2024

This study is to assess heavy metal content in three leafy vegetables. Telfairia occidentalis (Pumpkin leaf), Amaranth green (Green leaf) and Celosia argentea (Shoko leaf). Samples were collected from Uselu market, Egor local government area of Benin city in Edo State, Nigeria in the month of February. The samples were prepared using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) method. The level of five different heavy metals namely Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Zinc (Zn), Chromium (Cr) and Iron (Fe) were
analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). Result obtained from the analysis shows that Pumpkin leaf contained a mean value of 2.00mg/kg Fe, 0.01mg/kg Cr, 2.11mg/kg Zn, while Cd and Pb were below detection limit (BDL). Shoko leaf had a mean value of 3.85mg/kg Fe, 0.04mg/kg Cr, 1.52mg/kg Zn, 0.01mg/kg Cd and Pb was below detection limit (BDL). Green leaf had a mean data of 7.70mg/kg Fe, 0.03mg/kg Cr, 1.64mg/kg Zn while Cd and Pb were below detection limit (BDL). Among
the three samples, the mean value of all the heavy metals are below standard regulatory limit of 425.50mg/kg Fe, 0.03mg/kg Cr, 99.40mg/kg Zn, 0.20mg/kg Cd and 0.30mg/kg Pb except for Cr in Shoko leaf which mean value is slightly above that of standard regulatory limit. The samples are safe for human and animal consumption, but attention should be paid to Shoko leaf to avoid the level of Cr to be higher than it is by being mindful of the site for cultivation of the crop.

Visual disorders have a profound impact on the overall well-being of individuals, often extending beyond physical impairments to include psychological and emotional challenges. This research assessed the prevalence and levels of depression, anxiety and
stress among persons with visual disorders within the University of Benin community. This study employed the use of a structured questionnaire as well as the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) self-report questionnaire. The results of the study showed that the prevalence of depression was 61.0% with majority (28.2%) of the respondents having moderate depression levels. Length of time of managing their ocular condition was statistically significant with p=0.021. The prevalence of anxiety among respondents was 73.75% with majority (34.5%) of the respondents having moderate anxiety levels. Length of time of managing their ocular condition was statistically significant with p=0.038. While the p (12.5%) of the respondents having mild stress levels. Age, Level of education and Length of time of managing their ocular condition were all statistically significant with p=0.058. 0,020 and 0.047 respectively. Refractive errors accounted for majority (65.8%) of the visual disorders found within this region and thus the most frequently experienced. This research serves as proof that emphasizes the importance of addressing the mental health needs of individuals with visual disorders and, subsequently, to inform thedevelopment of strategies for early detection, intervention and support.

Lipids, including fats, sterols, and fat-soluble vitamins, play essential roles in energy storage, cell signaling, and cellular structure, making them vital to biological systems and industries such as food, cosmetics, and nanotechnology. Seafood, particularly fish like *Scomber scombrus* (Atlantic mackerel), is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which provide numerous health benefits, including protection against heart diseases and oxidative stress. This study investigates the hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of fish oil extracted from *Scomber scombrus* using various preparation methods (raw, marinated, boiled, and fried). The antioxidant potential of the oil, assessed through its ability to inhibit malonaldehyde (MDA) formation via the Fenton reaction, revealed that raw cured samples exhibited the highest scavenging activity, while boiled samples showed the lowest. These findings highlight the benefits of curing to preserve antioxidant properties in fish oil and suggest its potential application in mitigating oxidative stress-related diseases. Additionally, the research underscores the importance of lipids and omega-3s in seafood quality, preservation, and overall human health. Further exploration of cooking methods and antioxidant stability is recommended to enhance the nutritional value of seafood.

This study investigated the awareness of good nutrition before and during pregnancy among women for mother and child health in Ughelli North Local Government, Delta State. Ten (10) research questions were raised to guide the study and six (6) null hypotheses were formulated and tested. The descriptive survey design was adopted in the study. The population consisted of all registered pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in all the thirty (30) public health centers in Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State. The sample of the study consist of 182 pregnant women. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used for the selection of the sample. In order to achieve the objectives of this study, a three-sectioned structured questionnaire was validated by the researcher supervisor and two data expert and reliability was ascerted using the cronbach alpha statistics with respective reliability coefficients of 0.78, 0.74, and 0,75 which yielded a mean cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.77 was administered to the selected pregnant women. Data collected were analysed and all the hypotheses were tested using both descriptive and inferential statistics of mean, standard deviation, mean difference and one-way Analysis of variance (ANOVA).

This study evaluated the chemical composition and phytochemicals present in tiger nuts as a potential alternative to synthetic drugs with side effects. The result for proximate analysis of tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus) showed carbohydrate 50.89±0.25, crude fibre 7.50±0.29, crude protein 4.57±0.08, ash 3.00±0.29, crude fat 26.53±0.18 and moisture 7.50±0.29. From the result,
tiger nut contains high amount of carbohydrates and low moisture, indicating a good shelf life
Mineral analysis identified high levels of potassium (2565 mg/kg) and phosphorus (4914 mg/kg), along with significant amounts of magnesium (52 mg/kg) and iron (190 mg/kg). The phytochemical screening of tiger nut confirmed the presence of various bioactive compounds like glycosides, alkaloids, saponins, phenols, eugenols, terpenoids, and flavonoids, indicating
potential health benefits. The absence of tannins and steroids suggests minimal anti-nutritional factors. These findings provide valuable data on the nutritional and bioactive profile of tiger nuts, supporting their exploration as a natural source of health-promoting compounds.

While Artificial intelligence has vast uses that is ubiquitous and indispensable in our everyday life, a popular use in recent times is the generation of works of intellectual property ranging from literary works, musical works to audio-visual works. This study explores the
challenges that surface from this intersection between Artificial Intelligence and intellectual property. There are two major issues that arise as regards these works created by Generative Artificial Intelligence systems. The first issue this study addresses is whether text data mining of copyright works used as training data for the development of Generative Artificial Intelligence systems, to create works of intellectual property without license from the holders
of the copyrights, amounts to copyright infringement. To achieve this, a brief explanation of how text data mining works was given, the defence of fair use was examined with reference to relevant case laws and an appraisal of the legal framework in Nigeria as well as in other
jurisdictions on the subject, with a view of considering the possibility of formulating policies that will protect the rights of copyright holders without stifling the development of Artificial Intelligence in Nigeria. The second issue addressed is whether works created by Generative
Artificial Intelligence can be subjects of copyright. This was done by juxtaposing and critically examining the concepts of authorship and ownership, the position of the law on the legal personality of Artificial Intelligence and the prospects of conferring Artificial Intelligence with legal personality and enforcement of the rights that may be so bestowed to Artificial Intelligence in Nigeria.

Gas flaring which is the burning of associated gas from crude oil, is a common practice in Nigeria. The absence of a strong regulatory framework, which could be brought about by a lack of awareness of the effects on the environment, is one of the primary reasons for its continuous impacts of gas flaring on vegetation. The study assessed vegetation health with the use of GIS at marked distances of analyzed years. There have been numerous studies conducted to demonstrate the negative impacts of gas flaring on the environment, but none have attempted to measure the cumulative long-term impact on vegetation. Furthermore, there hasn’t been much effort in Nigeria to use GIS to evaluate the effects of gas flaring. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) a GIS based change detection methodology, was used to examine how the vegetation in the study area changed over time. This was accomplished by gathering four distinct time series of satellite imagery of the research area at specified distances of 1km and 2km, making use of Landsat 4-Thematic Mapper (TM)/1991, Landsat 5-Thematic Mapper (TM)/1999, Landsat 7-Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+)/2003 and Landsat 8-Operational Land Image(OLI)/2013. The results show that gas flaring has a significant role in altering the natural vegetation, with the impact of gas flaring being more pronounced in areas near the flowstation. Furthermore, results from the year 1991 showed that the NDVI values between 1km and 2km did not significantly differ from one another. However, the 1999,2003 and 2013 indicated significant difference in the NDVI values between marked distances. This study emphasizes the need for a safe distance of 2km for human settlement from gas flare stacks. This study recommends that Government should implement policies, such as the polluter pay principle and/or give out incentives to companies so as to reduce gas flaring.

The 2023 Nigerian presidential election witnessed a distressing escalation in voter suppression and a stark decline in political participation, reflecting a systemic failure to address underlying issues despite legislative reforms and technological innovations aimed at ensuring free and fair elections. This project, titled "Voter Suppression and Political Participation: A Case Study of the 2023 Presidential Election," seeks to delve into the intricate dynamics surrounding these phenomena. Utilizing a qualitative approach, the research will employ questionnaires and focus group interviews to impartially analyze the
causal and contributory factors behind voter suppression and low political engagement within the Nigerian electoral system. Despite the implementation of ground breaking provisions in the Electoral Act 2022, the 2023 election emerged as one of the least participated and most marred by irregularities in recent memory. Instances of voter
suppression, ranging from intimidation to manipulation of electoral boundaries, were rampant across various states, casting doubt on the efficacy of previous efforts to foster political participation. Moreover, reports of electoral violence and underage voting further underscored the erosion of public confidence in the electoral process. Against this
backdrop, this research set out to examine the intricate relationship between votersuppression and political participation via a literature review and qualitative survey analysis. The study found that there were significant levels of voter suppression in the 2023 presidential elections and this impacted on citizen’s political engagement.

This aim of this study is to assess the knowledge and practices of safe handling and administration of chemotherapeutic drugs amongst tertiary health facility, Benin City. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional research design and simple random sampling method was used to select Two hundred and seventy-eight nurses in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City. A well-structured questionnaire was used as instruments of data collection. The data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Simple frequency and percentage were used to describe the data, while chi-square was used to test
the hypotheses. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. The analysis was performed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28.0 for windows. The result shows that majority of the respondents have fair level of knowledge of chemotherapeutic drugs and low level of practice of safe handling of chemotherapeutic drugs and that none of the sociodemographic characteristics was associated with level of knowledge of chemotherapeutic drugs. The study therefore recommends that there is the need for Institutions to implement and enforce standardized procedures for administering chemotherapy, ensuring the use of appropriate PPE and adherence to safety protocols.

Purpose: The study was carried out to evaluate public knowledge and dosage form preferences among adult participants, assess patient’s choices of dosage forms in drug therapy and demonstrate the association of the respondent demographic variables and dosage form preference. Methods: This study focused on the general population. A pre-tested standardized questionnaire was converted to Google form and distributed to various social media platforms including Instagram, X, WhatsApp and Facebook in March, 2024. Participants were encouraged to provide answers to the questions until over 500 responses were recorded. Responses were evaluated for demographics, knowledge and choices associated with their use of drug dosage forms. Results: The analysis of the association between demographic variables and patients' dosage form preferences showed that participants exhibited varying preferences with statistically significant associations (p < 0.05) for specific dosage forms. Educational status, religion, and occupation demonstrated no significant association (p > 0.05) with dosage form preferences, suggesting that patients' educational backgrounds, religion, and occupation may not be decisive factors in determining their preferences. Participants’ income however demonstrated a statistically significant association (p = 0.020) with dosage form preferences, suggesting that individuals with different income levels may have distinct preferences for specific dosage forms. Overall, these findings underscore the complexity of factors influencing dosage form preferences and emphasize the importance of personalized approaches in medication formulations to cater to the diverse needs of patient populations.Conclusion: Considering diverse demographic factors and individual preferences in formulating medications influences patients choices and compliance