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Item Performance assessment of Bayesian meta-analytic predictive model on kdr mutation in insecticide-resistant malarial vectors in sub-Saharan Africa.(Malaria Journal, 24(1),, 2025) Ahuekwe, E. F.; Taiwo, D. I.Mosquito populations’ selective pressure arising from the widespread and prolonged use of insecticides, especially pyrethroids, for both agricultural usages and public health outcomes, has immensely contributed to the emergence and heavily spread of insecticide resistance. In this study, a systematic review identified eight eligible case–control or cohort studies published between 2015 and 2025 across sub-Saharan Africa that reported both allele and/or genotype frequencies of L1014F and L1014S. The predictive performance and inferential robustness of a Bayesianw meta-analytic model were applied and evaluated on two knockdown resistance (kdr) mutations, L1014F and L1014S, in the Anopheles mosquito populations. Using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling to compute pooled concordance statistics, odds ratios, and perform funnel plot asymmetry tests (Egger, Macaskill, Debray). The results revealed that L1014F showed a stronger and more consistent association with phenotypic resistance compared to L1014S, with odds ratios (OR) as high as 4.44 (95% CI 3.40–5.80). However, concordance statistics for both mutations demonstrated wide confidence intervals (L1014F: 0.141; CI − 0.095 to 0.459; L1014S: 0.169; CI − 0.399 to 0.688), indicating moderate predictive reliability. The Bayesian framework effectively synthesized complex and heterogeneous resistance data, confirming the operational relevance of KDR mutations in resistance surveillance. The global significance of these results enhances the predictive analytics in resistance management, such that resistance evolution is temporally and spatially dynamic. The integration of Bayesian modelling into existing entomological surveillance systems shifts the paradigm towards more adaptive and anticipatory management. Although data sparsity and regional heterogeneity warrant cautious interpretation, integrating ecological and thermodynamic variables into predictive models is essential for enhancing future resistance forecasting.Item A Review of Fabrication Techniques and Optimization Strategies for Microbial Biosensors(In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (Vol. 1342, No. 1, 2024) Ahuekwe, E. F.; Akinyele, A. F.; Benson, A. E.; Oniha, M. I.; Oziegbe, O.optimization of microbial biosensors. More so, the global biosensors market size currently valued at USD25.5 billion in 2021 is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.5% to USD36.7 billion in 2026. Microbial biosensors are bioanalytical systems that integrate microorganisms with a physical transducer to generate signals, thus, aiding the identification of analytes. The biosensors are fabricated through a series of steps comprising microbe selection, immobilization onto a matrix, microfabrication, calibration, and validation. The transducers integrated microorganisms generate quantifiable signals, enabling real-time monitoring of a diversity of analytes within food samples. The optimization strategies are scrutinized, with a particular focus on the integration of sundry nanoparticles, such as magnetic, gold, and quantum-dot nanoparticles, which enhance sensor performance. Distinct advantages offered by microbial biosensors promise to revolutionize food quality assessment via cost-effectiveness, rapid sample testing, and the ability to provide access to real-time data. Literature have highlighted certain limitations including interference from complex matrices, instability of microorganisms, and microbial lifespan. In assessing their economic importance, a comparative analysis is presented against conventional food analytical methods like ELISA, PCR, and HPLC; thus, highlighting the unique strengths of microbial biosensors. The future perspectives focus on the potential of the technology in addressing the need for continuous monitoring challenges, and research for further improvements in the biocompatibility of fabrication processes and longterm reusability.Item Chitosan-based nanoformulation of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles(In Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications, 2024) Ahuekwe, E. F.; Aworunse, O. S.; Akinpelu, Sharon O.; Adekeye, B. T.; Abimbola, S.; Akinyemi, O. D.; Aladele, A. K.; Oyesile, O.; Ayomide, A. F.; Oniha, M. I.; Emelike, C. U.Metal nanoparticles are derived from metallic precursors, usually nanoscale metals or metal oxides, metal phosphates, or metal sulfides. Several types of nanoparticles have been generated; concentration, pH, and substrate temperature have a substantial effect on the nanoparticles’ size, shape, and dimensions (Nair et al., 2022). Due to their diverse morphology, reactivity, optical properties of catalytic activity, and high adsorption, metal nanoparticles and oxides of metal nanoparticles are at the moment receiving a lot of attention (Chouke et al., 2022). These characteristics increase their suitability for myriad of uses in environmental detection, biomedicine, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, the food industry, textile industry, and optoelectronics (Naseem & Durrani, 2021). Additionally, given their nanoscale size (,100 nm), metal nanoparticles and oxides of metal nanoparticles have a huge surface area of cooperation with cells, expansive reach antibacterial action, improved strength considerably under outrageous circumstances, surface properties, and compound pieces, which makes them a great contender for the (Fig. 5.1) advancement of compelling antimicrobial specialists (He et al., 2016). While zinc oxide, silver oxide, titanium dioxide, manganese oxide, oxides of cerium, oxides of magnesium, nanosized iron oxide, and zirconium oxide, together with aluminum oxide are commonly used metal oxide nanomaterials, common nanoparticles of metal include alginate, silver, platinum, zinc, titanium, iron, magnesium, copper, gold, and magnesium (Yaqoob et al., 2020). Characteristics and uses of metal nanoparticles together with oxides of metal nanoparticles are summarized in Table 5.1.Item Impact of multi-active ingredient long-lasting insecticidal nets for malaria vector control in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis(Discover Public Health 23(1), 2026) Ahuekwe, E. F.; Taiwo, D. I.Strong selective pressures on mosquitoes arise from an over-reliance on a narrow range of insecticides and the continuous increase in insecticide resistance. This increased resistance weakens the effectiveness of conventional single-ingredient vector control interventions, thus undermining the efforts to reduce malaria transmission. This study aimed to assess the comparative efficacy of multi-active ingredients interventions, which include pyrethroid combinations with pyriproxyfen, chlorfenapyr, and piperonyl butoxide (PBO), versus single-active ingredients approaches in reducing malaria prevalence and key entomological outcomes in malaria-endemic regions. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Studies were selected based on specific inclusion criteria, including randomised controlled trials conducted in sub-Saharan Africa and interventions focused on multi-active ingredient (MAI) approaches. Data on malaria prevalence, vector density, sporozoite rate, and entomological inoculation rate (EIR) were extracted. Random- and fixed-effects models were applied to evaluate the pooled effects, and heterogeneity was assessed using a diagnostic plot. Publication bias was examined using funnel and forest plots. Four studies met the inclusion criteria, which comprise a total of 135,706 households for pyrethroid-only ITNs, 117,652 for pyrethroid-pyriproxyfen, 118,518 for pyrethroid-chlorfenapyr, and 63,331 for pyrethroid-PBO interventions. Chlorfenapyr-pyrethroid combinations showed the most substantial reduction in malaria prevalence (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.53; 95% CI: 0.30–0.67) and entomological inoculation rate (aOR 0.13; 95% CI: 0.07–0.31). Although pyriproxyfen and PBO combinations also reduced vector density and sporozoite rates, chlorfenapyr exhibited the highest efficacy, especially in regions with established pyrethroid resistance. Publication bias was observed, resulting in a slight overestimation of the effectiveness of MAI-LLINs interventions. MAI-LLINs approaches, particularly chlorfenapyr-pyrethroid interventions, have demonstrated superior effectiveness compared to single-active-ingredient (SAI) LLIN interventions in reducing malaria transmission metrics in sub-Saharan Africa. While the results underline the potential of MAI-LLINs strategies, further research and collaborative studies are needed to optimise MAI-LLINs deployment, assess long-term impacts on resistance, and ensure cost-effectiveness in resource-limited settings.Item Impact of Industrialization on the Environment: Water Quality Index of Pharmaceutical Effluent Discharged in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria(IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 2025) Nwinyi, Obinna C.; Kayode-Afolayan, S. D.; Ahuekwe, E. F.; Oziegbe, O.; Omonhinmin, Conrad A.. There has been an upsurge in the recalcitrance and bioaccumulation of some deterimental pharmaceutical by-products and heavy metals in the aquatic ecosystem. This study determined the water quality index (WQI) of a pharmaceutical effluent discharged in Ota. The physicochemical parameters of the effluent were carried out using turbidimetric (NTU), nephelometric (mg/L), titrimetric (mg/L), conductivity (uS/cm) and spectrophotometric (nm) methods. The parameters assayed include pH, turbidity, conductivity, and temperature. Others include the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biogenic/organic constituents and heavy metals. The physicochemical results obtained were compared with the World Health Organization and United States Environmental Protection Agency standards. These include 4.76±0.07 pH; 1.9±1.00 DO (mg/L) 12.0±1.10 chloride; 3.0±0.03 sulphates; 8.96±0.90 nitrates; 3.21±0.06 phosphates; 29 ±1.12 BOD and 339±2.10 COD. The distribution of heavy metals is in the following order: Zn > Cu > As> Ni> Pb > Cd > Hg. All the results obtained were within acceptable limits of the USEPA and WHO standards. The estimation of the overall quality of the wastewater gave a WQI of 32.54 which suggests a good water quality that is re-usable for irrigation and other purposes.Item Impact of Industrialization on the Environment: Water Quality Index of Pharmaceutical Effluent Discharged in Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria(IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 2025) Nwinyi, Obinna Chukwuemeka; Kayode-Afolayan, S. D.; Ahuekwe, E. F.; Oziegbe, O.; Omonhinmin, Conrad A.There has been an upsurge in the recalcitrance and bioaccumulation of some deterimental pharmaceutical by-products and heavy metals in the aquatic ecosystem. This study determined the water quality index (WQI) of a pharmaceutical effluent discharged in Ota. The physicochemical parameters of the effluent were carried out using turbidimetric (NTU), nephelometric (mg/L), titrimetric (mg/L), conductivity (uS/cm) and spectrophotometric (nm) methods. The parameters assayed include pH, turbidity, conductivity, and temperature. Others include the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), biogenic/organic constituents and heavy metals. The physicochemical results obtained were compared with the World Health Organization and United States Environmental Protection Agency standards. These include 4.76±0.07 pH; 1.9±1.00 DO (mg/L) 12.0±1.10 chloride; 3.0±0.03 sulphates; 8.96±0.90 nitrates; 3.21±0.06 phosphates; 29 ±1.12 BOD and 339±2.10 COD. The distribution of heavy metals is in the following order: Zn > Cu > As> Ni> Pb > Cd > Hg. All the results obtained were within acceptable limits of the USEPA and WHO standards. The estimation of the overall quality of the wastewater gave a WQI of 32.54 which suggests a good water quality that is re-usable for irrigation anItem Knockdown Resistance Mutations and Pyrethroid Resistance in Anopheles Mosquitoes in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis(Journal of Science and Technology, Research Vol. 7,, 2025) Ahuekwe, E. F.; Taiwo, Damilare IsaiahResistance to pyrethroids is conferred in voltagegated sodium channels through the mechanism of kdr mutation, which also decreases the insecticides' binding affinity to their targets, making them less effective. These mutations affect the efficacy of indoor residual spraying (IRS), which are encoded in the VGSC gene, including the effectiveness of insecticide-treated nets (ITNS). This study represents the first meta-analysis to evaluate the resistance impact of L1014F and L1014S mutations in Anopheles mosquitoes within sub-Saharan Africa. Eight studies that meet with the inclusion criteria were analyzed, encompassing 4,690 mosquito samples. Due to substantial between-study heterogeneity, random effects (R.E) models were applied. The pooled odds ratio (OR) for L1014F (L vs F) was 2.14(95% CI: 1.17-2.93), and for L1014S (S vs F), it was 0.899 (95% CI: 0.297- 1.293), indicating a significant association with resistance. Sensitivity analysis revealed that excluding a study with high variability decreased the ORs, showing the influence of publication bias and small sample size. Funnel plot asymmetry and Egger’s test confirmed the presence of publication bias, affecting effect estimates. Due to high heterogeneity and limited studies, the observed resistance effects of L1014F and L1014S mutations are inconclusive. In addition, validating the relevance of these genotype alleles in insecticide resistance and malaria control initiatives in endemic regions requires extensive researchItem Characterisation of pristine and KOH-modified rice husk biochars for efficient heavy metal removal in wastewater treatment(Scientific African, 2025) Ahuekwe, E. F.; Abimbola, Bowofoluwa S.; Agwamba, Ernest C.; Durodola, BamideleBiochar-based technology is emerging as a low-cost adsorbent in municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, given its large surface area and highly porous structure. Rice husk presents a significant waste problem as it constitutes disposal challenges and is barely useful for other purposes. In this study, rice husks (RH) from locally grown rice cultivars were obtained from two rice mills in Nigeria and pyrolysed to biochar at 400 and 500 ◦C before chemical modification using 2 M KOH. The adsorption capacities (Qe) of the pristine RH biochar pyrolysed at 400 ◦C for Zn2+ and Pb2+, following synthetic wastewater treatment, were 462.5 and 142.8 mg/g, and at 500 ◦C, 1047.5 and 275.5 mg/g, respectively. KOH-modified biochar outperformed its pristine counterparts, as the recorded Qe for Zn2+ on the KOH-modified RH1 pyrolysed at 400 ◦C (KRH1_400B) showed 1547.75 mg/g, and 1534.25 mg/g at 500 ◦C (KRH1_500B), respectively, with a 98 % Zn2+ removal efficiency. For Pb2+, all KOH-modified biochars for RH1 and RH2 showed a 100 % removal efficiency and maximum Qe of 275.5 mg/g. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed increased poration of 200 μm sized pores, densely distributed across the rough surface of the KOH-modified biochar. Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy showed varying carbon and silicon compositions of the RH1 and KRH1_400B. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy corroborated structural disparities in SEM, as compositional differences in the observed functional groups were identified in the chemically modified biochar. These include hydroxyl (3354 cm-1) and silicate ion (1017.6 cm-1) which enhance sorption capacity. X-ray Fluorescence revealed an increase in MgO, K2O, and Al2O3 upon KOH modification attributable to the improved heavy metal adsorption efficiency. These results highlight the impact of pyrolysis temperature, physicochemical properties of biomass and chemical modification on heavy metal removal efficiency of biochar for sustainable environmental remediation.Item Electrochemical and Computational Evaluation of Fluconazole as a corrosion inhibition agent for carbon steel in acid chloride environments(Hybrid Advances (Elseier), 2026) Ikeuba, Alexander I.; Nwokolo, Izuchukwu K.; Ojobe, Obasi-sam; Udourioh, Godwin A.; Njoku, Chigoziri N.; Ahuekwe, E. F.Carbon steel corrosion inhibition in acidic environments was probed with fluconazole using a combined electrochemical (opencirciut potential-OCP, potentiodynamic polarization-PDP and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy-EIS) and theoretical approach (DFT calculations). Results reveal that fluconazole inhibits the corrosion of carbon steel, and the inhibition efficiency increases with extract concentration and exposure time. The maximum inhibition efficiency of 97.6% was recorded at 1.6 g/L at ambient temperatures. Electrochemical results indicated a drop in corrosion current density and a rise in charge transfer resistance on the addition of fluconazole to the system, which supports a mixed-type corrosion inhibitor. The adsorption of fluconazole was noted to be concordant with the Langmuir isotherm. The values of Gibbs free energy ranged from 11.85 to 17.75 kJ/mol, suggesting that the adsorption mechanism is predominantly via physisorption. Furthermore, theoretical calculations supported the electrochemical results, revealing that nitrogen and oxygen donor atoms in the fluconazole molecule act as key active centers for adsorption onto the carbon steel. The combined electrochemical and theoretical results establish fluconazole as a potent and eco-compatible carbon steel corrosion inhibitor in acidic environmentsItem Chitosan-based nanoformulation of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles(Woodhead Publishing Series in Biomaterials, 2025) Ahuekwe, E. F.; Aworunse, O. S.; Akinpelu, Sharon O.; Adekeye, B. T.; Abimbola, S.; Akinyemi, O. D.; Aladele, A. K.; Oyesile, O.; Ayomide, A. F.; Oniha, M. I.; Emelike, C. U.Chitosans are biopolymers of chitin with remarkable properties, including biocompatibility, biodegradability, and antibacterial activity. Chitosanbased nanoparticles are useful vehicles for drug delivery in biomedicine, as they improve precision and reduce side effects in the administration of proteins and peptides, antibiotics, gene therapy, and cancer treatment. Furthermore, chitosan formulations improve the CT and magnetic resonance imaging scans’ sensitivity and precision, which makes tumor identification and diagnosis easier. The regenerative qualities of chitosan are useful in bone tissue engineering, wound healing, and tissue regeneration. Chitosan’s function in nanocatalysis is highlighted by its sustainability and environmental applications. It serves as a long-lasting support for metal catalysts such as gold and palladium, enabling environmentally friendly catalytic applications in a variety of sectors. Chitosan’s antibacterial effectiveness contributes to wastewater treatment, enhancing environmental sustainability. Chitosan-coated seeds and plant protection solutions enhance plant germination, promote plant growth, and provide a sustainable substitute for traditional pesticides in agriculture. Obstacles and prospects refinement of chitosan derivatives and nanoparticles are required to improve safety and lessen toxicity concerns. Sustainable and cost-effective synthesis techniques are essential for mass manufacturing and market penetration. Literature advises more research to fully maximize chitosan benefits in a variety of industries, such as food packaging, cosmetics, and sophisticated materials. Overall, the adaptability of chitosan nanoparticles underscores its potential for an array of industrial applications, healthcare, and environmental protection, leading to industrial transformations that support a sustainable future.