Covenant University Ota Ogun State, Nigeria

The discovery of a relict plastid, also known as an apicoplast (apicomplexan plastid), that houses housekeeping processes and metabolic pathways critical to Plasmodium parasites’ survival has prompted increased research on identifying potent inhibitors that can impinge on apicoplast-localised processes. The apicoplast is absent in humans, yet it is proposed to originate from the eukaryote’s secondary endosymbiosis of a primary symbiont. This symbiotic relationship provides a favourable microenvironment for metabolic processes such as haem biosynthesis, Fe-S cluster synthesis, isoprenoid biosynthesis, fatty acid synthesis, and housekeeping processes such as DNA replication, transcription, and translation, distinct from analogous mammalian processes. Recent advancements in comprehending the biology of the apicoplast reveal it as a vulnerable organelle for malaria parasites, offering numerous potential targets for effective antimalarial therapies. We provide an overview of the metabolic processes occurring in the apicoplast and discuss the organelle as a viable antimalarial target in light of current advances in drug discovery. We further highlighted the relevance of these metabolic processes to Plasmodium falciparum during the different stages of the lifecycle.

Background Soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) and schistosomiasis (SCH) are among the most prevalent neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), affecting 1.5 billion globally, with a significant burden in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Nigeria. These diseases impair health and contribute to socio-economic challenges, especially in children, undermining educational and future economic prospects. The 2030 NTD Roadmap highlights Mass Drug Administration (MDA) as a critical strategy for controlling these NTDs, targeting vulnerable populations like school-age children. Despite some successes, challenges persist, indicating the need for deeper insights into program implementation. This study focuses on the perspectives of health workers implementing MDA in selected local government areas (LGAs) of Ogun State, Nigeria, aiming to identify challenges and enablers that align with the broader NTD 2030 goals. Methodology/Principal findings The study used a qualitative research approach involving focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with health workers engaged in neglected tropical disease control programs in Ogun State, Nigeria, between July and September 2022. A semi-structured questionnaire guided the exploration of ideas, and the data were analyzed using the QRS Nvivo 12 software package. The study found that the school-based MDA control program’s efficacy largely relies on strong collaborations and partnerships, particularly with educators, community heads, and other stakeholders. These alliances and strategic communication methods, like town announcements and media campaigns, have been pivotal in reaching communities. However, the program does grapple with hurdles such as parental misconceptions, limited funds, insufficient staffing, and misalignment with the Ministry of Education. It is recommended to boost funding, foster early stakeholder involvement, enhance mobilization techniques, and consider introducing a monitoring card system similar to immunization. Conclusions/Significance The MDA Integrated Control Programs for STH and SCH in Ogun State schools demonstrate a holistic approach, integrating knowledge, collaboration, communication, and feedback. Health workers have shown commitment and adeptness in their roles. However, achieving maximum efficacy requires addressing critical barriers, such as parental misconceptions and funding challenges. Adopting the recommended strategies, including proactive communication, increased remuneration, and introducing a tracking system, can significantly enhance the program’s reach and impact. The involvement of all stakeholders, from health workers to community leaders and parents, is essential for the program’s sustainability and success.

One challenge in developing new materials is solid metal-induced embrittlement, where the fracture stress or ductility of the metal decreases upon contact with another metal surface. Materials such as aluminium demand precise temperature control for optimal results, often requiring specialized equipment. Strengthening aluminium alloys often involves cold working techniques like wire drawing or cold rolling. By combining methods such as cold working, heat treatment, and most especially alloying, the mechanical properties of aluminium alloys can be optimized. To address these concerns, an experimental study investigated the nanomechanical response of an alloy developed for anti-corrosion and structural applications. Corrosion behaviour was evaluated in a 3.65 wt% NaCl solution using a potentiostat/galvanostat, while tribological performance was assessed using a reciprocating sliding tribometer. Microhardness properties were studied using a Vickers microindenter, and thermal stability was examined using a thermo-gravimetric analyzer. Structural modifications were analysed using SEM/EDX and X-ray diffractometer (XRD). Results showed that the HEA (high entropy alloy) 17 sample exhibited outstanding corrosion resistance, with a corrosion rate (CR) of 0.0639 mm/year and corrosion current density (jcorr) of 5.500E−06 A/cm². All HEA samples displayed high wear rates and worn track sections compared to CONTROL 2. The HEA 16 and HEA 18 samples demonstrated notably high Vickers hardness of 534.50 µN/mm² and 533.48 µN/mm², respectively. Despite its high copper content, the CONTROL 1 sample did not exhibit comparable hardness. SEM images revealed refined microstructures and distinct outer morphologies in the examined samples.

Environmental problems related to flooding, water management, and landslide often emanate from disruption of river basin within a geographical locality. In this study, the Anambra-Imo river basin which drains the five southeastern states of Nigeria and a part of Kogi State in the northcentral was studied by combining the remote sensing technique and geographic information system (GIS). With the aid of digital elevation model (DEM) of the geographical region, the linear and spatial morphometric attributes of the basins such as drainage density (Dd), drainage texture (Dt), circularity ratio (Rc), elongation ratio (Re), constant of channel maintenance (Cm), form factor (Rf), infiltration number (If), stream frequency (Sf), length of overland flow (Lo), and compactness index (Ci) were obtained. The results of the analysis showed that the basins have a well-developed dendritic and parallel-type drainage pattern with a NE-SW orientation suggesting a relationship between fracture orientation and physiographic features. Anambra Basin is a sixth-order basin having a total of 1462 streams with a length of 13,682.9 km, while the Imo river basin is a fifth-order basin having a total of 208 streams with a total length of 1320.57 km. Morphometric analyses yielded infiltration numbers of 0.3 and 0.11, elongation ratios of 0.35 and 0.29, and form factors of 0.26 and 0.54; compactness indexes of 1.4 and 1.06; lengths of overland flow of 0.46 and 2.18; circularity ratios of 0.49 and 0.84; constants of channel maintenance given of 0.93 and 4.34; relief ratios of 0.61 and 0.35; and ruggedness numbers of 0.19 and 1.5 for Anambra and Imo river basins respectively. These results have thrown light on the underlying factors responsible for flooding and gullying in the study area as a combination of climatic and geological characteristics of the study area.

The word corrosion has been a major issue in the industry, especially in industrial infrastructures, such as steel materials, causing great losses in revenues and environmental pollution. This research goal was to contribute to solving the aforementioned issues. CP as CI, on TS samples in 0.5 M HCl and 0.25 M H2SO4 media, was studied via electrochemical, FTIR and OM techniques. All the results proved the presence of active components in CP, which mitigated TS samples corrosion in the corrosive media. CR reduced greatly for all the TS samples, as CP IE(%) increased. Also, OCP showed that CP operated with mixed adsorption mechanisms. FTIR analysis revealed the numerous functional groups that enabled CP IE(%), by retarding TS samples corrosion. OM images showed the corrosion damage on TS samples without CP, and the film coverage on the alloy, after the inhibitor addition. This confirms CP excellent adsorption onto TS samples.

Adsorption behavior of Ca particles obtained from SS, PS and ES calcination, as well as its Td parameters, during A36 MS coating via phosphating process, was investigated. A36 MS coupons surfaces were coated with phosphates and varied C of Ca particles (from 1 to 2.5 g/dm3), at a T of 60 and 80 ºC. Ca particles (as inhibitor) adsorption onto the MS surface obeyed Freundlich’s isotherm, with R2 values around 1. Kads and Td parameters, such as ∆G, ΔH and ΔS, were also determined. A36 MS coated with Ca particles obtained from calcined SS gave the best A capacity, as revealed in terms of Kads, ∆G and ∆S values. Higher Kads was obtained when T increased from 60 to 80 ºC. Also, Td parameters results revealed that Ca particles adsorption mechanism on MS was a more spontaneous process, at an increased T of 80 ºC.

Environmental concerns and the depletion of petroleum resources have spurred research into natural fibres as sustainable alternatives to synthetic fibres as the reinforcement phase in polymer composites. Given that the local availability of materials is a crucial component in the sustainability framework, there is a need to map out the fibres used to develop natural fibre composites across geographical regions to optimize local resource utilization. Through a systematic review of publications sourced from Scopus and Web of Science databases, this study examines the contributions made by Africa to develop green polymer composites. The bibliometric data from both databases were systematically merged, and bibliometric analysis was carried out to identify trends and relevant relationships and provide a more general insight into Africa's progress in the natural fibre polymer composite field. A meta‐analysis was then conducted to identify the natural fibres exclusively sourced from Africa that have been used to develop polymer composites. The study also discussed natural fibre classifications with respect to fibre type and form. Sisal, palm varieties (particularly date palm), alfa, jute and members of the Musaceae family (i.e., banana, plantain and enset) were found to be the most used African‐sourced fibres. This study is a step to creating a more extensive global natural fibre database that seeks to provide more precise knowledge, enhance research efficiency, and ensure the utilization of local materials in creating more sustainable composites. Highlights The use of local materials is a key component of sustainable development A natural fibre database can foster sustainability in the composite industry Egypt, Morocco, and Tunisia are leading Africa's composite research Research prioritizes composite material science over practical applications Sisal, date palm, alfa and jute are the most used natural fibres in Africa

Primary microplastic is mostly produced intentionally for specific usage. After the usage of the products made of primary microplastic (e.g., microbeads), the microplastic particles enter into the environment and are reported in all zones (soil, air, and water). Like other types of microplastic, primary microplastic also enters into the food chain and poses serious threat to both terrestrial and marine flora and fauna. Primary microplastic is having various sources and are used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and other industries. In the present chapter, an attempt was made to overview the primary microplastics under the following lines: (1) to enlist various sources of primary microplastic, (2) to discuss its potential applications in various industries, and (3) to highlight various routes and mechanisms to transport microplastics from land to the marine environment.

Since water treatment facilities provide a workable alternative for expelling microplastics from the surroundings, this review examines the overall and stage-by-stage effectiveness of different water treatment techniques in expelling microplastics and the innovations for handling water treatment waste products. Over 80 academic papers over the last decade were analyzed. Primary treatment at wastewater treatment plants has been claimed to remove between 16.5 and 98.4% of microplastics; however, this review demonstrates that the effectiveness of these technologies varies greatly. A preliminary treatment sewage treatment facility’s aggregate microplastic sorption capacity ranges from 78.1 to 100%, with stage-by-stage performance varying from 7.0 to 99.9%. As much as 99.9% of microplastics are eliminated during the tertiary treatment process, drinking water treatment plants typically remove 1.8–54.5% of microplastics during the initial coagulation and sedimentation process, while additional treatment increases this to an overall 88.6%. Experiments show that using a higher than typical dose of flocculent can greatly boost microplastic removal by up to 62%. The majority of microplastics that cannot be extracted using traditional methods end up in sludge. Sludge and membranes are identified as significant contributors to microplastics in water treatment, notwithstanding the review’s increasing focus on the ability of treating wastewater to remove microplastics from waterbodies. It advises improving water treatment by altering coagulation factors, introducing cutting-edge procedures to more efficiently remove microplastics, and possibly utilizing innovative sol-gel technologies. In order to lessen the chances of microplastics being released back into the environment, it proposes thermal pre-treatment of sludge.

In addition to being an eyesore, microplastic pollution has serious ecological consequences for aquatic life, terrestrial life, and human beings. According to studies, microplastics can operate as vectors for pollutants, soaking up and storing them in marine habitats, species, and ultimately food webs. Given that people will inevitably be exposed to microplastics, it is important to take stock of what we know about their possible consequences, exposure pathways, and toxicity to human health. Therefore, the purpose of this review was to shed light on the human health risks associated with microplastic’s pollutant sorption and bioaccumulation, as well as to identify the most prevalent pollutant classes absorbed by microplastic and the classes of pollutants that are bioaccumulated by microplastic in marine ecosystem organisms. Potential factors affecting microplastic’s sorption and bioaccumulation of contaminants in marine habitats were also discussed. The review also shed light on the most common forms of microplastic, the overall amount of microplastic, and its geographic distribution throughout the world’s waterways. In the literature review, it was found that microplastic sorption of contaminants was influenced by microplastic properties, chemical interactions, and water parameters. There is still no proof that microplastics pose a direct medical harm to people, despite several studies documenting the risks of microplastic-associated subunits, additives, and contaminants.

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that affects children worldwide. Increasing evidence suggests that Staphylococcus aureus contributes to the pathology of asthma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the nasal carriage, antimicrobial susceptibility profile, and presence of enterotoxin genes from S. aureus isolated from children with asthma. Nasal swab samples were collected from 158 children, including 98 children with asthma and 60 healthy controls. S. aureus isolates were identified using phenotypic methods and the presence of the nuc gene. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed the presence of the mecA gene and enterotoxin genes. The nuc gene was confirmed in 83 isolates, resulting in a nasal carriage of 52.5% (83/158). The nasal carriage of S. aureus was higher among asthma cases (72.4%), with a significant association of S. aureus nasal carriage observed among asthma cases (OR 0.201, 95% CI 0.063–0.645, p = 0.007). Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) nasal carriage was 11.4%. The S. aureus isolates showed high resistance to cefoxitin (99%) and penicillin (92%) but were sensitive to gentamicin (25%). Furthermore, 67.5% of the isolates were multi-drug resistant. The staphylococcal enterotoxin c gene (sec) was the most prevalent enterotoxin (19.7%) among cases and controls. These findings highlight the need for improved antibiotic stewardship in paediatric medicine and implementation of infection control policies.

This study investigated the suitability of recycled asphalt pavement and polyethylene wastes as coarse aggregate in asphaltic concrete by evaluating the impact of the use of polyethylene polymer wastes and recycled asphalt pavement composite as aggregates on the physical and mechanical properties of the asphaltic concrete. The physical characteristics of the aggregate and bitumen were determined using relevant parametric tests. Recycled asphalt pavement was used to make asphaltic concrete samples using LDPE at 5%, 10%, 15%, RAP at 5% and HDPE at 5%, 10%, 15%, and a mixture of LDPE + HDPE at 5+5%, 7.5+7.5% and 10+10% RAP at 5% as additives. Marshall Stability test was conducted to assess the mechanical strength of the asphaltic concrete, and the results included information on the aggregate’s stability, flow, density, voids filled with bitumen, voids filled with air, and voids in mineral aggregate. In addition, the surface and crystal structure of the aggregates was studied by carrying out a microscopic examination with a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-Ray diffraction (XRD). The results obtained from this study demonstrated that RAP, HDPE & LDPE are viable conventional aggregate substitute for asphalt concrete production.

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death characterized by glutathione (GSH) depletion, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) inactivation, and the build-up of lipotoxic reactive species. Ferroptosis-targeted induction is a promising therapeutic approach for addressing antimalarial drug resistance. In addition to being the primary source of intracellular energy supply and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, mitochondria actively participate in diverse forms of regulated cell death, including ferroptosis. Altered mitochondrial morphology and functionality are attributed to ferroptosis. Diverse mitochondria-related proteins and metabolic activities have been implicated in fine-tuning the action of ferroptosis inducers. Herein, we review recent progress in this evolving field, elucidating the numerous mechanisms by which mitochondria regulate ferroptosis and giving an insight into the role of the organelle in ferroptosis. Additionally, we present an overview of how mitochondria contribute to ferroptosis in malaria. Furthermore, we attempt to shed light on an inclusive perspective on how targeting malaria parasites’ mitochondrion and attacking redox homeostasis is anticipated to induce ferroptosis-mediated antiparasitic effects.

In the earthquake-resistant design of overhead tanks, this research dealt with the determination of the response reduction factor applicable to overhead water tanks performing beyond the elastic limit. Eight existing water tanks were selected for the investigation and 127 ground accelerations due to 10 Indian earthquakes were selected. The magnitude of the earthquakes selected ranges from 4.5 to 7.2. Initially, 10.16 million nonlinear dynamic data of response reduction factor had been produced using Newmark’s β method by varying parameters. From the results obtained, multi-linear regression analysis was made to arrive at the empirical formula relating the parameters and it was found that ductility factor was the most significant factor among others such as damping ratio, pre-post stiffness ratio, natural period, and soil types, in influencing response reduction factor. Eventually, It is concluded that the values of the response reduction factor to be adopted in the dynamic analysis of Overhead water tanks should be based on the desired value of the ductility factor.

Patient satisfaction with psychotherapy is a crucial quality indicator in mental health care for assessing feedback and development in the global practice of mental health, but its measurement is deficient in sub-Saharan Africa. The Psychotherapy Specific Treatment Satisfaction Scale (PSTSS) measures treatment satisfaction in the context of psychotherapy. This mixed method randomly selected 144 outpatients at the Yaba Neuropsychiatric Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria, with ages ranging from 18 to 65 years old. It used a cross-sectional design purposefully to determine the development, validity, and psychometric properties of the PSTSS. Using exploratory factor analysis and Varimax rotation, the results showed that the scale has four components (KMO = 0.797; p < .001); PSTSS positively correlated with the Patient Satisfaction with Medical Care Scale (r = .910, p < .01), and negatively correlated with the General Self-Efficacy Scale (r =-.30, p < .01) and the Satisfaction with Life Scale (r = − .30, p < .01) which shows that the newly developed PSTSS significantly converges with the existing PSMCS and discriminates with GSES and SLS, which makes the new scale a valid measure of patient satisfaction with psychotherapy in Nigeria thus, showing strong validity. The reliability was meritorious with overall Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.891. The study concludes that PSTSS is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring treatment satisfaction. Also, it can contribute to enhancing the understanding of treatment satisfaction by aiding both research and clinical practice in evaluating and improving psychotherapy interventions.

Background: There is a need to identify different insecticide resistance profiles that represent circumscription-encapsulation of knowledge about malaria vectors' insecticide resistance to increase our understanding of malaria vectors' insecticide resistance dynamics. Methods: Data used in this study are part of the aggregation of over 20,000 mosquito collections done between 1957 and 2018. We applied two data preprocessing steps. We developed three clustering machine learning models based on the K-means algorithm with three selected datasets. The elbow method was used to fine-tune the hyperparameters. We used the silhouette score to assess the clustering results produced by each of the three models. The proposed framework incorporates continuous learning, allowing the machine learning models to learn continuously. Results: For the first model, the optimal number of clusters (profiles) k was 17. For the second model, we found four profiles. For the third model, the optimal number of profiles was 7. Discussion: We found that the insecticide resistance profiles have dynamic resistance levels with respect to the insecticide component, species component, location component, and time component. This profiling task provided knowledge about the evolution of malaria vectors' insecticide resistance in the African continent by encapsulating the information on the complex interaction between the different dimensions of malaria vectors' insecticide resistance into different profiles. Policy makers can use the knowledge about the different profiles found from the analysis of available insecticide resistance monitoring data (through profiling) by using our proposed approach to set up malaria vector control strategies that consider the locations, species present in those locations, and potentially efficient insecticides.

Nigeria has a large deposit of clay which is the major raw material for the fabrication of porcelain insulators for high voltage applications. However, the country depends largely on imported porcelain insulators to meet its high voltage needs even in the face of the worsening exchange rate of the Nigerian currency compared to the US dollar and other foreign currencies. As a result, it becomes necessary to sort for local means of fabricating high voltage pin insulators from locally available raw materials. In this study, clay sourced from three different geographical locations (Auchi, Ikorodu, and Ota) are used to fabricate three samples of high voltage insulators. The fourth sample of insulator is also fabricated from the Ota clay with Plaster of Paris (POP) as an additive to enhance workability. The physical and electrical properties of the insulator samples are investigated and compared with imported porcelain insulators. The results show that the insulator fabricated using the clay from Auchi has the highest breakdown voltage of 5 kV and lowest leakage current of 2 mA and thus can be adopted for low-tension insulation instead of the high-tension insulation speculated from the onset of the research.

This paper presents a workable vapour compression system (VCS) for evaluating the performance of a refrigeration system with an integrated condenser that uses a long-term alternative refrigerant to halocarbon as a heat transfer medium (R600a). India's refrigeration system uses halocarbon refrigerants due to their excellent thermophysical and thermodynamic properties. Greenhouse gas emissions from halocarbon refrigerants and fossil fuel combustion contribute to global warming that engenders climate change and the deterioration of the ecosystem. The halocarbon refrigerant was discontinued based on high global warming potential. The system was investigated under various ambient temperatures of 16, 20, 24, and 28 °C (oC). The performance of the VCS was analyzed using the parameters of coefficient performance, compressor work, and pull-down time (PDT). The experimental result shows that the vapour compression system obtained its best PDT, enhanced coefficient of performance, and energy reduction when the ambient temperature was 20 °C.