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This study investigates the structural and elemental composition of starch extracted from white<br><br> corn seeds using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy coupled with<br><br> energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). XRD analysis was employed to determine<br><br> the crystalline structure of the starch granules, revealing a typical A-type pattern indicative of<br><br> cereal starches, characterized by strong diffraction peaks at angle 2θ of 15°, 17°, 18°, and<br><br> 23°.The crystallinity index was calculated, demonstrating the semi-crystalline nature of the<br><br> starch. SEM provided detailed morphological insights, showing smooth, polyhedral granules<br><br> with sizes ranging from 5 to 20 micrometers. The EDS analysis complemented these findings by<br><br> identifying the elemental composition, confirming the presence of essential elements such as<br><br> carbon, oxygen, and minor traces of phosphorus and potassium, which are intrinsic to starch<br><br> molecules. This comprehensive characterization enhances our understanding of white corn<br><br> starch's structural properties and its potential applications in food, pharmaceuticals, and bio-<br><br> degradable materials

Probiotics are live microorganisms, often called "good bacteria," that help keep the gut healthy. They are commonly found in foods like yogurt, fermented products, and dietary supplements. Awareness about probiotics and their benefits is low among adult population in Nigeria. Many adults are unfamiliar with the concept of "good bacteria" and their role in gut health, limiting their willingness to include probiotics in their diet. This study investigated the impact of probiotic on Gut health of Adult Residents in Boluwaduro Local Government Area, Osun State. Specifically, the study examined (i) if improved digestive function (ii) strengthening of gut lining (iii) strengthened immune system and (iv) management of gastrointestinal disorder will be an impact of probiotic on gut health of adult residents in Boluwaduro Local Government Area, Osun State.<br><br> <br><br> A descriptive research of the survey type was adopted. The population of the study comprised of all residents of Irepodun Local Government, Kwara State. Two hundred and forty-four (244) respondents were sampled for the study. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire which was validated by three experts and tested for reliability that yielded a correlation reliability coefficient of 0.85 r and consider that the instrument is reliable. Percentage and Chi-square statistics were employed for data analysis at 0.05 level of significance.<br><br> <br><br> The findings of the study were that; <br><br> 1. improved digestive function is significantly an impact of probiotic on gut health of adult residents (Cal. ᵪ2 val. 137.639 > Crit. ᵪ2 val. 16.92 with df 9 @ 0.05 alpha level).<br><br> 2. strengthening of gut lining is significantly an impact of probiotic on gut health of adult residents (Cal. ᵪ2 val. 192.770 > Crit. ᵪ2 val. 16.92 with df 9 @ 0.05 alpha level).<br><br> 3. strengthened immune system is significantly an impact of probiotic on gut health of adult residents (Cal. ᵪ2 val. 279.607 > Crit. ᵪ2 val. 16.92 with df 9 @ 0.05 alpha level).<br><br> 4. management of gastrointestinal disorder is significantly an impact of probiotic on gut health of adult residents (Cal. ᵪ2 val. 192.279 > Crit. ᵪ2 val. 16.92 with df 9 @ 0.05 alpha level).<br><br> The study concluded that improved digestive function, strengthening of gut lining, strengthened immune system and management of gastrointestinal disorder are impacts of probiotic on gut health of adult residents in Boluwaduro, Local Government Area Osun State. It was recommended that health practitioners and nutritionists in Boluwaduro Local Government Area should promote the regular consumption of probiotic-rich foods (such as yogurt, kefir, and fermented vegetables) and supplements among adults to enhance digestive efficiency and overall gut health. Public health campaigns should educate adult residents on the importance of maintaining a healthy gut barrier through consistent probiotic intake, while also encouraging diets rich in fiber and prebiotics to support probiotic function and gut lining integrity.

Five very important staple crops in the Southeast were cultivated in a farm to observe their growth indices and reappraise their nutritional and botanical attributes. Yam - the king of crops, a stem tuber carbohydrate staple; Maize, an all season staple cereal that can be preserved and processed in several ways; Okra, a fruit vegetable used for soups and herbal remedies ; Fluted Pumpkin (Ugu), a highly nutritious all season leafy vegetable used for soup, sauce, medicine, animal fodder et cetera; and Finally Egg plant an all season subshrub with leaves, fruits and stems all having economic relevance in cultural and religious ceremonies, as Food, snacks, soup, medicinal remedies, stews, salad, fuel wood, fodder et cetera. These plants were cultivated with the onset of the rains in March on land already cleared and prepared. Machetes, hoes, shovels, rakes were all put into good use and growth was monitored and recorded at intervals of two weeks. Mulching, use of organic manure and various forms of animal deterrents (bells, traps, scarecrows) were employed to keep pests at bay. Within a space of three month yam, maize, fluted pumpkin, okra and egg plant grew approximately in decreasing order at 1565cm, 735cm, 530cm, 505cm and 355cm respectively. The yield was not very outstanding: 15 small tubers of yam; a bowl of okra; 35 stands of pumpkin leaves; 35 heads of maize and 27 Fruits of egg plant - the density of the harvest was about 0.05kg/m³. To ensure maximal yield of quantitative crops (annual, biennial and perennial crops in these climes; Use of organic manure, manual clearing of site, biological control of pests, minimal tillage will all go a long way.

The Occurrence of Cholera and NonCholera Vibrio species in shrimps harvested from the Calabar brackish water was investigated in this study using standard microbiological techniques. A total of 25 Vibrio strains belonging to 5 genera namely V. parahaemolyticus (40%), V. vulnificus(20%), V. alginolyticus (15%), V. mimicus (15) and V. Cholerae (10%) were actually isolated, characterized and identified with V. Parahaemolyticus being the most dominant. The serological test results indicated that 10% of the isolates were Vibrio Cholerae (O1 Vibrio) species representing Cholera Vibrio, while 90% were NonCholera Vibrio species (non O1 Vibrio). The higher prevalence of NonCholera Vibrio species may reflect favorable growth conditions in the estuarine environment, such as temperature, salinity, and nutrient availability, which support the proliferation of these bacteria. Additionally, the occurrence of Cholera Vibrio species at a lower percentage may be influenced by its specific ecological niches and its reliance on certain environmental factors for survival and proliferation. It is worthy of notes that the coastal waters are over nourished and favours the growth of the Vibrio species that in turn colonize shrimps and other crustaceans. On the basis of our data, we can conclude that shrimps from the Calabar estuarine maintain a reservoir of Vibrio species in our environment, thus posing health risk to consumers of undercooked shrimps. These finding is of epidemiologic and clinical significance.

The study determined the influence of agricultural development program on cassava farming in Obudu Local Government Area, Cross River State. To achieve the purpose of the study, three research questions and three null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. Survey design was adopted for the study. The population for the study was 571 registered ADP cassava farmers in the study area. A sample of 200 registered ADP cassava farmers were selected using proportionate and accidental sampling techniques. A validated researcher-made questionnaire was the instrument for data collection. Two hundred copies of the questionnaire were administered, however, only 181 copies were correctly responded to. Data collected from the respondents was analyzed using simple linear regression and independent t-test statistics. The result revealed that agricultural development program training and inputs significantly influence cassava farming in Obudu Local Government Area. It also revealed that there is no significant difference on the influence of agricultural development program training on cassava farming of male and female farmers in Obudu Local Government Area. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended among others that government should intensify efforts in providing more ADP training to farmers, as food security is of paramount importance to the economy of the state and Nigeria, in general.

ABSTRACT<br><br><br> .Piper guineense seeds, Gongronema latifolium leaves, Aframomum melegueta seeds and Monodora myristica seeds are used in Nigeria as spices, they are also employed in traditional medicine for the treatment and management of diverse disease conditions. The study aim to investigate the in vitro antioxidant assay using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and thrombolytic capacity of these spices. Fresh samples were procured from a food market in Elele, Rivers state. Cold maceration with Methanol was performed for 72 hours, filtered and concentrated using a water bath to obtain the crude extract. The phytochemical screening and the antioxidant assay were determined accordingly using established procedures. The phytochemicals present in the methanol extracts were Alkaloids, steroids, saponins, glycosides, carbohydrates, tannins, protein and flavonoids. The DPPH assay were determined in accordance with standard procedures. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) using DPPH was (30, 25, 22, 27 μg/Ml) for P .guineense, G. latifolium, A. melegueta and M. myristica respectively for methanol. Therefore the methanol extract of A. melegueta has the lowest IC50 and therefore has the highest antioxidant activity, when compared to ascorbic acid which is the standard because the lower the IC50, the higher the antioxidant activity. For the thrombolytic assay it can be seen that at increased concentration and increased incubation time, the clot lysis for each of the samples increases. A. melegueta showed maximum clot lysis activity (47.41±0.142) as compared to the others. The present results show that plant materials used in the study have considerable thrombolytic and fibrinolytic effect as they reduce clot weight.

This study examines the role of social media in political mobilization during Nigeria’s 2023 General Election. It explores how platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp shaped political awareness, influenced voter participation, and facilitated digital activism among citizens, especially the youth. The research investigates the extent to which social media served as a tool for political communication, campaign messaging, public discourse, and mobilization efforts by political actors and civil society groups. Using a case study approach, data were gathered through surveys, interviews, and content analysis to understand patterns of online engagement and their impact on offline political behavior. Findings reveal that social media significantly enhanced political mobilization, increased access to information, and encouraged youth involvement in the electoral process, though issues such as misinformation and online toxicity posed challenges. The study concludes that social media played a critical role in shaping political participation during the 2023 election and recommends improved digital literacy, stronger regulatory frameworks, and responsible online engagement to enhance future democratic processes in Nigeria.

Abstract<br><br> PFA 499 is a special project done in the Department of The Performing Arts at the University of Ilorin, involving final year students who are grouped together to present either a full-length play, dance theatre, or opera performance. This project is a pivotal requirement for the conferral of a B.A. degree (Hons) in performing arts. The students are allocated into distinct groups to facilitate collaborative work. My particular group, denoted as group seven, is tasked with showcasing a dance theatre, for which we have selected a dance libretto titled Joromi by Steve James. Each student within the group is assigned a specific portfolio to manage. This research endeavor aims to delve into the significance of stage management in the realm of stage production. The project is delineated into three primary components: the theoretical framework, the practical framework, and the post-production analysis.<br><br> The theoretical framework serves as the phase wherein students engage in in-depth research, enabling them to acquire pertinent information and effectively prepare for the practical execution of their project. This segment encompasses comprehensive write-ups from all crew members based on their designated roles, including the Director/Choreographer, Stage Manager, Make-up Artist, Business Manager, Technical Director, Property Manager, Costumier, Drama Coordinator, Musicologist, Light and Sound Manager, and Publicity Manager.<br><br> The practical framework embodies the actualization of the play on stage, involving the application of insights garnered during the theoretical phase. Subsequently, the post-production