Science World Journal

Prevalence, determinants, and clinical correlates of norovirus gastroenteritis among children in Plateau State, Nigeria

Kingsley U. Dike, J.D. Mawak, M.A. Ali — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Norovirus is a public health challenge, particularly among children. This study investigated the prevalence, determinants, and clinical correlates of norovirus infection among children aged five years and below in Plateau State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional design involving the collection of watery-stool samples from 200 children attending selected health facilities in the state. They were analyzed for norovirus using real-time polymerase chain reaction. After obtaining parental consent, a structured questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic and risk-factor information regarding infection. The overall prevalence of norovirus was 8.5% (17/200). Infection occurred more in the males (12.0%) (p=0.106). The 20-29 months age group had the highest infection rate (16.0%) (p=0.596). Children in Plateau-North had a higher infection rate (19.2%) than in other zones. Children residing in urban areas had higher infection rates (17.9%) (OR=5.3, 95% CI=1.9-15.1, p=0.002). Children without fever and vomiting had rates of 12.4% and 10.2%, respectively, and there were no cases among those with these symptoms. Abdominal pain in children was higher (OR=12.4, 95% CI=2.8-55.8, p=0.001). Children who received hospitalization, unboiled water, tap water, and stream water appear to be more vulnerable, with 14.9% (p=0.021), 10.3% (p=0.162), 26.7% (p=0.001), and 38.5% (p=0.002), respectively. Infected children from parents with formal education had more infections (p=0.018). Analysis of the geno-group showed that Geno-group G1 was 4 (22.2%), while GII was 13 (77.8%). Treatment of drinking water is recommended to reduce disease transmission, and further epidemiological studies are advocated.

Quercetin and Naringin ameliorate dichlorvos induced subacute toxicity via modulation of antioxidant enzymes in rats

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Dichlorvos is an organophosphate insecticide widely used in domestic and agricultural settings, and exposure is associated with significant toxicological effects, largely mediated by oxidative stress. This study evaluated the protective effects of the flavonoids quercetin and naringin against dichlorvos-induced subacute toxicity in male Wistar rats. Eighty male albino rats were randomly allocated into eight groups (n = 10); negative control (water), positive (vehicle) control (Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)), Dichlorvos (8mg/kg BW), Dichlorvos recovery, Dichlorvos + naringin, Dichlorvos + quercetin, quercetin only, naringin only, and orally treated for 28 days. At the end of the experimental period, plasma, red blood cells, liver, and brain samples were collected for biochemical analyses. Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were determined spectrophotometrically. Subacute dichlorvos (28-day) exposure caused significant reductions in SOD, CAT, and GST activities across all examined tissues, reflecting impaired antioxidant defense and increased oxidative stress. Coadministration of quercetin or naringin significantly attenuated these alterations, with enzyme activities approaching control levels. Quercetin showed greater protective efficacy in liver and brain tissues, whereas naringin exerted comparatively stronger effects in plasma and red blood cells, indicating tissue-specific antioxidant responses. Overall, the findings demonstrate that quercetin and naringin effectively protect against dichlorvos-induced subacute toxicity by modulating endogenous antioxidant enzymes, supporting the potential use of dietary flavonoids as adjunct protective agents against organophosphate toxicity.

Physicochemical characteristics and phytoplankton community structure of Adofi River, Nigeria

Nwaiku Fidelis, Iloba Kate Isioma, Anigboro O. Doris — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study assessed the physicochemical characteristics and phytoplankton community structure of the Adofi River, Nigeria, across three sampling stations over a twelve-month period. Standard analytical procedures and microscopic examination were employed to determine water quality parameters and phytoplankton composition, abundance, and diversity, with spatial variations evaluated using one-way ANOVA. Most physicochemical parameters showed no significant spatial variation (one-way ANOVA, p > 0.05), except sulphate (p < 0.05), while temperature (26 – 30 °C), dissolved oxygen (5.47 – 6.50 mg/L), and moderate BOD ^₅ levels (2.28 – 2.95 mg/L) indicated low organic pollution and generally good water quality with limited eutrophication; additionally, 2,653 phytoplankton individuals comprising 117 species, 37 families, 9 classes, and 6 divisions were recorded, with Ochrophyta (46.63%) and Charophyta (38.94%) dominating, and Cyanobacteriophyta (7.95%) increasing downstream. Overall, the dominance of diatoms and charophytes reflects favorable ecological conditions, while the presence of pollution-tolerant taxa at low abundance suggests early but noncritical nutrient enrichment, indicating that the Adofi River remains in good ecological condition but requires continuous monitoring to prevent future degradation.

Epidemiology of tuberculosis in resource-limited settings of Bauchi State, Northeastern Nigeria

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria, particularly in resource-limited settings. Understanding local disease burden and associated risk factors is essential for targeted control strategies. This study determined the prevalence of tuberculosis and identified associated socio-demographic, environmental, and clinical risk factors among patients attending selected health facilities in Bauchi North, Northeastern Nigeria. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 385 symptomatic patients. Early morning sputum samples were collected and analyzed using the TB-LAMP (Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification) assay for rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA. A structured questionnaire was administered to obtain data on socio-demographic characteristics and potential risk factors. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Chi-square tests were used to determine associations between TB infection and independent variables, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. The overall prevalence of TB was 25.73%. Significant geographical variation was observed across Local Government Areas (p < 0.001). Age was significantly associated with TB infection, with the highest prevalence among individuals aged 70 – 79 years (p < 0.001). Low socioeconomic status, history of contact with TB patients, diabetes, HIV infection, and rural residence were significantly associated with TB (p < 0.05). Gender, smoking, and organ transplant history were not significantly associated with infection. Tuberculosis remains highly prevalent in Bauchi North. The findings highlight the need for strengthened case detection, targeted interventions for high-risk groups, integration of TB screening with HIV and diabetes services, and improved healthcare access in rural communities to reduce disease burden.

Structural equation model of determinants of adolescent body mass index

Damilare Matthew Oladimeji, Adetunji Kolawole Ilori, Fortune Ohiorenuan Iriaye — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Adolescence is a critical developmental stage in which Body Mass Index (BMI) is a key indicator of nutritional and health status. In Nigeria, limited research has examined the behavioral, psychosocial, dietary, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors influencing adolescent BMI within an integrated framework. This study applied Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) using secondary data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) to investigate both direct and indirect determinants of adolescent BMI. Findings revealed that lifestyle factors were the only construct exerting a significant direct effect on BMI (β = 0.164, p < 0.001), underscoring the critical role of modifiable daily behaviors. Socioeconomic status (SES), while not directly associated with BMI, demonstrated significant indirect effects through its influence on behavioral patterns (β = −0.273, p = 0.006) and lifestyle (β = −0.289, p = 0.011). Other constructs, including dietary, psychosocial, physical activity, and health factors, did not yield significant direct effects. Despite these associations, the model's explanatory power was only moderate (R² = 49%), suggesting that unmeasured determinants, such as genetic, biological, and environmental influences, may account for more of the observed variation. The study concludes that adolescent BMI is multidimensional, with lifestyle factors playing a central role, while SES influences outcomes indirectly. It recommended refining measurement tools, expanding research frameworks to include biological and environmental markers, adopting longitudinal study designs, and strengthening methodological capacity in SEM to improve public health research and intervention strategies.

An assessment of malaria parasite infections among individuals seeking medical care in selected healthcare facilities in Kaduna Metropolis, Kaduna, Nigeria

S. S. Eke, C. A. Otuu, R. O. Bello, A. O. Odey — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Malaria continues to be a major public health challenge in Nigeria, with Kaduna State among the regions with endemic transmission. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and demographic distribution of malaria parasite infections among individuals seeking medical care in selected healthcare facilities in Kaduna Metropolis. A cross-sectional, facility-based study was conducted across selected public and private health facilities in Kaduna State. Of the 464 (100%) examined for the presence of malaria parasites, 267 (57.5%) were infected. Females have a much higher prevalence rate, 169 (67.3%), than males, 98 (46.0%). Hospital C reported the highest number of infected cases, 88 (33.0%), followed by Hospital B with 69 (25.8%), while Hospital A and Hospital D had lower numbers of infected cases, 54 (20.2%) and 56 (21.0%), respectively (P>0.05). Ages 11 – 15 and 16 – 20 years had the highest prevalence rates of malaria parasites, 35 (63.6%) and 35 (67.3%), respectively ( P < 0.05). The highest infection was recorded in June, with 69 (70.8%), followed by October, September, July, and August, with 34 (59.7%), 38 (58.5%), 44 (57.1%), and 32 (56.1%), respectively. Prevalence of Malaria Parasite in relation to the Risk factors revealed that a higher prevalence among participants without formal education (63.3%) as compared to those with formal education (36.7%). Occupation showed that self – employed (29.6%) and unemployed (26.6%) had the highest numbers of infected participants; based on place of residence, it showed that rural residents account for nearly two – thirds (64.4%) of all the malaria cases, while urban residents make up only (35.6%). The prevalence of malaria parasites was also analyzed by use of Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs). The results showed that more malaria infection occurred among Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) non – users (57.7%) than Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) users (42.3%). Malaria remains a significant burden among healthcare-seeking individuals in Kaduna State, particularly among young children and rural residents.

Bayesian inference for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinical progression: Modelling current cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) with patient-level covariates

Ogundeji K. Rotimi, Chinenye C. Nkem-Nnake — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study aimed to model current CD4 lymphocyte counts among people living with HIV by examining the effects of age, sex, baseline CD4 levels, and changes in body weight. A Bayesian regression framework was applied to clinical data to incorporate prior information and quantify uncertainty in parameter estimates. The findings indicate that baseline CD4 count was the strongest predictor of current CD4 levels. At the same time, age showed a moderate positive association, and the effects of sex and shortterm weight change were smaller and less certain. Overall, the results demonstrate that Bayesian regression provides a robust and informative approach for understanding CD4 dynamics and supporting clinical decision-making in resource-limited settings.

Assessment of urban land use encroachment on agricultural land in Chikun local government area, Kaduna State, Nigeria using GIS and remote sensing

Ibrahim Samaila, Umar Abdulkadir, Abdul-Aziz Bashiru Liman — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics have become one of the most significant indicators of environmental transformation globally, particularly in rapidly urbanizing regions of developing countries. Anthropogenic activities largely drive these changes and have profound implications for ecological sustainability, agricultural productivity, and socio-economic development. The sudy aimed at assessing the encroachment of urban land uses on agricultural land which leads to disappearance of fertile land uses for agriculture in chikun local government area for a period of 2011 and 2023 and the aim was achievd through the following sthe following s objectives, wich are identify the different urban land uses in the study area; examine the extent of encroachment of urban land uses on agricultural land in the study area; identify the negative effect of covering agricutural land use and vegetation into urban land uses. The data used for the study were Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) data from 2011. Landsat 7 (ETM+) of 202017, Landsat 8 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) of 2017 (ETM+ of 2023); all were sourced from the National Center for Remote Sensing (NCRS), Jos. Supervised image classification using a maximum-likelihood algorithm was applied to the three images. Five land-use classes were identified: built-up area, vegetation, bare surface, rock outcrop, and water body. Accuracy assessment was performed on the output images from 2011, 2017, and 2023, using error matrices to assess the accuracy of each image. The findings revealed a significant increase in builtup area from 464. 5km2 to 1207.7km2 and 1207.7 to 1718.65 km2 in 2011,2017 and 2025 respectivily. The most direct economic consequence of decreasing agricultural land is the farmer’s loss of profits from agricultural production; decreasing agricultural land also results in food insecurity.

Investigating the correlation between packed cell volume and body mass index among students of Kaduna State University: A cross-sectional study

B. Solomon, B. O. Agbo, M. S. Genesis, D. G. Bawa, I. D. Achara — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Packed cell volume (PCV) is an important haematological parameter that reflects the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood. At the same time, body mass index (BMI) is widely used to assess nutritional status and body weight. Both indicators are essential for evaluating overall health, particularly among young adults who may face nutritional challenges, infections, and lifestyle-related risks. This study investigated the relationship between PCV and BMI among undergraduate students of Kaduna State University (KASU) main campus. The study adopted a cross-sectional design involving 100 apparently healthy students (50 males and 50 females). PCV was determined using the microhaematocrit method, while BMI was calculated from measured height and weight. Data were analysed using SPSS version 25, and Pearson correlation was used to assess the relationship between BMI and PCV at p ≤ 0.05. Low PCV was observed in 31.0% of participants, indicating a substantial proportion at risk of anemia, with similar distribution between males (32.0%) and females (30.0%). Regarding BMI, 61.0% of students were of normal weight, 27.0% were underweight, and 12.0% were overweight or obese. A weak but statistically significant positive correlation was observed between BMI and PCV in the overall sample (r = 0.233, p = 0.019), whereas sex-specific analysis showed no significant relationship. The study concludes that although BMI is associated with PCV, the relationship is weak and inconsistent across subgroups, indicating that BMI alone is not a reliable predictor of haematological status. Therefore, routine haematological screening in addition to anthropometric assessment is recommended for early detection of blood-related disorders among students.

Insecticidal activity of Monoon longifolium, Helianthus annuus, and Croton hirtus against Callosobruchus maculatus

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Acetone (ACT) and hexane (HXN) extracts of Monoon longifolium (Sonn.) B. Xue & R.M.K. Saunders (Fabaceae) leaf, aerial parts of Helianthus annuus L. (Asteraceae), and Croton hirtus L’Her (Euphorbiaceae) were tested at concentrations of 16.66 – 200 mg/ml for mortality against cowpea weevil, Callosobruchus maculatus, in stored cowpea. Seeds were dressed with each extract, air-dried, and incubated with weevils in closed Petri dishes for 336 h at ambient laboratory conditions. Mean mortality data were generated for different time intervals per concentration. Mortality increased with incubation time for ACT and HXN extracts; all plants reached a peak of 100% at the maximum time, 336 h. High insecticidal activities were recorded for ACT extract (LT₅₀, 17 h. at 200 mg/ml) and HXN extract (LT₅₀, 140 h at 16.66 mg/ml) of H. annuus, as well as C. hirtus ACT extract (LT₅₀, 133 h at 200 mg/ml). With reference to LC₅₀, the order of insecticidal activity was: H. annuus ACT (11 mg/ml) > C. hirtus HXN (25 mg/ml), which suggested H. annuus as the most potent biopesticide against Callosobruchus maculatus. C. hirtus is recommended for long-term preservation of stored cowpeas using either ACT extract at 33.33 mg/ml, or HXN extract at 200 mg/ml for 240 h and 168 h., respectively. Furthermore, H. annuus ACT extract (200 mg/ml) and HXN extract (66.66 mg/ml) of M. longifolium also provided longterm preservation after 168 h and 240 h., respectively.

Impact of AI-based credentials on teaching practices and learning outcomes in secondary and tertiary institutions in Abuja, Nigeria

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education has introduced new forms of credentialing, including digital badges, micro-credentials, and automated competency-based certifications. These AI-based credentials offer flexible and skills-oriented approaches to recognizing learning achievements. This study investigates the impact of AI-based credentials on teaching practices and learning outcomes in secondary and tertiary institutions in Abuja, Nigeria, using a mixed-methods approach with a sample of 450 participants (150 educators and 300 students). The findings reveal a 32% increase in student engagement, a 35% improvement in course completion rates, and a 12% rise in assessment performance in AI-supported learning environments. Educators reported enhanced use of data-driven teaching strategies and improved feedback mechanisms. However, challenges related to infrastructure, digital literacy, educator preparedness, and credential recognition were identified. The study concludes that AI-based credentials can significantly improve teaching effectiveness and student learning outcomes when supported by adequate institutional policies, training, and technological infrastructure.

A chaotic map-driven JAYA algorithm for robust clinical attributes selection in breast cancer metastasis prediction

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Breast cancer (BC) remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally, especially due to its metastatic tendencies. Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) occurs when cancer cells spread from the breast to other parts of the body, complicating treatment and reducing survival rates. Predicting MBC is crucial for timely intervention, but challenges persist due to noisy features that limit model accuracy. While traditional machine learning techniques have been applied to predict MBC, they often struggle with identifying key factors for accurate prediction. In this study, we propose enhancing the JAYA algorithm by incorporating a sinusoidal chaotic map for population initialization and to improve exploration during optimization. Specifically, the sinusoidal chaotic initialization is employed to generate a more uniformly distributed and diverse initial population, thereby improving search space coverage, reducing premature convergence, and enhancing the algorithm’s ability to identify relevant features for MBC prediction. The enhanced JAYA algorithm was combined with an artificial neural network (ANN) for prediction, and its performance was evaluated using a 5-year MBC dataset obtained from the Kaggle repository, comprising 6,726 instances, 26 features, and a binary class label. The results indicate that the proposed method achieves improved performance across key evaluation metrics, including accuracy, F1 score, sensitivity, and specificity, when compared with the baseline study of Muhammed et al., (2024). Specifically, the proposed method attained an accuracy of 79.76%, an F1 score of 80.13%, a sensitivity of 81.88%, and a specificity of 77.52%, compared to 79.28%, 79.66%, 81.04%, and 77.51%, respectively, reported in the baseline study, thereby demonstrating consistent performance improvements across all evaluation metrics. These improvements were confirmed to be statistically significant using a T-test. Hyperparameter tuning, including adjustments to population size and iteration count, further optimized the method’s performance, confirming the benefits of fine-tuning in metaheuristic algorithms for MBC prediction.

A CNN-based approach for speaker identification using MFCC features in noisy and real-world environments

Philip O. Odion, Pasha R. Adeiza, Tijjani Abdullahi — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Speech extraction and recognition have become essential components in modern intelligent systems, especially in applications requiring accurate speaker identification under realworld conditions. Thus, this study represents a deep learningbased approach to speech recognition for speaker identification using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) trained on Mel- Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCCs). This research integrates both locally collected speech data and an external benchmark dataset (Mikhailava et al., 2022) to evaluate model performance under varying acoustic conditions. A total of 630 audio samples were collected from 21 participants across diverse environments, including both clean and noisy recordings. The proposed model achieved training accuracy exceeding 95%, validation accuracy of approximately 73%, and test accuracy of 75.82% on the local dataset. Evaluation on the benchmark dataset produced a test accuracy of 100%, indicating strong model learning under controlled conditions. The results showed that while high accuracy can be achieved with clean data, performance declines in real-world noisy environments due to variability in speech patterns, recording quality, and background interference. This study demonstrates that CNN-based models can effectively support speaker identification tasks, while highlighting the need for improved generalization, larger datasets, and enhanced noisehandling techniques for practical deployment.

An assessment of heavy metals contamination on farmland ecosystems and its implications for elephant health in coastal villages of Epe, Lagos State, Nigeria

T. K. Adebowale, O. A. Akintunde, B. B. Ibiyomi, O. O. Oduntan, A. LA. Shotuyo — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Heavy-metal contamination in agricultural landscapes poses increasing ecological and health risks, particularly for large herbivores inhabiting human-dominated ecosystems such as the coastal communities surrounding Epe, Lagos State, Nigeria. This study evaluated seasonal and spatial patterns of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), and nickel (Ni) in soils, surface water, forage plants (Ficus exasperata, Musa paradisiaca, and Spondias mombin), and elephant fecal matter collected from Ogogo, Okenla, and Bojukurudu during the wet (July 2023) and dry (January 2024) seasons, with concentrations determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and seasonal differences tested using paired t-tests. Results revealed pronounced spatial and seasonal variability, with Cd and Pb concentrations in soils, water sources, and forage frequently exceeding international guideline thresholds and elevated levels detected in elephant fecal samples, indicating dietary uptake and potential bioaccumulation. These findings demonstrate that elephants in coastal agro-ecosystems are chronically exposed to multiple heavy metals through forage consumption, soil ingestion, and contaminated water, emphasizing the need for sustained environmental monitoring and targeted mitigation strategies to safeguard wildlife health and ecosystem integrity.

Effects of local dyeing activities on groundwater quality in Kano Metropolis, Kano State, Nigeria

Yusuf Idris Garba, Ejembi Yusuf Francis — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examined the effects of dyeing activities on groundwater quality in selected areas of Kano Metropolis. Three hand-dug wells and three boreholes were purposively selected based on their proximity to the dyeing sites and frequency of use. The sampling points were designated as BH1, BH2, BH3, HDW1, HDW2, and HDW3. The concentrations of physicochemical parameters, like temperature (T^o C), pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), were measured with the aid of calibrated thermometer, the Hanna instrument H1 2020 model, Turbidity with data laggings spectrophotometer CDR/2400model, Alkalinity, Chloride (Cl), Sulphate (SO⁴⁺), while Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Cadmium (Cd), and Chromium (Cr) was done using the Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (PerkinElmer PinAAcle 900H model. The results revealed that the levels of physicochemical parameters temperature, pH, and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)were high compared to the maximum permissible limits of 29 °C, 7, and 500mg/l set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON). The average concentrations of Cadmium (Cd) and Chromium (Cr)exceeded the maximum permissible limits of 0.01 mg/L and 0.003 mg/L, respectively, as defined by both WHO and SON. The elevated concentrations of Cadmium (Cd) and Chromium (Cr) may be attributed to the leaching of these heavy metals into the groundwater from nearby dyeing activities and waste disposal practices. This indicates that the water has been contaminated with Cadmium (Cd) and Chromium (Cr), rendering it unsafe for consumption. Furthermore, the results revealed a significant variation in the physicochemical parameters between hand-dug well water and borehole water. In conclusion, the water poses a potential health risk. It is imperative to address this issue promptly to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals relying on these water sources.

Quantitative evaluation of human exposure to RF-EMF from selected mobile transceiver stations in Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The rapid deployment of mobile transceiver stations (MTS) has raised concerns regarding human exposure to radiofrequency electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF). This study presents a quantitative assessment of RF-EMF exposure levels from selected MTS in Okene, Nigeria. Electric field strength measurements were conducted at radial distances ranging from 1.5 m to 15 m using a calibrated Extech RF-EMF meter. The measured values ranged from 0.083 V/m to 0.127 V/m, which are significantly below the public exposure limit of 61 V/m recommended by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection. The results indicate compliance with international safety standards. However, limitations such as near-field effects and environmental variability are acknowledged. Continuous monitoring is recommended.

A hybrid framework for mask-resilient face recognition and anti-spoofing to enhance secure voter authentication

Opeyemi Lateef Usman, Khadijah Opeyemi Owodunni — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Biometric authentication systems employed in Nigeria’s electoral process continue to encounter significant challenges, particularly in addressing impersonation, facial occlusion, and presentation attacks. Although technologies such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) have enhanced electoral transparency and credibility, concerns regarding system reliability and susceptibility to spoofing attacks persist. To mitigate these limitations, this study proposes a hybrid framework that integrates mask-resilient face recognition with anti-spoofing mechanisms for secure voter authentication. The framework is based on a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) trained on a dataset comprising 1,478 facial images categorized into real, masked, and spoof classes. Standard preprocessing procedures, including face detection, image resizing to 128 × 128 pixels, and normalization, were applied to ensure input consistency and optimize model performance. Experimental results indicate that the proposed model achieves 97.3% classification accuracy, demonstrating its ability to effectively distinguish among real, masked, and spoof facial inputs. Furthermore, biometric evaluation metrics, namely the Attack Presentation Classification Error Rate (APCER), Bona fide Presentation Classification Error Rate (BPCER), and Average Classification Error Rate (ACER), confirm the model’s effectiveness in detecting spoofing attempts while maintaining acceptable performance for legitimate users. In conclusion, the findings suggest that the proposed framework offers strong potential for real-world biometric authentication applications. It provides an efficient, integrated solution for enhancing security in electoral systems and can be extended to other security-critical domains.

In vitro antioxidant and antivenom activities of aqueous and chitosan encapsulated Annona senegalensis bark extracts against naja nigricollis venom

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Snake envenomation is a neglected tropical disease responsible for thousands of deaths and morbidities annually. One of the most important venomous snakes in Nigeria is najanigricollis. Its enzyme constituent of the venom has been linked to fatal complications after being envenomated. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the in vitro antioxidant and antivenom activities of aqueous crude extract and chitosan-encapsulated extract of Annona senegalensis bark. In vitro antioxidant tests, DPPH radical and ferric reducing power tests, and in vitro antivenom tests, including phospholipase A2 and proteinase inhibition tests, were carried out using standard procedures. The extracts exhibited high DPPH radical-scavenging and ferric-reducing power; however, the encapsulated extract demonstrated greater activity, with IC50 values of 20.45 μg/mL and 7.45 μg/mL against DPPH radical and FRAP, respectively, compared to the crude extract (50.36 μg/mL). and 20.69 μg/mL. Furthermore, the extracts had significant inhibitory effects on the venom enzymes, with the encapsulated extract showing greater inhibition. The encapsulated extract showed stronger proteinase inhibition (IC₅₀ = 47.30 μg/mL) compared to the crude extract (IC₅₀ = 45.04 μg/mL). In comparison, the crude extract exhibited stronger phospholipase A₂ inhibition (IC₅₀ = 15.10 μg/mL) than the encapsulated extract (IC₅₀ = 30.14 μg/mL). This is the first study to assess the antivenom potential of A. senegalensis bark extract against N. nigricolli encapsulated in chitosan. These findings suggest that chitosan encapsulation enhances the extract's antioxidant activity and improves selected antivenom properties, highlighting its potential as a lead candidate for further development of plant-based therapies for snakebite envenomation.

Training needs of cucumber farmers on agrochemical use in Nsukka Agricultural Zone, Enugu State, Nigeria

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The study assessed the training needs of cucumber farmers on agrochemical use in the Nsukka Agricultural Zone of Enugu State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to select 120 cucumber farmers. Data were collected using a structured interview schedule and analysed using mean, standard deviation, and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that farmers had positive perceptions of agrochemical use, as reflected in statements such as "agrochemicals enhance rapid cucumber growth" (x̅= 4.85), "increase yield" (x̅= 4.79), and "reduce the drudgery associated with farm operations" (x̅= 4.77). Key training needs identified included determining the appropriate timing of agrochemical application (x ̅= 2.64), assessing the authenticity and quality of agrochemicals from retail outlets (x̅= 2.58), and selecting suitable agrochemicals for specific production practices (x̅= 2.58). Major constraints faced by the farmers were inadequate funds for purchasing agrochemicals (x̅= 2.90), high cost of agrochemicals (x̅ = 2.74), and weather-related challenges (x̅= 2.73). Age (t = 1.90) and membership in social organizations (t = 2.08) significantly influenced farmers’ use of agrochemicals. The study recommends that extension services, through the Enugu State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, should intensify training programmes focusing on types of agrochemicals, their authenticity, and appropriate timing of application.

Estimation of foetal age using ultrasonographic biometric parameters in rabbits

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Accurate estimation of foetal age in rabbits is essential for effective reproductive management, research planning, and timely clinical intervention. This study evaluated the use of ultrasonography measurements of key foetal parameters to predict gestational age in New Zealand White rabbit Does. Eight adult virgin Does were naturally mated individually using eight bucks, and scanned using a Medison S600V ultrasound machine equipped with a 6.5 MHz transcutaneous curvilinear probe. Ultrasonographic examinations were performed on days 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, and 28 post-coitus. Crown-rump length (CRL), biparietal diameter (BPD), and embryonic vesicle (EV) diameters were recorded and analyzed. All parameters showed progressive increases with advancing gestation: CRL increased from 0.5 cm (day 8) to 4.5 cm (day 28); BPD from 0.4 cm (day 12) to 1.7 cm (day 28); and EV diameter from 0.39 cm (day 4) to 2.8 cm (day 24). Strong positive correlations were observed between gestational age and CRL (R = 0.991), BPD (R = 0.995), and EV (R = 0.994). The derived regression models GA = 4.840(CRL) + 7.027; GA = 12(BPD) + 8; GA = 7.753(EV) + 0.999 demonstrate high predictive value and statistical significance (p≤0.01). These findings confirm that CRL, BPD, and EV are reliable biometric indicators for estimating foetal age in rabbits. The study provides practical reference data that can enhance reproductive monitoring, improve timing of interventions, and support biomedical research involving rabbit gestation.

Development and characterization of a locally derived H₂S test kit for quick and cost-effective water quality monitoring

Ekundayo Timmy Gbenga, Zakari Ladan, Salit Patrick Sherah — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

In many low-resource settings, the lack of safe drinking water and the high prevalence of microbial contamination highlight the need for simple and affordable testing approaches. This study focused on the development and evaluation of a hydrogen sulfide (H²S) test kit produced from locally available materials for the rapid detection of fecal pollution in water. The test media were prepared using yeast extract, beef extract, bile salts, and peptone derived from soybeans. Spectroscopic analysis (FTIR) indicated the presence of key functional groups, including O–H, N–H, and C=O, in the water sources, which are associated with organic compounds that support microbial growth. Elemental analysis (XRF) revealed a relatively high sulfur content (4.128%) in the beef extract, along with essential elements including iron, magnesium, calcium, and potassium. The test kit demonstrated its effectiveness by forming a black precipitate upon reaction of H ^₂ S with iron. The cost per test was significantly lower than conventional methods, making it suitable for field use. The kit provides a practical and sustainable option for water quality monitoring in underserved areas.

Influence of dietary supplementation of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) powder on growth performance and carcass yield of broiler chickens

S. Abdulsalam, M. S. Yahaya, S. Isyaku, S. A. Muhammad — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This experiment was conducted to assess the effect of dried ginger root powder (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) as a feed additive in broiler diets. Two hundred and forty unsexed day-old Zam strain broiler chicks were randomly allotted into 16 pens (four groups) of 15 chicks in a pen, using a completely randomized design. Each group was fed diets containing varying levels of ginger (250, 500, and 750 g per 100 kg), in addition to a control diet without ginger inclusion. The control and each level of supplementation were considered as T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively. All diets were closely designed as iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric. The broilers were raised for eight weeks, including a one-week adjustment period. Feed consumption, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio were recorded to evaluate the birds' growth performance. At the end of the experimental period, the birds were weighed to obtain live body weight, then slaughtered and weighed to get data for carcass quality (abdominal fat content, gut and liver weight, carcass yield). The data collected were subjected to a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), and Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was used to separate the means. The results demonstrated a significant (p<0.05) variation in the mean body weight gain (2617.97 - 2696.45 g) and final body weight (2658.67 - 2736.33 g) with T4 recording the highest values among the treatment groups. However, feed consumption (5621.39-5698.54 g) and feed conversion ratios (2.1 – 2.2) did not differ significantly (p > 0.05) across treatments. Similarly, the carcass yield (70.92-79.66as % of live weight) varied significantly (p<0.05), with T3 recording the highest value (79.66% of live weight). The study concludes that ginger powder supplementation in the broiler diet increased body weight gain and carcass yield.

Structural control and geochemical evolution of Pb-Zn-Cu mineralization: A multivariate statistical approach using centred log-ratio (CLR) transformation and principal components analysis

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Saiya-Shokobo and Tongolo alkaline ring complexes of North-Central Nigeria host significant Pb-Zn-Cu mineralization. However, the structural controls and paragenetic evolution of these deposits remain poorly understood. This study integrates detailed structural mapping with Compositional Data Analysis (CoDA), employing the Centred Log-Ratio (CLR) transformation and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of lithogeochemical data to distinguish discrete mineralization events within the Younger Granite and basement rock units. Structural analysis identifies dominant NNE-SSW, NNW-SSE, NE-SW, and N-S trends, indicating that reactivated Pan-African shear zones acted as major conduits for hydrothermal fluids. CLR-PCA further demonstrates that mineralization-related signatures are concentrated in lower-eigenvalue components beyond the lithological background represented by PC1 – PC3. In the Younger Granites, PC5 (λ = 0.66) defines a Cu-Pb association interpreted as evidence of telescoped hydrothermal activity involving successive high and low-temperature fluid pulses. In contrast, PC4 (λ = 0.60) within the basement rocks is characterized by a distinct Pb signature, suggesting pre-magmatic metal enrichment. These findings support a dual-source metallogenic model in which the Nigerian basement served as a pre-enriched metal reservoir, subsequently overprinted by magmatic hydrothermal fluids associated with the anorogenic Younger Granite event. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of CoDA-based multivariate analysis for resolving previously unresolved paragenetic stages in polymetallic hydrothermal systems.

Radiological risk of norm and heavy metal exposure in soil of Miringa, North-Eastern Nigeria

U. I. Abore, Y. A. Yamusa, S. Umar, S. M. Hussaini, R. Nasir — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The observed low background radiation, as reported in the aerial survey of the Miringa community, does not always reflect low soil activity concentrations. Factors such as environmental dilution and shielding can significantly attenuate gamma radiation flux, potentially concealing high activity sources within the ground. Given the impact of rapid urbanization and agricultural expansion, a comprehensive ground-level assessment was conducted to establish a reliable public health baseline. Radionuclide activity concentrations, determined via NaI (Tl) scintillation detection, averaged 32.37, 56.82, and 241.27 Bq/kg for 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K, respectively. Heavy metal analysis using atomic absorption spectrometry revealed that while lead, zinc, manganese, and nickel remain within WHO safety margins, levels of arsenic, copper, chromium, and cadmium exceeded recommended thresholds. Cadmium exhibited the most significant contamination, exceeding safety limits by 341%. Ecological risk assessments identified cadmium and arsenic as the primary drivers of localized contamination. Although the average Pollution Load Index (0.94) classifies the area as unpolluted, localized enrichment of thorium and cadmium indicates emerging environmental and long-term health concerns. These findings underscore that ground-level monitoring is vital for precise environmental management and the protection of community health.

Association between social media utilization and dietary habits among undergraduate students at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Nigeria

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study assessed the association between social media utilization and dietary habits among undergraduate students at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Nigeria. A stratified random sampling technique was used to select 422 undergraduate students across the university's 14 faculties. Data were collected using a questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS Version 23.0. The results showed that 63% of the respondents were aged 20-24 years, 90.7% were single, 96.9% were Christians, and 9.0%, 21.9%, 42%, 20.9%, and 6.2% were in the 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 levels, respectively. All respondents use social media. WhatsApp (100%), Facebook (56.2%), Instagram (74.2%), Twitter (55.4%), and TikTok (90.2%) were the most used. (43.8 %), Moreover, (43.8%) usually spend 4- 6 hours, or more than 6 hours, on social media, and 66.8% use it mostly late at night. 79.4% and 15.7% eat two and three meals, respectively, and 88.4% often skip meals. Busy with academics (27.6 %), lack of appetite (24.7 %), to lose weight (9.0 %), financial reasons (11.6 %), social media distraction (12.6 %), and other reasons (2.8 %) were the reasons they gave for skipping meals. 9.3% and 32.7% believe social media has a very positive and somewhat positive influence; 45.6% believe it has a neutral influence; 10.3% and 2.1% believe it has a somewhat negative and very negative influence on dietary choices. There was a statistically significant association between social media use and meal skipping habits among undergraduates (χ² = 17.658; p = 0.001). Students with prolonged social media use were more likely to engage in unhealthy dietary behaviours, particularly meal skipping.

Verity: Development of an integrated multi-role online Examination platform with AI-based proctoring, plagiarism detection, and LLM-content analysis

A. O. Ogar, S. Muhammed, A. S. Nur, F. O. Muhammed — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The rapid growth of online examinations has highlighted a rather disjointed problem in academic integrity enforcement: proctoring systems, plagiarism detectors, and large language model (LLM) content detectors are each deployed as stand-alone tools, leaving institutional reviewers to reconcile evidence across disconnected dashboards. This paper presents Verity, an integrated multi-role online examination platform that combines AI-based proctoring, multi-layer plagiarism detection, and LLM-based content analysis in a single architecture. The system has three role-separated user interfaces, student, proctor, and administrator, tied to a common Unified Student-Examination Record (USER) data model. Verity was developed using the Design Science Research methodology and assessed through a 28-participant System Usability Scale (SUS) study and a three-expert heuristic review. The findings reveal an average SUS score of 80.1 (Good) with no participant scoring below 70 and no major usability violations remaining to be fixed. This research offers a replicable architecture and a prototype that leads the way in the design of trustworthy and scalable online assessments.

Effect of tuber sectioning on the functional properties of flour from white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) and water yam (Dioscorea alata) in Oru East, Imo State, Nigeria

B. C. Nwokeke, E. C. Ogugua, P. N. Ekeocha — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

White yam (D. rotundata) and water yam (D. alata) were obtained from Mgbidi market, Oru East, Imo State, Nigeria, and the effect of sectioning on their functional properties was studied. Each of the yam tubers was sectioned as follows: head, middle, and tail of the yam tubers. They were manually peeled with a stainless-steel knife, washed, and sliced to a thickness of 2mm. The yam slices were treated for 20 min in 800 ppm sodium metabisulphate, drained of the solution, dried in a cabinet drier at 70 °C until a constant weight was obtained, and cooled to 25±2 °C. They were milled using an attrition mill, sieved through a 0.2mm aperture sieve, packaged in an airtight container, and labeled for subsequent analysis. The functional properties of the flour samples were determined according to the AOAC standard methods. Results were statistically analyzed at a 0.05 significance level using the General Linear Model to determine the mean, standard deviation, and analysis of variance. The results showed that, except for the swelling index, which decreased from 10.08 to 4.07 for heat-treated tail sections, the other functional properties examined were not significantly different (p > 0.05). On average, the flour from water yams had higher wettability (22.69s), oil absorption capacity (3.87g/ml), and gelatinization temperature (71.73 °C). However, flour from white yams had a higher average bulk density (0.53g/ml), emulsion capacity (5.11%), water absorption capacity (4.9g/ml), and swelling index (4.09). The results showed that there were significant (p≤ 0.05) differences in the functional properties of flour from the two varieties of yam tubers under examination. Based on the findings of this research, since no significant differences were observed among sections, flour from the whole tuber should be used instead of sectioning in food processing, such as for dough and pasta products, where swelling capacity is important. The high oil-absorption capacity of water yam flour suggests it could be used more effectively in baked products to enhance sensory attributes.

Environmental implications of abattoir waste management in Jigawa State, Nigeria

Bashir Babura Sabo, Aminu Hussaini — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examined the environmental implications of abattoir waste management in Jigawa State, Nigeria. Abattoirs are essential for meat supply, but produce substantial organic waste, and poor management of this waste can create serious environmental and public health risks. The study adopted a descriptive survey and field investigative design. Data were collected through questionnaire administration, direct field observation, and physical assessment of selected abattoirs across major emirate zones in the state. A total of 100 respondents were selected using purposive sampling, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages. Findings revealed that abattoirs in the study area process a high number of livestock daily, generating substantial quantities of waste, including blood, gut contents, bones, tissues, dung, and wastewater. Waste management practices were largely inadequate, with open dumping and open burning identified as the dominant disposal methods. The observed environmental impacts include offensive odours, contamination of surface and groundwater sources, proliferation of flies and rodents, and deterioration in soil quality. The study further revealed weak enforcement of environmental regulations and inadequate waste treatment infrastructure in the abattoirs. The study concludes that abattoir waste management practices in Jigawa State are environmentally unsustainable and pose serious risks to ecological integrity and public health. It recommends the provision of modern waste management facilities, strict enforcement of environmental regulations, adoption of sustainable waste treatment technologies, and regular environmental monitoring to improve sanitation and protect the environment in the study area.

Prediction of depression in university students using five-fold cross-validation and machine learning models

Adedeji Oluwaseun Bukonla — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Depression among university students has become a significant public health concern due to increasing academic pressure, financial instability, emotional stress, and social challenges. Early prediction of depression can help institutions implement timely interventions and improve student well-being. The study implements and compares four different classification algorithms: Logistic Regression (LR), Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The analysis incorporates data augmentation techniques, handles class imbalance through SMOTE (Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique), and provides extensive model evaluation metrics, including standard train-test split evaluation and rigorous 5-fold cross-validation with aggregated confusion matrices. Data preprocessing involved handling missing values, normalization, label encoding, and feature selection. Model performance was evaluated using accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and Receiver Operating Characteristic Area Under Curve (ROC-AUC). Experimental results demonstrated that the Random Forest model achieves superior performance, with 91.5% accuracy and 0.904 cross-validation accuracy, significantly outperforming other architectures for predicting depression among students. The findings indicate that machine learning approaches can provide reliable tools for early depression risk identification in higher education institutions.

Threshold spectral-based fourier regression model for seasonal-cyclical time series

Jimoh I. Taylor, Abass I. Taiwo, Timothy O. Olatayo — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Threshold Spectral Fourier Regression (TSFR) model is a hybrid model that integrates Fourier methods with the nonlinear dynamics of threshold models. It was developed to simultaneously model a series that exhibits nonlinear, nonstationary, cyclical, and seasonal behaviours, as well as structural breaks. This study presents the theory and development of the TSFR model. The model leverages spectral estimation and converts the dataset from the time domain to the frequency domain using methods such as the Fourier Transform. A threshold value of 𝜏 = 0.85 is determined using the quantile method; to split the series into two regimes categorised as Low and High, frequencies exceeding the threshold are retained for inclusion in the model. The TSFR model is developed using the retained frequencies and Fourier terms as regressors, while model parameters are estimated using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method. The fitted model is assessed for goodness-of-fit and model accuracy; the residuals are examined to ensure they are randomly distributed, and are used to predict future values. Nigerian rainfall data, covering the period 1981- May, 2025, obtained from climate hazards, UC Santa Barbara WEP; made up of 533 data points (𝑁 = 533) are used for empirical analysis. The estimated parameters for the rainfall dataset include five values per category. Low rainfall parameters are 0.2169, 0.0045, 0.0055, 0.0013 and -0.0015 with Coefficient of Determination 𝑅² = 0.8818, Adjusted Coefficient of Determination 𝑅̅² = 0.7486, Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) = 0.3, Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) = −6427.32 and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) = −0.0002; while the parameters for High rainfall are 0.9998, −0.00005, −0.0002, 0.00003 and −0.00006 with 𝑅² = 0.9484, Adjusted 𝑅̅² = 0.90388, MAPE = 0.05, AIC = −8832.82 and BIC = -8808. The findings in this study demonstrate that the TSFR model is suitable for modeling time series with pronounced nonlinear and periodic features. The model is flexible and robust, provides a good fit, exhibits minimal overfitting, and achieves better forecasting accuracy than traditional and non-threshold models.

Comparative assessment of phytochemical and proximate composition of Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum gratissimum leaves extracted with ethanol and aqueous solvents

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The purpose of this study was to investigate the extraction, proximate analysis, and total phenolic and flavonoid content of the plants Ocimum gratissimum and Ocimum basilicum that are used in Kaduna State's Kaduna North Local Government region. Quercetin was employed as a reference, and the absorbance was measured at 510 nm. The Folin-Ciocalteau assay was used to assess the total phenolic content, and the Aluminum chloride colorimetric assay was used to measure the total flavonoids spectrophotometrically. Protein, carbohydrate, and fat were the subjects of the proximate analysis. The ethanolic extract of Ocimum basilicum had the highest TPC value (18.942), while the aqueous extract of Ocimum gratissimum had the lowest TPC value (2.58). Similarly, the aqueous extracts of Ocimum gratissimum had the highest TFC value (111.873), while the ethanolic extract had the lowest, both of which are highly significant at p<0.05. The high concentration of this phytochemical suggests that the leaves may contain bioactive compounds with potent biological activity that might be isolated, as well as significant compounds.

Molecular characterization and tetracycline resistance determinants of stool-derived Salmonella enterica from selected tertiary hospitals in Kano, Nigeria

Asmau Nna Sulaiman — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Enteric bacterial infections, especially those caused by Salmonella species, remain a significant public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly amid rising antimicrobial resistance. This study investigated enteric bacteria specifically Salmonella enterica isolated from 300 stool samples collected from three tertiary hospitals in Kano, Nigeria (AKTH, MAWTH and MMSH), with emphasis on molecular characterisation and tetracycline resistance in Salmonella enterica. Escherichia coli was the predominant isolate, 27.7% (83/300), followed by Proteus mirabilis 5.7 % (17/300), Citrobacter species 5.3% (16/300), Enterobacter species 4.0% (12/300), Yersinia species 1.7% (5/300), and Salmonella enterica 1.3% (4/300), reflecting pathogen distributions commonly reported across African settings. Four Salmonella isolates (1.3%) were confirmed as Salmonella enterica by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, with sequence similarity ranging from 96.05 – 97.64% to reference strains. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated clustering with internationally reported serovars from South Africa, China, and India, indicating global lineage relatedness. The sequences were deposited in GenBank (PP857911.1 – PP857914.1), contributing to global surveillance datasets. PCR screening of tetracycline-resistant isolates revealed universal detection of the tetD gene (4/4) and tetB in one isolate, while tetA, tetC, tetO, and tetS were not detected. The predominance of tetD contrasts with many global reports in which tetA and tetB are more common, suggesting a distinct local resistance profile, potentially driven by regional antibiotic selection pressures and mobile genetic elements. The presence of efflux-mediated resistance determinants highlights the risk of horizontal gene transfer and the possible emergence of multidrug-resistant strains. These findings underscore the need for strengthened antimicrobial stewardship, expanded molecular surveillance, and broader profiling of resistance genes to mitigate the spread of resistant Salmonella enterica in northern Nigeria.

Exploring the environmental and industrial applications of microbial lipases

Idris Shehu, Aminu Aisha Muhammad, Muhammad Ahmad — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Microbial lipases are indispensable in modern environmental management and industry, offering eco-friendly, efficient, and costeffective solutions across diverse sectors. Their broad specificity, high stability, and ability to catalyse reactions under mild conditions underscore their significance in promoting sustainable development and innovative industrial processes. As biotechnological advancements continue to garner momentum, the potential applications of lipases are expected to expand, further enhancing their role in shaping a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future. Lipases are universal enzymes of extensive physiological importance. They have a wide range of applications across industries, including food (dairy, fats and oils, beverages, and bakery), detergents, paper and pulp, biodiesel production, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and bioremediation of various effluents. Microorganisms producing lipase are derived primarily from bacterial genera such as Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Burkholderia, as well as fungal species such as Rhizopus, Aspergillus, and yeast-like Candida, enabling efficient production from diverse substrates, including agro-industrial wastes. Their broad substrate specificity, stability under extreme conditions, and ability to catalyze reactions such as hydrolysis, esterification, and transesterification underpin transformative applications across sectors. As global industries increasingly shift toward green technologies and sustainable processes, microbial lipases are expected to play an even more crucial role in addressing environmental challenges while supporting innovation and industrial development.

Phytochemical analysis and antibacterial activities of aqueous and ethanolic leaf and stem extracts of Euphorbia hirta on some clinical isolates

Fatima Al-Amin Shuwa, Magaji Yakubu, Abdulsalami Muhammad Sani — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Medicinal plants have been widely used for centuries as sources of therapeutic agents, with Euphorbia hirta traditionally used to treat respiratory, gastrointestinal, and skin infections. The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacterial strains has intensified the need for alternative antimicrobial agents derived from natural sources. This study aims to evaluate the phytochemical constituents and antibacterial activities of ethanolic and aqueous leaf and stem extracts of E. hirta against clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae. The plant materials were collected, identified, and extracted by maceration in ethanol and distilled water. Phytochemical screening was performed to detect the presence of polyphenols, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, and alkaloids. Antimicrobial activity was assessed using the agar well diffusion method, while the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined. Results revealed that the ethanol extracts contained higher concentrations of polyphenols, flavonoids, and alkaloids compared to the aqueous extracts, whereas tannins were more abundant in the aqueous extracts. The ethanol leaf extract exhibited the highest antimicrobial activity, particularly against P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, with inhibition zones of 23.5 mm and 19.5 mm, respectively, at 500 mg/ml. The aqueous stem extract showed notable activity against S. pneumoniae (16.5 mm at 500 mg/ml). The MIC values indicated that the ethanol stem extract was the most effective against P. aeruginosa (62.5 mg/mL), whereas aqueous extracts required higher concentrations (500 mg/mL). MBC results suggested that all extracts were more bacteriostatic than bactericidal. These findings support the traditional medicinal use of E. hirta and highlight its potential as a natural antimicrobial agent. The ethanol extracts, particularly from the leaves, demonstrated the strongest antibacterial effects, suggesting that ethanol is an optimal solvent for extracting bioactive antimicrobial compounds. Further research is recommended to isolate and characterize specific compounds and explore their mechanisms of action for potential pharmaceutical applications.

Effect of a polyherbal aqueous extract on haematological indices of alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigated the effect of a polyherbal formulation on haematological parameters in alloxan-induced Wistar rats. Forty Wistar rats were randomly assigned into eight groups (5 rats each) designated: normal control; test control (diabetes induced, untreated); T-100mg, T-200mg, and T-300mg (diabetes induced and treated with 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg of the polyherbal extract respectively); TC-100mg, TC-200mg, and TC-300mg (treatment control groups non-induced, but administered 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg of the polyherbal extract respectively). Diabetes was induced through a single intraperitoneal injection of a freshly prepared alloxan solution. The polyherbal aqueous extract was prepared from a combination of five selected herbs and orally administered for two weeks. Rats were anaesthetised, their blood was collected in EDTA sample bottles, and haematological indices were analysed. Differences in values were considered significant at p <0.05. The polyherbal extract improved white blood cell, lymphocyte, and platelet counts, haematocrit, plateletcrit, and haemoglobin concentrations in diabetic rats, especially with T-100mg and T-300mg. Elevated red blood cell counts were observed in all treated groups. The highest granulocyte and midsized cells count, and red cell distribution width were recorded in T-300mg. Hence, the polyherbal aqueous extract can help correct haematological abnormalities associated with diabetes.

Isolation and identification of heavy metal- and antibiotic-resistant bacteria from sewage sludge in Offa Metropolis, Kwara State

A. E. Ajiboye, M. A. Abdulsalam, F. A. Jimoh — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Sewage sludge is a semi-solid by-product of wastewater treatment and a complex matrix of organic matter, inorganic compounds, and diverse microorganisms. Municipal sewage environments are recognized as critical reservoirs for the co-selection of antibiotic resistance and heavy metal tolerance due to persistent chemical pressures from domestic, industrial, and healthcare waste discharges. This study aimed to isolate and identify heavy metal-tolerant and antibiotic-resistant bacteria from sewage sludge collected within Offa Metropolis, Kwara State, Nigeria, and to determine their prevalence, resistance patterns, and associated public health and environmental implications. Sewage sludge was collected aseptically from four sites in Offa Metropolis. Bacteria were enumerated by serial dilution and the spread plate technique on selective and differential media (Nutrient Agar, MacConkey Agar, SS Agar, EMB Agar). Isolates were characterized by colonial morphology, Gram staining, and standard biochemical tests. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion and interpreted using CLSI M100 (34th edition, 2024) breakpoints; isolates were classified as Susceptible (S), Intermediate (I), or Resistant (R). Multidrug resistance (MDR) was defined as resistance to ≥3 antibiotic classes. Heavy metal tolerance was assessed using a modified disk diffusion assay with metal salt solutions at 20 mg/L; resistance was defined as a zone of inhibition ≤1 mm. Total bacterial counts ranged from 5.50 × 10⁶ to 11.43 × 10⁶ CFU/g. Sixteen isolates belonging to nine genera were recovered: Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus sp., Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Shigella, Streptococcus, Proteus, and Citrobacter sp. All 16 isolates were classified as MDR, with resistance across β-lactam, macrolide, aminoglycoside, fluoroquinolone, and glycopeptide classes. All isolates were tolerant to mercury (Hg) at 20 mg/L; 8 of 9 genera were also tolerant to cobalt (Co), yielding a Metal Resistance Index (MRI) of 0.40. The universal co-occurrence of MDR and heavy metal tolerance is consistent with co-selection driven by shared mobile genetic elements. Municipal sewage sludge in Offa Metropolis harbours heavy metal-tolerant, multidrug-resistant bacteria driven by synergistic interactions between heavy metals and antibiotics. Improved waste management, regulatory control of pollutants, and integrated environmental surveillance that simultaneously monitors chemical contaminants and markers of microbial resistance are urgently recommended.

Optimization of cellulase production by Aspergillus niger isolated from soil samples in Ibadan, Nigeria

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Cellulolytic microorganisms have found relevance in various industrial applications. The genus Aspergillus is among the cellulase-producing organisms that have been studied over time. Hence, this study aimed to establish the optimal conditions for cellulase production by Aspergillus niger isolated from soil. Soil samples were aseptically collected in Ziploc bags from four locations in Ibadan: Bashorun, Akobo, University of Ibadan, and Bodija. Isolation, cellulose degradation, and screening for cellulase production by the isolated A. niger were done on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), Carboxyl Methylcellulose (CMC) agar, and Congo red agar, respectively. Furthermore, cellulase production by A. niger was optimized using standard procedures. The results showed that ten of the fifteen isolated A. niger were cellulase producers, and two isolates (A. niger ISOd and A. niger ISOg) exhibited the largest zones of clearance (24 mm and 21 mm, respectively). Optimizing temperature, pH, carbon and nitrogen sources, % CMC concentration, and incubation time of A. niger ISOd demonstrated the highest cellulase yield of 0.32 U/mL at 37 ⁰C, 1.28 U/mL at 4.5, 0.93 U/mL using glucose, 0.26 U/mL using peptone, 0.39 U/mL using 5% CMC, and 1.20 U/mL at 72 h, respectively, compared to other isolates. In conclusion, A. niger ISOd is a good microbial cellulase producer that may be harnessed for useful food and industrial applications. In addition, this study supports Sustainable Development Goal 3, which targets good health and well-being.

Correlation analysis between damage parameters and cowpea yield due to post-flowering insect pest in Katsina, Sadano-Sahelian Ecology, Nigeria

A. Muhammad, B. A. Mahmoud, I. A. Muhammad — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Damage indices and yield potential of cowpea were compared in a field trial consisting of intra-row spacings, sowing dates, and pesticides as a combination of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) on a complex of pod-sucking bugs (CPSBs) and cowpea pod-borer populations. The trial was carried out during the rainy seasons of 2015 and 2016 in Katsina, with a sudano-sahelian ecology. The trial aims to compare the relationship between yield and CPSB damage indices. The experiment was laid out using a split-split plot design with intra-row spacings (SP₁-75 × 20 cm, SP₂-75 × 30 cm, and SP₃-75 × 40 cm) allocated to the main plot, sowing dates (SD1- 2 July; SD2-23 July, and SD3-13 Aug.) to the sub-plot, and the subsub-plots were allocated to pesticides (neem kernel seed extract (NKE), Maruca vitrata Multi-Nucleopolyhedrosis (MaviMNPV) viral suspension, synthetic insecticide (Cyper diforce), and a control. The treatments were randomized and replicated three times. Data were measured on damage parameters caused by a complex of pod-sucking bugs (CPSBs) and legume pod borer, Maruca vitrata. The data were correlated using the Pearson Correlation Coefficient for a Two-tailed test with df = (N- 2) at *P≤0.05 (r = 0.250) and **P≤0.01 (r = 0.325) using SAS software. The combined interaction results indicated that a significant and positive correlation (r>0) exists between the post-spray population of M. vitrata and the postspray flower damage 10 WAS, respectively (0.766**). Similarly, percentage (%) M. vitrata population in cowpea pods was positively and highly related to % cowpea damage by M. vitrata 10 WAS, respectively (0.751**). Yield was, however, negatively (r<0) and weakly related to percentage cowpea damage by CPSBs at harvest (-0.420**) and % grain damage by M. vitrata in 300 g (- 0.265*). It is therefore recommended that, for successful, high-yield cowpea in the study area and similar ecologies, synchronized sowing and the application of control measures should be initiated early, before the critical cowpea reproductive phase, to reduce infestation and improve yield.

In vitro antimicrobial activities of Euphorbia heterophylla and Zingiber officinale* on selected clinical isolates*

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Euphorbia heterophylla and Zingiber officinale have been used to treat many microbial infections. The study assessed the in vitro antimicrobial potency of E. heterophylla and Z. officinale against clinical microbial isolates. The antimicrobial activities of aqueous and methanol extracts of E. heterophylla and Z. officinale were assessed against three clinical isolates: Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans. This was done by measuring their zones of inhibition, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), and minimum bactericidal and fungicidal concentrations (MBCs and MFCs). The zones of inhibition against all the test microorganisms by almost all the extracts at a concentration of 10 mg/ml ranged from 12 to 29 mm. The highest zone of inhibition for S. aureus was obtained with the hot methanol Z. officinale extract, while that for P. aeruginosa was from the cold aqueous Z. officinale extract. C. albicans was most inhibited by hot aqueous Z. officinale extract. The cold and hot methanol extracts of Z. officinale did not affect C. albicans. The MIC ranged from 6.5 to 50 mg/ml. The MBC and MFC ranged from 25 to 100 mg/ml. These medicinal plants exhibited positive antimicrobial activity against clinical isolates, indicating their potential for use in antimicrobial drug development.

Analysis of groundwater quality parameters in Niger State using ordinary kriging and cokriging approaches

Aminu Kabiru Hassan, Audu Isah, Abdullahi Usman — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Groundwater is the primary source of water for households in Niger State. However, increasing urbanisation, poor sanitation, and limited monitoring have raised concerns regarding its quality and safety. This study used data on five Ground Water Quality (GWQ) parameters from twenty locations, which comprised five Boreholes (BH) and fifteen Hand-Dug Wells (HDW). Descriptive statistics were used to measure microbial, physical, and chemical parameters in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) standard. Geospatial structures in the data were estimated using ordinary kriging and cokriging. The results showed that, in BH, descriptive statistical analysis of Escherichia coli (0 cfu/100mL) concentrations clustered at zero, indicating good water quality. HDW showed a high E. coli count (12 cfu/100mL), indicating contaminated water. BH recorded very low microbial contamination with physical and chemical parameters within WHO limits. While HDW exhibited elevated microbial loads (1 – 56 cfu) and acidic pH (5.80 – 6.40), these conditions indicate that the water is not safe for direct consumption, despite acceptable Total Dissolved Solids (260 – 390 mg/L). Boreholes showed moderate spatial dependence (Z₀ = 0.05 – 0.15, Z = 0.60 – 1.85, and a = 1.20 – 2.80 km), implying that GWQ changes in a similar pattern. The spherical model best fitted the boreholes, while the spherical and exponential models best fitted the wells. Cross-variogram confirmed pH as the preferred auxiliary variable. The coefficient of determination confirmed that Cokriging outperformed ordinary kriging with (R 2 ≥ 0.96). These results imply that boreholes represent the safest groundwater source in Minna. The study recommended routine monitoring, sanitation, and use of prediction maps to prioritise targeted interventions.

Parasitological assessment of water and environmental conditions associated with food vending in Calabar, Nigeria

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Food vending plays a vital role in the urban food supply in Calabar, Nigeria, yet the safety of water used by vendors remains a major public health concern. This study assessed the parasitological contamination of water and environmental hygiene conditions associated with food vendors across four locations in Calabar Metropolis. A total of 120 water samples (before and after customer hand-washing) were collected and analyzed using the sedimentation technique, while structured questionnaires and observational checklists captured vendors’ hygiene practices and environmental conditions. Results showed an overall parasite contamination prevalence of 31.7%, with higher contamination before hand-washing (35.0%) than after (28.3%). Anantigha (56.7%) and 8th Mile (43.3%) recorded the highest contamination levels. Three parasite species — Ascaris lumbricoides (15.8%), Entamoeba histolytica (10.0%), and Giardia lamblia (5.3%) — were identified. Many vendors relied on water from unknown sources (51.4%), and environmental assessment revealed significant fly presence (65.7%) and proximity to refuse dumps (17.1%). Despite most vendors wearing protective clothing, sanitation gaps persisted. The findings demonstrate considerable parasitic risks associated with water used by food vendors in Calabar and highlight the need for improved hygiene practices, regulated water sources, routine monitoring, and strengthened public health education to reduce transmission.

Multimodal large language models for low-resource languages and Global South deployment: A comprehensive survey of architectures, benchmarks, and sociotechnical challenges

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Multimodal Large Language Models (MLLMs) such as LLaVA, InstructBLIP, and Qwen²-VL have unlocked joint reasoning over text and images at an unprecedented scale. The technical literature on MLLM efficiency, domain adaptation, and benchmarking has matured into a substantial corpus. However, the overwhelming majority of surveys are written from the vantage point of high-resource English-language datasets and well-resourced computing infrastructures. This survey takes a different angle. We consolidate the recent literature on multimodal language understanding through the lens of low-resource languages and Global South deployment contexts, where data scarcity, compute constraints, intermittent connectivity, and sociotechnical-trust considerations interact in ways that high-resource surveys rarely address. We propose a four-quadrant taxonomy that organises the field around linguistic coverage, data scarcity, compute constraints, and sociotechnical trust. We trace the evolution of multilingual multimodal architectures across an eight-year arc, map the benchmark landscape against nine languages and five modalities, and describe a three-tier edge-regional-global deployment topology suited to low-resource environments. Five high-impact application domains are surveyed: healthcare, agriculture, education, disaster response, and public service. A dedicated section examines sociotechnical considerations, including linguistic justice, algorithmic fairness, and regulatory readiness. We identify six concrete open research problems and outline a future research agenda. The survey is intended as a single-source reference for researchers, policy makers, and practitioners pursuing equitable multimodal AI deployment in low-resource contexts.

Transverse vibration of functionally graded prestressed beam on elastic foundation

I. A. Idowu, R. B. Adegbola, A. A. Abdurasid, C. Iluno, S. O. Are, M. Ekum — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigates the transverse vibration behaviour of functionally graded prestressed beams resting on elastic foundations. The material properties are assumed to vary continuously through the beam thickness according to a power-law distribution. The governing equation is derived using Euler–Bernoulli beam theory and Hamilton's principle. The Galerkin method is employed to determine the natural frequencies and dynamic responses of the beam. Validation of the proposed model is performed through comparison with published results, showing excellent agreement with errors below 2%. Parametric analyses are conducted to examine the effects of prestressing force, foundation stiffness, power-law index, boundary conditions, slenderness ratio, and skin-to-core thickness ratio on vibration characteristics. The results indicate that increasing foundation stiffness and tensile prestress significantly increase natural frequencies, while increasing the power-law index decreases beam stiffness and lowers vibration frequencies. The study demonstrates that the combined effects of prestress and elastic foundation improve vibration performance and structural stability. The developed model provides useful information for the design of advanced engineering structures employing functionally graded materials.

Comparative evaluation of generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity-type and machine-learning models for exchange-rate volatility forecasting in Nigeria

A. S. Oyelami, O. T. Arowolo, R. Y. Akinbo — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigates exchange-rate volatility forecasting in Nigeria by comparing conventional econometric models with machine-learning approaches using a common volatility target. Monthly USD/NGN exchange-rate data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria covering January 2004 to December 2025 were analysed. Monthly log returns were computed, while squared returns served as a proxy for realized volatility. The empirical framework combines an ARMA mean specification with GARCH(1,1) and EGARCH(1,1) variance models, alongside Support Vector Regression (SVR) and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). Forecast performance was evaluated using rolling timeseries cross-validation and standard error measures, including Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Mean Squared Error (MSE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE), and the Diebold – Mariano test. Results indicate that returns are stationary, leptokurtic, and exhibit volatility clustering with evidence of structural instability. ARMA – GARCH(1,1) outperforms EGARCH(1,1) in stability, while SVR achieves the best forecasting accuracy followed by ANN. However, the Diebold – Mariano test shows that differences in predictive accuracy are not statistically significant at the 5% level. The findings suggest that machine-learning methods, particularly SVR, complement traditional volatility models in exchange-rate risk management in Nigeria

Determinants of government agricultural expenditure in Nigeria from 1999 to 2025 (the first 26 years of the uninterrupted democratic era)

B. Bartholomew, D. La’ah, M. Fada, E. Yayock — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study was undertaken to analyse the impact of government agricultural expenditure on agricultural growth in Nigeria from 1999 to 2025. Annual time series data on agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth rate, government agricultural expenditure, inflation rate, exchange rate, population growth rate, interest rate, export rate, private investment, public investment and foreign direct investment collected from the records of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) publications and annual reports, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) database, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Food and Agriculture Organization Statistics (FAOSTAT) and World Bank database were analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics such as unit root, Johansen co-integration, growth model and vector error correction model (VECM). The result showed an instantaneous growth rate of -1.7% for agricultural GDP, with a compound growth rate of -3%. It also showed that the growth rate of agricultural GDP decelerated over the period under review, and that agricultural expenditure had a statistically significant impact on agricultural GDP growth at the 1% significance level in both the short run and the long run, with coefficients of 0.02270 and 0.003055, respectively. This implies that a unit increase in agricultural expenditure would increase agricultural GDP growth by 0.02270 in the short run and 0.003055 in the long run. The coefficients for inflation (0.890787) and private investment (0.004469) were both positive and significant at the 1% significance level. This means that acceleration in inflation and private investment lead to acceleration in agricultural expenditure by 0.890787 and 0.001617, respectively, in both the short run and the long run. The coefficient on public investment (0.004469) was positive and significant at the 1% significance level. This means that acceleration in public investment leads to acceleration in agricultural expenditure by 0.004469 in the short run only. The study concludes that Government agricultural expenditure had a statistically significant positive impact on agricultural GDP in both the short run and the long run. Thus, the government should increase its expenditure on agriculture to boost growth in this sector and its contribution to the domestic economy, and government expenditure needs to be closely monitored to ensure its proper implementation.

Perceptions on breastfeeding practices and child spacing among mothers in Abii local government area, Cross River State, Nigeria

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Breastfeeding plays a critical role in maternal and child health and has important implications for fertility regulation through the lactational amenorrhea mechanism. Understanding women's perceptions regarding breastfeeding and child spacing is essential for designing effective reproductive health interventions. This study assessed respondents' perceptions of the relationship between breastfeeding practices and child spacing. A descriptive crosssectional study design was employed among 400 respondents. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests. Frequencies, percentages, and statistical significance were used to describe respondents' perceptions. The findings revealed that 68.0% of respondents agreed that frequent breastfeeding delays ovulation, while 61.5% agreed that exclusive breastfeeding prolongs postpartum amenorrhea. A substantial majority (73.6%) believed that longer breastfeeding duration increases birth intervals. Conversely, only 47.0% agreed that breastfeeding alone is sufficient for family planning, whereas 53.0% disagreed. More than two-thirds (67.8%) agreed that the early introduction of complementary feeding shortens birth intervals. Furthermore, 77.1% agreed that mental illness can affect breastfeeding and child spacing. All perception domains showed statistically significant response distributions (p < 0.001), indicating strong, structured opinions among respondents. The study demonstrates a general awareness of the biological relationship between breastfeeding and fertility regulation. However, misconceptions regarding the effectiveness of breastfeeding as a sole family planning method persist. Strengthening maternal health education on lactational amenorrhea and optimal breastfeeding practices is recommended to improve reproductive health outcomes and promote informed family planning decisions.

Assessment of uncertainties in the computation of atmospheric correction parameters for Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 7 ETM + thermal band

Barnabas O. Morakinyo — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This research examines the uncertainties present when computing atmospheric correction parameters (upwelling (L_i↑) and downwelling (L_i↓) radiances, and transmittance (𝜏)) for the 9 flaring sites in Rivers State, Nigeria, and to estimate the total uncertainty introduced into the land surface temperature (LST) when they are applied. Eight (8) Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM) and Twenty- Four (24) Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM +) from 18 August 2000 to 08 March 2013, with less than 3 percent (%) cloud contamination, were considered to evaluate a trend. Option B of the Atmospheric Correction Parameter (ATMCORR) Calculator was adopted to obtain L_i↑ , L_i↓ , and 𝜏 for the thermal band (band 6) of the Landsat scenes analysed. The L_i↑ , L_i↓ , and 𝜏 obtained were applied to the calibrated at-sensor radiance band 6 (high gain) data to compute the surface-leaving radiance L_i (T_i) with the emissivity (𝜀) of each station estimated by using standard values for determined land surface cover. The Planck equation was inverted using the Landsat calibration constants to derive the LST. To determine the uncertainties introduced into the retrieved LST, the difference between the computed mean surface temperature (ST) measured at each flaring site during ground truthing and the combined average LST retrieved from the Landsat datasets is applied. The results show that the larger the % of water body at the site, the higher the uncertainty in LST, and vice versa. Bonny LNG has the highest error of 24.712 K, Eleme II has the lowest value of 0.752 K. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that the ATMCORR Calculator can provide an automated method to derive L_i↑ , L_i↓ , and 𝜏 for Landsat 5 and Landsat 7 thermal band for generating LST in the Niger Delta, Nigeria.

Engagement tracking model for online learning environment

M. E. Irhebhude, Ummu Bello Dogondaji — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Online learning has expanded rapidly, but maintaining student engagement in virtual classrooms remains a persistent challenge. Most existing engagement detection models are trained on Western or East Asian populations and achieve modest accuracy, particularly for under-resourced settings. We propose an engagement detection model that classifies students into three categories (very engaged, nominally engaged, not engaged) using four interpretable behavioral indicators: facial emotion recognition (seven emotions), drowsiness detection, phone use detection, and distraction detection. Webcam video was collected from 38 tertiary students in Kaduna State, Nigeria, during live online lectures. Frames were extracted and augmented to produce a balanced dataset of 9,000 images. DenseNet121, pretrained on ImageNet, extracts 1,024-dimensional feature vectors, which are then classified by a lightweight Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) with two hidden layers and dropout regularization. On our local test set, the model achieves 82% accuracy and an F1-score of 0.88 for the critical "not engaged" class, outperforming an LSTM baseline (80% accuracy). The MLP classifier runs in under 1 ms per frame, enabling real-time feedback, and its predictions are explainable via the specific behavioral cues that triggered each alert. On the public DAiSEE benchmark, both models fail on minority classes due to severe class imbalance, confirming that data quality and class balance are more critical than architectural sophistication. Limitations include the modest sample size (n=38) and the absence of cross-regional validation. We conclude that locally collected, balanced data can substantially improve engagement detection for underrepresented populations, offering a practical, interpretable, and real-time solution for educators in low-resource settings.

A survival analysis of infant mortality rate: Evidence from Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna, Nigeria

Ibrahim Abubakar, Lurwanu Usman, Salihu Muhammad Sani — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Infant mortality remains a major public health concern, particularly in lowand middle-income countries, where neonatal and infant deaths contribute substantially to under-five mortality. This study investigated the factors associated with infant mortality among infants admitted to Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna, Nigeria, using survival analysis techniques. A retrospective cohort design was adopted, utilising secondary data extracted from hospital records covering the period from 2015 to 2025. The Cox proportional hazards model was employed to examine the effects of birth weight, gestational age, five-minute Apgar score, maternal age, maternal educational attainment, and the number of antenatal care visits on infant survival. A total of 100 infants were included in the analysis, of whom 20 experienced the event of interest (death) during the follow-up period, while the remaining observations were right-censored. The findings revealed that gestational age was the only statistically significant predictor of infant mortality (HR = 0.755, 95% CI: 0.572 – 0.995, p = 0.046). Specifically, each additional week of gestation was associated with an approximately 24.5% reduction in the hazard of infant death. Although birth weight exhibited a protective effect (HR = 0.999, p= 0.081), its association with infant mortality was not statistically significant at the 5% significance level. Likewise, five-minute Apgar score, maternal age, maternal educational attainment, and the number of antenatal care visits did not significantly influence infant survival. The fitted Cox model demonstrated good predictive performance, with a concordance statistic of 0.874. However, assessment of the proportional hazards assumption using Schoenfeld residuals indicated significant violations for gestational age and the number of antenatal care visits, suggesting that the effects of these covariates varied over time. These findings indicate that extended Cox models incorporating time-dependent covariates may provide a more appropriate framework for future analyses. The study concludes that gestational age is the most important determinant of infant survival among the factors examined. The findings underscore the importance of interventions aimed at preventing preterm births, improving the quality and utilisation of antenatal care services, and strengthening neonatal healthcare to reduce infant mortality. The study further contributes hospital-based empirical evidence from Northern Nigeria, thereby enriching the existing literature on infant survival and providing useful information for healthcare practitioners and policymakers.

Analytical and numerical modeling of beam deflection under moving mass and distributed loads

I. A. Idowu, A. A. Abdurasid, C. Iluno, S. O. Are — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study presents analytical and numerical investigations of beam deflection under moving mass and distributed loading conditions. The governing equations are formulated using Euler – Bernoulli beam theory and solved analytically through modal expansion techniques. Numerical solutions are obtained using the finite difference method. The effects of moving load velocity, distributed load intensity, damping coefficient and beam stiffness on beam response are examined. Model validation is carried out through comparison between analytical and numerical solutions, showing excellent agreement with errors below 3%. The results indicate that increasing load velocity and moving mass significantly amplify beam deflection, while higher damping and flexural rigidity reduce vibration amplitudes. The developed model provides useful insight into the design and analysis of bridges, railway tracks, conveyor systems and other engineering structures subjected to moving dynamic loads.

Isolation, molecular characterization and antibacterial profiling of metabolites produced by Bacillus siamensis and Staphylococcus equorum isolated from traditionally fermented cow milk

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The increasing emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens has intensified the search for alternative and natural antimicrobial agents. This study investigated the isolation, molecular characterisation, and antibacterial profiling of metabolite-producing lactic acid-related bacteria from traditionally fermented cow milk (nono). Fermented milk samples were collected from the Zango (Tudun Wada) and Rafinguza areas of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Bacterial isolates were obtained using de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) agar plates. The bacterial isolates were characterised based on their morphological, biochemical, and physiological properties, including gram reaction, catalase activity, carbohydrate fermentation, salt tolerance, and temperature tolerance. The microbes were extracted using ammonium sulfate precipitation and evaluated for antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using the agar well diffusion assay. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined. Molecular identification of selected potent isolates was carried out through PCR amplification and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, followed by NCBI Blast sequences. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was used to characterise the bioactive compounds in the mixed culture. The lactic acid bacterial counts ranged from 25.5 × 10⁶ to 73.0 × 10⁶ CFU/mL, confirming that milk is a rich source of Lactic acids related bacteria All isolates were gram-positive and catalasenegative, with rod- and coccus-shaped morphologies, and demonstrated varying degrees of tolerance to NaCl concentrations (4–6.5%) and temperatures (10–45°C). The identified components exhibited concentration-dependent antibacterial activity against all test pathogens, with stronger inhibition observed against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli than against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The MIC and MBC assays confirmed the bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects of the bacterial isolates. Molecular analysis identified the selected potent isolates was performed through genomic DNA extraction, PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene, agarose gel electrophoresis, purification, sequencing and BLAST analysis against NCBI Genbank database.The isolates were identified as Bacillus siamensis and Staphylococcus equorum, sequences and with a Query Cover (%) of 99, an E-value of 0.0, and Percentage Similarity (%) of 99.08 and 96.03, respectively, through NCBI Blast sequences confirming their taxonomic relationships. GC–MS profiling revealed the presence of several bioactive compounds, including fatty acids and terpenoid derivatives, associated with antimicrobial activity. Traditionally fermented cow milk harbours LAB isolates with significant antibacterial potential, which can serve as natural antimicrobial agents for food preservation and therapeutic applications.

Parasite intensity of urinary schistosomiasis in communities in Biase LGA

Nkanu Uno Ekpe, Emmanuel Ogban, Emmanuel Chukwunenye Uttah — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Schistosomiasis remains a significant public health challenge in many rural communities in Nigeria, particularly where dependence on natural freshwater sources sustains transmission. This study investigated the intensity of urinary schistosomiasis among residents of selected communities in Biase Local Government Area, Cross River State, Nigeria. A community-based crosssectional study was conducted among 915 participants, comprising 405 adults and 510 school-aged children, selected through multistage sampling. Mid-day urine samples were collected and examined for Schistosoma haematobium eggs using the standard filtration technique. Infection intensity was expressed as eggs per 10 ml of urine and classified according to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. The overall mean intensity was 47.15 ± 20.68 eggs/10 ml urine, indicating moderate transmission. Significant variations in infection intensity were observed among communities (p < 0.01), with Abini (56.45 ± 24.30 eggs/10 ml) and Adim (54.84 ± 22.95 eggs/10 ml) recording the highest intensities, while Betem (15.17 ± 7.92 eggs/10 ml) recorded the lowest. Children had significantly higher infection intensity than adults (49.31 ± 21.85 vs. 43.97 ± 19.42 eggs/10 ml; p < 0.05), and 48% of infected children harboured heavy infections. Infection intensity declined progressively with age. The findings reveal persistent hotspots of schistosomiasis transmission in Biase LGA and underscore the need for targeted mass drug administration, improved water and sanitation facilities, and continuous surveillance to support elimination efforts.

Biodegradation of expanded polystyrene by bacterial isolates from selected dumpsites in Kaduna South, Nigeria

Ramatu Aminu, Ali Ahmed Haroun, Muhammed Sani AbdulSalami, Yakubu Magaji — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Expanded polystyrene (EPS) is a petroleum-based plastic widely used in food packaging, insulation, and disposable products. Its resistance to natural degradation contributes significantly to environmental pollution and accumulation in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. This study investigated the biodegradation potential of bacterial isolates recovered from selected dumpsites in Kaduna South, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Soil samples were collected from domestic waste dumpsites, and bacterial isolates were recovered using standard microbiological techniques. The biodegradation potential of the isolates was evaluated using a weight-loss method over a 60-day incubation period. Isolates G, M, and P, which exhibited comparatively higher and consistent biodegradation efficiencies, were further characterized using biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Biodegradation data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA at p < 0.05. Seventeen bacterial isolates were recovered and exhibited varying biodegradation efficiencies ranging from 6.59% to 61.52%. Isolate G, molecularly identified as Bacillus sp. strain GSKN, recorded the highest biodegradation efficiency (61.52%) after 60 days of incubation. Molecular characterization identified the remaining selected isolates as Bacillota bacterium strain MSKN and Pseudoxanthomonas sp. strain PSKN. The obtained nucleotide sequences were deposited in the NCBI GenBank database under accession numbers PZ345677, PZ345678, and PZ345679, respectively. The findings demonstrate that bacterial isolates from dumpsite soils can degrade EPS and highlight their potential for environmentally sustainable strategies to manage plastic-polluted environments.

Malaria vector abundance, knowledge and practices for its control amongst residents of selected communities in Abia State, South Eastern Nigeria

A. F. Nwaoha, A. N. C. Amadi, O. P. Irole-Eze, B. C. Ogeyi, E. C. Amaechi — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Malaria transmission in Nigeria is sustained by high mosquito vector abundance and community attitudes towards control measures. Understanding both entomological and behavioural factors is essential for effective intervention. Adult mosquitoes were collected indoors using human landing catch methods across selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Abia State. Morphological identification revealed the species composition, while sporozoite infection rates were determined by dissecting the mosquitoes' salivary glands. Structured questionnaires were administered to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) related to vector control. Statistical analyses explored associations between socio-demographic variables and control practices. A total of 446 mosquitoes were collected, with Anopheles gambiae being the predominant species. The mean vector density was six Anopheles per household, with an estimated human biting rate of 0.69. Among female Anopheles, 46.6% were blood-fed, and 22.0% carried sporozoites. Questionnaire responses showed insecticide use (70.8%) as the most preferred control method, while 46.6% of respondents reported using long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs). Barriers to LLIN use included discomfort and heat. Awareness of community-level intervention was low (32.4%). Findings highlight that both entomological and socio-behavioural factors sustain malaria transmission. Also, high vector abundance coupled with inconsistent adoption of control measures sustains malaria transmission in Abia State. Strengthening health education programs to improve awareness and promote consistent use of effective interventions, particularly LLINs, is recommended to reduce malaria burden.

Isolation and identification of microorganisms associated with late blight disease of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in Niger State, Nigeria

Aisha Abubakar, Maikudi Habiba Mohammed — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Late blight disease remains one of the major constraints affecting tomato production worldwide due to its rapid spread and destructive effects on infected plants. This study was undertaken to isolate and identify microorganisms associated with late blight disease of tomato plant in Niger state. A total of thirty diseased tomato samples showing symptoms of late blight were collected from selected tomato farmlands from Bida, Lapai and Agaie Local Government Area of Niger State, Nigeria. The samples were analyzed using standard microbiological and biochemical techniques. Fungal isolates were identified based on their cultural and microscopic characteristics, while bacterial isolates were identified using biochemical tests. The fungi isolated included Phytophthora infestans (40.0%), Alternaria solani (25.3%), Fusarium oxysporum (18.7%), Aspergillus flavus (10.7%), and Phoma destructiva (5.3%). The bacterial isolates recovered were Pseudomonas syringae (38.5%), Xanthomonas campestris (30.8%), Ralstonia solanacearum (20.5%), and Bacillus subtilis (10.2%). Phytophthora infestans and Pseudomonas syringae were the most predominant fungal and bacterial isolates, respectively. The findings of this study indicate that late blight-infected tomato plants harbor diverse fungal and bacterial species that may collectively contribute to disease severity and tissue deterioration. The study therefore emphasizes the importance of accurate identification of microorganisms associated with tomato diseases for effective disease monitoring and management in tomato production.

Herbicide biodegradation potential of fungi isolated from herbicide-contaminated soils in selected Okitipupa local government area farmlands

I. A. Adeyemo, A. J. Adebayo, E. T. Adeoye — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study aims to isolate indigenous fungal species from paraquat-contaminated farmland in Okitipupa, Ondo State, Nigeria, and evaluate their capacity to biodegrade the non-selective herbicide Slasher Dichloride (paraquat, 276 g/L) to mitigate soil contamination and associated ecological and human health risks. Isolation and identification of fungi from paraquat-contaminated sites were carried out using standard cultural and molecular methods, biodegradation assays were conducted in Mineral Salt Medium (MSM) with 100 mg/L paraquat as the sole carbon source, incubated at pH 6.3, 31°C, 120 rpm for 7 days while process optimization of inoculum concentration (1 – 5 % v/v) was done using response surface methodology, with fungal growth monitored by optical density at 600 nm (OD 600). Optimal fungal growth occurred at a 1 % (v/v) inoculum for Aspergillus fumigatus (0.092 AU), Aspergillus niger (0.085 AU), Aspergillus nidulans (0.078 AU), and Penicillium allii (0.050 AU), whereas Trichoderma harzianum (0.042AU) peaked at 3 % (v/v). The degradation efficiency ranked as follows: A. fumigatus > A. niger > A. nidulans > P. allii > T. harzianum. It was then concluded that the isolates have strong potential for the development of myco-based bioremediation strategies to restore herbicide-polluted soils in Okitipupa and similar agrarian regions.

Phytochemical profiling and antimalarial evaluation of euphorbia heterophylla extracts leading to the isolation of 3-O-Diglucopyranosyl-7,4'-O-Dimycarosyl-3’-Methoxy-5-Hydroxyflavone

Yabvo K. Musa, Zakari Ladan, Salit P. Bako, Abdullahi N. Maikudi, Gabi Baba — Wed, 22 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The investigation of the acclaimed traditional antiplasmodial efficacy of Euphorbia heterophylla extracts and the subsequent phytochemical isolation of potential bioactive natural compounds is a step in the fight against the Plasmodium parasite, which causes malaria. In this research, ethanol, chloroform, and n-hexane extracts were phytochemically screened for alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenols, tannins, saponins, and cardiac glycosides. The results revealed the presence of all tested phytochemicals in the ethanol extract, whereas tannins and saponins were absent from the chloroform extract. The n-hexane extract of this plant confirmed the absence of alkaloids and tannins, thereby making the ethanol extract in this research of the highest quality. These extracts were further screened for antimalarial activity using the World Health Organization (WHO) in vitro (Mark III) Schizont maturation inhibition protocol 1996, modified in 2001. The ethanol extract showed the only promising result with an IC₅₀ of 10 μg/ml, while the chloroform and n-hexane extracts gave an IC50 of 15.3 μg/ml and 21.0μg/ml, respectively, as compared with the positive control, which showed an IC₅₀ of 2.8 μg/ml. The promising ethanol extract was used to isolate 3-O-Diglucopyranosyl-7,4'-Odimycarosyl-3’ -methoxy-5-hydroxyflavone. The research supported the traditional use of the plant for managing mild, uncomplicated malaria.

Science World Journal

Prevalence, determinants, and clinical correlates of norovirus gastroenteritis among children in Plateau State, Nigeria

Quercetin and Naringin ameliorate dichlorvos induced subacute toxicity via modulation of antioxidant enzymes in rats

Physicochemical characteristics and phytoplankton community structure of Adofi River, Nigeria

Epidemiology of tuberculosis in resource-limited settings of Bauchi State, Northeastern Nigeria

Structural equation model of determinants of adolescent body mass index

An assessment of malaria parasite infections among individuals seeking medical care in selected healthcare facilities in Kaduna Metropolis, Kaduna, Nigeria

Bayesian inference for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) clinical progression: Modelling current cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) with patient-level covariates

Assessment of urban land use encroachment on agricultural land in Chikun local government area, Kaduna State, Nigeria using GIS and remote sensing

Investigating the correlation between packed cell volume and body mass index among students of Kaduna State University: A cross-sectional study

Insecticidal activity of Monoon longifolium, Helianthus annuus, and Croton hirtus against Callosobruchus maculatus

Impact of AI-based credentials on teaching practices and learning outcomes in secondary and tertiary institutions in Abuja, Nigeria

A chaotic map-driven JAYA algorithm for robust clinical attributes selection in breast cancer metastasis prediction

A CNN-based approach for speaker identification using MFCC features in noisy and real-world environments

An assessment of heavy metals contamination on farmland ecosystems and its implications for elephant health in coastal villages of Epe, Lagos State, Nigeria

Effects of local dyeing activities on groundwater quality in Kano Metropolis, Kano State, Nigeria

Quantitative evaluation of human exposure to RF-EMF from selected mobile transceiver stations in Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria

A hybrid framework for mask-resilient face recognition and anti-spoofing to enhance secure voter authentication

In vitro antioxidant and antivenom activities of aqueous and chitosan encapsulated Annona senegalensis bark extracts against naja nigricollis venom

Training needs of cucumber farmers on agrochemical use in Nsukka Agricultural Zone, Enugu State, Nigeria

Estimation of foetal age using ultrasonographic biometric parameters in rabbits

Development and characterization of a locally derived H2S test kit for quick and cost-effective water quality monitoring

Influence of dietary supplementation of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) powder on growth performance and carcass yield of broiler chickens

Structural control and geochemical evolution of Pb-Zn-Cu mineralization: A multivariate statistical approach using centred log-ratio (CLR) transformation and principal components analysis

Radiological risk of norm and heavy metal exposure in soil of Miringa, North-Eastern Nigeria

Association between social media utilization and dietary habits among undergraduate students at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT), Nigeria

Verity: Development of an integrated multi-role online Examination platform with AI-based proctoring, plagiarism detection, and LLM-content analysis

Effect of tuber sectioning on the functional properties of flour from white yam (Dioscorea rotundata) and water yam (Dioscorea alata) in Oru East, Imo State, Nigeria

Environmental implications of abattoir waste management in Jigawa State, Nigeria

Prediction of depression in university students using five-fold cross-validation and machine learning models

Threshold spectral-based fourier regression model for seasonal-cyclical time series

Comparative assessment of phytochemical and proximate composition of Ocimum basilicum and Ocimum gratissimum leaves extracted with ethanol and aqueous solvents

Molecular characterization and tetracycline resistance determinants of stool-derived Salmonella enterica from selected tertiary hospitals in Kano, Nigeria

Exploring the environmental and industrial applications of microbial lipases

Phytochemical analysis and antibacterial activities of aqueous and ethanolic leaf and stem extracts of Euphorbia hirta on some clinical isolates

Effect of a polyherbal aqueous extract on haematological indices of alloxan-induced diabetic Wistar rats

Isolation and identification of heavy metal- and antibiotic-resistant bacteria from sewage sludge in Offa Metropolis, Kwara State

Optimization of cellulase production by Aspergillus niger isolated from soil samples in Ibadan, Nigeria

Correlation analysis between damage parameters and cowpea yield due to post-flowering insect pest in Katsina, Sadano-Sahelian Ecology, Nigeria

In vitro antimicrobial activities of Euphorbia heterophylla and Zingiber officinale on selected clinical isolates

Analysis of groundwater quality parameters in Niger State using ordinary kriging and cokriging approaches

Parasitological assessment of water and environmental conditions associated with food vending in Calabar, Nigeria

Multimodal large language models for low-resource languages and Global South deployment: A comprehensive survey of architectures, benchmarks, and sociotechnical challenges

Transverse vibration of functionally graded prestressed beam on elastic foundation

Comparative evaluation of generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity-type and machine-learning models for exchange-rate volatility forecasting in Nigeria

Determinants of government agricultural expenditure in Nigeria from 1999 to 2025 (the first 26 years of the uninterrupted democratic era)

Perceptions on breastfeeding practices and child spacing among mothers in Abii local government area, Cross River State, Nigeria

Assessment of uncertainties in the computation of atmospheric correction parameters for Landsat 5 TM and Landsat 7 ETM + thermal band

Engagement tracking model for online learning environment

A survival analysis of infant mortality rate: Evidence from Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, Kaduna, Nigeria

Analytical and numerical modeling of beam deflection under moving mass and distributed loads

Isolation, molecular characterization and antibacterial profiling of metabolites produced by Bacillus siamensis and Staphylococcus equorum isolated from traditionally fermented cow milk

Parasite intensity of urinary schistosomiasis in communities in Biase LGA

Biodegradation of expanded polystyrene by bacterial isolates from selected dumpsites in Kaduna South, Nigeria

Malaria vector abundance, knowledge and practices for its control amongst residents of selected communities in Abia State, South Eastern Nigeria

Isolation and identification of microorganisms associated with late blight disease of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in Niger State, Nigeria

Herbicide biodegradation potential of fungi isolated from herbicide-contaminated soils in selected Okitipupa local government area farmlands

Phytochemical profiling and antimalarial evaluation of euphorbia heterophylla extracts leading to the isolation of 3-O-Diglucopyranosyl-7,4'-O-Dimycarosyl-3’-Methoxy-5-Hydroxyflavone

Development and characterization of a locally derived H₂S test kit for quick and cost-effective water quality monitoring

In vitro antimicrobial activities of Euphorbia heterophylla and Zingiber officinale* on selected clinical isolates*