International Scientific and Academic Research Publisher

The study examined the physicochemical parameters of selected fish pond in Asaba, Delta State using standard methods.  Water samples were collected and analyzed for physical and chemical properties and heavy metal levels. The results showed that water temperature ranges from (24.0 – 32°C), dissolved oxygen (3.20 – 7.60mg/l), and nutrient levels (1.20 – 98.8mg/l) varied significantly between seasons. Most ponds had high levels of turbidity and suspended solids that exceeded international standards. Heavy metals such as cadmium (0.28 – 0.34 mg/l), lead (0.03 – 0.04 mg/l), chromium (0.09 – 0.12 mg/l), and iron (8.56 – 10.42 mg/) were found at levels above World Health Organization limits, with iron being particularly high in all ponds. This study reveals that fish ponds in Asaba, Oshimili LGA are significantly contaminated with heavy metal residue, posing health risks to both fish and humans who consume them. The study high lights the need for better management practices. Regular monitoring of water quality, responsible use and testing of water source and improved pond management are recommended to protect both the aquaculture industry and public health in Delta State.

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are among the most debilitating complications of diabetes mellitus and are associated with recurrent infection, prolonged hospitalization, lower-limb amputation, substantial healthcare expenditure, and increased mortality. Their management is increasingly complicated by polymicrobial infection, microbial biofilm formation, and the emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales, carbapenem-resistant organisms, and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Biofilm formation further promotes chronicity by limiting antimicrobial penetration, facilitating bacterial persistence and horizontal gene transfer, and protecting microorganisms from host immune responses. These challenges underscore the importance of antimicrobial stewardship, including appropriate wound sampling, culture-directed treatment, de-escalation of broad-spectrum antibiotics, avoidance of antimicrobial therapy in clinically uninfected ulcers, and optimization of treatment duration. This review synthesizes current evidence on the pathogenesis and microbiology of DFUs, mechanisms of biofilm-associated antimicrobial resistance, antimicrobial stewardship strategies, and the potential role of medicinal plants as complementary wound-management agents. Particular attention is given to Azadirachta indica (neem) and Moringa oleifera, whose phytochemical constituents demonstrate antimicrobial, antibiofilm, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and wound-healing activities. Neem may inhibit bacterial adhesion, quorum sensing, efflux mechanisms, and biofilm development, while moringa-derived compounds may disrupt microbial membranes, inhibit bacterial enzymes and biofilm formation, and promote tissue regeneration. Despite promising experimental evidence, clinical translation remains constrained by limited standardization of plant extracts, insufficient topical safety data, variability in extraction methods and concentrations, and a paucity of rigorous clinical trials in patients with DFUs. Neem and moringa therefore represent promising adjunctive candidates rather than established replacements for conventional DFU management. Future research should prioritize standardized formulations, toxicity assessment, mechanistic antibiofilm studies, dose optimization, and well-designed clinical trials to establish their efficacy and safety.

Coal resources in southeastern Nigeria occur across contrasting geological settings and exhibit substantial variation in rank, petrographic composition, mineral matter, moisture, volatile matter, ash yield and energy potential. This study presents an integrated geological, mineralogical and energy assessment of Ihioma lignite in the Orlu area of Imo State and the better-established sub-bituminous coal resources of the Enugu area, southeastern Nigeria. The assessment combines published geological and stratigraphic evidence with reported proximate, ultimate and mineralogical data for Ihioma lignite and published petrographic and physicochemical information for Enugu coal. Ihioma occurs within the Tertiary sedimentary succession of the Anambra Basin and represents a lower-rank coal resource than the Lower Maastrichtian coal of the Mamu Formation. Published analysis of an Ihioma lignite sample reported moisture of 6.0%, ash of 4.0%, volatile matter of 38.5% and fixed carbon of 51.5%, together with reported carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen concentrations of 64.6%, 4.0%, 1.064% and 2.0%, respectively. Hematite was identified as the principal mineral phase, with quartz and albite among the subordinate minerals. The reported low sulphur content is potentially advantageous for thermal utilization, although broader sampling is required before regional conclusions can be made. Enugu coal, by contrast, belongs predominantly to the sub-bituminous range of the Lower Maastrichtian Mamu Formation. Earlier rank studies identified a progressive decrease in rank from Enugu toward northern coalfields, with Enugu samples reaching sub-bituminous A rank. Published studies further indicate that the Mamu Formation accumulated in a paralic to deltaic depositional system characterised by repeated alternation of sandstone, siltstone, mudstone, carbonaceous shale and coal. The contrasting rank and mineralogical characteristics of Ihioma and Enugu demonstrate that southeastern Nigerian coal resources cannot be treated as a homogeneous fuel. Ihioma lignite may have potential for low- to medium-temperature thermal applications, briquetting, industrial heat and selected non-fuel uses, whereas the higher-rank Enugu coal presents a stronger case for conventional thermal and metallurgical evaluation. Nevertheless, commercial development should be preceded by systematic drilling, proximate and ultimate analyses, petrography, trace-element characterisation, calorific-value determination, ash-fusion testing, washability studies and environmental baseline assessment. The study concludes that the greatest opportunity for southeastern Nigerian coal lies in resource-specific beneficiation and diversified utilization rather than indiscriminate combustion.

Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are chronic, recurrent wounds that arise primarily from chronic venous insufficiency and sustained venous hypertension. They represent a major cause of morbidity, reduced quality of life, prolonged healthcare utilisation and substantial economic burden. Their management is complicated by impaired wound healing, recurrent infection, polymicrobial colonisation, biofilm formation and the increasing prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant organisms. Frequently implicated pathogens include Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus species and anaerobic organisms, many of which exhibit multidrug resistance and biofilm-associated tolerance. These challenges have intensified interest in antimicrobial stewardship and alternative or complementary wound-care strategies. This review examines the pathophysiology and microbiology of VLUs, the contribution of antimicrobial resistance to treatment failure, and the potential role of medicinal plants, particularly Carica papaya L. and Vernonia amygdalina Delile, in wound management. Both plants contain diverse bioactive compounds with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and wound-healing properties. C. papaya additionally contains proteolytic enzymes such as papain and chymopapain that may support wound debridement, while V. amygdalina is rich in sesquiterpene lactones, flavonoids and phenolic compounds with broad pharmacological activity. Available evidence suggests that these plants may promote wound closure, reduce microbial burden, limit oxidative stress and modulate inflammation. However, much of the current evidence is preclinical, and considerable variation exists in extraction methods, formulations, doses and study outcomes. Standardised phytochemical characterisation, antimicrobial and antibiofilm testing, toxicological evaluation, formulation development and well-designed clinical trials are therefore required before routine use can be recommended. Medicinal-plant-based wound products may ultimately provide affordable adjuncts to conventional VLU management while supporting antimicrobial-stewardship objectives.

Quarrying may provide rural cash income while also involving occupational, environmental, and economic risks. This study examines whether the characteristics associated with reported quarry participation differ from those associated with reported positive monthly quarry-related income in Kinyenze and Lugono villages, Mvomero District, Tanzania. The survey included 142 households; 137 provided direct participation responses, and 8 of the 87 participants had no recorded income. The questionnaire recorded an estimated amount in Tanzanian shillings; the analysis treats it as self-reported monthly quarry-related income, although the recall period, costs, and net profit were not separately documented. A two-part strategy estimates participation with Probit and the log of observed positive income with robust ordinary least squares in separate equations. Education and farming experience were negatively associated with participation. Farming experience was negatively associated with income among participants with observed positive amounts; estimates for age and land access were imprecise, and the adjusted village contrast was not statistically distinguishable from zero. The small cross-sectional sample and missing income responses limit precision and generalisability. These are adjusted associations, not causal effects or measures of welfare. Future surveys should define the income recall period, document sampling and consent procedures, and record revenues, costs, labour inputs, and seasonality separately.