasingly recognized as essential solutions for mitigating energy insecurity and supporting sustainable development. Among solar thermal systems, parabolic trough collectors (PTCs) have attracted significant attention for medium-temperature heat generation due to their high optical concentration ratio and thermal conversion efficiency. However, the deployment of small-scale PTC systems in rural and resource-constrained regions remains limited due to high manufacturing costs, inadequate local designs, and insufficient experimental data on performance under African climatic conditions. This study presents the novel design, fabrication, and experimental evaluation of a low-cost small-scale PTC prototype specifically developed for the climatic conditions of Alice, South Africa. Unlike conventional systems primarily optimized for large-scale industrial applications, the proposed prototype integrates locally adaptable design parameters, including a 90° rim angle and a compact aperture width of 1.072 m, to enhance thermal performance while reducing fabrication complexity and material costs. The thermal performance of the system was experimentally evaluated using a CR1000 data acquisition system to continuously monitor solar irradiance, inlet and outlet fluid temperatures, ambient temperature, and wind conditions under real outdoor operating environments. The prototype achieved a peak thermal efficiency of 35% under a maximum global horizontal irradiance (GHI) of 470 W/m², demonstrating the technical feasibility of decentralized solar thermal energy systems for small-scale applications. The study further provides a detailed assessment of the influence of meteorological parameters on collector performance, revealing that solar irradiance is the dominant factor governing thermal output. In contrast, wind-induced convective heat losses substantially reduce system efficiency. The novelty of this work lies in the experimental validation of a cost-effective PTC design under South African climatic conditions, along with the identification of practical performance-enhancement strategies, including selective absorber coatings and improved thermal insulation, for small-scale solar thermal applications. Full article

This article examines the artisanal fisheries of the Basse Casamance region in southern Senegal and investigates how changing governance arrangements shape their capacity to sustain local food security under conditions of socio-ecological change. These fisheries face mounting pressures from climate change, global market integration, shifting governance regimes, and emigration, while also undergoing profound institutional and socio-ecological transformations. Based on three months of ethnographic fieldwork, including participant observation and semi-structured interviews, the study traces the historical evolution of fisheries governance from precolonial common-property arrangements through colonial and postcolonial interventions to contemporary challenges such as industrial overfishing and environmental degradation. The analysis combines theoretical perspectives from New Institutionalism, Political Ecology, and Common-Property Theory to illuminate how local fisheries governance operates within a context of institutional pluralism and external pressures. The findings demonstrate that inland fisheries remain embedded in communal responsibility, local rulemaking, and ecological stewardship, but are increasingly strained by state regulation, market integration, and demographic shifts. Nevertheless, local actors sustain resilience by negotiating institutions and diversifying livelihoods. These adaptive strategies not only mitigate external pressures but also reinforce the role of fisheries as a cornerstone of local food security. By highlighting the resilience of artisanal fisheries as locally grounded governance systems, this study contributes to broader debates on sustainability, food security, and institutional change in West African fisheries. It underscores the need to recognize the enduring importance of community-based governance in managing common-pool resources under conditions of globalization and environmental uncertainty. Full article

Although small and medium enterprises (SMEs) anchor employment and output across Sub-Saharan Africa, their uptake of artificial intelligence (AI) lags global benchmarks, and prevailing explanations dwell on capital, infrastructure, and institutional voids while overlooking the leadership competencies that determine whether available resources are mobilised at all. Addressing this gap, the present study asks how the digital leadership capabilities of SME owner-managers shape their intention to adopt AI in Nigeria, and through what organisational mechanisms and under what boundary conditions this influence operates. Anchored in the Diffusion of Innovation Theory and the Tigre–Henriques–Curado model of digital leadership, a cross-sectional survey was administered to owner-managers of registered SMEs drawn from six states; a sample of 390 was derived from a population of 23,290 firms using the Taro Yamane formula with proportionate allocation, and 306 valid responses were retained. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (WarpPLS 8.0) was applied after confirming reliability (Cronbach’s $\alpha$: 0.69–0.84; composite reliability: 0.83–0.88), convergent validity (AVE: 0.56–0.67), and common method bias control. Strategic ($\beta$ = 0.298), interpersonal ($\beta$ = 0.245), and personal attribute ($\beta$ = 0.129) capabilities each significantly raised AI adoption intention. In contrast, delivery-related capabilities ($\beta$ = 0.090, p = 0.057) did not, indicating that pre-adoption intention is governed by cognitive-strategic and relational competencies rather than execution skills. Organisational innovation climate partially transmitted the effects of strategic and interpersonal capabilities, and firm size amplified the interpersonal pathway in medium-sized firms. The study contributes a leadership-centred account of AI adoption in an under-researched African setting and, by estimating mediation and moderation within a single framework, clarifies both why and when digital leadership translates into AI readiness, yielding capability-specific guidance for owner-managers and SME support policy. Full article

Background: Agroecology is increasingly discussed as a strategic response to the combined challenges of drought, ecological degradation, and rural vulnerability. In Morocco, this debate has become particularly urgent because agriculture now operates under persistent hydro-climatic stress, declining water availability, and strong territorial disparities between rainfed, irrigated, mountain, and oasis systems. Methods: This article is based on a structured critical review combined with an interpretive bibliometric synthesis of Moroccan and North African literature on agroecology, water stress, agricultural transition, and food-system resilience. The review was organized through conceptual framing, targeted source selection, thematic screening, and integrative synthesis. Results: Morocco is not an agroecological blank slate. Practices compatible with agroecological transition already exist across the country, including crop diversification, legume rotations, crop–livestock integration, biological regulation, organic amendments, and multifunctional production systems. However, previous reviews have mainly documented practices, projects, or sustainability initiatives without fully explaining why these remain weakly connected, poorly scaled, and insufficiently institutionalized under Moroccan conditions. This review shows that the principal barrier is not the absence of relevant practices but the absence of a coherent transition architecture capable of aligning water governance, farm economics, advisory systems, public incentives, territorial differentiation, and market valorization. The Moroccan case reveals a central paradox: agroecology is most necessary precisely where the structural conditions for its adoption are most fragile. To capture this contradiction, the paper proposes the concept of a Hydro-Agroecological Transition Trap, defined as a condition in which worsening water stress simultaneously intensifies the need for agroecological redesign and reduces the ability of farms and institutions to implement it. Conclusions: The manuscript concludes by proposing a six-pillar transition framework for Morocco based on water-smart agroecology, territorially differentiated pathways, participatory innovation, transition finance and risk-sharing, market construction, and multidimensional assessment. The originality of the study lies in shifting the analysis from a shortage of practices to a shortage of transition architecture, thereby contributing to international debates on agroecological scaling under chronic hydro-climatic stress. Full article

In many African nations, including Nigeria, groundwater remains the most readily available source of clean water. However, finding and developing these resources in heterogeneous terrain, such as the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, is challenging due to the uneven distribution of the aquifers and complex geological settings. Using a GIS-based machine learning approach that incorporates surface and subsurface hydrogeological parameters, this study defines groundwater potential zones (GWPZ). Nine conditioning factors were derived from remote sensing, geophysical and climatic datasets. Aquifer thickness, depth to bedrock, geology, rainfall, slope, LULC, lineament density, drainage density and distance from river were among these variables. Three machine learning models: Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Random Forest (RF) were trained and validated using 2410 borehole records (productive and abortive). Hold-out validation (80:20), 10-fold cross-validation, ROC-AUC, and confusion matrix were used to assess each model’s performance. The ensemble models outperformed the SVM, achieving higher predictive accuracy and better generalisation (XGBoost: 0.89, RF: 0.88 and SVM: 0.87). The generated maps categorised the study area into five GWPZs: very high, high, moderate, low and very low. These findings provide a scientific foundation for groundwater exploration and sustainable water resource management in the study area. Full article