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Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a promising solution for sustainable energy, supporting affordable, clean power and aligning with UN Sustainable Development Goal 7. The study addressed the need for alternative energy sources through the co-digestion of poultry droppings (PD) and cassava peelings (CP). This approach is crucial for effective waste management and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. The work aimed to explore the anaerobic co-digestion of PD and CP and its effects on kinetic parameters and biogas production. Five digesters (A: 0% CP, B: 25% CP, C: 50% CP, D: 75% CP, E: 100% CP) were set up under mesophilic conditions. Results showed that digester B produced the highest cumulative biogas yield (25.2 L/gVS), with an average methane yield of 62.6%. The modified Gompertz model revealed notable differences in the kinetic parameters among the digesters, indicating that digester B had the fastest acclimation time of 6.9 days. This study has direct implications for achieving the African Union Agenda 2063, which emphasizes energy self-sufficiency through sustainable practices and supports renewable energy initiatives, especially in rural African communities. It provides valuable insights for policymakers seeking to incorporate bioenergy solutions into national energy strategies.
Bacillus species, particularly Bacillus cereus, are significant pathogens in various environments, including food and clinical settings.This study aimed to isolate and characterize Bacillus species from environmental samples and determine their molecular identities. Samples were collected from different locations, and Bacillus species were isolated using standard microbiological techniques. The isolates were characterized using cultural, morphological, and biochemical tests. Molecular identification was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The study found that 57% of the samples were positive for Bacillus species, with significant variations in occurrence across different locations (p < 0.05). Two Bacillus cereus strains, FORC60 (BCFOR) and DQ01 (BCDQO), were identified, with BCFOR being more prevalent (66.07%). The isolates exhibited consistent cultural, morphological, and biochemical characteristics, including catalase, citrate, and oxidase positivity. Sugar utilization patterns showed significant variations, particularly with lactose, sorbitol, and inositol. Statistical analysis revealed a significant association between location and occurrence of Bacillus species (p < 0.05). The study highlights the presence of Bacillus cereus in environmental samples, with varying levels of occurrence and characteristics. This study provides valuable data on the prevalence and characteristics of Bacillus cereus in environmental samples, emphasizing the need for monitoring and control measures.
Abstract To make effective antimicrobial toothpastes, you need to optimize many parts that work together. Creating new formulations the old-fashioned way takes a lot of time and money. This research formulates and substantiates a methodological framework that combines systematic antimicrobial susceptibility testing with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to enhance toothpaste formulations against clinically significant oral pathogens. Using a D-optimal mixture design, we made 24 different toothpaste formulations by changing the type of fluoride (NaF, MFP, SnF₂), the concentration of fluoride (1000–1500 ppm), the concentration of SLS (0.5–2.5%), the type of abrasive (silica, calcium carbonate, dicalcium phosphate), and the concentration of abrasive (10–30%). We used agar well diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) tests to see how well the drugs worked against Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175, Porphyromonas gingivalis ATCC 33277, and Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356. A Random Forest surrogate model was trained on 120 experimental data points (24 formulations × 5 concentrations) and validated through 10-fold cross-validation. Multi-objective PSO was used to improve the effectiveness of antimicrobials, the availability of fluoride, and the cost of the formulation. Chosen PSO-predicted formulations underwent experimental validation. The antimicrobial activity changed a lot (p < 0.001) depending on the formulation parameters. The optimized formulation (sodium fluoride 1120 ppm, SLS 2.3%, hydrated silica 18%, pH 7.2) showed 28.4 ± 1.2 mm of inhibition against S. mutans, 26.8 ± 1.4 mm against P. gingivalis, and 24.2 ± 1.1 mm against L. acidophilus. These were improvements of 18.5%, 22.3%, and 19.8%, respectively, over the best commercial comparator. Experimental validation corroborated PSO predictions with a mean absolute error of 5.2%. Multi-objective Optimization found Pareto-optimal formulations that let you choose based on trade-offs between effectiveness, safety, and cost. Combining systematic experimental design with PSO gives a tested framework for making rational toothpaste formulations. This method significantly lowers the amount of work needed for experiments while also allowing for the Optimization of multiple competing formulation goals.
Background: Open defecation (OD) has remained a threat to the attainment of SDG 6 (sanitation and hygiene). This study measured the level of exposure to the “Clean Nigeria, Use the Toilet” campaign against open defecation, determined the level of public knowledge about open defecation-related harms and diseases, ascertained the public attitude towards open defecation, and established the prevailing defecation practices and the perceived barriers to toilet usage in Ebonyi state, the most prevalent OD state in Nigeria. Methods: The study employed a survey design, using a structured questionnaire for data collection. The multi-stage sampling technique was employed in selecting the respondents from two randomly selected Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state. Analysis was conducted using 384 valid responses. Results: The results were presented in simple percentage frequency tables and interpreted through the descriptive method, while the Chi-Square test was used to analyse the formulated hypotheses, using the decision rule of p < 0.05. The findings show a high level of awareness of the campaign against open defecation, through the radio and community engagements by environmental activists/NGOs, even though regular access to such information was limited. The results also showed inadequate knowledge of the public health implications of open defecation, whereas good knowledge of environmental consequences was reported. The study found favourable attitudes toward OD practice and persistent open defecation, and major barriers to toilet usage include the high cost of toilet construction, lack of access to toilet facilities, poor sanitation and management of available toilets, and perceived risks of contracting infection from public toilets. However, the Chi-Square values showed that the SBCC campaign was significantly associated with knowledge, attitude, and practice (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The study concluded that localised, culturally relevant and socio-demographically targeted communication interventions, grassroot advocacy, community watch, and neighbourhood taskforce on open defecation, in addition to the provision of aids for the construction of modern toilets with water facilities, are required to combat open defecation in Ebonyi and related contexts in Nigeria.
The corrosion inhibition performance of Stylosanthes gracilis (SG) leaf extract on Alloy 304L stainless steel in 1.0 M HCl was investigated using gravimetric, electrochemical, GC–MS, adsorption, and SEM/EDX analyses. Results showed that the extract effectively reduced corrosion through the formation of a protective adsorbed film on the alloy surface. Corrosion rate and current density decreased with increasing extract concentration, while inhibition efficiency and polarization resistance increased significantly, reaching a maximum efficiency of about 94.6% at 1.2 g/L. The corrosion potential shift of 0.069 V indicated mixed-type inhibition behaviour. Adsorption studies revealed spontaneous adsorption following the Langmuir isotherm through combined physisorption–chemisorption mechanisms. Kinetic and residual analyses showed that the second-order model best described the inhibition process, suggesting cooperative adsorption interactions among phytochemical constituents. GC–MS analysis identified oxygen-, sulfur-, nitrogen-, and phosphorus-containing compounds responsible for adsorption and hydrophobic barrier formation. SEM/EDX results confirmed substantial reduction in chloride-induced surface degradation. The study demonstrates the long-term corrosion protection capability and industrial potential of SG extract as a sustainable green inhibitor for stainless steel in acidic environments.
