Proceedings of the Faculty of Science Conferences
This is the collection of all the proceedings of the Faculty of Science, Federal University of Lafia (FULafia). The published manuscripts are those presented at the conferences of the Faculty of Science and have undergone peer review. The manuscripts are published at no additional cost to the authors. online ISSN: 2315-7275 print ISSN: 2354-3388
Faculty of Science, Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State
Evaluating the Extent of Implementation if Basic Science Programme in Junior Secondary Schools in Nasarawa State
The investigation was designed to evaluate the extent of implementation of basic science programme in Junior Secondary Schools in Nasarawa state. Specifically, the study intends to find out whether the curriculum content of the Basic Science Programme are taught to the students as specified, the availability, adequacy and extent of utilization of facilities, the quality and quantity of teachers and the performance of students in the Basic Science Programme in Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations (JSSCE) in the state. Evaluating the extent of implementation of basic science programme involves the collection of data and the use of data to evaluate the effectiveness of the quality of new science programme. A total of eighteen Junior Secondary Schools were sampled and questionnaires were administered to both teachers and students to collect the data. The result of the study revealed these findings. Basic science programmes in Nasarawa state Junior Secondary Schools are being implemented to a large extent, facilities available for the implementation of Basic Science Programmes are not adequate and there is a significant different between the mean perception of rural and urban teachers on the extent of the implementation of the basic science programme curriculum in Nasarawa state. It has been proved in the course of this study that there is no significant difference in the mean achievement scores of male and female students in basic science achievement test for junior secondary School students in Nasarawa state. It has also been proved that Nasarawa state has enough qualified teachers that can enhance the implementation of the basic science programme in junior secondary schools. Furthermore, it has been proved that the facilities available for the implementation of basic science programme are inadequate and underutilized. Recommendations were proffered to enhance the effective implementation of basic science programmes in Nasarawa state.
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Gastro-Intestinal Parasites of Some Cultured and Wild Fish Species in the Southern Part of Nasarawa State Nigeria
The ever-growing demand for animal protein to address the rising malnutrition indices of developing nations has led to the flourishing of the fishery and aquaculture industry. But the safety of these processed fish species which come from both wild and cultured sources has been of interest to researches for some time. A comparative assessment of the gastro-intestinal parasites of cultured and wild species of Clarias gariepinus and Oreochromis niloticus was therefore carried out in the Southern part of Nasarawa State. Microscopic examination of the guts of 90 fishes, comprising 60 Clarias gariepinus and 30 Oreochromis niloticus revealed the presence of helminths (cestodes, nematodes and trematodes), algae and some insect larvae. A total of 17 (18.88%) of Clarias gariepinus and 8 (8.88%) of Oreochromis niloticus were infected with gastro-intestinal parasites, giving an overall prevalence of 27.77%. Cultured Clarias gariepinus and Oreochromis niloticus were less infected with parasites than wild species with a statistical significance of P = 0.0034 in this relationship. Also, Clarias gariepinus were found to be more infected with parasites than Oreochromis niloticus. Different species of algae were found in Orechromis niloticus while various stages of insect larvae were found in Clarias gariepinus only; an indication of their feeding habit and the niche they occupy in the aquatic ecosystem. Trichinella specie was found in some of the Clarias gariepinus examined, emphasizing its carnivorous tendencies.
Cosmic Radiation Exposure and Health Risks for Passengers on Flights Over Nigeria
This study calculated the absorbed dose and effective doses of cosmic radiation at an aviation altitude of 12 km over Nigeria. We considered galactic cosmic rays (GCR), solar energetic particles (SEP), and atmospheric cosmic rays (ACR). The results indicate that dose rates increase with altitude and latitude, reaching a maximum of 1.93 μSv/h during solar minimum and 1.63 μSv/h during solar maximum. The calculations show that a passenger flying 200 hours per year between Abuja and Lagos would accumulate 0.39 mSv/year of cosmic rays. Although this is less than the recommended dose of 1 mSv/year for non-radiation-exposed persons, passengers travelling at the same rate would accumulate 1.55 mSv in four years. This long-term exposure could be detrimental to health, potentially leading to tissue degenerative diseases and cancer. The results of this study provide insights for assessing and mitigating radiation exposure risks in aviation
Machine Learning for detecting Microbial and chemical Contaminants in sachet Water
This study addresses the critical challenge of detecting microbial and chemical contaminants in sachet water in Nigeria using machine learning (ML) techniques. Traditional methods for water quality assessment are often time-consuming, costly, and ill-suited for real-time monitoring, particularly in resource-limited settings. We propose a novel approach that leverages supervised ML algorithms, including Gradient Boosting (GBC) and Random Forest (RF), to predict water potability based on an augmented dataset of 20 parameters, encompassing both microbial contaminants (e.g., Escherichia coli, Salmonella) and chemical contaminants (e.g., lead, arsenic). The dataset was enhanced using synthetic data generation techniques to address gaps in the original dataset, which lacked comprehensive coverage of critical contaminants. Our results demonstrate that the Gradient Boosting Classifier (GBC) achieves an accuracy of 99.8% and an F1 score of 99.7% on the augmented dataset, significantly outperforming other models. Feature importance analysis revealed that Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and lead were the most critical predictors of water potability, aligning with public health concerns. This study highlights the potential of ML for enhancing water quality monitoring, offering a scalable and cost-effective solution to mitigate waterborne diseases in regions like Nigeria, Nigeria. Future work will focus on integrating real-time sensor data and validating the model in real-world scenarios to further improve its applicability and impact.
Abundance and Diversity of Fruit-Feeding Butterflies in Federal University of Lafia
Fruit-feeding butterflies, an ecologically significant group, play a key role in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem functions, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. This study aimed at comparing the abundance and diversity of fruit-feeding butterflies in two habitats in Federal University of Lafia Permanent Site, Nasarawa State from July to August, 2024. Butterflies were trapped using rotten banana fermented in palm wine which was placed in a dish and suspended in the butterfly trap and allowed to stand between the hours of 7:00 am and 6:00 pm at each survey day. Temperature and relative humidity were recorded when trap was set-up and as at the time traps were removed. A total of 35 individual fruit-feeding butterflies was recorded in this study which belong to the family of Nymphalidae spread across three species namely; Charaxes epijasius (48.6%), C.varenes vologeses (28.6%), and C. boueti boueti (22.8%). The species Charaxes epijasius accounted for the highest butterfly population in both gallery forest and savannah woodland habitats and differences between species was significant ((2 = 10.993, df = 2, P = 0.004102). There was a significant difference ((2 = 4, df = 1, P = 0.0455) in butterfly abundance between the two habitat types. Temperature and humidity had a positive influence on butterfly abundance across the two habitat types. In conclusion, this research contributes to a better understanding of the ecological dynamics of fruit-feeding butterflies in Federal University of Lafia Permanent Site in wet season period. Hence, felling of trees and cattle grazing within the premises of the University should be discouraged.
Comparative Assessment of Oxalate Content in Selected Locally Most Consumed Vegetables and Foods in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria
In recent times, researchers are hard-pressed to determine which chemical substances present in an individual’s diet and internal body system are working together to promote good health or are conspiring to create illnesses. The persistently increasing cases of hyperoxaluria-linked illnesses like kidney stones, bone deformations, and arthritis have led to strident and persistent research reports on oxalates in vegetables and foods. Thus, assessment of total oxalate contents of highly consumed vegetables and foods in Otukpo Local Government Area of Benue State has been carried out. Hot extraction and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography methodology were used for the investigation. The total oxalate contents of the samples in milligrams were: 5.40±0.01634; 6.80±0.08185; 50.20±0.16432; 8.60±0.24495; 80.40±0.16432 for Bitter Leaf, Pumpkin Leaf, Okra, Yam and Cassava respectively and for White Maize, Brown Maize, White Rice, and Brown Pepper were 5.40±0.16432; 4.73±0.12490; 38.00±0.08185; 26.57±0.10114, 38.80±0.08185 respectively. From the results obtained, all the samples investigated showed low oxalate content and the dried samples have higher electrical conductivity but lower amount of oxalate compared to the fresh samples. Also, fresh cassava has a high oxalate content, followed by fresh okra and the order is: Cassava > Okra > Brown Pepper > White rice > Sweet Potato > Yam > Pumpkin > Bitter Leaf/White Maize > Brown Maize. The determination of oxalate contents of the samples to create awareness of health risks associated with the consumption of vegetables and foods with high oxalates is the aim of this investigation
Impact of Gaussian Noise on the Optimization of Medical Image Registration
Gaussian noise often poses a significant challenge to medical image registration, impacting the accuracy and reliability of alignment across varying imaging modalities. The research investigates the effect of Gaussian noise on medical image registration by comparing four optimization techniques: a direct approach, an optimization using fmincon, a multiscale approach, and a combined optimization strategy that integrates fmincon and the multiscale approach. The comparative analysis assesses each method's robustness against Gaussian noise, evaluating registration accuracy through three key similarity metrics: Mean Squared Error (MSE), Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), and Structural Similarity Index Measure (SSIM). The results reveal that while each approach demonstrates a degree of resilience to noise, the combined optimization method significantly outperforms the others, achieving the lowest MSE, highest PSNR, and superior SSIM. These findings suggest that the combined approach effectively enhances the optimization process by leveraging the strengths of both fmincon and multiscale frameworks, thus providing a more accurate and noise-resistant solution for medical image registration. The analysis highlights the necessity of image filtering techniques to mitigate noise interference and improve the image registration process in clinical applications
Identification and Control of Postharvest Fungal Contaminants of Sweet Potato (Ipomea batatas L.) In Lafia
Postharvest rot leads to huge yield losses of potato annually. A study was conducted to identify and control fungi causing postharvest tuber rot of sweet potato in Lafia. Infected tubers were collected from sales points in Lafia, and conveyed to the Plant Science Laboratory, Federal University of Lafia. Infected tissues were collected from the rotted tubers using a sterile scalpel, surface sterilised in 70% ethanol, and cultured for 3-5 days on PDA. Based on cultural and microscopic morphology, fungi isolated were identified under four genera, namely Mucor, Aspergillus, Candida, Fusarium. A total of 13 isolates were obtained, of which Aspergillus niger and Candida sp. had the highest number of isolates 4(30.77%), followed by Mucor racemosus 3(23.08) and Fusarium sp. 2(14.39). Pathogenicity test of the identified fungi showed that of the four identified species, Aspergillus niger produced tissue rot on the tubers, beginning from the first week (8.67 mm) to second week after inoculation (10.00 mm). Tuber rot produced by A. niger differed significantly from the other fungi as well as the uninoculated control (P≤0.05). Test of bioefficacy of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Moringa oleifera in the control of A. niger showed that ethanolic extracts of Moringa oleifera produced higher and significantly different growth inhibition of A. niger compared to the extracts of Zingiber officinale (P<0.05). The study revealed that extracts of Moringa oleifera and Zingiber officenale hold promising prospects in the development of biofungicides for the management of postharvest tuber rot of sweet potato.
Effect of Alphaspin® Nanoparticles on the Susceptibility of Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) to Southern Blight Caused by Sclerotium Rolfsii in Lafia
A study was carried out to investigate the disease responses of Alphaspin nanoparticles-treated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) to Southern blight caused by Sclerotium rolfsii in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria. Two grams each of seeds belonging to the Syria, Roma Savana, and UC82B tomato varieties were exposed to Alphaspin nanoparticles for 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 min respectively, and challenged with sclerotia obtained from isolates of S. rolfsii. Growth and disease responses of Alphaspin nanoparticles treated tomato plants to S. rolfsii were assessed 4 weeks after inoculation. UC82B tomato exposed to Alphaspin nanoparticles for 40 min proved to be the most susceptible variety to S. rolfsii, with the mean total leaf yellowing 87.50%, leaf necrosis 81.25%, flower wilt 82.50%, stem necrosis 40.00%, stem rot 35.00%, stem wilt 42.50%, plant wilt 45.00%, plant height 37.40 cm, number of leaves 88.00, stem girth 2.25 cm, number of branches 0.75, and number of flowers 7.75. The differences in growth and disease responses were significant among the different tomato varieties (P<0.05). The study revealed that plants exposed to Alphaspin nanoparticles were more vulnerable to southern blight than the untreated control, hence, studies involving the use of other nano materials such as green synthesized nanoparticles are required to further our understanding of the effect of nanoparticles on tomato resistance to southern blight caused by S. rolfsii.
Influence Of Laterite Soil On The Growth And Yield Of Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata L.) Accessions In Nasarawa State
This study was conducted to determine the influence of laterite soil on the growth and yield of cowpea accessions. Five different cowpea accessions (TVU-1335, TVU-11530, TVU-997, TVU-10778 and TVU-4593) were sourced from International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Oyo State. Three different layer of Laterite soil, Organic layer (LI), Upper mineral horizon (L2), Leached horizon (L3) and Loamy soil (L0) as control were collected from Akurba, Lafia, Nasarawa State. These treatments were measured into 60 bags of 20kg each and were laid out in a (RCBD) with three replications in the Department of (PSB), Fulafia. Seed rate was 3 seeds per planting bag at a depth of 2.5 to 3cm. Data were collected for some growth and yield parameters such as Number of days to seed germination (NDSG), % Seeds Germination (%SG), Plant height at maturity (PHATM), Number of days to flower formation (NDFF), Number of days to pod formation (NDPF), Number of days to pod maturity (NDPM), Number of pods per plant (NPP), Number of seeds per pod (NSPP), Number of leaves per plant (NOLPP), Leaf area per plant (LAPP) and Stem girth (S.G). TVU-1335 (L3) was observed to have the highest (NDSG) of 6.13. %SG was observed highest in (L1) with 97.78%, PHATM was highest at (L0) with 18.64cm, NDFF was observed highest at (L2) with 48.47DAP, NDPF was registered highest at (L2) with 51.80DAP, NDPM was observed highest at (L2) with 61.93DAP, NPP was observed highest at (L0) with 34.12DAP, LAPP was also observed highest at (L1) with 63.17DAP, NOLPP was noticed to be highest in (L3) with 55.87DAP, at (L2) NSPP was higher with 12.42 and S.G was observed highest at (L0) with 3.02cm. Data collected were subjected to a two-way (ANOVA) and LSD was used to separate mean difference at p ≤ 0.05 level of significant. The result indicates that, none of the cowpea accession is significantly superior in terms of growth and yield performance on lateritic soils experiment.
Single Oscillator Analysis, Electronic Polarizability and Optoelectronic Properties of Spin Coated Cobalt Doped Zinc Oxide Thin Films
The structural, optical, single oscillator analysis, electronic polarizability, and optoelectronic properties of Co:ZnO thin films prepared via sol-gel spin coating are reported. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure, with crystallite size increasing from15.9 (0 mol%) to 16.37 nm at 4 mol.% then decreased to 14.86 nm at 8 mol%, attributed to lattice distortion and micro-strain. Strain energy density increased with Co doping, reflecting enhanced lattice distortions. UV-vis spectroscopy reveals a decrease in the optical band gap from 3.72 eV for 0 mol% to 2.76 eV for 8 mol%, while the refractive index increased from 2.23 to 2.47 . The oscillator energy in the single oscillator analysis through the Wemple-DiDomenico model increases from 4.091 eV (0 mol%) to 6.909 eV (8 mol%), the dispersive energy rises from 1.156 to 38.154 eV, and the oscillator strength increases from 0.36 × 10⁻⁵ to 29.8 × 10⁻⁵. Electronic polarizability also increased from 2.26 × 10⁻²⁵ to 2.45 × 10⁻²⁵ cm³, thus reflecting increased polarization arising from structural and electronic changes. Optoelectronic properties like the charge carrier, concentration plasma frequency, relaxation time and optical mobility were also maximized at 6 mol% cobalt doping and decreased at 8 mol%. On the other hand, the optical resistivity decreased from 9.49 × 10⁻²¹ to 2.29 × 10⁻²² Ωm. These findings therefore reveal that Co doping enhances the optical and electronic properties of ZnO thin films, hence making them suitable for optoelectronic applications, including sensors, solar cells, and nonlinear optical devices.
Creating Variability in Sunflower (Helianthus annuusL.) using Induced Mutation
The study was conducted to assess the effect of chemical mutagen (dimethyl sulphate) in creating variability in sunflower to improve the growth and yield productivity of the sunflower. Three different sunflower varieties (SAMSUN 1, SAMSUN 3, and SAMSUN 4) were collected from the Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR) Zaira, Kaduna State. They were exposed to T1/0.25%, T2/0.50%, T3/0.75% and T4/1.00% of dimethyl sulphate for 3hrs. The treatments with control were laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) in three replications in the research garden of the Department of Botany Federal University of Lafia, during the cropping season of 2021/2022. Observation and data were collected for some growth and yield parameters such as days to 50% germination on 15th day, days to flowering, number of leaves, plant height(cm), stem diameter (cm), head diameter (cm), seed yield per plot (g), seed yield per plant (g), 100-seed weight (g), seed volume weight (g/100 ml), hull content (%).The data collected were subjected to a two way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) using Genstat Discovery Edition Version 12.1 software and LSD (Least Significant Difference) was used to separate mean difference at P ≤ 0.05 level of significance. The result showed that SAMSUN 1 variety had the highest plant height (171.7cm) at T1, seed yield per plant (41.9g) at T2 and hull content (34.71%) at T1. The SAMSUN 3 variety proved to be superior for number of leaves (18.93) at T4 and head diameter (24.91cm) at T2 while SAMSUM 4 performed better for parameter like 50% germination at 15 [(DAS) (50.0%)] at T4, earliest days to first flowering (50.27) at T4, seed yield per plant (438.1kgha-) at T2, seed volume weight (33.4g/100ml) at T3 and 100-seed weight (8.02g) at T2. The correlation coefficient showed both positively and negatively significant correlation between the growth and yield parameters. The highest positive significant correlation was observed between stem girth and head diameter (0.816) and the highest negative significant correlation was between seed volume weight and head diameter (-0.484).
Identification and Pathogenicity of Fungi Associated with Anthracnose Disease of Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) In Lafia, Nasarawa State
Anthracnose disease is a critical challenge in pepper cultivation, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions like Nigeria, leading to significant yield losses and reduced fruit quality annually. A study was conducted to identify and control pathogens associated with anthracnose disease of pepper fruits in Lafia. Fungi associated with infected fruits were isolated and identified using morphological characteristics. Identified fungi were subjected to pathogenicity tests to evaluate their disease producing potentials in healthy pepper fruits. Results of morphological identification of the fungi isolated from anthracnosed pepper fruits in Lafia showed that the fungi were identified in two genera, namely Aspergillus and Fusarium. Results of pathogenicity test showed that fruit rot diameters were higher in fruits inoculated with A. niger (5.12 cm), compared to fruits inoculated with Fusarium sp. (1.90 cm diameter) after six days. The differences in rot diameters among the pepper fruits inoculated with the two fungi were significant (P ≤ 0.05). Control measures targeted at the prevention of fruit contamination by A. niger will go a long way to minimize yield losses of tomato in the study area.
Identification and Pathogenicity of Fungi Responsible for Foliar Diseases of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) in Lafia
Foliar diseases of groundnuts are important determinants of yield and productivity of the crop. The aim of this study was to identify and evaluate the pathogenicity of fungi responsible for foliar diseases of groundnut in Lafia. Tissues of groundnut leaves showing signs of discoloration, and spots, were cultured on potato dextrose agar (PDA) for isolation of in-dwelling fungi. A total of 48 isolates belonging to five genera, namely Fusarium, Rhizomucor, Curvularia, Epicoccum, and Aureobasidium were recovered. The identified species were Fusarium incarnatum, Rhizomucor spp., Curvularia lunata, Epicoccum nigrum, and Aureobasidium pullulans. Results of pathogenicity test showed that Rhizomucor spp. produced the highest leaf spots (60.00%), followed by Aureobasidium pullulans (55.00%), Epicoccum nigrum (30.00%), Curvularia lunata (16.67%), and Fusarium incarnatum (12.33%). However, differences in the severity of leaf spots caused by the different fungal pathogens were not significant (P>0.05). The study revealed that fungi isolated from symptomatic leaves of groundnuts were pathogenic, producing varying percentages of leaf spots on inoculated leaves. Therefore, there is a need to control fungal contamination of groundnut leaves in order to improve crop health and enhance yield of groundnuts.
Cultivation Yield and Nutritional Value of Oyster Mushroom Cultivated on Two Lignocellulosic Wastes
ABSTRACT The yield and proximate composition of Pleurotus ostreatus were evaluated using corncob and sawdust substrates to determine the yield and nutritional status of the mushroom as affected by the varying substrates. Pleurotus ostreatus was cultivated following sequential steps of substrates composting, bagging, sterilization of bagged compost, spawning, incubation, and cropping. Results indicated that P. ostreatus cultivated on corncob substrate had the highest value for stipe length and diameter, pileus thickness, fresh weight and biological efficiency. However, P. ostreatus harvested on sawdust substrate had the highest pileus diameter (P<0.05). Additionally, the highest amount (P<0.05) of crude fat (2.22%), protein (28.40%), crude fibre (8.69), carbohydrates (46.38%) were recorded on fruiting bodies harvested from corncob substrate while higher ash (3.12%) and moisture contents (8.50%) were found in fruit bodies harvested from sawdust substrate. Consequently, the corncob substrate produced fruiting bodies with better yield and nutritional value ompared to the sawdust substrate. Therefore, corncob substrate could be exploited as alternative substrate to wood sawdust for more sustainable production of oyster mushroom (P. ostreatus).
Morphological Identification of Endophytic Fungi of Tomato Plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in Lafia
Endophytic fungi are a diverse group of microorganisms that inhabit the internal tissues of plants without causing immediate harm. A study was carried out to isolate, identify and determine the distribution of endophytic fungi in tissues of tomato plants in Lafia. Tissue segments of tomato plant samples about 2 cm2 in size were surface sterilized in 70% ethanol for 2 min, followed 1% sodium hypochlorite for 2 min, and plated on potato dextrose agar (PDA) for three days for the emergence of endophytic fungi. Endophytic fungi were morphologically identified through observation of their macro and micromorphological chracteristics. A total of 15 isolates were identified, two isolates each (20%) belonging to C. rosea, A. niger, P. corticola, A. flavus, and M. ruber, while one isolate each (10%) of A. viridistratum, A. calidoustus, Fusarium sp., Penicillium sp., and Aspergillus sp. were recovered. OmbiAnzaku had the highest number of isolates 6(40.00%), comprising one isolate of A. viridistratum (6.67%), two isolates of A. niger (13.33%), and one isolate each (6.67%) of A. calidoustus, Fusarium sp., and Penicillium sp., followed by Akoko with 5 isolates (33.33%), comprising two A. flavus (13.33%), one Aspergillus sp. (6.67%), and two M. ruber (13.33%). Bakinrijiya and Bukan Kwato had two isolates each (13.33%), comprising P. corticola in Bakinrijiya, and C. rosea in Bukan Kwato. The identification of genera with known biocontrol, bioactive, and growth-promoting properties underscores the potential application of these fungi in sustainable agricultural practices.
Trust-Aware Energy Optimization Techniques in Mobile Ad-hoc Networks
This systematic review paper provides a comprehensive analysis of recent advancements in energy optimization techniques for Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANETs). MANETs play a critical role in modern communication systems, enabling dynamic and decentralized networking in various applications, including disaster recovery, military operations, and remote sensing. However, energy consumption remains a significant challenge due to the limited power resources of mobile nodes, directly impacting network performance and lifespan. In recent years, optimization techniques such as metaheuristic algorithms, adaptive transmission power control, and machine learning models have shown remarkable potential in addressing these challenges by enhancing energy efficiency and prolonging network lifetime. This paper reviews the current trends in energy optimization for MANETs, including trust-aware routing protocols, clustering methods, and advanced mobility models like the Gauss-Markov model. Additionally, it provides a detailed analysis of the simulation parameters and metrics used in the studies, highlighting their applicability and limitations. The review also identifies key areas for future research, such as developing lightweight and scalable algorithms, integrating heterogeneous network technologies, and refining mobility and traffic models for more realistic simulations. The paper concludes by summarizing the key findings of the systematic review and emphasizing the importance of continuous innovation in energy optimization strategies to enhance the sustainability and reliability of MANETs. This review serves as a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners, guiding the development of robust and efficient networking solutions.
Nutritional Evaluation of the Protein-Enrichment Potentials of Sweet Potato Peels Subjected to Submerge Fermentation with Bacteria Isolate from Pineapple Peels
As the global population rises, the demand for protein in food and animal feed also escalates, straining conventional sources and driving up the cost of animal feed. This highlights the need for alternative, cost-effective protein sources. Agricultural waste, particularly sweet potato peels, remains underutilized despite its potential as a valuable protein-enrichment resource. This study aimed to enhance the protein content of sweet potato peels through submerged fermentation using Bacillus isolates from pineapple peels. The fermentation process was conducted for three weeks with three groups: Saccharomyces cerevisiae, bacterial isolates from pineapple peels, and spontaneous fermentation as a positive control. The unfermented sample served as the negative control. Proximate analysis and amino acid profiling were performed on both fermented and unfermented samples. The fermentation process led to a significant increase in protein content, with 17 amino acids detected. This study demonstrates the potential of utilizing sweet potato peels, a common agricultural waste, as a protein-enriched resource, offering a sustainable alternative protein source for food and feed applications.
The Implementation of Lean Six Sigma Techniques: Effect on Customer Satisfaction and Retention in Manufacturing Industries in Lagos State, Nigeria
Lean Six Sigma concept emerged for waste elimination and continuous improvement. Manufacturing industries have tried to implement these techniques all over the world. The purpose of this research is to review the implementation of Lean Six Sigma techniques and their effects on customer satisfaction and retention in manufacturing industries in Lagos State, Nigeria. A descriptive case study was conducted in 64 selected regional manufacturing industries. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. The findings show that Kaban is the technique that is mostly used by these manufacturing industries. It also proved that strong significant relationships exist between Lean Six Sigma techniques and customer satisfaction and as well as customers retention. Manufacturing organizations should effectively adopt the usage of this technique to attain customer satisfaction, customer retention, continuous quality improvement, profit maximization, cost reduction, and waste elimination.
Yield Variability Studies and Proximate Analysis of Two Varieties of Maize (Zea mays L.) Exposed to Iron Oxide Nanoparticles
A study of yield variability studies and proximate analysis of two maize varieties (Sammaz-S2 and Bida maize) was conducted at the Botanical Garden of the Department of plant Science and Biotechnology, Federal University of Lafia during the 2024 cropping season. Four concentrations of iron oxide nanoparticles (0 RPM, 20 RPM, 40 RPM, and 80 RPM) were prepared and applied as a foliar spray to maize varieties at thrice. The experiment was set in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Number of cobs per plant fresh and dry weight of 100 seeds were used to determine the yield variability, moisture, ash, carbohydrate, protein and protein were checked for proximate composition. The results showed, that Sammaz-S2 performed better, with increased cob numbers and improved seed traits at 20 RPM, while Bida maize showed limited response. At 40 RPM, both varieties experienced reduced productivity, indicating nanoparticle toxicity, though partial recovery at 80 RPM suggests stress adaptation. Fresh seed weight increased at 20 RPM, particularly in Bida maize, reflecting enhanced hydration, while dry weight peaked at 40 RPM, suggesting optimized nutrient storage. Proximate composition analysis showed increased ash and carbohydrate content at moderate doses but reduced moisture and fat levels with higher nanoparticle concentrations. Protein and fiber responses were based on genotype type. These findings demonstrate the potential of iron oxide nanoparticles to improve maize productivity and nutritional quality when used at optimal doses, emphasizing the importance of dose calibration to avoid toxicity.
Health Benefits of Nutritional Composition of Cocoyam (Colocasia esculanta) Tuber and Leaves
This study investigated the proximate composition, phytochemical content, and amino acid profiles of cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta) tuber and leaves. Proximate analysis revealed that the samples contained 16.63% crude protein, 3.19% fat, 8.38% ash, 6.37% crude fiber, 6.51% moisture, and 58.94% carbohydrate on average. Phytochemical screening identified the presence of oxalates, saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and cyanide in varying concentrations. Amino acid profiling showed that the samples contained all essential amino acids with leucine (6.99%), lysine (4.46%), and isoleucine (4.21%) being the most abundant. Glutamic acid (10.29%) and aspartic acid (8.87%) were the predominant non-essential amino acids. The total amino acid content ranged from 54.84 to 74.85 g/100g protein. Essential amino acid scores indicated that most amino acids met or exceeded FAO/WHO reference values, with phenylalanine + tyrosine having the highest score. The study reveals that cocoyam tubers are excellent sources of energy, while the leaves are significantly higher in protein and essential amino acids than other widely consumed leaves, highlighting its potential as some nutrient-dense food source rich in essential amino acids and carbohydrates.
Document Classification in HEIs Using Deep Learning
Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are increasingly confronted with the complexities of evolving rules and requirements, necessitating innovative technology solutions to streamline document handling processes. Traditional paperwork methods are often inefficient and error-prone, leading to potential non-compliance. This research addresses these challenges by developing an AI-powered electronic document management system designed to automate compliance checks and simplify document handling as HEIs grow. The primary objective is to create a document classification model utilizing deep learning techniques, including Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN), and a hybrid CNN-RNN approach, to enhance document accuracy and compliance. The study involves collecting and preprocessing a substantial dataset of documents, designing and evaluating various deep learning models, and optimizing hyperparameters. Performance comparisons among the models indicate that the hybrid CNN-RNN architecture outperforms individual models, achieving superior accuracy, recall, and F1-score, alongside a significantly lower mean squared error (MSE). Initial evaluations revealed the CNN, RNN, and CNN-RNN models achieved accuracies of 73%, 44%, and 27%, respectively, on the raw dataset. However, with an upgraded dataset, these models improved to 76%, 48%, and 79% accuracy, respectively, highlighting the hybrid model's enhanced capability in accurately classifying documents. The findings revealed the effectiveness of integrating advanced deep learning techniques to improve document verification processes in HEIs, ultimately facilitating better compliance and operational efficiency.
Nutritional and Antinutritional Composition of Defatted Flours, Protein Concentrates and Protein Isolates of Honey Bean (Vigna unguilculata L Kalp) and Pinto Black (Phaseolus vulgaris)
Nutritional and antinutritional composition of honey bean (Vigna unguiculata L. Kalp) and pinto black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), along with their defatted flour (DF), protein concentrate (PC), and protein isolate (PI), were studied. Protein concentrates and isolates were prepared from defatted seeds using the isoelectric precipitation method, followed by proximate and antinutritional analyses. The results showed carbohydrate compositions of 56.24% & 61.45% in DF, 16.26% & 19.43% in PC, and 3.36% & 1.35% in PI for honey bean (HB) and pinto black bean (PB), respectively. The protein values of the samples differed significantly (p < 0.05), showing a progressive increase from DF (33.35% & 27.92%) to PC (75.16% & 72.28%) and PI (88.17% & 92.02%), respectively. The percentage of ash, fiber, fat, and moisture in the defatted flours was 4.11% & 4.11%, 2.52% & 2.22%, 1.55% & 2.01%, and 2.23% & 2.97% for honey bean and pinto black bean, respectively. Only trace amounts of fat were detected in PC and PI. The antinutritional factors studied included phytate (3.42% & 3.40%), saponins (0.70% & 0.82%), tannins (0.20 mg/100 g & 12.62 mg/100 g), alkaloids (8.33% & 8.05%), oxalates (1.27% & 0.23%), flavonoids (3.73% & 2.08%), cyanide (0.52 mg/100 g & 0.24 mg/100 g), and total phenols (0.87% & 0.58%) in DF. The levels of these antinutritional factors in PC and PI were significantly lower and posed no nutritional concerns. The amino acid profile indicated that both samples contained substantial amounts of essential amino acids. The most abundant essential amino acid was leucine, with values of 4.55 & 4.81 g/100 g crude protein in DF, 5.90 & 5.17 g/100 g crude protein in PC, and 10.53 & 9.19 g/100 g crude protein in PI. Glutamic acid was the most abundant amino acid across all samples, with the highest concentration observed in PI (17.76 & 19.00 g/100 g crude protein). The amino acid analysis demonstrated that the PI samples were superior compared to the FAO/WHO provisional reference pattern. However, supplementation may be necessary for DF samples. The results also suggest that the isolates can be used to supplement cereal-based diet.
Investigating the Thresholding Effect and Fingerprint Transformation Using Cross-Correlation Similarity Matching
This research presents a cross-correlation similarity matching method to study the fingerprint transformation and thresholding impact. This work directly compares the impact of various transformations (rotation, translation, elastic deformation, and scaling) on the fingerprint matching performance at different threshold values, in contrast to the standard minutiae-based systems. In order to compare the template positions of the two fingerprints using plots, the cross-correlation similarity matching of fingerprints first selects suitable templates in the primary fingerprint and then uses template matching to assess the impact of each transformation on matching accuracy, FRR, and FAR in the secondary print. The findings highlight the potential of thresholding in developing reliable and practical fingerprint recognition systems.
An Adaptive Mac Protocol (DQ-MAC) for Efficient Dynamic Spectrum Access in Cognitive Radio Networks
Cognitive Radio Networks (CRNs) require dynamic spectrum access as a way to maximize the use of inadequate spectrum resources with minimal interference from licensed primary users. MAC protocols of a traditional nature frequently fail to respond effectively in real-time to changing channel availability, resulting in poor spectrum utilization and high rates of collisions. This work presents a new Deep Q-Network (DQN)-based MAC protocol that learns and adapts to the shifting spectrum environment, allowing secondary users to make insightful, instantaneous channel access choices. The development and assessment of the protocol occurred across different environments—urban, rural, and indoor—representing unique ranges of spectrum availability and interference issues. The simulations ran on MATLAB, utilizing actual user mobility, Rayleigh fading, interference, and noise conditions in the real world. Results show that the DQN-based MAC protocol markedly outperforms traditional random channel selection across major performance assessments, realizing up to 71% higher throughput, 58% less collisions, and improved equity within user interactions. The results show improvement in the spectrum efficiency and user performance in real time.
Analysis and Health Risk Assessment of Organochlorine Pesticide Residues in Selected Livestock from Awe, Nasarawa South, Nigeria
The analysis and Health risk Index of organochlorine (OC), and pesticide residues in Cow, Goat, Pig, and Ram meat samples in Awe sourced directly from the major feeding abattoir was carried out. Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective and Robust (QuEChERs) Extraction method was employed for sample extraction. Instrumental analysis was performed on a gas chromatograph with a mass spectrometer detector (GC-MS). In all Meat samples varying concentrations of OC pesticide residue were detected. 20 OC pesticide was run across all Livestock samples. 17 pesticide residues were detected in Cow meat, 14 pesticide residues detected in Goat sample, 12 pesticide residues in Pig meat, and 15 pesticide residues were detected in Ram samples. Among the pesticide residues detected the most prevalent OC pesticide ranges from Endrin, P,P' – DDD, Endosulfan II, P,P' – DDT, Endrin Aldehyde, Endosulfan Sulfate, Methoxychlor, Endrin Ketone. Banned pesticides in Nigeria are found in the meat samples in Awe, though they do not exceed the maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) set by FAO/WHO. The Chronic Health Index values of the various meat samples are below 1. CHI value lower than 1 indicates no potential health risks while more than 1 CHI value indicates a potential health hazard. Continuous monitoring and stricter enforcement of pesticide regulations are recommended to ensure food safety and minimize potential long-term health impacts.
A Joint Optimization Scheme for Enhanced Breast Cancer Diagnosis Using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Binary Particle Swarm Optimization (BPSO)
One of the leading diseases globally is cancer and breast cancer is not exempted. The objective of the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) is to reduce global breast cancer mortality by 2.5% per year, thereby averting 2.5 million breast cancer deaths globally between 2020 and 2040. The three pillars toward achieving these objectives are: health promotion for early detection; timely diagnosis; and comprehensive breast cancer management. In this study we propose an early and comprehensive detection technique in combatting breast cancer diagnosis by combining the strength of both PSO (Particle Swarm Optimization) and BPSO (Binary Particle Swarm Optimization) to achieve optimal solution. The results obtained indicated the superiority of the Hybrid PSO-BPSO model in detection over an existing solution by achieving an accuracy of 98.82% on both the WBCD and WDBC datasets.
A Review of Interpretation of Airborne Geophysical Data for Hydrocarbon, Geothermal Energy and Minerals Prospecting over Middle Benue Trough Nigeria
This paper focuses on the review of the interpretation of airborne geophysical data for hydrocarbon, geothermal energy, and mineral prospecting over the Middle Benue Trough of Nigeria by previous researchers in the field of geophysics and other geosciences. The objectives of the research include: to reveal the significance of aeromagnetic data interpretation for geothermal energy and mineral exploration, to determine the potency of spectral analysis techniques for geophysical data interpretation, and to determine the gap in geophysical techniques previously used in the area. Based on the reviewed papers, it was observed that Oasis Montaj software plays an imperative role in the area of aeromagnetic data, aero radiometric data, and aero gravity data interpretation using spectral analysis with different techniques for the identification of potential zones for hydrocarbon maturation sediment, geothermal energy, and minerals. There is possibility of hydrocarbon deposits occurrence, geothermal energy, and minerals at the Middle Benue Trough based on the research findings of the previous researchers. In order to achieve this, there is need to put more effort in the integration of geophysical techniques at the Middle Benue Trough to get detailed information about the hidden targets.