Techno-economic evaluation of probioticated Kunu-zaki drinks produce from millet and cocoa powder

The increase in the world population has led to the increase in the demand for probioticated yoghurt. However, due to the current economic woes, there has been a need for the production of probioticated yoghurt from alternative sources such as cereals for countries with less comparative advantage in milk production. Owing to this, the work aimed at evaluating the techno-economic analysis of the production of probioticated Kunu-zaki drinks using millet and cocoa powder. The production process was based on the assumption of a uniform cash flow over a period of 10 years.  The equipment for the production process was identified based on the process flow chart. The Kunu-zaki production process was based on a constant mass flow of 7500 packets/hr while the sensitivity of the plant was examined by varying the plant operation days. The techno-economic analysis of the plant revealed that the capital cost and annual operation cost were N6.26 ×108and N2.67× 109, respectively. The annual revenue after tax was N6.56 × 108while the return of investment, single payback period, discounted payback period, gross margin and internal rate of return were 64%, 1.56 years, 2.06 years, 23.08 and 78.02%, respectively. The sensitivity analysis of the plant revealed the feasibility of the plant at 330 and 300 operation days

Metabolic and hematological disruptions induced by Diphenyl Diselenide in male wistar rats

Diphenyldiselenide (DPDS), a potent antioxidant and enzyme inhibitor, exerts cellular toxicity mainly through interaction with thiol group of proteins. This study evaluates its toxicity on glycolysis and gluconeogenesis as well as on some hematological parameters in male Wistar rats. Animals were grouped into five with Groups I and II animals intrapenitoneally dosed with 1ml/kg body weight distilled water and olive oil serving as controls while Groups III, IV and V animals were treated with DPDS in olive oil once daily for 21 days at the dose of 50-, 100- and 200mg/kg body weight respectively. All rats were sacrificed on day 21, and plasma, livers and thigh muscles harvested for biochemical assays. Treatment with 200mg DPDS/kg body weight resulted to 100% mortality while 50- and 100mg/kg body weight caused significant reduction (p0.05) in red blood cell counts, hemoglobin concentration and packed-cell volume. The activities of thigh muscle key glycolytic enzymes along with plasma lactate and liver key gluconeogenic enzymes along with alanine- and aspartate aminotransferases and glycogen were significantly increased (p0.05) suggesting increased glycolysis and gluconeogenesis respectively in these organs. The increased glycolysis observed may be a consequence of decreased oxygen transport to the peripheral tissue due to reduced hemoglobin hence, increased reliance on anaerobic sources for energy generation. The resultant increased gluconeogenesis and hepatic glycogen storage could be a detoxification mechanism whereby excess lactate due to increased glycolysis is converted to a non-toxic and neutral glucose to maintain pH balance in order to preserve the animals against DPDS toxicit

Synthesis and application of silver nanoparticle adsorbent produced from Amaranthus Hybridus for the removal of malachite green dye

Nowadays the ultimate challenge on this planet called earth is to make available clean drinkable water for all. Textile industry, predominantly dye industry, represents the major contributor to water pollution in the world. The study investigated the removal of malachite green from aqueous solutions utilizing smooth pigweed (Amaranthus hybridus) assisted silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The synthesized AgNPs were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), UV-visible Spectrophotometry, and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). TRD analysis confirmed the crystalline structure of the AgNPs. SEM image revealed that the AgNPs exhibited a spherical morphology with non-uniform granular appearance, which can be attributed to the bio-mediated synthesis process. FTIR spectrum of the AgNPs displayed peaks at 3407, 2956, 2834, 2725, 1660, 1358 and 1096 cm-1, indicating the presence of free hydroxyl groups, C-H stretching modes, C=O stretching of alkenes, carbonyl group C-OH stretching, and C-O stretching in alcohols and ethers, respectively. Adsorption studies were conducted under varying conditions, including pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time, temperature, and initial dye concentration, to determine optimal conditions and maximum adsorption capacities. The findings revealed that an increase in temperature had a minimal influence on the adsorption process. The adsorption isotherms were best described by the Langmuir, Freundlich and Tempkin models, while the Dubinin-Radushkevich model was found to be unsuitable for this adsorption process. Overall, the results suggest that AgNPs are effective adsorbents for the removal of dyes from aqueous solutions

Seasonal and environmental impacts of soil-transmitted helminth eggs in some selected pre-primary and primary school playground soils, Bwari Area Council, Abuja

Public health importance of STH infections ranks the highest in morbidity rate among school aged children who often present with heavy infections. This study was conducted in Bwari Area Council, Abuja FCT to determine the seasonal and environmental impacts of soil-transmitted helminth eggs in selected pre-primary and primary schools.  A cross-sectional study design was carried out. Twenty schools were randomly selected from ten wards comprising of 10 each of private and public owned pre/primary schools. Fifty (50) grams of soil were collected from the randomly selected playgrounds, transported to the helminthology laboratory of Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where floatation, direct smear and sedimentation techniques were used to recover helminth eggs. Overall, 6607 eggs were obtained from 400 soil samples collected out of which 4836 (62.5%) eggs were collected from both pre-primary and primary school's playground; Taeniids 1480(30.6%), Toxocara 883(18.2%), Hookworm 1260(26.1%), Trichuris 1130(23.4%), Strongyle 80(1.7%) and Schistosome haematobium eggs 3(0.1%) respectively beside which mite and coccidian eggs were also observed. The total number of geo-helminth eggs observed during the dry season was 1244(100%) while 3592(100%) helminth eggs were observed during the rainy season.  There was a significant association between the occurrence of geo-helminth egg and season (χ2 = 203.1, P = 0.0001). There was no Significant association between the environmental factors and the pupils that had helminthic infection, (χ2 = 2.462, P = 0.296). School children should be encouraged not to play with contaminated soil and if they do should wash their hands immediatel

Antifungal effect of Euphorbia prostrata ethyl acetate extract on Microsporum audounii-induced skin dysfunction diseases in male rats

The search for medicinal plants as viable substitutes for antifungal drug development is crucial due to the increasing threat of multiple drug resistance in global health. However, some of these medicinal plants have become prominent candidates due to reported biological functions such as antimicrobial properties, especially when it comes to treating drug-resistant skin infections with no or little side effects. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the topical application of ethyl acetate fraction of Euphorbia prostrata leaf extract on haematological parameters of rats infected with fungi. Cold maceration was employed to extract Euphorbia prostrata leaves, followed by vacuum liquid chromatography to fractionate the extract into n-hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and methanol fractions. Phytochemicals and antioxidants assays determined the most active fraction, while antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) gauged its efficacy. Cream formulations ranging from 0.05% to 0.4% of ethyl acetate fraction were developed as antifungal agents and tested on rat model. The results indicated that the ethyl acetate fraction's dominance in flavonoid and phenolic content, alongside potent antioxidant activity. Treatment with both standard medication and the plant extract significantly elevated haemoglobin concentrations, with the 0.2% plant extract exhibiting the most pronounced effect. Monocyte counts increased notably in rats treated with varying concentrations of the plant extract, particularly in the 0.2% group. Eosinophil proportions were highest in rats treated with 0.4% ethyl acetate fraction cream, highlighting its efficacy against fungal infections. Overall, the study suggests the potential of Euphorbia prostrata extract in modulating erythropoiesis, immune function, and coagulation, thereby offering a promising avenue for addressing fungal infections and associated haematological disturbances

Evaluating the concentration of heavy metals in effluent irrigated vegetables around industrial area of Abuja, Nigeria

This study assessed heavy metal concentrations in irrigated Amaranthus and Capsicum crops grown with effluent water from the Idu Industrial Area, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. Effluent water samples were collected from Salco, NIPRD, and Afrifab Steel Ltd, along with soil samples and irrigated crop parts (roots, shoots, leaves, and chili) during wet and dry seasons. Samples were analyzed for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Zn, Ni, As, and Hg, and results were compared with NESREA and FAO limits for effluent water, soil, and food crops. The study revealed varying levels of heavy metals, with Cu, Fe, Zn, and Ni showing higher concentrations in dry-season soils and crops. Statistical analyses indicated no significant differences in heavy metal concentrations in effluent water, soils, and crops between seasons, with values within NESREA and FAO permissible limits. However, the concentration of heavy metals in soils showed a strong positive correlation with those in Amaranthus leaves (r = 0.9211) and Capsicum chili (r = 0.965), indicating soil as the primary contamination pathway for crops. The study concludes that although current heavy metal levels do not exceed regulatory limits, continuous irrigation with untreated effluent poses a risk of accumulation in soil and crops over time. It recommends that all industrial effluent should be collected and treated at a centralized plant following NESREA guidelines before being discharged into agricultural fields to safeguard food safety and environmental health

Metals contamination of Aquifer in Warri and Port- Harcourt (Niger – Delta Region)

Heavy metal concentrations of hand-dug wells from twelve (12) locations within Warri and Port Harcourt metropolis of (Niger - Delta region) were studied. Twenty – four (24) hand-dug well water samples were analysed. The physicochemical parameters of the water samples were analyzed using Standard methods within 24 hours. The metal cations were also determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) method, hardness, chloride and bicarbonate concentrations were determined using titrimetric method, sulphate was determined by spectrophotometer method. Most physicochemical parameters were found to be within the WHO acceptable limits for drinking water in all sample locations. Rumagbo and Udu has the highest (108.5 and 288.55 mg/L) while Elewere and Enware lowest (36.08 and 36.05 mg/L) concentrations of bicarbonate (HCO3-) respectively, the highest concentration of sulphate (SO42-) was recorded in Waterline and Efurun (72.00 and 82.75 mg/L). chloride (Cl-) (96.75 and 107.25 mg/L) for Mgbuoba and NPA meanwhile nitate (NO3-) (0.05 and 0.06 mg/L) have their highest concentrations observed at Eligbolo and NPA respectively. Eligbolo, and Udu have the highest concentration of manganese (Mn). Meanwhile arsenic (As) concentration was found to be highest in Rumuola and Udu (0.75 and 0.77mg/L) with the lowest concentration found in Elewere and Enware (0.38 and 0.46mg/L) respectively. In all, the concentrations of metals from the water samples observed were above the WHO limits of heavy water concentrations in drinking water. The results from this study show that there is high level of contamination of the aquifer (groundwater) in the studied areas. The long-term effect of continuous consumption of this groundwater can be of pose a threat to the health of the people

Molecular detection and characterization of infectious bronchitis virus in live bird markets in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV) is a highly contagious coronavirus of chickens, ducks, turkeys and Pheasants. It mostly affects the respiratory, urinary and reproductive tracts, leading to considerable economic losses in the poultry industry as a result of drop in egg production, undesirable egg quality and poor weight gain. Thus, this study was designed to detect and characterize IBV circulating in live bird markets (LBMs) in Plateau State, Nigeria. One hundred pools of tracheal and cloacal swabs each were collected from two LBMs in Jos. Viral RNA was extracted and screened for IBV using real-time RT-PCR. Subsequently, the hypervariable region of the spike (S1) gene of positive samples was amplified and sequenced. The IBV nucleic acid was detected in 42% (42/100) of the pooled samples. Phylogenetic analysis of the S1 gene sequences showed that the IBV detected in this study belonged to two distinct genotypes: GI-14, and GI-23, with three clustering within the GI-23 group. One isolate showed a notable relationship with a previously reported Nigerian isolate, sharing 85% nucleotide identity, and formed a cluster within the GI-14 group. Overall, this study established IBV spread and therefore we recommend continuous surveillance to identify the current circulating strain for possible local vaccine development for effective control measures to mitigate the spread of the virus in the study area and the country at large

Biological diversity and similarity indices of fish species in Erinle River, Osun State, Nigeria

This study assessed the fish species composition, abundance, and biodiversity indices of two major reservoirs in Osun State, Nigeria, namely, Owalla Reservoir (OWR) and Erinle Reservoir (ERR). A total of 1,248 individual fish, comprising 25 species from 10 families, were identified across both reservoirs. OWR exhibited significantly higher fish abundance (82.9%) compared to ERR (17.1%). Oreochromis niloticus and Coptodon zilli were the dominant species in OWR and ERR, respectively. Despite differences in abundance, both reservoirs recorded similar species richness (15 species each). Cichlids were the most prevalent group, representing over half of the species in both reservoirs. Biodiversity indices revealed that ERR had a higher Shannon-Wiener diversity index (H = 2.209), suggesting greater species diversity and ecological stability compared to OWR (H = 1.8), which had a lower Simpson's index value (0.0), indicative of lower pollution levels. The evenness index was also higher in OWR (0.7), implying a relatively balanced species distribution. Similarity indices (Sørensen's and Jaccard's) indicated limited community overlap between the two reservoirs, with only four species common to both. Various ecological and anthropogenic factors, including reservoir location, upstream-downstream dynamics, and local fishing activities, influence the observed patterns of diversity. The findings underscore the ecological importance of these reservoirs while also highlighting potential areas of environmental stress and biodiversity loss

The Imperative of Systems Thinking Approach in Driving Food Systems Transformation through Science and Innovation

As the world became progressively aware that increasing production did not solve global hunger and health problems, the issue of the environmental and social costs of focusing solely on food security and nutrition came to the fore. The term ‘food systems transformation’ was introduced as a radical idea of rethinking the key outcomes of food systems. A complete rethink of the attributes of food systems, including its purpose, rules, and power structures. Food system transformation processes would ideally reshape the way a food system is organized for the desired outcomes: food security, healthy diets, economic wellbeing, social wellbeing and environmental sustainability.Most of the social, economic, moral, and environmental challenges are interconnected and interact with each. Fully understanding the causes and solutions to these challenges is not possible when handled in isolation. Food systems are complex adaptive systems consisting of several actors, linkages, dynamics, etc. These complexity means food systems exhibit unpredictable behaviour, with nonlinear change, tipping points, and unintended responses to shocks and interventions. Systems thinking is a high-level approach to thinking, acting and practice necessary to effect transformational change in any domain.For food systems transformation to be inclusive, science and technology-based innovations must be accompanied by institutional innovations (social, business and policy innovations), underpinned by science (basic sciences and applied sciences, natural sciences and social sciences). Also, innovations need to be aligned with sustainability concerns.  All these certainly requires attention and joint engagement by researchers from all areas of the food system-related discipline