Characterisation of heatwaves over Burkina Faso using multi-model climate simulations.

This study characterises heatwave patterns in Burkina Faso using observed data and climate model simulations. Key metrics used include Heat Wave Amplitude (HWA), Heat Wave Frequency (HWF), Heat Wave Duration (HWD), Heat Wave Magnitude (HWM), and Heat Wave Number (HWN). The Bias-Correction Spatial Disaggregation (BCSD) method generated the NEX-GDDP-CMIP6 dataset.

Response of broiler chickens to pineapple and orange-based diets under a single-phase feeding.

This study evaluated the effect of partial replacement of maize meal with peels from pineapples and oranges on growth indices, apparent nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics and sensory attributes of broiler chickens. Day old unsexed Ross 308 broiler chickens (n = 480) were allocated randomly into four diets in a completely randomized design. Each diet had six (6) replicates of twenty birds.

Effects of environmental heterogeneity, spatial extent, and seasonality on phytoplankton beta diversity in Niger State Reservoirs in North Central Nigeria.

Understanding phytoplankton beta diversity is crucial to maintaining ecosystem health and biodiversity in Niger State reservoirs, particularly in the face of increasing anthropogenic pressures. Despite its importance, the environmental factors influencing this diversity remain inadequately explored. This study therefore investigates the relationships between phytoplankton beta diversity and various environmental variables in ten reservoirs across Niger State, Nigeria.

Radiological hazard assessment and radiogenic heat production of Keffi and its environs: insight from the analysis of airborne gamma-ray spectrometry data.

Radiological hazard assessment and radiogenic heat production of Keffi and its environs were carried out to outline the implications of unregulated mining activities and evaluate the potency of geothermal energy resources within the study area. Airborne gamma-ray spectrometry data were employed to map the spatial distribution trend of radiological hazard parameters and radiogenic heat production (RHP). The essential radiological hazard and geothermal energy parameters evaluated include annual dose rate, radium equivalent, annual effective dose equivalent ( indoor and outdoor), radiological hazard ( internal and external), gamma and alpha indices ( , annual gonadal dose equivalent, and excess lifetime cancer risk (AGDE and ELCR).

Computational exploration of aphrodisiac potential: identifying inhibitors from ., and targeting human phosphodiesterase 5.

Unlabelled: Impotence, also referred to as Erectile Dysfunction (ED), is a sexual health condition that affects a large number of men globally. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends Sildenafil citrate (Viagra®, Pfizer, New York, NY, USA) as a treatment for erectile dysfunction. Regretfully, heart failure, headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, irregular heartbeat, dyspepsia, and priapism have been reported as the main adverse effects of using Sildenafil citrate.

Effects of methylparaben on the activities of leukocyte-derived enzymes and antioxidant defense system of African catfish, .

Methylparaben (MeP) has a wide application in several industries including cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products (PCP), thus accounting for its ubiquity in the environment. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exposure to sub-lethal concentrations of MeP on cytotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and antioxidant defense mechanisms utilizing juvenile African catfish, as a model. Juvenile were exposed to 0.

A smart pen prototype with adaptive algorithms for stabilizing handwriting tremor signals in Parkinson's disease.

This study presents a smart pen prototype designed to dynamically mitigate hand tremors, thereby enhancing writing quality and user comfort for individuals with conditions such as Parkinson's disease. The device employs an accelerometer for real-time tremor detection, a microcontroller for rapid data processing, and a vibration motor to counteract tremor effects. Adaptive algorithms-including Fx-LMS, Fx-NLMS, a combined Fx-LMS/NLMS approach, RLS, and the Kalman Filter-were evaluated using signals from the NewHandPD dataset.

Selenium-biofortified Gboma (Solanum macrocarpon L.) vegetable-supplemented diets increased circulating selenium levels and potentiated endogenous anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties in Wistar rats.

Selenium biofortification of staple foods is a strategy for ameliorating Selenium deficiency among populations. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of Selenium biofortification on some phytochemicals present in Gboma (Solanum macrocarpon L.) leaves and to assess the effect of its dietary inclusions on some antioxidant molecules, immunoglobulins and inflammatory cytokines in the serum of Wistar rats.

Digital health tools for hypertension self-management: evaluating user experience and effectiveness in referral hospital in Imo state.

Background: The research aimed to pinpoint the user experiences, factors influencing adoption of digital health tools and the effectiveness of these tools in hypertension self-management. This study was conducted in a selected referral hospital in Imo State, Nigeria.

Methods: This is a descriptive study design conducted in hospital setting with three hundred and thirty five (335) persons serving as the respondents.

Effects of Hexavalent Chromium Exposure on Growth and Development of the Blowfly, Chrysomya Chloropyga (Diptera: Calliphoridae).

Hexavalent chromium (Cr) is a known carcinogen that has been listed as a priority pollutant by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The toxic effects of Cr in some organisms, especially aquatic animals have received considerable attention over the years but not much is known about the adverse effects of Cr in terrestrial insects despite their potential exposure to Cr through ingestion of contaminated food and water. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating the effects of Cr on the survival, growth and development of the blowfly, Chrysomya chloropyga.

Enhancing anaerobic digestion of nitrogen-rich substrates through in situ ammonia recovery using tubular gas-permeable membranes.

This study evaluated ePTFE gas-permeable membranes (GPM) to mitigate ammonia inhibition during anaerobic digestion (AD). Two semi-continuous laboratory-scale reactors were operated with swine manure and urea as nitrogen sources. One reactor was equipped with GPM for in situ ammonia recovery, while the other served as a control.

Polygenic Risk Score for Cancer in African Population: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: The aim of this systematic review is to identify all genome-wide association study (GWAS)-based polygenic risk score (PRS) studies (with different PRS approaches) reported in African ancestry populations diagnosed with any type of cancer. Additionally, this review assessed the role of PRS in advancing precision medicine through its clinical utility across different cancer types in African populations.

Methods: We searched PubMed from January 2009 to April 2023 and included GWAS-based PRS studies for cancer patients of African genetic ancestry.

The resurgence of Lassa fever in Nigeria: economic impact, challenges, and strategic public health interventions.

Lassa fever remains a persistent public health challenge in Nigeria, with annual outbreaks expanding across the country. Between 2018 and 2023, the disease spread from 20 to 34 of Nigeria's 37 states, underscoring its endemic nature. Recent data from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) indicates 1,171 suspected cases, 290 confirmed cases, and 53 deaths between January 6 to 26, 2025, with a case fatality rate of 18.

Evaluation of the role of omega-3 fatty acids in nicotine-induced neurotoxicity in pregnant Wistar rats and their pups.

This study investigated maternal and their pup neurobehaviour following nicotine exposure during gestational and postnatal periods and neuroprotective effect of Omega-3 fatty acids. Thus, the study used thirty pregnant female Wistar rats for this study. Groups I and II (nonpregnant and pregnant) were treated with 1 ml/kg/day of normal saline for 42 days; III was treated with 4 mg/kg/day of nicotine for 42 days; IV-VI were co-administered nicotine 4 mg/kg and 100, 300, 600 mg/kg/day of Omega-3 fatty acids respectively for 42 days.

Dietary patterns, nutrient adequacy and influencing factors among inmates in Osun State, Nigeria.

Background: The incarcerated population faces restrictions not only on their freedom but also on their dietary choices. In many low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria, prisoners are at a higher risk of nutritional deficiencies, impacting their overall health.

Objectives: This study therefore investigates the dietary pattern, nutrient adequacy and influencing factors among inmates in Ilesha and Ife correctional centres of Osun State, Nigeria, to reveal the nutrient intake of prisoners and the adequacy of the meals provided in these correctional facilities.

Prevalence and Correlates of Clinical Nephropathy in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes at Abia State Specialist Hospital and Diagnostic Center, Umuahia, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Clinical nephropathy is a prevalent and serious microvascular complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), contributing substantially to increased morbidity and mortality among affected individuals. It often progresses insidiously, leading to end-stage renal disease if not promptly detected and managed. Despite its growing public health importance, there is a paucity of region-specific data on the prevalence and correlates of clinical nephropathy in patients with T2DM, particularly in resource-limited settings.

A Metalless and Fungicide-Free Material Against : Glass-Loaded Hydrogels.

We report the antifungal potential of transition metal-free borophosphate glass-loaded hydrogels (BGHs) with different phosphorus/boron molar ratios (P/B = 2, 1, and 0.5) against species. Candida yeasts pose a significant health risk as they can cause infections, systemic diseases, and even potentially fatal complications in immunocompromised individuals.

How does soil contamination by microplastics interferes the sorption and desorption processes of three herbicides?

The increasing presence of microplastics (MPs) in agricultural systems may influence the environmental behavior of herbicides by affecting processes such as sorption and desorption, depending on the specific compound involved. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of different MP proportions on the sorption and desorption of three herbicides in soil. Hexazinone, diuron, and S-metolachlor were introduced into soil at concentrations of 0 % (control - unmodified soil), 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 100 % (w w) MPs, with the addition of 2 g of material (soil or MPs).

The inhibitory effects of compounds on myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL-1) in cancer: a computational study.

Myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL-1), a crucial anti-apoptotic member of the B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) family, has been extensively documented to be overexpressed in a variety of cancers, where it is essential for fostering cancer cell survival and treatment resistance. Elevated levels of MCL-1 have been observed in hematological cancers, such as acute myeloid leukemia and multiple myeloma, as well as in multiple solid tumors. We therefore examined the potential inhibitory effects of compounds on MCL-1 using a computational drug discovery approach.

Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina) and siam weed (Chromolaena odorata) aqueous extracts alleviate testicular damage induced by Plasmodium berghei in male mice via modulation of oxidative stress pathways.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Bitter leaf (Vernonia amygdalina Delile) and Siam weed (Chromolaena odorata (L.) R.M.

Prevalence of Iron Deficiency Anaemia among Chronic Heart Failure Patients in Owerri, Nigeria.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is defined as a clinical syndrome with symptoms and/or signs caused by a structural and/or functional cardiac abnormality and corroborated by elevated natriuretic peptide levels and/or objective evidence of pulmonary or systemic congestion. Iron deficiency (ID) and erythropoietin dysfunction have been demonstrated as the two basic mechanisms for anaemia in HF. Iron deficiency in chronic heart failure (CHF) is defined as serum ferritin < 100 μg/l or serum ferritin 100-299 μg/l +Transferrin saturation < 20%.

Mechanistic insight and in-vitro validation of ampicillin/scoparone-functionalized ZnO nanoparticles as antioxidant, and antimicrobial therapeutics against antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to the global health sector. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were synthesized with aqueous crude extract of Azadirachta indica, and the phytochemical compositions determined using Gas chromatography coupled to mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). They were further characterized using advanced spectroscopes and microscopes.

Investing in traditional medicine: leveraging evidence and innovative research to strengthen the fight against malaria in Nigeria.

Traditional medicine (TM) has been a cornerstone of healthcare across various cultures, especially in Africa, where it has played an integral role in the management of diseases such as malaria. Despite the popularity and historical significance of TM, scientific validation remains a key challenge, hindering its widespread acceptance in modern healthcare systems. This study explores the potential of traditional African medicine, particularly in the context of Nigeria, as a vital resource in the fight against malaria.

Assessment of Environmental Radiation Levels in Anambra South Senatorial District, Anambra State, Nigeria.

The environmental radiation levels in Anambra South Senatorial District were evaluated through in situ measurements using a well-calibrated nuclear radiation meter (Radalert-100TM). A Global Positioning System (GPS) was utilized to record the exact coordinates of the selected locations. A total of 170 sampling locations were surveyed across the district.