New Horizons of Science, Technology and Culture Vol. 5

Facility Mapping of Private Schools in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area in Rivers State Using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems

Jonah Iyowuna Benjamin — 2025-10-11

Facility mapping is a critical component in nation-building to show where these facilities are found, such as educational and other infrastructures. Education is a step to study and right thinking towards achieving clear objectivity. Private schools were established without considering the distribution of access roads, environmental impact and economic efficiency. Lack of a map showing the distribution pattern of private schools has made it very difficult for educational planners and policy makers to see where the schools are spread. Objectives considered were to (i) produce the shape and size of each school (ii) produce the distribution pattern of private schools in the study area, (iii) produce a map showing the proximity to other facilities, and (iv) carry out an analytical query model of the inputted information in the geographical database. The materials involved two Hi-Target (DGPS) receivers, Landsat Imagery of 2022, an administrative map of Port Harcourt Local Government Area and ArcGIS 10.8, while hybrid methods were used, such as classical survey, remote sensing and GIS through digitisation, and query analysis. The findings of the results showed a cluster progression; the area of the schools varies from 194.60 square metres to 36166.96 square metres. Proximity analysis indicated 10.64m to the Anglican Church, Library (481.26m) and 830.31m to mile 1 Market. The query model showed that areas above 500 square metres were 45 out of 50 schools, while schools with playgrounds were 19, and without playgrounds were 31. The study recommended that Planners should look into other areas for development, and some schools were not standard.

Development of the Motives of Long-Term Customers of Health-Oriented Fitness Companies During Membership

George F. Zarotis — 2025-10-11

Background: Sustainable product and service improvements are necessary for fitness studios to develop a long-term market and remain competitive. This is extremely important since meeting client expectations can lead to customer happiness, which in turn improves customer loyalty and financial success.

Aim: This study aims to understand the development of motivational factors among long-term members of health-oriented fitness clubs and to understand the relationship between different motives and membership longevity.

Methods: A survey of the members of a big metropolitan fitness club was conducted. The fifteen items on the survey were broken down into seven motivation-related categories. The sample included 278 respondents, all of whom had only participated in equipment-based training. The analysis focused on the mean values (MV) and standard deviations (SD) of membership duration based on whether particular motives were mentioned. Statistical significance was assessed using t-tests.

Findings: The average age of the respondents was 56.6 years, and the average membership duration among those with over one year of participation was 11.6 years. Several significant differences were identified based on motivational factors: a) People who have the motive ‘general improvement in physical fitness’ are members for longer than those who do not have it (means 11.9 years to 7.9 years); b) People who have the motive ‘positive influence on physical complaints’ and use the term ‘cardiovascular complaints’ as a synonym for their physical complaints are members for a shorter period than those who do not have it (means 8.7 years to 12.4 years); c) people who name the motive ‘independent training planning and control’ stay longer than people who do not name it (means 12.8 years to 10.5 years) and d) people who name the motive ‘preparation for their own sport’ (means 15.2 years to 11.3 years).

Conclusion: To create lasting customer loyalty, it is therefore important to thoroughly examine the motives of the customers, to know and evaluate them and to give appropriate personal action and fitness recommendations. The insights from this study not only contribute to the long-term success of fitness clubs but also contribute to improving the image of fitness sports in general.

The Decline of Private Commons in Norway

Erling Berge — 2025-10-11

In Norway, privatisation of natural resources is an on-going process arousing interest every so often. More than 200 years after the King sold one of the “King’s commons” to urban timber merchants, local people in some ways still behave as if the area is a kind of commons. The study outlines the history of the transformation of the area from an 18th century King’s common to a 21st century battleground for ideas about ancient access and use rights of community members facing rights claimed by a commercial forest owner within local consequences of national legislation. The discussion is focused on the right of common to hunt small game without dog in Follafoss private commons. This study highlights one case of the historical trajectory of the commons from its origins to the present dispute, illustrating key events and legal changes that shaped current interpretations of hunting rights. Mahoney and Thelen (2010)’s Gradual institutional change was considered for the analysis as it provides four modal types of institutional change: Displacement, Layering, Drift and Conversion. Mary Douglas (1986, 69–90)’s ideas about structural amnesia also has been considered. The study also discussed how competing interpretations of law, tradition, and property rights continue to influence local governance and community relations.

Examining Digital Challenges in Recruitment and Selection Process of a Public Enterprise in South Africa

Arvid Muzanenhamo — 2025-10-11

In response to external environmental changes and demands, the Human Resource function has slowly but steadily evolved from labour welfare to personnel administration to strategic HR and now to digital or smart HR. However, digital implementation in public sector organisations is very slow, leading to inefficiencies, which is a concern as these entities have the mandate to support economic development. This study examined the challenges that are faced by a South African public enterprise in using technology in the Human Resource Management (HRM) department, particularly in the recruitment and selection function. A qualitative research approach was used with data obtained using structured interviews from a public enterprise, and Human Resource Practitioners were used to conduct interviews in this study. Purposive non-probability sampling was applied in engaging 15 participants in a public sector organisation, and data were analysed using thematic analysis. The study revealed that the HRM department does not entirely make use of technology in the recruitment and selection process. The inability to use technology is due to a lack of in-house digital training, and the organisation’s inability to swiftly respond to environmental changes due to its bureaucratic structure. It was revealed that the public entity does not have enough employees in the department. This seems to limit employee capability to meet deadlines, and the lack of technology is contributing to employee frustration due to work overload. Data revealed that employees still have a fear of moving to digitalisation. This may be due to the existence of many baby boomers in public entities, who may not have yet embraced digitalisation. it is also showing that employees do not have adequate digital training to effectively use existing forms of digitalisation in the organisation. There seem to be problems with resources for the effective implementation of technology. It was therefore recommended that public entities embark on extensive employee digital training and implementation of effective internal digital systems for organisational effectiveness.

Assessment of Genetic Divergence Using D2 Analysis in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Germplasm

Vinayak V. Thakare — 2025-10-11

Oryza sativa (2n=2x=24) is a diploid monocot flowering plant of the family Gramineae, which originated in Southeast Asia and is widely cultivated in the wet tropics and subtropics. India is remarkably rich in rice diversity, including cultivars, landraces, wild and weedy relatives. Genetic variability for quantitative traits is the basic component of the breeding programme for broadening the gene pool of rice and other crops. Understanding the extent and degree of genetic divergence aids in the selection of ideal parents for a breeding programme. The present investigation was conducted with 41 genotypes of Rice during Kharif 2023 under a Randomised Block Design (RBD) with three replications. Data were recorded for thirteen quantitative characters to obtain estimates of variability, heritability, genetic advance and genetic divergence through Mahalanobis’ D² analysis. The analysis of variance was worked out to test the significance of F and t-tests. Significant differences were observed among the genotypes for all the characters studied. From the findings, the highest grain yield was observed in VASUMATHI 38.9, followed by DHAN-69 34.33 based on mean performance at the Prayagraj region. The estimates of Genotypic Coefficient of Variation and Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation were consistent for all the traits, with PCV values being numerically higher than GCV values, which indicated greater genotype and environment interaction. A higher magnitude of PCV as well as GCV coefficient of variation was noted for the number of total tillers per plant (22.05) and (21.20). Whereas the lowest PCV and GCV coefficient of variation was recorded for Days to maturity (7.40 and 6.80). High estimates of heritability (above 60%) in the broad sense were recorded for all thirteen characters under study, which ranged from 92.45% number of total tillers per plant to 61.55% harvest index. along with high genetic advance for the number of spikelets per panicle (54.38), plant height (cm) (27.95), days to 50% flowering (22.93), and days to maturity (17.72). Biological yield (g) (15.33), harvest index (%) (11.06) and flag leaf length (cm) (10.05) D2 analysis distributed the 41 genotypes into six clusters.

The largest cluster was cluster I with 36 genotypes, followed by cluster II, III, IV, V, and VI with 1 genotype each. The highest contribution in manifestation of genetic divergence was exhibited by grain yield per plant (22.82), followed by biological yield (21.28) and test weight (12.56). The lowest intercluster distance was between cluster I and cluster IV, which was 60.58. The intercluster distance was maximum between cluster IV and VI (247.17). Overall, the study identified VASUMATHI and DHAN-69 as high-yielding genotypes, and the clustering pattern provides useful information for selecting genetically diverse parents in future breeding programmes.

Evaluation of Radiation Hazards in Some Flour Samples Consumed by the Iraqi Population Using Gamma Spectrometry

Shaymaa Awad Kadhim — 2025-10-11

Flour represents one of the most widely consumed food commodities in Iraq, serving as a staple dietary component across all age groups. Given its importance in daily nutrition, the assessment of naturally occurring radionuclides in flour is essential for evaluating potential radiological health risks. In this study, the specific activities of the long-lived gamma-emitting radionuclides uranium-238 (^238U), thorium-232 (^232Th), and potassium-40 (^40K) were determined in 15 commercially available flour types from the Iraqi market. Radiometric measurements were performed using a NaI (Tl) gamma-ray spectrometry system under controlled laboratory conditions. The activity concentrations of ^238U ranged from 2.60 ± 0.30 to 13.73 ± 1.89 Bq·kg⁻¹, with an average value of 8.75 Bq·kg⁻¹. For ^232Th, the values varied between 9.96 ± 0.14 and 67.79 ± 0.44 Bq·kg⁻¹, yielding a mean of 21.88 Bq·kg⁻¹. In the case of ^40K, a markedly higher variation was observed, with values extending from 283.70 ± 3.41 to 2680.74 ± 23.60 Bq·kg⁻¹ and a mean of 133.09 Bq·kg⁻¹.

To evaluate the radiological implications, several exposure indices were calculated, including the internal hazard index, the outdoor and indoor annual effective dose rates, and the annual committed effective dose. The estimated values indicated an outdoor annual effective dose of 0.302 ± 0.014 mSv·y⁻¹ and an average committed effective dose of 0.2205 ± 0.030 mSv·y⁻¹ for flour consumption. Furthermore, the lifetime cancer risk assessment demonstrated that the radiological impact associated with flour consumption in Iraq remains within internationally accepted safety limits.

Overall, the results confirm that the levels of natural radioactivity in the analysed flour samples are relatively low and do not pose a significant radiological hazard to consumers. These findings provide a baseline reference for food safety monitoring in Iraq and highlight the importance of continued surveillance of radionuclide concentrations in essential dietary products to ensure long-term public health protection.

Using GeoGebra to Solve Homogeneous Reducible Differential Equations: A Case Study with Engineering Students in Colombia

Jorge Olivares Funes — 2025-10-11

Learning differential equations continues to be a challenge for engineering students, especially when it comes to solving homogeneous equations, which often generate difficulties in their understanding. This study is framed within a qualitative approach and corresponds to a case study conducted during the first semester of 2024 with students from the University of Sinú, Colombia. The main objective was to explore the analysis of the solution of a homogeneous reducible differential equation using GeoGebra, with the purpose of identifying perceptions, advantages, and limitations that emerge from its application in the classroom. The research was carried out with an initial group of 16 students from the differential equations course, of which four were selected to participate in semi-structured interviews. The results show that students positively value the use of GeoGebra, highlighting its speed, accuracy, and ability to graphically represent solutions, which favours comprehension. However, they also pointed out limitations such as the absence of a step-by-step procedure and difficulties in use from mobile devices. In conclusion, GeoGebra is presented as a relevant teaching resource to enrich learning, provided it is complemented with strategies that reinforce mathematical reasoning.

Cybersecurity and Privacy in 6G-Enabled Internet of Things (IoT) Ecosystems

Emma Junior Emmanuel — 2025-10-11

The advent of sixth-generation (6G) wireless networks marks a paradigm shift beyond incremental gains in speed and latency toward AI-native, hyper-connected ecosystems supporting trillions of Internet of Things (IoT) devices. With projected terabit-per-second throughput, sub-millisecond latency, and integration of terahertz communication, holographic MIMO, and distributed edge computing, 6G promises transformative applications in healthcare, transportation, smart cities, and immersive digital environments. However, this evolution also introduces unprecedented cybersecurity and privacy challenges. AI-driven network management creates new attack surfaces vulnerable to data poisoning, adversarial manipulation, and model inversion. Quantum computing threatens to render classical cryptography obsolete, while insecure IoT devices and distributed edge nodes amplify systemic risks. Moreover, centimetre-level localisation and behavioural profiling capabilities raise profound privacy concerns that existing regulatory frameworks, such as GDPR and CCPA, are ill-prepared to address. This study examines these multi-layered vulnerabilities and highlights mitigation strategies, including zero-trust architectures, post-quantum cryptography, blockchain-based accountability, and AI-enhanced defences. It further explores societal and policy implications, emphasising the need for international collaboration, ethical AI governance, and security-by-design principles. The findings underscore that the next decade represents a critical window to embed robust cybersecurity and privacy protections in 6G infrastructure, ensuring that the networks underpinning future digital societies are both innovative and trustworthy.

Makeup-Free Biometrics Using Texture Analysis: Mitigating Imposture in Face Recognition

Logeswari Saranya R — 2025-10-11

A biometric authentication system is used for various applications, like the security of computers and mobile phones, airports, banks, military bases, biometric attendance, and tracking systems. Though biometric systems improve security, like any other system, they are vulnerable and prone to threats. Face recognition has quickly become one of the most common ways to authenticate using biometric data. Traditional face recognition systems mainly focus on extracting features and improving the accuracy of verification and identification. However, attention to security weak spots and possible attacks has only gained traction in recent years. These attacks include methods like obfuscation, spoofing, and morphing; for example, an intruder might impersonate a legitimate user to get around the system. Cosmetic changes can make recognition even harder by altering facial features like skin tone, eyebrow position, and overall complexion. These modifications can decrease the uniqueness of facial traits, often leading to false matches and weakening the security of the biometric system. To tackle this issue, adding a presentation attack detection (PAD) module to existing systems has been suggested. In this work, a CNN-based machine learning approach is used to classify presentation attacks through texture analysis. The proposed method removes makeup effects to restore the original look of the face, allowing the recognition system to identify individuals correctly and reduce the risk of attacks. The system's strength is measured using the False Accept Rate (FAR), which assesses its resistance to zero-effort attacks and serves as an important performance measure for biometric authentication systems. By training both pix2pix GAN and Cycle GAN and comparing their image quality, measure them. It is proven that Cycle GAN is more efficient than pix2pix GAN. In the end, a comprehensive framework that combines various attack-prevention models can greatly enhance the strength and reliability of biometric authentication.