Assessment of Pollution-Induced Dissolved Oxygen Variation in River Challawa

The study is aimed at investigating the effect of industrial effluents on the water quality of River Challawa. Chemical analyses of samples of the river water collected at predetermined sampling points along a 10.644 km stretch were undertaken and the observations were subjected to ANOVA and regression analyses.The results obtained indicated that the DO values ranged from 2.4 mg/l to 1.9 mg/l, while the BOD5 ranged from 443 mg/l to 1654 mg/l; the COD ranged from 1296 mg/l to 4565 mg/l. The self-purification factor (f) for the River Challawa varies between 0.40 per day and 0.56 per day which puts the river in the sluggish stream category and as a heavily polluted stream. The predictions indicated significant relationship with the observed values at 95% level of significance.http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v34i3.2

Socio-Economic Importance of Tree Nursery Enterprises in Lagos State, Nigeria

There is a growing interest to understand the role of tree nursery enterprises in Nigeria and the horn of Africa. Tree nursery enterprises, which are vital economic activities in major cities of Nigeria and particularly in the city of Lagos are not adequately studied and well documented. Therefore, this study seeks to fill a gap in understanding the socioeconomic importance and profitability potential of tree nursery enterprises. Multistage sampling technique with a 3-stage design was adopted in this study using aquantitative data collection techniques through the use of structured questionnaire administered to 120 nursery entrepreneurs. Data were analyzed using descriptive, inferential, and budgetary analysis. The result revealed that tree nursery entrepreneurs are literate, mostly male in their youthful age. Furthermore, the total annual revenue earned by the respondents was \u20a61,712,222.22 with a mean annual net income of \u20a61,458,038.72 while the return per naira invested was \u20a65.71. This shows that tree nursery enterprise is profitable in the study area. However, most entrepreneurs were faced with shortage of land for establishments of tree nursery in the study area. Therefore, appropriate actions in reducing cost of land lease/purchase are recommended to encourage new entrepreneurs and strengthen the sector\u2019s development

Global, regional, and national prevalence of child and adolescent overweight and obesity, 1990–2021, with forecasts to 2050: a forecasting study for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BACKGROUND: Despite the well documented consequences of obesity during childhood and adolescence and future risks of excess body mass on non-communicable diseases in adulthood, coordinated global action on excess body mass in early life is still insufficient. Inconsistent measurement and reporting are a barrier to specific targets, resource allocation, and interventions. In this Article we report current estimates of overweight and obesity across childhood and adolescence, progress over time, and forecasts to inform specific actions. METHODS: Using established methodology from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2021, we modelled overweight and obesity across childhood and adolescence from 1990 to 2021, and then forecasted to 2050. Primary data for our models included 1321 unique measured and self-reported anthropometric data sources from 180 countries and territories from survey microdata, reports, and published literature. These data were used to estimate age-standardised global, regional, and national overweight prevalence and obesity prevalence (separately) for children and young adolescents (aged 5–14 years, typically in school and cared for by child health services) and older adolescents (aged 15–24 years, increasingly out of school and cared for by adult services) by sex for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021. Prevalence estimates from 1990 to 2021 were generated using spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression models, which leveraged temporal and spatial correlation in epidemiological trends to ensure comparability of results across time and geography. Prevalence forecasts from 2022 to 2050 were generated using a generalised ensemble modelling approach assuming continuation of current trends. For every age-sex-location population across time (1990–2050), we estimated obesity (vs overweight) predominance using the log ratio of obesity percentage to overweight percentage. FINDINGS: Using established methodology from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2021, we modelled overweight and obesity across childhood and adolescence from 1990 to 2021, and then forecasted to 2050. Primary data for our models included 1321 unique measured and self-reported anthropometric data sources from 180 countries and territories from survey microdata, reports, and published literature. These data were used to estimate age-standardised global, regional, and national overweight prevalence and obesity prevalence (separately) for children and young adolescents (aged 5–14 years, typically in school and cared for by child health services) and older adolescents (aged 15–24 years, increasingly out of school and cared for by adult services) by sex for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021. Prevalence estimates from 1990 to 2021 were generated using spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression models, which leveraged temporal and spatial correlation in epidemiological trends to ensure comparability of results across time and geography. Prevalence forecasts from 2022 to 2050 were generated using a generalised ensemble modelling approach assuming continuation of current trends. For every age-sex-location population across time (1990–2050), we estimated obesity (vs overweight) predominance using the log ratio of obesity percentage to overweight percentage. INTERPRETATION: Both overweight and obesity increased substantially in every world region between 1990 and 2021, suggesting that current approaches to curbing increases in overweight and obesity have failed a generation of children and adolescents. Beyond 2021, overweight during childhood and adolescence is forecast to stabilise due to further increases in the population who have obesity. Increases in obesity are expected to continue for all populations in all world regions. Because substantial change is forecasted to occur between 2022 and 2030, immediate actions are needed to address this public health crisis

Omics-based molecular techniques in oral pathology centred cancer: Prospect and challenges in Africa

: The completion of the human genome project and the accomplished milestones in the human proteome project; as well as the progress made so far in computational bioinformatics and “big data” processing have contributed immensely to individualized/personalized medicine in the developed world.At the dawn of precision medicine, various omics-based therapies and bioengineering can now be applied accurately for the diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and risk stratifcation of cancer in a manner that was hitherto not thought possible. The widespread introduction of genomics and other omics-based approaches into the postgraduate training curriculum of diverse medical and dental specialties, including pathology has improved the profciency of practitioners in the use of novel molecular signatures in patient management. In addition, intricate details about disease disparity among diferent human populations are beginning to emerge. This would facilitate the use of tailor-made novel theranostic methods based on emerging molecular evidences

Evaluation of Quality and Sensory Characteristics of Spaghetti made from Plantain and Wheat Flour blends

The world is tending towards fortification of cereal, root and tubers food products to increase and enhance its macro and micronutrients content for her teaming population. This study investigated the quality and sensory evaluation of spaghetti produced from plantain and wheat flour blends. The dried plantain chips were milled, sieved to pass through sieve number 60 BS and blends with wheat flour at levels of 100:00%, 85:15%, 80:20%, 75:25%, 70:30%, respectively. The five samples formulated were analyzed for nutritional properties and sensory attributes using a 9-point hedonic scale of preference. All data were subjected to analysis of variance while significant differences were determined at p&lt;0.05, while Duncan multiple range test was used to separate the mean. The study finding shows that nutritionally improved spaghetti products could be produced from mixture of plantain and wheat flour within the range of 15% - 25% wheat flour substitution. The mineral profiles of the study show improvement in quality and quantity compare to the control sample. However, iron, sodium and zinc content of the spaghetti samples were far below recommended daily allowance, hence there is need to supplement such food with fruit- vegetables. The high mean score obtained for the overall acceptability showed that the plantain-based spaghetti samples were accepted by the panellists. Sample with 20% wheat flour substitution level had the highest mean score (6.77) than other wheat flour substituted samples. This might be the perfect blend to make spaghetti from plantainwheat flour blends.</jats:p

Inhibition efficiency of silver nanoparticles solution on corrosion of mild steel, stainless steel and aluminum in 1.0 M HCl medium

Abstract Research work on corrosion behaviour of metals and their alloys continues to attract considerable attention because of the huge cost required to prevent corrosion and replace failed or contaminated components due to corrosion reactions. Different inhibitors have been used to minimize corrosion rate, but addition of nanoparticles has been reported to enhance inhibition efficiency. In this work, the influence of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on inhibition of corrosion of mild steel, stainless steel and aluminum in 1.0 M HCl were investigated. Biosynthesized AgNPs were acquired from Laboratory of Industrial Nanobiotechnology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso. The particles were hitherto characterized using FTIR, UV-Vis and TEM. Five concentrations of AgNPs solution (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 μg/ml) were added to 1.0 M HCl. The corrosion inhibition effects of the AgNPs on the metal samples were analyzed using gravimetric (weight loss), potentiodynamic polarization and gasometric (hydrogen gasevolution) approaches. Gravimetric study was conducted within 2000 h of exposure, and the results showed that weight loss increased with exposure time but decreased with increased concentration of AgNPs solution. In addition, inhibition efficiency was enhanced by the addition of AgNPs solution; 52% for mild steel, 70% for stainless steel and 62% for aluminum. Gasometric results revealed that the volume of hydrogen gas evolution reduced with increased exposure time and concentration of AgNPs solution. Furthermore, potentiodynamic polarization results showed that the presence of AgNPs modified the mechanism of anodic dissolution and cathodic hydrogen gas evolution. These results indicated that AgNPs can be incorporated into the existing inhibitors towards minimizing corrosion rate.</jats:p