2023

BACKGROUND: Globally, COVID-19 pandemic emerged as a major public health concern and has had severe, wide-reaching effects on the functioning of societies, economies, social and healthcare systems worldwide. In addition to the ongoing health crisis, mental health crisis has been unfolding. During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers had high workload and exposure to multiple psychosocial stressors. The psychological impact of the pandemic on healthcare workers has been assessed worldwide, but there are limited data on how health care workers have been affected in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs). OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to assess and compare the knowledge, attitude, prevalence and effect of COVID-19 on the mental health status of Frontline and Non-Frontline Health Workers of University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and also to identify their coping strategies. METHODOLOGY: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2021 through June 2023 among Frontline Health Workers and Non-Frontline Health Workers of University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin-City using a systemic random sampling technique. The sample size was calculated using the formula for estimating two proportions for a comparative cross-sectional study. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics and Research
Committee, University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Data was collected using a structured self administered questionnaire adapted and modified from the World Health Organization (WHO) Interim Guidance document on the knowledge, attitude and practice of health care workers during COVID-19 pandemic, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and the Brief-COPE Strategy scale. Data was analyzed with IBM SPSS version 25.0 and the level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Data presentation was done using graphs, frequency tables and prose. RESULT: A total of 500 respondents with mean age (SD) of 37.5 ± 5.6 and 39.9 ± 6.2 years for Frontline and Non-Frontline Health Workers participated in this study respectively. Findings from the World Health Organization (WHO) Interim Guidance document on the knowledge, attitude and practice of health care workers during COVID-19 used to assess knowledge and attitude of respondents revealed that: majority 145 (86.8%) and 191 (57.4%) of the Frontline and Non-Frontline Health Workers had overall good knowledge of COVID-19 (p < 0.001, 0.006 respectively) and a high proportion 134 (80.2%) and 284 (85.3%) of the Frontline and Non Frontline Health Workers had overall positive attitude towards COVID-19 (p = 0.054, 0.096 respectively). The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) tool used to assess the mental health status of respondents showed that majority 148 (88.6%) of the Frontline Health Workers experienced depression, anxiety and PTSD while 286 (85.8%) of the Non-Frontline Health Workers experienced depression, anxiety and psychological distress (p = 0.240, 0.547 respectively). Being more aware (good knowledge), Frontline Health Workers were 24.7% times more likely to be psychologically affected (depression, anxiety and PTSD) by COVID-19 compared to Non As a result of positive attitude, Frontline Health Workers were 85.5% times more likely to be psychologically affected (depression, anxiety and PTSD) by COVID-19 compared to Non Frontline Health Workers. This was also statistically significant (p= 0.444, OR: 1.855, 95% CI: 0.381– 9.021). The Brief-COPE Strategy scale used to assess coping styles of respondents showed that most 137 (82.0%) of the Frontline Health Workers coping styles were religion, getting support from people, making fun and being positive of the situation while 255 (76.6%) of the Non-Frontline Health Workers coping styles were getting support from people, concentrating on their work and use of drugs and alcohol (p = 0.128, p= 0.162 respectively). Coping styles were effective for both categories. Frontline Health Workers with tertiary level of education were 10.3% times less likely to be psychologically affected (depression, anxiety and PTSD) by COVID-19 compared to Non Frontline Health Workers. This was however not statistically significant (p= 0.082, OR: 0.897, 95% CI: 0.216– 3.734).
CONCLUSION: From this study, respondents had overall good knowledge of COVID-19. Good knowledge was higher among Frontline Health Workers than in Non-Frontline Health Workers. Majority of the respondents had positive attitude towards COVID-19, and it was observed to be higher among Frontline Health Workers than in Non-Frontline Health Workers.
About half of the respondents tested positive to COVID-19. Positive test was higher in Frontline Health Workers than Non-Frontline Health Workers. Higher proportion of the population were affected mentally. Negative mental health effect was
noticed to be higher among Frontline Health Workers compared to Non-Frontline Health Workers. Domains such as depression, anxiety, PTSD and psychological distress were identified as areas responsible for the psychological symptoms. Good knowledge of COVID-19, positive attitude towards COVID-19 and religion were predictors of coping styles among Non-Frontline Health Workers while knowledge of COVID 19, attitude towards COVID-19, level of education and marriage were identified as predictors of coping styles of Frontline Health Workers. Timely identification and implementation of an appropriate support to vulnerable groups would effectively mitigate the mental health impact of future pandemics on Health Care Workers. KEYWORDS: COVID-19, Health Care Workers, Mental Health, Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, coping strategies

Small enterprises in Nigeria are crucial to economic growth. Government and private sector policies have created enabling settings for small-scale enterprises to prosper. However, issues persist. Many authors have identified low managerial skills, small capital, inefficient expenditure by small business owners, poor marketing methods, etc. However, a few SMEs have prospered over the years and contributed greatly to Nigeria's economic growth by utilizing its resources, increasing employment, revenue generation, and redistribution. However, Nigerian small firms seem to be behind the global economy in internet marketing. Small Japanese enterprises may design items to market tastes and leverage existing marketing to assure market share and customization, so they now undertake international business. This was possible despite small enterprises' numerous evident and typical problems. The goal of this study is to determine how Nigerian small businesses and marketing relate. To determine how Nigerian small firms might use e-marketing to overcome hurdles, survive in the market, and prosper with a competitive advantage. This study also seeks to understand how Nigerian small businesses regard e-marketing and if it is a threat or an opportunity to their survival and development

This study aimed to determine the compliance and non-compliance of University of Benin students to prescription spectacle wears. Random sampling technique was used to select subjects from the various faculties in the university of Benin as a total number of three hundred subjects were selected which was made up of 233 females and 67 males as a semi-structured questionnaires were distributed to them, which had questions that would help determine compliance and non-compliance level. The questionnaires were given to subjects that are known to be prescription spectacle wearers and instructions were given as regard how to fill the questionnaires and the data were collated after the subjects had filled the questionnaires. The statistical test used for the analysis was the chi-square from the Package of SPSS (version 22.0) to check for the scores and variables obtained in the study. In conclusion, there were more female subjects than males subjects, and the level of compliance was found to be higher than level of non-compliance. The result showed that 76.3% of the subjects had their glasses from optometrist, 9.7% from ophthalmologist and optician respectively, while 4.3% from an outreach. The result also showed that 73 (24.3%) of the subjects believed that they often lose their eye glasses as reason for non-compliance while 227 (75.7%) of the subjects disagreed to the statement. It was also seen that 194 (64.7%) of the subjects disagreed that eye glasses are most useful to them only during exams, while 106 (35.3%) agreed.

The distribution and marketing of leafy vegetables pose significant challenges due
to their perishable nature. This study was conducted to assess the profitability of vegetable marketing in Benin City, Edo State, by examining the socioeconomic characteristics of leafy vegetable marketers, determining the cost and margins of leafy vegetable marketing, analyzing the determinants of profit in this sector, and identifying associated challenges. A sample of 100 respondents from five markets was selected using a simple random sampling method. Data were collected through structured questionnaire administered to vegetables marketers. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics budgetary analysis and inferential statistics (linear
regression). The findings indicate that the majority (89.0%) of respondents were females, highlighting the dominance of females in vegetable marketing. Middle-aged
individuals constitute a substantial proportion (40%) of vegetable marketers, and
married individuals dominate the sector (42%). Larger households with 4-6 members contribute significantly to family labor and expenses. Total revenue (TR) from various vegetables amounted to ₦29,675.71, with variable costs (TVC) totaling ₦20,730 and fixed costs at ₦7,050. The total marketing cost (TMC) was ₦27,780, resulting in a net return of ₦1,895.71. While the net return indicates profitability, it is relatively lower compared to previous research findings. Key constraints include poor access roads, rapid quality deterioration/spoilage, seasonal price fluctuations, and high transportation costs. The perishable nature of vegetables presents a significant challenge. it can be concluded that vegetable marketing in Benin City is predominantly conducted by females, often middle- aged and married individuals. Despite profitability, the profit margin is comparatively lower than in previous studies. It was recommended that
addressing poor access roads to alleviate transportation challenges and reduce spoilage and marketing costs.

Cobwebs are a common nuisance in both residential and commercial spaces, often requiring manual removal that can be time-consuming and tedious especially hard to reach corners. This project focuses on the development of an efficient and cost- ffective cobweb remover using locally available materials like electric motor (rotational motion), brush (removal of the cobweb), Rechargeable Battery (as the power source) and telescopic pole (for high buildings). The primary objective is to design a device that simplifies the process of cobweb removal while minimizing the need for expensive or specialized equipment providing 75% efficiency. The outcome of this project is an innovative cobweb remover that is not only effective but also accessible to a wide range of users, including homeowners, cleaning services, and facility managers. By utilizing locally sourced materials and promoting sustainable design, this project contributes to eco-friendly cleaning practices while improving the quality of life for individuals in various environments. It was successfully fabricated and our results were compared with the traditional methods. And it was observed that the cobweb remover has an efficiency of 78% while the traditional method of removing cobweb was 60.7% which shows that the design is more efficient and reliable.

Background: The growing influence of information technology on various aspects of life including education necessitates the developing countries to use E-learning for better distribution of teaching materials and interaction between students and teachers. In Nigeria, there was a surge in use of E-learning to continue education due to the COVID-19 pandemic. E-learning represents a vital paradigm on higher education unconstrained by time and place, offering new opportunities for the development of the educational processes. Its adoption is vital to bridge the learning gap between developed and developing countries. Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of undergraduate students in University of Benin towards E-learning. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted for this study. Four hundred and twenty-five students were selected using multi-stage sampling technique. Data was obtained using a standardized semi-structured self-administered questionnaire comprising both open ended and close ended questions. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 25.0 software with statistical significance set at p<0.05 and 95% confidence interval. Results: The mean age was calculated as 23.16 (±3.24) years. Of all the respondents, (62.8%) had good knowledge, while (37.2%) of respondents had poor knowledge. (97.2%) had a positive attitude, while 2.8% had a negative attitude. Challenges such as constant power failure, inadequate internet access, inadequate computer literacy skills and cost of data subscriptions were identified. 98.1% of respondents showed good readiness, while 1.9% showed poor readiness. The most commonly used E-learning tools were search engines, PowerPoint, virtual classrooms and mobile applications. Conclusion: The majority of respondents had good knowledge, positive attitude and good readiness towards E-learning. The major challenges were constant power failure, inadequate internet access, inadequate computer literacy skills and cost of data subscriptions. Keywords: Online, learning, technology Word count: 287

For its bio- and environmentally friendly properties, low cost, and relative abundance, clay has become increasingly relevant and used. Based on their components and layer patterns, clay minerals have a variety of morphological and physicochemical characteristics., in addition to its well-established uses in adsorbent development, water treatment, and construction. In order to determine whether clay samples from the Ikpeshi town in the Akoko-Edo LGA could be used in an industrial process, its physical and chemical characteristics were examined. The study involved the analysis of elemental content, mineral constituent, functional groups of compounds content, surface morphology, and thermal stability with EDXRF, XRD, FTIR, SEM, BET and TGA respectively. Results revealed that the sample was kaolinite with SiO2 45.116 wt%, and Al2O3 20.39 wt% as the most predominant elements. Wave numbers of 909.47043cm-1 to 998.92654cm-1 with bold peaks revealed the presence of SiO4 -4 . The overall study revealed kaolinite characteristics and strong thermal stability thus possesses properties for clay suitable for lining furnace kilns.

This project assessed the influence of comedy skit as a therapeutic aid among students of the University of Benin. The survey design was adopted for the study with the aid of an 7-item questionnaire administered to 100 respondents purposively selected from the various faculty that makes up University of Benin. Data obtained were analyzed and presented with the aid of Frequency Tables, simple percentages, and Mean Scores. Based on the findings, the researcher concludes that comedy skits are valued for their role in providing entertainment, enhancing moods, offering stress relief, and fostering positive social interactions. The researcher therefore recommends among others that UNIBEN students continue to embrace and enjoy comedy skits for their positive contributions to social interactions, mood elevation, entertainment, and stress relief.

Several network systems are built to communicate with one another as well as made available through service-oriented architectures. In this project, the client server architecture is used to develop a chat application. Firstly, a chat application is created for both Client and Server which is based on Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) where TCP is connection oriented protocol and is a reliable connection protocol. As security is the key factor while communicating over a network, so in this project, MySQL SSL protocol and hash function was used for the Database based on a numbers of benefits. The hash values of the real password and the random generated number (salt) is stored in the database. The original password is not stored on the system, making cracking of password much harder

Rising incidences of benin and cancerous tumours, such as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)
and prostate cancer, coupled with the unpleasant side effects of current therapy, suggest a need to
search for new drug molecules. The stem bark of Lonchocarpus griffonianus G. Don
(Fabaceae) is an important medicinal plant used in Nigeria to treat BPH and other tumour
related ailments. No pharmacological study on the use of the plant for treating BPH has been
reported. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of L. griffonianus (LG) on BPH.
Two organs (stem and root barks) of LG were identified, collected, pulverized and extracted with
absolute methanol (99 %) using a Soxhlet extractor. Comparative preliminary biological
evaluations were done on the L. griffonianus stem bark (LGSB) extract and root bark (LGRB)
extracts using two benchtop assays (cytotoxic and antiproliferative). The acute toxicity of the LG
stem bark extract was done using a modified Lorke's method. The extract was subjected to
Vacuum Liquid Chromatography (VLC) and Gravity Column Chromatography (GCC) to obtain
two isolated compounds, LO1 and LO2. The compounds were subjected to MS and 1D NMR
analysis for identification. The isolated compounds (LO1 and LO2) were subjected to cytotoxic
evaluation on human prostate (PC3) and uterine cervical cancer (Hela) cell lines using a 3-(4, 5
dimethyl thiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Anti-BPH evaluation was
done on the extract and LO1 using testosterone-induced BPH in the rat model. BPH was induced
by the administration of testosterone propionate (4 mg/kg, s.c., in olive oil) for 28 days. LGSB
extract (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg), LO1 (5 mg/kg), LGSB extract (200 mg/kg)+finasteride (5
mg/kg) and finasteride (5 mg/kg) were orally administered daily. On day 29, the rats were
sacrificed under anaesthesia and blood was collected via the abdominal aorta. The collected
blood was centrifuged, and the serum was separated. The serum was analyzed for biochemical
parameters such as prostate-specific antigen (PSA), testosterone and estradiol. The prostate was
harvested for histological examination. The wet weight and volume of the prostate were taken.
The prostate index (PI) was calculated. All data were expressed as mean ± SEM (standard error
of the mean) and were compared using analysis of variance (ANOVA),The result of preliminary evaluations indicated that the LGSB extract has a higher activity (100 ±0.00% mortality at 80 µg/mL) than the LGRB extract (3.33 ± 1.29% at 80 µg/mL). Acute
toxicity results revealed no mortality in both phases after oral administration with LD50>5000mg/kg. LO1 and LO2 significantlyinhibited the multiplication of PC3 and Hela cells in vitro