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Corn or maize (Zea mays L.) is the most significant grain crop worldwide after wheat and rice. It is widely cultivated and consumed as food, feed, and industrial raw material, along with the emission of a large quantity of corn waste. Such abundant, renewable, and cheap wastes with unique chemical compositions can be efficiently converted into adsorbents for the elimination of dye-contaminated water. This article represents an extensive review of the use of corn/maize waste-derived adsorbents for the sequestration of dyes from aqueous media. This study addressed the utilization of corn residues, including cob, stalk, straw, husk, and silk, as precursors for adsorbents. The adsorption behaviour, mechanism, and regeneration of the studied corn adsorbent/dye systems were identified. It was observed that the most common forms of corn/maize-derived adsorbents that have been utilized for the sequestration of dyes include biosorbents, biochars, activated carbons, and composites. The highest adsorption capacity (1,682.7 mg/g) for dye (methylene blue) sequestration was obtained using a corn husk composite-based adsorbent. Important findings and future ideas are finally mentioned for the corn/maize-based materials and their application as adsorbents for dye removal. HIGHLIGHTS Use of corn adsorbents strengthens the popular waste-to-wealth management strategy.; The adsorbent groups include biosorbents, activated carbons, biochar, and composites.; Major mechanisms are electrostatic attraction, ion exchange, and hydrogen bonding.; The adsorbents can be recycled and reused several times.; The highest adsorption capacity (1,682.7 mg/g) was obtained using a corn husk-based composite.;

Electrical resistivity techniques of geophysical prospecting have been used to evaluate the groundwater potential of the University of Abuja Health Services Centre at the main campus. This research aims to identify suitable locations for productive wells and boreholes, determine the depth of the bedrock, as well as measure resistivity and overburden thickness. The survey employed Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) along five profiles, comprising fifty (50) VES stations covering the survey area. The resistivity data obtained are analysed using IPI2win software. The analysis of the resistivity data revealed that the survey area can be divided into four geoelectric layers: topsoil, clayey sand, weathered layer, and fresh basement. The resistivity values of these layers range from 38.7-1427 Ωm, 16.2-310 Ωm, 32.1-1714 Ωm and 1007-9528 Ωm respectively. The fresh basement layer was found to have an infinite thickness. Significantly, potential regions with low resistivity values indicating the presence of groundwater were identified at a depth of 18.3 m. Furthermore, the average overburden thickness in the study area was 35 m while the longitudinal conductance of the overburden ranges from 0.04 – 1.87 mho. Results obtained indicate the main aquifer in the area consists of a thick weathered layer of overburden and a weathered basement with relatively low resistivity, suggesting a potentially productive groundwater yield. This information is crucial for future planning and decision-making regarding the siting of wells and boreholes and the sustainable utilisation of groundwater resources in the University of Abuja main campus.

This study analyzes the global water crisis and the pressing need for innovation in water treatment, conservation, and management practices. It introduces potentially transformative solutions involving the use of ChatGPT to address water-related challenges. The research underscores the potential of AI-Driven ChatGPT applications in enhancing water management schemes through real-time insights, optimization of resource usage, and predictive maintenance. The paper dilates upon the role of ChatGPT in improving water quality control, enriching decision-making systems, optimizing water usage, and promoting precision irrigation. It also discusses various scenarios where ChatGPT has been applied in this regard, such as in Klir Comply and its integration into Rammas. The study further discusses the significant water consumption and environmental implications of AI models like ChatGPT and suggests tangible solutions such as employing renewable energy sources and water recycling systems. Additionally, it delves into ethical and regulatory implications of integrating AI-Driven ChatGPT solutions in water management, covering aspects of data privacy, transparency, accountability, and conformity to international standards. It emphasizes the need for concerted efforts to construct a responsible AI governance model and highlights the importance of education and awareness regarding AI ethics and regulations.

Sugarcane bagasse is an abundant and renewable agricultural waste material generated by the sugar industry worldwide. The use of sugarcane bagasse as a bio-coagulant precursor in water treatment is an eco-friendly and cost-effective approach that has shown great potential. This article reviewed the prospects and challenges of utilizing sugarcane bagasse as a bio-coagulant precursor for water treatment. The article reviewed past studies and explored the properties and chemical composition of sugarcane bagasse and the bioactive compounds that can be extracted from it, as well as their potential coagulation performance in water treatment. It was observed that there are few studies that have been published on the subject. The effectiveness of sugarcane bagasse-based coagulants varies depending on several factors, such as pH, temperature, and water quality parameters. However, the lack of standardization in the production of sugarcane bagasse-based coagulants is a challenge that needs to be addressed. Additionally, the optimization of extraction and processing methods to enhance the effectiveness of sugarcane bagasse-based coagulants needs to be investigated further. In conclusion, the use of sugarcane bagasse as a bio-coagulant precursor holds great promise for the future of sustainable water treatment. The potential for sugarcane bagasse to be used as a bio-coagulant precursor highlights the importance of exploring alternative and sustainable materials for water treatment.

The expanding use of cassava and its derivatives across industries in Nigeria has raised concerns about potential hydrogen cyanide (HCN) toxicity in inadequately processed cassava products. This study aimed to investigate and compare the hydrogen cyanide concentration in eight processed cassava product samples sourced within the period from January to March, 2023 from supermarkets and local markets in Lafia town, Nigeria, using the picrate in solution method. The samples included Niji® Foods Cassava Flour, IFGREEN® Odourless Fufu Flour, Ayoola® Fufu Flour, Aiteefills® Fufu flour, Niji® Foods Garri, Golden Penny Garri, GGEE® foods Ijebu Garri, and local brand cassava starch. Spectrophotometric measurements at 535 nm were used to determine the total cyanide content in mg HCN equivalents/kg dry weight, calculated as ppm by multiplying the absorbance by 396. The results were analyzed using Minitab version 20.0, employing one-way ANOVA, and pair-wise comparisons were made post hoc using Tukey t-tests. HCN concentrations in all samples ranged from 4.13 to 21.47 mg HCN equivalents/kg dry weight, exhibiting significant variation (p = 0.05) among the samples. Except for Niji® Foods Garri and Ayoola® Fufu Flour, all samples surpassed the benchmark limit set by FAO/WHO and SON (10 mg HCN/kg body weight). However, all samples were deemed safe for consumption as the hydrogen cyanide concentration did not exceed the lethal dose threshold (50 - 100 mg HCN/kg body weight). This study provides valuable insights into the hydrogen cyanide content of various processed cassava products and confirms their safety for consumption when adequately processed. The findings can guide industry practices and ensure the production of safe cassava-based products for consumers in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Operators of exponential type have kernel functions which satisfy a certain homogeneous differential equation related to a certain function p. They were introduced in 1978 by Ismail and May. We derive the complete asymptotic expansion for the operators of exponential type related to p(x) = x3 with an explicit representation of the coefficients. The results apply to all locally integrable real functions f on [0, +∞) satisfying the growth condition f(t) = O (ect) as t → +∞, for some c > 0. The expansion is shown to be valid also for simultaneous approximation with respect to the first derivative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The landscape of cancer treatment has witnessed a paradigm shift with the emergence of immunotherapy, particularly the inhibition of immune checkpoints like programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligand PD-L1. While these therapies have revolutionized cancer treatment, a substantial proportion of patients still fail to respond, highlighting the need to explore alternative immune checkpoints. V-domain immunoglobulin suppressor of T cell activation (VISTA), a member of the B7 family, has orchestrated significant attention. Abundantly expressed in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, VISTA's role in regulating immune responses, especially in breast cancer, hints at its potential as a linchpin in breast cancer immunotherapy. This research focuses on molecular docking simulations of a diverse array of immuno-oncology compounds to identify potential VISTA inhibitors. Three promising candidates (Compound_6784, Compound_14718, and Compound_34839) exhibited favorable binding affinities with VISTA, forming key interactions with critical amino acid residues. ADME-Tox profiling revealed these compounds to be highly druggable, displaying minimal toxicity risks, making them suitable for clinical trials and drug development. Additionally, molecular dynamics simulations provided insights into the structural dynamics of these compounds. The metrics underline the superior stability of Compound_14718, making it the most promising candidate for further research and drug development. This research lays a robust foundation for the development of novel immunotherapies targeting VISTA in cancer treatment. The identified compounds present promising candidates for further investigation and drug development, offering hope for improved cancer immunotherapy strategies.