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The production of biogas from food waste is a good approach to the minimization of food waste and increase in the production of renewable energy. However, the use of food waste as a feedstock for biogas production currently poses a difficulty due to an ineffective hydrolysis process, which is a pretreatment procedure and the initial step of the biogas conversion process. This restriction results from the food waste polymers’ solubilization and breakdown. This has an impact on the volume of biogas produced during the methanogenesis stage. It is essential to increase the biodegradation of organic compounds (OC) during the hydrolysis process to increase biogas generation. This study focuses on the enhancement of biogas production by the anaerobic digestion (AD) of food waste (FW). FW was hydrolyzed by the immobilized biofilm and digested anaerobically in a semi-continuous digester. Four different digesters including the control were prepared. The control digester composed of no hydrolyzed food waste had no immobilized biofilm while the other three digesters had immobilized biofilm-hydrolyzed food waste with inoculum concentrations of 10%, 30%, and 50%. The results showed that the 50% digester had the highest biogas yield of about 2000 mL/500 mL. The 10%, 30%, and control digesters had a biogas yield of 1523 mL, 753 mL, and 502 mL respectively. Thus, the analysis of total volatile solid (TVS) reduction in the digesters with 10%, 30%, and 50% inoculum and the control have increased to 43.4% for the digesters with 30% and 10%, 60% for the digester with 50% inoculum, and only 29% for the control. Total chemical demand (TCOD) removal increased to 29%, 33%, 43%, and 56% for the control, and 10%, 30%, and 50%, respectively for the inoculum-to-feed ratio. From these results, the 50% inoculum-to-feed ratio has shown the highest biogas production and highest degradation based on TVS reduction and TCOD reduction. Based on this study, the biofilm pretreatment method can be considered a promising method for the enhancement of biogas volume and biodegradation. Biogas production was high (2000 mL) for hydraulic retention time (HRT = 20) days but the HRT = 15 days was also able to produce a significant amount (1400 mL) of biogas and the 50% inoculum-to-feed ratio has shown the highest volume of biogas production.

The expanding global population has increased the demand for sustainable protein sources, and microbial protein (MP) has emerged as a promising alternative. However, conventional carbon (glucose) and nitrogen (ammonia, urea) sources needed for MP production pose environmental and economic issues. This study aims to produce protein using lignocellulosic biomass (LCB) as a carbon source and the nitrogen fixation ability of Klebsiella oxytoca M5A1 as a nitrogen source. The study investigates the pretreatment of LCB (switchgrass), enzymatic hydrolysis, protein quantification, nitrogen fixation, glucose utilization and organic acids production. K. oxytoca M5A1 harnessed free nitrogen from the atmosphere and used abundant, cheap glucose from LCB to produce MP and organic acids as by-products. Protein production occurred in two phases: first within the initial 8 h and secondly, within the last 16 h. The highest protein concentration was at 40 h, with approximately 683.46 µg/mL protein content. High-performance liquid chromatography system (HPLC) analysis revealed a dynamic profile of glucose utilization and organic acids (Lactic acid, Propionic acid, Acetic acid, and Succinic acid) production. K. oxytoca M5A1 exhibited an early high rate of glucose consumption, and conversion to organic acids, that were later used for second-phase protein production. The acids profile revealed intra-conversion from one acid to another via metabolic pathways (glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle). Overall, leveraging LCB and the nitrogen-fixing ability of K. oxytoca M5A1 for MP production offers an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional protein sources, contributing to a sustainable circular economy.

Ammonia production, a critical industrial process, is currently dominated by the energy-intensive and environmentally detrimental Haber-Bosch method. To address this issue, a biological alternative harnessing rumen Hyper Ammonia-Producing Bacteria (HAB) is explored. The study focuses on developing a soy-based formulate for biological ammonia production via the HAB fermentation route. Firstly, a sustainable protein extraction method was developed and modeled using NH4OH, a recoverable and reusable solvent. The highest protein yield of 65.66% with minimal denaturation was obtained with 0.5% NH4OH concentration, 12 h extraction time, and a 1:10 (w/v) solvent ratio at 52.5 °C. Analysis of the empirical kinetic models for soybean protein extraction revealed that the So & MacDonald's model provided the best fit for the data, emphasizing NH4OH's viability as a sustainable solvent for plant protein extraction. The study further harnesses the potential of rumen HAB as a viable option to convert protein to ammonia. To establish a bioprocess option for ammonia production, the study investigated the influence of process parameters, such as alkalinity, pH, inoculum size, and substrate concentration, on microbial growth and biological ammonia production. Findings reveal that maintaining alkalinity stabilizes the media's pH during fermentation, with optimal conditions achieved at pH 7, a fermentation duration of 72 h, a 10% inoculum size, and a 10% substrate concentration. Significant media components, including K2HPO4, KH2PO4, Na2SO4, and soymeal protein isolate (SMPI), were identified through a one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) design. A central composite design (CCD) using response surface methodology (RSM) further refined these components. The results showed that with the combination of the media formulation developed –K2HPO4 (490 mg/L), KH2PO4 (490 mg/L), Na2SO4 (64 mg/L), NaCl (100 mg/L), CaCl2.2H2O (640 mg/L), Na2CO3 (4.0 g/L), yeast extract (0.5 g/L), and SMPI (10%)– the observed ammonia yield was approximately 80 % higher than in previous studies, highlighting the potential of biological ammonia production as a sustainable and efficient alternative to the conventional Haber process. This notable increase emphasizes the uniqueness of this biological approach and also suggests the possibility of reviewing ammonia production methodologies. The results not only contribute to the expanding knowledge base but also offer valuable insights for optimizing biological ammonia production on an industrial scale. The implications of these findings may extend beyond the laboratory, providing an insight towards the development of environmentally friendly and economically viable processes in the area of ammonia production.

Effluents from dye and textile industries are highly contaminated and toxic to the environment. High concentration of non-biodegradable compounds contributes to increased biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the wastewater bodies. Dyes found in wastewater from textile industries are carcinogenic, mutagenic or teratogenic. Biological processes involving certain bacteria, fungi and activated carbon have been employed in treating wastewater. These methods are either inefficient or ineffective. These complexities necessitates search for new approaches that will offset all the shortcomings of the present solutions to the challenges faced with textile wastewater management. This study produced a new biosorbent by the immobilization of fungal biomass on carbon nanotubes. The new biosorbent is called \"carbon nanotubes immobilized biomass (CNTIB)\" which was produced by immobilization technique. A potential fungal strain, Aspergillus niger was selected on the basis of biomass production. It was found out in this studies that fungal biomass were better produced in acidic medium. Aspergillus niger was immobilized on carbon nanotubes. One-factor-at-a time (OFAT) was employed to determine the effect of different factors on the immobilization of fungal biomass on carbon nanotubes and optimum levels at which the three selected parameters (pH, culture time and agitation rate) would perform. Findings from OFAT showed that the optimum conditions for immobilization are a pH of 5, agitation rate of 150rpm and a culture time of 5 days.

Asymptomatic malaria infections have received less attention than symptomatic malaria infections in major studies. Few epidemiological studies on asymptomatic malaria infections have often focused on pregnant women and children under-five years of age as the most vulnerable groups. However, there is limitation on data regarding asymptomatic infections among the old adult populations, particularly in the study area. Therefore, this study determined the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria infection by microscopy and its determinants among residents of Ido- Ekiti, Southwestern Nigeria. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted between July and September 2021 among 232 consenting apparently healthy individuals aged 40 years and above who were recruited during a free health screening program using a standardised interviewer-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire sought information on respondents' socio-demographics, presence and types of co-morbidity, and the prevention methods being adopted against malaria infection. Venous blood samples were collected and processed for asymptomatic infections using Giemsa-stained blood smear microscopy. Data were analysed using SPSS version 21. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with asymptomatic infections. Of the total 232 respondents, 19.0% (48/232) were confirmed to be infected with Plasmodium falciparum (95% confidence interval (CI): 14.1% - 24.6%). Lack of formal education (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 5.298, 95% (CI): 2.184-13.997), being diabetic (AOR: 4.681, 95% CI: 1.669-16.105), and not sleeping under Long Lasting Insecticide Net (LLINs) (AOR: 4.594, 95% CI: 1.194-14.091), were the determinants of asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infection. The prevalence of asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum was 19%. Lack of formal education, being diabetic, and not sleeping under LLINs were the determinants of asymptomatic infections.

Introduction Nigeria has a growing cancer burden, with late presentation and delayed diagnosis contributing to poor outcomes. We explored the durations and causes of the delay in the diagnosis of four common and treatable cancer types (breast, colorectum, head and neck, and uterine cervix) in Nigeria. Methods Retrospective study based on interviews with cancer patients following the Aarhus framework for designing and reporting such studies. The study focused on the first two of WHO’s three main designated stages of cancer diagnosis: duration from symptom to presentation and presentation to histological diagnosis. Our hospital-based study involved 264 patients recruited from tertiary care facilities in the Northwestern (Kano) and Southwestern (Ibadan) regions of Nigeria. We obtained quantitative data to measure the duration of delay by stage, while interview data were collected to explore the causes of delay. We analysed the data by computing the median duration for the two stages of delay, and framework analysis was used to identify themes on the causes of delay. Results The median time to receive a cancer diagnosis after noticing the first symptoms was 12 months (interquartile range 5 to 27 months), with head and neck cancer patients reporting the most prolonged (15-month) delay. Patients waited a median of 3 months (interquartile range 12 months) before presenting their first cancer symptom to a healthcare professional. The median time for patients to receive a cancer diagnosis after the first presentation of symptoms to a formal healthcare professional was 5 months (interquartile range 12 months). There was wide variance for all time intervals. Patients reported visiting a median of 3 health facilities before diagnosis in a formal hospital setting. Qualitative findings identified two main reasons patients reported delays in cancer pathway to care: patient-related factors and health system issues. Conclusion Long delays were observed, and more than half the delay followed presentation to the local health sector.

This study presents a biogenically synthesised TiO₂– Serratia marcescens nanocomposite (TNS) for the efficient adsorption of Mn (II) from aqueous solutions using Box–Behnken Design (BBD) optimisation. The TNS material was synthesised under controlled pH conditions and characterised using SEM–EDX, TEM, XRD, FTIR, BET, and TGA–DSC, confirming a mesoporous crystalline TiO₂ framework functionalised with biomolecular groups from S. marcescens . The BBD model identified optimal conditions of 52.5 mg/L Mn (II), 0.01 g adsorbent, pH 7, 65 °C, and 92.5 min, achieving a removal efficiency of 98.7%, in strong agreement with the predicted value (100.4%). Adsorption followed the Freundlich isotherm, indicating multilayer adsorption on heterogeneous surfaces, while the pseudo-second-order model best described the kinetics. Thermodynamic analysis showed the process to be spontaneous and exothermic, with ΔH = − 13.05 kJ/mol and a positive ΔS, indicating increased interfacial randomness during adsorption. The TNS material retained over 60% efficiency after five cycles, demonstrating good reusability. These findings highlight the potential of microbial–TiO₂ hybrid nanocomposites as green, high-performance adsorbents for Mn (II) remediation.

ABSTRACT The immune system is one of the most complex biological systems in the body. During infection, the immune system is under attack by a large number of viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. Immune response firstly involves, recognition of the pathogen or foreign object and secondly, a reaction to eliminate it. Aqueous extract of Antiaris africana is used to study their immune modulator activity. This plant has its various parts used in folk medicines. The mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, this research work studies the effect of aqueous extract of Antiaris Africana stem bark on phagocytic activities of neutrophil isolated from apparently healthy individual using a non-subjective commercial colourimetric assay kit obtained from Cell-Biolab Inc., USA. The purity and viability of isolated neutrophils were >90% and >95% respectively. The extract enhances neutrophil phagocytosis at 1.0, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0, 20.0 and 25 μg/ml by 2.5%, 11.6%, 18.4%, 24.4%, 31.2% and 38.2% respectively, compared to the control (100%). Hence, it was observed that neutrophil phagocytosis increases with increased extract concentrations. It can be concluded from the study that enhancement of phagocytosis may be the possible mechanism of action of the plant as an immune modulator. Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. Footnotes * Email: belloibrahim983{at}gmail.com, Phone: +2348060506846. * Email: aladedeji{at}lautech.edu.ng, Phone: +2348035812502