EFFECT

Clays have been utilized for centuries across various cultures for their therapeutic and medicinal properties, ranging from wound healing to antibacterial applications, owing to their adsorptive and chemical properties that inhibit pathogens and support tissue regeneration. This study was aimed at investigating the physicochemical and antibacterial properties of Okpepe clay, Uzala black clay and the combined effect of both clays on clinical isolates against some clinical isolates. Clay samples were processed into suspensions, physicochemical analysis was carried out to determine the pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), heavy metal content and organic carbon. Uzala black clay had a higher pH (7.85), CEC (25.90 cmol/kg), and organic matter (2.80 %), while OKC was more acidic (pH 6.12) with higher EC and TDS. Antibacterial activity was tested against some clinical isolates such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus spp. using agar well diffusion at concentrations of 100 %, 75 %, 50 % and 25 %. Uzala black clay demonstrated superior antibacterial activity with larger zones of inhibition and lower MIC values (6.25 mg/mL against Staphylococcus aureus) compared to Okpekpe clay. Uzala black clay was bactericidal (MBC/MIC ≤ 2) against all isolates, while Okpekpe clay was often bacteriostatic. The clay combination (1:1) showed a remarkable synergistic effect, particularly at 75 % concentration, producing the largest zones of inhibition (42 mm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa). Uzala Black Clay is a potent, broad-spectrum bactericidal agent. The combination with Okpekpe Clay results in a significant synergistic enhancement of antibacterial efficacy. Its efficacy against clinical isolates, including those resistant to common antibiotics, highlights its potential as a source for developing new antimicrobial strategies against drug-resistant bacteria and its novel antimicrobial strategies

Aspartame (ASP) is an artificial sweetener used in food products as an alternative to sugar. Concerns relating to the possible adverse health effects of its consumption have been raised due to aspartame’s metabolic components which are formed during its breakdown. Some research studies have associated aspartame consumption with health disorders such as cancers, neurochemical changes, hepatotoxicity etc, since the liver helps in the metabolism and detoxification of harmful substances and drugs, it acts as a filter to clean the blood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of aspartame on liver function parameters in male Sprague Dawley rats. The rats were thirty-one (31) and were divided into five (5) groups: control, groups B-E. Group A (control) received 0.5ml of plain distilled water via gastric gavage. Group B, Group C, Group D, and Group E received (40, 80, 160, 320) mg/kg respectively for a duration of 75days. Results from this study showed a dose-dependent increase in serum Alkaline Transaminase (ALT) concentration between the control and the groups administered aspartame, but the liver ALT showed no significant difference. However, there was no significant difference between the means of the serum Aspartate Transaminase (AST) of the control group and groups administered aspartame. Also the result shows a dose dependent decrease in serum Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), and a non significant difference in the means of liver ALP. Result from the present study showed significant difference in serum Gammaglutamyl Transferase (GGT) only when the control group was compared with the group administered 40mg/kg. However, the serum protein, heart protein and liver protein results between all groups in this study, showed no significant difference, but however a significant decrease was observed in the kidney proteins of the rats administered aspartame, especially in the group that received 160mg/kg. The level of testis protein increased in the groups that received 80mg/kg and 160mg/kg when compared to control. However, the amount of serum globulin in the aspartame-administered groups was not different from that of the control group. Aspartame may act as a chemical stressor by altering organ function homeostasis and increasing protein oxidative damage. This might play a significant role in promoting apoptotic cell death leading to damage of the organs and subsequently death.

This research work was carried out to ascertain the effect of using instructional materials on
the teaching and learning of economics in public secondary schools in Egor local government
area of Edo State. It specifically examined various factors such as the extent in which
economics teachers get involved in the invention of instructional materials in the teaching
and learning of economics, the factors that determine the choice of instructional materials in
the teaching and learning of economics. The researcher employed descriptive survey and
sampled seven (7) schools from Egor local government area. Eighteen (18) respondents
(economics teachers) constitute the sample size in which 100% of the questionnaire was
retrieved. Three research questions were raised and they were answered with simple percentage. It was
found that the use of instructional materials affect students' performance in economics, teachers attend conferences to improvise instructional materials, students learn faster when instructional materials are used. Based on the findings, the following recommendations were made:
The remote problems and factors that affect the proper use of instructional materials should be brought to book and addressed and learners should be exposed to the use of instructional materials from the cradle for effective disposition and meaningful acquaintance.

This study determined the perceived effect of covid-19 on SME in Ovia North-East LGA of Edo State. Four research questions were raised to guide the study and one hypothesis was formulated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study employed a descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised of 2250 registered SMEs in Ovia North-East Local
Government Area of Edo State. The sample size was 79 confidential secretaries in University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State. The sample size of the study comprised of 50 registered SME owners and managers in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State. Purposive sampling technique was used to sample the selected 50 registered SMEs. The instrument used for data collection for this study was a structured questionnaire titled “Perceived Effect of COVID- 19 on small and Medium Scale Questionnaire (PECOVIDSMEQ)”. It was however subjected to
face validity by the researcher’s supervisor and one other expert in the Department of Vocational and Technical Education. The internal consistency method was employed by using the Cronbach alpha formula and a coefficient of 0.98 was obtained. The study revealed that covid-19 affect Small and Medium Scale businesses, thus impacting their income, demand of products, payment of salaries of workers as well as repayment of loan and rents. The study concluded that covid-19 principally affect Small and Medium Scale businesses. It was recommended among others that government at all levels should provide adequately targeted stimulus to all affected SMEs. This can be done through the disbursement of cash stipend to the most vulnerable SMEs.

The study was conducted to determine the effect of the extracts of selected sawdusts of Brachystegia nigerica and Bombax buonopozense, Greenwayodendron suaveolens seed powder, a combination of Brachystegia nigerica and Bombax buonopozense Sawdust, making up a mixed known sawdust, Mixture of unknown sawdust and PDA Control were used in the preparation of media for the cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus tuberregium. The pure culture of Ganoderma lucidum and Pleurotus tuberregium were gotten from the African Center for Mushroom Research and Technology Innovation (ACMRTI), Uniben. The pure cultures were inoculated into the sterilised extracts of Brachystegia nigerica sawdust, Bombax buonopozense sawdust, Greenwayodendron suaveolens seed powder, and a mixture of known sawdust and unknown sawdust and PDA Control. After the first day of inoculation, mycelium growth of Ganoderma lucidium was highest for PDA (3.47±0.03) and the least was Mixed known sawdust (2.30±0.60). However, after five days of inoculation, mycelia extension of Ganoderma lucidium was highest for PDA (5.65±0.60) with a morphology of an appressed density, and the least mycelia extension was observed in mixed known sawdust extract (3.38±2.50) with a morphology of a wooly density. In Pleurotus tuberregium, it was also observed that after the first day of inoculation, mycelium growth was the highest for B. buonopozense sawdust extract (3.62±0.21), and the least was observed in mixed known sawdust extract (1.28±0.14). However, after five days of inoculation, mycelium extension for Pleurotus tuberregium was highest for B. buonopozense sawdust extract (7.3±0.78) with a morphology of a wooly density and mixed known sawdust was the least (2.15±0.62) with a morphology of a wooly density. These results revealed that Ganoderma lucidium and Pleurotus tuberregium can be grown on the various subtrates material tested. The study has also shown that local material tested can be used to cultivate mushrooms when synthetic media are not available. There is the need to further test for the substrate materials for the production of spawn and fruit bodies of these mushrooms for mass production.