Benue State University is a state-owned university in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. In 2006, student enrollment was over 19,000 served by 7 faculties, 23 departments. The university offers undergraduate and postgraduate programs with a catalog of over 58 graduate programs across 9 colleges/faculties. It is accredited by the National Universities Commission. The current Vice-chancellor of Benue State University is Professor Msugh Moses Kembe who took over from Professor Charity Angya on November 5, 2015.
A mathematical model with time delay is considered to describe the dynamics of hearing loss resulting from noise exposure. The analysis illustrates that the solutions consistently maintain positivity, and the model has at most two steady states: noise-free steady-state and noise-endemic. The stability of the noise-free steady-state and noise-endemic is shown analytically, demonstrating that the noise-endemic steady-state is stable below a critical value of time delay; beyond this threshold, it becomes unstable and undergoes a Hopf bifurcation when the time delay equals the critical value. The paper also examines the bifurcation and estimates the delay needed to keep the system stable. Furthermore, an assessment of parameter elasticity is performed to measure its influence on hearing loss control. Numerical bifurcation is conducted using DDE-BIFTOOL and traceDDE to explore various dynamical behaviors of the model via numerical continuation for varying values of system parameters. Analytical findings are supported by numerical simulations of the model to show different types of dynamical behavior.
A hernia is the abnormal protrusion of a viscus through a defect in the surrounding wall. Laparoscopic repair is increasingly favored over open surgery for ventral hernias due to its minimally invasive approach. However, consolidated evidence comparing their outcomes remains limited. This study aimed to compare outcomes including surgical site infection, hospital stay, operative time, and hernia recurrence between laparoscopic and open ventral hernia repair in adult patients, using evidence from randomized controlled trials and cohort studies. We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from 2000 to the current year. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials and observational (prospective or retrospective cohort) studies comparing laparoscopic and open ventral hernia repair in adults (≥18 years) and reporting at least one of the outcomes of interest. Studies were excluded if they focused on pediatric populations, assessed only one outcome, or were case reports, meta-analyses, reviews, editorials, or studies addressing only inguinal/incisional hernias without specifying inclusion under ventral hernias. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool and Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Considering the included studies differed in clinical characteristics such as hernia type, defect size, mesh materials, fixation techniques, and surgeon experience a random effects model was selected before analysis as the most appropriate statistical approach, A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted and results presented narratively and using forest plots.hig. Nineteen studies (3 RCTs and 16 cohort studies; 7,826 patients) were included. Laparoscopic repair significantly reduced the risk of surgical site infection (RR = 0.36, 95
Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly recognized as ubiquitous contaminants, with freshwater systems acting both as sinks and conduits for their transport to marine environments. Yet, data on their occurrence in African freshwater systems—particularly in Nigeria—remain limited. This study assessed their presence in sediments from the River Benue. Samples were collected in December 2023 and processed using NaCl/NaI density separation and H₂O₂ oxidation, while suspected MPs were characterized using FTIR and SEM–EDS. A total of 70 suspected MPs ranging between 0.5–5 mm were recovered, with the southern bank exhibiting higher abundance (43 items kg⁻1) than the northern bank (27 items kg⁻1). Fragments and films were the dominant morphotypes. Surface sediments from the southern bank recorded mean particle and mass concentrations of 2.8 ± 1.9 items kg⁻1 and 20.3 ± 10.8 mg kg⁻1 d.w, decreasing to 0.8 ± 1.0 items kg⁻1 and 3.0 ± 4.3 mg kg⁻1 d.w in deeper layers. On the northern bank, surface layers contained 1.9 ± 2.6 items kg⁻1 and 17.1 ± 20.7 mg kg⁻1 d.w, dropping to 0.3 ± 0.58 items kg⁻1 and 4.2 ± 9.9 mg kg⁻1 d.w at depth. Tentatively identified polymers included polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyamide. Preliminary risk assessment revealed contamination factor values of 1–19 and pollution load index values of 1–4.36, with a PLIzone of 2.28, indicating polluted conditions. The findings highlight anthropogenic influence on MP contamination and provide critical data on Nigeria’s freshwater systems, underscoring the need for expanded monitoring and implementation of abatement strategies.
This study aims to prepare an aluminum-citrate ion cell from waste aluminum foils and citric acid extracted from Dovyalis caffra fruits (Kei apples) and further demonstrate their electrochemical performance at varying impedances, electrode thicknesses and discharge times. Aluminum oxide ions were prepared from discarded aluminum foils, and citric acid were produced by co-precipitating macerated Dovyalis caffra extracts by acid infusion. Aluminum foil wastes were utilized in acid co-digestion to produce aluminum oxide nanoparticles. The prepared aluminum oxide was then characterized for surface morphology, composition and phases present. The prepared particles revealed Al2O3 boehmite moieties and ranged between 66.3 and 106.1 nm in size. The synthesized citric acid depicted desirable morphological and electrolytes traits similar to those of commercial citric acid. The cells open and closed current-voltages were directly proportional to the electrode diameter. While the cells were found to be quite Ohmic in nature with increased impedance with electrode distances, discharge times were also proportional to electrode diameters. The cell's energy balance was 477.6–346.3 J/s, with a density of 47.1–53.7 Wh/kg. The results showed that the cells could successfully produce portable energy storage devices from waste materials.
This research investigates how trade liberalisation can influence Nigeria’s economic growth through capital formation. To achieve this, a Structural Vector Autoregressive (SVAR) model is utilised to assess the relationship between trade liberalisation and economic growth using quarterly data from 1986Q1 - 2023Q4. Findings indicate that trade liberalisation affects capital formation positively. The study further reveals a significant association between external trade sector liberalisation and economic performance, facilitated by investment in physical assets in the economy. Also, the impulse response functions suggest a weak relationship among trade liberalisation, capital formation, and economic growth in the short term due to temporary external shocks. The variance decomposition reveals weak shocks between trade liberalisation and capital accumulation on real GDP in the short term. Based on the empirical evidence, the study recommends that the federal government should reduce trade barriers and prioritize investment in physical infrastructure; tax incentives, subsidies, and grants should be provided to the private sector; and financial institutions should be strengthened to boost the confidence of foreign and domestic investors. By reducing tariffs and other regulatory restrictions to trade, economies are expected to be better positioned to engender production, attract foreign investment, and also enhance capital accumulation of productive capital over time.
