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Background The significant burden and adverse outcomes of Trichomonas vaginalis infection during pregnancy highlight the urgent need to understand the factors contributing to its widespread occurrence. Our study determined the prevalence of T. vaginalis infection among parturients using the novel Trichomonas rapid test, and then assessed associated factors among parturients in Lagos, Nigeria. Methods This multicenter descriptive cross-sectional study enrolled n = 188 parturients in the labor ward of three hospitals in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, from April 2021 to December 2021. We identified factors significantly associated with T. vaginalis infection using the multivariable binary logistic regression model with a backward stepwise selection approach. Results The study revealed a 7.4% (95% confidence interval: 4.1–12.2) prevalence of T. vaginalis infection. The only factor independently associated with T. vaginalis infection was a history of term or preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM) in the index pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio = 11.38, 95% confidence interval: 2.15–60.17). Conclusion One in 13 parturient women in our study had T. vaginalis infection, with a notable association with preterm or term PROM. Our findings, however, underscore the need for further research with a larger sample size to understand the causal pathways and broader risk factors associated with T. vaginalis infection, informing more effective public health strategies.

Abstract The widespread presence of microplastics in the environment has raised significant concerns regarding their potential impact on human and animal health. Among various microplastic types, polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) are particularly prevalent due to the extensive use in packaging and consumer products. Exploring the uncharted therapeutic potentials of naringin, this study delves into its mitigating effects on disruptions in kallikrein-3 levels, steroidal-thyroidal hormone balance, and antioxidant defense triggered by PE-MPs exposure, paving the way for novel interventions in environmental toxin-induced endocrine and oxidative stress disorders. Male Wistar rats (n = 24) were randomly grouped into four: Control, PE-MPs (1.5 mg/kg), PE-MPs + NAR (1.5 mg/kg PE-MPs + 100 mg/kg NAR), and NAR (100 mg/kg). Hormonal and antioxidant parameters were assessed after 28 days of exposure. PE-MPs exposure caused a significant increase(p

Abstract Background In Nigeria, since 2002, Imatinib mesylate (glivec®) has been available freely to chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) patients but only at a tertiary health care centre in the southwestern part of the country. Despite this, it is not readily accessible to many patients due to the distance and other challenges including low socioeconomic status and political problems, preventing timely access to specialist care. This study evaluated the effect of the baseline characteristics on the prognostic implication and treatment outcome of CML patients in Nigeria. Method This study retrospectively evaluated the baseline characteristics, clinical presentations and treatment outcomes of 889 CML patients over 18 years (2002–2020). Of these, 576 (65%) patients had complete information with up-to-date BCR::ABL1 records. These 576 patients were categorized based on their responses to Imatinib therapy into three groups viz.; Optimal response (OR) defined as BCR::ABL1 ratio of

Coexisting congenital cystic adenomatous malformation of the lungs and severe pectus excavatum (PE) is an uncommon presentation that poses significant management challenges. Conventionally managed in a staged manner, there are increasing reports of superior outcomes with single-staged concurrent repair with minimally invasive techniques (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery [VATS] and minimally invasive repair of PE [MIRPE]). The outcome of a single-stage open repair for both anomalies has not been previously reported to the best of our search. We report the successful single-stage management of a 9-month-old infant with both anomalies who had an open lobectomy and modified Ravitch procedure. We aim to report the feasibility and safety of a single-stage concurrent repair of both conditions using open techniques, as VATS and MIRPE are not readily available in our environment.

Integrating reporting strives to address issues with corporate reporting procedures and hold businesses responsible for their local surroundings, as well as additional stakeholders impacted by their operations in producing returns for investors. This study employed Nigerian deposit money banks to examine whether investor returns with profit after tax and integrated reporting are statistically and significantly related. Ex post facto research methodology was applied. Purposive sampling was used to sample ten Nigerian deposit money banks. Data were taken from the annual reports of the chosen banks. The international integrated reporting framework of 2021 checklist was utilized to extract integrated reporting data using the unweighted content analysis method. The integrated reporting disclosure index was used as a proxy for integrated reporting. Market price per share, dividend per share, and price-earnings ratio were used as proxies for investor returns. Profit after tax was used as a moderating variable. The results indicate that with the moderating variable, which is Profit after tax, integrated reporting and price-earnings ratio are related to coefficients of 9.9585. Integrated reporting and dividend per share are related to coefficients of 3.151612. Integrated reporting and market price per share are related to coefficients of 36.7535. Dividend per share and integrated reporting disclosure are significantly related to p-values of 0.001. Market price per share and integrated reporting disclosure are significantly related to p-values of 0.002. This study concluded that integrated reporting and investor returns are statistically and significantly related to the moderating role of Profit after tax of Nigerian deposit money banks. AcknowledgmentThe involvement of those who helped make this study successful is acknowledged below. We appreciate your involvement.

Corporate governance has become a significant policy issue in Nigeria, especially with many developments such as the volatility of corporations on the Nigerian Exchange and the rise in the population of stockholders, which have increased the relevance of corporate governance measures. This study examined the nexus between corporate governance and Nigerian Deposit Money Banks’ (NDMBs) financial performances using a period from 2012 to 2019. Using a judgmental sampling technique, out of 25 NDMRs, 15 NDMRs were selected as a sample size. Secondary data were extracted from the annual reports of the selected banks. Descriptive research design and regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The findings offer empirical evidence to refute the five null hypotheses and found that the financial performance of NDMBs as measured by Tobin Q and corporate governance proxies (i.e. board meetings, the board size, CEO duality, audit committee independence, and board independence) is statistically related. This study found that the nexus between Nigerian deposit money banks’ financial performance and CEO duality is negative and significant. The nexus between Nigerian deposit money banks’ financial performance and board independence is negative and significant. Nigerian deposit money banks’ financial performance and audit committee independence have a positive and significant nexus. The nexus between Nigerian deposit money banks’ financial performance and board size is positive and significant. The nexus between Nigerian deposit money banks’ performance and board meetings is positive and significant. This study concluded that corporate governance and financial performance of NDMBs are related. AcknowledgmentWhichever contributors to this publication, both non-researchers and scholars, are much acknowledged.

This study emphasizes the importance of considering the metabolic and toxicity mechanisms of environmental concern chemicals in real-life exposure scenarios. Furthermore, environmental chemicals may require metabolic activation to become toxic, and competition for binding sites on receptors can affect the severity of toxicity. The multicomplex process of chemical toxicity is reflected in the activation of multiple pathways during toxicity of which AhR activation is major. Real-life exposure to a mixture of concern chemicals is common, and the composition of these chemicals determines the severity of toxicity. Nutritional essential elements can mitigate the toxicity of toxic heavy metals, while the types and ratio of composition of PAH can either increase or decrease toxicity. The epigenetic mechanisms of heavy metals and PAH toxicity involves either down-regulation or up-regulation of some non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) whereas specific small RNAs (sRNAs) may have dual role depending on the tissue and circumstance of expression. Similarly, decrease DNA methylation and histone modification are major players in heavy metals and PAH mediated toxicity and FLT1 hypermethylation is a major process in PAH induced carcinogenesis. Overall, this review provides the understanding of the metabolism of environmental concern chemicals, emphasizing the importance of considering mixed compositions and real-life exposure scenarios in assessing their potential effects on human health and diseases development as well as the dual mechanism of toxicity via genetic or epigenetic axis.

This study aims to determine a connection between the pre-service teachers' perception of preparedness and their self-efficacy in instructing students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The researcher was guided by three research questions: 1) What are preservice teachers' perceptions of their abilities to teach culturally and linguistically diverse students? 2) To what degree do pre-service teachers believe their teacher education program prepared them to teach culturally and linguistically diverse students? 3) To what extent do preservice teachers' self-efficacy influence culturally and linguistically diverse students? Participants were pre-service teachers (education undergraduates in their last year or last semester of graduation), community colleges, and university faculty in the North Texas area. A total of sixty-three participants participated in the study by completing a Teacher Demographic Questionnaire (TDQ) and the Culturally Responsive Teacher Self-Efficacy scale (CRTSES) (Siwatu, 2006). Also, ten faculty participants participated in the study by completing a Faculty Member Questionnaire (FMQ). None of the faculty member participants expressed an interest in participating in the follow-up interviews. Demographic and preparedness questions from the TDQ were selected to identify similarities and differences. CRTSES data were totaled by the question, ranked based on mean score, and then grouped by means. Results of the study indicated many pre-service teachers feel a significantly strong and positive perception of their abilities to instruct culturally linguistically diverse students, a high degree of preparedness received from their program (cultural awareness of the needs of CLD students), and more confidence (self-efficacy) in instructing students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The findings of this study are insightful for teacher preparation programs, faculty members in colleges and universities, coordinators and directors of field experience at the university level, and anyone tasked with mentoring and guiding pre-service teachers.

IntroductionTriclosan is an antibacterial and antifungal compound that is frequently found in personal care and consumer products, and its its impact on male reproductive health is a growing concern. Despite existing experimental studies demonstrating its potential threats to male fertility, reports on its effects on human semen quality remains limited and inconsistent. Therefore, this study presents a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the relationship between triclosan exposure and semen quality.MethodsThis study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42024524192) and adhered to PRISMA guidelines.ResultsThe study analyzed 562 screened studies, out of which five articles including 1,312 male subjects were finally included in the study. The eligible studies were geographically diverse, with three from China, one from Belgium, and one from Poland. More so, the eligible studies were both case-control and cross-sectional. The meta-analysis revealed that triclosan exposure significantly reduced sperm concentration (Standard Mean Difference (SMD) −0.42 [95% CI: −0.75, −0.10], P = 0.01) and sperm total motility (SMD −1.30 [95% CI: −2.26, −0.34], P = 0.008). Mechanistic insights from animal and in vitro studies showed that oxidative stress may mediate the adverse effects of triclosan on semen quality.DiscussionThis meta-analysis is the first comprehensive evaluation of the impact of triclosan on human semen quality, highlighting its potential to impair male fertility through reductions in sperm concentration and motility. However, the high heterogeneity among the included studies underscores the need for further high-quality research to establish more definitive conclusions regarding the effects of triclosan exposure on human reproductive health.

BackgroundMalaria in pregnancy is a major public health issue, particularly among vulnerable populations in malaria-endemic sub-Saharan African countries. To mitigate its risks, WHO recommends sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) for chemoprevention and artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) to treat uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. These interventions have helped to alleviate the risk associated with malaria in pregnancy; however, in the context of the emergence of SP- and ACT-resistant P. falciparum, maintained efficacy is under threat. Molecular surveillance is a reliable tool to monitor the emergence of resistance where molecular markers are known. Thus, the objective of the study was to use a multiplexed amplicon Oxford Nanopore sequencing approach to assess the molecular markers for antimalarial resistance among pregnant women in Nigeria.MethodsDried blood spots (DBS) were collected from pregnant women who received IPTp-SP at the enrollment and follow-up visits. P. falciparum genomic DNA was extracted by the Chelex® method and Pf18S qPCR was used to detect parasite DNA in each sample. With nested PCR assays, fragments of Pfdhps, Pfdhfr, Pfmdr1, Pfcrt, Pfk13 and Pfama1 genes were amplified and multiplexed amplicon-based sequencing was conducted on the minION Oxford Nanopore Technology.ResultIn total, 251 pregnant women were enrolled in the study and 457 DBS samples were collected. P. falciparum genomic DNA was detected in 12% (56/457) of the samples, 31 at baseline and the remaining during the follow-up visits. Pfama1, pfk13, Pfdhps, Pfdhfr, Pfmdr1 and Pfcrt were successfully sequenced in a single run. Notably, k13 artemisinin resistance mutations were absent, the frequencies of Pfdhfr and Pfdhps SP resistance haplotypes, IRN for pyrimethamine resistance and ISGKA/IAGKA associated with sulphadoxine resistance were 82% (36/44) and 64% (27/42), respectively, and the Pfcrt CVIET resistant haplotype was at approximately 22% (7/32).Conclusion and recommendationsHere a multiplexed amplicon-based ONT assay established that triple mutant Pfdfhr-IRN, double mutant Pfdhps-SG haplotypes and the chloroquine sensitive strain were prevalent among pregnant women in Nigeria.

This study investigates the mechanical properties and corrosion behavior of brass (Cu-Zn alloy) reinforced with carbonized coconut shell ash (CSA) composites. The coconut shells were obtained, sun-dried, crushed, carbonized at 500 °C and sieved. The resulting CSA was then incorporated into molten brass scrap, which was first preheated to 950°C. For reproducibility purposes, several samples were prepared with varying CSA weight fraction (0wt%, 5wt%, 10wt%, and 15wt%). The samples were characterized by using metallurgical microscopes to assess their microstructure and homogeneity. The mechanical properties, including: ultimate tensile strength (UTS), hardness, impact energy, and compressive strength, were evaluated. The corrosion analysis was carried out by attaching the respective samples to a holder in the electrolytic streams of the acid and chloride solution in the constructed sand slurry pot using potentio-dynamic polarization. X-ray fluorescence was used to determine the elemental composition of the brass scraps. The results indicated that increased CSA content improved UTS, hardness, and compressive strength. However, a reduction in impact energy was observed. The sample with 15wt% weight fraction of CSA, exhibited the highest UTS (326.32 N/mm²), hardness (281.67 HRB), and compressive strength (198.3 MPa). Nevertheless, sample A with 0wt% weight fraction of CSA, showed the highest impact energy (35.59 J). Corrosion rates varied, with sample A showing the moderate rate of corrosion resistance, sample B is prone to high rate of corrosion, sample C has the poorest corrosion resistance, while sample D exhibited the best overall corrosion resistance. This study demonstrates that CSA reinforcement enhances the mechanical properties of brass composites, making them suitable for various engineering applications.

Environmental sustainability is now being continuously researched in almost all areas of humankind. This study investigated the impact of environmental sustainability disclosures (proxy by renewable energy disclosures, Greenhouse Gas Emissions disclosures, and waste management disclosures) on the returns on equity of sampled Quoted Nigerian Financial Institutions. Purposely, Fourteen Quoted Nigerian Financial Institutions on the Nigerian Exchange Group were taken as the sample size for this study. The study spanned a period of 9 years from 2013 to 2021. The analysis was carried out using panel data and employing multiple regression models to assess the relationships between the variables using secondary data collated from the annual reports of Quoted Nigerian Financial Institutions. The findings of the study reveal that the impact of renewable energy disclosures (with coefficient estimate = -0.19295, t-value = -1.41 and p-value = 0.16), Greenhouse Gas Emissions disclosures (with coefficient estimate = -0.16105 & the t-value = -1.18 p-value = 0.239, and waste management disclosures (with coefficient estimate = 0.124013, the t-value of 1 and p-value = 0.317) on returns on equity is not significant. This study concluded that the relationship between return on equity and environmental sustainability variables disclosures (proxy by Renewable Energy Disclosure and Greenhouse Gas Emissions) is unrelated.

Being politically and civically engaged is known to benefit society. Using online forums, such as Twitter (the social media platform now known as X), for democratic engagement is now commonplace. However, research is inconclusive on whether offline and online activities similarly result in real-world engagement. Using secondary analysis of Pew data, both types of engagement are compared among Twitter users. Results show Twitter users engaged online, but not offline. However, those who posted about political/social issues democratically engaged both offline and online.

ABSTRACTThe effects of various treatment options on the nutritional value of wheat straw as well as the growth performance of crossbred calves fed the treated wheat straw were evaluated. Twenty-four female calves (75% Friesian-Borana), weighing 99.3 ± 19.7 kg (aged 6–9 months), were divided into four groups of six animals using a randomized complete block design. The feeding trial lasted approximately 104 days. The dietary treatments were: untreated wheat straw (control T1), wheat straw treated with urea-molasses (T2), urea-lime (T3), and effective microorganisms (T4). Results showed that the treatment options affected the physical silage quality and chemical composition of wheat straw. Calves in the T3 and T4 groups had a higher daily DM intake (3.7 and 3.5 kg/head, respectively) than those in T2 (3.1 kg/head) and T1 (3.02 kg/head) groups. Calves in the T3 (422.7 g/d) and T4 (391 g/d) groups gained greater weight than those in the T2 (281.7 g/d) and T1 (204.4 g/d) groups (P

In recent years, there has been an increasing focus on renewable and biodegradable energy sources among lubricant manufacturers due to the environmental impacts and limited availability of fossil-based engine oils. Biomass sources present a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to traditional mineral oil sources. This study aims to produce and characterize biodiesel and biolubricant from desert date seed oil through transesterification. The result of the study was compared with the properties of conventional and commercial lubricants. The study employed transesterification to convert desert date seed oil into biodiesel and biolubricant. The produced biolubricant and biodiesel were characterized to determine their kinematic viscosity at 40°C, specific gravity, flash point, and pour point. These properties were then compared with those of other bio-lubricants and commercial base lubricants. For biodiesel, the yield was 56%, with a favorable acid value (0.98 mg KOH/g), iodine value (43.41 mg/g), and saponification value (197.4 mg KOH/g). Although, the specific gravity (1.876) was higher than ASTM standard. However, the flash point (112°C) and cloud point (11°C) were within acceptable ranges. The biolubricant produced from desert date oil showed promising results with a high kinematic viscosity of 67.54 mm2/s, a specific gravity of 1.876, a flash point of 120°C and a pour point (−5°C). These results obviously suggest the produced lubricant a suitable for automotive applications possessing good low-temperature performance. The flash point result and the physicochemical properties of the oil aligned well with industrial standards. The comparisons revealed that the produced biolubricant closely matched the properties of SAE VG 220 and SAE VG 40. The findings suggest that the biolubricant and biodiesel derived from desert date seed oil can serve as a viable substitute for petroleum-based lubricants in light gear applications and can be effectively used in two-stroke engines, providing a sustainable alternative to conventional lubricants.

This study aims to investigate the effect of arsenic exposure on urinary levels of arsenic metabolites, semen parameters, and testosterone concentrations. A systematic comprehensive literature search was conducted up till 31st January 2024 using Embase, MEDLINE/Pubmed, and Scopus. This study adopted the Population Exposure Comparator Outcome and Study Design (PECOS) framework. Four studies with a total of 380 control subjects and 347 exposed men were included. Arsenic exposure significantly increased urinary levels of total arsenic (Mean Difference (MD) − 53.35 [95 % Confidence Interval (CI): − 100.14, − 6.55] P= 0.03), and reduced primary arsenic methylation index (PMI) (MD 0.22 [95 % CI: 0.14, 0.31] P< 0.00001), semen volume (MD 0.30 [95 % CI: 0.05, 0.54] P= 0.02) and total testosterone (MD 0.48 [95 % CI: 0.23, 0.73] P= 0.0002). In addition, arsenic exposure marginally reduced sperm concentration (MD 25.04 [95 % CI: − 45.42, 95.50] P= 0.49) and total sperm motility (MD 22.89 [95 % CI: − 14.15, 59.94] P= 0.23). The present meta-analysis demonstrates that arsenic exposure lowers semen quality and testosterone levels. Since the general human population is exposed to arsenic occupationally or domestically, adequate strategic measures should be put in place to limit arsenic exposure in an attempt to preserve semen quality. In addition, studies investigating interventions that may inhibit the bioaccumulation of arsenic in men who are exposed are recommended.

Livestock production is a major contributor to the national economy in Ethiopia, of which ruminants, particularly cattle, are the dominant and most important livestock species. Limited supply of quality feeds is a major constraint to the improvement of livestock production in Ethiopia. The expansion of agro-industries in Ethiopia, over the last three decades, has created an opportunity for an increased supply of agro-industrial byproducts as a source of feed for livestock. This study was conducted to assess the availability, distribution, and quality of agro-industrial byproducts and compound feeds in Ethiopia. About 310 flour mill factories, 194 oil factories, 13 brewery factories, 7 sugar factories, 4 malt factories, 2 meat and bone meal processing plants, 8 limestone factories, and 112 feed processing plants were surveyed to assess the availability and distributions of agro-industrial byproducts and compound feeds. A total of 757 feed samples were collected for evaluating nutritional values. The annual production of agro-industrial byproducts ranges from 18,065 tons DM/year (abattoir byproducts) to 3,092,035 tons DM/year (malt byproducts) and the total annual production of the different agro-industrial by-products amounts to 5,245,854 tons DM. The annual production of compound feeds was reported to be 5,812,608 tons DM. All agro-industries are processing under their capacity, ranging from 11.7% in sugar factories to 93% in breweries. Shortage and seasonal fluctuation of supply of raw materials (34.8%), high price and price fluctuations of raw materials (17.5%) and electric power interruptions (17.5%) were the major challenges faced by different agro-industries. The crude protein (CP) concentrations of agro-industrial byproducts ranges from 6.2% in maize grain screening to 15.9% in wheat bran for flour mill byproducts; 28% in cotton seed cake to 49.7% in groundnut cake for oilseed cakes and 14.8% in areqe atela to 24.8% in brewery spent grains for brewery and local distillery byproducts. High protein or energy contents of agro-industrial byproducts indicated their potential to be utilized in intensive livestock rations. Thus, it is necessary to create enabling conditions to allow the existing agro-industries to operate at full capacity and to attract new ones into the business to boost the production and availability of agro-industrial byproducts needed as main inputs to manufacture compound feeds.

Despite the availability of COVID-19 vaccines, Nigeria still faces significant COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, with only 60.7% of the eligible population fully vaccinated as of 20 March 2023. Our study, part of a community-based effort to improve knowledge and uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine in the Gwagwalada Area Council of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria, utilized the WHO’s Behavioral and Social Drivers (BeSDs)-of-vaccination framework to examine the drivers of COVID-19 vaccination among eligible adults. This was a mixed-method study with focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) involving 40 purposively sampled participants. We triangulate qualitative findings with data from a household survey of 1512 eligible adults identified using a two-stage systematic cluster sampling approach. All data were collected from the 1–18 November 2022. The household survey showed 46% COVID-19 vaccine uptake, with Pearson chi-square and Fisher’s exact test showing significant associations between vaccine uptake and gender, religion, and education. Multivariate logistic regression showed that confidence in vaccine safety, knowing vaccination sites and family/friends’ endorsement of COVID-19 vaccination were the strongest items associated with vaccine uptake in the thinking-and-feeling, practical-issue, and social-process domains, respectively. Multiple items measuring these domains aligned with BeSD priority question, demonstrating the robustness of the pared-down framework. Qualitative data corroborated these findings. To address vaccine hesitancy and increase uptake, community-driven approaches to improve trust in vaccine safety and benefits and promote positive vaccination norms are needed. In addition, service delivery strategies to make vaccination services easily accessible and identifiable should be developed and tailored to community needs.

This study investigated teachers' pedagogical competence as determinant of students' attitude towards Basic Science in South-West Nigeria. The study was a descriptive survey type study. Participants were 2160 students randomly selected from 108 secondary schools across four States in South-West Nigeria together. 324 teachers teaching Basic Science in Junior Secondary Schools were purposively selected for the study. Two instruments were used for data collection. The first was a 25 item questionnaire titled "Basic Science Teachers pedagogical Competence Questionnaire (BSPCQ) and the second instrument was also a questionnaire with 25 structured item questions titled "Students' Attitudinal Questionnaire" (SAQ). The reliability of the instruments was determined through test and re-test method which yielded a correlation co-efficient of 0.87 and 0.89 for BSPCQ and SAQ, respectively at 0.05 level of significance. Mean and Ranking Order and Multiple Regression analysis were used to analyze the data. Findings revealed that, teachers' pedagogical competence can significantly influence students' attitude towards Basic Science. It was recommended that, emphasis should be laid on teachers' qualifications while employing Basic Science teachers. Teachers should also intensify efforts in using various teaching styles which could influence students' attitude. It was also recommended that adequate measures should be taken by the teachers to ensure that students benefit from their teaching. In addition, the government and other educational stakeholders should arrange for seminars and workshops for their teachers to boost their levels of competence in the classroom. Teachers should also exhibit positive attitude that can influence students' attitude towards Basic Science.

Ionospheric modelling is a major approach to predicting the behavior of the ionosphere particularly in regions where Global Positioning Systems (GPS) are not readily available. Hence, the objective of this paper is to measure and compare Total Electron Content (TEC) for Assessment of Ionospheric Models during April 7, 2000 Geomagnetic Storms. Measured Total Electron Content (TEC) from experimental records (April 5 - 9, 2000) were compared with those predicted by the improved versions of the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI-2012 and IRI-Plas2015) and the NeQuick models. The mean values of TEC in five days of the months were plotted against the hours of the same day and the root mean square error of the models which shows their deviations from the GPS data were used to observe the diurnal variations in TEC and the performances of the ionospheric models respectively. The data obtained confirmed that TEC has their highest values during the midnight period and lowest values during the sunset period at the Australian stations and we also confirmed that European stations had their highest TEC values during the daytime and their lowest values during the night time. We affirmed that the North American station in USA had its highest TEC values during the night time and lowest values during day time. The Asian station had its highest TEC values during the day time and lowest values during the midnight period. However, NeQuick, IRIPlas2015, and NeQ-IRI produced better estimate of TEC than the IRI-2001 and IRI-2001COR at all locations during the phases of the geomagnetic storm.

Nature possesses an inexhaustible reservoir of agents that could serve as alternatives to combat the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). While some of the most effective drugs for treating bacterial infections originate from natural sources, they have predominantly been derived from fungal and bacterial species. However, a substantial body of literature is available on the promising antibacterial properties of plant-derived compounds. In this comprehensive review, we address the major challenges associated with the discovery and development of plant-derived antimicrobial compounds, which have acted as obstacles preventing their clinical use. These challenges encompass limited sourcing, the risk of agent rediscovery, suboptimal drug metabolism, and pharmacokinetics (DMPK) properties, as well as a lack of knowledge regarding molecular targets and mechanisms of action, among other pertinent issues. Our review underscores the significance of these challenges and their implications in the quest for the discovery and development of effective plant-derived antimicrobial agents. Through a critical examination of the current state of research, we give valuable insights that will advance our understanding of these classes of compounds, offering potential solutions to the global crisis of AMR.© 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Steel is commonly used in engineering components, and it has a high tendency to wear and corrosion attacks when exposed to unfavourable working conditions. The use of chromium-vanadium-iron-rich carbide reinforced iron-based hard facings has become more important in improving the corrosion and wear resistance of such steel subjected to abrasive and impact conditions. In this study, the chromium-vanadium-iron carbide reinforced coatings were developed using in-situ by depositing FeCrV15+Cr powder through laser cladding on carbon steel. The influence of the reinforcement on the microstructure of the coating in relation to its laser processing condition and extra chromium addition was investigated. Furthermore, the effect of the coating's reinforcement on the hardness, microstructures, anti-corrosion, and anti-wear properties of the carbon steel used in tillage and mining operations was investigated. The result is a defect free deposits with a solid metallurgical attachment to the substrate and improved microhardness. FeCrV15 deposits had a wear-resistant (with a wear rate of 2.42 × 10−6 mm3/N/m) and anti-corrosion capability (with a corrosion rate of 0.001869 mm/yr) that were several folds higher than the steel substrate (with wear rate of 1.72 × 10−3 mm3/N/m and corrosion rate of 0.1168 mm/yr). The general grain refinement of the FeCrV15 deposits was richly enhanced in the iron base matrix. This resulted in outstanding wear and corrosion resistance attributed to the better production of VC–Cr3C2–Cr7C3 particles and better grain refinement of the microstructural formation.

In recent years, sustainable banking principles have been employed in the daily operations of deposit money banks in Nigeria. This study examines the relationship between environmental sustainability and the financial performance of 14 deposit money banks listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group. It focuses on the impact of environmental disclosure of renewable energy, carbon emissions, waste management, and water consumption (i.e. proxies for environment sustainability) on the bank’s return on assets (ROA i.e. proxy for financial performance). The research spans an 8-year period from 2013 to 2021, using panel data and multiple regression analysis to analyze the data. The data is collected from the annual reports of the deposit money banks listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group. The research design is ex-post facto, utilizing secondary data collection methods. The findings suggest that there is a positive but insignificant association between environmental sustainability indicators (renewable energy, carbon emissions, waste management, and water consumption) and financial performance (ROA). In conclusion, the study finds no significant relationship between and financial performance (ROA).

Abstract Hydroquinone, Mercury (Hg), and Arsenic (As) are hazardous to health upon long-term exposure. Hydroquinone, Hg, and As were analysed in skin-lightening cosmetics randomly purchased from different cosmetic outlets within the Ilorin metropolis, Nigeria. The amount of hydroquinone in the samples was determined using a UV-spectrophotometry method at 290 nm. Hg and As were quantified using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). UV-spectrophotometry method validation showed excellent linearity (r2 = 0.9993), with limits of detection (0.75 µg/mL), limits of quantification (2.28 µg/mL), relative standard deviation (0.01–0.35%), and recovery (95.85–103.56%) in the concentration range of 5–50 µg/mL. Similarly, r2, LOD, and LOQ for Hg and As were 0.9983 and 0.9991, (0.5 and 1.0 µg/L) and 1.65 and 3.3 µg/L) respectively. All the samples contained hydroquinone, Hg and As in varying amounts. The amounts of hydroquinone, Hg and As present were in the ranges of 1.9–3.3%, 0.08–2.52 µg/g and 0.07–5.30 µg/g respectively. Only three of the analysed samples contained hydroquinone within the permissible limit of 2.0% w/w in cosmetic products. All the samples analysed contained mercury and arsenic in varying amounts. The need to periodically monitor the levels of hydroquinone, mercury, and arsenic in skin-lightening cosmetics marketed in Nigeria is recommended.

The introduction of integrated reporting aims to solve the drawbacks of corporate reporting practices and make companies accountable to their immediate environment, including other stakeholders affected by company operations in generating returns to investors. This study investigated whether there is a statistically significant relationship between integrated reporting and investor returns. Ex post facto research design was used. Ten (10) Deposit Money Banks were sampled using a purposive sampling technique. Data were extracted from the annual reports of the selected banks, and the unweighted method of content analysis was used to extract integrated reporting data with the checklist from the International Integrated Reporting Framework (IIRF, 2021). The integrated reporting disclosure index was used as a proxy for integrated reporting. Proxies used for investor returns are the price-earnings ratio, dividend per share, and market price per share. The results indicate that the integrated reporting disclosure index is positively related with the price-earnings ratio, dividend per share and market price per share, with coefficients of 56.3403, 1.5240 and 16.6122, respectively, for the three (3) models. This implies that an increase in practicing integrated reporting will increase market price per share, dividend per share and price-earnings ratio. Likewise, the integrated reporting disclosure index has a significant effect on dividend per share and price-earnings ratio with p-values 0.000 and 0.001, respectively. However, the disclosure index has an insignificant effect on market price per share, with a p-value 0.184. This study concluded there is a statistically significant relationship between integrated reporting and investor returns. AcknowledgmentContributions of people who add to the success of this research are hereby recognized. Thanks for your contributions.