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Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) consumption, in particular, is one of the most commonly available plastic wastes and has the fastest growth rate in the global plastic market. Its disposal has become a serious challenge globally since it is non-biodegradable. In this study, recycled PET and activated carbon (AC) derived from a biomass material (orange peels) were selected as feedstocks for the synthesis of an agro-derived PET-AC biocomposite for use in fuel cells. Five samples of the PET-AC mix ratios of 10:90%, 30:70%, 50:50%, 70:30%, and 90:10% compositions for each of the two AC samples prepared by different treatment methods (chemically and thermally) were used to form thin PET-AC films upon drying. Results from the water absorption trend and mechanical (textural and flexural) behaviors revealed that samples produced by chemically activated AC were observed to produce biocomposites with improved characteristics, ideal for use as a low-cost alternative electrode material than the physically (steam) activated AC in the surface modification of PET. This shows the effect of preparation method on the properties of the PET-AC composite. In addition, the surface modification of PET using activated carbon from orange-peel biowastes has offered a better eco-friendly way of disposing of waste.

Insecticide treated nets (ITN) are effective in malaria prevention; however, they remain underutilized among children. A secondary analysis of the 2018 Nigeria-Demographic and Health Survey including logistic regression was conducted to determine factors influencing ITN use among under-fives (U5s). Overall, 22,954 (72.4%) slept under ITN the night before the survey. Children <4 years and those in the northern regions had significantly higher odds of using ITN, as did those from households with ≤6 members and those from the lowest to middle wealth quintiles. However, among those households recorded as having “universal ITN coverage” i.e. at least one net between two persons, children <3 years, those from the rural northern regions and those from the lowest wealth category had significantly higher odds of using ITN. Interventions to improve ITN use by U5s should be intensified among households with larger size, those from the highest wealth quintiles and residents in southern Nigeria.

The aim of this study is to evaluate the potential impacts of 8.5 MW thermal power plant on soil and water quality within its location, Lekki area, Lagos State. The study area was geo-referenced using the existing map and Geographical Positioning System. Auger was used to sample soil at three different locations within the power plant. The soil samples were prepared and analyzed for the following parameters using standard analytical methods. The parameters include soil texture, Exchangeable cations and anions (H+, Na+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl- and SO42-) Nutrients compounds (NO3-, Total Nitrogen (TN), Organic Carbon (OC) and heavy metals (Fe, Cd, As, and Mn). Surface and groundwater samples were collected within the power plant in triplicate and analyzed for true colour, turbidity, conductivity, salinity, THC and Coliform. Dissolved Oxygen (DO), BOD5, Total Organic Carbon (TOC), Organic Matter (OM) and heavy metals (As, Ag, Fe and Mn) of water samples were also analyzed. The soil from the study area is loamy-sand in texture. The average As, Ag, Fe and Mn in surface and groundwater samples were 0.055, 0.025, 3.150, 0.735 and 0.12, 0.080, 6.440 and 0.180 mg/L, respectively. The gas-fired power plant has contaminated the soil and water within its premises with petroleum and heavy metals. The engine stack should be modified to minimize the pollution effects of the power plant on the environment.

ABSTRACTThere is a paucity of knowledge on the mechanism by which social support predicts suicidal ideation at emerging adulthood. The present study was aimed to examine the mediating role of self-efficacy in the relationship between social support and suicidal ideation in a sample of 251 emerging adults (116 females; mean age = 20.84, SD = 2.34). Data analyses were conducted using structural equation modelling. Results indicated that an increase in family support significantly predicts a decrease in suicidal ideation. However, friends and significant other supports were not predictive of suicidal ideation. The outcome of mediation analysis showed that self-efficacy partially mediated the association between family support and suicidal ideation. It was recommended that family support should persist through the period of emerging adulthood notwithstanding that this life stage is characterized by more independence in lifestyle. Such kind of support may bolster self-efficacy in overcoming life difficulties that may predispose vulnerability to suicidal ideation at emerging adulthood.

The effect of adding an alkaline solution, sodium hydroxide (NaOH), in optimizing biogas and methane yield from poultry waste anaerobically was investigated in this work. Two digesters of 50 l capacity each were set up and labeled A and B. Digester A was batched with a mixture of 19 kg of PW and 19 l of water, while digester B has the same mixed volume ratio of poultry waste and water as in digester A but with the addition of 380 ml of 1 M NaOH. Daily gas yield was obtained from the two digesters for a retention period of 30 days; the temperature and pH were also recorded. The peak yield from digester A was recorded on day 23 to be 0.0392 m3, while digester B peak yield of 0.0522 m3was recorded on day 18. The cumulative biogas yields at the end of the retention period were 0.5511 m3and 0.6070 m3, respectively, for both digesters. The coefficient of correlation R2between the gas yields of the two samples is 0.9657. The biogas obtained from the two setups was analyzed with digester B (poultry waste + water + 380 ml of 1 M NaOH) having an appreciable methane yield of 3.03% than digester A.

Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Haemorrhage (aSAH) is a vascular injury with significantly high mortality, especially when poorly managed. This study seeks to outline the experiences in setting up a neurovascular service in Lagos, Nigeria.

This study sought to determine the inhibitory effect of aqueous extract of different parts (bark, leaf, and flower) of cotton plant (Gossypium herbaceum)on key enzymes linked with type 2 diabetes and oxidative stress in rat pancreas in vitro. The aqueous extract (1:10 w/v) of Gossypium herbaceumwas prepared and the ability of the extract to inhibit the activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase as well as activities of pro-oxidant Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation was determined spectrophotometrically. The results revealed that the three varieties were able to inhibit the activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase in rat's pancreas in a dose dependent manner (0–88.8 mg/ml). Also, the incubation of pancreas tissue homogenate in the presence of Fe2+caused a significant increase (233.3%) in the malondialdehyde (MDA) content of pancreas homogenate, nevertheless, the introduction of the aqueous extract inhibited MDA production dose dependently (0–33.33 mg/ml) and also exhibited further antioxidant properties as represented by their high radical scavenging and Fe2+chelating abilities. Inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities has been the primary treatment for the management/prevention of type 2 diabetes. Therefore, the α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of aqueous extracts of different parts of Gossypium herbaceumin rat pancreas and prevention of lipid peroxidation in the tissue may be attributed to the presence of polyphenol content of the plant.

In a survey of plant parasitic nematodes associated with or affecting rice throughout Nigeria, some important nematode pests, especially the white tip disease nematode, Aphelenchoides besseyi and the rice root nematodes Hirschmanniella spinicaudata and H. oryzae were identified from seed, soil and root samples from swamp rice fields respectively. The sugarcane cyst nematode, Heterodera sacchari occurred in swamp rice fields only around the major sugarcane estates in Nigeria. The root-knot Meloidogyne incognita and the root lesion nematode, Pratylenchus brachyurus were also encountered in upland (rainfed) rice fields. The white tip disease nematode, A. besseyi occurred at low levels in soils and rice seeds throughout the country. High population levels of H. spinicaudata and H. oryzae were encountered especially in areas where monoculture of rice is practised. General chlorosis, poor tillering and significantly reduced yield have been observed due to H. spinicaudata. Rice plants attacked by H. sacchari also showed intense chlorosis, delayed and reduced tillering and reduced grain yield. The roots of attacked plants were twiggy, very necrotic and blackened. The root-knot M. incognita and the root lesion nematodes P. brachyurus have both been observed to reduce rice yields. Rice cultivars screened for reactions to the nematodes showed varying degrees of susceptibilities. Some varieties were however resistant to the root-knot nematode, M. incognita.

Introduction Breastfeeding is a public health practice that is critical for the survival of infants and young children. This study aimed at determining the knowledge, attitude, and future intention to breastfeed among female undergraduates in tertiary institutions in Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria. Methodology:A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted among 1312 female students of the tertiary institutions in Ekiti State. By convenience sampling, female students were invited to participate in the study after giving verbal consent and those studying medical, nursing, and other courses allied to medicine were excluded. Internal consistency of the data obtained from this research instrument was determined using Cronbach’s coefficient Alpha with a reliability value of 0.82. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25. Descriptive as well as inferential statistics were computed. Results were summarized as frequencies and percentages. The differences in knowledge, attitude, and intention to practice breastfeeding as well as other responses among the participants were compared among age groups, faculties and the sources of information using Chi-square test.Result Although 93% of the respondents agreed that breast milk is important for the development of the infant’s brain thereby demonstrating good knowledge; 51.6% of the respondents demonstrated poor perception to breastfeeding believing breastfeeding makes the breast to sag while only 34% of the respondents indicated their intention to breastfeed their future babies.Conclusion The intention to breastfeed among our study participants was poor. This study revealed the need to increase awareness about breastfeeding and its benefits among this huge population of future mothers.

This research focused on geo-environmental site assessment and remediation of contaminated soil/groundwater. Baruwa community is the study site and it is located at Alimosho Local government area of Lagos state, Nigeria. About 350 hand dug wells for domestic water supply are in the community, all the wells are contaminated with petroleum product from leaking underground pipeline that transverse the community. Free hydrocarbon product thickness up to 0.72m was found on top of the groundwater in the hand dug wells. The main objective of the project was to take a hectare (100m x 100m) of the most contaminated area and remediate the groundwater to permissible level using the most up-to-date equipment and technology. Integrated Remediation Approach (IRA) was utilized; this involves physical and chemical method. The physical method involves the use of skimming-off technology that draws out the pure non-aqueous phase liquid (PNAPL) from the hand-dug wells. Chemical method adopted was in-situ chemical oxidation (ISCO), which involves injecting oxidizing agent (KMnO4) to the groundwater in the hand dug wells. Notable deplection in the values of TPH from a maximum of 500ppm to 20, 0, 25, 6, 6, 0.7 ppm for the six monitored wells during the 30 weeks of observation.

Summary. With increasing use of motorcycle as means of transport in developing countries, traumatic brain injuries from motorcycle crashes have been increasing. The only single gadget that protects riders from traumatic brain injury is crash helmet. Objective. The objectives were to determine the treatment outcome among traumatic brain injury patients from motorcycle crashes and the rate of helmet use among them. Methods. It was a prospective, cross-sectional study of motorcycle-related traumatic brain injury patients managed in our center from 2010 to 2014. Patients were managed using our unit protocol for traumatic brain injuries. Data for the study were collected in accident and emergency, intensive care unit, wards, and outpatient clinic. The data were analyzed using Environmental Performance Index (EPI) info 7 software. Results. Ninety-six patients were studied. There were 87 males. Drivers were 65. Only one patient wore helmet. Majority of them were between 20 and 40 years. Fifty-three patients had mild head injuries. Favorable outcome among them was 84.35% while mortality was 12.5%. Severity of the injury affected the outcome significantly. Conclusion. Our study showed that the helmet use by motorcycle riders was close to zero despite the existing laws making its use compulsory in Nigeria. The outcome was related to severity of injuries.