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Abstract Background Household-level food safety practices may have a long-term outcome on the nutrition and health status of under-five children. This study explores the relationships between caregivers’ self-reported food safety knowledge, behavior, perception of food safety control, and their young child’s (

Abstract Background In Nigeria, COVID-19 vaccines were delivered through outreach activities, as well as integrated within routine immunisation. However, evaluations of integrated approaches for novel vaccines are scarce. We aimed to understand the perceived benefits and challenges of integrating the COVID-19 vaccine within routine immunisation in Nigeria, and identify ways to strengthen this approach. Methods We conducted 30 semi-structured interviews with community members and healthcare workers in primary healthcare facilities (PHCs) in Jigawa (n = 16) and Oyo (n = 14) states, Nigeria from 08 August to 13 September 2022. Participants were selected purposively from PHCs. We obtained information on participants’ perception about routine immunisation, and perceived benefits and challenges associated with integrated COVID-19 vaccine delivery. Healthcare worker and community interviews were analysed separately following a thematic analysis approach. Results We identified four themes that describe the community and healthcare workers’ responses, perceived impact, and the health system adaptions to the challenges associated with the integrated vaccine delivery approach. Community members expressed concern that children might be given COVID-19 vaccines instead of routine immunisations, while others appreciated the integrated approach due to their trust in the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, government, and healthcare providers. Healthcare providers perceived the integrated approach as improving vaccination coverage and awareness but noted additional problems of increased workload, vaccine scarcity, and prolonged clinic visits. Insufficient resources were subsisting barriers to effective integration in both states, but the provider’s gender was also a challenge in Jigawa state. Additionally, the use of incentives to generate demand had ambiguous effects in Jigawa state. Conclusion Taking an integrated approach to deliver COVID-19 vaccines was acceptable by healthcare providers but community members expressed concerns. Given existing vaccination programmes have persistent challenges, it is pertinent to address these barriers to enhance effectiveness of an integrated approach.

This work analyzes the impact of viscous dissipation on an unstable stretching surface in a porous medium with heat generation and thermal radiation—an important factor for numerous engineering applications like cooling baths and plastic sheets. Using MATLAB's Runge-Kutta fourth-order approach, the controlling partial differential equations are converted into highly nonlinear ordinary differential equations that can be solved numerically. The findings show that a decrease in the skin friction coefficient, temperature profiles, velocity, and Nusselt number occurs when the unsteadiness parameter is increased. In contrast to the Prandtl number, which rises with temperature profile and reduced Nusselt number, the Eckert number rises with a dimensionless temperature profile and reduced Nusselt number. Reduced Nusselt number and temperature profile affect the heat generation parameter; a decrease in skin friction coefficient and velocity profile correlate with the porosity parameter. Furthermore, the radiation parameter rises as the temperature distribution and Nusselt number decrease.

Monkeypox remains a public health concern in Nigeria, with periodic outbreaks reported. Despite efforts to control the disease, the number of reported cases continues to rise. Understanding the transmission dynamics of monkeypox and predicting its future spread can inform public health decision-making and guide the allocation of resources for control efforts. Hence, in this study, a deterministic model for the transmission dynamics of Monkeypox in the presence of quarantine and public enlightenment is presented. The model analysis involving the Disease Free Equilibrium (DFE) is established. Numerical simulations were used to better investigate the impact of quarantine and public enlightenment on human population. The results revealed that the effectiveness of the combined form of public awareness and quarantine produced more results followed by the effectiveness of public awareness alone, and then the result achieved when infected individuals are quarantined. If the measures were implemented with a greater degree of integration, there would be a significant reduction in the viral peak, thereby preventing its persistence within the human population.

Climate change threatens smallholder farmers' productivity, revenue generation, and increases household food insecurity. Thus, adaptation and coping strategies are paramount for smallholder farming households to mitigate these impacts of climate change. This study used a bibliometric analysis to examine smallholder farmers’ coping and adaptation strategies to climate change (SFCA-SCC) research trends from 2010 to 2022. A total of 1635 papers were analysed from Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) databases to characterize the field and observe research trends. The articles from these databases demonstrate an upward trend in publications (54–300) over the period under study, signifying the importance of research on adaptation and coping strategies of climate change. The research findings showed that majority of studies originated from institutions in industrialized countries, while very few did so from emerging economies. According to the findings, smallholder farmers have embraced a range of adaptation and coping mechanisms to mitigate the impacts of climate change, such as altering planting schedules, and diversifying crop varieties among others. It is imperative for African researchers and institutions to engage in more research aimed at developing strategies to mitigate the risks posed by climate change.

The essential use of natural materials or microbial biomass for effective dye removal from water, combined with simultaneous antimicrobial activity, is crucial for environmental and biomedical applications. Functionalized oyster shell waste nanoparticles (OY-NPs) were synthesized and utilized for efficient biosorption of Congo red (CR) and bromothymol blue (BB) dyes from solution, exhibiting promising antibacterial properties against gram-negative bacteria, specifically Escherichia coli (E. coli), in wastewater. Employing response surface methodology and central composite design, the impact of key process variables; pH, initial concentration, time, and adsorbent doses were investigated. Characterization through scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform irradiation, and x-ray diffraction analyses revealed mesoporous crystalline structures rich in CaCO3, featuring prominent functional groups such as C–O, CO, and O-H. Optimization of batch experiments yielded peak efficiency at pH 3.3, initial concentration of 72.34 mg/L, contact time of 84.44 min, and a dosage of 0.1 for CR and BB, achieving a desirability coefficient of 1.0. Equilibrium studies aligned with the Langmuir isotherm model determined coefficient (R2 > 0.977), while kinetic experiments correlated well with the pseudo-second-order model (R2 > 0.9). OY-NPs demonstrated optimal adsorption capacities of 84.77 and 180.61 mg/g for CR and BB, respectively, with spontaneous and endothermic removal. Reusability studies showcased consistently high adsorption efficiency over 5 cycles, highlighting the eco-friendly and recyclable potential of OY-NPs for wastewater treatment applications. The observed antibacterial activity further supports their suitability for antimicrobial applications.

Abstract Maize is a staple food and one of the important sources of starch for many households. However, maize yield in Nigeria remains one of the lowest in sub-Saharan Africa. Providing agricultural credit to farmers cannot be disregarded because it has a significant impact on maize productivity. As a result of this capital investment through social capital networks is needed to improve maize productivity. This study investigated the impact of participation in social capital networks on the technical efficiency of maize producers in Southwestern Nigeria. The multistage sampling procedure was to select about 300 respondents for the study. The data were analysed using Hurdle Negative Binomial (HNB) and Endogeneity Stochastic Frontier models. According to the first hurdle result, the decision to join social capital networks is significantly influenced by age, age square, household size, gender, and access to credit. According to the second hurdle results, the level of participation in social capital networks is significantly influenced by age, age squared, household size, experience, gender, and access to credit. The Endogeneity Stochastic frontier model shows that the average technical efficiency of 65% in maize production. Maize seed, fertilizer, agrochemicals, labour, and farm size influence the technical efficiency of maize farmers. However, participation in social capital networks, as well as socioeconomic characteristics of the farmers including household size, years of education, years of experience, and extension contact, are the sources of technical inefficiencies in maize production. The study concludes that participation in social capital networks has a positive and significant effect on the technical efficiency of maize farmers. This study recommends that agricultural programmes targeted at efficient maize production should consider maize farmers participating in social groups. Therefore, more social capital networks should be established and participation of maize farmers in the social capital networks should be encouraged to access social capital and improve their production.

Abstract Background Insulin resistance (IR) is known to be prevalent amongst women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Its presence has been linked to chronic anovulation and marked long term complications in women. Hence, identification and treatment of IR in women with PCOS is required to prevent the metabolic and reproductive complications of the disease. The aim of this study is to determine if serum adiponectin could be used as a surrogate marker for insulin resistance among women with PCOS. Materials and methods A total number of 148 consenting women with PCOS diagnosed using the Rotterdam criteria were recruited for this study. Fifty-two of these women had insulin resistance were compared with 96 of the women who did not have insulin resistance. The serum Adiponectin levels, fasting blood glucose and fasting insulin levels were assayed in all study participants. Insulin resistance was assessed in all the study participants using the Homeostasis Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Data were analyzed using relevant inferential statistics at 95% confidence interval and p value of

The study determined the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of Listeria spp. (L. monocytogenes, L. innocua, and L. welshimeri) recovered from beef and beef products sold at retail outlets in Gauteng Province, South Africa. A total of 112 isolates of Listeria spp., including L. monocytogenes (37), L. innocua (65), and L. welshimeri (10), were recovered from beef and beef products collected from 48 retail outlets. Listeria spp. was recovered by direct selective plating following selective enrichment, and PCR was used to confirm and characterize recovered isolates. The disc diffusion method determined the resistance to 16 antimicrobial agents. All 112 isolates of Listeria spp. exhibited resistance to one or more antibiotics (P

Objective: Due to the need for better treatments for infectious disorders, the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory potential of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of Mitracarpus scaber (M.scaber) extracts were assessed in this study. Methods: AgNPs were synthesized from 0.1M AgNO3 solution using M.scaber aqueous and ethanolic extracts as capping and reducing agents. FTIR, UV-VIS, FESEM and XRD studies were used to analyze the generated AgNPs. The Agar well diffusion method was used to evaluate their antibacterial activity against E. coli, while egg albumin and carrageenan-induced paw oedema assays were used to measure the anti-inflammatory activity of silver nanoparticles of aqueous and ethanol extracts of M.scaber (A.AgNPs and E.AgNPs). Result: The formation of A.AgNPs and E.AgNPs at λ max = 425 nm and 410 nm, respectively, were demonstrated by UV–vis spectroscopy. The XRD pattern showed that the crystalline phase of silver and the generation of A.AgNPs and E.AgNPs were well aligned. Agglomerated A.AgNPs and E.AgNPs with particle sizes ranging from 5 to 20 nm were seen in the FESEM micrograph. The antibacterial activity result showed that, in a dose-dependent manner, A.AgNPs had a significantly (P

Biopolymer composites represent an emerging alternative to petroleum-derived polymers for applications in electronic devices. Cellulose from Luffa cylindrical was treated with acid, and graphene oxide was produced from waste battery rod graphite. The two products were characterized using FTIR, SEM, TGA and XRD. After that, starch-based bioplastic films with varying amounts of acid-treated cellulose (ALC-cellulose) and graphene oxide (GO) as fillers were prepared, and the physical and electrical properties were determined. XRD data revealed a crystallinity of 62% for the ALC-cellulose and 52% for the cellulose precursor. GO had a d-spacing of 0.76 nm compared to 0.29 nm for battery-sourced graphite. TEM micrograph analyses revealed an average fibre diameter of 44.7 nm for acid-treated cellulose and 99.7 nm for cellulose. The density, thickness, opacity, and tensile strength of the bioplastic films increased from 1.31 to 1.44 g/cm3, 0.21–0.48 mm, 14.78–38.64, and 0.98–1.42 MPa, respectively, while the moisture content, swelling ability, and porosity reduced, with an increase in percentage composition of the filler materials. The dielectric constant and conductivity increased from 50.3 to 6965.2 and 0.0036–0.0147 S/m with an increase in percentage composition of the filler materials except for Filmcr4, which showed a drop in dielectric constant (3033.73) and conductivity (0.0074 S/m). Overall, this study has demonstrated that bioplastic filler materials can be sourced from waste materials and that these fillers improved the starch-based bioplastic film's physical and electrical properties.

Abstract The goals of this study are to describe machine learning techniques employing computer-vision movement algorithms to automatically evaluate infants’ general movements (GMs) in the writhing stage. This is a retrospective study of infants admitted 07/2019 to 11/2021 to a level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Infant GMs, classified by certified expert, were analyzed in two-steps (1) determination of anatomic key point location using a NICU-trained pose estimation model [accuracy determined using object key point similarity (OKS)]; (2) development of a preliminary movement model to distinguish normal versus cramped-synchronized (CS) GMs using cosine similarity and autocorrelation of major joints. GMs were analyzed using 85 videos from 74 infants; gestational age at birth 28.9 ± 4.1 weeks and postmenstrual age (PMA) at time of video 35.9 ± 4.6 weeks The NICU-trained pose estimation model was more accurate (0.91 ± 0.008 OKS) than a generic model (0.83 ± 0.032 OKS, p

Abstract Background African ancestry populations have the highest burden of stroke worldwide, yet the genetic basis of stroke in these populations is obscure. The Stroke Investigative Research and Educational Network (SIREN) is a multicenter study involving 16 sites in West Africa. We conducted the first-ever genome-wide association study (GWAS) of stroke in indigenous Africans. Methods Cases were consecutively recruited consenting adults (aged > 18 years) with neuroimaging-confirmed ischemic stroke. Stroke-free controls were ascertained using a locally validated Questionnaire for Verifying Stroke-Free Status. DNA genotyping with the H3Africa array was performed, and following initial quality control, GWAS datasets were imputed into the NIH Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) release2 from BioData Catalyst. Furthermore, we performed fine-mapping, trans-ethnic meta-analysis, and in silico functional characterization to identify likely causal variants with a functional interpretation. Results We observed genome-wide significant (P-value < 5.0E−8) SNPs associations near AADACL2 and miRNA (MIR5186) genes in chromosome 3 after adjusting for hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and cardiac status in the base model as covariates. SNPs near the miRNA (MIR4458) gene in chromosome 5 were also associated with stroke (P-value < 1.0E−6). The putative genes near AADACL2, MIR5186, and MIR4458 genes were protective and novel. SNPs associations with stroke in chromosome 2 were more than 77 kb from the closest gene LINC01854 and SNPs in chromosome 7 were more than 116 kb to the closest gene LINC01446 (P-value < 1.0E−6). In addition, we observed SNPs in genes STXBP5-AS1 (chromosome 6), GALTN9 (chromosome 12), FANCA (chromosome 16), and DLGAP1 (chromosome 18) (P-value < 1.0E−6). Both genomic regions near genes AADACL2 and MIR4458 remained significant following fine mapping. Conclusions Our findings identify potential roles of regulatory miRNA, intergenic non-coding DNA, and intronic non-coding RNA in the biology of ischemic stroke. These findings reveal new molecular targets that promise to help close the current gaps in accurate African ancestry-based genetic stroke’s risk prediction and development of new targeted interventions to prevent or treat stroke.

Abstract Background Fatty acid binding protein 3 (FABP3) is a target with clinical relevance and the peptide ligand ACooP has been identified for FABP3 targeting. ACooP is a linear decapeptide containing a free amino and thiol group, which provides opportunities for conjugation. This work is to develop methods for radiolabeling of ACooP with fluorine-18 (18F) for positron emission tomography (PET) applications, and evaluate the binding of the radiolabeled ACooP in human tumor tissue sections with high FABP3 expression. Results The prosthetic compound 6-[18F]fluoronicotinic acid 4-nitrophenyl ester was conveniently prepared with an on-resin 18F-fluorination in 29.9% radiochemical yield and 96.6% radiochemical purity. Interestingly, 6-[18F]fluoronicotinic acid 4-nitrophenyl ester conjugated to ACooP exclusively by S-acylation instead of the expected N-acylation, and the chemical identity of the product [18F]FNA-S-ACooP was confirmed. In the in vitro binding experiments, [18F]FNA-S-ACooP exhibited heterogeneous and high focal binding in malignant tissue sections, where we also observed abundant FABP3 positivity by immunofluorescence staining. Blocking study further confirmed the [18F]FNA-S-ACooP binding specificity. Conclusions FABP3 targeted ACooP peptide was successfully radiolabeled by S-acylation using 6-[18F]fluoronicotinic acid 4-nitrophenyl ester as the prosthetic compound. The tissue binding and blocking studies together with anti-FABP3 immunostaining confirmed [18F]FNA-S-ACooP binding specificity. Further preclinical studies of [18F]FNA-S-ACooP are warranted.

Key Clinical Message Diverticular bleeding is the most common cause of lower gastrointestinal bleeding and accounts for 20.8%–41.6% of cases in the Western world. Management involves initial resuscitation followed by diagnostic assessment. Colonoscopy is the investigation of choice as it localizes the bleed and has the potential to effectively deliver therapeutic interventions. Other diagnostic modalities include flexible sigmoidoscopy, a tagged red blood cell scan, or angiography. In cases where the bleeding source cannot be identified, intraoperative enteroscopy has emerged as a valuable tool for investigating obscure gastroenterology bleeds in specific patients. In this case report, we describe the management of a 77‐year‐old male with recently diagnosed pan‐colonic diverticulosis who presented with multiple episodes of rectal bleeding and syncope. Due to his declining hemodynamic status and failed endoscopy and embolization, he was taken to surgery for a colectomy. Intraoperative colonoscopy was utilized to facilitate accurate identification of the pathology, assessment of anastomotic patency, and detection of surgical complications. This case report attempts to portray how the incorporation of endo‐videoscopy into surgical planning has the potential to enhance patient outcomes and represent a significant advancement in the field of minimally invasive surgery.

Background: The implementation of task sharing and shifting (TSTS) policy as a way of addressing the shortage of physicians and reducing the burden of hypertension in Africa birthed the idea of the African School of Hypertension (ASH). The ASH is saddled with the responsibility of training non-physician health workers across Africa continent in the management of uncomplicated hypertension. Aim: To get feedback from some faculty members and students who participated in the first ASH programme. Methods: This was a cross-sectional exploratory qualitative study conducted among eight students and eight faculty members. Feedback from the program was obtained by conducting in-depth interviews centred on description of course content; expectations and knowledge acquired from ASH; level of interaction between students and faculty members; challenges faced during the ASH; level of implementation of acquired training; and suggestions to improve subsequent ASH programs Results: The course content of the ASH was described as simple, appropriate and adequate while interaction between students and faculty members were highly cordial and engaging. New knowledge about hypertension management was acquired by the students with different levels of implementation post-graduation. Some identified challenges with the ASH program were poor internet connectivity during lectures, non-uniformity of TSTS policies and hypertension management guidelines across Africa, technical problems with hypertension management app and low participation from other African countries apart from Nigeria. Some recommendations to improve ASH program were development of a uniform hypertension management guideline for Africans, wider publicity of the ASH, interpretation of lectures into French and Portuguese languages and improvement of internet connectivity. Conclusion: The ASH programme has largely achieved its objectives with the very encouraging feedback received from both faculty members and the students. Steps should be taken to address the identified challenges and implement the suggested recommendations in subsequent ASH program to sustain this success.

Abstract Network intrusion detection systems (NIDSs) are one of the main tools used to defend against cyber-attacks. Deep learning has shown remarkable success in network intrusion detection. However, the effect of feature fusion has yet to be explored in how to boost the performance of the deep learning model and improve its generalisation capability in NIDS. In this paper, we propose novel deep learning architectures with different feature fusion mechanisms aimed at improving the performance of the multi-classification components of NIDS. We propose three different deep learning models, which we call early-fusion, late-fusion, and late-ensemble learning models using feature fusion with fully connected deep networks. Our feature fusion mechanisms were designed to encourage deep learning models to learn relationships between different input features more efficiently and mitigate any potential bias that may occur with a particular feature type. To assess the efficacy of our deep learning solutions and make comparisons with state-of-the-art models, we employ the widely accessible UNSW-NB15 and NSL-KDD datasets specifically designed to enhance the development and evaluation of improved NIDSs. Through quantitative analysis, we demonstrate the resilience of our proposed models in effectively addressing the challenges posed by multi-classification tasks, especially in the presence of class imbalance issues. Moreover, our late-fusion and late-ensemble models showed the best generalisation behaviour (against overfitting) with similar performance on the training and validation sets.

Abstract Background In sub-Saharan Africa, recent graduates from medical school provide more direct surgical and procedural care to patients than their counterparts from the Global North. Nigeria has no nationally representative data on the procedures performed by trainees before graduation from medical school and their confidence in performing these procedures upon graduation has also not been evaluated. Methods We performed an internet-based, cross-sectional survey of recent medical school graduates from 15 accredited Federal, State, and private Nigerian medical schools spanning six geopolitical zones. Essential surgical procedures, bedside interventions and three Bellwether procedures were incorporated into the survey. Self-reported confidence immediately after graduation was calculated and compared using cumulative confidence scores with subgroup analysis of results by type and location of institution. Qualitative analysis of free text recommendations by participants was performed using the constant comparative method in grounded theory. Results Four hundred ninety-nine recent graduates from 6 geopolitical zones participated, representing 15 out of a total of 44 medical schools in Nigeria. Male to female ratio was 2:1, and most respondents (59%) graduated from Federal institutions. Students had greatest practical mean exposure to bedside procedures like intravenous access and passing urethral foley catheters and were most confident performing these. Less than 23% had performed over 10 of any of the assessed procedures. They had least exposures to chest tube insertion (0.24/person), caesarean Sect. (0.12/person), and laparotomy (0.09/person). Recent graduates from Federal institutions had less procedural exposure in urethral catheterization (p

The mental health of Nigerian employees in an organization is as important as their physical health at it allows them to focus on their jobs and aims at effective productivity in their organizations without any restrictions or restrains. A qualitative study approach was utilized through the use of structured interviews to explore the implications of Covid-19 on the mental health of those who worked from home and those who worked physically at their workplace. The study made use of 50 selected workers who worked at home and physically at work during the 2020 national lockdown in Nigeria. The study engaged the use of thematic analysis which led to the discussion of themes such as changes in work schedules, effects on mental capacity, exposure, adaptation, changes, and attitudes towards the lockdown. The study identified that there was a change in the mental health of Nigerian employees because they went through experiences that brought diverse perspectives to the way they view themselves and their work. It is recommended that people are equipped with psychological coping mechanisms to deal with unexpected situations and appreciate the significance of relationships with family, friends, colleagues at work, and speak up if they face any mental challenges.

This study aims to investigate the effect of knowledge management on organizational performance in Nigeria manufacturing sector. The research employed primary data sources, with a sample size of two hundred and twenty (220) completed and returned questionnaires. The collected cross-sectional data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression, and correlation coefficients, indicating that the overall regression model was appropriate. The finding shows that knowledge creation has a significant effect on organization performance in Nigeria manufacturing sector and it was also revealed that knowledge sharing has a significant effect on organization performance in Nigeria manufacturing sector. The study concluded that knowledge management is considered a crucial factor for the competitiveness of organizations in the current business environment. As a recommendation, organizations are advised to establish knowledge-sharing platforms such as databases, intranets, and training activities to facilitate efficient knowledge sharing among staff and different divisions within the organization.

Abstract Background Q fever and toxoplasmosis are economically important zoonoses as they cause considerable losses in livestock (cattle, sheep and goats) and wildlife (antelopes, giraffes, lions, and cheetahs) through reproductive disorders such as abortions and stillbirths. Q fever and toxoplasmosis testing in South Africa is conducted by the Agricultural Research Council-Onderstepoort Veterinary Research (ARC-OVR). However, both zoonoses are understudied and not monitored in South Africa as they are not considered controlled or notifiable diseases in the Animal Disease Act 35 of 1984. A retrospective study was conducted on Q fever (2007–2009) and toxoplasmosis (2007–2017) using diagnostic laboratory data at the ARC-OVR. Also, we report on sporadic abortion and stillbirth cases in livestock from diagnostic tissue samples submitted for Coxiella burnetii polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection at the ARC-OVR. Results During 2007 to 2009, 766 animal samples were tested for C. burnetii antibodies and seropositivity was 0.9% (95%CI: 0.3–1.7) with sheep (1.9%; 95%CI: 0.6–4.4) having the highest seropositivity followed by cattle (0.7%; 95%CI: 0.09–2.6), while all goats (0.0%; 95%CI: 0.0–4.2) and wildlife (0.0%; 95%CI: 0.0–2.5) tested were negative. From 2007 to 2017, 567 sera were tested for T. gondii antibodies; overall seropositivity was 12.2% (95%CI: 9.6–15). Wildlife had highest seropositivity to T. gondii antibodies (13.9%; 95%CI: 9.0–19.7) followed by goats (12.9%; 95%CI: 9.2–17.4) and sheep (12.3%; 95%CI: 5.1–23.8) while seropositivity in cattle was 2.4% (95%CI: 0.06–12.9). Of 11 animals tested by C. burnetii PCR detection (2021–2022), 10 (91.0%) were positive. The amplicon sequences showed similarity to Coxiella burnetii strain 54T1 transposase gene partial coding sequence. Conclusions We have confirmed the occurrence of the causative agents of Q fever and toxoplasmosis in livestock and wildlife in South Africa, with data limitations. These zoonoses remain of importance with limited information about them in South Africa. This study provides baseline information for future studies on Q fever and toxoplasmosis in South African livestock and wildlife, as well other African countries. Due to limited data collection experienced in this study, it is recommended that improvements in data collection samples tested should include associated factors such as sex, age, and breed of the animals.

We used whole genome sequencing (WGS) as an epidemiologic surveillance tool to elucidate the transmission dynamics of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains along the beef production chain in South Africa. Isolates were obtained from a cattle farm, abattoirs and retail outlets. Isolates were analysed using WGS on a MiSeq platform (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA) and phylogenetic analysis was carried out. Of the 85 isolates, 39% (33) carried the stx gene and 61% (52) had lost the stx gene. The prevalence of stx subtypes was as follows; stx1a 55% (18/33), stx1b 52% (17/33), stx2a 55% (18/33), stx2b 27% (9/33), stx2dB 30% (10/33) and stx2d1A 15% (5/33). Thirty-five different serogenotypes were detected, of which 65% (56) were flagellar H-antigens and 34% (29) were both O-antigens and flagellar H-antigens. We identified 50 different sequence types (STs), and only nine of the isolates were assigned to three different clonal complexes. Core genome phylogenetic analysis revealed genetic relatedness, and isolates clustered mainly according to their STs and serogenotypes regardless of stx subtypes. This study provides evidence of horizontal transmission and recirculation of STEC strains in Gauteng province and demonstrates that every stage of the beef production chain plays a significant role in STEC entry into the food chain.

Listeria monocytogenes is a ubiquitous bacterial pathogen that threatens the food chain and human health. In this study, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used for the genomic characterization of L. monocytogenes (n = 24) from beef and beef-based products. Multilocus Sequence Type (MLST) analysis revealed that ST204 of CC204 was the most common sequence type (ST). Other sequence types detected included ST1 and ST876 of CC1, ST5 of CC5, ST9 of CC9, ST88 of CC88, ST2 and ST1430 of CC2, and ST321 of CC321. Genes encoding for virulence factors included complete LIPI-1 (pfrA-hly-plcA-plcB-mpl-actA) from 54% (13/24) of the isolates of ST204, ST321, ST1430, and ST9 and internalin genes inlABC that were present in all the STs. All the L. monocytogenes STs carried four intrinsic/natural resistance genes, fosX, lin, norB, and mprF, conferring resistance to fosfomycin, lincosamide, quinolones, and cationic peptides, respectively. Plasmids pLGUG1 and J1776 were the most detected (54% each), followed by pLI100 (13%) and pLM5578 (7%). The prophage profile, vB_LmoS_188, was overrepresented amongst the isolates, followed by LP_101, LmoS_293_028989, LP_030_2_021539, A006, and LP_HM00113468. Listeria genomic island 2 (LGI-2) was found to be present in all the isolates, while Listeria genomic island 3 (LGI-3) was present in a subset of isolates (25%). The type VII secretion system was found in 42% of the isolates, and sortase A was present in all L. monocytogenes genomes. Mobile genetic elements and genomic islands did not harbor any virulence, resistance, or environmental adaptation genes that may benefit L. monocytogenes. All the STs did not carry genes that confer resistance to first-line antibiotics used for the treatment of listeriosis. The characterization of L. monocytogenes in our study highlighted the environmental resistance and virulence potential of L. monocytogenes and the risk posed to the public, as this bacterium is frequently found in food and food processing environments.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) is a group of bacteria responsible for causing tuberculosis in animals and humans. In South Africa (S.A), slaughterhouses are registered by the government and closely inspected and audited for hygienic slaughter practices. Meat inspection to detect lesions has been used for passive surveillance, monitoring, and diagnosis of the disease status. Information on the current status of bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in livestock in the country is limited. Hence, we investigated the occurrence of Mycobacterium spp. in the tissues of slaughtered livestock and environmental samples in abattoirs in Gauteng province of South Africa (S.A). The cross-sectional study employing random sampling from cattle, pigs, and sheep (with the collection of liver, lung, spleen, and different lymph nodes) irrespective of lesions was carried out in 19 red meat abattoirs. Five hundred animals were sampled, comprising cattle (n = 369), pigs (n = 90), and sheep (n = 41). Additionally, 19 environmental samples were collected from feedlots, or where animals drink water while awaiting slaughter, to identify mycobacterial species using culture, acid-fast bacteria staining, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The Chi-square and Fisher’s Exact tests were used to detect statistically significant differences in the frequency of detection of Mycobacterium spp. according to the variables investigated (types of tissues, livestock, abattoirs, etc.). The PCR assays detected no MTBC complex species DNA in the bacterial isolates from cattle (n = 32). Sequence analysis (16S rDNA) of the isolates from eight cattle confirmed only two species, namely Mycobacterium colombiense (99.81% identity) and Mycobacterium simiae (99.42% identity). The remaining isolates were identified as members of the Actinomadura species. From the environmental samples, bacterial isolation was made from three samples, and two could only be identified up to the genus level (Mycobacterium species) while the remaining isolate was identified as Mycobacterium senuense (99.22% identity). The study revealed the absence of bovine tuberculosis-causing pathogens in red meat abattoirs of the Gauteng province. Although non-tuberculous Mycobacteria have been implicated as potentially causing tuberculosis-like diseases in livestock, their occurrence in the current study was found to be low, but the potential to cause disease cannot be ignored.

South Africa recently (2017-18) experienced the largest outbreak of human listeriosis in the world caused by L. monocytogenes following the consumption of “polony,” a ready-to-eat meat product. Most (59%) cases originated from Gauteng province, South Africa. As a follow-up study to the outbreak, we used standard bacteriological and molecular methods to determine the prevalence of pathogenic and virulent serogroups of L. monocytogenes in various beef and beef products retailed in Gauteng province, South Africa. The overall prevalence of Listeria spp. was 28% (112/400), comprising Listeria monocytogenes (9.3%), Listeria innocua (16.3%), and Listeria welshimeri (2.5%) (p

Type 2 diabetes is a major health concern contributing to most of diabetic cases worldwide. Mangiferin and its congeners are known for their diverse pharmacological properties. This study sought to investigate the inhibitory property of naturally occurring mangiferin congeners on sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 protein (SGLT-2) using comprehensive computational methods. The naturally occurring mangiferin congeners were subjected to molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MDs) simulation (100 ns), molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) binding free energy, density functional theory calculations (B3LYP 6-31G basis set), and ADMET approaches to identify potential SGLT-2 inhibitor. The molecular docking studies revealed neomangiferin (−9.0 kcal/mol) as the hit molecule compared with dapagliflozin (−8.3 kcal/mol). Root-mean-square deviation (RMSD) and root-mean-square fluctuation (RMSF) plots from the MD simulations established that neomangiferin stabilizes SGLT-2 better than the dapagliflozin, a standard drug. The MM-PBSA binding free energy calculations showed that neomangiferin (−26.05 kcal/mol) elicited better binding affinity than dapagliflozin (−17.42 kcal/mol). The electronic studies showed that neomangiferin (3.48 eV) elicited high electrophilicity index compared with mangiferin (3.31 eV) and dapagliflozin (2.11 eV). Also, the ADMET properties showed that the hit molecule is safe when administered to diabetic subjects. The current in silico studies suggest that neomangiferin could emerge as a promising lead molecule as a SGLT-2 inhibitor.

Many food policy councils, food and agriculture-oriented groups, coalitions, organizations, funders, nonprofits, decision-makers, government depart­ments, and other entities work to address local food system issues and inequities that negatively affect human, animal, and planetary wellbeing. In this article, we summarize and reflect on the pro­cess of creating an open-access food system indica­tors database. Our goal has been to create a library of indicators from which groups can draw when assessing their local food system, identifying improvement opportunities, and evaluating their efforts. The indicators were extracted from seven sources selected to cover a wide range of food sys­tem elements and pertinent topics, including nutri­tion, agricultural production, racial equity, health outcomes, environmental impacts, and economics. Our work can contribute to needed research on monitoring and evaluating food system attributes and changes, developing a common set of indica­tors that groups can use to track food systems across places and over time and to assess racial equity, justice, and fairness in the food system.

Industry 4.0 and 5.0 topics are emerging fields and have seen rising demand recently. There is a critical need, on the other hand, for improved methods of instructing programming languages since a growing lack of student motivation during the pandemic has had a deleterious influence on the education of programmers. In this context, online/hybrid computer programming courses must be addressed with innovative solutions to support the field with well-educated professionals. In this paper, we present a case study to propose an innovative tailored instructional design for the online/hybrid learning environments for programming courses in engineering faculties. To develop the instructional design, the Kemp Instructional Design Model was followed. The instructional design is a result of the main outputs of the RECOM “Redesigning Introductory Computer Programming Using Innovative Online Modules” project, which aims to bridge the gap between the existing course design in programming courses and the needs of "Covid” and “post-Covid” generation students.

The study used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and bioinformatics analysis for the genomic characterization of 60 isolates of Listeria monocytogenes obtained from the beef production chain (cattle farms, abattoirs, and retail outlets) in Gauteng province, South Africa. The sequence types (STs), clonal complexes (CCs), and the lineages of the isolates were determined using in silico multilocus sequence typing (MLST). We used BLAST-based analyses to identify virulence and antimicrobial genes, plasmids, proviruses/prophages, and the CRISPR-Cas system. The study investigated any association of the detected genes to the origin in the beef production chain of the L. monocytogenes isolates. Overall, in 60 isolates of Listeria monocytogenes, there were seven STs, six CCs, forty-four putative virulence factors, two resistance genes, one plasmid with AMR genes, and three with conjugative genes, one CRISPR gene, and all 60 isolates were positive for proviruses/prophages. Among the seven STs detected, ST204 (46.7%) and ST2 (21.7%) were the most prominent, with ST frequency varying significantly (p < 0.001). The predominant CC detected were CC2 (21.7%) and CC204 (46.7%) in lineages I and II, respectively. Of the 44 virulence factors detected, 26 (across Listeria Pathogenicity Islands, LIPIs) were present in all the isolates. The difference in the detection frequency varied significantly (p < 0.001). The two AMR genes (fosX and vga(G)) detected were present in all 60 (100%) isolates of L. monocytogenes. The only plasmid, NF033156, was present in three (5%) isolates. A CRISPR-Cas system was detected in six (10%), and all the isolates carried proviruses/prophages. The source and sample type significantly affected the frequencies of STs and virulence factors in the isolates of L. monocytogenes. The presence of fosX and vga(G) genes in all L. monocytogenes isolates obtained from the three industries of the beef production chain can potentially cause therapeutic implications. Our study, which characterized L. monocytogenes recovered from the three levels in the beef production chain, is the first time genomics was performed on this type of data set in the country, and this provides insights into the health implications of Listeria.

Prevalence of Dental Caries and Predisposing Factors in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Port Harcourt Background: Dental caries is a common oral health disease of global interest. The burden of the disease and predisposing factors must be determined before a preventive programme could be designed, but relevant data from community-based studies are not common in Rivers State. Aims and Objectives: This study was designed to determine the prevalence and predisposing factors to caries development in the Local Government Area (LGA). Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out among adult residents in Obio-Akpor LGA of Rivers State. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect personal data and caries predisposing factors while oral examination was carried out to determine caries severity and oral hygiene status using DMFT and OHI-S indexes respectively. The sample size (240) was determined using the formula for descriptive studies. Results: The mean (SD) age was 32(±1.113) years. Most of the participants were married, Ikwerres, skilled workers, earn 3 indicates poor OHI). Conclusions: The DMFT index was low while OHI-S was high. Poor oral hygiene status, oral healthcare utilization and cariogenic diets predisposed the participants to caries. Key words: Caries, prevalence, predisposing factors, prevention

Abstract Perforated gastric adenocarcinoma is a rare and challenging complication of gastric cancer, which can lead to intra‐abdominal abscesses and other complications. Management of perforated gastric adenocarcinoma with an intra‐abdominal abscess requires a multidisciplinary approach, including empiric antibiotic therapy and fluid resuscitation, partial gastrectomy with Roux‐en‐Y reconstruction, and image‐guided drainage. This case report highlights the complex and challenging nature of managing perforated gastric adenocarcinoma with intra‐abdominal abscesses. Prompt recognition and timely intervention are essential for favorable outcomes. Postoperative care and close follow‐up are also important.

Background: Maternal health is the mother's state of well-being before, during, and after conception. Studies have suggested that the increasing maternal mortality rate is preventable provided maternal health services are accessible during pregnancy. This study explored the association between socioeconomic status and the utilization of maternal health services in the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, Ogun State. Materials and Methods: This study is a cross-sectional survey. One hundred and eighty-eight pregnant women from the antenatal unit of a tertiary hospital in Southwestern Nigeria were selected using a convenience sampling technique. Data were collected via a pretested, self-designed questionnaire. The descriptive statistics were used to analyze the resulting data, and the hypotheses were tested using the Pearson product-moment correlation at 0.05 level of significance. Result: From the study, 72 (38.30%) and 58 (30.90%) agreed that their income and occupation influence their maternal health services utilization. Significant relationship (p < 0.05) existed between maternal health service utilization and age and between socioeconomic factors (occupation and income level) and utilization of maternal health services of pregnant women. Conclusions: Overall, this study revealed that the level of utilization of maternal health services among expectant women attending FMC is moderate. As this study has shown that socioeconomic factors influence the utilization of maternal health services, we recommend that interventions by health workers targeted at improving the utilization of maternal health services should consider these factors when designing such interventions. It is hoped that this will contribute to reducing maternal mortality and morbidity in this state.

The need for the acquisition of science process skills is gaining acceptance in secondary school as a crucial preparatory skill for promoting entrepreneurship. The problem of unemployment is a challenge facing many developing nations, with no exception to the developed nations. In the current study, the effect of the acquisition of science process skills through entrepreneurship education on 125 Nigerian senior secondary school students’ achievement and retention in “Physics in Technology” was investigated. The study adopts the randomized pre-test-post-test control group quasi-experimental design. A group of students was taught using science process skills through the entrepreneurship method, while the other group was taught using the conventional lecture method. A researcher-made instrument, Achievement Test in Physics (ATP), was used to collect data for the study. Overall, this investigation reports that students who acquired science process skills through the entrepreneurship method achieved and retained significantly better than those students taught with the conventional method. The results indicate that science process skills acquisition and entrepreneurship education are indispensable towards self-reliance and sustainable development of the nation. Also, students taught science process skills using the entrepreneurship method retained what had been learned better than the other group, and the method did not segregate along student gender. This paper contributes to scholastic by making a case for incorporating entrepreneurship education into the senior secondary school Physics curriculum. This would assist in the production of secondary school students whose creativity, ingenuity, and resourcefulness can assist in reducing the problem of unemployment through the encouragement of entrepreneurship.

Overexpression of ubiquitin ligase MDM2 causes depletion of the p53 tumour-suppressor and thus leads to cancer progression. In recent years, anthraquinone analogs have received significant attention due to their ability to downregulate MDM2, thereby promoting p53-induced apoptosis. Previously, we have developed potent anthraquinone compounds having the ability to upregulate p53 via inhibition of MDM2 in both cell culture and animal models of acute lymphocytic leukaemia. Earlier work was focussed on mechanistic work, pharmacological validation of this class of compounds in animal models, and mapping out structural space that allows for further modification and optimisation. Herein, we describe our work in optimising the substituents on the two phenol hydroxyl groups. It was found that the introduction of an alkylketone moiety led to a potent series of analogs with BW-AQ-350 being the most potent compound yet (IC50 = 0.19 ± 0.01 µM) which exerts cytotoxicity by inducing MDM2 degradation and p53 upregulation.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of supplementing cassava pulp with cocoa pod and acacia leaf on the blood metabolites of WAD goats. Twenty-eight WAD bucks aged 5 months with the mean body weight of 7 ± 0.2 kg were used in this completely randomized experiment. The goats were randomly assigned to seven dietary treatments in different ratios of 0:60:40 (T1), 10:50:40 (T2), 20:40:40 (T3), 30:30:40 (T4), 40:20:40 (T5), 50:10:40 (T6), and 60:0:40 (T7) g/kg DM. The collected data were analyzed by the analysis of variance using SPSS. The obtained results showed that the highest PCV was obtained from treatment 1 (26.83%), followed by treatments 2 (23.40%) and 3 (22.27%). Haemoglobin concentration was the highest in treatment 1 (11.4 g/dl), followed by treatments 2 (11.15 g/dl) and 3 (10.37 g/dl). At the end of the experiment, there was a sharp decline in the PCV and haemoglobin values of the goats in treatments 5, 6, and 7. RBC values significantly (p < 0.05) decreased as the levels of cocoa pod increased. Total protein and albumin had the ranges of 7.23-5 and 3.7-2.1 g/dl, respectively and and Total protein were significantly (p < 0.05) different among the groups. The hepatic enzymes ALT, ALP, and AST were within the normal range. Our study revealed that supplementing cassava pulp with cocoa pod and acacia leaf at the combinations of 0% cocoa pod, 60% cassava pulp, and 40% acacia leaf to 20% cocoa pod, 40% cassava pulp, and 40% acacia leaf had no negative effects on the blood profile of WAD goats.

Abstract Background Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a zoonotic disease with great economic impact estimated at billions of dollars annually worldwide. Meat inspection represents a long‐standing form of disease surveillance that serves both food safety and animal health. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of bTB in livestock at abattoirs using a cell‐mediated immune (CMI) assay, the gamma interferon (IFN‐γ) assay. This cross‐sectional study was conducted at selected abattoirs (low‐throughput, high‐throughput and rural/informal) in Gauteng province, where animals were also subjected to routine meat inspection. Results A total of 410 fresh blood samples were collected from slaughter livestock (369 cattle and 41 sheep) from 15 abattoirs, and analysed using Bovigam® test kit with bovine, avian and Fortuitum purified protein derivatives (PPD) as blood stimulating antigens. The estimated prevalence of bTB in cattle was 4.4% (95% CI: 2.4%–7.3%). The prevalence of bTB in cattle varied between abattoirs (p = .005), ranging from 0% to 23%; however, there were no significant differences among genders, breeds, municipality, districts, origins of animals (feedlot, auction or farm) or throughput of abattoirs. The prevalence of avian reactors was 6.0% (95% CI: 3.6%–9.2%) in cattle, varying between abattoirs (p = .004) and ranging from 0% to 20.7%. None of the sheep with valid test results was positive for bTB and none was avian reactors (95% CI: 0%–15%). Conclusion The detection of bTB reactor cattle in our study clearly shows the limitation of disease surveillance using a meat inspection approach, as all the 410 slaughter animals sampled had passed visual abattoir inspection and been classified as bTB‐free. Our findings therefore emphasize the risk of zoonotic transmission of bTB to abattoir workers and potential food safety hazard to consumers. Furthermore, our study highlights the potential for the use of the IFN‐γ assay to reduce this risk.

Abstract Government spending is one of the vital ways for the provision of public goods and services with a view of improving citizens' well-being. African countries have been identified by international bodies as naturally endowed with resources that serve as major financiers for many African governments yet, most countries in Africa are ranked low in human development. Though the nature of many governments is hinged on the quality of life, however, the reverse is the case for many African countries. Low development indicators as against huge African governments spending indicates low efficiency in spending. Hence, this study assesses the efficiency of government spending in Africa and examines the drivers of government spending efficiency. Adopts SFA to assess government spending efficiency while TFE model was used to examine the relationship between government spending efficiency and its drivers. Owing to macrodata adopted in the study, it accounts for the second-generation panel unit root and uses panel corrected standard error to correct for cross-sectional dependence among 40 African countries between 2000 and 2020. The frontier result revalidates government spending as an input factor to achieve growing human development in Africa. The result shows that the level of government spending efficiency depends on the size of the economy and other factors. Natural resources could be used to address the burgeon government spending efficiency when effectively utilized. The result shows that colonial legacy has a long-lasting impact on government spending efficiency. These results suggest the need for efficiency of government spending owing burgeon drivers available among African economies. We recommend the need to improve the efficiency of government spending in order to situate framework for Africa development. Effective resources utilization and a strong institutional framework are potential drivers of spending efficiency in African economies. The paper provides an empirical study on the relationship between natural resources, colonial legacy, and government spending efficiency through true fixed effect among African countries.

Organic farming practices (OFP) are key components of sustainable agriculture. However, the adoption of OFP is not yet widespread. Therefore, this study examined the willingness to adopt OFP among arable crop farmers in Oyo State, Nigeria. A multi-stage and proportionate sampling technique was used to select 333 arable crop farmers with the aid of a structured questionnaire. Mean, percentages, Chi-square, and Pearson Product Moment Correlation ? 0.05 were used to analyse the results. Fifty percent (50%) of the respondents had high knowledge, and 46.1% had a moderately favourable perception of OFP. The majority (71.5%) were willing to adopt OFP. Inadequate credit facilities (=1.79) and lack of access to organic inputs ( =1.57) were major barriers to adopting OFP. Farm size (r = -0.114), household size (r = -0.180), farmer’s knowledge (r = 0.128), and perception of OFP (r = 0.122) were significantly related to farmers’ willingness to adopt OFP. Arable crop farmers were willing to adopt OFP. They should therefore be equipped with the requisite knowledge and skills through training programmes.

Copper-doped hematite thin films were prepared by spray pyrolysis technique using a mixture of ethanol and distilled water precursors. Visual observations showed that aqua precursor produced films of less integrity compared with ethanol that produced thin, uniform and transparent yellowish-brown films that adhered well to the substrate. Composition and thickness measurements determined by RBS revealed that ethanol precursor produced thinner films of 94.45 and 51.77 nm while aqua precursor produced films of 1,370 and 1,120 nm for undoped and Cu-doped Fe2O3 respectively. This is an indication that ethanol solutions produced nano-thick films of high integrity. The composition revealed that only the Cu-doped Fe2O3 deposited by ethanol solution gave composition close to stoichiometric Fe2O3 while the others gave non-stoichiometric Fe(OH)3 . Optical characterization carried out using UV-visible spectrophotometer in transmittance mode indicated that the film thickness was directly proportional to the number of passes which is inversely proportional to the transmittance. Three bandgap determination methods namely; Tauc, Absorption Fitting Spectrum (AFS) and Davis-Mott were employed with the result that Tauc and AFS gave close direct and indirect bandgap energies (Eg) of 3.44 and 1.98 for AFS and 3.43 and 2.32 eV for Tauc respectively. The Urbach tail energy determined was 1,100 meV which is an indication of a broad onset of absorption. The steepness parameter (?) was found to be 7.83 while the electron-phonon (Eph ) coupling energy was found to be 0.85 eV. It was also observed that the refractive index (n) was about 15 times greater than the extinction coefficient (k). In the study of the dispersion parameters using single oscillator and Sellmier models, the values of the single oscillator energy (Eosc ), dispersion energy (Ed), zero frequency dielectric constant, zero frequency refractive index, the average oscillator strength (So), the average oscillator parameter and the dispersion parameters were determined. All the values of the parameters estimated are of the same order of magnitude with other semiconducting materials. The study showed that Cu-doped Fe2O3 could be employed as dielectric material as well as in optoelectronic devices.

Plants possess compounds serving as reducing agents for green synthesis of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), which is currently considered for biomedical application. Exposure to cadmium (Cd) can affect the functional integrity of the several organs such as kidney and liver. Nymphaea lotus (NL) is known for its several medicinal properties, including its protective role against tissue damages. This study investigated the bioactive compounds in NL using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and ameliorative potential of its biosynthesized AuNPs (NL-AuNPs) against Cd-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. The presence of bioactive compounds in N. lotus was investigated by GC-MS in aqueous extract of NL. Gold nanoparticles were synthesized using aqueous extract of NL. Thirty rats were grouped into six (n = 5). Group 1 served as control, while group 2, 3, 4 and 5 received CdCl2 (10 mg/kg) orally for five days. Thereafter, groups 3, 4, and 5, respectively, received silymarin (75 mg/kg), 5 and 10 mg/kg NL-AuNPs, orally for 14 days, while group 6 received 10 mg/kg NL-AuNPs only. Rats were sacrificed after treatment, and biochemical parameters and kidney histopathology were evaluated. Bioactive compounds of pharmacological importance identified include pyrogallol, oxacyclohexadecan-2-one, 22-Desoxycarpesterol, 7,22-Ergostadienol, β-sitosterol and Dihydro-β-agarofuran. Cadmium caused nephrotoxicity in rats, as evidenced by significant (p

Abattoir workers are liable to zoonotic infections from animals and animal products, primarily to diseases with asymptomatic and chronic clinical manifestations in animals, such as brucellosis. No published reports exist on the seroprevalence of brucellosis in abattoir workers in South Africa. Therefore, this cross-sectional study was conducted to estimate the occurrence and risk factors for Brucella exposure in abattoir workers in Gauteng Province. A total of 103 abattoir workers and managers from 6 abattoirs, where brucellosis-positive slaughtered cattle and sheep were previously detected, were interviewed and tested with serological assays using the Rose Bengal test (RBT), BrucellaCapt, and IgG-ELISA. A pre-tested questionnaire was administered to consenting respondents to obtain information on risk factors for brucellosis. Of the 103 respondents tested, the distribution of female and male workers was 16 (15.5%) and 87 (84.5%), respectively. The seroprevalence for exposure to brucellosis was 21/103 (20.4%, 95%CI: 13.1–29.5) using a combination of RBT, BrucellaCapt, or IgG-ELISA. For test-specific results, seroprevalences by RBT, BrucellaCapt, and IgG-ELISA were 13/103 (12.6%, 95%CI: 6.9–20.6), 9/103 (8.74%, 95%CI: 4.1–15.9), and 18/103 (17.5%, 95%CI: 10.7–26.2), respectively. Low-throughput abattoirs were identified as associated risks, as 29.3% of workers were seropositive compared with 12.7% of workers in high-throughput abattoirs, which highlights that direct contact at abattoirs poses higher risk to workers than indirect and direct contact outside abattoirs. This study confirms the occurrence of Brucella spp. antibodies among abattoir workers in South Africa, possibly due to occupational exposure to Brucella spp., and highlights the occupational hazard to workers. Furthermore, findings underscore that abattoir facilities can serve as points for active and passive surveillance for indicators of diseases of public health importance. We recommend periodic implementation of brucellosis testing of abattoir workers country-wide to establish baseline data for informing appropriate preventive practices and reducing the potential burden of infection rates among these high-risk workers.

Physics is an important subject taught at the secondary level in Nigeria but the achievement of students in the subject is a concern to science educators. This study investigated the effectiveness of brain-based teaching strategy (BTS) on students’ achievement and score levels on the concept of heat energy. This investigation adopted the pretest, posttest, randomized control group quasi-experimental design. Simple random sampling technique was used to select two schools used for this study. Two research questions were raised to guide the study. Likewise, two null hypotheses were tested for acceptance or otherwise at 0.05 significance level. The sample involved ninety nine senior school students randomly selected from two schools in Ondo, Nigeria. Two instruments were used to gather data with internal consistency of 0.74 using Kuder Richarson Formular 21. The data collected were analysed using mean, t-test and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). Findings from this investigation reveals that brain-based teaching strategy has significant effect on physics students’ achievement and score levels in the concept of heat energy. This study concludes that brain-based teaching strategy should be used to teach heat energy at secondary school level in order to better students’ grades.

BACKGROUND: In a constantly changing and increasingly globalized world, religion and cultural practices still play a significant role in influencing people's behaviour towards assisted reproductive technologies. PURPOSE: This study examined the religious, cultural and personal interpretations of artificial insemination. METHODS: The research methodology was triangulated using qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. A stratified and simple random sampling technique was used to select the study participants for quantitative data, while, Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) respondents were purposively sampled. RESULTS: The findings showed that the majority of the respondents were aware of artificial insemination, 75.3% of the respondents had adequate knowledge of artificial insemination. About 54.2% of the respondents agreed that their religious denominations supported any form of artificial insemination, For instance, in contrast to the 61.1% of Roman Catholic respondents' who acknowledged that their religious denomination did not support artificial insemination, 75% of Shia Muslims, and 65.0% of Pentecostal respondents' acknowledged religious support for artificial insemination. For 32.8% of the respondents, the process of artificial insemination by a donor negates the will of God, while 32.8% of the respondents, posited that artificial insemination is a deviation from cultural norms. The study also revealed that 57.0% of respondents personally perceived artificial insemination to be a very good medical breakthrough. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Regardless of the technological or educational prowess leading to artificial insemination, certain religious denominations and cultural practices do not support artificial insemination. Medical ethics should take cognizance of the religious and cultural ideas and principles of the society in which they are practiced.

Q fever in animals and humans and its economic and public health significance has been widely reported worldwide but in South Africa. There are few studies on the prevalence of this zoonosis and its associated risk factors in South African livestock. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence, molecular prevalence, and risk factors associated with C. burnetii in cattle on farms in South Africa’s Limpopo province. Out of 383 cattle tested for antibodies, the overall seroprevalence was 24.28%. Herd size of >150 (OR: 9.88; 95%CI: 3.92–24.89; p < 0.01) remained associated with C. burnetii seropositivity in cattle. For PCR detection, targeting IS1111 fragment, cattle with no abortion history (OR: 0.37; 95%CI: 0.18–0.77; p 150 (OR: 3.52; 95%CI: 1.34–9.24; p 150 is associated with C. burnetii seroprevalence and molecular prevalence.

As a result of climatically regulated water sources, smallholder farming households in South Africa are severely impacted by climate change. Using the Livelihood Vulnerability Index, we assessed the vulnerability of smallholder farming households to climate change in Thaba Nchu, Mangaung District of the Free State Province of South Africa. Primary data from 301 smallholder farming households were collected and augmented with secondary data on temperature and rainfall from 2010 to 2020. The study found that farming households in Central Thaba Nchu are more vulnerable than those in North and South Thaba Nchu in terms of adaptive capacity: social network, livelihoods strategies, and socio-demographic structure. The Central Thaba Nchu were likewise more vulnerable to water resources than the Northern and Southern Thaba Nchu. However, Northern Thaba Nchu is more exposed and sensitive to health-related difficulties than Central and Southern Thaba Nchu. The study recommends that non-government and government institutions in the province should employ a pragmatic method to evaluate vulnerability using climate service information while prioritizing vulnerable households for adaptation support to improve adaptive capacity and resilience. The findings also imply that weather forecasters, in partnership with agricultural extension agents, must provide farmers with timely and adequate climate information reports to prepare them for climatic shocks. Moreover, it is important to deliver climate service information that is genuine, significant, and reliable.

Non-farm income is a major source of income, along with farming for most rural households, that seems to offer a pathway out of poverty. It has gained prominence in recent times as an alternative strategy. However, it is often not clear how non-farm income can contribute to farm output and income because empirical results from existing literature remain somewhat ambiguous. Therefore, more robust research is needed to understand what conditions lead to what outcomes and to identify appropriate policy responses. We extend the previous literature in the direction of understanding more finely the potential impact of non-farm income on output and farm income distributions, applying a novel approach, IVQTEs, for the first time in this context. In this paper, we analyzed the drivers of non-farm income as an alternative strategy, and its distributive impacts on cassava farmers' output and farm income in Southwestern Nigeria. A multistage sampling procedure was employed to select 300 cassava farmers for the study. Data were analysed using the novel nehurdle estimation procedure of the double hurdle model. Our methodology of using an instrumental variable quantile treatment effect model (IVQTE) explicitly demonstrates the impact of non-farm income on farm output and income distribution at different levels. The first hurdle (Probit regression) of nehurdle results show that age, household size, years of education, years of experience, farm size, and access to credit may likely influence the decision to participate in non-farm income works; while, in the second hurdle, household size, age, years of education, farm size, gender, asset ownership, cooperative membership are the significant factors that may likely influence the amount realized from non-farm income works. Our results reveal a positive marginal impact of non-farm income at all quantiles of the conditional distribution of cassava farmers’ output and farm income, with the impact being the lowest at the lowest quantile (25th quantile) and increased across the other quantiles. In this regard, the study suggests that the creation of job opportunities outside farming will supplement on-farm works and enhance household's income. This study also suggests that measures such as education, extension services and cooperative societies, to enhance participation in non-farm income works, will spur the rural economy in Nigeria and other developing countries.

Finding the right balance between one's work and other facets of life is essential for an individual to be in the right state of mind and to be satisfied with one's job that one commits to. Specifically, it aims to determine whether the quality of work-life and work-life balance would predict employees' job satisfaction in the selected banks. A survey research design consisting of 100 workers was selected from branches of selected banks in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria, wherein they responded to questions relating to the variables of interest in the study. The result of the study revealed that quality of work-life and work-life balance has a significant influence on job satisfaction (β= .648, t= 8.597, p> .05) and work-life balance also has a significant influence on job satisfaction (β= .212, t= 2.849, p> .05). Both work-life and work-life balance qualities were also found to jointly influence the job satisfaction of these bank employees. It was recommended that organizations take straightforward steps to improve the working conditions in which people work and the organizations' physical and psychological working environment that will improve the level of job satisfaction that their employees experience.

Microteaching and teaching practice are important and compulsory twin course for any teacher trainee student in Nigeria before becoming a professional teacher. The former pave the way for the later and it is intended to prepare teacher trainee for the real teaching practice exercise. This study investigate whether microteaching successfully predict the performance of physics teacher trainees in teaching practice. This investigation is a quantitative research which adopt the ex post facto research design. It involved a cohort of 638 final year Bachelor of Science Education (Physics) students spanning four academic sessions (2015/2016- 2018/2019). The only research question and hypothesis raised were answered and tested using mean/standard deviation and t-test statistics respectively. The result reveal a moderate positive relationship between the performance of physics teacher trainees in microteaching and teaching practice. This study concludes that micro-teaching viably predicted student’s performance in teaching practice.

Hydrogen provides a clean source of energy that can be produced with the aid of electrolysers. For electrolysers to operate cost-effectively and safely, it is necessary to define an appropriate maintenance strategy. Predictive maintenance is one of such strategies but often relies on data from sensors which can also become faulty, resulting in false information. Consequently, maintenance will not be performed at the right time and failure will occur. To address this problem, the artificial intelligence concept is applied to make predictions on sensor readings based on data obtained from another instrument within the process. In this study, a novel algorithm is developed using Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) to select the best feature(s) among measured data of the electrolyser, which can best predict the target sensor data for predictive maintenance. The features are used as input into a type of deep neural network called long short-term memory (LSTM) to make predictions. The DLR developed has been compared with those found in literatures within the scope of this study. The results have been excellent and, in fact, have produced the best scores. Specifically, its correlation coefficient with the target variable was practically total (0.99). Likewise, the root-mean-square error (RMSE) between the experimental sensor data and the predicted variable was only 0.1351.

Abstract Background Cocoa contributes immensely to Nigeria’s economy; it is about 40% of agricultural exports and it is the main source of livelihood for over 200,000 rural households. However, its productivity has remained low in recent years compared to other cocoa-producing countries such as Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana. Low cocoa productivity is attributed to many factors, which include lack of access to credit and cooperative services. However, empirical information on the simultaneous impact of credit access and membership of cooperative society on cocoa productivity is still very scanty. This paper aims at evaluating the impacts of access to credit service, cooperative service, and simultaneous access to credit and cooperative services on cocoa productivity in South-western Nigeria. Method A multistage sampling procedure was employed to select 300 cocoa farmers for the study. The endogenous switching regression (ESRM) and the inverse probability-weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA) models were used to analyse the data. Results In terms of simultaneous access to credit and cooperative services, age, education, gender, and size of household significantly influence the probability of farmers having simultaneous access to credit and cooperative services. The results of the second stage of the ESRM showed that age, size of household, years of education, and years of experience significantly influence cocoa productivity among farmers who have access to credit and cooperative services. However, age, size of household, size of farm and asset significantly influence the productivity of farmers who do not have access to credit and cooperative services. Average treatment effect on the treated (ATT) revealed that farmers who simultaneously have access to credit and cooperative services achieve significantly higher productivity than farmers who have access to either credit or cooperative services and the set of farmers who do not have access to either credit or cooperative services. Conclusion The study concluded that simultaneous access to credit and cooperative services positively impacted cocoa productivity. Farmers who have simultaneous access to credit and cooperative services achieve significantly higher productivity than farmers who have access to either credit or cooperative services or those that do not have access to these services at all. The study recommends that any agricultural productivity-targeted programmes in Nigeria consider farmers’ simultaneous access to credit and cooperative services.