Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) is a tertiary institution located in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria. The university enrolls over 30,000 students and employs more than 3,000 workers including contract staff.
Biodiesel is a sustainable alternative to petroleum diesel, but developing efficient, low-cost, and environmentally friendly heterogeneous catalysts remains challenging. This study investigated biodiesel production from crude palm kernel oil using a composite calcium oxide catalyst derived from waste eggshells and snail shells. The catalyst was calcined at 900 °C for 3 h and characterized by XRD and FTIR, confirming predominantly crystalline CaO with minor Ca(OH)₂ and carbonate species. Response Surface Methodology using a Central Composite Design optimized reaction time, temperature, catalyst loading, and methanol-to-oil ratio. The quadratic model was significant (F = 60.25, p < 0.0001) and demonstrated high predictive capability (R² = 0.9825, Adjusted R² = 0.9662, Predicted R² = 0.9099). Optimum conditions of 82.5 min, 60 °C, 5.5 wt% catalyst, and 6:1 methanol-to-oil ratio yielded 91.273 wt% biodiesel. The composite catalyst outperformed calcined eggshell (87.0 wt%) and snail shell (85.5 wt%) catalysts under identical conditions. Biodiesel properties complied with ASTM specifications, with acid value of 0.431 mg KOH.g⁻¹, flash point of 129 °C, and dynamic viscosity of 4.53 mPa.s. The findings demonstrate the catalyst's potential for sustainable and low-cost biodiesel production while promoting agricultural waste valorization without the need for further catalyst modification. Copyright © 2027 by Authors, Published by Universitas Diponegoro and BCREC Publishing Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).
Bacillus safensis is a Gram-positive, spore-forming, motile, mesophilic, and chemoheterotrophic bacterium renowned for its adaptability to a wide array of stringent environments, including spacecraft assembly facilities, saline deserts, and heavy metal-contaminated soils. Originally identified as a persistent contaminant, its unique physiological and genomic characteristics have positioned it as a promising candidate for diverse biotechnological applications. In 2015, we published the first review on the basic biology and biotechnological potentials of the bacterium, and we documented its first reference in producing keratinase through degradation of poultry feather, and its abilities to synthesize metal and metal alloy nanoparticles amidst several other applications. Since then, several new applications have emerged on the bacterium, including a US patent for B. safensis-based biofertilizer, thereby necessitating a renewed documentation on the fascinating bacterium—detailing current knowledge on the biology, ecology, and multifaceted applications of B. safensis, highlighting its potential as a plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium, a formidable biocontrol agent against phytopathogens, a producer of valuable industrial enzymes, and an effective tool for bioremediation, and production of secondary metabolites. Genomic and experimental analyses revealed its capacity to synthesize many bioactive compounds alongside exhibiting robust stress response systems. Future investigations on B. safensis should involve leveraging advanced molecular techniques for strain improvement, exploration of bioinformatic tools to reveal its metabolome, enhancement of its safety profile, and expansion of its application in sustainable agriculture and environmental management.
Alterations in the microbial communities along the oral, gut, and reproductive (OGR) axis are increasingly recognized as major contributors to systemic inflammation, endocrine dysregulation, and neuroimmune pathophysiology. Scientific evidence has demonstrated that OGR dysbiosis is associated with neuroimmune signaling potentially by the leakage of lipopolysaccharides and cytokine cascades, with associated disruption of blood-brain barrier integrity, degeneration of the neurovascular unit, dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, and disruption of neurotransmitter balance via abnormal tryptophan metabolism. The mechanisms have been implicated in the development of several neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders across preclinical and human observational models. Novel microbiome-targeted approaches, including antimicrobial therapy, prebiotics, probiotics, dietary modifications, and hormone-microbiota-targeting treatment, demonstrate potential to restore microbial balance and reduce neuroinflammation, with mechanistic effects on neurotransmitter production, barrier protection, and immune tolerance. However, these effects have been demonstrated predominantly in preclinical and animal models; robust evidence from well-powered human clinical trials is currently limited. Accordingly, these approaches should be considered exploratory and hypothesis-generating rather than established clinical strategies, and their translation to patient care requires rigorous evaluation in controlled human trials. This review addresses the gap in understanding how dysbiosis in these interdependent microbial ecosystems transmits inflammatory and metabolic signals that impair neurophysiology. This review presents a translational perspective on OGR-axis modulation as a frontier for the prevention and management of brain disorders, integrating microbial, immune, endocrine, and neural perspectives. Exploring these insights would birth a paradigm shift from symptom-management-based brain health interventions to microbiota-specific interventions.
Abstract Nanotechnology is a rapidly growing, transformative approach in the field of male reproductive health, addressing dire challenges connected with infertility. This review explores the application of nanotechnology in enhancing sperm selection and processing, which are vital for improving reproductive outcomes in assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Traditional methods, such as swim-up assay and density gradient centrifugation, often yield variable recovery rates and may not be efficient with poor sperm samples. In contrast, innovative techniques utilizing nanoparticles, especially magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS), demonstrate superior efficacy in selective isolation of viable sperm by targeting specific biomarkers. The unique properties of nanoparticles, including tunable size and surface charge, enhance their binding capabilities, thereby improving the precision of sperm selection.C Additionally, advancements in assisted reproductive technologies, showcase the potential of nanoparticles in sperm transport and gamete preservation. Despite the potential benefits, challenges remain, including the need for standardized protocols and addressing safety concerns associated with nanoparticle use. This review underscores the necessity for future studies to fully harness the potential of nanotechnology in overcoming male infertility, ultimately contributing to improved ART success rates and better reproductive health outcomes.
Reactive dyes constitute the largest class of dyes used in cotton dyeing, accounting for a significant proportion of global dye consumption and contributing to their widespread occurrence in aquatic environments. In this study, the adsorptive removal of Reactive Black 5 (RB5) onto a green-synthesised ZnO-incorporated acid-modified Pupalia lappacea composite (Z-APL) was investigated. Pupalia lappacea, an underutilised agricultural waste biomass with no prior reported use as an adsorbent precursor, was employed as both a carbon support and a phytochemical source for ZnO nanoparticle synthesis. The effects of solution pH, contact time, initial dye concentration, adsorbent dosage, and temperature were systematically evaluated. Equilibrium behaviour was analysed using five isotherm models including Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Toth, and Dubinin-Raduskevich. The adsorbent was characterised using pH-point-of-zero charge, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, and Scanning Electron Microscopy. Advanced modelling approaches involving Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) were further employed to optimise and predict adsorption performance. The results demonstrated appreciable adsorption efficiency, with a maximum monolayer capacity of 44.63 mg/g. The Temkin isotherm provided the best fit, while the Elovich model best described the adsorption kinetics (R2 = 0.978). RSM indicated that the modified cubic model was statistically significant (P < 0.0001), with solution pH, contact time, initial concentration, and dosage as key process variables. Among the tested ANFIS membership functions, the triangular function showed favourable predictive performance based on testing error evaluation. An economic analysis was conducted to assess the practical feasibility of Z-APL, estimating a production cost of ₦1,886.6/g ( 1.35/g) under laboratory-scale conditions. The findings suggest that Z-APL holds potential as a sustainable and cost-effective material for dye remediation in wastewater treatment.
