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Purpose Faecal sludge (FS) and organic market waste (MW) have resources that could be recovered by co-composting though not fully explored under changing climatic conditions in Nigeria. This study explored the characteristics and nutrient quality of co-composts produced from pre-treated FS and MW feedstocks in Nigeria. Methods The study was exploratory and analytical in design and co-composting was purposively selected for resource-recovery. The raw faecal sludge (FS) was harvested from septic tanks of households (50%) and institutions (50%) through mechanical evacuation service trucks and dewatered using 0.1% gradient sand filter. The biodegradable MW was sorted and used for further studies. The dewatered FS (DFS) and MW were mixed in ratios 1:3, 1:5 and 1:7, respectively with DFS and MW as controls. Each of the mixes was made into 1m3 heap and co-composted using the windrow method. The experiments were monitored for 88 days with fortnight composite sampling from each mix (13-weeks). The samples were analyzed for temperature, pH, moisture-contents, micronutrients, macronutrients and pollutants using Standard Methods. Results At maturity, N:P:K (%) indicate good composts at 9: 5: 4, 18: 7: 19 and 3: 3: 1 in the 1: 3, 1: 5 and 1: 7 mixes, respectively, while those of controls were: 19:12:12 (DFS) and 17:14:11(MW) with no significant differences between experimental and control mixes. Also, four factors extracted (pollutants, agronomic, macronutrients and micronutrients), explained 78.2% variability. Conclusion The matured co-compost satisfied nutrients and pollutants quality for agricultural use, recovered organic fertiliser from raw domestic and institutional faecal sludge and market waste.

Studies have shown that organic fertilizer, a product of biodegradable organic matter, is not popular among Nigerian farmers because of its low quality. To alleviate this problem, this study was designed to explore the effect of nutrient-rich materials on quality of fertilizer made from market organic wastes. It adopted an experimental study design, comprising organic fertilizer preparation, fortification with natural fortifiers, farm plot experiments and laboratory analyses. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement and three replications. The main plots comprised three crops - maize (cereal), soybean (legume) and yam (tuber) while five different fortified organic fertilizers at three rates of applications -2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 ton/ha and control (organic fertilizers without fortification) - formed subplots. Nutrient-rich materials sourced from animal, plant and rock changed the chemical composition of organic fertilizer made from market wastes and yielded better agronomic performances than the synthetic fertilizer. Hence, fortification of organic fertilizer with natural materials which are readily available and environmentally friendly should be promoted among the farmers.

The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge of prostate cancer and screening and its associated factors in young Black men aged 18 to 40 years. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a convenience sample of 267 young Black men in Austin, Texas. Knowledge about prostate cancer and screening was operationalized through 14 items, including 12 items from the Knowledge about Prostate Cancer Screening Questionnaire (PC knowledge), and two items assessing dietary knowledge and prostate cancer screening controversy. PC knowledge scores were regressed on age, cues to action, health screening experience, and demographic/personal factors. Most participants were African American men of American origin (65.3%) and were college freshmen (18.9%). PC knowledge scores were low, with mean correct responses of 28.5%, mean knowledge score of 5.25 ± 3.81 (possible score range of 0 to 14, with higher scores indicating higher PC knowledge) and a median score of 5.00. On average, 47% of the respondents replied “Don’t Know” to the questions. Overall, PC knowledge scores were low among these young Black men, especially in domains related to risk factors, screening age guidelines, limitations, and diet. It is thus important that these men be educated more on these important domains of prostate cancer and screening so that the decision to screen or not will be an informed one. Health screening experience, residence area, major field of study, and academic classification were significant predictors of knowledge.

This study was conducted to identify the salient behavioral beliefs of young Black men toward prostate cancer screening, and to identify the issues surrounding their comfortability with prostate examinations. A total of 20 Black men, aged between 18 and 40 years, participated in three focus group sessions between June 2013 and July 2013 in Austin, Texas. Participants were asked open-ended questions about: (a) the advantages and disadvantages of screening to identify salient behavioral beliefs about screening and (b) issues that would make prostate examinations comfortable or uncomfortable to identify comfortability factors. Focus group discussions were tape-recorded, transcribed, and content analyzed to identify emerging themes of salient beliefs and comfortability. Also, nine salient behavioral beliefs toward prostate cancer screening were identified, and eight factors were linked to comfortability with prostate examinations. Given the increase of prostate cancer disparity as a public health issue, understanding the beliefs of Black men of prescreening age (18-40 years) may be crucial to the effectiveness of future interventions to improve screening when recommended at later ages.

The study aims to determine the nutrient chemical forms, storage effects, and phytotoxicity of fertilizers made from nutrient-rich materials and municipal organic waste in order to control the impact of farming practices on the ecology. Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted at 3-month intervals over a period of 15 months to determine the binding forms of phosphate and nitrogen, and other quality parameters of fertilizers. The germination index (GI) method was used to assess the phytotoxicity of the fertilizers at three different rates of applications- 2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 tonnes ha−1 on maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max). It was found that animal-based and organic mixture fertilizers had the highest levels of ammoniacal nitrogen and nitrate: NH4+-N (0.3 ± 0.0%) and NO3-N (0.7 ± 0.0%), respectively. Rock-based fertilizer had the highest levels of water-soluble (7.0 ± 0.0%) and neutral ammonium citrate soluble (4.1 ± 0.0%) forms of nitrogen and potassium, which are readily available to crops. The GI values of the fertilizers were generally above the safety standard of ≥80, except for synthetic fertilizer when applied on soybeans at 3.0 tonnes ha−1 (74.2). While organic fertilizers were deemed safe for application on the test crops, it is advised to avoid storing the fertilizers for an extended period of time due to potential chemical and biological changes that might affect the biome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet potato is one of the most important crops being promoted for food security and nutrition in South Africa. This study investigated the nutritional and chemical compositions of four whitefleshed (Blesbok, Ndou, Monate, and Mvuvhelo) and three orange-fleshed (Bophelo, Impilo, and 199062.1) cultivars. The protein, ash, and crude fibre contents were analysed using standard AOAC procedures. The detection of fatty acids, sugar, and metabolites was carried out using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Carbohydrate and energy values were determined using standard methods. The results showed that Bophelo had the highest protein content (12.00%), with Blesbok having the lowest protein content (4.56%). The study also revealed that Impilo had the highest fibre (7.11%) and total sugar (22.21 %) contents. The highest ash content was found in 199062.1 (5.81 %) and the lowest was observed in Monate (4.50 %). Bophelo had the highest total fat content (0.650 %), with saturated, mono-saturated, and polysaturated fats of 0.270 %, 0.050 %, and 0.270 %, respectively, while the lowest fat content was observed in Impilo (0.380 %), with saturated, mono-saturated, and poly-saturated fats of 0.225 %, 0.020 % and 0.135 %, respectively. The highest total carbohydrate content was found in Blesbok (76.72 %). Different fatty acids, including palmitic acid (C16), stearic acid (C18), arachidic acid (C20), oleic acid (C18:1), and linoleic acid (C18:2) were also found in the sweet potato cultivars. This study demonstrated significant variations in the chemical composition of the cultivars, providing valuable insights for informed dietary decisions on consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blasting operation is one of the technologies used for breaking rock masses and reducing the rock mass into smaller sizes to improve transportation and further particle separation. The improvement of blast fragmentation supports the maximization of mining operation and productivity. Soft computing and regression model has been developed in this study to optimize small-scale dolomite blast operations in Akoko Edo, Nigeria. WipFrag software was used to analyze the results of 35 blasting rounds. As independent variables, one uncontrollable parameter and five controllable blast parameters were chosen to predict blast particle sizes using four mathematically motivated soft computing model approaches. The prediction accuracy of the developed models was tested using various model performance indices. The study revealed that rock strength influences blast fragmentation results, and based on the rock strength properties, the fragmentation block size increases with an increase in rock strength. The results of the model performance indices used for the evaluation of the proposed models showed that the modified Artificial Neural Network (ANN) called Hunter Point (HP-ANN) has the highest predictive accuracy. A new model evaluator was also developed in this study called the decision factor. Its application indicates that the HP-ANN model is the best model suitable for the prediction of blast fragment size distribution. Therefore, the developed models can be used to predict the blast result mean size (X50) and the 80% percentage passing size (X80) for mining engineering blasting practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals that are widely present in many industries. Monitoring and analyzing PFAS in Africa is challenging due to the limited availability of mass spectrometry (MS), which is an essential technique for detecting PFAS. This review assesses the scope and impact of the shortage of mass spectrometry instruments in Africa, emphasizing the resulting limitations in monitoring environmental and public health threats. The review analyzes the existing PFAS monitoring, the accessibility of MS instruments, and the technical capabilities within the continent. This study suggests that fewer African countries have sufficient MS instruments, resulting in significant underreport of environmental data and related public health issues. The review proposes financial support and programs to address these difficulties to provide necessary MS instruments. The review suggests that it is highly important to develop regional centers of excellence for PFAS monitoring using MS instruments and investing in training programs to address the gap in monitoring efforts. So, enhancing these are crucial for the successful management of the environment and safeguarding public health from the effects of PFAS contamination.

This comprehensive analysis delves into the landscape of Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) models, examining their historical development, key components, applications, strengths, limitations, and future directions. CGE models have become indispensable tools for understanding the intricate dynamics of modern economic systems, offering a holistic perspective that considers the complex interactions among sectors, households, and governments. The study reveals the strengths of CGE models, including their capacity to provide a comprehensive view of the economy, analyse policy interactions, and incorporate behavioural responses. However, challenges such as data limitations and simplifying assumptions pose inherent limitations. The analysis identifies promising future directions, including the integration of machine learning, leveraging big data, and advancing computational power. By addressing current challenges and embracing these innovations, CGE models can continue to play a pivotal role in economic analysis and policymaking, navigating the complexities of a dynamic and evolving economic landscape.

The recent global pandemic has highlighted an increase in the prevalence of communicable diseases caused by pathogens. The swift transmission of these diseases within a short timeframe presents a substantial risk to public health worldwide. The inefficiency of traditional diagnostic instruments, which need a time-consuming and complex process in the laboratory, is a significant obstacle to medical care. Currently, there is a high need for the advancement of early detection in order to rapidly diagnose infectious diseases and provide on-site results. This is crucial for prompt and early intervention to improve treatment outcomes. This also provides rapid testing and high-quality microbiological detection, comparable to laboratory standards, in a matter of minutes. Prompt diagnosis and subsequent treatment optimization aid in controlling the spread of infectious diseases. Currently, ongoing techniques and methods are used in the advancements of early detection through biosensors. This review examines the integration of early diagnostics with biosensors, specifically in relation to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, challenges, and the future perspective.

The progress made in the field of nanotechnology has resulted in the development of nanomedicine agents, which have demonstrated their efficacy as a promising clinical tool in the fight against different types of cancers. Furthermore, Nanomedicine products possess the potential to achieve intricate targeting strategies and multifunctionality. Currently, nanoparticles possess diverse applications across various scientific disciplines and serve as a crucial component in contemporary medical practices. The specimens have undergone analysis for diverse clinical purposes, including serving as drug carriers, delivering tumor genes, and functioning as contrast compounds in imaging. Diverse nanomaterials derived from organic, inorganic, lipid, or glycan compounds, in addition to synthetic polymers, have been employed to advance and enhance novel cancer therapeutics. The present review centers on the utilization of nanoparticles in clinical settings for the purposes of cancer diagnosis and treatment, with a particular emphasis on their function as drug carriers and targeted therapy agents.

The acquisition and analysis of data in digital forensics raise different data privacy challenges. Many existing works on digital forensic readiness discuss what information should be stored and how to collect relevant data to facilitate investigations. However, the cost of this readiness often directly impacts the privacy of innocent third parties and suspects if the collected information is irrelevant. Approaches that have been suggested for privacy-preserving digital forensics focus on the use of policy, non-cryptography-based, and cryptography-based solutions. Cryptographic techniques have been proposed to address issues of data privacy during data analysis. As the utilization of some of these cryptographic techniques continues to increase, it is important to evaluate their applicability and challenges in relation to digital forensics processes. This study provides digital forensics investigators and researchers with a roadmap to understanding the data privacy challenges in digital forensics and examines the various privacy techniques that can be utilized to tackle these challenges. Specifically, we review the cryptographic techniques applied for privacy protection in digital forensics and categorize them within the context of whether they support trusted third parties, multiple investigators, and multi-keyword searches. We highlight some of the drawbacks of utilizing cryptography-based methods in privacy-preserving digital forensics and suggest potential solutions to the identified shortcomings. In addition, we propose a conceptual privacy-preserving digital forensics (PPDF) model that is based on the use of cryptographic techniques and analyze the model within the context of the above-mentioned factors. An evaluation of the model is provided through a consideration of identified factors that may affect an investigation. Lastly, we provide an analysis of how existing principles for preserving privacy in digital forensics are addressed in our PPDF model. Our evaluation shows that the model aligns with many of the existing privacy principles recommended for privacy protection in digital forensics.

Objective: This study was designed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of dental anxiety among adult patients attending a tertiary dental hospital in Nigeria, while also identifying potential predictors of dental anxiety. Method: A total of 177 adult dental patients completed a self -administered questionnaire comprising socio-demographic information and other information relating to medical conditions, pain, health insurance coverage, previous dental visits and self-perception of oral health. Dental anxiety was assessed with the Modified dental anxiety scale. Result: The prevalence of dental anxiety was 10.73% (MDAS=19-25) with overall severity mean score of 13.36±3.41. Age and sex were associated with the level of dental anxiety (p-values of 0.027 and 0.007 respectively). Moreover, age, sex and level of education were associated with mean anxiety levels (p-values of 0.043, 0.009 and 0.015 respectively). Previous dental visits and self-perception of oral health were associated with dental anxiety (p-values of 0.034 and < 0.001 respectively). Sex, marital status, previous dental visits and self-oral health perception were predictors of high dental anxiety (p-values of 0.028, 0.019, 0.033 and 0.001 respectively). Conclusion: Demographic factors, previous dental visits and self-perception of oral health are associated with dental anxiety. Predictors of high dental anxiety are sex, marital status, previous dental visits and self-oral health perception.

Studies have shown that organic fertilizer, a product of biodegradable organic matter, is not popular among Nigerian farmers because of its low quality. To alleviate this problem, this study was designed to explore the effect of nutrientrich materials on quality of fertilizer made from market organic wastes. It adopted an experimental study design, comprising organic fertilizer preparation, fortification with natural fortifiers, farm plot experiments and laboratory analyses. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with factorial arrangement and three replications. The main plots comprised three crops - maize (cereal), soybean (legume) and yam (tuber) while five different fortified organic fertilizers at three rates of applications -2.0, 2.5, and 3.0 ton/ha and control (organic fertilizers without fortification) - formed subplots. Nutrient-rich materials sourced from animal, plant and rock changed the chemical composition of organic fertilizer made from market wastes and yielded better agronomic performances than the synthetic fertilizer. Hence, fortification of organic fertilizer with natural materials which are readily available and environmentally friendly should be promoted among the farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]