Redeemer's University

Background The prevalence of chronic low back pain (CLBP) and its concomitant cost implications have continued to rise across the globe. Currently, there is no effective treatment for CLBP that leads to long‐term improvement. Hence, there is growing recognition of the need for behaviour techniques including motivational interviewing (MI) to address CLBP. Objective To determine the effect of MI and exercise on pain in individuals with CLBP. Method We searched for trials in seven databases from inception to April 2024. Trials were included if MI was used alone or in addition to an exercise programme for improving CLBP in adults aged (≥ 18 years). Results From 3062 records retrieved, we included three randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Only one study was rated as having a low risk of bias. There is no evidence to support the benefit of MI and exercise on improving pain (SMD‐0.23, 95% CI‐0.55 to 0.09, I ² = 0%, p = 0.16), disability (MD‐1.80, 95% CI‐4.55 to 0.94, I ² = 85%, p = 0.20) and physical functioning (SMD 0.00, 95% CI‐1.31 to 1.32, I ² = 93%, p = 0.99). Conclusion There is insufficient evidence to support the effect of MI and exercise on pain in individuals with CLBP. More large‐scale RCTs are needed in evaluating the effectiveness of MI and exercise in individuals with CLBP.

The Niger Delta is dying. Petrobusiness activities have caused severe environmental damage and climate change in its communities thus leading to massive destruction of farmlands, wild and marine lives. This has not been without dire social consequences on local communities of the Niger Delta which are doubly impoverished with attendant increase in abuse occasioned by struggle for survival. This paper interrogates issues of interest in the concrete experiences of Niger Delta communities in Nigeria in relation to environmental change. It highlights the transition of the delta to its present state and explores the social consequences of this downturn in delta communities. It argues that while the destruction of traditional means of livelihood has forced Niger Delta peoples into an environment-related poverty, deteriorating living conditions, and massive underdevelopment, environmental change in the area has led to new patterns of adaptation and survival. Both primary and secondary sources were used for the purposes of the study.

A just identified two-equation econometric model is simulated using both Classical and Bayesian procedures. The estimates of the parameters for both methods were compared under a wide range of scenarios; sample size, residual variance and variance of the data on the predetermined variable. The Monte Carlo experiment was performed using E-veiws and WinBUGS computer softwares. The median, being a robust estimator of average in terms of validity, was used as the posterior estimate. As indicated in similar research in the past where the posterior mode was used as estimate, the Bayesian procedure performed better in most cases, while some scenarios showed similar behavior for the two procedures.

The present status of English as a global language has led to the proliferation of many varieties of English all over the world, which according to Achebe (1965: 29) “is the price a world language…must pay in submission to many kinds of use”. English as a global language has developed many varieties, which differ from the “standard” to the ‘non standard’. Based on the extent of research thus far, there is no doubt that Nigerian English exists. To show its importance, it is made compulsory to every student in tertiary institution, no matter the student’s field of study. Every student is expected to speak simple and correct English as it is the language of instruction and communication. On the function allocated to the use of English in tertiary institutions, everybody tries mastering the language both the written and the spoken forms. In our tertiary institutions, it is common to hear the students exhibit their proficiency in the language in relation to multidimensional space of level of education, ethnic background, discipline and style. In the teaching of English in our tertiary institutions, the argument is that the teachers of English have to be conscious of the sociolinguistic variables that may affect students’ performance before embarking on effective teaching. We adopt ‘Accommodation Theory’ (1991) by Giles and Coupland as our “Theoretical Frame”, while our analysis of ‘the selected Sociolinguistic variables are based on “Labovian Quantitative Method (1972: 181). Our analysis shows that for effective learning to take place, language instructors must be conscious of the social factors that may affect the learning and speaking of English in a second language situation.

Virtual Knowledge Communities (VKC) are current popular media on the internet through which the access and sharing of knowledge and information among communities of similar interest groups are made possible. Agent’s technologies are presently being deployed to facilitate the success of VKC, which is a virtual place where knowledge agents can meet, communicate and interact among themselves. Recently, quite a number of works have been done on agent-based knowledge communities but most of these works have not actually considered the possibilities of intrusion and the consequences of these malicious attacks on those systems. This paper therefore addresses the issue of intrusion detection problems in the sharing of knowledge in virtual knowledge communities. Intelligent agents are proposed as measures to guide against any spy or intruder into the VKC. The method proposed shows potential evidences of promising results.

Bioaerosols, a significant yet underexplored component of atmospheric particulate matter, pose substantial public health risks, particularly in regions with poor air quality. This study investigates the composition of bioaerosols in public spaces, specifically two interstate motor parks and two marketplaces in Osun State, Nigeria, over six months. Air samples were collected, and bacterial and fungal species were identified, focusing on pathogenic organisms. The results revealed the presence of well-known pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus sp., and Fusarium sp., which are associated with respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, as well as antimicrobial resistance. Site-specific differences in microbial diversity were observed, with higher bacterial diversity in motor parks and greater fungal occurrence in marketplaces influenced by environmental factors such as waste management. The findings highlight the urgent need for microbial air quality monitoring in public spaces, alongside improved sanitation practices. This study provides critical insights into the public health risks posed by bioaerosols and calls for local and global interventions to mitigate the impact of airborne pathogens in urban environments.

This Study focuses on the preparation of sustainable and efficient Chitosan catalyst for the removal of three organic pollutants, 17β-Estradiol (E2), 17α-ethynyl estradiol (EE2) and triclosan (TCS) from water. The prepared nanocomposites were characterized by different techniques which confirmed the presence of the key components Chitosan, Carica Papaya seed and Kaolinite. The optical characterization proved the nanocomposite is photoactive with a band gap of 1.81 eV and 1.77 eV for Chitosan/kaolinite biochar (CS/KBC) and Chitosan/kaolinite biochar/GO (CS/KBC/GO) respectively, confirming the ability of the nanocomposite to be active in the visible light region of the spectrum. The degradation experiment using CS/KBC/GO was observed better with 100% removal for 5 mg/L E2 and EE2 over 60 min and 97.8% over 120 min for 10 mg/L TCS at optimum conditions (pH 3 for E2, and EE2 and pH 7). It was observed that the superoxide radical played a major role in the degradation of the contaminants. Furthermore, the CS/KBC/GO was efficient over four cycles without any decrease in performance, which rules out the question of catalyst deactivation proving the sustainability of the catalyst. The toxicity test shows that the water is safe as it does not harm cerio daphnia silvestrii organism.; CS/KBC/GO efficiently removed the micropollutants from real-life waste samples and the performance was very good with a slight decrease in performance for the wastewater due to the complex matrix of the water sample that competes for the active site.

The ongoing outbreak of Marburg virus disease in Rwanda marks the third largest historically, although it has shown the lowest fatality rate. Genomic analysis of samples from 18 cases identified a lineage with limited internal diversity, closely related to a 2014 Ugandan case. Our findings suggest that the Rwandan lineage diverged decades ago from a common ancestor shared with diversity sampled from bats in Uganda. Our genomic data reveal limited genetic variation, consistent with a single zoonotic transmission event and limited human-to-human transmission. Investigations including contact tracing, clinical assessments, sequencing and serology, linked the index case to a mining cave inhabited by Rousettus aegyptiacus. Serology tests identified three individuals seropositive for immunoglobulin G and immunoglobulin M, further supporting the zoonotic origin of the outbreak through human–animal interactions.

Zeolitic imidazolate framework improved vanadium ferrite (VFe2O4@monoZIF-8) was prepared to purify a ciprofloxacin (CP), ampicillin (AP), and erythromycin (EY) contaminated water system via a visible light driven photocatalytic process. Furthermore, VFe2O4@monoZIF-8 was evaluated for its hepato-renal toxicity in Wistar rats to establish its toxicity profile. Characterization of VFe2O4@monoZIF-8 was performed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetry evaluation (TGA), energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis (EDX), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The VFe2O4@monoZIF-8 crystallite size determined by XRD is 34.32 nm, while the average particle size from the TEM image is 162.32 nm. The surface of VFe2O4@monoZIF-8 as shown in the SEM image is homogeneous having hexagonal and asymmetrically shaped particles. EDX results confirmed vanadium (V), iron (Fe), oxygen (O), carbon (C) and zinc (Zn) as the constituent elements. The bandgap energy is 2.18 eV. VFe2O4@monoZIF-8 completely (100%) photodegraded all the antibiotics (CP, AP and EY). In the 10th regeneration cycle, the degradation efficiency for CP was 95.10 ± 1.00%, for AP it was 98.60 ± 1.00% and for EY it was 98.60 ± 0.70%. VFe2O4@monoZIF-8 exhibited no significant changes in the plasma creatine, urea and uric acid levels of rats studied, suggesting healthy function of the studied kidneys. Furthermore, there was no significant effect on plasma electrolyte, sodium and potassium levels. The photocatalytic degradation capacity of VFe2O4@monoZIF-8 compared favorably with previous studies with minimal toxicity to the hepato-renal system, which suggests VFe2O4@monoZIF-8 as a potential resource for decontaminating antibiotic polluted water systems.

Dichalcogenoimidodiphosphinate complexes of zinc [Zn{(EPⁱPr2)2N}2], [E=Se,Se; S,Se] were synthesized through metathetical reactions from the dichalcogenoimidodiphosphinate ligands [(EE'PⁱPr2NH)] (E, E’=Se, Se; S, Se). These complexes were characterized and used as single‐source precursors through Aerosol‐Assisted Chemical Vapour Deposition (AACVD) for the deposition of cubic zinc selenide (ZnSe) films on glass substrates. The deposition temperature occurred at 500 and 525 °C, while the flow rates of the carrier gas was 160 and 240 standard cubic centimetre (sccm). The morphology of the deposited films ranged between dense fibrous network and woven fibres. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed the presence of the constituent elements in zinc selenide.

Cerebral malaria (CM) is a fatal complication of Plasmodium falciparum infection. The biological and physiological links between CM, inflammation, and inflammasome, point to the complexity of its pathology. Resistance to available and affordable drugs, worsening economic crisis, and urgent need for integration of orthodox with traditional/alternative medicine, actualized the search for sustainable pharmacotherapy. Previous works from our team on the medicinal properties of bitter honey have established botanical and bioactive markers, inhibitory effects on pancreatic alpha-amylase activity, and anti-dyslipidemia, cardio-protective, and ameliorative effects on hepatorenal damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. In this study, we have identified bitter honey (BH) derived phytochemicals using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and 9 targets from genes associated with CM, inflammation, inflammasome, and BH phytochemicals. Network analysis revealed significant functional and physical interactions among these targets and NOD-, LRR-, and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3). Molecular docking of bitter honey-derived phytochemicals against these targets identified 3 most promising phytochemical candidates for further experimental validation. Based on these results, we predict that bitter honey may aid in the suppression of CM-mediated inflammasome cell death via its interactions with these targets.

Quercetin, a natural flavonol, is reported to have significant antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activity, which further aids in its good wound‐healing properties via acting on acute as well as chronic inflammatory phases. The current study is focused on understanding the potential of the green‐synthesized iron and zinc oxide bimetallic (i.e., zinc ferrite) nanoparticles of quercetin (ZFQNP) on wound healing by an in vivo study model. Bimetallic quercetin nanoparticles were prepared by the co‐precipitation method and characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analyses. Synthesized ZFQNP was utilized to prepare the ointment for topical application, and wound‐healing activity was evaluated by using the excisional wound method in Wistar rats. The binding affinity of quercetin was ascertained against various wound‐healing protein targets by molecular docking. Characterization data confirmed the synthesis of bimetallic ZFQNP of an irregular shape. Molecular docking studies showed satisfactory binding potential of quercetin with selected molecular targets. The study results of various parameters corroborated the significant wound‐healing properties of ZFQNP, possibly attributed to the promising binding potential of quercetin with vital wound‐healing targets. The study demonstrated that the quercetin bimetallic nanoparticles could provide a promising wound‐healing effect.

Biofilm is a structurally-connected microbial community, covered by a self-produced polymeric matrix and adhered to biotic or abiotic surfaces. This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of biofilm-producing antibiotic-resistant bacteria in water from distribution systems. Water samples were taken from 32 tanks across Ondo City and Akure metropolis, Nigeria. Information regarding the sanitation status of the tanks was gathered by observation and oral interviews. The physicochemical properties were determined using standard methods. Using the pour plate technique. Agars included serially diluted water samples were inoculated onto plate count agar, mannitol salt agar, Salmonella-Shigella agar, MacConkey agar, and cetrimide nutrient agar to assess total viable bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and Shigella, coliforms, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. Eosin-methylene blue agar was used to cultivate Escherichia coli and Enterobacter aerogenes. Pure isolates were characterised using API kits and assessed for antibiotic resistance and biofilm production employing the Kirby-Bauer and tissue culture plate techniques, respectively. The ages of the water tanks ranged from 1 to 25 years old; all tanks had cover-lids; 13 (40.63%) had water guards while 12 (37.5%) underwent water treatment. The physicochemical properties chiefly fell within WHO standards for drinking water. One hundred and eighty-seven isolates were obtained. S. aureus (15.51%) had the highest frequency while Salmonella enterica (3.2%) had the lowest frequency. Thirty-six percent of the isolates were strong biofilm producers, while 20.67% Gram-negative and 18.69% Gram-positive bacterial isolates were antibiotic-resistant. This study revealed a high occurrence of biofilm-forming bacteria and prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in water distribution systems, emphasizing the urgency of improving water quality for public health protection.

Multivariate control charts are practical tools that simultaneously monitor several correlated quality characteristics in a process. Monitoring high‐dimensional data structures is challenging because, in most cases, the process sample size for monitoring parameters is greater than the number of process characteristics. Many researchers have used the multivariate Hotelling's T2 chart to monitor high‐dimensional data using the maximum‐likelihood methods (MLM) to estimate the covariance matrices. However, the multivariate Hotelling's T2chart based on MLM suffers from low statistical performance. In this paper, we proposed a multivariate Hotelling's T2 chart based on the minimum vector variance (MVV) and some regularized methods for monitoring high‐dimensional data structures. The performance of the proposed chart is evaluated in terms of the average run length (ARL). The results reveal the superiority of the proposed MVV Hotelling's T2 chart over the existing Hotelling's T2 charts for high‐dimensional correlated processes.

Land is an essential natural resource endowed by nature and deposited all over the world for the survival and well-being of humanity. In Nigeria, land control is vested in each federation state's Governor. The Federal Government controls the ownership and exploitation of mineral deposits irrespective of where the mineral deposits may be located. There is often contention about the rights of individual citizens, families, and communities in land ownership. The question of trespassing has often been a subject of litigation in Nigerian courts for decades with the advent of commerce and trade. The primary objective of this article is to examine land ownership, land allocation, and how the certificate of occupancy and Governor's consent affect land ownership, lease, and purchase of land in Nigeria. This article proffers solutions to issues arising in Nigerians’ right to ownership of land. The methodology adopted in this article is essentially doctrinal, using primary sources such as law reports and statutes. The article also refers to secondary sources such as law textbooks, newspapers, and internet materials. It recommends comprehensive reforms toward easing land acquisition and minimising the incidence of trespass to land in Nigeria.

Ideal partner preferences (i.e., ratings of the desirability of attributes like attractiveness or intelligence) are the source of numerous foundational findings in the interdisciplinary literature on human mating. Recently, research on the predictive validity of ideal partner preference matching (i.e., Do people positively evaluate partners who match vs. mismatch their ideals?) has become mired in several problems. First, articles exhibit discrepant analytic and reporting practices. Second, different findings emerge across laboratories worldwide, perhaps because they sample different relationship contexts and/or populations. This registered report—partnered with the Psychological Science Accelerator—uses a highly powered design (N = 10,358) across 43 countries and 22 languages to estimate preference-matching effect sizes. The most rigorous tests revealed significant preference-matching effects in the whole sample and for partnered and single participants separately. The “corrected pattern metric” that collapses across 35 traits revealed a zero-order effect of β = .19 and an effect of β = .11 when included alongside a normative preference-matching metric. Specific traits in the “level metric” (interaction) tests revealed very small (average β = .04) effects. Effect sizes were similar for partnered participants who reported ideals before entering a relationship, and there was no consistent evidence that individual differences moderated any effects. Comparisons between stated and revealed preferences shed light on gender differences and similarities: For attractiveness, men’s and (especially) women’s stated preferences underestimated revealed preferences (i.e., they thought attractiveness was less important than it actually was). For earning potential, men’s stated preferences underestimated—and women’s stated preferences overestimated—revealed preferences. Implications for the literature on human mating are discussed.

Mycotoxins in drinking water are neglected pollutants that have serious health implications when ingested. Common mycotoxins with health concerns include deoxynivalenol (DON), ochratoxin A (OTA), and zearalenone (ZEN). This study considers the distribution and apparent health risks of these mycotoxins in drinking water sources (groundwater, surface water, bottled water, sachet water) in three Southwest Nigeria States: Osun, Oyo, and Lagos States, using the UHPLC-ESI-QTOF. ZEN and DON were found in all 95 water samples across all three states. ZEN in sachet water samples has the highest mean concentrations, with those from Osun, Oyo, and Lagos States having concentrations of 14.96 ± 4.46, 8.59 ± 3.86, and 10.56 ± 2.84 μg L⁻¹, respectively. In contrast, the mean concentrations of all three mycotoxins (± Standard Error of Mean) in bottled water samples are the lowest across the three States. The mean concentrations of OTA in sachet water samples (2.93 ± 0.79, 1.24 ± 0.40, and 3.01 ± 1.50 μg L⁻¹) are slightly higher than those in bottled water (1.47 ± 0.28, 1.53 ± 0.31, and 0.75 ± 0.31 μg L⁻¹) for Osun, Oyo, and Lagos States, respectively. Groundwater samples across the three States had the lowest average pH values, below the WHO's lowest limit of 6.5. Principal Component Analysis studies indicate that all three mycotoxins in water samples are closely associated by source. Possible human exposure values for ZEN suggest some health concerns, especially with the use of sachet water type based on the estrogenicity of this mycotoxin. However, OTA values for all water samples analyzed, are much lower than the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 4.73 μg kg⁻¹ bw per day provided by European Food Safety Auhtority (EFSA). The levels of DON in all water sample types were of no serious health concern. However, human exposure levels to all three mycotoxins in bottled water fall within safe limits of health-based guidance values (HBGV) indicating that this drinking water type is better treated, unlike sachet water. Nevertheless, stakeholders need to re-examine water quality with respect to these mycotoxins and adopt stringent guidelines and new water treatment strategies to provide consumers with safe drinking water in line with the UN SDG #6.