University of Ilorin

Peanut agglutinin was purified by affinity chromatography on Sepharose-epsilon-aminocaproyl-beta-D-galactopyranosylamine. The purified lectin obtained in a yield of 150 mg/100 g of defatted peanut was homogeneous on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, ultracentrifugation, and gel filtration. This intrinsic sedimentation coefficient (So20,w) and the intrinsic diffusion coefficient (Do20,w) were estimated at pH 7.4 as 5.7 +/- 0.1 S and 5.0 X 10(-7) cm2s(-1), respectively. The molecular weight of the agglutinin, determined by sedimentation and diffusion and by gel filtration, was found to be 110,000. Disc gel electrophoresis and gel filtration, both in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, gave a single component of Mr = 27,500 suggesting that the lectin is a tetramer composed of four subunits. Four alanine residues per 110,000 g were found by NH2-terminal analysis and the sequence of the five NH2-terminal amino acids was: ALa-Glu-Ser-Val-Thr. Each cycle in a sequenator gave a single amino acid, suggesting that the four subunits are identical. Peanut agglutinin does not contain covalently bound sugar; it is devoid of cysteine and cystine, low in methionine, histidine, and tryptophan, but rich in acidic and hydroxyamino acids. The lectin agglutinated erthrocytes of human ABO blood types equally well, but only after they have been treated with neuraminidase. Of the monosaccharides tested for inhibition of hemagglutination only D-galactose and alpha- and beta-D-galactosides were active. High inhibitory activity was found with the Discaccharide DGalbeta(1 in equilibrium 3)DGalNAc and with the disialylated glycoproteins: alpha1-acid glycoprotein, fetuin, glycophorin, and human blood group NN or MM antigen. These desialylated glycoproteins also reacted with the lectin to form precipitin bands in Ouchterlony double diffusion in agar.

Highly efficient low cost adsorbent was prepared from Raphia hookerie fruit epicarp. Characteristics of the prepared low cost adsorbent (RH) was established using scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface area. RH was applied for Rhodamine B (RhB) uptake from aqueous solution. Equilibrium adsorption data were fitted using four isotherms and kinetic data tested with five kinetic models. The BET surface area obtained was 0.00351 m^2/g; SEM reveals large pores that could enhance the uptake of large molecules. Freundlich isotherm
\nbest described the uptake of RhB onto RH, the maximum monolayer adsorption capacity (qmax) was 666.67 mg/g. Pseudo second order model best described the kinetics of adsorption process. Energy of adsorption (E) obtained from D-R isotherm suggests physical adsorption. Desorption efficiency follows the order H2O>HCl>CH3COOH. Cost analysis shows that RH is about 1143 times more economical when compared with commercial activated carbon.

Access to quality education is still a major bottleneck in developing countries. Efforts at opening the access to a large majority of citizens in developing nations have explored different strategies including the use of multimedia technology. This paper provides a systematic review of different multimedia tools in the teaching and learning processes with a view to examining how multimedia technologies have proven to be a veritable strategy for bridging the gap in the provision of unrestricted access to quality education and improved learners' performance. The review process includes conducting an extensive search of relevant scientific literature, selection of relevant studies using a pre-determined inclusion criteria, literature analysis, and synthesis of the findings of the various studies that have investigated how multimedia have been used for learning and teaching processes. The review examines various case study reports of multimedia tools, their success and limiting factors, application areas, evaluation methodologies, technology components, and age groups targeted by the tools. Future research directions are also provided. Apart from text and images, existing tools were found to have multimedia components such as audio, video, animation and 3-D. The study concluded that the majority of the multimedia solutions deployed for teaching and learning target the solution to the pedagogical content of the subject of interest and the user audience of the solution while the success of the different multimedia tools that have been used on the various target groups and subjects can be attributed to the technologies and components embedded in their development.

The intensification of aquaculture has emerged as a viable alternative for increasing aquaculture production due to competition that arose from the use of natural resources, such as land and water, by other production and developmental sectors. However, intensification demands increased inputs, such as fish and feed per unit culture area and, therefore, increased waste generation from the aquaculture production systems. The impact of waste products from aquaculture has increased public concern and threatens the sustainability of aquaculture practices. The need for increasing the production of aquaculture products cannot be overemphasized and, therefore, there is a need to develop culture systems that will increase fish production with efficient waste management in order to limit environmental degradation resulting from aquaculture wastes and ensure its sustainability. This paper reviewed various aspects of waste production from aquaculture, their sources, components, and methods of management, in different culture systems, primarily discussing waste production from feed, chemicals, and pathogens. We aimed to establish the sources of wastes, their contents, and potential harms to both the fish culture and the environment. Suggestions for managing wastes in different culture systems were made to ensure an improved and sustainable aquaculture production.

The upsurge in the volume of unwanted emails called spam has created an intense need for the development of more dependable and robust antispam filters. Machine learning methods of recent are being used to successfully detect and filter spam emails. We present a systematic review of some of the popular machine learning based email spam filtering approaches. Our review covers survey of the important concepts, attempts, efficiency, and the research trend in spam filtering. The preliminary discussion in the study background examines the applications of machine learning techniques to the email spam filtering process of the leading internet service providers (ISPs) like Gmail, Yahoo and Outlook emails spam filters. Discussion on general email spam filtering process, and the various efforts by different researchers in combating spam through the use machine learning techniques was done. Our review compares the strengths and drawbacks of existing machine learning approaches and the open research problems in spam filtering. We recommended deep leaning and deep adversarial learning as the future techniques that can effectively handle the menace of spam emails.

Over the years, synthetic pesticides like herbicides, algicides, miticides, bactericides, fumigants, termiticides, repellents, insecticides, molluscicides, nematicides, and pheromones have been used to improve crop yield. When pesticides are used, the over-application and excess discharge into water bodies during rainfall often lead to death of fish and other aquatic life. Even when the fishes still live, their consumption by humans may lead to the biomagnification of chemicals in the body system and can cause deadly diseases, such as cancer, kidney diseases, diabetes, liver dysfunction, eczema, neurological destruction, cardiovascular diseases, and so on. Equally, synthetic pesticides harm the soil texture, soil microbes, animals, and plants. The dangers associated with the use of synthetic pesticides have necessitated the need for alternative use of organic pesticides (biopesticides), which are cheaper, environment friendly, and sustainable. Biopesticides can be sourced from microbes (e.g., metabolites), plants (e.g., from their exudates, essential oil, and extracts from bark, root, and leaves), and nanoparticles of biological origin (e.g., silver and gold nanoparticles). Unlike synthetic pesticides, microbial pesticides are specific in action, can be easily sourced without the need for expensive chemicals, and are environmentally sustainable without residual effects. Phytopesticides have myriad of phytochemical compounds that make them exhibit various mechanisms of action, likewise, they are not associated with the release of greenhouse gases and are of lesser risks to human health compared to the available synthetic pesticides. Nanobiopesticides have higher pesticidal activity, targeted or controlled release with top-notch biocompatibility and biodegradability. In this review, we examined the different types of pesticides, the merits, and demerits of synthetic pesticides and biopesticides, but more importantly, we x-rayed appropriate and sustainable approaches to improve the acceptability and commercial usage of microbial pesticides, phytopesticides, and nanobiopesticides for plant nutrition, crop protection/yield, animal/human health promotion, and their possible incorporation into the integrated pest management system.

BACKGROUND: For more than three decades, the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) has provided a framework to quantify health loss due to diseases, injuries, and associated risk factors. This paper presents GBD 2023 findings on disease and injury burden and risk-attributable health loss, offering a global audit of the state of world health to inform public health priorities. This work captures the evolving landscape of health metrics across age groups, sexes, and locations, while reflecting on the remaining post-COVID-19 challenges to achieving our collective global health ambitions. METHODS: The GBD 2023 combined analysis estimated years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) for 375 diseases and injuries, and risk-attributable burden associated with 88 modifiable risk factors. Of the more than 310 000 total data sources used for all GBD 2023 (about 30% of which were new to this estimation round), more than 120 000 sources were used for estimation of disease and injury burden and 59 000 for risk factor estimation, and included vital registration systems, surveys, disease registries, and published scientific literature. Data were analysed using previously established modelling approaches, such as disease modelling meta-regression version 2.1 (DisMod-MR 2.1) and comparative risk assessment methods. Diseases and injuries were categorised into four levels on the basis of the established GBD cause hierarchy, as were risk factors using the GBD risk hierarchy. Estimates stratified by age, sex, location, and year from 1990 to 2023 were focused on disease-specific time trends over the 2010-23 period and presented as counts (to three significant figures) and age-standardised rates per 100 000 person-years (to one decimal place). For each measure, 95% uncertainty intervals [UIs] were calculated with the 2·5th and 97·5th percentile ordered values from a 250-draw distribution. FINDINGS: Total numbers of global DALYs grew 6·1% (95% UI 4·0-8·1), from 2·64 billion (2·46-2·86) in 2010 to 2·80 billion (2·57-3·08) in 2023, but age-standardised DALY rates, which account for population growth and ageing, decreased by 12·6% (11·0-14·1), revealing large long-term health improvements. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) contributed 1·45 billion (1·31-1·61) global DALYs in 2010, increasing to 1·80 billion (1·63-2·03) in 2023, alongside a concurrent 4·1% (1·9-6·3) reduction in age-standardised rates. Based on DALY counts, the leading level 3 NCDs in 2023 were ischaemic heart disease (193 million [176-209] DALYs), stroke (157 million [141-172]), and diabetes (90·2 million [75·2-107]), with the largest increases in age-standardised rates since 2010 occurring for anxiety disorders (62·8% [34·0-107·5]), depressive disorders (26·3% [11·6-42·9]), and diabetes (14·9% [7·5-25·6]). Remarkable health gains were made for communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional (CMNN) diseases, with DALYs falling from 874 million (837-917) in 2010 to 681 million (642-736) in 2023, and a 25·8% (22·6-28·7) reduction in age-standardised DALY rates. During the COVID-19 pandemic, DALYs due to CMNN diseases rose but returned to pre-pandemic levels by 2023. From 2010 to 2023, decreases in age-standardised rates for CMNN diseases were led by rate decreases of 49·1% (32·7-61·0) for diarrhoeal diseases, 42·9% (38·0-48·0) for HIV/AIDS, and 42·2% (23·6-56·6) for tuberculosis. Neonatal disorders and lower respiratory infections remained the leading level 3 CMNN causes globally in 2023, although both showed notable rate decreases from 2010, declining by 16·5% (10·6-22·0) and 24·8% (7·4-36·7), respectively. Injury-related age-standardised DALY rates decreased by 15·6% (10·7-19·8) over the same period. Differences in burden due to NCDs, CMNN diseases, and injuries persisted across age, sex, time, and location. Based on our risk analysis, nearly 50% (1·27 billion [1·18-1·38]) of the roughly 2·80 billion total global DALYs in 2023 were attributable to the 88 risk factors analysed in GBD. Globally, the five level 3 risk factors contributing the highest proportion of risk-attributable DALYs were high systolic blood pressure (SBP), particulate matter pollution, high fasting plasma glucose (FPG), smoking, and low birthweight and short gestation-with high SBP accounting for 8·4% (6·9-10·0) of total DALYs. Of the three overarching level 1 GBD risk factor categories-behavioural, metabolic, and environmental and occupational-risk-attributable DALYs rose between 2010 and 2023 only for metabolic risks, increasing by 30·7% (24·8-37·3); however, age-standardised DALY rates attributable to metabolic risks decreased by 6·7% (2·0-11·0) over the same period. For all but three of the 25 leading level 3 risk factors, age-standardised rates dropped between 2010 and 2023-eg, declining by 54·4% (38·7-65·3) for unsafe sanitation, 50·5% (33·3-63·1) for unsafe water source, and 45·2% (25·6-72·0) for no access to handwashing facility, and by 44·9% (37·3-53·5) for child growth failure. The three leading level 3 risk factors for which age-standardised attributable DALY rates rose were high BMI (10·5% [0·1 to 20·9]), drug use (8·4% [2·6 to 15·3]), and high FPG (6·2% [-2·7 to 15·6]; non-significant). INTERPRETATION: Our findings underscore the complex and dynamic nature of global health challenges. Since 2010, there have been large decreases in burden due to CMNN diseases and many environmental and behavioural risk factors, juxtaposed with sizeable increases in DALYs attributable to metabolic risk factors and NCDs in growing and ageing populations. This long-observed consequence of the global epidemiological transition was only temporarily interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The substantially decreasing CMNN disease burden, despite the 2008 global financial crisis and pandemic-related disruptions, is one of the greatest collective public health successes known. However, these achievements are at risk of being reversed due to major cuts to development assistance for health globally, the effects of which will hit low-income countries with high burden the hardest. Without sustained investment in evidence-based interventions and policies, progress could stall or reverse, leading to widespread human costs and geopolitical instability. Moreover, the rising NCD burden necessitates intensified efforts to mitigate exposure to leading risk factors-eg, air pollution, smoking, and metabolic risks, such as high SBP, BMI, and FPG-including policies that promote food security, healthier diets, physical activity, and equitable and expanded access to potential treatments, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists. Decisive, coordinated action is needed to address long-standing yet growing health challenges, including depressive and anxiety disorders. Yet this can be only part of the solution. Our response to the NCD syndemic-the complex interaction of multiple health risks, social determinants, and systemic challenges-will define the future landscape of global health. To ensure human wellbeing, economic stability, and social equity, global action to sustain and advance health gains must prioritise reducing disparities by addressing socioeconomic and demographic determinants, ensuring equitable health-care access, tackling malnutrition, strengthening health systems, and improving vaccination coverage. We live in times of great opportunity. FUNDING: Gates Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Antioxidants are compounds that inhibit the oxidation of other molecules and protect the body from the effects of free radicals, produced either by normal cell metabolism or as an effect of pollution and exposure to other external factors and are responsible for premature aging and play a role in cardiovascular disease. degenerative diseases such as cataracts, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer. While many antioxidants are found in nature, others are obtained in synthetic form and reduce oxidative stress in organisms. This review highlights the pharmacological relevance of antioxidants in fruits, plants, and other natural sources and their beneficial effect on human health through the analysis and in-depth discussion of studies that included phytochemistry and their pharmacological effects. The information obtained for this review was collected from several scientific databases (ScienceDirect, TRIP database, PubMed/Medline, Scopus, Web of Science), professional websites, and traditional medicine books. Current pharmacological studies and evidence have shown that the various natural antioxidants present in some fruits, seeds, foods, and natural products have different health-promoting effects. Adopting functional foods with high antioxidant potential will improve the effective and affordable management of free radical diseases while avoiding the toxicities and unwanted side effects caused by conventional medication.

Small and medium enterprises have been considered as the engine of economic growth and for promoting equitable development. The major advantage of the sector is its employment potential at low capital cost. The labour intensity of the SME sector is much higher than that of the large enterprises. The role of small and medium enterprises in the economic and social development of the country is well established. The sector is a nursery of entrepreneurship, often driven by individual creativity and innovation.The paper concludes that besides the growth potential of the sector and its critical role in the manufacturing and value chains. There wide spread in Nigeria and the multiplier effects they have on the rest of the economy enable them to be the engine of economic progress. It was also noted that the SME sector is the main driving force behind job creation, poverty reduction, wealth creation, income distribution and reduction in income disparities. Most of the government interventions failed to create a much needed transformation due to poor coordination and monitoring and policy inconsistencies.SME sector also formed the vanguard of the modern enterprise sector and presents the propelling force of economic modernization and growth in Nigeria. They are important sector that need to be adequately factored into policy making and programme implementation in Nigeria.

In recent times, the growth of the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and Blockchain technologies have quickly gained pace as a new study niche in numerous collegiate and industrial sectors, notably in the healthcare sector. Recent advancements in healthcare delivery have given many patients access to advanced personalized healthcare, which has improved their well-being. The subsequent phase in healthcare is to seamlessly consolidate these emerging technologies such as IoT-assisted wearable sensor devices, AI, and Blockchain collectively. Surprisingly, owing to the rapid use of smart wearable sensors, IoT and AI-enabled technology are shifting healthcare from a conventional hub-based system to a more personalized healthcare management system (HMS). However, implementing smart sensors, advanced IoT, AI, and Blockchain technologies synchronously in HMS remains a significant challenge. Prominent and reoccurring issues such as scarcity of cost-effective and accurate smart medical sensors, unstandardized IoT system architectures, heterogeneity of connected wearable devices, the multidimensionality of data generated, and high demand for interoperability are vivid problems affecting the advancement of HMS. Hence, this survey paper presents a detailed evaluation of the application of these emerging technologies (Smart Sensor, IoT, AI, Blockchain) in HMS to better understand the progress thus far. Specifically, current studies and findings on the deployment of these emerging technologies in healthcare are investigated, as well as key enabling factors, noteworthy use cases, and successful deployments. This survey also examined essential issues that are frequently encountered by IoT-assisted wearable sensor systems, AI, and Blockchain, as well as the critical concerns that must be addressed to enhance the application of these emerging technologies in the HMS.

Knowledge of the relationships and thus the classification of fungi, has developed rapidly with increasingly widespread use of molecular techniques, over the past 10-15 years, and continues to accelerate. Several genera have been found to be polyphyletic, and their generic concepts have subsequently been emended. New names have thus been introduced for species which are phylogenetically distinct from the type species of particular genera. The ending of the separate naming of morphs of the same species in 2011, has also caused changes in fungal generic names. In order to facilitate access to all important changes, it was desirable to compile these in a single document. The present article provides a list of generic names of Ascomycota (approximately 6500 accepted names published to the end of 2016), including those which are lichen-forming. Notes and summaries of the changes since the last edition of ‘Ainsworth & Bisby’s Dictionary of the Fungi’ in 2008 are provided. The notes include the number of accepted species, classification, type species (with location of the type material), culture availability, life-styles, distribution, and selected publications that have appeared since 2008. This work is intended to provide the foundation for updating the ascomycete component of the “Without prejudice list of generic names of Fungi” published in 2013, which will be developed into a list of protected generic names. This will be subjected to the XIXth International Botanical Congress in Shenzhen in July 2017 agreeing to a modification in the rules relating to protected lists, and scrutiny by procedures determined by the Nomenclature Committee for Fungi (NCF). The previously invalidly published generic names Barriopsis, Collophora (as Collophorina), Cryomyces, Dematiopleospora, Heterospora (as Heterosporicola), Lithophila, Palmomyces (as Palmaria) and Saxomyces are validated, as are two previously invalid family names, Bartaliniaceae and Wiesneriomycetaceae. Four species of Lalaria, which were invalidly published are transferred to Taphrina and validated as new combinations. Catenomycopsis Tibell & Constant. is reduced under Chaenothecopsis Vain., while Dichomera Cooke is reduced under Botryosphaeria Ces. & De Not. (Art. 59).

The scientific explorations of nanoparticles for their inherent therapeutic potencies as antimicrobial and antiviral agents due to increasing incidences of antibiotic resistance have gained more attention in recent time. This factor amongst others necessitates the search for newer and more effective antimicrobial agents. Several investigations have demonstrated the prospects of nanoparticles in the treatment of various microbial infections. The therapeutic applications of nanoparticles as either delivery agent or broad spectrum inhibition agents in viral and microbial investigations can no longer be overlooked. Their large surface area to volume ratio made them an indispensable substance as delivery agents in many respect. Various materials have been used for the synthesis of nanoparticles with unique properties channelised to meet specific therapeutic requirement. This review focuses on the antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral potential of nanoparticles with their probable mechanism of action.

Moringa oleifera tree is referred to as a miracle tree due to its rich source of certain macro and micro nutrients of great importance in human nutrition. The chemical composition of the different parts of the Moringa tree may vary depending on cultivar and source. M. oleifera leaf, seed and flower have found numerous applications in food. In this review we firstly summarized the present knowledge on the use of M. oleifera as a food fortificant in amala (stiff dough), ogi (maize gruel), bread, biscuits, yoghurt, cheese and in making soups. The knowledge gap in the reported research was provided and possible future applications of M. oleifera in foods as well as the need for a well-structured and planned experimental design were suggested. Keywords: Moringa oleifera, Food fortification, Leaves, Flower, Seed

In recent times, the need for energy consumption is drastically increasing to fulfill the global requirements of commercial and domestic consumer demands. Energy generation using conventional methods such as oil and gas are not appreciated in the modern era since they are the major contributors for pollution and global warming. To tackle these issues, energy generation using hybrid renewable energy is being opted and studied universally. However, renewable energy sources have their fair share of drawbacks such as photovoltaic systems rely on the surrounding irradiance and temperature, wind system experiences irregular wind speed, and fuel cells are expensive and less efficient. Also, the energy extracted from renewable sources persist with stochastic behavior. To deal with these issues, researchers utilize different power electronic devices such as inverters, active power filters, voltage regulators, power quality conditioners, and DC-DC converters. Among these power electronic devices DC-DC converters are highly effective for DC voltage regulation and to improve the efficiency of renewable energy systems. Appropriate selection of the DC-DC converter is an important factor that has significant contribution in overall performance of the power systems. Besides, the selection of an efficient DC-DC converter topology, for its optimum operation integration of a suitable control technique is equally important. This paper highlights the characteristics of available and on-going trends of non-isolated converters that includes buck-boost, single ended primary inductor converter, cuk, z-source, zeta, and hybrid DC-DC converters based on the performance parameters that are analyzed using MATLAB Simulink. Control techniques that include proportional integral derivative (PID), slide mode control (SMC), model predictive control (MPC), state space modeling (SSM), and fuzzy logic control (FLC) are also discussed considering the parameters settling issue, response time and complexity while integrating with non-isolated DC-DC converters in power systems.

Drought is the leading threat to agricultural food production, especially in the cultivation of rice, a semi-aquatic plant. Drought tolerance is a complex quantitative trait with a complicated phenotype that affects different developmental stages in plants. The level of susceptibility or tolerance of rice to several drought conditions is coordinated by the action of different drought-responsive genes in relation with other stress components which stimulate signal transduction pathways. Interdisciplinary researchers have broken the complex mechanism of plant tolerance using various methods such as genetic engineering or marker-assisted selection to develop a new cultivar with improved drought resistance. The main objectives of this review were to highlight the current method of developing a durable drought-resistant rice variety through conventional breeding and the use of biotechnological tools and to comprehensively review the available information on drought-resistant genes, QTL analysis, gene transformation and marker-assisted selection. The response, indicators, causes, and adaptation processes to the drought stress were discussed in the review. Overall, this review provides a systemic glimpse of breeding methods from conventional to the latest innovation in molecular development of drought-tolerant rice variety. This information could serve as guidance for researchers and rice breeders.

Adsorption as a technique is preferred to these other methods in the mitigation of methyl orange (MO) because of its simplicity in design and operation, indifferent sensitivity towards toxicants and low operational cost. This study is aimed at evaluating the performance of various adsorbent groups in the mitigation of MO from aqueous solutions. It will help reduce the arbitrary choice of adsorbent types for MO adsorption leading to a reduction in the amount of published literature with little/incremental contributions to the field. The study was based on an analysis of over 240 published works of literature on the subject within the last 5 years. The adsorbents were classified into the following seven groups based on their chemical composition; biosorbents, activated carbon, biochar, clays and minerals, polymers and resins, nanoparticles, and composites. In terms of frequency of utilisation of adsorbent group, composites were the most frequently used (>40%). It was observed that nanoparticles and polymers were the most frequently used constituents in the manufacture of composite adsorbents for MO. The choice of nanoparticles in composite adsorbents could be due to their flexibility in going into the matrices of other material types due to their small sizes. Polymers also act as good matrices for immobilising other composite constituents. Nanoparticles was the best adsorbent group for MO uptake. Clays and minerals had the greatest proportion of adsorbents with MO uptake capacity greater than the 1000 ​mg/g threshold.

• The cost of adsorbent preparation and usage was reviewed (2016 – 2022). • A quantitative metric the adsorbent cost performance, Ĉ (in $/mol) was developed. • Adsorbents at 〈 1 $/mol are relatively cheap while those 〉 200 $/mol are expensive. • Cost analysis can extend the practical relevance of routine adsorption studies . The cost of adsorbent preparation and usage is an important factor that determines its suitability for use in wastewater treatment in light of other competing technologies. Adsorbent cost can be determined via the cost of raw materials, discounted cash flow, cost indices, cost of adsorbent per gram of the adsorbate removed, Annual Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) and Operating Expenditures (OPEX), and the cost of adsorbent application in an adsorption operation. The need to unify the various concepts of adsorbent cost of different researchers and the evaluation of how the process efficiency affects the process cost prompted the need for this study. This paper aimed to review the cost of using different adsorbents for treating wastewater. It also developed a quantitative metric for comparing adsorbent costs known as the “adsorbent cost performance,” termed as Ĉ (and computed in $/mol). This was elucidated as the dollar cost of producing and using 1 g of an adsorbent for the removal of 1 mole of a chemical species in the aqueous phase, considered at the theoretical point of maximum uptake of the chemical species. There is a wide variation in adsorbent cost performance, but most adsorbents fall between 1 and 200 $/mol. Adsorbents at < 1 $/mol threshold can be considered very cheap for the intended application, while those at > 200 $/mol can be considered very expensive. More investigations into adsorbent cost analysis are encouraged, especially in routine adsorption studies, to help extend the practical relevance of these papers.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major threat to global health. Understanding the emergence, evolution, and transmission of individual antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) is essential to develop sustainable strategies combatting this threat. Here, we use metagenomic sequencing to analyse ARGs in 757 sewage samples from 243 cities in 101 countries, collected from 2016 to 2019. We find regional patterns in resistomes, and these differ between subsets corresponding to drug classes and are partly driven by taxonomic variation. The genetic environments of 49 common ARGs are highly diverse, with most common ARGs carried by multiple distinct genomic contexts globally and sometimes on plasmids. Analysis of flanking sequence revealed ARG-specific patterns of dispersal limitation and global transmission. Our data furthermore suggest certain geographies are more prone to transmission events and should receive additional attention.

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) bagasse (SCB) is a biomass of agricultural waste obtained from sugarcane processing that has been found in abundance globally. Due to its abundance in nature, researchers have been harnessing this biomass for numerous applications such as in energy and environmental sustainability. However, before it could be optimally utilised, it has to be pre-treated using available methods. Different pre-treatment methods were reviewed for SCB, both alkaline and alkali-acid process reveal efficient and successful approaches for obtaining higher glucose production from hydrolysis. Procedures for hydrolysis were evaluated, and results indicate that pre-treated SCB was susceptible to acid and enzymatic hydrolysis as > 80% glucose yield was obtained in both cases. The SCB could achieve a bio-ethanol (a biofuel) yield of > 0.2 g/g at optimal conditions and xylitol (a bio-product) yield at > 0.4 g/g in most cases. Thermochemical processing of SCB also gave excellent biofuel yields. The plethora of products obtained in this regard have been catalogued and elucidated extensively. As found in this study, the SCB could be used in diverse applications such as adsorbent, ion exchange resin, briquettes, ceramics, concrete, cement and polymer composites. Consequently, the SCB is a biomass with great potential to meet global energy demand and encourage environmental sustainability.

Monkeypox (MPX), similar to both smallpox and cowpox, is caused by the monkeypox virus (MPXV). It occurs mostly in remote Central and West African communities, close to tropical rain forests. It is caused by the monkeypox virus in the Poxviridae family, which belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus. We develop and analyse a deterministic mathematical model for the monkeypox virus. Both local and global asymptotic stability conditions for disease-free and endemic equilibria are determined. It is shown that the model undergo backward bifurcation, where the locally stable disease-free equilibrium co-exists with an endemic equilibrium. Furthermore, we determine conditions under which the disease-free equilibrium of the model is globally asymptotically stable. Finally, numerical simulations to demonstrate our findings and brief discussions are provided. The findings indicate that isolation of infected individuals in the human population helps to reduce disease transmission.