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The effectiveness of silver nanoparticles as a clean-up material for water polluted with bacteria DNA conveying antibiotics resistance genes: Effect of different molar concentrations and competing ions
(Elsevier, 2022-07-22) Ezeuko CS; Ojemaye O; Okoh OO; Okoh A
This study employed silver nanoparticles to remove DNA conveying antibiotic resistance genes from water. Three different molar concentrations of silver nanoparticles represented as BD1 (0.1M), BD2 (0.5 M), and BD3 (1.0 M) were synthesized as adsorbents and evaluated in a batch adsorption system for the removal of bacteria DNA conveying antibiotic resistance genes from simulated aqueous solution. The authenticity of the adsorbents was confirmed by characterization techniques using Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and x-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD) indicated the successful synthesis of these AgNPs. Adsorption studies involving the different operating conditions on the synthesized materials showed that pH affects the removal of DNA with increased removal efficiency observed at acidic pH (removal percentage ranging from 50.26-87.61%, 65.80-87.79%, and 69.23-87.92% for BD1, BD2, and BD3 respectively). Maximum adsorption equilibrium was achieved after 180, 195, and 225 mins for BD1, BD2, and BD3. The isotherm study revealed that Langmuir model is the best fit compared to Freundlich model with highest correlation coefficient and reduced Chi-square (X2) of R2 = 0.97625 and X2 = 0.12142, R2 = 0.96049 and X2 = 0.24403, R2 = 0.85108 and reduced X2 = 1.00914 for BD1, BD2, and BD3 respectively. The kinetic study for the adsorption process indicates that the adsorption of bacteria DNA onto AgNPs obeyed pseudo-second-order with the highest R2 values (ranging from 0.90 to 0.98). Similarly, competing ions (cations and anions) influenced the adsorption capacity in this study. Therefore, this study concludes that AgNPs demonstrated effectiveness in removing bacteria DNA-conveying ARGs from water and will serve as an excellent option to tackle the menace of ARGs in water.
Using machine learning models to predict the effects of seasonal fluxes on Plesiomonas shigelloides population density
(Elsevier, 2022-10-28) Ekundayo, CT; Oluwatosin, AI.; Igbinosa, EO.; Okoh, AI.
Seasonal variations (SVs) affect the population density (PD), fate, and fitness of pathogens in environmental water resources and the public health impacts. Therefore, this study is aimed at applying machine learning intelligence (MLI) to predict the impacts of SVs on P. shigelloides population density (PDP) in the aquatic milieu. Physicochemical events (PEs) and PDP from three rivers acquired via standard microbiological and instrumental
techniques across seasons were fitted to MLI algorithms (linear regression (LR), multiple linear regression (MR), random forest (RF), gradient boosted machine (GBM), neural network (NN), K-nearest neighbour (KNN), boosted regression tree (BRT), extreme gradient boosting (XGB) regression, support vector regression (SVR), decision tree regression (DTR), M5 pruned regression (M5P), artificial neural network (ANN) regression (with one 10-node hidden layer (ANN10), two 6- and 4-node hidden layers (ANN64), and two 5- and 5-node hidden layers (ANN55)), and elastic net regression (ENR)) to assess the implications of the SVs of PEs on aquatic PDP. The results showed that SVs significantly influenced PDP and PEs in the water (p < 0.0001), exhibiting a site-specific pattern. While MLI algorithms predicted PDP with differing absolute flux magnitudes for the contributing variables, DTR predicted the highest PDP value of 1.707 log unit, followed by XGB (1.637 log unit), but XGB (meansquared-error (MSE) = 0.0025; root-mean-squared-error (RMSE) = 0.0501; R2 =0.998; medium absolute deviation (MAD) = 0.0275) outperformed other models in terms of regression metrics. Temperature and total suspended solids (TSS) ranked first and second as significant factors in predicting PDP in 53.3% (8/15) and 40% (6/15), respectively, of the models, based on the RMSE loss after permutations. Additionally, season ranked third among the 7 models, and turbidity (TBS) ranked fourth at 26.7% (4/15), as the primary significant factor for predicting PDP in the aquatic milieu. The results of this investigation demonstrated that MLI predictive modelling techniques can promisingly be exploited to complement the repetitive laboratory-based monitoring of PDP and other pathogens, especially in low-resource settings, in response to seasonal fluxes and can provide insights into the potential public health risks of emerging pathogens and TSS pollution (e.g., nanoparticles and micro- and nanoplastics) in the aquatic milieu. The model outputs provide low-cost and effective early warning information to assist watershed managers and fish farmers in making appropriate decisions about water resource protection, aquaculture management, and sustainable public health protection.
Women’s Contribution to Indigenous Knowledge Food Security in the Lokaleng village, North West Province, South Africa
(Noyam Publishers, 2023-09-03) Ekobi, GA.; Tanga, P.; Mboh, L.
There is an increasing trend of directing food security policies toward empowering women, because, studies have found that indigenous knowledge
among women plays a significant role in reducing poverty and food insecurity in their rural households. Although South Africa is considered food secure, many households still suffer from food insecurity. This study intends to investigate women’s contribution to indigenous knowledge of food security. This study employs a qualitative approach and exploratory research design to solve the research objective. Thirty participants took part in the study and data was collected using semi-structured and unstructured interviews. Data analysis was thematic and themes identified were: indigenous knowledge technologies, indigenous food types and contribution to food security. The study found that most women used indigenous technologies, such as animal traction, plough-pull by donkey, kraal manure and cow dung to improve food security. Women also used paraffin, wild onion and “sunlight” bar soap mixture solution to control pests. However, indigenous knowledge of food security might disappear because young people (women) in the community have no interest in indigenous knowledge due to modernisation. Workshops and seminars could be organised to train, empower and educate women on indigenous knowledge and food security
Street Food vending on Poverty and Unemployment in the Mahikeng Local Municipality, South Africa
(Adonis & Abbey Publishers, 2022-12) Ekobi, GA.
The South African street food industry is essential in elevating the socioeconomic standing of sellers. However, most studies on street food vending focused on perception, safety, consumption, and handling of street food. Therefore, it is necessary to fill this gap. The study explores street food vending contribution on poverty and unemployment in the Mahikeng Local Municipality. The study's goal was accomplished by using a mixed research methodology. A sample size of 401 respondents were selected for the study and data was obtained using structured, semi-structured and unstructured questionnaires. The study found that street food vending creates jobs not only for the people involved in the trade, but also for people who would otherwise be unemployed, for example, those who are retrenched. In addition, street food distribution has become a cornerstone for
vendors to generate income to supplement family income that improved the standard of living of the vendors. Additionally, some vendors were able to acquire assets such as livestock and landed property from the profit made from the business, contributing to reducing poverty incidence among traders in the area. The paper concludes that street food vending has contributed in creating jobs thus, reducing poverty incidence. However, the street food industry continues to confront obstacles such as lack of cash and credit and location-based business restrictions. Therefore, in order for SFV to be effective, steps must be taken to minimise the difficulties affecting the industry
The Role of Women in Indigenous Conflict Management in the Mokgalwaneng Village in the Moses Kotane Local Municipality, South Africa
(Adonis & Abbey Publishers, 2022-06) Ekobi, GA; Mboh, L.
Women have been occupied with managing conflicts in African indigenous communities. However, their contribution in conflict resolution has not been documented in South Africa. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore the role of women in managing indigenous conflicts in the Mokgalwaneng community. The data were collected from 14 participants from the Mokgalwaneng community by means of semi-structured and unstructured interview guides and thematically analysed. Three main themes were identified: the types of indigenous conflict, causes of indigenous conflict and the role of women in indigenous conflict management in the Mokgalwaneng community. Findings revealed that there are several types of indigenous conflict in the area. Land, domestic, theft and adultery, fornication and rape were raised as the causes of conflict. Women used indigenous conflict management techniques such as accommodating, collaborating and compromising to manage indigenous conflicts in the area. Also, women in the Mokgalwaneng village assisted indigenous institutions of elders and traditional leaders in resolving conflicts. Although women played a role in the indigenous conflict management, they were being marginalised in relation to indigenous conflict management. This study recommended that gender inclusive conflict management policy should be introduced as this might help promote gender equality and alleviate gender bias.