Communities in Nigeria, from the coastal region of the southern part of Nigeria to the Northern Sahel, contend with various environmental health challenges, ranging from crude and refined oil spillage, large-scale bush burning, unregulated mining and industrial waste disposal, open defecation just to mention but a few. Although, these challenges mainly anthropogenic in nature, exist in various communities with abundant mineral resources supply, their implications on the socio-economic and environmental well-being of communities calls for concern. Hence, the crux of this paper. From a qualitative methodological approach, mainly reliance on secondary source, revealed the existence of environmental health challenges like crude oil spillage in oil producing communities within the south-south region of Nigeria, with serious consequences on the socio-economic and environmental well-being of communities. More so, the environmental health quality of communities in south-west region was found to be affected with Lead exposure discharged from industrial waste, with adverse impact on the socio-economic and environmental well-being of host communities. While south-south and south-west contend with crude oil spill and lead exposure; communities within the south-east region face serious environmental health threats mainly attributed to heavy metals deposit such as lead, copper and cadmium resulting from illegal mining operation. Furthermore, the environmental health quality of communities in the north-west and north-central region of Nigeria was found to be affected with illegal (mainly, gold) mining operations and open defecation, with devastating implications on the well-being of communities. From these findings, the study advocates strengthening and improving environmental adult education programmes in complementing existing efforts, for ensuring desired socio-economic and environmental well-being of communities in Nigeria.

The Niger Delta region faces a complex security crisis rooted in decades of environmental degradation and the resultant resource-driven violence. Traditional state-centric approaches to peacebuilding have largely failed to address the core problem of ecological marginalization, which pushes large segments of the marginalized youth population into militancy and illicit economies as a response to profound grievance and environmental scarcity. This paper examines a critical, though underexplored, solution: the emergence and efficacy of youth-led eco-innovation and environmental entrepreneurship as proactive mechanisms for conflict de-escalation and peace advocacy. This study argues that youth-led initiatives, such as sustainable aquaculture, waste-to-wealth enterprises and bioremediation start-ups, disrupt the conflict cycle by achieving two strategic outcomes. First, they directly counteract the environmental scarcity stress multiplier by providing legitimate, high-value livelihoods, successfully neutralizing the economic desperation that fuels participation in oil bunkering and pipeline sabotage. Second, by creating tangible economic assets and demonstrating local capacity for ecological stewardship, these ventures transform young people from mere victims or perpetrators into legitimate stakeholders. This elevation provides a constructive platform for peace advocacy and formalized dialogue with international oil companies (IOCs) and environmental protection agencies (EPAs), strengthening non-violent conflict resolution pathways and rebuilding a critical measure of institutional trust. The paper concludes that sustained peace in the Niger Delta requires a fundamental shift in green security governance frameworks. Governments and development partners must transition from reactive amnesty programmes to proactive, large-scale investment in and integration of youth eco-innovation. Government can effectively address the root causes of grievance and establish a foundation for long-term human and environmental security when priority is given to ecological livelihoods.

This paper examined community-based conflict-resolution processes and the role of social work in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area (LGA) in Rivers State, Nigeria. The study aimed at establishing the different local conflict-resolution practices; to ascertain how social work helps the community to engage in these practices and to assess the impact of social work in enhancing the results of the traditional dispute-resolution systems. The study is based on the Systems Theory. The research design was descriptive; a structured questionnaire was administered to 400 respondents selected randomly in four purposively sampled communities in the LGA. Multi-stage sampling was done to represent the community leaders, elderly, youth and simple residents who were involved in dispute resolution. The analysis was conducted with the help of the descriptive statistics, which included frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. The results showed that the key community conflicts, such as land battles, marriage disputes, inheritance issues, youth struggles, and leadership conflicts, are usually mediated by the elders, family councils, customary courts, and community meetings. The social workers were found to enable the community to participate either through coordinating meetings, education of the residents on their rights, and inclusion of vulnerable groups. Moreover, social workers increased the fairness, sustainability, and acceptability of traditional dispute-resolution procedures through the incorporation of contemporary conflict-management methods. Based on these findings, the research suggested that community-based practices should be formally recognized by the local government, capacity building programmes of social workers should be conducted, and the interrelationship between social workers and traditional leaders should also be strengthened to enhance conflict-management procedures.

Background: Oligohydramnios is a clinically significant obstetric condition associated with increased intrapartum intervention and adverse perinatal outcomes. Reduced amniotic fluid volume compromises fetal well-being by increasing the risk of umbilical cord compression and uteroplacental insufficiency, thereby influencing delivery decisions and neonatal outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the mode of delivery and fetomaternal outcomes in pregnancies complicated by oligohydramnios. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Sir Salimullah Medical College and Mitford Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh, from December 2009 to June 2010. A total of 50 pregnant women with sonographically confirmed oligohydramnios were included in this study. Cardiotocography was performed upon admission to assess the fetal status. The mode of delivery, indications for caesarean section and neonatal outcomes were recorded. Associations between oligohydramnios severity and outcomes were analyzed. Results: Non-reassuring cardiotocography patterns were observed in 64% of the cases. Caesarean section was the predominant mode of delivery (72%), with fetal distress being the leading indication (61.1%). All women with severe oligohydramnios required caesarean delivery, demonstrating a significant association between severity and delivery mode (p < 0.001). Neonates born to mothers with severe oligohydramnios had a higher incidence of Apgar scores below 7 at five minutes (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Severe oligohydramnios is strongly associated with non-reassuring fetal surveillance, increased operative delivery rates and adverse neonatal outcomes. Severity-based risk stratification and vigilant intrapartum monitoring are essential for optimizing fetomaternal outcomes.

The current project is based on the experimental work of Dr, Ashwani Kumar. Drug tolerance and resistance are the major proponents of any bacterial disease like TB. These mechanisms are achieved through unique phenomenons like the formation of a biofilm. The current project focuses on the formation of biofilms in Mycobacterium smegmatis (Msm) cultures. These biofilms are in the form of pellicles. The principal work done in the current project is the induction of biofilm using DTT at a range of concentrations in a 96 well plate. The films were then visualised using the Crystal Violet assay. The entire project focuses more on the process of biofilm formation and the mechanisms. The performed work can be further used for screening drugs and exploring ways to combat AMR.

Traditional Institutions (TIs) represent tribal societies, where council decisions were made based on consensus through custom. Some tribal societies have formal political institutions called Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) (PRIs were created by the 73rd Constitution Amendment Act (CAA) of 1992). PRIs are a typical form of decentralised local government in India, based on the democratic decentralisation process, whereas TIs are historically based on trial and custom, while the PRIs are responsible for the governance of social development (such as the provision of basic necessities) and the governance of administrative functions (e.g. maintaining the rule of law) in tribal societies and are governed by TIs and PRIs because the two systems reflect legal pluralism (i.e. the recognition of more than one legal framework) and institutional hybridity (i.e. combination of different governing institutions). In conclusion, good governance in terms of both fulfilment of citizens' basic needs and expansion of economic opportunities at the grassroots level in Arunachal Pradesh requires integration of both systems and cooperation between the plans and the processes used to establish governance and ensure both accountability to democracy and cultural identity and the establishment of indigenous practices.

The target of this investigation is focused on entrepreneurship teaching as a tool for dropping joblessness and promoting sustainable development in Nigeria. It is specifically to examine the extent entrepreneurship education programs are being integrated into the curricula, ascertain if entrepreneurship significantly serves as tool through which joblessness can drop in Nigeria, investigate how entrepreneurship education enhances employability of graduates, explore factors that affects implementation and outcomes of entrepreneurship education programs, and identify best practices and strategies for enhancing entrepreneurship education in Nigeria. Human Capital Entrepreneurship Theory by Becker (1975) was used for the study. Survey descriptive design was adopted, with Taro Yamane sampling method; we got four-hundred (400) participants. Self-structured questionnaire was issued to the respondent of which same four-hundred (400) responses were retrieved and validated for the study. The study made use of descriptive analysis and inferential statistics where data from field survey was analyzed using simple percentage, mean and standard deviation presented in frequencies and tables. Findings of the study concluded that entrepreneurship education is a powerful tool for addressing the persistent challenge of unemployment in Nigeria. This investigation reveals the crucial function of entrepreneurship education in equipping individuals, particularly the youth, with the important skills, knowledge, and mindset to become self-reliant and create job opportunities, rather than relying on the limited employment options available in the formal sector. The findings reveal that a well-structured entrepreneurship curriculum can foster creativity, innovation, and problem-solving abilities, all of which are essential for thriving in today's competitive economic environment. Therefore, the study recommends that Nigerian tertiary institutions should incorporate more practical entrepreneurship courses in their curricula. These courses should focus on hands-on experience in business creation, management, and innovation to equip students with the skills necessary to start and sustain successful businesses after graduation. Thus, the Nigerian government should provide increased financial support for entrepreneurship education initiatives. This includes offering grants, scholarships, and funding to institutions that implement entrepreneurship programs, as well as setting up incubation centres where students can receive mentorship and resources to turn their ideas into businesses.

Carbon Capture, Utilization and storage (CCUS) continue to emerge as the most viable technology to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases around the world, the bulk of which is in the hard to abate industries. This paper has presented a systematic review of the existing technological implementation, the key challenges that have been identified, the gaps in knowledge, and also the emerging innovations that have been continuing to shape the field. The review incorporates information in the world deployment databases, state reports, and peer reviewed libraries. CCUS technologies have reached maturity in the realms of capture and storage but the large scale deployment of capturing technology has been limited because of the high cost, the presence of adequate infrastructure and due to policy uncertainty. The review paper presents some recommendations on how to enhance efficiency, lower costs and achieve sustainable industrial integration with net zero emissions.

Emerging from the dark confines of carceral spaces, prison literature has become a formative genre that exposes the hidden realities of state-sanctioned persecution across the globe. Yet, the voices of women in Indian prison narratives, particularly during the colonial era, often remain marginal and unheard. This research paper engages with the compelling testimony of Urmila Shastri, an overlooked freedom fighter whose memoir, My Days in Prison (2012), offers an unflinching account of her physical and emotional suffering during incarceration. Through close analysis of Shastri’s experiences, the paper illuminates the pervasive malfeasance, abusive power dynamics, and indifference of prison authorities, revealing them as systemic obstacles to reform and justice. By foregrounding the everyday atrocities and discrimination within colonial jails especially as faced by women the study interrogates whether contemporary confinement serves its ostensible rehabilitative purpose, or instead perpetuates cycles of injustice and dehumanization. The paper further evaluates the reformative proposals advanced by Shastri, interrogating their feasibility and transformative potential, and situates her voice within a wider discourse on prison, reformation, human rights, and the continuing struggles of marginalized women prisoners in India.

Introduction: McCune–Albright syndrome (MAS) is a rare, sporadic mosaic disorder caused by postzygotic activating mutations of the GNAS gene. It is classically characterized by a triad of polyostotic fibrous dysplasia, café-au-lait skin macules, and hyperfunctioning endocrinopathies. Growth hormone (GH) excess represents a particularly challenging manifestation and is most often associated with pituitary adenomas or somatolactotroph hyperplasia. However, atypical presentations with GH excess in the absence of radiologically detectable pituitary lesions have been reported. Case presentation: We report the case of a 43-year-old male referred for progressive craniofacial deformity and excessive height. Clinical evaluation revealed features consistent with GH excess, including gigantism, frontal bossing, prognathism, and progressive respiratory and neurological complications. Imaging demonstrated extensive polyostotic fibrous dysplasia involving the craniofacial bones, thoracic cage, and spine, resulting in severe skeletal deformities and multisystem complications. Biochemical assessment confirmed GH excess with elevated insulin-like growth factor 1 levels and failure of GH suppression during an oral glucose tolerance test. Notably, pituitary magnetic resonance imaging was completely normal, with no evidence of adenoma or hyperplasia. Additional endocrine evaluation revealed hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and structural thyroid abnormalities without functional hyperthyroidism. Based on the constellation of clinical, biochemical, and imaging findings, a diagnosis of atypical McCune–Albright syndrome was established. The patient was managed medically with a long-acting somatostatin analog and multidisciplinary follow-up. Conclusion: This case highlights the marked phenotypic heterogeneity of McCune–Albright syndrome and underscores that growth hormone–mediated gigantism may occur despite a normal pituitary MRI. Recognition of such atypical presentations is crucial to avoid diagnostic delay and to guide appropriate management. A multidisciplinary approach remains essential for optimizing outcomes in patients with complex skeletal and endocrine involvement

This paper presents a case study of a pilot project on using novated Pre-Stressed High-Strength Concrete (PHC) Piles technology for a potential support to the large foundations of Steel Plate Manufacturing Plant, which to be installed on an area that contains sabkha soils saline, loose, and water-saturated sands in Ras Al Khair Industrial City, Saudi Arabia. The key highlight of this project is the successful installation and testing of Prestressed High-strength Concrete (PHC) piles likely the first such application within Saudi Aramco, and possibly within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This paper presents the load-settlement and the load-displacement diagrams for the tested PHC piles and identifies the bearing capacity of some of these piles at the job site. The study summaries the bearing capacities of the tested PHC piles to be considered for the detailed design of future project packages. PHC Pile foundation reduces the settlement of structures and improves bearing capacity of foundation; and the new pile technologies are of little noise and reduce damage to pile during the installation. The PHC piles, characterized by a hollow core and prestressed concrete design, are typically produced with outer diameters ranging from 300 mm to 1200 mm and engineered to endure high axial loads and bending moments, making them suitable for challenging ground conditions such as sabkha.

Background: Labour in nulliparous women is a crucial obstetric process, and foetal head engagement is a key determinant of labour progress and clinical decision-making. The purpose of the study is to determine the incidence of foetal head engagement and non-engagement at ≥38 weeks in nulliparous women and evaluate their maternal and fetal outcomes. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rajshahi Medical College Hospital, Rajshahi, Bangladesh, from January to December 2009, and included 100 nulliparous women at ≥38 weeks of gestation with singletone foetus with cephalic presentation. Foetal head engagement was assessed using the rule of fifths, and participants were grouped as those with engaged head or non-engaged head. Labour was actively monitored with a partograph, and maternal and foetal outcomes were recorded. Data were collected using a standardized questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS software. Results: Among 100 nulliparous women ≥38 weeks, 69% had non-engaged and 31% had engaged foetal heads. Vaginal delivery was higher with engagement (77.42% vs 42.63%), while cesarean section was more frequent in non-engagement (57.97% vs 22.58%). Postpartum hemorrhage was higher in the non-engaged group (6.45% vs 1.45%), labour was longer, and neonatal outcomes were comparable, with APGAR scores of 7–10 in >94% of both groups and no APGAR <4. Conclusion: Non-engagement of the foetal head at term in primigravid women is common and, by itself, does not preclude successful vaginal delivery.

This study was conducted to assess genetic variability for maturity and panicle components in rice. A set of 22 F5:6 lines along with their 13 parents genotypes were assessed in randomize complete block design (RCBD) with three replications grown at Agricultural Research Station, Baffa Mansehra during 2023 growing season. The data were recorded on seven morphological traits. Highly significant variations (P ≤ 0.05) were also detected across parental lines and F6 progenies for all traits. ‘Swatai 2014’ showed the maximum heading (80 days) among the parents, and ‘Dilrosh’ the shortest maturity period (101 days). Fakhre Malakand had maximum number of primary branches per panicle (12), while it was Swat 2 for maximum secondary branches per panicle (30.1). Among the F6 lines, ARS-185 and ARS-201 took least days to heading (89 days) while ARS-201 took least days to mature (121 days). ARS-245 had the greatest value for number of primary branches per panicle (11.7) whereas line ARS-155 had the maximum value for number of secondary branches per panicle (28.3). Days to maturity (0.92) had the highest heritability estimates followed by days to heading (0.86) and culm length (0.81). Flag leaf area (24.36%), culm length (25.86%) and secondary branches per panicle (18.46%) exhibited high genetic advance as percent of mean. The better performance of ARS-201, ARS-245, and ARS-155 on maturity and panicle attributes indicated a useful trait that implied on utilization in multi-location yield trials.

Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) is a chemical convulsant that can generate seizure in humans and rodents which mirror the effects of naturally occurring pathological seizure disorders. This study aimed to investigate the role of methanolic extract of Tetrapleura tetraptera (METT) on neurological behavior and motor coordination in PTZ-induced epilepsy in male mice. A total of 50 mice were randomly assigned to 5 groups (n=10) as: Control (0.2ml saline orally); PTZ (single dose 35kg/mg s.c); Diazepam (1ml/100g-i.p) used as reference control; Low dose (LD: 400mg/kg) and High dose (HD: 800mg/kg) of METT was administered orally for 14 days after which PTZ (single dose, 35kg/mg s.c) was induced on the 22nd day. Seizure was confirmed using the Racine scale. Neurological test include; open field test (OFT) and social behavior test (recognition memory) and fine motor coordination using beam balance. These behavioral studies were performed 24 hours after the completion of the PTZ dose. OFT results showed that METT extract and diazepam significantly reduced locomotor activity (line crossing and rearing), but HD of METT suppresses line crossing better than diazepam. Centre square duration did not differ significantly, but METT extract and diazepam significantly reverse exploratory behavior (stretch attend posture and freezing duration). METT extracts was more potent than diazepam in ameliorating the abnormal social behavior posed by PTZ. Mice treated with diazepam and METT extract showed fine motor coordination which reduced the beam crossing time. METT may have anti-epileptic effect against PTZ-induced epilepsy in mice, and could be a better remedy than diazepam against epileptic seizures.

Diphtheria remains a significant public health concern in India despite the availability of routine immunization. This survey-based review analyzes national surveillance data (2020–2024), WHO–UNICEF immunization reports, and responses from frontline healthcare workers to assess the current trends, antitoxin accessibility, and challenges in early diagnosis. Findings indicate a shift in disease burden from young children to adolescents and young adults, mainly due to waning immunity and low booster-dose coverage. Limited availability of Diphtheria Antitoxin (DAT), delays in procurement, and cold-chain constraints continue to affect timely case management across several states. Early diagnosis also remains difficult because initial symptoms resemble common upper respiratory infections, primary-care staff have limited training, and rapid diagnostic tools are not uniformly available. Overall, the survey highlights an urgent need for improved booster-dose coverage, decentralized DAT stock management, and stronger early-detection systems to reduce diphtheria-related morbidity and mortality in India.