Search Results (229)

School food policy (SFP) that promotes nutritional behaviour is a national priority. Despite the role of school principals, teachers, and food service staff (FSS) in implementing SFP, their contribution to the current state of school food policy remains unexplored. The study aims to explore the perspective of these stakeholders on the effectiveness of SFP, barriers, and future recommendations for effective implementation. A qualitative study using 24 key informants interviews including principals (n = 6), teachers (n = 12), and FSS (n = 6) was conducted. From the list of private secondary schools, six schools were randomly selected. Principals, teachers, and FSS were selected through purposive sampling. A thematic approach was adopted for the data analysis. Interview data were categorised into three broad themes: (1) availability of school food policy, (2) barriers to enforcement, and (3) recommendations. Most participants stated that policy implementation is not enforced. The barriers are non-prioritised funding, resistance to change, and time constraints. The recommendations include regular training, activity manual development, seasonal food promotion, nutrition education, and leadership support. The study provides a deeper understanding of the role of key stakeholders in the current state of the effectiveness of SFP implementation. The inclusion of stakeholders is essential for a successful school food policy. Full article

Phytoplasma (“Candidatus Phytoplasma” species) diseases have been reported globally to severely limit the productivity of a wide range of economically important crops and wild plants causing different yellows-type diseases. With new molecular detection techniques, several unknown and known diseases with uncertain etiologies or attributed to other pathogens have been identified as being caused by Phytoplasmas. In Africa, Phytoplasmas have been reported in association with diseases in a broad range of host plant species. However, the few reports of Phytoplasma occurrence in Africa have not been collated together to determine the status in different countries of the continent. Thus, this paper discusses the geographical distribution, detection techniques, insect vectors, alternative hosts and socio-economic impacts of Phytoplasma diseases in Africa. This is to create research perspectives on the disease’s etiology in Africa for further studies towards identifying and limiting their negative effects on the continent’s agricultural economy. In Africa, Phytoplasmas recorded in different countries affecting different crops belong to eight groups (16SrI, 16SrII, 16SrIII, 16SrIV, 16SrVI, 16SrXI, 16SrXIV and 16SrXXII) out of the 37 groups and over 150 subgroups reported worldwide on the basis of their 16S rRNA RFLP profile. Lethal yellow disease was the most destructive Phytoplasma reported in Africa and has a high socio-economic impact. Full article

As the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) reshapes society, digital leadership in education becomes crucial. This study explores teachers’ perspectives on high school principals’ digital leadership competencies in Oyo State, Nigeria, a region grappling with the digital divide. This offers a counterpoint to research in high-income countries. Using a quantitative, descriptive research design, 381 teachers across three senatorial districts were selected via multi-stage sampling. The study addressed one research question and tested two hypotheses. Data were collected using the High Schools’ Digital Leadership Standards Questionnaire (HSDLSQ). The reliability coefficients ranged from α = 0.85 to 0.91 across five domains: visionary leadership, digital learning culture, professional development, systemic improvement, and digital citizenship. Descriptive statistics (percentages, mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (independent t-test) were used for analysis at a 0.05 significance level. The findings revealed that high school leaders possess the skills to meet the ISTE-A digital leadership standards set by the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). Female leaders exhibited slightly higher digital skills than males, though gender was insignificant in meeting the ISTE-A standards overall. The study underscores the importance of digital leadership in school management, offering practical implications for leadership practices, policy decisions, and future research. Although the ISTE-A standards are met, the emphasis on systemic improvement highlights how Nigerian principals adapt strategies to local resource constraints, differing from high-tech education systems. Recommendations include promoting the ISTE-A standards among school leaders, investing in digital leadership training, fostering digital literacy, and supporting adaptability to technological changes to advance digital transformation in education. Full article

Among the factors threatening food security in Nigeria are poor access to credit facilities, the high cost of inputs, and poor processing and storage. Cereals and grains are among the staple food crops highly consumed by Nigerians. In this study, multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 1200 registered rice processors from Agricultural Development Programme zones in the Nigerian states of Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Ekiti, and a structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on primary, secondary, and tertiary postharvest operations. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The results showed that the majority (65.1%) of the respondents were male, 54.5% were 30–60 years old, 86.9% were married, 96.3% had been formally educated, and 99.9% processed, 71.5% packaged, and 79.4% stored more than 5001 kg of rice monthly. The majority (85.9%) of the respondents had no knowledge of rice moisture content and still used local means of rice processing, while 14.1% of the respondents used modern means of rice processing. We concluded that stored local rice was still subject to more wastage, spoilage, and losses due to the poor processing, packaging, and storage methods used in the study area. We recommend the adoption of modern and suitable rice technologies for processing, packaging, and storage. Furthermore, credit facilities should be made available, and inputs should be subsidized for rice farmers and processors. Full article

Changes in the total carotenoid content (TCC) of three yellow root cassava varieties, IBAI070593, IBAI011368, and IBAI070539, and a check white root variety (TMSI30572) as influenced by each gari processing stage were investigated in this study. In two cropping seasons, fresh storage roots were harvested 12 months after planting, analyzed for TCC (μg/g), and processed into gari. The TCCs in grated mash, fermented and dewatered mash, and gari were determined following the Bioanalyt procedure. Across processing stages and varieties, significant variations in TCC were found. The TCC levels followed the order of garification (10.46) > fermentation and dewatering (9.84) > peeling (8.78) > grating (7.62), with IBAI070593 exhibiting the highest TCC. Full article

Livestock are a source of zoonotic pathogens and bacteria harbouring antimicrobial resistance (AMR) that can pose a threat to public health. This study assessed the burden of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and genomic diversity of Salmonella and Escherichia coli at 25 poultry farms in Oyo State, Nigeria. The farm-level occurrence of Salmonella was 48%, with 12 serovars identified, including S. Kentucky Sequence Type 198. Notably, 70% of Salmonella isolates were resistant to fluoroquinolones, and multidrug resistance was observed in S. Kentucky and S. Derby. The study also found a 52% farm-level occurrence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing E. coli, with four bla_CTX-M variants detected (bla_CTX-M-15, bla_CTX-M-27, bla_CTX-M-55, and bla_CTX-M-65). A genomic analysis revealed the dissemination of bacterial clones between farms, indicating potential routes of transmission. The high occurrence of AMR in both Salmonella and E. coli presents a potential public health risk, mainly through the consumption of contaminated poultry products. The study highlights the need for improved farm biosecurity and appropriate antimicrobial use to reduce the spread of resistant strains and combat AMR. These findings contribute to the Nigerian National Action Plan for AMR and underscore the importance of ongoing research and interventions in the poultry sector. Full article

Cassava is an essential staple crop in developing nations, ensuring food security and generating income for smallholder farmers. The lack of modern drying technology in rural regions requires effective strategies to reduce post-harvest losses and improve product quality. This study introduces a biomass-powered cabinet dryer designed to produce high-quality cassava flour (HQCF), featuring a heat exchanger, blower, and drying chamber constructed from locally sourced materials. The drying chamber contains two racks, each equipped with 10 trays, accommodating 40 to 80 kg of wet cassava mash per batch. The dryer, operating at temperatures between 50 and 115 °C for a duration of 10–120 min, decreased moisture content from 38.21% to around 11%. Drying efficiencies varied from 59.22% to 88.24%, whereas biomass efficiencies ranged from 3.0% to 4.0%. The results demonstrate the dryer’s efficiency in drying, while the study emphasizes the necessity of customized technical solutions to assist rural populations in cassava-producing areas. Full article

Background/Objectives: The Tropis^® ID device (PharmaJet^®), a needle-free injection system, is a World Health Organization prequalified, hand-held device, which delivers intradermal injections without the use of needles and has previously been used for the delivery of fractional doses of inactivated polio vaccine (fIPV) in campaign and house-to-house settings. This implementation research study aimed to comparatively evaluate the vaccine coverage, cost, feasibility, and acceptability of using Tropis for fIPV for routine immunizations in two states in Nigeria (Kano and Oyo). Methods: The study included: (i) a cluster randomized trial (22 intervention facilities using Tropis for fIPV and 30 control facilities using the standard of care [SoC—full-dose IPV]) to assess the effectiveness in terms of improving the coverage of two doses of IPV, using a coverage survey involving 3433 children (aged 3–12 months); (ii) a pre- and post-implementation micro-costing evaluation involving the intervention facilities to estimate the costs; and (iii) mixed methods assessments (post-training assessment, provider survey, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions) to assess the feasibility and acceptability of fIPV delivery using Tropis. Results: The intention-to-treat analysis among the 3433 children surveyed did not show any difference between the intervention and control groups, primarily due to low compliance (approximately 50% of target beneficiaries reported Tropis use). The more relevant per protocol analysis, adjusting for lower compliance, showed that among those vaccinated with Tropis, second dose IPV coverage was 11.2% higher than the SoC. The delivery of fIPV using Tropis compared to the SoC resulted in incremental program cost savings, ranging from USD 0.07 to USD 1.00 per dose, administered across the scenarios evaluated. High acceptability was seen amongst caregivers (94%), and 95% of healthcare workers preferred Tropis over the SoC. Conclusions: Tropis is effective, feasible, acceptable, and saves costs when used as part of routine immunization programs. Full article

Maize flour (MF) is a cheap and common cereal product that can be used in various foods. However, different processing methods can affect its quality and suitability for different purposes. This study compares the effects of three processing methods (grain non-soaking (GNSM), grain soaking (GSM), and nixtamalization (NIX)) on the nutritional, pasting, and functional properties of MF. MF samples (GNSM-MF, GSM-MF, and NIX-MF) were analyzed using standard laboratory techniques. Protein and moisture contents ranged from 9.34 to 10.12% and 5.35 to 7.05%, respectively, with NIX-MF having significantly (p < 0.05) higher protein content. Calcium, iron, and zinc contents ranged from 3.64 to 10.91 mg/g, 3.69 to 7.64 mg/g, and 1.45 to 1.92 mg/g, respectively. GNSM-MF had the lowest calcium content. Peak, breakdown, final, and setback viscosities were 980.25–2904.15 RVU, 91–1147 RVU, 778–1210 RVU, and 331.5–919 RVU, respectively. GSM significantly (p < 0.05) increased peak, breakdown, final, and setback viscosities. Water-holding capacity (WHC), emulsifying capacity (EC), and oil absorption capacity (OAC) values of MF ranged from 78.93 to 111.95%, 4.97 to 42.18%, and 160.27 to 186.13%, respectively. High protein and calcium contents in NIX-MF make it a nutritious option for pregnant women and children. GSM-MF might be incorporated into snacks, complementary foods, and puddings. This study provides insights into appropriate selection of maize flour processing methods based on food application. Full article

Recently, attention has shifted towards the green synthesis of nanoparticles using plant extracts rich in phytochemicals like phenols and flavonoids, offering an alternative method that avoids harmful chemicals and enables large-scale, low-cost production. This study introduces a straightforward and eco-friendly approach to synthesizing hematite α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles utilizing an aqueous extract of Musa paradisiaca. The variation in the calcination temperature resulted in the formation of nanoparticles presented as Fe₂O₃ (1), Fe₂O₃ (2), and Fe₂O₃ (3), obtained at 650, 750, and 900 °C for 4 h, respectively. This variation allowed for an investigation into the impact of different reaction temperatures on the structural and optical properties of the nanoparticles. Structural analysis was conducted using X-ray diffraction (XRD), while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were employed to examine morphology. Optical properties were assessed via UV-vis spectroscopy, revealing a reduction in the energy band gap (from 2.5 to 1.87 eV), attributed to an increase in crystallite size resulting from longer calcination temperatures (650–900 °C). A biological assay was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant and anticancer potentials of the nanoparticles. Both Fe₂O₃ (1) and Fe₂O₃ (2) with IC₅₀ values of 46.84 and 46.14 µg/mL, respectively, showed similar antioxidant potentials, while peel extract exhibited the least activity with an IC₅₀ of 79.26 µg/mL. The nanoparticles, peels, and 5-FU (used as standard) showed a stronger inhibitory effect on the Human Embryonic Kidney (HEK) 293 cells compared to the HeLa cells. This implies that the HEK 293 cells might be more susceptible to the drug samples and a lower concentration might even be sufficient to achieve the inhibition of normal cell proliferation. These results indicate a better therapeutic window with a lesser inhibitory effect compared to standard drugs used as controls. Full article

The Southwest Region (SWR) is one of Nigeria’s six geo-political zones and comprises six distinct states. It holds considerable significance due to its unique geographical features, economic vibrancy, pastoral heritage, and fragile natural ecosystems. These ecosystems are becoming increasingly susceptible to human activities and the adverse impacts of climate change. This study analyzed the temporal and spatial variations of the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) in relation to key influencing factors in the SWR from 2001 to 2020. The analytical methods included Sen’s slope estimator, the Mann–Kendall trend test, and the Geographical Detector Model (GDM). The analysis revealed significant spatial variability in vegetation cover, with dense vegetation concentrated in the eastern part of the region and low vegetation coverage overall, reflected by an average NDVI value of 0.45, indicating persistent vegetation stress. Human activities, particularly land use and land cover (LULC) changes, were identified as major drivers of vegetation loss in some states such as Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, and Ondo. Conversely, Osun and Oyo exhibited signs of vegetation recovery, suggesting the potential for restoration. The study found that topographic factors, including slope and elevation, as well as climatic variables like precipitation, influenced vegetation patterns. However, the impact of these factors was secondary to LULC dynamics. The interaction detection analysis further highlighted the cumulative effect of combined anthropogenic and environmental factors on vegetation distribution, with the interaction between LULC and topography being particularly significant. These findings provide essential insights into the biological condition of the SWR and contribute to advancing the understanding of vegetation patterns with critical implications for the sustainable management and conservation of tropical forest ecosystems. Full article

Recently, Fusarium root rot (FRR)-like symptoms were observed in Uganda’s agroecology zones, prompting the National Agricultural Organisation (NARO) to conduct a disease survey. The survey reports indicated FRR as the second most prevalent root rot disease of common bean in Uganda after Southern blight. Ninety nine Fusarium spp. strains were obtained from samples collected during the surveys. The strains were morphologically and pathogenically characterised and confirmed to cause Fusarium root rot as observed in the field. However, molecular characterization of the strains was not conducted. In this study, therefore, 80 of the strains were characterized using partial sequences of translation elongation factor 1-alpha (TEF-1α) gene, beta tubulin (β tubulin) gene and internal transcribed spacers (ITS) region of ribosomal RNA to determine species diversity. High-quality Sanger sequences from the target genes were compared to the sequences from Fusarium species available in the National Centre for Biotechnology Information coding sequences (NCBI-CDS) database to determine the most likely species the strains belonged. The sequences from our strains were deposited into the NCBI gene bank under ID#288420, 2883276, 2873058 for TEF-1α, β tubulin and ITS respectively. The Fusarium species identified included; F. oxysporum, F. solani, F. equiseti F. delphinoides, F. commune, F. subflagellisporum, F. fabacearum, F. falciforme, F. brevicaudatum, F. serpentimum, F. fredkrugeri and F. brachygibbosum. The diversity of these Fusarium species needs to be taken into consideration when developing breeding programs for management of the disease since currently there is no variety of common bean resistant to FRR in Uganda. Full article

Hydraulic fracturing is a crucial technology for resource development, such as shale gas, and its optimization is necessary to enhance development efficiency. However, evaluating fracture shapes involves technical uncertainties. Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) and Kyoto University have conducted laboratory-scale hydraulic fracturing experiments using coagulable fluorescent resin as the injection fluid (resin fracturing test) to visualize hydraulic fractures and investigate their relationship with acoustic emissions (AEs) generated during fracturing. Since lab-scale experiments can only examine the phenomena near the injection hole owing to size limitations, we designed an experiment to apply the visualization method to the outcrop scale. This paper presents the results from an in situ, outcrop-scale hydraulic fracturing experiment conducted at the Kamioka Mine, Gifu Prefecture, Japan, from 2022 to 2023, with goals similar to those of the laboratory experiments. A resin fracturing borehole (RF1) with a diameter of 76 mm was core-drilled to a depth of approximately 10 m for the resin fracturing tests. AEs were observed in five boreholes drilled around RF1 at the same depth. Resin fracturing tests were performed at two different depths, with breakdown confirmed at both. A core of a larger diameter (205 mm) was recovered by coaxial overcoring around RF1, and resin-filled fractures were observed under black light on the core surfaces. After the resin fracturing experiment, two analyses were performed using the acquired core and AE data to predict the fracture extension and the mechanism of AE occurrence. We compared the distribution of AE events and visualized fractures in the core. Additionally, we compared the stress direction estimated from failure mechanism analysis using AE data with the maximum stress direction estimated from hydraulic fracturing. Our analysis provided several insights into fracture extension. The distribution of AE hypocenters was consistent with the direction of the hydraulic fractures confirmed by coring after the resin fracturing test. The failure mechanisms are classified based on the polarity of the first P-wave motion of the AE waveform. However, the actual scale of oil fields is significantly larger than that considered in this study. Discussing visible fractures created by hydraulic fracturing is deemed meaningful. We expect that the results of this study will provide valuable information for the precise estimation of hydraulic fractures. Full article

The genes that encode the universal stress protein (USP) family domain (pfam00582) aid the survival of bacteria in specific host or habitat-induced stress conditions. Genome sequencing revealed that the genome of Helicobacter pylori, a gastric cancer pathogen, typically contains one USP gene, while related helicobacters have one or two distinct USP genes. However, insights into the functions of Helicobacteraceae (Helicobacter and Wolinella) USP genes are still limited to inferences from large-scale genome sequencing. Thus, we have combined bioinformatics and visual analytics approaches to conduct a more comprehensive data investigation of a set of 1045 universal stress protein sequences encoded in 1014 genomes including 785 Helicobacter pylori genomes. The study generated a representative set of 183 USP sequences consisting of 180 Helicobacter sequences, two Wolinella succinogenes sequences, and a sequence from a related campylobacteria. We used the amino acid residues and positions of the 12 possible functional sites in 1030 sequences to identify 25 functional sites patterns for guiding studies on functional interactions of Helicobacteraceae USPs with ATP and other molecules. Genomic context searches and analysis identified USP genes of gastric and enterohepatic helicobacters that are adjacent or in operons with genes for proteins responsive to DNA-damaging oxidative stress (ATP-dependent proteases: ClpS and ClpA); and DNA uptake proteins (natural competence for transformation proteins: ComB6, ComB7, ComB8, ComB9, ComB10, ComBE, and conjugative transfer signal peptidase TraF). Since transcriptomic evidence indicates that oxidative stress and the presence of virulence-associated genes regulate the transcription of H. pylori USP gene, we recommend further research on Helicobacter USP genes and their neighboring genes in oxidative stress response and virulence of helicobacters. To facilitate the reuse of data and research, we produced interactive analytics resources of a dataset composed of values for variables including phylogeography of H. pylori strains, protein sequence features, and gene neighborhood. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cowpea is a major source of dietary protein and plays a key role in sustainable agriculture across sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Asia, and Latin America. Research efforts have focused mainly on enhancing productivity through higher yield and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses in cowpea. Understanding the genetic basis of yield and associated agronomic traits is crucial for improving crop productivity. This study aims to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with grain yield and related traits in cowpea under regular rainfed conditions. Methods: We developed a set of 316 F6:7 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) mapping populations derived from a cross between RP270 and CB27 using a single-seed descent breeding method. The RILs and their two parental lines were evaluated in the field for two years, 2022 and 2023, at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in Ibadan, Nigeria. The cowpea mid-density genotyping panel consisting of 2602 quality DArTag single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was used to genotype the RIL population. Results: Seven major QTLs, each explaining ≥10% of phenotypic variance, were detected for 100-seed weight, number of days to flower, number of pods per plant, number of branches per plant, and number of peduncles per plant. Putative genes associated with yield and related traits were identified within significant flanking markers. Further efforts to validate these loci will help to better understand their roles in yield and associated traits in cowpea. Full article