Proceedings of the Nigerian Academy of Science (Journal)
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Effects of female hair braiding on selected facial Anthropometrics
Full text linkObjective: Effects of heavy hair braiding on facial anthropometrics have raised concerns in recent times. These concerns arise from the potential impact on cultural practices and the implications for physical appearance and self-perception. This study aimed to investigate the effects of braiding on the soft anthropometrics in face and head among students in Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu Alike, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.Materials and methods: A total of 503 healthy participants, aged 19 to 25 years, were randomly recruited from an institution. Measurements of total facial length and face width were taken. A structured questionnaire was used, that contain anatomical, theatrical, and socio-psychological questions to evaluate the effects of braiding on the face and head. Participants responded using a Likert scale.Results: Mesocephalic shape was the commonest classification of the skulls based on cephalic indices. Relationship between age and facial parameters of the study population showed significant positive correlation (r = 0.17, p0.05). Majority of respondents agreed that face type/facial structure determines the type of braid (n = 138) and braid can pull the forehead backward (n = 102).Conclusion: This study will contribute to understanding the influence of braiding on facial and head anthropometrics among Nigerian students. This information can inform discussions on cultural practices and their implications for physical appearance and self-perception
A comprehensive assessment of transportation emissions in Nigeria: Trends, drivers, and impacts
Full text linkThis study presents an in-depth investigation into the complex dynamics surrounding transportation emissions in Nigeria against the backdrop of rapid urbanization, population growth, and economic development. Through an extensive analysis of historical trends and recent developments, the article elucidates the escalating challenges posed by emissions. Examining the drivers of transportation emissions, including population growth, economic development, and fuel choices, the study underscores the significant correlation between economic growth and emissions while scrutinizing their environmental and public health ramifications. It also explores the prevalent use of fuels in Nigeria's transportation sector, highlighting the imperative of transitioning to cleaner energy sources and leveraging technological innovations for emission reduction and sustainability. Evaluation of existing policy frameworks and regulatory mechanisms offers insights into their efficacy in emission mitigation, along with emphasizing Nigeria's commitments under international agreements like the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals. The socioeconomic impacts of transportation emissions, encompassing public health costs, economic losses from traffic congestion, and broader economic implications, are scrutinized. The study concludes with a compelling call to action for immediate policy reforms, sustainable transportation solutions, and international collaboration. As the world grapples with climate change and environmental degradation, this comprehensive assessment aims to inform policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders, serving as a crucial resource for charting a sustainable course for Nigeria's transportation sector
Pharmacognostic, phytochemical, and chemomicroscopic evaluation of Physalis angulata (L)
Full text linkBackground/Introduction: Since the start of civilization, human culture has used plants to treat illnesses. Many plant samples have been adulterated intentionally or unintentionally during processing or even misidentified during collection. This study aims at authenticating and standardizing of Physalis angulata by carrying out Pharmacognostic evaluation, HPLC and GCMS analysis.Methodology: The dried leaves of Physalis angulata was extracted with 70% ethanol. Phytochemical screening (qualitative and quantitative screening) analysis was carried out on the ethanolic leave extract using standard method, while the chemical compounds were established with HPLC-DAD and GCMS and Pharmacognostic evaluation was carried out on the powdered leave.Results and discussion: Qualitative phytochemical analysis of the leave extract reveals the presence of flavonoids, terpenes, alkaloid, tannins and saponin while carbohydrate, glycosides and resins were absent. Quantitative phytochemical screening shows alkaloid present to be 2.4±0.4% and saponin 2±1.32%. HPLC analysis reveals the presence of quercetin, rutin, catechin and ferulic acid while GCMS reveals the presence of cyclohexene, Palmitic acid, 17-Octadecynoic acid, 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic acid and Phytol. Total Ash content is (15.23±0.43) %w/w with acid insoluble ash of (1.16 ±0.28) %w/w, water soluble ash of (8.13 ±0.32) %w/w, moisture content (5.67 ±0.14) %w/w, alcohol soluble extractive value of (5.76 ±0.40) %w/w and water-soluble extractive value of (10.96 ±0.35) %w/w. Chemomicroscopic evaluation indicate the presence of lignin, cellulose, tannins, starch, calcium oxalate, oils and protein. Microscopy, fluorescence and organoleptic analysis were also documented.Conclusion: From this study, the presence of valuable phytochemicals has been established from the plant, while HPLC and GCMS revealed the identities of these compounds. Thus, the physico chemical parameters established for Physalis angulata in this study falls within the range approved by WHO (1992) for crude plant and extract
Harnessing technology for agricultural transformation: A design thinking approach to alleviate Nigeria's food crisis
Full text linkThe design thinking process is a human-centered, iterative methodology that designers use to solve problems and often results in an innovative approach to problem solving. Using a User Centered Design approach by applying the design thinking process, the researchers sought to know: 1. What national challenges were priority for Nigerians and 2. What solutions were best to tackle the problem that had the highest votes. To understand the need assessment, a survey form was designed and disseminated. A total of 406 participated in the poll, with over 70% votes for agriculture as the problem that requires urgent attention in Nigeria. Further research revealed post-harvest loss as a predominant problem in Nigeria’s agricultural sector. Key stakeholders in the sectors including farmers and agricultural experts were interviewed to further empathize, understand and redefine the problem. The design thinking process helped to refine the problem statement and identify other problems as well as potential solutions. From the survey, it was clear the majority of Nigerians who participated felt that agriculture and post-harvest loss were high priority needs that required urgent attention. Applying design thinking to prioritize agriculture in Nigeria reveals its power to address complex socio-economic issues effectively. By deeply understanding stakeholders' needs, clearly defining the problem, and iteratively developing and refining solutions, design thinking ensures that interventions in agriculture are not only relevant and impactful but also sustainable and scalable. This approach aligns perfectly with the urgent need for agricultural development in Nigeria to mitigate economic instability and enhance food security
Chemical composition and Larvicidal efficacy of Ficus sycomorus leaf extract against major malaria vector Anopheles coluzzii
Full text linkResistance to synthetic insecticides used in control of malaria vectors is a major threat to malaria control globally. Natural insecticides of plant origin provide environmentally safe alternativess. This study characterized the phytochemical contents of the Ficus sycomorus leaves and insecticidal activities of its methanolic extract on Anopheles colluzzii larvae. The active secondary metabolites from methanol extract of F. sycomorus leaves were characterized using gas chromatography - mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A modified WHO standard protocol for larvicidal bioassay was used to determine the activity of methanol extract of the F. sycomorus. Molecular species identification showed that 75 % of the larvae were Anopheles coluzzii (Coetzee Wilkerson); 6.25 % Anopheles arabiensis and 12.5 % Anopheles gambiae s.s. The extract reduced the survival of An. coluzzii larvae by approximately 52 % at LC50 of 0.225 mg/ml (95% CI: 0.197-0.234; R2 =0.9445) after 24 h, and the mortality was dose dependent (with highest mortality of 51.67 % at 1 mg/ml). Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, phytosterols and phenols, with alkaloid and flavonoids having the highest concentration in the extract. The GC-MS revealed that the extract contained: tetrapentacontane, 66.6 %; stigmasterol, 2.81 %; squalene, 1.01 %; bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, 4.04 %; and 4,8,12,16-tetramethylheptadecan-4-olide, 0.51 %. The toxicity of the extract may be due to different insecticidal phytochemicals, probably working independently, synergistically, or additively. Overall, the F. sycomorus leaf extract is a promising larvicide against malarial vector An. coluzzii and should be exploited as an alternative, environmentally safe larvicide
Empowering sustainable mobility in Nigeria: A study of conversion of conventional bicycle to electric bicycle
Full text linkAmid global efforts towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Nigeria's recent decision to eliminate fuel subsidies has amplified the search for sustainable transportation alternatives. In this study, a traditional pedal bicycle was converted into an electric bike (e-bike) in order to explore it as a viable solution to promoting eco-friendly commuting and reducing carbon emissions on Nigerian roads. The conversion cost was 174,500 in Nigerian currency, with the e-bike demonstrating a range of 8.33km per charge, under a load of 136kg on a 36V, 4.8AH battery. At a speed of 15km/h, an estimated 1.44 volts per kilometer were consumed. Notably, the study revealed a 99.49% correlation between voltage depletion and distance covered per kilometer, indicating a highly predictable relationship between energy consumption and travel distance. These insights highlight the e-bike's potential advantages, particularly in terms of cost-effectiveness, presenting a compelling case for the adoption of electric bicycles as a means to decarbonize transportation in Nigeria
Assessing awareness of IoT-driven strategies for poultry management in mitigating increased ambient heat in Enugu, Nigeria
Full text linkThe study examined awareness level of Internet of Things (IoT)-driven strategies in mitigating impacts of increased ambient heat load in poultry pens by poultry farmers in a smart city like Enugu, Nigeria. With the rising challenges of climate change, increased ambient heat load within poultry pens poses a significant threat to poultry production. Understanding farmers’ perception of impact of increased ambient heat load and their awareness of IoT-driven strategies for its mitigation is crucial for sustainable poultry system management in smart cities. Multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 240 poultry farmers from the three Local Government Areas that make up Enugu City. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. Descriptive statistics and Likert rating scale were used to analyze the data. The study identified socio-demographic factors influencing farmers’ perception of impact of increased heat load and awareness/ adoption of IoT-driven mitigation strategies. Education level (45% secondary education), access to information (29.2%) and financial resources (22.9%) were key determinants. The findings revealed varying levels of awareness among poultry farmers regarding IoT-driven strategies while the constraints faced by farmers in implementing sustainable IoT-driven mitigation strategies included lack of awareness, lack of funding/high initial investment, limited access to technology, inadequate training, poor extension contact, water availability and climate variability. The study concluded that majority of poultry farmers shared similar perceptions about the impact of increased ambient heat load on poultry species but however were not aware of many of the IoT-driven strategies to mitigate the impact and were limited by a number of constraints or challenges to adopting IoT-driven mitigation strategies which altogether could improve poultry production system and help to achieve animal protein security in a smart city like Enugu, Nigeria. The study further recommended enlightenment of poultry farmers on the impact of increased ambient heat load on poultry species and available/sustainable/harmonized IoT-enabled guidelines or solutions to mitigate heat load in smart cities’ poultry production system
Revolutionizing food security: The transformative role of fungi in the 21st century
Full text linkWith increasing global population density and climate change, the sustainability of food production poses new challenges. These are factors such as food inflation, climate change, natural disasters, and diseases affecting crops among others. Consequently, fungi have evolved as a pillar of ecological agriculture in the twenty-first century. Some of the diverse applications of fungi include biological control, synthesis of antifungal compounds, symbiotic relationship with plants, and enhancement of soil structure. They also function as decomposers in ensuring nutrient availability in the soil, and as biostimulants to enhance plants’ growth, plant disease management and enhanced resistance to abiotic stressors such as water scarcity, and salinity and mitigate the impact of climate change. Furthermore, fungi play other important roles in food security, such as in the processing of various foods including cheese, bread, fermented products and other sources of protein, vitamins, and dietary fiber, while foods of fungi origin prevent lifestyle diseases. New approaches in fungal biotechnology present the hope of eliminating hunger and malnutrition through food production, preservation, and packaging among others. Although, challenges persist in the management of pathogenic fungi in agriculture, however, it is important to leverage the beneficial role of fungi and encourage further exploration of its transformative potential towards a secured global food security
A review of intensive contract poultry farming in Nigeria
Full text linkContract farming (CF) is a sort of vertical integration in agricultural commodity chains that provides a business with strong control over several operational processes, including the production process, the features of the items, quantity, quality, and timeliness of project execution. Birds were first domesticated by humans as farm animals, and as a result, many years ago, the contemporary practice of raising birds began with the harvesting of their eggs and young from their natural habitat. The Nigerian poultry industry falls into three main categories: small-, medium-, and large-scale, which are also referred to as backyard, semi-commercial, and commercial respectively. Contract farming emerged as an alternative to traditional or spot marketbased agricultural production and was introduced into Nigeria under a variety of business names, including CHI, AMO, ANIMAL CARE, and ZARTECH, among others. Nigeria consumes 192.69 MT of poultry meat and egg products annually, resulting in enormous environmental impacts that have not been adequately addressed because of the growing use of contract farming. Contract farming has always received a lot of attention from academics and policymakers. Even though contract farming acknowledges the transfer of technology, prospects for increased revenue, and improved access to inputs, a great deal of research has focused on the risks that smallholder farmers face. In recent years, debate has erupted regarding the benefits and dangers of factory poultry production considering rising awareness of the challenges it poses to public health and the environment. This review reveals that backyard flocks of chickens can thrive independently of large-scale poultry operations. Survival traits including tiny size, hardiness, sluggish growth, low mature body weight, tolerance, or resistance to common local disease organisms and parasites define local chickens
Sustainable development of electric vehicles in Nigeria: Charging stations, research and development, and the way forward in a situation of electricity inadequacy
Full text linkMany nations have long been actively supporting the development of electric vehicles (EVs). The adoption of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) actions in that direction have been accelerated to ensure that the 24% of the CO2 emission of the transport sector is brought down to the barest minimum. The focus of this paper is on the necessary measures and effective ways of acquiring EV technologies for developing countries such as Nigeria. The steps needed towards the development of the EV sector in Nigeria and the research and development strategies needed to address the challenges facing Nigeria in its quest to build a formidable EV industry are x-rayed. Finally, the opportunity for energy diversification towards confronting the challenges occasioned by inadequate electricity supply and distribution on the EV value chain is identified and analysed with recommendations made on the way forward. Since the EV industry cannot be true of zero-emission until its source of electricity is of zero-emission, the inherent potentials of using renewable electricity in the form of hydrogen fuel cells and harnessing the potential for solar photovoltaics (PV) of about 210 GW and concentrated solar power of approximately 88.7 GW is highlighted and recommended for the evolving EV market in Nigeria.