Vapor-pressure-deficit-controlled temperature response of photosynthesis in tropical trees.

Rising temperatures can affect stomatal and nonstomatal control over photosynthesis, through stomatal closure in response to increasing vapor pressure deficit (VPD), and biochemical limitations, respectively. To explore the independent effects of temperature and VPD, we conducted leaf-level temperature-response measurements while controlling VPD on three tropical tree species. Photosynthesis and stomatal conductance consistently decreased with increasing VPD, whereas photosynthesis typically responded weakly to changes in temperature when a stable VPD was maintained during measurements, resulting in wide parabolic temperature-response curves.

Functional ZnONPs-modified biochar derived from Funtumia elastica husk as an efficient adsorbent for the removal of sulfamethoxazole from wastewater.

Funtumia elastica husk was employed as an efficient and economically viable adsorbent to supplement traditional treatment methods in the removal of sulfamethoxazole from wastewater by converting it into usable material. The purpose of this study was to make biochar (FHB) from Funtumia elastica husk through the pyrolysis process and further modify the biochar using zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) to a nanocomposite (FBZC). The antioxidant and antimicrobial characteristics as well as the potential of FBZC and FHB to sequester sulfamethoxazole from wastewater were investigated.

Internet self-efficacy moderates the association of information technology ability with successful ageing among older employees in three African samples.

The literature suggests that two distinct competencies [i.e., information technology ability (ITA), and internet self-efficacy] are necessary for the effective use of information technologies for successful ageing, but no study has examined the association of these skills on successful ageing and its domains (i.

Short-term germinated legume flours as functional ingredients in food products.

Unlocking the potential of legumes through short-term germination offers an innovative approach to improving the functionality of the resultant flour. This review examines the multifaceted benefits of short-term germinated legume flour, emphasizing the enzymatic activities that breakdown complex legume compounds into simpler forms and reduce anti-nutritional factors. This process improves digestibility, nutrient bioavailability, and health-promoting properties.

Association of information technology ability, workplace social engagement, and successful ageing: validation of a short measure with three African samples.

This study examined the association of workplace social engagement (WSE) and information technology ability (ITA) with successful ageing and validated a brief scale measuring WSE. The interaction of WSE and ITA on successful ageing was also assessed. A cross-sectional design was adopted, and the participants were 1186 older adults living in Kenya (n = 350), Nigeria (n = 260), and Ghana (n = 576).

Design and development of locust bean gum-endowed/Phyllanthus reticulatus anthocyanin- functionalized biogenic gold nanosystem for enhanced antioxidative and anticancer chemotherapy.

Herein, the design and fabrication of an anticancer nanoplatform (LBG/PRA-NG) based on locust bean gum-stabilized nanogold and functionalized with Phyllanthus reticulatus anthocyanins was described. LBG/PRA-NG was prepared in an eco-friendly, one-pot approach at room temperature, mediated by the anthocyanins and gum as bio-reductant and stabilizer, respectively. The nanostructure was elaborately characterized by FESEM, TEM, UV-visible, DLS, Zeta potential, FTIR, XRD, TGA/DTG, and XPS analysis.

Assessment of land use management and its effect on soil quality and carbon stock in Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria.

Evaluating soil quality (SQ) resulting from land management use impact is important for soil carbon (C) monitoring, land sustainability and suitability. However, the data in less developed regions of Africa like Nigeria is scarce, limiting our understanding at global scale. The study evaluated land management use on soil quality in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, a representative region of Africa.

Impact of asset intensity and other energy-associated CO emissions drivers in the Nigerian manufacturing sector: A firm-level decomposition (LMDI) analysis.

The study considered the impacts of asset intensity and other energy-associated emissions drivers in the Nigerian manufacturing sector from 2010 to 2020. The Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) was used to explore the driving factors of emissions: asset intensity, economic output, economic structure, energy intensity, energy mix, and carbon emission coefficient. From the results, the emissions decreased from 7.

Child-eating behaviour as predictor of anthropometric status of preschool children aged 2-4 years in Umuahia South LGA Abia State, Nigeria.

Introduction And Objective: Eating behaviour at the childhood level plays a vital role in the outcome of the nutritional status and the overall health of an individual. The study was focused on the association between anthropometric status and child eating behaviour.

Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional survey purposively enrolled consenting participants from 256 households with preschool children aged 2-4 years.

Impact of germination on the techno-functional properties, nutritional composition, and health-promoting compounds of brown rice and its products: A review.

Rice is a popular grain and forms part of the daily diet of people throughout the world. However, the consumption of rice and its products is sometimes limited by its high glycemic index due to its high starch content, low protein content and quality, and low bioavailability of minerals due to the presence of anti-nutritional factors. This has partly stimulated research interest in recent times toward the use of bioprocessing techniques such as germination as cheap and natural means to improve the nutritional quality, digestibility, and health properties of cereals, including rice, to partially achieve nutrition and food security in the developing regions of the world.

Nutritional and physicochemical changes in two varieties of fonio ( and ) during germination.

Germination is a cheap and effective bioprocessing technique used for improvement of the nutritional, physicochemical and health-promoting properties of seeds. The benefits of germination on two fonio varieties ( and ) have not been studied. This study investigated the nutritional and physicochemical changes in two varieties of fonio germinated for 24, 48 and 72 h at 28 °C.

Big Things, Small Packages: An Update on Microalgae as Sustainable Sources of Nutraceutical Peptides for Promoting Cardiovascular Health.

In 2017, a review of microalgae protein-derived bioactive peptides relevant in cardiovascular disease (CVD) management was published. Given the rapid evolution of the field, an update is needed to illumininate recent developments and proffer future suggestions. In this review, the scientific literature (2018-2022) is mined for that purpose and the relevant properties of the identified peptides related to CVD are discussed.

Community burden of intestinal parasites and its public health concerns in Obizi, Amakama Olokoro, Umuahia South, Abia State, Nigeria.

Intestinal parasitic infections are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. This could be due to the dominance of factors such as poverty, poor hygiene, and the absence of basic infrastructures. The migration of people from parasite endemic regions due to insecurity has caused public health concerns.

Evaluation and remediation protocol of selected organochlorine pesticides and heavy metals in industrial wastewater using nanoparticles (NPs) in Nigeria.

Limited knowledge of the level of contaminants in industrial wastewater within the Nigerian states together with the global challenge of water supply have compelled our investigation into the analyses and removal of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and heavy metal contents in industrial wastewater. Wastewater samples were collected from 13 industries across five states in Nigeria. The OCPs content of the samples was extracted, cleaned up and analysed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Identification of a UDP-glucosyltransferase conferring deoxynivalenol resistance in Aegilops tauschii and wheat.

Aegilops tauschii is the diploid progenitor of the wheat D subgenome and a valuable resource for wheat breeding, yet, genetic analysis of resistance against Fusarium head blight (FHB) and the major Fusarium mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) is lacking. We treated a panel of 147 Ae. tauschii accessions with either Fusarium graminearum spores or DON solution and recorded the associated disease spread or toxin-induced bleaching.

Comparative morphology and morphometry of the mesencephalic tectum in the African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus).

The caudal colliculus serves as an integrative station and switchboard, controlling nucleus of lower auditory pathway and motor-auditory reflex production. The rostral colliculus coordinates reflexive movement of the head, neck, eye and focus the lens for visual tracking of objects. There is no information comparing mesencephalic tectum among neonates, juveniles and adults of African giant rat (AGR).

The Influence of Socioeconomic Characteristics on Anthropometry, Nutrition Knowledge, and Attitude of People Living With HIV/AIDS Attending Special Treatment Center (STC) National Hospital Abuja, Nigeria.

The work is on the influence of socioeconomic status of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) on their anthropometry, nutrition knowledge, and attitude, attending special treatment center (STC) in National Hospital Abuja, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study design was carried out in the STC and a total of two hundred and seventy [270 (150 men and 120 women)] PLWHA were used for the study. The PLWHA attend STC once in 2 months and subjects were grouped into 16 giving 4 groups per week since the center runs Monday through Thursday weekly and by 2 months, there were altogether 32 groups.

Gross morphological and morphometric study of the upper respiratory system of the African giant rat (Cricetomys gambianus, Waterhouse 1840).

The nose is a structurally and functionally complex organ in the upper respiratory tract. It not only serves as the principal organ for the sense of smell, but also functions to efficiently filter, warm, and humidify inhaled air before the air enters the more delicate distal tracheobronchial airways and alveolar parenchyma of the lungs. Despite the volume of published studies on the biology of rodents, there is no information on the gross upper respiratory morphology of the African giant rat (AGR) in the available literature.

Effectiveness of different alpha lattice designs in the evaluation of maize ( L.) genotypes in a rainforest agro-ecology.

Plant breeding experiments require the use of appropriate experimental designs that will efficiently block variation due to wide heterogeneity nature of tropical soils. The primary objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of eight different alpha-lattice designs relative to randomized complete block design for evaluating 108 genotypes of maize under rainforest agro-ecology. The maize genotypes were field-tested using three replications at two locations.

Predictive factors to access and use of family planning services by rural and semi-urban dwellers in Afikpo North Local Government area, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Pregnancy and childbirth are important periods when women of reproductive age frequently come in contact with healthcare facilities and providers. These periods afford them the privilege for discussion and decision on post-partum family planning with healthcare providers. Male partner consent has been shown to have a positive impact on access and uptake of modern contraception.

A meta-analysis of compliance with revised WHO-infant and young child feeding indicators in data generation.

Background & Aims: A comprehensive set of validated core infant and young child feeding (IYCF) indicators replaced the previous guideline and created a consensus on breastfeeding and complementary feeding indicators. It remains unknown how local studies have adopted these originally absent complementary feeding indicators in their data generation. The study is aimed to evaluate the level/rate of adoption of core complementary feeding (CF) indicators in Nigeria.

Impact of Poultry Farmers' Participation in Modern Food Retail Markets on Household Dietary Diversity: Lessons from Southeast Nigeria.

This study analyzed the interrelationships between participation in MFRMs and dietary diversity of poultry farming households in Southeast Nigeria. We used cross-sectional data from poultry farmers in Southeast Nigeria and employed instrumental variable and seemingly unrelated regression models to estimate the impact of MFRM participation and major linkages to poultry farm households' dietary diversity. The results show that participating in MFRMs, relative to traditional markets, improved poultry farmers' dietary diversity.

A review on the applicability of activated carbon derived from plant biomass in adsorption of chromium, copper, and zinc from industrial wastewater.

Metal ion contamination in wastewater is an issue of global concern. The conventional methods of heavy metal removal from wastewater have some drawbacks, ranging from generation of sludge to high cost of removal. Adsorption technique for copper(II), zinc(II), and chromium(VI) using activated carbon has been found efficient.

Potential antidiabetic and antioxidant activities of a heliangolide sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Helianthus annuus L. leaves.

Heliangolide is a naturally occurring sesquiterpene lactone and its derivatives are biologically active compounds present in most medicinal plants. This study evaluated the antioxidant and antidiabetic properties of a heliangolide sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Helianthus annuus L. leaves.