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This research focuses on techno-economic analysis of the statistically optimized biodiesel production using African Pear Seed Oil and activated empty palm fruit bunch biocatalyst to ascertain the viability of producing African pear seed oil methyl ester (APSOME). Central composite design of response surface methodology (RSM) was used for the optimization of the process variables. The acid activated empty palm fruit bunch ash (AAEPFBA) catalyst used was synthesized from waste palm fruit bunch, and modified by adding H3PO4 acid in a ratio of 1:2 (g/ml). The RSM model predicted that the highest conversion yield of APSOME would be 89.3 %. The experiment performed yielded 90.1 %, which is in agreement with the predicted value at the following optimized reaction conditions: reaction temperature of 62.21 °C, time of 3.17 h, 10.2:1 methanol/oil molar ratio, 3.18 wt% catalyst concentration, and agitation speed of 326.51 rpm. It was established that the cost of labour will affect the profitability of produced APSOME. The overall result showed that AAEPFBA and APSO raw materials are viable and useful for sustainable biodiesel production.

This study examined how female leadership, board communication, independent third-party assurance, and sustainability disclosure quality are interconnected in Nigerian listed firms. Using data from the top 100 firms on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Group from 2013 to 2022, comprising 1000 observations, the study evaluates its hypotheses. Employing a panel regression analysis with the Random Effect (RE) robust estimation technique, the findings demonstrate that female leadership, board communication, and external assurance positively and significantly impact sustainability disclosure quality. This suggests that having women in leadership roles, fostering effective board communication through shared membership, and obtaining independent (external) assurance for sustainability disclosures enhance the quality of such reports. The robustness of the results is confirmed by the One-Year Lag Effect, which aligns with the outcomes of the main model. This positive correlation signifies an enhancement in the quality of sustainability disclosures within Nigeria. However, there is room for improvement, as indicated by descriptive statistics revealing a 20% level of sustainability disclosure quality. This study underscores the need for regulators, firm management, and stakeholders to bolster compliance with sustainability reporting standards and guidelines, exerting pressure to elevate disclosure quality. In addition, the research fills gaps in the literature by providing fresh empirical evidence and insights regarding the significance of female leadership, board communication, and external assurance in shaping sustainability disclosure quality among Nigerian listed firms.

Shortage and environmental threats posed by fossil fuel have become a critical issue requiring searching for alternative energy sources. This study utilized clay-doped barium chloride and ionic liquid (CD-BaCl-IL) as a catalyst for optimizing biodiesel production from shea butter. 10% barium chloride and ionic liquid were blended with clay, dried, and then calcined for 4 h at 600 °C to develop the catalyst. The synthesized catalyst and the biodiesel were suitably characterized. Response surface methodology (RSM) implementing Central Composite Design (CCD) and Genetic Algorithm (GA) were employed to model and optimize the effect of the process parameters on the response. The model's capabilities were evaluated using coefficient of determination (R2) and mean square error (MSE). The second-order polynomial model is shown in the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with an (R2 -0.9945, Adjusted R2-0.9846, Predicted R2-0.8694) demonstrating the model's acceptance. Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Adaptive Neurofuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) were used to assess the model's capability. The obtained statistical results - (R2 = 0.8694, MSE = 0.7035), ANN (R2 = 0.999, MSE = 0.0001026), ANFIS (R2 = 0.99, MSE = 0.000041), showed that ANFIS had the best prediction with the lowest MSE. ANFIS integrated with GA (GA-ANFIS) gave the best optimization with a biodiesel yield (96.72%) at a catalyst concentration of 4 wt%, a methanol/mol ratio of 10:1, a time of 2.5 h, a temperature of 70 °C, and an agitation speed of 400 rpm. The optimal developed biodiesel properties were successfully evaluated within the ASTM D 6751 standards.

IntroductionImpaired cognition is a core feature of schizophrenia that is evident early in the first episode and is frequently accompanied by compromised physical health. Although physical health confers benefits to cognition, it remains unclear whether physical activity, body mass index (BMI) and cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with neurocognition in first episode schizophrenia patients. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in stimulus categorization and motor response selection processes between first-episode schizophrenia patients compared to age-matched controls and explore associations between physical health and these stages of information processing.MethodsFourteen young adult patients receiving care following a first episode of psychosis and a matched sample of nonpsychiatric controls completed a visual oddball task from which the P3 and LRP (lateralized readiness potential) event-related potential (ERP) components were extracted to assess stimulus categorization and response selection processes, respectively. Physical activity, aerobic fitness, and BMI were correlated with ERP measures.ResultsCompared with controls, patients had lower physical activity levels and longer P3 and LRP latencies. Regardless of stimulus probability, patients had reduced accuracy and slower reaction times relative to controls. In patients, marginal associations were found between physical activity and P3 difference waveform amplitude, and BMI was negatively associated with parent P3 waveform amplitude.DiscussionThe present findings suggest that cognitive impairment in first-episode schizophrenia spans both stimulus- and response-related stages of information processing, and may be targeted through physical activity interventions.

The techno-economic analysis of producing biodiesel from agrarian wastes at optimal condition was carried out. The acid activated empty palm fruit bunch ash (AAEPFBA) catalyzed the methyl ester production. The AAEPFBA catalyst was synthesized from waste palm fruit bunch, and modified with phosphoric acid. The activation was best achieved by adding H3PO4 acid in a ratio of 1:2 (g/ml). The modification of the catalyst increased the alkaline properties and surface area and decreased the particle size and adsorption energy. The process variables of temperature 61.9 °C, reaction time of 3.09 h, methanol/oil molar ratio of 10.2:1, catalyst concentration of 3.14wt%, and agitation speed of 321.54 rpm at a desirability of one gave an experimental optimal yield of biodiesel as 90.3%. Based on the experimental study, 3062 litres (2728 kg) of biodiesel was evaluated annually. The annual operating cost, payback period, and internal rate of return are ₦2201288, 1.5 years, and 7.6%, respectively. The sensitivity analysis of oil purchase cost, biodiesel selling price, and labour cost on Return on investment, PBP, IRR, and Net present value were investigated. In this study, the relative biodiesel selling price is a determinant of the profitability of producing avocado pear seed oil methyl ester. The overall results show that investors can embark on biodiesel production using avocado pear seed oil, and AAEPFBA as feedstocks.

Abstract Background Musculoskeletal ultrasound imaging (MSUI) is an efficient monitoring and re-evaluation tool used for the management of musculoskeletal conditions in several clinical domains. Its utilization among physiotherapists, particularly in African countries, is yet to be explored. Objective This study investigated the knowledge, attitude, and perception of physiotherapists on the utilization of MSUI in the clinical management of musculoskeletal conditions. Methods One hundred and ninety-two consenting Nigerian-based physiotherapists practicing in public and private health institutions participated in this cross-sectional survey. They responded to a three-sectioned structured questionnaire, investigating socio-demographic and occupational characteristics, knowledge, attitude, and utilization of MSUI for the management of musculoskeletal conditions. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and Pearson’s chi-square test at a significant level of 0.05. Results The majority (79.2%) of the respondents had positive knowledge of MSUI and its benefits as a clinical modality for managing MSCs. However, only 4.2% had utilized MSUI in clinical practice. Non-utilization of MSUI was commonly attributed to a lack of access to MSUI (60.3%) and its unavailability in most diagnostic centers (42.9%). Almost all (99.0%) of them agreed to the necessity for increased availability of MSUI to physiotherapists for enhancement of physiotherapy interventions in the management of MSCs. Conclusion Knowledge of MSUI among Nigerian-based physiotherapists is adequate, but its utilization as a clinical tool is poor. Improved availability of MSUI to physiotherapists is necessary as well as specialty training on the utilization and interpretation of MSUI.

Estuaries are impacted by catchment land use changes, driving degradation associated with eutrophication and alterations in sediment dynamics. Estuarine ecological monitoring has typically covered only recent periods, so magnitudes and trajectories of degradation are often poorly described. Here, we develop a multi-method approach to hindcast historic estuary condition. We determined geochemical properties in dated sediment cores from two sites in the eutrophic New River Estuary (NRE), Aotearoa New Zealand. Mud, organic matter, carbon, and nitrogen (N) contents increased from ~1847 to 2019 (~20 to 100%, ~1 to ~7%, ~0.2 to ~3%, and ~0.03 to ~0.37% respectively). Historic land use modelling shows increasing catchment loads and water column total N rising from 165 to 663 mg m-3, with more rapid change in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Strong correlations (R2 = 0.93-0.95) were found between sediment N content and water column N concentrations. Trophic indicators hindcasted by a Bayesian Belief Network worsened from the mid-20th to 21st centuries. This degradation is associated with increased sheep, beef and dairy farming in the catchment. Our approach identifies nutrient and sediment loadings associated with ‘tipping points’ for indicators and can inform policy by identification of hazardous levels of contaminant loading for other estuaries.

Introduction: Medicines related problems (MRPs) can be common in frail older people due to age-compromised body systems and a propensity to be on multiple drugs concurrently. This group of people can also succumb to a rapid deterioration in health. Thus, it is important to investigate MRPs in frail older people. The objectives of the study were to evaluate prevalence of MRPs, types of MRPs, risk factors and deterioration that can be associated with MRPs in frail older people admitted to an English teaching hospital from primary care. Methods: Included in the sample were frail older adults, aged 65 years and over, admitted from primary care. Data was retrieved from the hospital's electronic patient record system, anonymised, and reviewed for MRPs. MRPs which were retrospectively identified at admission were coded with the WHO-ICD10,2016 (World Health Organisation-International Classification of Diseases version 10, 2016). Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed on the data using SPSS Version 25. Primary outcome was the prevalence of MRPs in frail older patients. Secondary outcome was the association of deterioration indicated as fall, delirium, or NEWs ≥3 with presence of MRPs. Results: Among the 507 frail older people (≥4 on Rockwood scale) that met criteria for inclusion, 262 (51.8%) were patients with MRPs and 244 (48.2%) without. The Median age of sample as a whole was 85 years (IQR = 80–89). Prevalence of MRPs was 33.28%. Types of MRPs were adverse drug reaction (ADR-20%), non-compliance (9.1%), unintentional poisoning (3.3%) and inappropriate polypharmacy (0.8%). In logistic regression, potentially inappropriate medicines (PIM), social support, number of comorbidities and winter were significant predictors of MRPs. Risk of deteriorating with delirium was two times higher in patients with MRPs than in patients without MRPs, RR 2.613 (95% CI, 1.049 to 6.510). Conclusion: MRPs and risks of deterioration associated with MRPs in frail older people can be reduced. This is because factors associated with MRPs can be modified.